Author Archives: jgarrott

About jgarrott

Born and raised in Japan of missionary parents. Have been here as an adult missionary since 1981.

Perspective; October 27, 2024

Posted on October 28, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. I would imagine Isaiah’s hearers got rather confused sometimes, because his prophecies seem to mix … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged blessings, conditional love, disasters, elections, God's love, Isaiah, passing troubles, perspective, prayer, prophecies | Leave a comment

Priorities; October 26, 2024

Posted on October 27, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 2:5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Verses 2-4 are a dearly loved prophecy of God’s kingdom, culminating in this invitation to live in obedience to and fellowship with God, but then this is followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged bible, christianity, current reality, God, idolatry, Isaiah, Jesus, priorities, prophecies, technology, the kingdom of God, tools | Leave a comment

Aging; October 25, 2024

Posted on October 26, 2024 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— The first part of this is excellent advice, but everything that follows, all the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged aging, anticipation, being used by God, bible, death, faith, God, gratitude, joy, old age, pride, purpose, remembering God, satisfaction, Solomon, wisdom | Leave a comment

Humility; October 24, 2024

Posted on October 25, 2024 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Solomon was noted for his wisdom, but I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged hubris, humility, ignorance, IQ, knowledge, learning, meteorology, pride, spiritual growth, trusting God, wisdom | Leave a comment

Bible Translation; October 23, 2024

Posted on October 24, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being. This verse exposes a characteristic of both major Biblical languages that can be very frustrating for speakers of other languages. Both Hebrew and Greek use … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged being bilingual, bible, Bible accuracy, bible reading, breath, christianity, faith, God, Jesus, languages, names, readability, spirit, the Holy Spirit, translation, wind | Leave a comment

Speaking; October 22, 2024

Posted on October 23, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. To a man of words like me, this verse seems rather ominous! Wise men, even apart from the Bible, have noted from thousands … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged bible, christianity, faith, God, Jesus, listening, motives, pleasing God, self-control, self-preservation, speaking, speaking the truth in love, words | Leave a comment

Sex; October 21, 2024

Posted on October 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 6:23 For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light,and correction and instruction are the way to life. This verse is certainly true, but what is striking is that what follows is a very clear warning not to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged adultery, Bathsheba, bible, Bible study, body count, David, faith, holiness, human nature, joy, liberation, marriage, obeying God, sex, Solomon, temptation, the devil's lies, wisdom | Leave a comment

Spiritual Growth; October 20, 2024

Posted on October 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. This verse, in a very slightly different translation, is actually a better fit to the music in Japanese than the original … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged bible, choices, christianity, dawn, faith, following God, God, Jesus, music, poetry, righteousness, sanctification, song translation, spiritual growth, vision | Leave a comment

God’s Omniscience; October 19, 2024

Posted on October 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I really thought I would be writing on other than this most famous part … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged assurance, being known by God, bible, faith, following God, God, God's guidance, God's omniscience, knowing God, prayer, psalms, surveillance state, thoughts | Leave a comment

Reading the Bible; October 18, 2024

Posted on October 19, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Both the NIV and the ESV use “unfolding” here, but the Japanese says, “when the door to your Word opens.” Both of those translations have things … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged abiding, applying God's Word, bible, faith, God, God's Word, Jesus, meditation, Reading the Bible, the Bible, wisdom | Leave a comment

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