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A Snippet of Faith, Furano-shi (2025)

17/12/2025

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...”
- Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV

Be Faithful In The Small Things
By devotionals

God loves to operate differently from the world’s perspective. He doesn’t honor people for the same reasons the world honors them. He values faithfulness over fame and humility over power. On the night of His greatest miracle, instead of revealing it first to kings or world leaders, God sent an angel to tell common shepherds. Luke 2:8 tells us that the shepherds were “living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks.” It’s worth noting that these men were devoted workers, living next to their sheep and caring well for the things they’d been entrusted to steward. The shepherds were of low social status, but they were faithful people, and God chose them to be the first recipients of the greatest news in history. Then, they were at the front of the line to meet the Son of God in person!

If you are feeling unimportant or overlooked today, don’t stop investing in what God has given you to do. Even if you feel your task is small, give it everything you’ve got. Don’t be discouraged! God is looking for people who will be faithful with little so that He can entrust them with more. Whatever you’ve been assigned to do today, do it with all your might. God sees your diligence and rewards those who faithfully complete the task in front of them.

🙏 Father, thank You for placing value on what the world seems to overlook. No matter what task You give me, I commit to working at it with all my heart. Help me not to get discouraged by worldly standards, but instead remember how You chose the humble, hardworking shepherds to be the first to know about the miracle of Christmas. Like the shepherds, thank You for choosing me to be a carrier of Your Good News. And thank You in advance for giving me more as I’m faithful with what You’ve entrusted to me.

16/12/2025

🇺🇸
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
— Philippians 4:4, NIV

Rejoice Always?
By

Here the apostle Paul, who endured many hardships for the sake of Christ, tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. And with enthusiasm he exclaims, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”

The Christmas carols that we hear these days encourage us to rejoice, and at Christmas celebrations we will hear about “good tidings of great joy” (see Luke 2:10).

But for some people the Christmas season is not filled with joy. Some dread the Christmas holidays because of circumstances in their lives. Someone wrote to tell me that for her the month of December was the most difficult month of the year because of many sad things that had happened to her family. Someone else wrote that she would give anything if someone would cancel Christmas because she would be all by herself. For some there seems to be no joy at all.

Of course, the joy that Paul talks about goes much deeper than trying to look on the bright side of things. And we are not being told to rejoice in tragic things that may happen to us. We are urged to rejoice in the Lord, because Jesus came to save us from sin and death. In him we are forgiven. Because of Christ, we can rejoice even with tears in our eyes. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you rejoice in the Lord, regardless of your circumstances.

🙏Lord in heaven, help us to find your joy even through our tears, and help us to remember that you have come to turn our mourning into joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

15/12/2025

🇯🇵
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV

Humble Beginnings
By devotionals

Bethlehem was a small town, insignificant in comparison to bigger cities in the area. In the Message Paraphrase of Micah 5:2, Bethlehem is referred to as “the runt of the litter.” Why would God choose to come to earth in such an unimportant location? Does it seem like a worthy birthplace for the King of Kings?

The thing is, God has never been interested in the world’s definition of greatness. Wealth, fame, popularity, power—none of these are noteworthy to God. Paul told the Corinthians, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” What He can do in someone’s life is not limited by their earthly status. If Bethlehem was “the runt of the litter,” how much more glory would God receive for establishing the life of His Son there? Where Jesus’ journey began did not determine what He could accomplish for the Kingdom. Isn’t it the same with us?

🙏 Father, thank You for not allowing the lowest points of my life to limit my potential. Thank You for giving divine purpose to someone as imperfect as me. I praise You for Your amazing power that carries me in moments of weakness. I know that no matter where I started, You will take me where You want me to go. Thank You, Jesus, for showing me that incredible things begin in humble places.
🎄

14/12/2025

🇦🇹
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
- Psalm 63:3, NIV

No Glitz, Just Glory
By

Looking at the handmade Christmas ornaments my son, Xavier, crafted over the years and the annual mismatched baubles Grandma had sent him, I couldn’t figure out why I was not content with our decorations. I’d always valued the creativity and memories each ornament represented. So, why did the allure of the retail stores’ holiday displays tempt me to desire a tree adorned with perfectly matched bulbs, shimmering orbs, and satin ribbons?

As I began to turn away from our humble decor, I glimpsed a red, heart-shaped ornament with a simple phrase scripted on it—Jesus, My Savior. How could I have forgotten that my family and my hope in Christ are the reasons I love celebrating Christmas? Our simple tree looked nothing like the trees in the storefronts, but the love behind every decoration made it beautiful.

Like our modest tree, the Messiah didn’t meet the world’s expectations in any way (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus “was despised and rejected” (v. 3). Yet, in an amazing display of love, He still chose to be “pierced for our transgressions” (v. 5). He endured punishment, so we could enjoy peace (v. 5). Nothing is more beautiful than that.

With renewed gratitude for our imperfect decorations and our perfect Savior, I stopped longing for glitz and praised God for His glorious love. Sparkling adornments could never match the beauty of His sacrificial gift—Jesus.

🙏 Loving God, please help me see the beautiful love reflected through the magnitude of Your sacrifice.

13/12/2025

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“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger...”
—Luke 2:7 NIV

‘Away in a Manger’
By

“Away in a Manger” is a beloved song that seems like a lullaby. In fact, many children learn this song at a very young age. It tells the story of the birth of Christ in a clear and simple way, and it shares how the situation of Jesus’ birth was very humble.

In Philippians 2 we read how Jesus “humbled himself.” Not only does Jesus humble himself by taking on our human flesh, but his very birth takes place in humble circumstances.

Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, his family’s hometown, to register for a census that was required by the Roman government. And when they arrived, there were no guest rooms available, so Joseph and Mary could not find a place to stay. They had to take shelter in a stable, and that’s where Mary gave birth to Jesus. So she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in the animals’ feed trough, a manger.

The humility of Jesus’ birth is deeply significant. We would not expect the King of all nations to be born in such meager circumstances. Yet Jesus was born in a stable. This shows us that no matter how poor, dirty, weak, or insignificant we might think we are, Jesus came to save us all.

Jesus, the King of kings, humbled himself and took on our flesh. And his humility and love for us were on full display from the moment he was born to the moment he gave up his life to save us from our sin.

🙏 Thank you, Jesus, for showing your love and humbling yourself for our sake so that we can be saved. Amen.

12/12/2025

🇮🇸
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.”
— 1 John 5:2, NIV

Aunt Betty’s Way
By

When I was young, whenever my doting Aunt Betty visited, it felt like Christmas. She’d bring Star Wars toys and slip me cash on her way out the door. Whenever I stayed with her, she filled the freezer with ice cream and never cooked vegetables. She had few rules and let me stay up late. My aunt was marvelous, reflecting God’s generosity. However, to grow up healthy, I needed more than only Aunt Betty’s way. I also needed my parents to place expectations on me and my behavior and hold me to them.

God asks more of me than Aunt Betty. While He floods us with relentless love, a love that never wavers even when we resist or run away, He does expect something of us. When God instructed Israel how to live, He provided Ten Commandments, not ten suggestions (Exodus 20:1–17). Aware of our self-deception, God offers clear expectations: we’re to “[love] God and [carry] out his commands” (1 John 5:2).

Thankfully, “[God’s] commands are not burdensome” (v. 3). By the Holy Spirit’s power, we can live them out as we experience God’s love and joy. His love for us is unceasing. But the Scriptures offer a question to help us know if we love God in return: Are we obeying His commands as the Spirit guides us?

We can say we love God, but what we do in His strength tells the real story.

🙏 God, I say I love You, but it’s hard to love. It’s hard to obey. Help me see the truth and to love You with my actions.

10/12/2025

🇯🇵
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
— Matthew 1:23, NKJV

Watch for God’s Word to be Fulfilled
By

Joseph is sometimes an overlooked character in the Christmas story. He never speaks in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth. Instead, he considers the events of his life carefully in order to try to do his best to obey God.

The circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy brought a 700-year-old prophecy from Isaiah to the gospel writer’s mind: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son . . .” (see Isaiah 7:14). At a time of national crisis in Isaiah’s day, God had pointed his people to the birth of a child that would show God was present with them, despite the troubles they were facing. With a reminder of that assurance, Joseph gained the courage to keep his pledge with Mary.

In the coming of Jesus, God calls our attention to the larger story of his work in the world, a story that assures us of his presence with us. Our human weakness and sin keep us from obeying God and experiencing his presence. But God’s power breaks into our broken lives to rescue us from sin and inspire us to faithful living. God has transformed our stories by becoming a part of them himself.

Perhaps Joseph’s greatest strength was his quiet willingness to watch for God’s word to be fulfilled. This Christmas, may we also see the fulfillment of God’s promise to us as we consider the birth of his Son.

🙏 Thank you, Lord God, for being with us. As we focus on Jesus’ birth, may we see your word fulfilled in our lives, bringing salvation and peace to our troubled souls. Amen.

09/12/2025

🇦🇹
”For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven... a time to plant and a time to harvest.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT

Winter
By

We love harvest season. We love when we’re seeing favor, prayers answered, new opportunities. But every season is not harvest. We may not like winter, but it is necessary. Without the leaves coming off, the tree would never develop new buds. In the winter, something is happening that you can’t see. The tree is gathering up sap. The roots are going deeper. It’s being prepared to handle more fruit in the spring. If there weren’t these different seasons, the tree wouldn’t reach its full potential.

Don’t complain about the winter seasons in life—the times when you don’t see any growth, you’re stuck at the same level at work, nothing is changing in a relationship. You’re wondering, “What’s wrong? Where is all the fruit?” Nothing is wrong; you’re in winter. Something is happening inside. You can’t see it, but God is getting you prepared for bigger opportunities, more favor, greater honor. Now keep a good attitude when you’re not being recognized, not getting the credit, not seeing growth. Without winter, you won’t become all you were created to be.

🙏 Father, thank You that You change times and seasons, and You’re not limited to the right conditions to be in place in order for You to bless me. Thank You that You’re always working behind the scenes on my behalf. I believe that You are preparing me for something greater. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

08/12/2025

🇮🇱
”Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
— 1 John 3:18, NIV

Relentless Love
By

Heidi and Jeff came home from an overseas work assignment in a hot climate and settled for several months near family in the state of Michigan—just in time for winter. This would be the first time many of their ten children had seen the natural beauty of snow.

But winter weather in Michigan requires a lot of warm outerwear, including coats, mittens, and boots. For a large family, it would be quite an expensive undertaking just to outfit them for the bitterly cold months ahead. But God provided. First, a neighbor brought over footwear, then snow pants, then hats and gloves. Then, a friend urged others at her church to collect a variety of warm clothes in all twelve sizes for each member of the family. By the time the snow arrived, the family had exactly what they needed.

One of the ways we serve God is by serving those in need. First John 3:16–18 encourages us to help others from the abundance of our own possessions. Serving helps us to be more like Jesus as we begin to love and see people as He does.

God often uses His children to fulfill needs and to answer prayers. And as we serve others, our own hearts are encouraged as we encourage those we serve. As a result, our own faith will grow as God equips us for service in new ways (v. 18).

🙏 Father, fill my heart with the willingness to help when I see a need. Help me to give joyfully and serve You with gratitude.

07/12/2025

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”Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”
— Luke 1:45, NIV

Seeking Wisdom
By

In many ways Mary’s surprise pregnancy was not welcome news. Though she had accepted God’s will, it must have been puzzling. God’s way of working in her life was rather shocking and scandalous in the society she lived in. Though she would be called “blessed,” Mary probably did not enjoy much support from her local community at the time.

How do we find space to process what God is doing in the hard situations of life?

Mary wisely sought out the counsel of her relative Elizabeth, who was also pregnant through a miracle of God’s grace. The journey there would not have been easy, taking Mary about a week during a time in her pregnancy when she might have been very tired. But Mary likely sensed in Elizabeth a kindred spirit who could help her think through the surprising things God was doing in their lives.

Christmas can encourage us to seek out godly wisdom as well. Maybe we are in a difficult, unexpected situation. Maybe we feel abandoned or even shunned by a community we thought would support and encourage us.

Who are the people who can help us trust in God’s promises even amid such puzzling, challenging times?

Alternatively, how can we be a friend who points out God’s work to others?

🙏 Heavenly Father, it is a blessing to believe your Word to us. May we believe that you will fulfill what you have promised. Open our eyes to Jesus’ coming into our lives. Amen.

07/12/2025

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Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
— Matthew 19:26, NIV

Seeing Beyond
By

Most people are limited by their logic, but logic can be a dream stealer. If you look at your life situations only from a human point of view—what you can do, your resources, your connections, your experience—you’re going to miss the greatness God put in you. The promises that God has put in your heart, what He’s whispered to you in the night, may not seem possible. All your logic says, “There’s no way. It’s too big. It’s never happened in your family. You don’t have the experience.” But that’s okay. Jesus says that just the opposite is true, that with God all things are possible.

Here’s the question: Are you going to let your human reasoning, what you can see and what’s natural, set the limits for your life? Or are you going to see beyond the logical? Are you going to believe that the all-powerful Creator of the universe, the God who flung stars into space, the God who parts Red Seas, will make a way where you don’t see a way?

🙏 “Father, thank You for being the all-powerful Creator of the universe, for reigning as sovereign over my life and as the One who makes all things possible. There are things in my life that I want to see changed that seem unchangeable, but I trust You. I believe that You will make a way for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
#

05/12/2025

🇦🇺
“All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Breath and Brevity
By

Mom, my sisters, and I waited by Dad’s bed as his breaths became shallower and less and less frequent—until they were no more. Dad was a few days shy of eighty-nine when he slipped quietly into the life beyond where God awaited him. His departure left us with a void where he once resided and only memories and mementos to remind us of him. Yet we have the hope that one day we’ll be reunited.

We have that hope because we believe Dad is with God, who knows and loves him. When Dad breathed his first breath, God was there breathing breath into his lungs (Isaiah 42:5). Yet even before his first and with every breath in between, God was intimately involved in each detail of Dad’s life, just as He is in yours and mine. It was God who wonderfully designed and “knit” him together in the womb (Psalm 139:13–14). And when Dad breathed his last breath, God’s Spirit was there, holding him in love and carrying him to be with Him (vv. 7–10).

The same is true for all of God’s children. Every moment of our brief life on earth is known by Him (vv. 1–4). We’re precious to Him. With each day remaining and in anticipation of the life beyond, let’s join with “everything that has breath” to praise Him. “Praise the Lord”! (150:6).

🙏 Loving God, thank You for creating me and giving me breath—and for giving me hope. In the sorrow and losses of life, help me to cling to You.

A Snippet of Faith

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