Scripture:
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will."
(Romans 12:2)
Most of us would probably agree that things like murder, adultery, stealing and the alike are not God's will for our life. In the same manner, we would probably agree that reading the Bible, going to church and doing good deeds is God's will and we should do these things. But what about everything in between? Does God want me to buy a new car? Should I sleep in on Saturday? Should I wear a white shirt or a blue shirt today to work?
Now there are a lot of ways to address these types of questions. Some might say that God does not care about these kinds of things. Others might say it all depends. Still others might have a whole list of requirements for determining what is or what is not God's will.
This was true with the Pharasees. They had over 600 rules they had to follow to do the things that they should. Even Jesus was questioned a number of times about "working" on the sabbath when he healed the sick or giving "to Caesar that which is Caesars and giving to God that which is God's" (Matt. 22:21). At the same time there are many who have their whole list of things to do or not do and the list are either larger or smaller or interpretted differently, creating a plethora of doctrines and demonimations and rituals.
Today's scripture makes it very clear what we are to do to know what God's will is and that is to 1) not to be conformed to the world, that is not to do what the world does and 2) be transformed by the renewing of you mind. which basically is saying that we are by nature going to be like the world but we need to take the initiative to tranform ourselves and we do so by renewing our own minds away from the world and onto God.
After you do that, then you will be able to test for yourself that your life is closer to the will of God and others will be able to see in your life as proof that you are doing God's will. But how do we make ourselves that we are not like the world and how do we change our minds to do this?
Well some might say the answer is simple, you saturate yourself with the Word of God and with praying and with going to Church, etc. And in part that is true. However, I think that if we focus on these good Christian things so that we do them, that we might be missing the mark a bit. You see the rest of the verse points more to the final goal of all this, that is so that we may do what is God's "good, pleasing and perfect will".
So yes, we need to do all these things that are in this verse like not conforming and renewing to test and prove ourselves to see that we are doing God's will, but I don't think we should be focusing on these to do's. I think that we need to focus on the last words, God's "perfect will."
I would be like following the direcctions that we got from mapquest or google maps. In order to get the directions we need to give it the final destination and then the map tells you what you need to do to get there. I think the same is true with this verse, in order to do all that this verse encourages us to do, I think we need to be heading for the final destination before, during and after we begin, that is we should be desiring to arrive at God's perfect will .
Request:
That God would countinue to bless Avery which in turn is one of the ways God is blessing us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for hearing what is in our hearts and for sending the Holy Spirit to comfort us. Lead us into your perfect paths and glorify your Son in our lives. In Jesus name. Amen
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Lost Watch
Scriptures: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.” (Psalm 62:1)
I heard a story about a carpenter who, while working, accidentally dropped his watch on the ground which was covered with sawdust. With so much work to be done, the dusts were just about everywhere and the machines roaring, the carpenter was not happy dropping his watch. He mumbled and complained, trying to find his watch in the piles of sawdust on the ground.
His friends all gathered around to help, but none of them found the watch. Somehow, the watch was buried deep and could not be found. With disappointments, they each returned to their work, leaving the carpenter feeling depressed all day long.
At the end of day, when the day’s work was done, the son of the carpenter came to shop for his father. He was told the loss of the watch. He sat down and, in no time, he uncovered the watch from the pile of sawdust. Everyone was surprised and asked him how he found it. He said, “I simply sat on the ground and listened to the ticking sound of the watch. The sound of the watch lead me to it!”
That wasn’t too hard, was it? But, in the middle of all the noise and busyness going on around us, how often do we get to sit down and listen quietly to what God has to say to us? When the pot is cooking on the stove, the kids are crying in the room, and the deadline for the project is due tomorrow, sitting down and listening quietly seems so remote and unreal! Yet, deep down, we know we need them because, from experience, we know that a life without them is more than exhausting, more than what we can bear, it drives us crazy!
That is why Bible, in many places, tells us that we need to be still before our Lord. We need to have such quiet time to be with our Lord God alone for, just as the psalmist said in today’s passage, God alone can give us the true peace to our life and the real rest our souls need for strength to move on in life. He has promised that “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
God knows our lives. He knows we are limited in every way; our understanding, our wisdom, and our strength. He wants to help. He makes Himself available to us 24/7. He’s only a prayer away, if only we come to Him daily and whenever we need.
He has extended His invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) We don’t have to settle for anxiety, chaos and hopelessness. We have hope. We have peace. More importantly, we have the Prince of Peace, our Lord. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s come to Him for worship and fellowship, the only way we can be strengthened and be restored as a mighty vessel for Him and His kingdom!
Prayer Requests:
For everyone who finds it hard to have time with God for a peaceful one-on-one time of worship and fellowship
Prayer:
Aba Father, thank You for the salvation through Jesus Christ who brought us peace and reconciliation with You. Please help us to learn from Mary to find time to sit at Your feet to look up to You and learn from You so we may be filled with the love, wisdom and strength from above to face this life You have blessed us and to triumph in Your name. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, we pray, Amen!
I heard a story about a carpenter who, while working, accidentally dropped his watch on the ground which was covered with sawdust. With so much work to be done, the dusts were just about everywhere and the machines roaring, the carpenter was not happy dropping his watch. He mumbled and complained, trying to find his watch in the piles of sawdust on the ground.
His friends all gathered around to help, but none of them found the watch. Somehow, the watch was buried deep and could not be found. With disappointments, they each returned to their work, leaving the carpenter feeling depressed all day long.
At the end of day, when the day’s work was done, the son of the carpenter came to shop for his father. He was told the loss of the watch. He sat down and, in no time, he uncovered the watch from the pile of sawdust. Everyone was surprised and asked him how he found it. He said, “I simply sat on the ground and listened to the ticking sound of the watch. The sound of the watch lead me to it!”
That wasn’t too hard, was it? But, in the middle of all the noise and busyness going on around us, how often do we get to sit down and listen quietly to what God has to say to us? When the pot is cooking on the stove, the kids are crying in the room, and the deadline for the project is due tomorrow, sitting down and listening quietly seems so remote and unreal! Yet, deep down, we know we need them because, from experience, we know that a life without them is more than exhausting, more than what we can bear, it drives us crazy!
That is why Bible, in many places, tells us that we need to be still before our Lord. We need to have such quiet time to be with our Lord God alone for, just as the psalmist said in today’s passage, God alone can give us the true peace to our life and the real rest our souls need for strength to move on in life. He has promised that “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
God knows our lives. He knows we are limited in every way; our understanding, our wisdom, and our strength. He wants to help. He makes Himself available to us 24/7. He’s only a prayer away, if only we come to Him daily and whenever we need.
He has extended His invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) We don’t have to settle for anxiety, chaos and hopelessness. We have hope. We have peace. More importantly, we have the Prince of Peace, our Lord. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s come to Him for worship and fellowship, the only way we can be strengthened and be restored as a mighty vessel for Him and His kingdom!
Prayer Requests:
For everyone who finds it hard to have time with God for a peaceful one-on-one time of worship and fellowship
Prayer:
Aba Father, thank You for the salvation through Jesus Christ who brought us peace and reconciliation with You. Please help us to learn from Mary to find time to sit at Your feet to look up to You and learn from You so we may be filled with the love, wisdom and strength from above to face this life You have blessed us and to triumph in Your name. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, we pray, Amen!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Working in Us
Scripture:
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."
(Ephesians 3:20)
For years I have quoted this scripture verse and it has always been an encouragement to me knowing that God is so able to care for me. Even beyond what we can even ask or think.
This morning, as I was leaving to come to work, I saw someone parked behind me, sitting in the passenger seat with the car door open. I smiled and nodded as I opened my car to put my backpack in the back seat when a man stepped out of his car and began speaking to me. He told me he had run out of gas and did not have a gas can.
Of course, I was happy to oblige him, so we got my gasoline container and we went to get him some gas. (It was only a few blocks away.) As we chatted we found out that we were both believers and for the next 15 minutes we had a great time of fellowship.
Now what are the chances that a brother in Christ would run out of gas right behind my car and would be sitting there just at the time I was coming out to go to work? Is our God great or what!
At the same time, for years I never really noticed that last part of that verse that says, "according to His power that is at work within us." Now notice that it says according to His power "that is at work within us." I never thought about it before, but there are many, many Christians that just don't seem to be connected with God. Do you know what I mean? They are good people, they go to church, they seem Christian ok, but there life just does not seem to be all together?
I am not criticizing here, because this was my life for many years, even during the time I was a missionary in Spain. Yes, really, but I did not know it. I was a good Christian, I prayed, I read my bible, I gave out tracts, I witnessed and I left the results to God. Yet there seemed to be something missing, that is I did not see His power as much as I wanted or expected it to.
Very frankly, I had no idea how to get God's power to be at work within me and this is not to say that I have arrived or anything. It is just to say that it takes more then just having the head knowledge that God is able and that God will care for us, I think it takes a spiritual knowledge to keep focused on God and His Word in a way that His power works within us.
Let us continually remember that we are more then just people walking around on this earth, doing good deeds and taking care of our families, we are now spiritual beings, born of God, joint heirs with Jesus, citizens of the Kingdom with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that comforts us, guides us, fills us, teaches us and reminds us that is it Him who works in us to do His good pleasure. As an old favorite hymn says, "this world is not my own, I am just a passing through."
Request:
That you would pray for the following small towns in southern Spain that will be that target of an evangelism effort next month; Lora del Rio, Fuentes de Andalucia, Santaella, La Luisiana, La Lantejuela, Casariche, Herrera, Pedrera, El Campillo, El Rubio, Rute, Cero Perrera, La Puebla de los Infantes, Canada Rosal, La Montiela, Almodovar del Rio & Fuente Palmera. (Look them up on Google Earth :-)
Prayer:
Dear Lord God, Thank you for loving us so much, more then even we are capable of understanding. We rest in your care and surrender to your will. This world is not our home and we wait for the glorious day when we will be with you in our mansions, serving you and praising you forever. Amen
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."
(Ephesians 3:20)
For years I have quoted this scripture verse and it has always been an encouragement to me knowing that God is so able to care for me. Even beyond what we can even ask or think.
This morning, as I was leaving to come to work, I saw someone parked behind me, sitting in the passenger seat with the car door open. I smiled and nodded as I opened my car to put my backpack in the back seat when a man stepped out of his car and began speaking to me. He told me he had run out of gas and did not have a gas can.
Of course, I was happy to oblige him, so we got my gasoline container and we went to get him some gas. (It was only a few blocks away.) As we chatted we found out that we were both believers and for the next 15 minutes we had a great time of fellowship.
Now what are the chances that a brother in Christ would run out of gas right behind my car and would be sitting there just at the time I was coming out to go to work? Is our God great or what!
At the same time, for years I never really noticed that last part of that verse that says, "according to His power that is at work within us." Now notice that it says according to His power "that is at work within us." I never thought about it before, but there are many, many Christians that just don't seem to be connected with God. Do you know what I mean? They are good people, they go to church, they seem Christian ok, but there life just does not seem to be all together?
I am not criticizing here, because this was my life for many years, even during the time I was a missionary in Spain. Yes, really, but I did not know it. I was a good Christian, I prayed, I read my bible, I gave out tracts, I witnessed and I left the results to God. Yet there seemed to be something missing, that is I did not see His power as much as I wanted or expected it to.
Very frankly, I had no idea how to get God's power to be at work within me and this is not to say that I have arrived or anything. It is just to say that it takes more then just having the head knowledge that God is able and that God will care for us, I think it takes a spiritual knowledge to keep focused on God and His Word in a way that His power works within us.
Let us continually remember that we are more then just people walking around on this earth, doing good deeds and taking care of our families, we are now spiritual beings, born of God, joint heirs with Jesus, citizens of the Kingdom with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that comforts us, guides us, fills us, teaches us and reminds us that is it Him who works in us to do His good pleasure. As an old favorite hymn says, "this world is not my own, I am just a passing through."
Request:
That you would pray for the following small towns in southern Spain that will be that target of an evangelism effort next month; Lora del Rio, Fuentes de Andalucia, Santaella, La Luisiana, La Lantejuela, Casariche, Herrera, Pedrera, El Campillo, El Rubio, Rute, Cero Perrera, La Puebla de los Infantes, Canada Rosal, La Montiela, Almodovar del Rio & Fuente Palmera. (Look them up on Google Earth :-)
Prayer:
Dear Lord God, Thank you for loving us so much, more then even we are capable of understanding. We rest in your care and surrender to your will. This world is not our home and we wait for the glorious day when we will be with you in our mansions, serving you and praising you forever. Amen
Thursday, May 22, 2008
My Ways Are Not Your Ways
For My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord (Is. 55:8).
This morning I was greatly saddened to read about the tragic, accidental death of the 5-year-old daughter of Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Even more tragic than the death of the child was that the accident was caused by another family member. More tragic still were some of the comments posted by readers of the article.
Some people had posted messages of sympathy. Others offered prayers of hope, saying that God can always bring good out of even the most tragic situations. But in response, several readers posted virulent comments about how there is no god, since a benevolent deity could never allow such a thing. One referred to people of faith as believing in “a spaghetti god in the sky” and stating that such persons only perform charitable acts because of some imagined reward in the next life (if there is one), not because charity is the right thing to do.
To me, such statements are a real indictment on a society that is lost and angry. God has never said that His dealings with humanity would necessarily make sense to us. Just the opposite: As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are My ways above your ways and My thoughts above your thoughts (Is. 55:9). It’s OK if we don’t understand! Last time I checked, there was no commandment in Scripture that said we must understand what He is doing, although it is right and prudent to pray for such understanding.
One of the greatest graces I was ever inspired to pray for was to be obedient to the Lord’s commands and leading until my understanding could catch up. It has been the most freeing thing! A couple of weeks ago, I started reading a book called Come, Be My Light about Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and how she came to establish the Missionaries of Charity to serve “the poorest of the poor,” as she called them. When she was first inspired to do so, it didn’t make any sense to her either, yet she obeyed. I don’t think any of us could argue with the results of her obedience!
Even if we don’t ever live to see the results of our obedience in this life, or if the results of our fidelity to His Word aren’t what we expected, we have God’s assurance that it means something and that it counts. The same chapter of Isaiah continues, “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall My word that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it (Is. 55:10-11).
Mother Teresa said that we are imperfect pencils in God’s hands, but in spite of that imperfection, His handwriting is always beautiful. So let us abandon ourselves joyfully and with trust into His hands, for we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Hallelujah!
Prayer Request: For those struggling to make sense of God’s work in their lives.
Prayer: Our Lord and God, You promise that You will never abandon us, no matter what the circumstances. Help us to keep our eyes and our hearts fixed on You, for we know that Your grace will sustain us wherever Your will leads us. We make this prayer through Him who is our strength, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
This morning I was greatly saddened to read about the tragic, accidental death of the 5-year-old daughter of Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Even more tragic than the death of the child was that the accident was caused by another family member. More tragic still were some of the comments posted by readers of the article.
Some people had posted messages of sympathy. Others offered prayers of hope, saying that God can always bring good out of even the most tragic situations. But in response, several readers posted virulent comments about how there is no god, since a benevolent deity could never allow such a thing. One referred to people of faith as believing in “a spaghetti god in the sky” and stating that such persons only perform charitable acts because of some imagined reward in the next life (if there is one), not because charity is the right thing to do.
To me, such statements are a real indictment on a society that is lost and angry. God has never said that His dealings with humanity would necessarily make sense to us. Just the opposite: As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are My ways above your ways and My thoughts above your thoughts (Is. 55:9). It’s OK if we don’t understand! Last time I checked, there was no commandment in Scripture that said we must understand what He is doing, although it is right and prudent to pray for such understanding.
One of the greatest graces I was ever inspired to pray for was to be obedient to the Lord’s commands and leading until my understanding could catch up. It has been the most freeing thing! A couple of weeks ago, I started reading a book called Come, Be My Light about Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and how she came to establish the Missionaries of Charity to serve “the poorest of the poor,” as she called them. When she was first inspired to do so, it didn’t make any sense to her either, yet she obeyed. I don’t think any of us could argue with the results of her obedience!
Even if we don’t ever live to see the results of our obedience in this life, or if the results of our fidelity to His Word aren’t what we expected, we have God’s assurance that it means something and that it counts. The same chapter of Isaiah continues, “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall My word that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it (Is. 55:10-11).
Mother Teresa said that we are imperfect pencils in God’s hands, but in spite of that imperfection, His handwriting is always beautiful. So let us abandon ourselves joyfully and with trust into His hands, for we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Hallelujah!
Prayer Request: For those struggling to make sense of God’s work in their lives.
Prayer: Our Lord and God, You promise that You will never abandon us, no matter what the circumstances. Help us to keep our eyes and our hearts fixed on You, for we know that Your grace will sustain us wherever Your will leads us. We make this prayer through Him who is our strength, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Calm After Storm?
Scriptures: [Jesus said,] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Acts 20:35)
The other day, as I stepped out into the parking lot in front of our office, I saw on a frame for license plate these words, “Calm After Storm.” For some reason, it reminded me of a story of a painting contest I heard some time ago.
The theme of the contest was “Peace.” One young artist put on the canvas a beautiful picture of a peaceful lake where the mountains on the far end are clearly reflected in the water. Everyone who saw this picture could definitely feel the peacefulness of that beautiful scenery.
But, to everyone’s surprise, the winner of the contest was not this picture. The prize went to a picture where raging water came off the cliff to form a thunderous waterfall. And, right next to the waterfall was a small branch on which a nest was built and a little bird was sleeping in it, in spite of the raging water and its noise.
I think the message could not be clearer. True peace is not the ability to be calm when nothing happens. True peace is the ability to remain calm even when everything else in life is going crazy and out of control. I like to think of peace as the ability to resist the temptation of dancing with our circumstances.
Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this world. But, if we remain in Him, we will have peace. Contrary to what many may think, peace and trouble are not mutually exclusive in our lives. They actually co-exist. The question is which one do we choose.
Trouble is part of our life, a reality we face everyday. No one likes it. But no one can be immune to it, either. A friend of mine recently lost her father. Another friend’s husband needs a bypass surgery soon to avoid amputation on his leg. Still another has been suffering from back pain, so sever that he has to stay in bed for days every so often.
I think we will find these situations in just about every corner we turn in life. While we empathize with them, we know we may one day find ourselves in these circumstances also. What will our days be like then? Will we still be able to enjoy the peace of mind as we do now?
Jesus acknowledged the reality of having trouble in life. But, troublesome life is not what He had in mind for us. Peaceful one is. The secret to a peaceful life, He said, was to remain “in” Him. If we remain in Him, we can remain calm in storm. It has nothing to do with the circumstance. It has everything to do with Him, and Him alone.
Where are we today? Sailing through a calm sea? Or, sailing through a powerful storm with thunders, lightning, and raging waves? Regardless of our circumstances, let’s anchor our lives in Him, the One who “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrew 13:8)
He never changes and the peace in Him never changes, either! True peace is “Calm In Storm!”
Prayer Requests:
For those who just lose their loved ones to illness or even death
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the shelter of peace for us in times of trouble. We ask that, through Your presence in our lives, You come and comfort those feeling overpowered by illness and death so they may also come to know You, the Prince of Peace, and Your peace and grace. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
The other day, as I stepped out into the parking lot in front of our office, I saw on a frame for license plate these words, “Calm After Storm.” For some reason, it reminded me of a story of a painting contest I heard some time ago.
The theme of the contest was “Peace.” One young artist put on the canvas a beautiful picture of a peaceful lake where the mountains on the far end are clearly reflected in the water. Everyone who saw this picture could definitely feel the peacefulness of that beautiful scenery.
But, to everyone’s surprise, the winner of the contest was not this picture. The prize went to a picture where raging water came off the cliff to form a thunderous waterfall. And, right next to the waterfall was a small branch on which a nest was built and a little bird was sleeping in it, in spite of the raging water and its noise.
I think the message could not be clearer. True peace is not the ability to be calm when nothing happens. True peace is the ability to remain calm even when everything else in life is going crazy and out of control. I like to think of peace as the ability to resist the temptation of dancing with our circumstances.
Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this world. But, if we remain in Him, we will have peace. Contrary to what many may think, peace and trouble are not mutually exclusive in our lives. They actually co-exist. The question is which one do we choose.
Trouble is part of our life, a reality we face everyday. No one likes it. But no one can be immune to it, either. A friend of mine recently lost her father. Another friend’s husband needs a bypass surgery soon to avoid amputation on his leg. Still another has been suffering from back pain, so sever that he has to stay in bed for days every so often.
I think we will find these situations in just about every corner we turn in life. While we empathize with them, we know we may one day find ourselves in these circumstances also. What will our days be like then? Will we still be able to enjoy the peace of mind as we do now?
Jesus acknowledged the reality of having trouble in life. But, troublesome life is not what He had in mind for us. Peaceful one is. The secret to a peaceful life, He said, was to remain “in” Him. If we remain in Him, we can remain calm in storm. It has nothing to do with the circumstance. It has everything to do with Him, and Him alone.
Where are we today? Sailing through a calm sea? Or, sailing through a powerful storm with thunders, lightning, and raging waves? Regardless of our circumstances, let’s anchor our lives in Him, the One who “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrew 13:8)
He never changes and the peace in Him never changes, either! True peace is “Calm In Storm!”
Prayer Requests:
For those who just lose their loved ones to illness or even death
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the shelter of peace for us in times of trouble. We ask that, through Your presence in our lives, You come and comfort those feeling overpowered by illness and death so they may also come to know You, the Prince of Peace, and Your peace and grace. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Linger in His Word
Scripture:
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
I always think of how many Psalms there are and how few of them I really Know. Sometimes I say to myself, "I think I will read through the Psalms and I always end up mediating on the first Psalm again. This time I am looking at it in the Amplified version where the meaning of the words are exponded on a bit.
This past week I was listening to a preacher online and he was talking about prayer and how most of us either pray for either ourselves or pray for others asking God for something and very few of us just commune with God in prayer. I started to think about this a realized that it was true that most of the time I pray for others asking God to help them or praying for my or my families needs. Now I am sure that this does not mean that I am not praying "correctly", it just brought to my attention how the cares of this world drive us to the throne and how easy it is to fade away from just spending time with Jesus, or as a missionary friend of mine calls it, "lingering with God." (http://www.youtube.com/v/lJBBCOTu2Hc)
Spending time in God's Word is one of the ways I know to get to know God. Not just know about Him, but know Him. By this I mean, that when we spend time reading, thinking, meditating, studying, applying God's Word to our lives, we get to know God in a way that is more then what Jonathan Edward's called as "mental assent".
Not only is a man blessed if he does not hang around sinner and does not do what they do (v.1) but a blessed man, or woman, is one that desire and delights being in the Word of God. It is his or her habit or way of life to spend time in God's Word, both day and night. (v.2) By it we will be firmly planted in our lives, refreshed by living water every day, bare fruit when it is time, not wither and faint when things get hard, and "everything" we do will grow in prosperity and maturity.
What a great promise. Loving to spent time in God's Word and getting to know the God how gave us a way to be with Him forever.
Request:
For Gloria Lewis, our receptionist here at Corporate, as she ministers to her family, during a difficult time of illness in the family.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your Word. We praise you that you have given us all things and we can know you by your Word. Holy Spirit of God, teach us more about our loving Lord and bring to our attention when the cares of this life try to steal away all our time so we neglect the Word. In Jesus Name. Amen
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
I always think of how many Psalms there are and how few of them I really Know. Sometimes I say to myself, "I think I will read through the Psalms and I always end up mediating on the first Psalm again. This time I am looking at it in the Amplified version where the meaning of the words are exponded on a bit.
This past week I was listening to a preacher online and he was talking about prayer and how most of us either pray for either ourselves or pray for others asking God for something and very few of us just commune with God in prayer. I started to think about this a realized that it was true that most of the time I pray for others asking God to help them or praying for my or my families needs. Now I am sure that this does not mean that I am not praying "correctly", it just brought to my attention how the cares of this world drive us to the throne and how easy it is to fade away from just spending time with Jesus, or as a missionary friend of mine calls it, "lingering with God." (http://www.youtube.com/v/lJBBCOTu2Hc)
Spending time in God's Word is one of the ways I know to get to know God. Not just know about Him, but know Him. By this I mean, that when we spend time reading, thinking, meditating, studying, applying God's Word to our lives, we get to know God in a way that is more then what Jonathan Edward's called as "mental assent".
Not only is a man blessed if he does not hang around sinner and does not do what they do (v.1) but a blessed man, or woman, is one that desire and delights being in the Word of God. It is his or her habit or way of life to spend time in God's Word, both day and night. (v.2) By it we will be firmly planted in our lives, refreshed by living water every day, bare fruit when it is time, not wither and faint when things get hard, and "everything" we do will grow in prosperity and maturity.
What a great promise. Loving to spent time in God's Word and getting to know the God how gave us a way to be with Him forever.
Request:
For Gloria Lewis, our receptionist here at Corporate, as she ministers to her family, during a difficult time of illness in the family.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your Word. We praise you that you have given us all things and we can know you by your Word. Holy Spirit of God, teach us more about our loving Lord and bring to our attention when the cares of this life try to steal away all our time so we neglect the Word. In Jesus Name. Amen
Monday, May 19, 2008
It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive
Scriptures: Remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
My friend and his family came to Los Angeles for ministry matters. They stayed with their daughter during their visit. One afternoon, I went to pick him up for meetings. As soon as he got in the car, he joyfully commented, “I think my daughter has grown up. She’s not a taker now. She’s a giver now. With her busy work schedule, she sees to it that we are well taken care of and that her younger brother does his homework.” He said so with a smile of content.
Yes, giving is an attribute of maturity. Someone used to say, “Men get and forget. God gives and forgives.” It is so true! The more willing one is to give, the more Christ-like one becomes. Giving enables us to switch the focus in life from ourselves to other people.
I still remember, when my children were little boys, we took them for birthday gifts shopping for their friends, cousins or siblings. We did so, not just for the sake of celebrating birthdays, but also for teaching our children an important lesson of giving.
When we took them out for shopping, we usually asked them a question, “What do you think are the things they like?” For some close friends, they could answer this question in seconds. For others, it will take them a lot longer and, sometimes, even no answers. But, the purpose of training to think in terms of others’ needs was achieved.
Bible says that love “builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1) and “is not self-seeking.” (I Corinthians 13:5) The focus of true love, the agape godly love, is on other people. Giving is simply an appropriate act of showing such focus in life.
Giving is also an expression of love. Giving is an act of sharing with others what we have. Jesus did exactly so. When Paul talked about the grace of our Lord Jesus, he said “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)
The ultimate giving of all was the giving of Himself, our Lord Jesus. And, this is what Apostle Paul said about this giving, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Paul, in essence, said that God showed how much He loves us through the giving of His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, on the cross.
Jesus said that He came so we “might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). This blessing of abundance in life has been given us in various forms: a good job, family and loved ones, a nation where we can practice our faith without fear, gifts and talents, opportunities of education, material possessions, brothers and sisters with whom we fellowship in Christ, and so much more. With all the riches bestowed upon us, I believe God intended them for more than our personal enjoyment. We have been chosen as the vessels to share these blessings with others in need so Christ may be exalted in our life.
This is especially true when we see so many people around the world suffering from wars and natural disasters, poverty and injustice, and persecutions and hopelessness. People need Jesus! But, until we are willing to give, they will have no way of knowing Him personally. Whatever we have are gifts from God and we are expected to freely give for gifts out of love are offerings pleasing to our Lord and Redeemer!
Prayer Requests:
For comforts and support to those in need of material as well as spiritual help
Prayer:
Father, we want to first of all give thanks to You for all the more than abundant provisions for us. Please allow us to lift up all the people suffering from earthquakes, cyclones, wars, poverty and all kinds of inhuman and unjust depravations to You. We ask that You remember the precious blood of our Lord Jesus on the cross and move and mobilize all Your children to step up to the calling of giving, giving of love, time, expertise, and most of all living testimonies to the love and grace of our Lord Jesus, to those who are living in the shadow of death and hopelessness. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
My friend and his family came to Los Angeles for ministry matters. They stayed with their daughter during their visit. One afternoon, I went to pick him up for meetings. As soon as he got in the car, he joyfully commented, “I think my daughter has grown up. She’s not a taker now. She’s a giver now. With her busy work schedule, she sees to it that we are well taken care of and that her younger brother does his homework.” He said so with a smile of content.
Yes, giving is an attribute of maturity. Someone used to say, “Men get and forget. God gives and forgives.” It is so true! The more willing one is to give, the more Christ-like one becomes. Giving enables us to switch the focus in life from ourselves to other people.
I still remember, when my children were little boys, we took them for birthday gifts shopping for their friends, cousins or siblings. We did so, not just for the sake of celebrating birthdays, but also for teaching our children an important lesson of giving.
When we took them out for shopping, we usually asked them a question, “What do you think are the things they like?” For some close friends, they could answer this question in seconds. For others, it will take them a lot longer and, sometimes, even no answers. But, the purpose of training to think in terms of others’ needs was achieved.
Bible says that love “builds up” (I Corinthians 8:1) and “is not self-seeking.” (I Corinthians 13:5) The focus of true love, the agape godly love, is on other people. Giving is simply an appropriate act of showing such focus in life.
Giving is also an expression of love. Giving is an act of sharing with others what we have. Jesus did exactly so. When Paul talked about the grace of our Lord Jesus, he said “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)
The ultimate giving of all was the giving of Himself, our Lord Jesus. And, this is what Apostle Paul said about this giving, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Paul, in essence, said that God showed how much He loves us through the giving of His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, on the cross.
Jesus said that He came so we “might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). This blessing of abundance in life has been given us in various forms: a good job, family and loved ones, a nation where we can practice our faith without fear, gifts and talents, opportunities of education, material possessions, brothers and sisters with whom we fellowship in Christ, and so much more. With all the riches bestowed upon us, I believe God intended them for more than our personal enjoyment. We have been chosen as the vessels to share these blessings with others in need so Christ may be exalted in our life.
This is especially true when we see so many people around the world suffering from wars and natural disasters, poverty and injustice, and persecutions and hopelessness. People need Jesus! But, until we are willing to give, they will have no way of knowing Him personally. Whatever we have are gifts from God and we are expected to freely give for gifts out of love are offerings pleasing to our Lord and Redeemer!
Prayer Requests:
For comforts and support to those in need of material as well as spiritual help
Prayer:
Father, we want to first of all give thanks to You for all the more than abundant provisions for us. Please allow us to lift up all the people suffering from earthquakes, cyclones, wars, poverty and all kinds of inhuman and unjust depravations to You. We ask that You remember the precious blood of our Lord Jesus on the cross and move and mobilize all Your children to step up to the calling of giving, giving of love, time, expertise, and most of all living testimonies to the love and grace of our Lord Jesus, to those who are living in the shadow of death and hopelessness. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Holy Arson
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim (Acts 2:3-4).
A couple of months ago, my husband and I were reunited with our daughter from whom we had been estranged for well over a year. The source of reconciliation, oddly enough, was something most people would have viewed as a very negative event - a fire that broke out in the high rise apartment where she lives. She was forced to evacuate for several days, with no offers of shelter or assistance from the landlord or any municipal entity. She had been out for breakfast that morning and was not allowed back into the building to retrieve any clothing or belongings. She had to pay for a hotel room and buy a couple of outfits so that she could be properly dressed for work the following Monday. God reached down into our lives with His fire – both literally and spiritually - to cauterize that wound that had separated us.
Popular wisdom says that those who play with fire get burned. But being burned, at least in a spiritual sense, is a good thing. Yes, fire burns and it hurts, but it also refines and purifies. The Scriptures liken the discipline of God to gold being refined in fire. In Hebrews 12:11, we are counseled to accept such discipline as a sign of our heavenly Father’s love. It is necessary for the work to which we are called by our baptism. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain; yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. God is an arsonist who wants to baptize us and purify us with His holy fire, and through us set the world ablaze (cf Lk. 12:49).
Through the grace given to us in baptism, we are equipped to evangelize in whatever and through whatever circumstances we find ourselves, but especially in the ordinary tasks of life. The example of life lived well and lived for God is a profound sermon indeed, and can serve to rekindle the fire in those who have lost their way. As the maxim says, “Preach the Gospel. And if necessary, use words.”
Sometimes it means delivering an unwelcome message. But then, Jesus never set out to be popular; He set out to save souls. Those forty days in the desert before beginning His public ministry were no picnic, but that period of discipline spent in silent prayer and fasting equipped Him for the mission of salvation for which He was sent. In that close communion with the Father, forged in the fire of the Spirit, Jesus went forth and preached not His own words, but those which He heard from the Father (cf. Jn. 14:10). We are told that when they heard His words, many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him (Jn. 6:66). Yet Jesus did not back away from the truth. Would that such a person might emerge from among the current cache of politicians running for the White House!
In the Book of Genesis, Issac asks his father, Abraham, Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the victim for the holocaust? (Gen. 22:7). The Lord asks us the same question. He has supplied the wood (baptism) and the fire (the Holy Spirit). It is up to us to decide if we will be victims of His love – to sacrifice ourselves and our own desires to His will, for His glory. Each of us is called to proclaim the Word, and set our own little piece of the world ablaze with the fire of truth as Jesus did, even if that brings dissension and conflict (cf. Lk. 12:49). We might emerge from the battle battered and bruised, but He promises us the victory. Yet He knows my way; if He proved me, I should come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Alleluia!
Prayer Request: For the grace to be courageous preachers of the Gospel.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, we thank You for purifying us in the fire of Your Holy Spirit. You send us forth to proclaim Your Word to a world that is broken and wounded. We pray that our lives may show forth Your healing love, and set tepid hearts ablaze with love for You and for souls. We make this prayer in the power of Him who is Love itself, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
A couple of months ago, my husband and I were reunited with our daughter from whom we had been estranged for well over a year. The source of reconciliation, oddly enough, was something most people would have viewed as a very negative event - a fire that broke out in the high rise apartment where she lives. She was forced to evacuate for several days, with no offers of shelter or assistance from the landlord or any municipal entity. She had been out for breakfast that morning and was not allowed back into the building to retrieve any clothing or belongings. She had to pay for a hotel room and buy a couple of outfits so that she could be properly dressed for work the following Monday. God reached down into our lives with His fire – both literally and spiritually - to cauterize that wound that had separated us.
Popular wisdom says that those who play with fire get burned. But being burned, at least in a spiritual sense, is a good thing. Yes, fire burns and it hurts, but it also refines and purifies. The Scriptures liken the discipline of God to gold being refined in fire. In Hebrews 12:11, we are counseled to accept such discipline as a sign of our heavenly Father’s love. It is necessary for the work to which we are called by our baptism. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain; yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. God is an arsonist who wants to baptize us and purify us with His holy fire, and through us set the world ablaze (cf Lk. 12:49).
Through the grace given to us in baptism, we are equipped to evangelize in whatever and through whatever circumstances we find ourselves, but especially in the ordinary tasks of life. The example of life lived well and lived for God is a profound sermon indeed, and can serve to rekindle the fire in those who have lost their way. As the maxim says, “Preach the Gospel. And if necessary, use words.”
Sometimes it means delivering an unwelcome message. But then, Jesus never set out to be popular; He set out to save souls. Those forty days in the desert before beginning His public ministry were no picnic, but that period of discipline spent in silent prayer and fasting equipped Him for the mission of salvation for which He was sent. In that close communion with the Father, forged in the fire of the Spirit, Jesus went forth and preached not His own words, but those which He heard from the Father (cf. Jn. 14:10). We are told that when they heard His words, many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him (Jn. 6:66). Yet Jesus did not back away from the truth. Would that such a person might emerge from among the current cache of politicians running for the White House!
In the Book of Genesis, Issac asks his father, Abraham, Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the victim for the holocaust? (Gen. 22:7). The Lord asks us the same question. He has supplied the wood (baptism) and the fire (the Holy Spirit). It is up to us to decide if we will be victims of His love – to sacrifice ourselves and our own desires to His will, for His glory. Each of us is called to proclaim the Word, and set our own little piece of the world ablaze with the fire of truth as Jesus did, even if that brings dissension and conflict (cf. Lk. 12:49). We might emerge from the battle battered and bruised, but He promises us the victory. Yet He knows my way; if He proved me, I should come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Alleluia!
Prayer Request: For the grace to be courageous preachers of the Gospel.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, we thank You for purifying us in the fire of Your Holy Spirit. You send us forth to proclaim Your Word to a world that is broken and wounded. We pray that our lives may show forth Your healing love, and set tepid hearts ablaze with love for You and for souls. We make this prayer in the power of Him who is Love itself, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Time Is Near
Scriptures: “These are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mark 13:7-8)
On Monday, an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude hit central China and severely damaged that area, an area that covers about 8 provinces. Photos and reports started to show up in TV and on internet. Per CNN, the latest official death toll is approaching 15,000. Many debris are yet to be removed. So are many more people buried are to be rescued.
A Chinese TV news broadcast here in Southern California interviewed a reporter from Chen-du in Sichuan of China who reported that many survivors of the earthquake are driving to the devastated area to help. These are help from individuals, apart from the search and rescue efforts from the government. Many non-government organizations, like Red-Cross and World Vision, have started their rescue missions by sending in rescue teams, medical staff, clothing, food, blankets, medical supplies, clean water, etc.
It was indeed one of the greatest earthquakes China has seen in recent years. Unforgettable pictures of people mourning over the loss of their loved ones, of the twisted and shattered road systems, of the old helpless people sleeping in the open areas without shelter and caring, of exhausted people giving everything they had trying to dig through debris to locate and rescue any possible survivors, and of many other “depressive” scenes have been shown on various new media. These pictures shocked us to the core and, hopefully, moved us to take action for we have been commanded by our Lord to share with all people what we have received from Him, materials and faith alike.
Having heard of this tragic earthquake, I went and did a quick survey over the earthquakes that took place in the last 30 days and had a magnitude of 6 or greater, as registered by U.S. Geological Survey. The result was astonishing:
4/15 2 times – 6.1 & 6.4
4/16 2 times – 6.3 & 6.6
4/19 2 times – 6 & 6.3
4/23 1 time – 6
4/24 1 time – 6.5
4/26 1 time – 6.1
4/28 3 times – 2 x 6.1 & 6.4
5/2 1 time – 6.6
5/7 3 times – 6.1, 6.2, & 6.8
5/9 1 time – 6.7
5/12 2 times – 6 & 7.9
In 30 days, there have been 19 earthquakes measured 6.0 or higher in Richter scale. Thankfully, except a few ones like the Sichuan earthquake in China and the one new Honsu, Japan, most of them took place in places where population is low. But, with this kind of frequency, I can’t help remembering what our Lord Jesus said in the book of Mark, “When you hear of wars and rumors, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mark 13:7-8)
In our generation, wars and famines are already everyday news. This news of devastating earthquake in China, and my reflections on it, seems to bring Jesus’ warning closer to my heart as Jesus said, “Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Mark 13:29)
The history of mankind continues to march down the path God has set for it and we are coming close to that time Jesus warned us about. Things will continue to unfold as He said they would. The question is not how we can avoid it. The question is not even how our Lord Jesus will protect us, for He will do so for every child of God. The question really is: are we ready to meet Him, if He comes today? When I see Him, what kind of life I can present to Him? Will it be a life built upon the Rock of All Ages, as He commanded? Or, will it a life built upon sand to receive great destruction?
Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25) Let’s heed to His words and act on them so we may be ready for Him any time.
Prayer Requests:
For comforts and support to those earthquake victims in China
Prayer:
Father, we come to You in troubling spirits for we have heard the destructions resulted from the earthquake in China. Lord, You know what China has been through, generations of wars, dictatorship and natural and human disasters. People have been falling away because they have not come to know You. We pray that Your anointing Spirit be upon every child of God to offer, in any way You move them, to provide and to witness to the grace and richness God has to offer so they may be ushered into the glorious Kingdom of God. In the gracious name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The seed and the soil
Scripture:
"The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil" (Mark 4:26)
Over the last couple of days I have been meditating on the parable of the sower in Mark chapter 4. On a challenge of a teacher, I am trying to saturate myself with this chapter and the two parallel chapters in Luke 8 and Matthew 10, to understand what Jesus was telling us in this parable.
Very briefly this parable is about a sower who threw seed on four different kinds of ground,
"The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil" (Mark 4:26)
Over the last couple of days I have been meditating on the parable of the sower in Mark chapter 4. On a challenge of a teacher, I am trying to saturate myself with this chapter and the two parallel chapters in Luke 8 and Matthew 10, to understand what Jesus was telling us in this parable.
Very briefly this parable is about a sower who threw seed on four different kinds of ground,
- on the roadside where satan comes and takes the seed away,
- on rocky ground where there is not enough earth for good roots and the sun scorches it
- on ground with weeds that choke the seed
- on good soil that produces 30, 60 and 100 fold
Now we know that the seed represents the Word (Mark 4:14) and that each one of the four different soils have different characteristics that either inhibit the seeds growth or produces many fold of new seed and fruit.
Having done evangelism work, as a missionary, I have always looked at this passage from a perspective of sharing my faith using the Word of God, believing that not all the seed falls on good ground and I have always thought that I really could do nothing about it. That is, I was the sower and what happens, happens.
Recently, however, I have been beginning to understand, that this parable is not necessarily talking about evangelism of the "seed" but about the different kinds of "soils", a person's heart, where the "seed", God's Word, is sown.
The first type of soil, "along the road, the seed is immediately picked up by Satan. " (v.15) Meditating on this I can only wonder, how is it that the seed never had chance to germinate, well because Satan is right there in a persons life and takes the seed away. That is, the Word of God is somehow brought into a persons life and because that person is involved in very bad things that could very well include Satanic things, that (1) their hearts are too heart, because they are on the roadside where people trample the road and it gets very, very hard and (2) evil, sinful, even satanic influences come along right away and counter what the Word of God says and that person never really even gets a chance to understand the Word.
The second type of soil, the soil with the rocks in it, does germinate in the soil, almost immediately, and there is much joy, but the soil, a man's heart, is not very deep and has many "rocks" that make it so that good roots do not form. That is, there are many things in a persons life that make it so that as soon as trials and difficulties come as part of everyday life, like the son, the seedling is scorched and dies.
The third type of soil seems to have good soil from the beginning, but there are weeds with thorns there that choke the seedling when it is young. These weeds are
- the worries of the world
- the deceitfulness or riches
- and the desires for other things (v.19)
These weeds or thorns, strangle the Word that is beginning to grow in a mans heart and ultimately they do not bear any fruit.
The forth type of soil is not trambled down nor has evil around it, does not have rocks in it, does not have weeds in it and bears much, much fruit.
Now what I am meditating on is this, that since seed runs the risk of not germinating and growing properly so it bears fruit, shouldn't I be doing something to prepare the soil of my heart so that the fruit of the Word will grow in my life?
For example, if there was some "rock" in my heart that I have never dealt with like some unforgiveness, shouldn't I try to remove it? Or shouldn't I try to stay away from the weeds of the world or greed, or selfishness, or at least "weed" my heart when it begins to influence me, maybe even "spray" by staying away, from weeds that will choke the Word of God in me. And I guess I am assuming that we all know to stay away from the evil things that takes the seed away from our hearts almost immediately.
So I ask the question. How to I get to be the good soil where the seed of the Word of God will grow and bring much fruit.
- Avoid evil and a hard heart
- Take out the rocks in my life
- Stay away from the weeds of the world and the flesh
- Let the seed do its work
Because "the soil produces crops by itself" (v.28)
"He who has an ear, let him hear." (v.19)
Request:
That we would prepare our hearts for the seed and that we would sow the seed of the Word of God in our hearts more and more.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, we have ears and we want to hear and understand what your Word says. we will do our part to prepare our hearts and read & meditate on your Word. Do your work in us and grow the Word in us, to make us the Children of God you want us to be. In Your Name, Amen
Monday, May 12, 2008
Where am I?
Scriptures: Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30)
Last year, when taking my family, especially my son, to visit the University of California, Riverside, I made a wrong turn. That split second decision took us for a drive for about half an hour before I finally decided to stop at a gas station to ask for directions.
All the way before I found the gas station, I kept wondering, “According to the map, it shouldn’t take so long. Why aren’t we there yet?” I kept looking for signs of roads, hoping to find something familiar, something that could give me a point of reference so I would know what to do next. But nothing seemed helpful. “Where in the world are we?” “I think we are lost!”
It was a very uncomfortable feeling, knowing that we were lost and not being able to change it. As much as my efforts were, trying to assess where we were and what to do to correct the situation, nothing in that foreign place seemed to be meaningful and helpful. That is, of course, until we saw that gas station where the friendly clerk gave us clear directions to our destination. Then, in about 10 minutes, we were in the University of California, Riverside.
Life, in many ways, is just like a trip into foreign lands. We keep running into new circumstances that we have never been to. We do the best we can to assess the situation to help us determine what to do next. But, since it is a situation totally new to us, we have very little, if not none, experiences to go back to for reference and for pointers.
Israelites, in today’s passage, were in the same situation. They were promised a land and desired to move in and take over the land. But the land was occupied and they had no prior knowledge of what it was like. So, they wisely decided to send people to explore the land. Their delegates accomplished the mission and came back with their reports.
Unfortunately, the reading of the situation was divided. Most of them believed they were not strong enough to take the land because everything they saw there were culturally and militarily much stronger than they were. Only Caleb and Joshua insisted that, with the help of God, they could take the land.
Why were they able to come up with such a different reading? Because I believe their views of the things in life were framed in the context of God. The reality was out there. People of that land were taller and stronger. Their weapons and cultural achievements were more advanced. These were all true. But, there’s more to it that the other 10 spies did not take into account. On top of all these realities, God was the most important reality these 10 spies forgot.
It was the same circumstance they faced. But, see how different results there were for the different readings they had. How we view things do impact our lives significantly. Our decisions, plans, the course of actions, and the resulting destiny were all affected. We cannot be too careful with the view we have for life and, more importantly, for God.
Life is just like a journey in a foreign land. We find our own experiences and knowledge so insufficient. Our fear of making mistakes clouds our thinking. Different people and schools of thoughts provide conflicting and confusing assessments of current situations and make it harder to move forward in the godly manner pleasing to God. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that it seems hopeless.
But, we need not be hopeless. God said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10) When everything and everyone else fails, we know God is still in charge. He is still the same all-knowing, loving and faithful God for eternity! He said, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:10)
He has not changed. Neither should our faith and commitment to Him! Let’s come to Him now and submit our views and our lives to Him. He has promised blessings from Him that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
Prayer Requests:
For those searching for directions in life
Prayer:
Our Abba Father, thank You for being mindful of us, even when we are of little faith. You know how little we know about this life You have blessed us and how incapable we are to make it on our own. Please help us to be reminded time and again that, in spite of what our situation seems to suggest, You are always in charge and that Your faithfulness is the foundation of our relationship with You. Help us not to lose sight of You in every decision we make in life. In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Last year, when taking my family, especially my son, to visit the University of California, Riverside, I made a wrong turn. That split second decision took us for a drive for about half an hour before I finally decided to stop at a gas station to ask for directions.
All the way before I found the gas station, I kept wondering, “According to the map, it shouldn’t take so long. Why aren’t we there yet?” I kept looking for signs of roads, hoping to find something familiar, something that could give me a point of reference so I would know what to do next. But nothing seemed helpful. “Where in the world are we?” “I think we are lost!”
It was a very uncomfortable feeling, knowing that we were lost and not being able to change it. As much as my efforts were, trying to assess where we were and what to do to correct the situation, nothing in that foreign place seemed to be meaningful and helpful. That is, of course, until we saw that gas station where the friendly clerk gave us clear directions to our destination. Then, in about 10 minutes, we were in the University of California, Riverside.
Life, in many ways, is just like a trip into foreign lands. We keep running into new circumstances that we have never been to. We do the best we can to assess the situation to help us determine what to do next. But, since it is a situation totally new to us, we have very little, if not none, experiences to go back to for reference and for pointers.
Israelites, in today’s passage, were in the same situation. They were promised a land and desired to move in and take over the land. But the land was occupied and they had no prior knowledge of what it was like. So, they wisely decided to send people to explore the land. Their delegates accomplished the mission and came back with their reports.
Unfortunately, the reading of the situation was divided. Most of them believed they were not strong enough to take the land because everything they saw there were culturally and militarily much stronger than they were. Only Caleb and Joshua insisted that, with the help of God, they could take the land.
Why were they able to come up with such a different reading? Because I believe their views of the things in life were framed in the context of God. The reality was out there. People of that land were taller and stronger. Their weapons and cultural achievements were more advanced. These were all true. But, there’s more to it that the other 10 spies did not take into account. On top of all these realities, God was the most important reality these 10 spies forgot.
It was the same circumstance they faced. But, see how different results there were for the different readings they had. How we view things do impact our lives significantly. Our decisions, plans, the course of actions, and the resulting destiny were all affected. We cannot be too careful with the view we have for life and, more importantly, for God.
Life is just like a journey in a foreign land. We find our own experiences and knowledge so insufficient. Our fear of making mistakes clouds our thinking. Different people and schools of thoughts provide conflicting and confusing assessments of current situations and make it harder to move forward in the godly manner pleasing to God. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that it seems hopeless.
But, we need not be hopeless. God said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10) When everything and everyone else fails, we know God is still in charge. He is still the same all-knowing, loving and faithful God for eternity! He said, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:10)
He has not changed. Neither should our faith and commitment to Him! Let’s come to Him now and submit our views and our lives to Him. He has promised blessings from Him that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
Prayer Requests:
For those searching for directions in life
Prayer:
Our Abba Father, thank You for being mindful of us, even when we are of little faith. You know how little we know about this life You have blessed us and how incapable we are to make it on our own. Please help us to be reminded time and again that, in spite of what our situation seems to suggest, You are always in charge and that Your faithfulness is the foundation of our relationship with You. Help us not to lose sight of You in every decision we make in life. In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Do You Love Me?
Scripture:
"Simon son of John, do you truly love me" (John 21:15)
Every now and then too many activities creep into my life and I need to stop, and reassess what things are important to me that I need to keep on doing and what things are not as important that I need to let go of. This usually happens little by little without me knowing it and before I know it I have consumed every bit of spare time with some activity that even after the weekend is over and I head into work I am already exhausted before I get there. Do you know what I mean?
Now it is a good thing that I am married because I have an automatic, built-in "barometer" that warns me when I, or my wife, are too busy. That barometer is when one of us is feeling a little "left out" and we realize we need some "alone time" together. Then we usually look at our schedules and see that we have filled our calendars with all kinds of things we "need" to do and have left no time available for ourselves.
This is the way it is with our relationship with the Lord. What do you think happens with my time with the Lord if I am getting so busy that my wife and I realize we need time together. Now I really don't want to go down the road which is more important, God or my spouse. I know what I believe on that subject and I am sure you do to. But the truth of the matter is that time for both of these relationship is very important.
Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't have any time"? Even though we know what they mean, that person has no less time then anyone else, that is 24 hours. It is just that they probably have so many things going on in their life they are frustrated because there are probably things that are not getting done or they want to do.
In John 21 Jesus asked Peter three times. "Do you love me?" and he answered saying "Yes Lord, You know that I do." I have asked myself many times in my Christian walk if I loved Jesus and if so, what do I do to demonstrate that love.
I know that my wife loves it when I say that I love her, but I also know that it is very important to her that, I talk to her during the day, that I help her around the house, that I take her out on a date, that I remember her birthday and similar such things. My guess is that Jesus, my Lord and Savior, the one who died on the Cross for me, would like to see me "do" things to demonstrate my love to him.
So what do I do? Well I do the same thing I do to keep things from creeping into my life so that it does not take time away from my wife and I. I let go of things that are "less important" so that I have time available for the Lord.
One verse that comes to mind is 1 John 2:15, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him". So how do I know if I "love" something in the world? The same way my wife knows that I love her. I spend time with her. Now I know that saying this rises the objection, "well I don't love it, I just like it." To me like is just a "lower" version of love. "Love" should get more time then "like" but they both demonstrate our interest in something. The rest of that verse is self explanitory, if we allow it to be.
If you are too busy to spend time in God's Word then you are "too busy". Eliminate something and put God and His Word back into your life. Now that does not mean that you just "drop" things out of your life. You might have to "plan" things a bit and "ease" off things with the goal of putting time with God back in your schedule. This is particularly hard for Christians who are doing all kinds of good things. It is said that "bad" is not the enemy of "best", "good" is. Why? because "good" works its way into our lives and takes up all our time so that the "best", which in this case is spending time with God and His Word, does not get any time.
Request:
That God would give me wisdom about things that I want in my life.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you died for us and you love us so much. Thank you for loving us and help us Holy Spirit of God to have the discernment what to keep in our lives, like time with you and God's Word, and what to eliminate out of our lives, like things of the world. In Your Name, Amen
"Simon son of John, do you truly love me" (John 21:15)
Every now and then too many activities creep into my life and I need to stop, and reassess what things are important to me that I need to keep on doing and what things are not as important that I need to let go of. This usually happens little by little without me knowing it and before I know it I have consumed every bit of spare time with some activity that even after the weekend is over and I head into work I am already exhausted before I get there. Do you know what I mean?
Now it is a good thing that I am married because I have an automatic, built-in "barometer" that warns me when I, or my wife, are too busy. That barometer is when one of us is feeling a little "left out" and we realize we need some "alone time" together. Then we usually look at our schedules and see that we have filled our calendars with all kinds of things we "need" to do and have left no time available for ourselves.
This is the way it is with our relationship with the Lord. What do you think happens with my time with the Lord if I am getting so busy that my wife and I realize we need time together. Now I really don't want to go down the road which is more important, God or my spouse. I know what I believe on that subject and I am sure you do to. But the truth of the matter is that time for both of these relationship is very important.
Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't have any time"? Even though we know what they mean, that person has no less time then anyone else, that is 24 hours. It is just that they probably have so many things going on in their life they are frustrated because there are probably things that are not getting done or they want to do.
In John 21 Jesus asked Peter three times. "Do you love me?" and he answered saying "Yes Lord, You know that I do." I have asked myself many times in my Christian walk if I loved Jesus and if so, what do I do to demonstrate that love.
I know that my wife loves it when I say that I love her, but I also know that it is very important to her that, I talk to her during the day, that I help her around the house, that I take her out on a date, that I remember her birthday and similar such things. My guess is that Jesus, my Lord and Savior, the one who died on the Cross for me, would like to see me "do" things to demonstrate my love to him.
So what do I do? Well I do the same thing I do to keep things from creeping into my life so that it does not take time away from my wife and I. I let go of things that are "less important" so that I have time available for the Lord.
One verse that comes to mind is 1 John 2:15, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him". So how do I know if I "love" something in the world? The same way my wife knows that I love her. I spend time with her. Now I know that saying this rises the objection, "well I don't love it, I just like it." To me like is just a "lower" version of love. "Love" should get more time then "like" but they both demonstrate our interest in something. The rest of that verse is self explanitory, if we allow it to be.
If you are too busy to spend time in God's Word then you are "too busy". Eliminate something and put God and His Word back into your life. Now that does not mean that you just "drop" things out of your life. You might have to "plan" things a bit and "ease" off things with the goal of putting time with God back in your schedule. This is particularly hard for Christians who are doing all kinds of good things. It is said that "bad" is not the enemy of "best", "good" is. Why? because "good" works its way into our lives and takes up all our time so that the "best", which in this case is spending time with God and His Word, does not get any time.
Request:
That God would give me wisdom about things that I want in my life.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you died for us and you love us so much. Thank you for loving us and help us Holy Spirit of God to have the discernment what to keep in our lives, like time with you and God's Word, and what to eliminate out of our lives, like things of the world. In Your Name, Amen
Thursday, May 8, 2008
My Way or the High Way?
I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given Himself up for me (Gal. 2:20).
Last month, I made my second trip to the UK as part of the project work I am managing. On one of the flights, I was seated next to a young lady from Poland. The flight was such that we had to be shuttled from the terminal to the plane via bus. She and I had come over on the first busload of passengers, and we were waiting for the remaining passengers to board.
The overhead compartment on this particular plane was not deep enough for rolling suitcases to be placed in them wheels first, but had to be stowed lengthwise in order for the door to close. One passenger had set her roller bag lengthwise in the compartment, and then another man came along. In order to make space for his bag, he turned the woman’s suitcase with the wheels in first, stowed his bag and then took his seat. Other passengers boarded and placed additional small bags in the same overhead compartment. The last of these passengers tried to close the compartment door, since the space was now filled, but because of the turned rolling bag, it would not close.
My Polish companion and I began to giggle as we watched the man try to force the door shut, and nearly became hysterical with laughter as a second man stood up, and the two of them together tried to shut the compartment door by brute force. One of the flight attendants eventually saw what was happening, adjusted several bags (including turning the roller lengthwise) and eventually the door could be shut.
While the scene was indeed comical, it reminded me of how we sometimes act when it comes to discerning and accepting God’s will in our lives. Rather than observe a particular situation we are dealing with, asking God what He is trying to teach us and what He would have us do, and more importantly, giving assent to His will, we sometimes continue stubbornly down the path we prefer, and try to do it our way by “brute force,” just as the two men on the plane did. And then we wonder why we fail to get anywhere other than frustrated.
For a long time, I would try to analyze and dissect what I thought God was trying to do with me, rather than simply ask Him what He wanted and wait for His answer. Somewhere along the line, the futility of that tactic finally sank in one day when I was praying Psalm 139. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, know my concerns. See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the ancient paths. It seems so elementary now, but He does answer when we ask Him!
Of course, we have to be ready and willing to hear His answer, and we know that requires letting go and making of our whole selves an offering to God. St. Paul encouraged the believers of the church in Rome - and us - to discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2). Even though we don't always see the whole picture or understand at the time what the Lord might be doing, there is nothing to fear because ultimately, we know that our God is trustworthy. For however many are the promises of God, their 'Yes' is in Him (2 Cor. 1:20). If He leads us down a particular path, we can be sure that He will provide grace to endure whatever might come along.
Prayer Request: For the grace to let go and to let God lead us.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, we thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth, and to remind us of all You taught us while You were on this earth. Help us to make time in our busy lives for silent communion with You, so that we might hear Your voice and answer with a heartfelt “yes” to all You would have us do. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Last month, I made my second trip to the UK as part of the project work I am managing. On one of the flights, I was seated next to a young lady from Poland. The flight was such that we had to be shuttled from the terminal to the plane via bus. She and I had come over on the first busload of passengers, and we were waiting for the remaining passengers to board.
The overhead compartment on this particular plane was not deep enough for rolling suitcases to be placed in them wheels first, but had to be stowed lengthwise in order for the door to close. One passenger had set her roller bag lengthwise in the compartment, and then another man came along. In order to make space for his bag, he turned the woman’s suitcase with the wheels in first, stowed his bag and then took his seat. Other passengers boarded and placed additional small bags in the same overhead compartment. The last of these passengers tried to close the compartment door, since the space was now filled, but because of the turned rolling bag, it would not close.
My Polish companion and I began to giggle as we watched the man try to force the door shut, and nearly became hysterical with laughter as a second man stood up, and the two of them together tried to shut the compartment door by brute force. One of the flight attendants eventually saw what was happening, adjusted several bags (including turning the roller lengthwise) and eventually the door could be shut.
While the scene was indeed comical, it reminded me of how we sometimes act when it comes to discerning and accepting God’s will in our lives. Rather than observe a particular situation we are dealing with, asking God what He is trying to teach us and what He would have us do, and more importantly, giving assent to His will, we sometimes continue stubbornly down the path we prefer, and try to do it our way by “brute force,” just as the two men on the plane did. And then we wonder why we fail to get anywhere other than frustrated.
For a long time, I would try to analyze and dissect what I thought God was trying to do with me, rather than simply ask Him what He wanted and wait for His answer. Somewhere along the line, the futility of that tactic finally sank in one day when I was praying Psalm 139. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, know my concerns. See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the ancient paths. It seems so elementary now, but He does answer when we ask Him!
Of course, we have to be ready and willing to hear His answer, and we know that requires letting go and making of our whole selves an offering to God. St. Paul encouraged the believers of the church in Rome - and us - to discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2). Even though we don't always see the whole picture or understand at the time what the Lord might be doing, there is nothing to fear because ultimately, we know that our God is trustworthy. For however many are the promises of God, their 'Yes' is in Him (2 Cor. 1:20). If He leads us down a particular path, we can be sure that He will provide grace to endure whatever might come along.
Prayer Request: For the grace to let go and to let God lead us.
Prayer: O Lord, our God, we thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth, and to remind us of all You taught us while You were on this earth. Help us to make time in our busy lives for silent communion with You, so that we might hear Your voice and answer with a heartfelt “yes” to all You would have us do. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Feed Me
Scripture:
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way (Psalm 142:3)
In the evening, just before my wife and I go to sleep, we both like to lay in bed and hold each other while we watch re-runs of the old sitcom, "Get Smart". Now it is not so much about the sitcom so much as it is about being together. The warmth of being together mixed with the joy that comes from the humor of this sitcom, I believe "feeds" our souls, because we are sharing two things we enjoy very much, each other and a good laugh.
Yet, about every 10 minutes or so, we get bombarded with the interruption of commercials that tell us to get up and go get a big fat juicy double cheeseburger and eat it or a brand new shiny fast luxurious new SUV and buy it. Both trying to "feed" us with the ideas when we are most vulnerable, relaxing in bed.
I always wondered why they expected me to get up out of bed and go buy a big cheeseburger or find a car dealer. Then I realized, they did not necessary want me to do it right away, they wanted to "plant" the "hunger" in me by getting me to visualize their product in my mind over and over again so that the next time I passed their establishment, I would see the images and go and get one. Realizing that the big time marketers know how to motivate us to do what they want, shouldn't we be able to make ourselves do what we really want to do?
Paul tells us in Romans 7:15 how hard it is for him to do the things he wants to do and how he is always doing the things he does not want to do. Even back then, in Paul's time, in any time as a matter of fact, the world and the flesh "market" their sinful products and we are continually at "war" with these things. Yes, we have the victory in Jesus, but many times we lay down our "sword", the Word of God, and have weak "shields", our little faith, and then we wonder why we "seem" to be losing the battle.
In my continuing studies about faith in the scriptures, I am learning that I also need to "feed" my faith. Many times I have asked the Lord to give me more "thirst" or "hunger" thinking that will drive me to read the Word more or pray more or worship more. Should I really be passing the responsibility of "feeding"my spirit onto the Lord?
The Word of God tells us that we have the victory, but we don't feel like we have the victory, so what do we believe? We believe what we feel. The Word of God tells us if we have repented of sin and received the salvation of Jesus we are his children and saved. But we don't think children of God should have the problems we have so what do we believe? We believe what our mind tells us. And though we may not actually say that we don't believe what the Bible says, we believe what we feel and think and we doubt and indirectly don't believe what God is telling us.
When I have a headache my body tells me my head hurts, my mind tells me to take a pain pill. When the headache goes away, my mind records the results and I end up believing that the thing to do when I get a headache is to take a pain pill.
The scriptures tell us we are Christ's heirs, we reign with Him, we have his authority and will do greater things then he did. But I can't move that mountain, and why is that? Because I have spent years "feeding" my body, my soul and my mind and letting "them" draw the conclusions, and I have "barely" fed my spirit with what it needs to "overpower" the other three. I have hardly included my spirit in the decision making process not realizing it, even though my spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and I have the ability to be "filled" and "empowered" with the Holy Spirit of God.
There is an old indian proverb that asks the question, if a black dog and and a white dog are fighting which one will win? The answer is, the one that you feed. The same is true with our body, minds, soul and spirit. Our flesh has its own desires, our minds think about what we put in it, our feelings learn from our experiences and souls listen to the other three and make decisions and the spirit grows so little and just waits for us to pay attention to it. So why is my faith so little? I don't feed my spirit enough!
With this knowledge, assuming the desire is truly there, this leads us, part, to simple time management. If we want something to eat, we find a way to go get something to eat. If we want to learn about something, we find the time and resources to read and learn, if we want to feel good, we do those things that give us good feelings but if we want to have victory over all the weaknesses these three are filled with and we have to make time, and let the Holy Spirit lead us so that we feed our spirit, and then do what it says!
Request:
That we would increase the amount of time and effort we currently spend on feeding our spirits.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us your Word to teach us how to walk in your Holy Spirit. Thank you for giving us this gift. Teach us Holy Spirit how to surrender all of our lives and to grow in God's Word. Remind us and direct us to spend more time and effort with you. Amen.
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way (Psalm 142:3)
In the evening, just before my wife and I go to sleep, we both like to lay in bed and hold each other while we watch re-runs of the old sitcom, "Get Smart". Now it is not so much about the sitcom so much as it is about being together. The warmth of being together mixed with the joy that comes from the humor of this sitcom, I believe "feeds" our souls, because we are sharing two things we enjoy very much, each other and a good laugh.
Yet, about every 10 minutes or so, we get bombarded with the interruption of commercials that tell us to get up and go get a big fat juicy double cheeseburger and eat it or a brand new shiny fast luxurious new SUV and buy it. Both trying to "feed" us with the ideas when we are most vulnerable, relaxing in bed.
I always wondered why they expected me to get up out of bed and go buy a big cheeseburger or find a car dealer. Then I realized, they did not necessary want me to do it right away, they wanted to "plant" the "hunger" in me by getting me to visualize their product in my mind over and over again so that the next time I passed their establishment, I would see the images and go and get one. Realizing that the big time marketers know how to motivate us to do what they want, shouldn't we be able to make ourselves do what we really want to do?
Paul tells us in Romans 7:15 how hard it is for him to do the things he wants to do and how he is always doing the things he does not want to do. Even back then, in Paul's time, in any time as a matter of fact, the world and the flesh "market" their sinful products and we are continually at "war" with these things. Yes, we have the victory in Jesus, but many times we lay down our "sword", the Word of God, and have weak "shields", our little faith, and then we wonder why we "seem" to be losing the battle.
In my continuing studies about faith in the scriptures, I am learning that I also need to "feed" my faith. Many times I have asked the Lord to give me more "thirst" or "hunger" thinking that will drive me to read the Word more or pray more or worship more. Should I really be passing the responsibility of "feeding"my spirit onto the Lord?
The Word of God tells us that we have the victory, but we don't feel like we have the victory, so what do we believe? We believe what we feel. The Word of God tells us if we have repented of sin and received the salvation of Jesus we are his children and saved. But we don't think children of God should have the problems we have so what do we believe? We believe what our mind tells us. And though we may not actually say that we don't believe what the Bible says, we believe what we feel and think and we doubt and indirectly don't believe what God is telling us.
When I have a headache my body tells me my head hurts, my mind tells me to take a pain pill. When the headache goes away, my mind records the results and I end up believing that the thing to do when I get a headache is to take a pain pill.
The scriptures tell us we are Christ's heirs, we reign with Him, we have his authority and will do greater things then he did. But I can't move that mountain, and why is that? Because I have spent years "feeding" my body, my soul and my mind and letting "them" draw the conclusions, and I have "barely" fed my spirit with what it needs to "overpower" the other three. I have hardly included my spirit in the decision making process not realizing it, even though my spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and I have the ability to be "filled" and "empowered" with the Holy Spirit of God.
There is an old indian proverb that asks the question, if a black dog and and a white dog are fighting which one will win? The answer is, the one that you feed. The same is true with our body, minds, soul and spirit. Our flesh has its own desires, our minds think about what we put in it, our feelings learn from our experiences and souls listen to the other three and make decisions and the spirit grows so little and just waits for us to pay attention to it. So why is my faith so little? I don't feed my spirit enough!
With this knowledge, assuming the desire is truly there, this leads us, part, to simple time management. If we want something to eat, we find a way to go get something to eat. If we want to learn about something, we find the time and resources to read and learn, if we want to feel good, we do those things that give us good feelings but if we want to have victory over all the weaknesses these three are filled with and we have to make time, and let the Holy Spirit lead us so that we feed our spirit, and then do what it says!
Request:
That we would increase the amount of time and effort we currently spend on feeding our spirits.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us your Word to teach us how to walk in your Holy Spirit. Thank you for giving us this gift. Teach us Holy Spirit how to surrender all of our lives and to grow in God's Word. Remind us and direct us to spend more time and effort with you. Amen.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Poisoning Ourselves
Scriptures: “…For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.” (Genesis 33:10)
I read from a daily devotion about a young couple who entrusted their friend with the financial future only to be betrayed. As a result, the man lost his job and all the savings they had. They were outraged and the bitterness started to grow within.
Because of this ever growing bitterness and rage, this man later had an ulcer. When his pastor came to see him, the pastor told him that, “it is as if you drank a bottle of poison and expected the other person to die. Let it go. Forgive them. Do it for you, not them.” The man struggled, but tried anyway. It took a long time, a new job and a lot of prayers.
But this man did not know if this trying time is over until, one day, he ran into that friend who betrayed him and his family. He said, “Fear shone in his eyes, and his hands trembled.” But this man assured his friend that he was not going to hurt him. He had forgiven him. At that moment, his friend’s eyes were filled with tears and said, “I’m sorry!” The man who wrote the sharing said, “Like Jacob receiving Esau’s forgiveness after stealing Esau’s birthright, this man and I both saw the face of God that afternoon.”
As I was reading this devotion, I thought to myself, “How true it is! Whenever we hold bitterness in our hearts, we are actually poisoning ourselves and expecting others to die.” It’s like, when someone else hurt us, they actually stabbed our hearts. But, they stabbed only that once. Afterwards, every time we think of that, we pick up the very same knife and stab ourselves again.
When we keep on doing that, the wound never heals. On the contrary, the wound would get worse and become harder to heal. We need to have the wounds healed so as to move forward and enjoy a healthy life again. To do so, we need to drop, or even throw away, the very knife that was and had been used to hurt us. We need to forgive and let go.
God did not give any one of us the right to go back in time to undo any wrongs or hurts. But He does offer a choice to get healing, forgiveness. It is the very choice He Himself chose to reconcile us back to Himself. He knows this would work because it has worked through the cross on Calvary.
More than forgiveness, He offered that undying love which He desires to fill our hearts so as to replenish our hearts where bitterness once occupied. Healing is good. But getting stronger is even better. God loves to see His children grow stronger each day.
Our lives are filled with afflictions. We seek every means to rid of such hurt and bitterness and failed. We need to come back to God and learn from Him. As someone once said, “God gives and forgives.” We also need to learn to give Him all our hurts and burdens and forgive those who had offended and hurt us. Then, and only then, we can have a true closure on the wounds and be able to grow strong again.
(Thanks to Mr. Tom Powell from Tennessee for the sharing on May 5th, 2008 in the Upper Room Daily Devotion)
Prayer Requests:
For those feeling betrayed
Prayer:
Our loving Lord, sometimes even our very dear friends and loved ones betrayed their love and commitments to us. It really hurts. Help us to come to You with total surrender, not just our will and plans, but also our hurts and choices, so that we may receive Your love and power to forgive and to bless. In the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we pray, Amen!
I read from a daily devotion about a young couple who entrusted their friend with the financial future only to be betrayed. As a result, the man lost his job and all the savings they had. They were outraged and the bitterness started to grow within.
Because of this ever growing bitterness and rage, this man later had an ulcer. When his pastor came to see him, the pastor told him that, “it is as if you drank a bottle of poison and expected the other person to die. Let it go. Forgive them. Do it for you, not them.” The man struggled, but tried anyway. It took a long time, a new job and a lot of prayers.
But this man did not know if this trying time is over until, one day, he ran into that friend who betrayed him and his family. He said, “Fear shone in his eyes, and his hands trembled.” But this man assured his friend that he was not going to hurt him. He had forgiven him. At that moment, his friend’s eyes were filled with tears and said, “I’m sorry!” The man who wrote the sharing said, “Like Jacob receiving Esau’s forgiveness after stealing Esau’s birthright, this man and I both saw the face of God that afternoon.”
As I was reading this devotion, I thought to myself, “How true it is! Whenever we hold bitterness in our hearts, we are actually poisoning ourselves and expecting others to die.” It’s like, when someone else hurt us, they actually stabbed our hearts. But, they stabbed only that once. Afterwards, every time we think of that, we pick up the very same knife and stab ourselves again.
When we keep on doing that, the wound never heals. On the contrary, the wound would get worse and become harder to heal. We need to have the wounds healed so as to move forward and enjoy a healthy life again. To do so, we need to drop, or even throw away, the very knife that was and had been used to hurt us. We need to forgive and let go.
God did not give any one of us the right to go back in time to undo any wrongs or hurts. But He does offer a choice to get healing, forgiveness. It is the very choice He Himself chose to reconcile us back to Himself. He knows this would work because it has worked through the cross on Calvary.
More than forgiveness, He offered that undying love which He desires to fill our hearts so as to replenish our hearts where bitterness once occupied. Healing is good. But getting stronger is even better. God loves to see His children grow stronger each day.
Our lives are filled with afflictions. We seek every means to rid of such hurt and bitterness and failed. We need to come back to God and learn from Him. As someone once said, “God gives and forgives.” We also need to learn to give Him all our hurts and burdens and forgive those who had offended and hurt us. Then, and only then, we can have a true closure on the wounds and be able to grow strong again.
(Thanks to Mr. Tom Powell from Tennessee for the sharing on May 5th, 2008 in the Upper Room Daily Devotion)
Prayer Requests:
For those feeling betrayed
Prayer:
Our loving Lord, sometimes even our very dear friends and loved ones betrayed their love and commitments to us. It really hurts. Help us to come to You with total surrender, not just our will and plans, but also our hurts and choices, so that we may receive Your love and power to forgive and to bless. In the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we pray, Amen!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Jesus Meets All Our Needs
Scripture:
"But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat." (Matthew 14:16 )
The disciples were using natural reasoning and recognized that they didn't have the ability to minister to the multitude's need for food. Jesus did have the ability and the willingness to minister to their needs, so the multitude did not need to depart. All of their needs could be met through Jesus.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs. But, "they need not depart." The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us financially, or counsel us from His Word in any area of our life where we might have need.
Before we can be a blessing, we have to be blessed (Gen. 12:2). One of the purposes of God's prosperity in our lives is so that we can be a blessing to others. The Scriptures instruct us to walk in God's love towards all men, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus told us to love our enemies (Mt. 5:44). In Galatians 6:10 Paul places a priority on helping fellow Christians. This does not diminish our responsibility to show God's love to non-believers. Instead, Paul is simply saying "charity must start at home." It would be hypocritical to step over hurting brothers and sisters in the Lord to find unbelievers to minister to.
God didn't just give us something that He had; He gave Himself. And what was God's motive for giving? It wasn't because of His need, but ours. He was motivated out of love for us (Jn. 3:16). In the same way, we should be encouraged to give unselfishly of ourselves. Pray for Divine appointments, to be used of God to touch someone's life today.
http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/may_03
Request:
That our hearts are open to see the needs of others and respond in love as Jesus would.
Prayer;
Dear Lord. Give us your heart. You should compassion to all when you were walked this earth and you passed this responsibility onto us. Help us to share the message of your Good News so that others may have the joy and salvation that we have. In Your Name. Amen
"But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat." (Matthew 14:16 )
The disciples were using natural reasoning and recognized that they didn't have the ability to minister to the multitude's need for food. Jesus did have the ability and the willingness to minister to their needs, so the multitude did not need to depart. All of their needs could be met through Jesus.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs. But, "they need not depart." The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us financially, or counsel us from His Word in any area of our life where we might have need.
Before we can be a blessing, we have to be blessed (Gen. 12:2). One of the purposes of God's prosperity in our lives is so that we can be a blessing to others. The Scriptures instruct us to walk in God's love towards all men, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus told us to love our enemies (Mt. 5:44). In Galatians 6:10 Paul places a priority on helping fellow Christians. This does not diminish our responsibility to show God's love to non-believers. Instead, Paul is simply saying "charity must start at home." It would be hypocritical to step over hurting brothers and sisters in the Lord to find unbelievers to minister to.
God didn't just give us something that He had; He gave Himself. And what was God's motive for giving? It wasn't because of His need, but ours. He was motivated out of love for us (Jn. 3:16). In the same way, we should be encouraged to give unselfishly of ourselves. Pray for Divine appointments, to be used of God to touch someone's life today.
http://www.awmi.net/devotion/jesus/may_03
Request:
That our hearts are open to see the needs of others and respond in love as Jesus would.
Prayer;
Dear Lord. Give us your heart. You should compassion to all when you were walked this earth and you passed this responsibility onto us. Help us to share the message of your Good News so that others may have the joy and salvation that we have. In Your Name. Amen
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