Wonderful Thanksgiving
Praise the Lord from the Rocky Mountains! (Praise The Lord!)

Praise the Lord from the Rocky Mountains is a popular monthly magazine, 'Kumo No Aida Ni Aru Niji' (Kumo No Aida Ni Aru Niji press). We reprint this article of Pastor Kamidate's article on her testimony of thanksgiving.

In August, a new Japanese car was given to me. Actually, I have never thought of driving a new car. I was driving a half broken car before this new car was given to me. I was satisfied with my half broken car which at least moves. However, God gave me a new car! God's thought is really large-scale over our thoughts.Praise the Lord!

I have experienced several kinds of car problems since I came to Denver. One day, my car window broke, CD player was stolen probably with something like a bar and the wiring was pulled and cut. Before the incident, I had a trouble regarding to the shifting of the ownership of the car. And the Lord had spoken to me in my prayer that I was not giving thanks enough to the Lord. The incident occurred just after I made my mind to give thanks to the Lord completely.

I was shattered. However, I cheered myself up, went to a place where nobody could see me and jumped to give thanks to the Lord. I gave thanks about each miserable situation to the Lord.

On the next day, it snowed very heavily in Denver. Although I drove to the police station in order to report the damage, the road was confused by heavy snow. It took one hour to reach the police station, which usually only takes 15 minutes. However, I decided to use the excess time to give thanks to the Lord. Starting with what happened yesterday, I thanked with loud voice, clapping my hands about the heavy snow today and the situation that snow kept blowing into the car, which made the inside of the car like a blizzard. Then I felt fellowship of God and filled with joy I had never experienced before, despite of the visible situation. Several months later, the car's electrical system went crazy. Auto lock was broken and in-car light was broken. The alarm rang every time I turned off the head lights. White smoke sometimes came out. However, I kept on giving thanks for each problem, because I learned that I had to give thanks for any problems. Finally, the car has fulfilled its mission, and was picked up by a car repair shop.

Then it came! The offering! It says, 'I will give Japanese car for the mission work in Colorado.' I knew that God allowed all these difficulties for me, because He had such a wonderful plan. This is the Lord's victory! Praise the Lord!

In 1994, I had a dramatic encounter with Pastor Merlin Carothers' book. When I gave thanks for everything, my life has become a rosy life. I am really happy. However, a leader of a Christian group in Misawa base, where I worked at that time heard about me thanksgiving for everything, and came to talk to me, with frown. 'Chieko, you are wrong. You should not give thanks to what Satan brings.' The truth was very clear, if we stand on the words of God. However, I was convinced with her comment, because I was still a baby Christian at that time and she was a leader of a Christian group. I stopped giving thanks, and had to suffer for all the difficulties allowed to me, thinking, 'Satan! Why do you aim at me? Get away Satan! I hate you, Satan!' Then I lost joy from my life. Even though I was a Christian, I was like walking in darkness. This situation lasted for a while.

In 1997, I came to know my ex-College mate was sick and I tried to look for a church near her place for her so that she would be healed. That was how I came to know Pastor S of TLCCC. Around that time, my friend started to send me the monthly magazine, 'Kumo No Aida Ni Aru Niji'

Then I came to know, ' I can give thanks.' I returned to thanksgiving after taking a long detour, but that experience was also to give thanks for. So, I don't think thanksgiving is meaningless. Whenever I give thanks in difficulties, my father comments on me, 'what a happy fool you are!' But I think people who can give thanks are very happy people sincerely. The key to the happiness lies on thanksgiving.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

(Reprinted from monthly magazine, 'Kumo No Aida Ni Aru Niji' October 2007 issue)