JCOB Fuji, 206 Urishima Cho, Fuji-shi (2026)

05/10/2026

October 5

“Accepted by God”
Jana Strange (Oklahoma, USA)

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” - Matthew 21:42 (NIV)

My husband and I live on a farm in Oklahoma. We have a small flock of sheep that produces lambs several times a year. Occasionally, a ewe rejects her new lamb and refuses to let it nurse by pushing it away, walking away, or even stepping on it. This could be due to illness in the lamb, too many lambs to nurse, poor mothering instincts, or other unknown reasons. We call this lamb a “bummer” and bring it inside to keep warm and bottle feed it.

For me, church is such a positive experience and the way I feel most connected to God. But sadly, there are many people who feel rejected by the church. Like ewes who reject their young, there are many reasons this happens, some of which are unknown. These judgments are very hurtful to those individuals — they may stop attending, stop seeking God, and even stop believing.

Jesus was rejected by the religious authorities of his time, yet we know that this rejected stone became the cornerstone of God’s plan. When we show acceptance for others rather than rejection, like Jesus, we are promoting love for all God’s children.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank you for overcoming rejection to show us how to continue our spiritual journey. Help us to love others as you love us. Amen.

04/10/2026

JCOB Fuji Japanese Afternoon Sunday Service - October 4

With Ptr. Endo Takafumi (Alpha Christ Church - Fuji)

04/10/2026

October 4

“Let Your Light Shine”
Johnna Young (Ohio, USA)

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Who is that singing? I thought to myself. Our congregation was singing the same song we always do to end Sunday services, but this time a new voice was ringing out above all the others. I looked around and saw four-year-old Lucy belting out all the words with excitement.

Lucy’s exuberant singing reminded me of what Jesus instructed in today’s scripture reading. We are not supposed to hide or be timid about our love for God. We are to let our light shine before others, like Lucy. She sings with passion, and while not every note is perfect, you can tell she loves Jesus with all her heart. I used to sing quietly. I didn’t praise loudly because I was self-conscious. But now, inspired by Lucy, I’ve found the courage to praise God more openly.

Lucy has unknowingly started a movement at our church, a revival of praising God with passion. Battery-operated candles have been placed in each pew, and now the pastor calls all the children to the front to lead the closing song. They run up enthusiastically with their candles in hand. And many of the other church members turn on their candles, holding them up and lifting their voices in loud praise. Lucy’s example is a reminder to praise God with our whole heart and to let our light shine for all to see.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for being the light in our lives. Give us courage to share your light with others. Amen.

03/10/2026

The STANDARD Highlights
October 4, 2026 Issue

Jesus Christ Our Banner Church
https://jcobjapan.com/

☆Pastor’s Desk: Emmaus Encounter (Luke 24:13–35) by Ptr. Connie Ozaki

☆Word of Encouragement: Pruning Stage (John 15:2) by Ptr. Cecille Yamada

☆Feature Story: Glory of God by P. Loy Francisco (JCOB Fuji Outreach)

☆Japanese Encouragement:
神は全てを見られる | God Sees Everything
(アモス書 9:4 | Amos 9:4)
Source: https://www.odbm.org/ja

☆Church Directory

The Standard Bulletin Direct Download Link:http://jcobjapan.com/assets/current.pdf
Or you can also grab a printed copy from your local church.

Please share and pass this along to your family, friends, co-workers, or even to strangers you meet online or on the street. Everybody needs encouragement from God's Word.

03/10/2026

Joyful and Blessed Birthday Wishes to our OCTOBER Celebrants!

Sis. Mayumi, October 3rd
Yuka-chan, October 12th
Nanay Flor, October 13th
Reina-chan, October 23rd
Sis. Wilma, October 26th
Sis.Lorily, October 28th
Bro. Satoshi Kato, October 29th

We honor the incredible gift of your life. May God's grace shower you with abundant happiness, love, and blessings. Have a fantastic birthday!

With love,
Your JCOB Fuji Family

02/10/2026

October 3

“Trusting God”
Sammy M. Mwatha (Murang’a, Kenya)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

I have been a web content creator since 2013, but artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly taking over my field of work. My clients have begun fizzling out as they turn to AI for content creation. With bills piling up and my daughter in college, I have felt like I am in a raging storm without any viable solution.

One Sunday as I studied God’s word, I read Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” These words were like a lifeline. They taught me that while I could do nothing on my own, I should trust God’s plan for me.

As I continue to pray for God’s guidance and a breakthrough, peace has pervaded my life. I know that God’s plan for me is good; God has not brought me this far to abandon me. I feel more confident now as I seek freelancing opportunities, trusting in God no matter what. Uncertainty doesn’t mean God is not present. I have realized that this experience was not just about finding a job; it also taught me to trust God more, particularly during uncertain times.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Loving and caring God, teach us to trust you more when facing uncertain times. Amen.

02/10/2026

October 2

“Encourage One Another”
Stacy LS Siegele (Kansas, USA)

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSVUE)

I once participated in a four-mile run at the Kansas City Zoo. There were over two thousand runners. All of us had different paces, different styles, and different ways of being a runner. Even with those differences, all of us had the same finish line as our goal.

The course was confusing, so there were volunteers throughout, pointing out where we should go. Sometimes we were on paths, sometimes on back roads only the zookeepers see, and once we went right through the yard of the petting zoo! Along the way, the volunteers not only kept us on the right course, but they yelled encouragement: You can do it! Way to go! You’re more than halfway!

When the path got tight and curvy, there were traffic jams, and we had to slow down for others and be mindful of those in our way. But there were no negative, judgmental comments. People were supporting and encouraging each other. The sense of community was amazing.

This is the kind of community Paul calls us to be in today’s scripture.

Paul tells us to encourage each other. We are one in Christ. When we refrain from judgment and lift others up, we set a positive example, pointing the way to the shared finish line of drawing closer to Jesus.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, help us to recognize that there are many ways to connect with you. May we encourage one another, supporting each other in Jesus’ name. Amen.

01/10/2026

October 1

“Counting Pebbles”
Jeremy K. Mullen (Pennsylvania, USA)

Once you were alienated from God. . . . But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. - Colossians 1:21-22 (CEB)

In my classroom, I used to have five glass bowls — one for each group I taught. When the students obeyed the rules, I added a pebble to the bowl for their class. When they disobeyed the rules, I took a pebble out of the bowl. After a while, I would count the pebbles in each bowl, and the class with the most pebbles won a pizza party.

Many people think this is what it’s like to be a Christian: God gives us a bunch of rules to follow and adds pebbles to our glass bowl when we obey and takes them out when we disobey and then counts our pebbles to see if we’ve earned the reward of heaven. But this is not what Christianity is.

Christianity is not about obeying rules to score enough points to win admission into heaven or to get on God’s good side. Being a Christian is about living in relationship with God. That’s why the apostle Paul calls the gospel the “message of reconciliation” in today’s reading from Second Corinthians. It’s the good news of how we are reconciled to God through Jesus. And this is God’s gift given freely to us and not something we earn.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for inviting us to live in a loving relationship with you by faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to share this good news with others. Amen.

30/09/2026

September 30

“God, My Strength”
Norma Maldonado (Nuevo León, Mexico)

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. - Isaiah 41:10 (NRSVUE)

A few years ago, though I lacked for nothing, I could not find joy in being the mother of two lovely children and the spouse of a good man. Given these circumstances, I simply could not understand my tendency toward sadness and despair, which prompted feelings of taking my own life.

One day, I listened to a reading of Psalm 40. It spoke directly to my heart because I was deep in the pit of despair. I began to repeat this psalm, reclaiming God’s promise to “set my feet on a rock and give me a firm place to stand” and let God guide my steps.

In time, I gained the assurance that God was fulfilling that promise. I sought treatment for my condition, and with constant prayer, God lifted me out of the pit of despondency and placed my feet on solid ground. I hold that experience as a reminder of how God rescued me from the darkest moment of my life and sustained me. God truly is our strength and our deliverer.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, your promises remain true, even when we struggle to accept them. Remind us that you continue to love us, bless us, and hold us in your care. Amen.

29/09/2026

September 29

“Checking In”
Sheryl McDonald (North Carolina, USA)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” - Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

As the owner of a new puppy, I enrolled us in a training class. Along with “sit” and “stay,” we learned something new to me: the “check-in.” The dog is supposed to turn and look at you every few minutes while walking on a leash, checking in with you as the handler. The purpose is to keep the dog from harm and on the right path and to create a bond of trust.

One training requirement is that the dog check in first, without being prompted, before receiving any praise or reward. The check-in is supposed to be a voluntary act, rather than a response to a command. I quickly learned that my dog rarely, if ever, checked in with me. Instead, she was distracted by everything around us, pulling this way and that. I wasn’t happy, and she wasn’t getting any praise.

Then I wondered, How often do I check in with God? Do I pause what I’m doing and take time to express gratitude for what God has done in my life or to seek direction for the path ahead? Perhaps I’m so involved with the distractions of this world that I don’t think to look to God as often as I should. And perhaps I’m also missing out on the reward of God’s guidance. No matter how busy I am, I now make it a regular habit to check in with the Lord.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, as we seek to do your will, help us always to look to you for guidance. Amen.

JCOB Fuji

05/10/2026

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