Do the next thing

This phrase is so common in our culture today. I'm not sure it originated with this poem. However, I found it really encouraging when I read it today in the devotional,
"Beholding and Becoming" by Ruth Chou Simons.
She copied it from Elisabeth Elliot's newsletter here.

"From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There come in the twilight a message for me,
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration: DO THE NEXT THING.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus. DO THE NEXT THING.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
who placed it before thee with earnest command,
stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings. DO THE NEXT THING.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
{working or suffering} be thy demeanor.
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance be thy psalm.
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing!
Then, as He beckons thee, DO THE NEXT THING."
(Source unknown)

Bingata Painting!

My first Bingata painting!

Bingata is a very old Okinawan process of dyeing cloth Okinawan with stencils and bright colors.  It is a gorgeous art form and I'm really glad I was able to enjoy making one to hang on our wall.
In case you want to read more of it, here is a good article on it!

For my friend's birthday, a bunch of ladies went out to paint at this really cool painting place in Naha. It was called Gusuku Bingata Dyeing Studio. First, we picked out our patterns and then they laid them out on the table with the paint. I was so excited!! One of my favorite things to do in life is paint! Every chance I get to paint is a beautiful one. I like to play music, podcast, or some 'old' TV show in the background. After we had all our patterns, the instructor explained that you had to soak the paint into the fabric and slowly rub the paint in circles. We spent about forty-five minutes painting our designs which dried as we painted. After all the pictures, we were given directions for a week later. So I brought mine home and laid it out to dry for a week. After a week, I rinsed out the glue and then soaked it for a couple of hours. Then, it came out all cute!

These are the fish flags that fly in the spring for Children's Day