In the first month, the first day of month, Noah finally behold, the face of the ground was dry! Yet he did not come out of the ark! He had to wait for 57 more days until the Lord said to him, "Go out from the ark" and he went out with his wife and every other couples, human and non-human animals, so that they may swarm on the earth and multiply.
57 more days! 1368 more hours! 4.9 x 10^6 more seconds!
One couldn't describe those dreaded 57 days of silence. Noah waited. Silence. Human animals waited. Silence. Non-human animals waited. Silence. Then Noah heard the Lord say, "Go out". Noah called everyone, "We all go out". Every living thing came out. They multiplied. They filled the earth through every "seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, that shall not cease".
Why did Noah wait? Did the Lord told Noah to wait for His direction? Maybe. Did Noah even thought about getting out of the ark when the dove didn't return as a sign that he may come out? Maybe. Did Noah know that by claiming that he may see the dry ground, he is blind? Maybe.
In John 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."
I love this! Noah saw the dry ground. He didn't budge! As if he didn't see. Then the Lord spoke. And he moved as if he finally glimpsed the dry ground. Noah didn't see with his own eyes, but with the Lord's eyes.
Lord, help us not to budge in where we are now as we wait for your next direction. Amen.
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Try Winter White Wonder Drinks!
Time with family = time to try some new recipes! I tried Komucha float and Raw Eggnog this year! They are delicious! You could try it with your family or friends!
Komucha Float
One scoop of vanilla ice cream and Komucha bottle (Gingerberry or Raspberry flavor recommended). Mix them well and enjoy!
*spiced dark rum wasn't included*
Raw Eggnog with Keifir6 eggs
1/2 cup honey
Dash of nutmeg
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup cream milk
1 cup keifir
spiced dark rum, to taste (optional)
Separate eggs into two bowls. Beat eggs whites until fluffy. Beat egg yolks, then add and beat honey. Then milk, cream and keifir and spices. Fold/mix in egg whites and add rum. Then let dudes and dudettes chill!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Lambs in Midst of Wolves (Luke 10-12)
My eyes glued to those figures who acted in audacious faith within the set of DVDs all the morning! John Wycliffe, Martin Luther and William Tyndale boldly challenged the Church of England according to the Scriptures even in the face of death penalty, which later enabled all of us to read our own Bible today! Now we are able to learn from God's people how we may live boldly even in the midst of wolves.
Jesus' said to the appointed seventy-two, "Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road." Today, Jesus says to us, "Go and find your extraordinary path; behold, I am sending you to be the light to the dark world. Don't limit yourselves to financial, resources, supports, or abilities. But act in audacious faith."
God may send us who lack financial, resources, supports, or abilities to show those wolves that God can turn His lambs into His lions! God wants to use His ordinary children to boast about His grace when He made them extraordinary. Steven Furtick wrote Sun Stand Still to show us that "even on the day of the sun stood still, an ordinary event paved the way for an extraordinary victory:
-God may allow you to receive a negative report from the doctor. ORDINARY. But you trust Him in a way that causes all your close friends to see Christ clearly through your response. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may call you to serve as an unsung youth pastor of fifteen kids, leading meetings in a moldly basement, with an Atari for entertainment. ORDINARY. But he may also be providing you with the opportunity to pour your life into one of those teenagers who will go on to preach the gospel in a thousand places you'll never go. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may lead you to stay at home with your young children, forfeiting a second income. ORDINARY. But along with diapers, dishes, and naps, you receive the gift of time- to model discipline, instill values, and speak life into your kids. They could grow up to be Joshuas in their own generation. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may have placed you in a line of work that seems to have no eternal value and provides very little in the way of personal fulfillment. ORDINARY. But he knows you're the only Christian witness many of your co-workers and clients will ever meet. They'll observe what God looks like as you labor with excellence and integrity every day. EXTRAORDINARY."
Let us believe like John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and William Tyndale that God may turn our ordinary event into an extraordinary event.
Jesus' said to the appointed seventy-two, "Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road." Today, Jesus says to us, "Go and find your extraordinary path; behold, I am sending you to be the light to the dark world. Don't limit yourselves to financial, resources, supports, or abilities. But act in audacious faith."
God may send us who lack financial, resources, supports, or abilities to show those wolves that God can turn His lambs into His lions! God wants to use His ordinary children to boast about His grace when He made them extraordinary. Steven Furtick wrote Sun Stand Still to show us that "even on the day of the sun stood still, an ordinary event paved the way for an extraordinary victory:
-God may allow you to receive a negative report from the doctor. ORDINARY. But you trust Him in a way that causes all your close friends to see Christ clearly through your response. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may call you to serve as an unsung youth pastor of fifteen kids, leading meetings in a moldly basement, with an Atari for entertainment. ORDINARY. But he may also be providing you with the opportunity to pour your life into one of those teenagers who will go on to preach the gospel in a thousand places you'll never go. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may lead you to stay at home with your young children, forfeiting a second income. ORDINARY. But along with diapers, dishes, and naps, you receive the gift of time- to model discipline, instill values, and speak life into your kids. They could grow up to be Joshuas in their own generation. EXTRAORDINARY.
-God may have placed you in a line of work that seems to have no eternal value and provides very little in the way of personal fulfillment. ORDINARY. But he knows you're the only Christian witness many of your co-workers and clients will ever meet. They'll observe what God looks like as you labor with excellence and integrity every day. EXTRAORDINARY."
Let us believe like John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and William Tyndale that God may turn our ordinary event into an extraordinary event.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Jesus' First Ministry was Unwelcomed (Luke 4-7)
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. He was tempted by the devil during his forty days fasting. He finished his fasting. He went through Galilee to teach in their synagogues. Then he went on his way to his hometown Nazareth to begin his ministry. He opened the scroll of Isaiah,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
After Jesus closed the scroll, he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown." Jesus went on to explain that even Elijah didn't help anyone but one in the land of Israel. He was sent to only Zaraphath among many widows during the three and half years of famine. The same goes for Elisha. None of lepers were cleanesed, but only Naaman. Thus they were filled with wrath. They tried to throw him off the cliff. Jesus went away.
Why didn't Jesus allow them to say something before being direct with them? Why did Jesus say something that would make them angry? Why did Jesus even bothered to go to his hometown?
I'm uncertain. But Luke 12:49-53 states that Jesus came not to give peace, but rather division. God also came to divide the people at the Tower of Babel. Our God is a jealous God. Therefore He came down to refine us, and through the process we may be defined!
Jesus' first ministry is to shake us and then his last ministry is to unify us. Jesus want us to cast away our old ways of thinking, our carnal thoughts.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
After Jesus closed the scroll, he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown." Jesus went on to explain that even Elijah didn't help anyone but one in the land of Israel. He was sent to only Zaraphath among many widows during the three and half years of famine. The same goes for Elisha. None of lepers were cleanesed, but only Naaman. Thus they were filled with wrath. They tried to throw him off the cliff. Jesus went away.
Why didn't Jesus allow them to say something before being direct with them? Why did Jesus say something that would make them angry? Why did Jesus even bothered to go to his hometown?
I'm uncertain. But Luke 12:49-53 states that Jesus came not to give peace, but rather division. God also came to divide the people at the Tower of Babel. Our God is a jealous God. Therefore He came down to refine us, and through the process we may be defined!
Jesus' first ministry is to shake us and then his last ministry is to unify us. Jesus want us to cast away our old ways of thinking, our carnal thoughts.
Monday, December 20, 2010
God Will Make A Way (Isaiah 1-3)
I've been watching the Lord of the Rings with my family in California for the past few days. I couldn't not share the analogy! Mary would treasured up all these things in her heart and ponder them, as she did with what the Shepherd told her (Luke 2:19) and what Jesus did as a boy (Luke 2:51). Mary love to wonder!
Frodo was carefree before Bilbo Baggin left him the Ring! Virgin Mary was carefree before the Holy Spirit come upon her. Gandalf came to Frodo to explain him that he's to be the Ringbearer. The angel came to Mary to tell her that she's to be the mother of Jesus. Gandalf urged Sam, or Samwise the Brave, to stay with Frodo after he eavesdropped their conversation. God's angel showed up in Joseph's dream again to tell him to go with Mary. Frodo carried his burden with Sam and Mary carried her burden with Joseph.
The Nine Fellowship were gathered together to complete the mission together, but throughout the journey they were assigned to other duties by the Flow. Gandalf the Grey fell, but he later returned to the Fellowship as Gandalf the White. Boromir was slayed. Merry and Pippin were kidnapped by the Orcs, but they met Treebeard who later gathered all Ents to go into the war. Frodo and Sam escaped to complete the mission. Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas decided to go with the Flow and fight for the earth. Throughout their journey, they didn't realize that the Flow assigned them into the correct mission to defeat Sauron the Dark Lord.
The angels sang and encouraged them, then they went away from them into heaven. The shepherds saw the newborn baby lying in a manager and returned to their places. Simeon and Anna, at their old ages, witnessed the promised six weeks old baby Jesus at the Temple. The wise men came to offer the less-than-two-years-old baby gifts and left into the new path to avoid the path of Herod. Mary and Joseph received the warning from the angel and they departed for Egypt. They all went into different paths, but they didn't realize that God had assigned them into those positions to defeat Beelzebub the Prince of Demons.
All of us may carry a God-assigned burden like the Ringbearer or the Mother of Jesus, but God's the author. He will make the way for us. All we need to do is to walk like how the Ringbearer walked unknowingly into Mordor and how the Mother of Jesus unknowingly raised Jesus into the Savior.
Frodo was carefree before Bilbo Baggin left him the Ring! Virgin Mary was carefree before the Holy Spirit come upon her. Gandalf came to Frodo to explain him that he's to be the Ringbearer. The angel came to Mary to tell her that she's to be the mother of Jesus. Gandalf urged Sam, or Samwise the Brave, to stay with Frodo after he eavesdropped their conversation. God's angel showed up in Joseph's dream again to tell him to go with Mary. Frodo carried his burden with Sam and Mary carried her burden with Joseph.
The Nine Fellowship were gathered together to complete the mission together, but throughout the journey they were assigned to other duties by the Flow. Gandalf the Grey fell, but he later returned to the Fellowship as Gandalf the White. Boromir was slayed. Merry and Pippin were kidnapped by the Orcs, but they met Treebeard who later gathered all Ents to go into the war. Frodo and Sam escaped to complete the mission. Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas decided to go with the Flow and fight for the earth. Throughout their journey, they didn't realize that the Flow assigned them into the correct mission to defeat Sauron the Dark Lord.
The angels sang and encouraged them, then they went away from them into heaven. The shepherds saw the newborn baby lying in a manager and returned to their places. Simeon and Anna, at their old ages, witnessed the promised six weeks old baby Jesus at the Temple. The wise men came to offer the less-than-two-years-old baby gifts and left into the new path to avoid the path of Herod. Mary and Joseph received the warning from the angel and they departed for Egypt. They all went into different paths, but they didn't realize that God had assigned them into those positions to defeat Beelzebub the Prince of Demons.
All of us may carry a God-assigned burden like the Ringbearer or the Mother of Jesus, but God's the author. He will make the way for us. All we need to do is to walk like how the Ringbearer walked unknowingly into Mordor and how the Mother of Jesus unknowingly raised Jesus into the Savior.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Mercy (63-64)
Prayer for Mercy:
"Look down from heaven and see from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me."
What's mercy? It's a compassion shown to an offender or a blessing resulting from a divine favor or compassion. In Exodus 17, Israelities whined. They grumbled against Moses. They offended God by saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst?" By the mercy, God gave them water. God told Moses to strike the rock so that water may come out of it. God didn't demand an apology nor any explanation from Israel before He gave them His compassion!
Moses asked, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" Moses was offended. He was afraid. He ran to God, "What shall I do? They are ready to stone me." God saw that they needed the compassion. God put aside the fact that they threatened Moses. God saw that they were afraid, and out of unholy fear they threatened Moses! He gave them mercy without any obligation.
BUT in Numbers 21:4-9 God showed his disciplinary action against Israel as He sent fiery serpents among the people. In Isaiah 63 God had trodden the winepress alone, which spattered their lifeblood upon His garments and stained all His apparel. God's so full of wrath!
Why was God so full of mercy and yet so full of wrath? Only He knows what's in our hearts and what's in His soverign plan. His thoughts are higher than ours. His ways are higher than ours. As the heavens are higher than the earth. But our earthly-brain may offended Him when we didn't trust Him to do His part.
Let us implore Him to stir His heart for us again and to look at us with compassion! Stir up love!
"Look down from heaven and see from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me."
What's mercy? It's a compassion shown to an offender or a blessing resulting from a divine favor or compassion. In Exodus 17, Israelities whined. They grumbled against Moses. They offended God by saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst?" By the mercy, God gave them water. God told Moses to strike the rock so that water may come out of it. God didn't demand an apology nor any explanation from Israel before He gave them His compassion!
Moses asked, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" Moses was offended. He was afraid. He ran to God, "What shall I do? They are ready to stone me." God saw that they needed the compassion. God put aside the fact that they threatened Moses. God saw that they were afraid, and out of unholy fear they threatened Moses! He gave them mercy without any obligation.
BUT in Numbers 21:4-9 God showed his disciplinary action against Israel as He sent fiery serpents among the people. In Isaiah 63 God had trodden the winepress alone, which spattered their lifeblood upon His garments and stained all His apparel. God's so full of wrath!
Why was God so full of mercy and yet so full of wrath? Only He knows what's in our hearts and what's in His soverign plan. His thoughts are higher than ours. His ways are higher than ours. As the heavens are higher than the earth. But our earthly-brain may offended Him when we didn't trust Him to do His part.
Let us implore Him to stir His heart for us again and to look at us with compassion! Stir up love!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Our Wedding Rehearsal (Isaiah 61-62)
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exault in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." -Isaiah 61:10
I was with my family. We were in front of television. And Bayless Conley was speaking inside the box in front of us something like this, "Our expectations may lead us to disappointment, while our expectation in God will lead us to success." I captured those words in my heart. We set our plans. When we failed we blamed God for not keeping His promise. We forgot that our plans are not God's. We had to let it all go. We jumped into God's plans. We began to succeed!
Our definition of success:
-the achievement of something planned or attempted
-the attainment of fame, wealth, or power
God's definition of success:
-the achievement of understanding a piece of God's blueprint for us and walk in the illumination
-the attainment of the garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness, and the jewels of adornation.
When we focused on our definition of success, then we shall fail as His bride. If we look onto God's definition of success, then we shall prevail! We shall come into harmony. We shall dress ourselves up as His bride. Maybe something hindered us in our preparation for the wedding. Maybe a robe didn't fit us perfectly. Maybe we are trying on a robe of our own definition of success. We have to cast that robe aside and look for the right robe. When we couldn't find the right robe, maybe the flow had ceased.
We agony in our prayer. Our prayer shall open up the heavens. With the heavens open, the flow shall resume. With the flow, we could find the right robe. Thereafter, our dress rehearsal begins!
"Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production." -Rick Warren
I was with my family. We were in front of television. And Bayless Conley was speaking inside the box in front of us something like this, "Our expectations may lead us to disappointment, while our expectation in God will lead us to success." I captured those words in my heart. We set our plans. When we failed we blamed God for not keeping His promise. We forgot that our plans are not God's. We had to let it all go. We jumped into God's plans. We began to succeed!
Our definition of success:
-the achievement of something planned or attempted
-the attainment of fame, wealth, or power
God's definition of success:
-the achievement of understanding a piece of God's blueprint for us and walk in the illumination
-the attainment of the garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness, and the jewels of adornation.
When we focused on our definition of success, then we shall fail as His bride. If we look onto God's definition of success, then we shall prevail! We shall come into harmony. We shall dress ourselves up as His bride. Maybe something hindered us in our preparation for the wedding. Maybe a robe didn't fit us perfectly. Maybe we are trying on a robe of our own definition of success. We have to cast that robe aside and look for the right robe. When we couldn't find the right robe, maybe the flow had ceased.
We agony in our prayer. Our prayer shall open up the heavens. With the heavens open, the flow shall resume. With the flow, we could find the right robe. Thereafter, our dress rehearsal begins!
"Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production." -Rick Warren
Friday, December 10, 2010
Who's Jeshurun? Hit Dial Up! (Isaiah 44-47)
When you read about Jeshurun for the first time it's like opening the Bible to Isaiah 44:2 and starting to read. It's tough to get a degree of familiarity with Jeshurun by reading Isaiah 44:2 because you haven't read Deuteronomy 32:15 or 33:5 or 33:26. This name isn't a person, but let me give you some context to Jeshurun so you can get acquainted.
The name seems to be a symbolic name for Israel. In KJV version, it was mentioned only three times in Deuternomy only, "But Jeshurun was waxed fat, and kicked", "He [the Lord] was king in Jeshurun", and "There is none like unto God of Jerushun". If you read carefully, you will see Jeshurun's personal pronoun. The pronoun is he. It is Israel in it's masculine form.
Daughter Zion is a feminine form of Israel.
I also discovered that Jeshurun's root is being same in the book of Jashar, also meant the book of the upright. Jashar showed up in Gibeon when the sun stand still in Joshua 10:3. And he showed up in Ziklag when David lamented for Saul and his son Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1:18. If I could sum it all up, then we will have six roots of Jeshurun in the Bible that we, the women, could look him up and hit dial up!
I hit dial up! I am getting acquainted with the book of Jasher. Um... but I will also get acquainted with Sun Stand Still when my mom will introduce him to me in California. Now I have two wonderful guy-books who I could hang loose with!
The name seems to be a symbolic name for Israel. In KJV version, it was mentioned only three times in Deuternomy only, "But Jeshurun was waxed fat, and kicked", "He [the Lord] was king in Jeshurun", and "There is none like unto God of Jerushun". If you read carefully, you will see Jeshurun's personal pronoun. The pronoun is he. It is Israel in it's masculine form.
Daughter Zion is a feminine form of Israel.
I also discovered that Jeshurun's root is being same in the book of Jashar, also meant the book of the upright. Jashar showed up in Gibeon when the sun stand still in Joshua 10:3. And he showed up in Ziklag when David lamented for Saul and his son Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1:18. If I could sum it all up, then we will have six roots of Jeshurun in the Bible that we, the women, could look him up and hit dial up!
I hit dial up! I am getting acquainted with the book of Jasher. Um... but I will also get acquainted with Sun Stand Still when my mom will introduce him to me in California. Now I have two wonderful guy-books who I could hang loose with!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Psychological Warfare (Is 36-39)
Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian military officer, stood and shouted, "Don't allow Hezekiah to fool you into trusting the Lord to deliver you out of the hand of the king of Assyria. Remember that Hezekiah is trying to misled you!" Then Rabshaken pried them into some clever psychological questions, comparing their one true God to all the gods of these lands that the king of Assyria have taken.
Judah's soldiers didn't reply. Soldiers of one true God remained unbended for they heeded Hezekiah's instruction, "Do not answer him." They stood unwavering around the walls of Jerusalem while a trio of messengers, the household overseer, the secretary and the recorder, came to Hezekiah with thier clothes tore to tell him of Rabshakeh's words. Then Hezekiah tore his clothes and sent for Isaiah.
If you were one of Judah's solders, would you defend yourself or remain silent? Why did Hezekiah command them to not answer a high-ranking military officer? The soliders boycotted their case. There is no judge in the courtroom.
After Hezekiah heard this, he called for Isaiah. Thus, he second-handed heard the Lord saying, "Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land." But the hassle continued. Hezekiah prayed the promised-prayer. Isaiah came to tell him that Promise Keeper beforehanded heard his prayer! Then the early sun met Hezekiah with one hundred and eighty-five thousand of dead bodies in the camp of Assyria!
Who will we need to withold our case from? The case belongs to the Utimately Promise Keeper.
Judah's soldiers didn't reply. Soldiers of one true God remained unbended for they heeded Hezekiah's instruction, "Do not answer him." They stood unwavering around the walls of Jerusalem while a trio of messengers, the household overseer, the secretary and the recorder, came to Hezekiah with thier clothes tore to tell him of Rabshakeh's words. Then Hezekiah tore his clothes and sent for Isaiah.
If you were one of Judah's solders, would you defend yourself or remain silent? Why did Hezekiah command them to not answer a high-ranking military officer? The soliders boycotted their case. There is no judge in the courtroom.
After Hezekiah heard this, he called for Isaiah. Thus, he second-handed heard the Lord saying, "Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land." But the hassle continued. Hezekiah prayed the promised-prayer. Isaiah came to tell him that Promise Keeper beforehanded heard his prayer! Then the early sun met Hezekiah with one hundred and eighty-five thousand of dead bodies in the camp of Assyria!
Who will we need to withold our case from? The case belongs to the Utimately Promise Keeper.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
"Ephphatha": the United Islands (Isaiah 13-16)
"What does one say to outsiders who ask questions? Tell them, 'God has established Zion. Those in need and in trouble find refuge in her."
Zion is of one place where Israel dwells together. Upper room on the day of Pentecost is of one place where disciples were together. Martha's Vineyard is one place where cultures come together. The Hebrides Islands is where two frail women prayed together. They came together to ask God to establish a refuge for those in need and in trouble.
"Ultimately, many of the tribe became Christian, including the paw-waws (spiritual leaders) and sachems (political leaders). It become arguably the first successful cross-cultural church planting mission in the history of Protestantism (Eliot's work on the mainland began a few years later)... the first Native American graduates of Harvard were from Martha's Vineyard... there were many native preachers on the island who also preached in English churches from time to time." I love how Martha's Vineyard had more history to the island than Native American! It once had a high rate of genetic deafness for almost two centuries documented. There are about 1 out of 155 deaf birth rate on Vineyard, which was 20 times higher than the nation. There were about 65% of deaf marriages that was a mixed marriage between deaf and hearing spouses on the island. Martha Vineyard Sign Language was created and commonly used by the residents, including hearing, and that allowed the deaf residents to easily blend into society. This is heaven!
Let us also look into how those two frail women prayed into the victory on the Hebrides Island. It is one of my favorite revival stories because the name of the island is He-brides, Jesus will come to marry us when we are united as the Body of Christ. "Peggy Smith was a blind 84-year-old prayer warrior. Her sister Christine suffered from severe arthritis. Yet these two frail women were not willing to see the enemy claim victory on their island! Together, they prayed fervently for revival... That revival continued for the next 30 years, and God showered His blessings on the entire region." If the story of the Hebrides Awakening show us that even two frail women could pray into the victory, then how powerful it would be for us, even if there's only two of us, to pray together.
"Remember also God's solemn assessment of the human unity He observed at the tower of Babel. 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6, NASB). Just think of the incredible power of human endeavor when those involved were united even in rebellion against God. Then think of the awesome power that our unity can produce when energized by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival. This is the power to change a nation and to frustrate the plans of those who wish to destroy us." -Steps to Revival, Pat Robertson
May our prayer language "be opened" as we draw near to God so that we may pray the Ephphatha prayer to our God, so that He may answer our prayers by drawing near to us and energize us by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival!
Zion is of one place where Israel dwells together. Upper room on the day of Pentecost is of one place where disciples were together. Martha's Vineyard is one place where cultures come together. The Hebrides Islands is where two frail women prayed together. They came together to ask God to establish a refuge for those in need and in trouble.
"Ultimately, many of the tribe became Christian, including the paw-waws (spiritual leaders) and sachems (political leaders). It become arguably the first successful cross-cultural church planting mission in the history of Protestantism (Eliot's work on the mainland began a few years later)... the first Native American graduates of Harvard were from Martha's Vineyard... there were many native preachers on the island who also preached in English churches from time to time." I love how Martha's Vineyard had more history to the island than Native American! It once had a high rate of genetic deafness for almost two centuries documented. There are about 1 out of 155 deaf birth rate on Vineyard, which was 20 times higher than the nation. There were about 65% of deaf marriages that was a mixed marriage between deaf and hearing spouses on the island. Martha Vineyard Sign Language was created and commonly used by the residents, including hearing, and that allowed the deaf residents to easily blend into society. This is heaven!
Let us also look into how those two frail women prayed into the victory on the Hebrides Island. It is one of my favorite revival stories because the name of the island is He-brides, Jesus will come to marry us when we are united as the Body of Christ. "Peggy Smith was a blind 84-year-old prayer warrior. Her sister Christine suffered from severe arthritis. Yet these two frail women were not willing to see the enemy claim victory on their island! Together, they prayed fervently for revival... That revival continued for the next 30 years, and God showered His blessings on the entire region." If the story of the Hebrides Awakening show us that even two frail women could pray into the victory, then how powerful it would be for us, even if there's only two of us, to pray together.
"Remember also God's solemn assessment of the human unity He observed at the tower of Babel. 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6, NASB). Just think of the incredible power of human endeavor when those involved were united even in rebellion against God. Then think of the awesome power that our unity can produce when energized by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival. This is the power to change a nation and to frustrate the plans of those who wish to destroy us." -Steps to Revival, Pat Robertson
May our prayer language "be opened" as we draw near to God so that we may pray the Ephphatha prayer to our God, so that He may answer our prayers by drawing near to us and energize us by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"Ephphatha": the Broken Hierarchy (Isaiah 9-12)
"In that day the root of Jesse who shall stand as a signal of the peoples- of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea."
Who is the root of Jesse that shall stand as a signal of the peoples? Jesus! What does the Lord meant by 'extending his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant'? If we read Acts 3:22-23, "Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.'" After Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, God had established a new statues for the people to follow, which was the first rescue. After the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, God fulfilled the Law and Prophet through Jesus, 'not even an iota nor a dot' (not a slightly difference) shall be removed. We often mistake that those Laws are to be obeyed and those Prophets are prophecies to be fulfilled, but if we look into Luke 24:44, we will see Jesus telling them that "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." That's awesome! If you ever read Pentateuch, the Law of Moses, again we got to look through Jesus' lenses and see what the Law reveals us about Jesus!
In order to fulfill the prophecies, Jesus was cut off from the Heirarchy briefly after He cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Even though Jesus was blameless, he had to be cut off from the Heirarchy for the people's sake! God say to us, "I shall be your God and you shall be my people!" Jesus had to be cut off from the Heirarchy briefly so that through his blood, we may enter the Heirarchy to be His royal bride once again! Jesus is our Prince who came to our rescue.
Before we may marry Jesus, we got to learn a lot more about Jesus! We might want to ask Him those questions before marrying Him:
-What type of meat shall fill His belly?
-Does He leave His clothes everywhere?
-Will He want to adopt few children?
-Does He love to ride 250cc Ninja?
-Does He root for Viking?
-Does He have a good relationship with His parents?
-Why did the Law deny the Deaf the right to participate fully in the rituals of the Temple?
Now, which of those questions may help us to know Him more as His bride? I would assume that learning more about the Hebrew Scriptures that includes the Law, Psalms, and Prophets will help us to know Him better. Why did the Law deny the Deaf the right to participate fully in the rituals of the Temple?
Actually, I had no idea! Remember that it only comes from the Deaf's perspective. In non-Jewish's perspective, they might ask, "Why did the Law deny the foreigners?". In women's perspective, they might ask, "Why did the Law deny the women to be the Levites?" All of those people group were denied the education of the Hebrew Scriptures, except the few. Therefore, non-Jewish, women, and the Deaf cannot fully run the rituals in the Temple at that time.
In 355 BC, "The philsopher Aristotle claims that 'Deaf people could not be educated [since] without hearing, people could not learn.' In keeping with this thinking, the deaf son of King Croesus of Lydia is not recognized as his father's heir."
-American Deaf Culture Historical Timeline
Before the Christ, we experienced the relationship brokenness. But after the Christ, we are given the ministry of reconciliation so that we may enter the Hierarchy again and none of us will be the Frost Nips that shall be rejected from the Body of Christ.
May we say, "Ephphatha" for every inch of our 50,000 to 100,000 miles of vein in our Body of Christ to "be opened" so that the blood may flow throughout us once again in our preparation to wed Jesus!
In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea."
Who is the root of Jesse that shall stand as a signal of the peoples? Jesus! What does the Lord meant by 'extending his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant'? If we read Acts 3:22-23, "Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.'" After Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, God had established a new statues for the people to follow, which was the first rescue. After the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, God fulfilled the Law and Prophet through Jesus, 'not even an iota nor a dot' (not a slightly difference) shall be removed. We often mistake that those Laws are to be obeyed and those Prophets are prophecies to be fulfilled, but if we look into Luke 24:44, we will see Jesus telling them that "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." That's awesome! If you ever read Pentateuch, the Law of Moses, again we got to look through Jesus' lenses and see what the Law reveals us about Jesus!
In order to fulfill the prophecies, Jesus was cut off from the Heirarchy briefly after He cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Even though Jesus was blameless, he had to be cut off from the Heirarchy for the people's sake! God say to us, "I shall be your God and you shall be my people!" Jesus had to be cut off from the Heirarchy briefly so that through his blood, we may enter the Heirarchy to be His royal bride once again! Jesus is our Prince who came to our rescue.
Before we may marry Jesus, we got to learn a lot more about Jesus! We might want to ask Him those questions before marrying Him:
-What type of meat shall fill His belly?
-Does He leave His clothes everywhere?
-Will He want to adopt few children?
-Does He love to ride 250cc Ninja?
-Does He root for Viking?
-Does He have a good relationship with His parents?
-Why did the Law deny the Deaf the right to participate fully in the rituals of the Temple?
Now, which of those questions may help us to know Him more as His bride? I would assume that learning more about the Hebrew Scriptures that includes the Law, Psalms, and Prophets will help us to know Him better. Why did the Law deny the Deaf the right to participate fully in the rituals of the Temple?
Actually, I had no idea! Remember that it only comes from the Deaf's perspective. In non-Jewish's perspective, they might ask, "Why did the Law deny the foreigners?". In women's perspective, they might ask, "Why did the Law deny the women to be the Levites?" All of those people group were denied the education of the Hebrew Scriptures, except the few. Therefore, non-Jewish, women, and the Deaf cannot fully run the rituals in the Temple at that time.
In 355 BC, "The philsopher Aristotle claims that 'Deaf people could not be educated [since] without hearing, people could not learn.' In keeping with this thinking, the deaf son of King Croesus of Lydia is not recognized as his father's heir."
-American Deaf Culture Historical Timeline
Before the Christ, we experienced the relationship brokenness. But after the Christ, we are given the ministry of reconciliation so that we may enter the Hierarchy again and none of us will be the Frost Nips that shall be rejected from the Body of Christ.
May we say, "Ephphatha" for every inch of our 50,000 to 100,000 miles of vein in our Body of Christ to "be opened" so that the blood may flow throughout us once again in our preparation to wed Jesus!
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