HOLY SPIRIT DAY part1

This was the day that changed my life!

We had the HOLY SPIRIT DAY, and we got together from 9am to 4pm to learn about the Holy Spirit.

Until then I've never heard about the Holy Spirit. It sounded really spiritual.
Rev Nicky Gumbel described the power of the Holy Spirit and how it can change people from the inside out.

While I was watching this video, something was happening inside me. I couldn't stop crying!! I didn't know why. But in my heart I asked God to forgive me.I realised that I had so much heaviness in my heart. I was always blaming on myself when things happened and I was constantly thinking about things. Until then I hated crying in front of people, but I couldn't help it.

After lunch, we prayed the prayer to be filled by the Holy Spirit. My mother experienced this before and this is where she struggled because she saw people fainting, crying out loud and laughing. As a non-Christian she thought it was too much. So she wanted to see how I will respond.

And I had the best experience ever....

HOLY SPIRIT DAY part2

When the pastor and other christians prayed for me, I felt really warm inside. I couldn't stop crying as I felt that all the emotions that I've been suppressing inside me were coming out. All of the Alpha group members were crying. Lilly was there too and the next moment I saw something surprising...

She was crying so loud and then she fell on the ground. Her body became stiff and she looked as if she was struggling.It was quite surprising thing to see. I touched her hand and her fingers were stiff too. She was crying for a long time and she couldn't get up so we were just praying for her. And 40 minutes later, she fell asleep and she looked peaceful so we left here lying there.

It is hard to describe what I saw that day but everything seemed so beautiful. I felt as if I was in heaven or somewhere. We all gave each other big hugs and we felt connected to each other. I've
never felt like that before.

20 minutes later, Lily got up and she had a bright smile like a baby. She didn't remember anything of what happened before, how she was crying and how her body became hard etc... She was looking happy and said, "I know God now!"

I felt the same too. I felt that God was there with us. This was the first time that I "felt" God's presence. Everything looked so beautiful in my eyes. I felt relaly warm inside and for the first time I realised that God was real. I had no doubts anymore. We didn't want to go home straight after Alpha so we all went to the cafe. We couldn't stop talking about what happened in us throughout that day!

When I went back home, my mum was surprised to see me looking happy. I was really excited! I don't have to doubt anymore. God is real. I'm a Christian!

I wanted to get baptised as soon as possible :)

Relationship with God :)

Since the Holy Spirit day, I've changed completely.

I couldn't hear the voice inside me that used to accuse me all the time.Instead, I felt warm inside... I felt that God was saying to me

"It's okay... I love you and I am with you."

And I realised that I had to get rid of my pride.

Before I became a Christian I didn't have a good relationship with my father because I had pride. But after being filled with the Holy Spirit, I was able to say sorry and and I became softer. I could easily love my father.

I was always smiling even when people weren't around me because I was really happy.
I said more positive things all the time. And I saw the good sides of things.

Other Christians said that "I can see that you're filled with the Holy Spirit. It's like the honeymoon period for Christians."

I felt closer to other Christians. I felt as if they were my true family.

Also whenever I worshipped at church, I couldn't stop crying!That was the tear of joy. Since then I started to put on water-proof mascara! (LOL)

Praying that seemed so difficult became so simple and easy!

I couldn't stop smiling because I realised that finally I had a relationship with God :)

I'm getting baptised with you!

On the last day of Alpha I decided to get baptised.

I thought getting baptised was like having a wedding ceremony.I was already a Christian because I prayed that prayer to receive Jesus, but I didn't feel complete. I wanted to tell the whole world that I am going to live a new life with Jesus!

Also, I wanted to get baptised before I leave Australia.

During the final Alpha session I was asked to share my testimony.

This is what I shared.

"I came to this Alpha course through my mother. Every week I struggled a lot because I couldn't understand things. But at the same time I felt peace.
One experience that totally changed me was the Holy Spirit day. Until that day, I was struggling to make a decision to become a Christian because I knew that I was going to Japan, the country that only has less than 1% Christians.

I didn't understand why I wanted to know more about Christianity when I had a plan to go back to Japan, but every week I got closer to God. But now that I know God, I am so happy that I made the decision to receive Jesus and I am not scared to tell people that I've became a Christian. I believe that I'll still face difficult times in my life but I can overcome anything because nothing can be worse than the life wtihout Jesus. I'm not alone anymore!
And I am so thankful that people prayed for me and shined their lights to me. I want to do that to others as well. I want to keep on sowing seeds."

Everyone clapped and gave me big hugs. I felt really happy.

Other people gave great speeches too. One guy called Adrian said,

" I used to be logical and focus on education. I've always been successful in my life. I had great career. But I felt that something was lacking in me. That's when my friend invited me to Alpha course. I realised that perhaps I was missing God's love in my life. Since I started coming to alpha, I've been feeling God's love in my heart. I felt His love through other people too. I'm so happy that I came to Alpha. And I'm going to get baptised too."

It was amazing to see him becoming a softer and softer throughout the course.Only God can change people to this extent!

When I arrived home, my mother gave me a big smile and said,

"Izumi... I decided to get baptised with you!!!"

My mum had been struggling for a long time, but finally she made that decision.That was because she had been talking to this one Christian woman who had been struggling for years to get baptised or not. She thought she didn't want to be like her!

My mother's eyes were shining. I was overwhelmed with joy. I'm going to get baptised with my mum!!! and my other Alpha friends!!! I couldn't wait until one of the best days of my life...

Spiritual warfare????

I used to hear about spiritual warfare, but I didn't know that I'll experience that straight after my decision to get baptised.

My father, who is not a Christian, became so angry about our decision to get baptised. He threatened my mother and said that she can not get baptised.

We prayed together a lot. It was good how my mother was strong about her decision.Although he attaced us through words and his attitude, we believed in God and we treated him nicely.
When my father realised that our decision was definite, he gave up. He knew that he couldn't take care of our lives. He said, "I can't find a good reason to stop you getting baptised. Afterall it's your life."

Also Lilly who were going to get baptised with us said that she wasn't sure anymore. Whenever people prayed for her, she felt better and said that she will get baptised but it always changed.
Another Chinese girl also said that she wasn't sure anymore because she thought that she was not "good enough." She was in the process of getting divorced and couldn't stop smoking and she was afraid to be committed to one church. But when people told about God's grace and His power to change her life she looked better.

Another Japanese girl who was going to get baptised with her started worrying too as her parents were buddhists and she didn't want other Christians to know that she wasn't baptised yet because people thought she was baptised already.

Everyone was challenged in different ways. We didn't know how many will actually get baptised until the day...

The day that I will never forget!!!

5th December was definitely one of the best days of my life.

Before our baptisms, we were invited to Adrian's baptism which was held at his friend's house. He got baptised in pool. I can't describe how beautiful it was.Adrian gave a speech before he got baptised in the pool.

He said how Shane and I played an important part in his decision to get baptised.Through us he felt the true meaning of "Love, honesty and humility."

He got baptised in the pool and he was born again. I can't describe how beautiful it was...! He looked totally different afterwards. He looked really warm. Filled with love.I realised that that was how God designed him to be.

Our baptisms started from 7:30pm at Northshore Christian Centre. Unfortunately so many of our friends couldn't come. But 3 of my friends from Uni and 2 of my friends from my highschool came. And Adrian who just got baptised before us came along as well.
My mum didn't actually know how special Baptisms are so she didn't invite many people. Only 2 of her Catholic friends came.

As we didn't know if everyone was going to come, I almost cried when I saw all the girls there to get baptised with us...!!! They looked really happy. They have made the decision to overcome their worries and fears.

So on this day, I got baptised with 4 Japanese, 1 Taiwanese, 1 Korean girl, 1 Aussie boy and a Korean pastor and his wife. This couple was already baptised before but they only had water sprinkled so they wanted to get water baptised. 　It was a special experience for me to get baptised with my mum. As I went into the water, my sins was washed away and I was born again...! So many people gave me great words from the Bible. One scripture that I remember was Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

My Pastor prophesized over me that I will become a great leader in Japan and I'll share God's love to people. At this time I couldn't really picture myself leading many Japanese to Jesus but it was a great encouragement.

I would never forget about this day. Everyone felt the same. We all felt connected!
5th December :)