Homeless' Grateful Kiss

"A woman of the city, who was a sinner,... standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment." -Luke 7:37-38

This afternoon I felt like my character was being tested of what it's like to be washed and kissed in front of everybody. One situation may involve several perspectives. This woman is glad. Jesus felt the compassion. Everyone else rebuked. But what if we shifted the characters in this story- would the Pharisee feel the compassion? Would you? Would I?

I met a friend at Union Station over a coffee this late morning to nuture each other in the Word. After we met, she needed to take the bus and I had a margin between two appointments. So I decided to go with her across a street to wait with her until her bus comes. As we waited, I saw a homeless guy struggled his way across the street with a dollar bill in his hand and I knew that he needed something. I had some Lent's 58 in my bag. I immediately took out two bags of nuts and a bar. I'm not sure if I somehow motioned him over or he just knew, but he came toward me. Something tugged me to give him more- so I grabbed two more apples and three muffins instead of one muffin for him. He smiled and motioned me to hold them until he settle himself on the grass where his hands would be free from the walker and so I did. Then I held out my left hand to shake his hand, he took it gladly and kissed it for several seconds long! I watched. I smiled. And then I went back.

My friend almost cried. She was touched by this whole thing. We talked about it and I realized that I didn't really cared. I didn't check on the people around me. I didn't withdraw my hand from him. I didn't feel disgusted about it. All I felt was the compassion for this guy's hunger. All I wanted is for him to feel safe. I wouldn't feel that way few years ago- I would eye around without tilting my chin, hesitate to extend my hand for the kiss and feel the distrust. This moment was pure. I saw his hunger and I extended.

It amazed me how Jesus welcomed this city woman. Evenmore, he defended her and forgave her sins.

Lent's 58 in Action

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." -Hebrews 13:2

Today I felt like this verse came into the reality! I just picked up my backpack from U.S. Park Police after checking my cash, food, and supplies in it. I signed at least 5 signatures to claim that there was nothing stolen. Then the police told me that a homeless guy whom I had fed had turned in my backpack. Whoa! Can you imagine that?! If you were a homeless, would you turn in someone's bag without looking in to see if you could steal some cash or even take a $20?

I was blessed with a whole "payback".

Yesterday I went out to Trader Joe's with two ladies and two little boys of few years to intently shop for some Lent's 58 and then strategically walk several miles back home. We shopped 12 muffins, a bag of apples, a handful of Go Raw Trek mix and cereal bars to go with us. We had a hard time walking with two energetic little boys, but when it came to giving out foods they are for it! Can you imagine having two toddlers who are obsessed with "MY! MY!" giving out the foods? They certainly showed their potentials. One of them sat on my shoulder giving out a bag of nuts and a bar when the other gave the apple and the muffin. Oh my, they gave their all.

When we were halfway through our adventure. We stopped to feed the thirsty boys with some drinks and it was when I noticed that my backpack was missing among the bags. I told them to go on as I hunted for my bag. I ran. I acrossed. I looked. I talked with few homeless men, but none was found. I stopped for a while to tell God that it was impossible. I believed that God had led me into this Lent's 58. No way. As I headed home, I praised God for this because I believed that He will bless me two-fold or three-fold for this. I walked expectantly.

At home, I called the bank to report my cards lost. I checked my netbook for the phone number of my other credit card and decided to open my facebook as my call is being on hold. I jumped and shouted when I saw the message. I hang up. I pressed my netbook onto my friends' face, "Hey there. I want to let you know that someone turned your backpack in to the U.S. Park Police..." Awesome! Facebook found me.

God's always for us!

Pray, Prepare & Perform

"But IF you are led by the Spirit, [then] you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident..." -Galatians 5:18-19a

It's already more than a month since I've recommited myself to the hourly morning prayers. I've been asking God as I prayed- how do I pray, prepare and perform? I wanted to be led by the Spirit not by the flesh. Naturally, I found myself led by my flesh first before I recognized that I was also led by the Spirit. Sometimes the flesh and the Spirit overlap in our prayer. I feel that our preparation and performance often expose us to whether we are being led by the flesh or by the Spirit.

If the Word of encouragement comes, then we shouldn't hesitate to share them. For they do no harm even if they are from our flesh. But if the Word of disapproval comes, then we should think about it long and pray for the wisdom in how we should share it yet not overstepping the fine line.

Paul had written many letters to the Church about how we should love one another. I've found that he encouraged us to Pray for Spiritual Wisdom (as this passage was titled in KJV) as he wrote to the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 1:16-18:

"That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and Your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you- every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask- ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory- to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for His followers, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him- endless energy, boundless strength!

Doing My Father's Work (Testimony)

In "Doing My Father's Work" testimony of of GO! SIGN magazine there's a hearing guy who boldly accepted his call to the Deaf Ministry without any existing deaf people in the church. Dave Perry had decisively prepared the field- without any forecasted rain- because he is the farmer who believed that God will bring forth the rain. May we be encouraged by this testimony to prepare the specific field that God has given us:

I would like to share my testimony of 'Doing My Father's Work.'
About five years ago, my pastor at Kingfisher Church in Gloucester gave a series of sermons on 'Doing God's Work' and 'Getting Out of the Boat'. I felt inspired to ask God to show me what he wanted me to do and I told Him I would be obedient to that.
After praying I felt excited but a bit nervous too- what if He wanted me to do something really scary- or nothing at all! God did speak to me. He told me to learn sign language! This seemed pretty weird as I had not met a deaf person in my life! I said "No way- this can't be right", and ignored it. God told me again to go and learn sign language- again I ignored it. Eventually I felt I had to do as I was told- after all, I had asked Him to tell me what He wanted me to do- so I started a level one BSL course. Unfortunately, after just two work involved travelling and I was missing too many lessons. Over the next couple of years I never lost the sense that it was still what the Lord wanted me to do and that the opportunity would come.
Two years ago my work situation changed and I stopped travelling around the world and guess what? God said "Go and learn sign language". Again I said "No I am too busy." Eventually He made sure I got the message. One evening I was on my way home from church and had to wait at the level crossing. I turned off my engine and glanced to the left. There was a huge billboard, which said, "Learn to sign- enroll on a BSL language course now!" I said "OK, I'll do it!" I completed level one, then went straight on to level two. I have now finished the course and passed the exams.
We don't have any deaf people in our church so I prayed to God again and asked "What do you want me to do now?" Nothing came back.
Two weeks ago I gave my testimony at church and asked for prayer. As a result of that, God said "Training". I thought, "NO! I can't do level three. For one thing, I can't afford it and also, I don't have the time." A few days later a lady in church came up to me and told me she believed God wants me to train other people in the church in basic BSL.
At the moment I am writing a basic BSL training course, aimed at the serving people at our church, to enable them to welcome deaf people, make introductions, ask if they require refreshments and to be able to show them to their seats. I believe that if we show a willingness to do all we can to welcome the deaf community into our church and enable them to enjoy all that we can offer them, then God will bring the people along.
So thank you Lord for giving me a wonderful gift and I pray you will show me how to use it to grow your Kingdom.

I shared this article with the Circlemaker group last Tuesday. After this I pointed it to a guy, Louis Fry, because he is also a Deaf Minsitry leader at Grace Covenant Church in Chinatown who faithfully prepared the field without any existing deaf member or with only one member. He and his wife, Cora, taught ASL and promoted the needs of the Deaf Ministry at the ministry fair at the church when I visited. 'T was awesome!

When Heaven Invades Earth

"We go through a season where it seems our prayers go unanswered and we stop consulting with Him about our life, we take control back."
-From A New Thing Ministries



I've been reading Heaven Invades on the Earth after getting an encouragment from someone I don't know. My mom was surprised because she also thought of buying it. So she bought it and I loaned it via Kindle. Here's what I highlighted:

"Not everyone liked Smith Wigglesworth. His faith made other people feel uncomfortable. We either become like them or avoid them. We find their lifestyle either contagious or offensive with little neutral ground. Smith is well loved today... but it's only because he's dead. Israel loved their dead prophets too."

"The apostle Paul was driven by the command, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel...' However, when he was ready to preach the gospel in Asia, God said no. What God had said appeared to be in conflict with what God was saying. Paul then prepared to go to Bithynia. Again, God said no. Following this Paul had a dream of a man calling out to him from Macedonia. This was recognized as the will of God, and they went."

"The authority to cast out demons is found in rest. Rest is the climate that faith grows in. It comes out of the peace of God... it is a moving of the heart into a place of surrender... a place of rest."

"If we only have ten minutes to pray we should spend about eight praising God."

"Many who call themselves intercessors live depressed lives. I don't want to minimize the genuine effect of the burden of the Lord that comes upon us when we are praying effectively. It is real and necessary. But an unstable lifestyle has been promoted by those who claim to be intercessors, but have not learned to RELEASE THINGS in prayer. The burden of the Lord takes us somewhere! I learned this the hard way."

"Billy Graham is credited with saying, 'Ninety-five percent of today's church activities would continue if the Holy Spirit were removed from us. In the early Church, ninety-five percent of all her activities would have stopped if the Holy Spirit were removed.' I agree."

"We speak the word, and the Father does the works- miracles!"

"One only needs to look at Moses to realize that sometimes the miraculous only causes our Pharoahs to become more resolved to destroy us when they see power... Power stirred up the zeal of opposition in them... power often causes people to decide what they're for or against. Power removes the middle ground."

"Jesus commanded the most highly trained individuals in the supernatural to ever walk the earth to "wait in Jerusalem for what the Father has promised.'... even though they had experienced His power through their own ministry, they were to wait for DUNAMIS- the ability to perform miracles."

"Before entering, I would pray specifically that the anointing of God would rest upon me and flow through me. I would walk up and down the aisles praying quietly in the Spirit, wanting God to fill the store. One day the owner came to me and said, "Something is different when you come into the store." A door opened that day that gave me many opportunities for future ministry. The anointing upon me equipped me for service."

"A visiting minister recently told us, "The difference between you and me is this: if I pray for a dead person and they are not raised from the dead, I pray for the next dead person too. I don't quit!"

"They applaud fasting and respect those who embrace poverty or endure disease for the sake of personal spirituality. But show them a life filled with joy because of the transforming power of God, and they will not only applaud but will want to be like you."

"But the cross is not self-applied- Jesus did not nail Himself to the cross. Christians who are trapped by this counterfeit are contstantly talking about their weaknesses... This is especially noticeable in prayer meetings where people try to project great brokenness before God, hoping to earn revival. They will often reconfess old sins searching for real humility. [ME ME = pride!]"

"I discover that I was not the Holy Spirit. I cannot convict and deliver myself of sin."

"Tongues of fire were seen on the heads of the apostles on the day of Pentcost. In more modern times, fire has been seen blazing from the top of church buildings when the people of God are gathered together in His name. At the Azuza Street revival, the fire department was called to extinguish a blaze, only to discover that the people inside were worshipping Jesus. Water couldn't put it out as it was not a natural fire."

"Mary stands apart from Zacharias because while being ignorant she surrendered to the promise... we have the choice: to stand in the shoes of Zacharias and lose our voice, or walk in the ways of Mary and invite God to restore us the promises we cannot control."

"Outside of intimacy, we are likely to miss the greatest event on earth."

"The religious leaders said Paul and Silas were of the devil. But a demon-possessed fortune-teller girl said they were of God."

"Sometimes our dearest friends want to put us away, declaring the move to be from the devil. And then there's the fact that we are looked at as a fringe element by the rest of the Body of Christ. The willingness to bear reproach from our brothers and sisters is part of the cost we pay for the move of the Spirit."

"Quenching the Spirit is probably responsible for the end of more revivals than any other single cause. Even those who have embraced the move of God often come to a place where their comfort zone is stretched about as far as they are willing to go. They then begin to look for a place to settle- a place of understanding and control.

"The second greatest reason for a revival's end is when the Church begins to look for the return of the Lord instead of pursuing a greater breakthrough in the Great Commission."

"I believe the desire for the Church to be in heaven now is actually the counterfeit of seeking first the kingdom. There's a difference between crying for heaven now and heaven here! If a revival has brought us to the end of our dreams, does that mean we have reached the end of His? A revival must go beyond all we could imagine."

"Ten days had passed, Pentecost had come, and they were still praying as they did the other nine days. 'And suddenly...' A room with one hundred and twenty people was now filled with...This infant Church hadn't learned enough to try and control God. They hadn't developed biases over acceptable and unacceptable practices. They had no biblical or experiential grid for what was happening."

"The Word doesn't contain God- it reveals Him. Joel 2 revealed the nature of God's work among man. Acts 2 was an illustration of what God intended by that prophecy."

"The Church has an unhealthy addiction to perfection: the kind that makes no allowances for messes... 'Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.' Messes are necessary for increase."

"Our God-born desire for revival must keep us desperate enough to recognize Him when He comes. Without such desperation, we get satisfied with our present status and become our own worst enemies at changing history."

"Many Christians prefer to work in a Christian business, attend Christian meetings, and isolate themselves from the very people we are left on the planet to touch in His name."

"So much of today's Kingdom theology is focused on us ruling, in the sense of believers becoming the heads of corporations and governments. And, in measure, it is true. But our strong suit has been, and always will be, service. If in serving we get promoted to positions of rulership, we must remember that what got us there, will keep us useful."

"The Hebrew four were promoted as a result of Daniel's prophetic gift. Please note that there is no mention of Daniel operating in this gift before this crisis. Something similar happened to an evangelist friend of mine while still in his youth. He was invited to speak in a church in Canada. When he got off the plane, the pastor met him with a surprised look on his face, saying, "You're not Morris Cerullo!" The Pastor had a great hunger for signs and wonders to be restored to his church, and thought he had booked a week of meetings with Morris Cerullo. The shocked pastor asked the young man if he had a signs and wonders ministry. He answered, "No." The pastor, looking at his watch said, "You've got four hours to get one" and then took him to the hotel. Out of desperation, the young evangelist cried out to God, and God honored his cry. That night was the beginning of the signs and wonders ministry that has marked his life to this day. God orchestrated these circumstances so that both Daniel and this young evangelist would earnestly pursue spiritual gifts."

"Promotion does not go unchallenged. Just when you think you have been placed into a position of influence, something will happen to totally rock your boat."

"Sometimes we are to go against the command of our leaders- but even then, only with submissive hearts."

"Men of lesser character would have rejoiced in God's judgment. Not Daniel. His response to his master was: 'My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies.' What loyalty! His devotion was not based on the character of his king. It was based on the character of the One who assigned him the position of service. Some would have had an "I told you so" response to their boss if God judged them in the same way. The world has seen our 'holier than thou' attitude, and they're not impressed. It's time they see a loyalty that is not based on genuine goodness. Responses like Daniel's become noticed. They display the kingdom in its purity and power. They are revolutionary."

"God's people must find a heart to see others succeed. Anyone can wish good upon someone who conforms to his or her beliefs and disciplines. But the ability to express loyalty and forgiveness before someone is saved may be the key to touching that individual's heart. Personal integrity is the backbone of all life and ministry, and our credibility is founded on this one thing."

"A ten-year-old asked her mom to take her to the mall so she could find sick people to pray for. Students set up a sign at their table at our local coffee shop. It says, "Free prayer." People not only got prayer, they received a prophetic word that brought them to a greater awareness of God's love."

"Where does life take you? Go there in the anointing and watch the impossibilities bow to the name Jesus."

"The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of power! We must be in pursuit of a fuller demonstration of the Spirit of God. Pray much and take risks."

"On the contrary, it's important to understand God's promise and purpose for the Church so that we might become dissatisfied- so that we will become desperate. Intercession from insatiable hunger moves the heart of God as nothing else can."

"Revival is not for the faint of heart. It brings fear to the complacent because of the risks it requires. The fearful often work against the move of God- sometimes to their death- all the while thinking they are working for Him."

"The addiction to perfection has given place to a religious spirit. People who refuse to step out and be used by God become the critics of those who do. Risk takers, the ones who thrill the heart of God, become the targets of those who never fail because they seldom try."

Weighting Your Spiritual Discipline

My spiritual discipline for this year is to do the morning prayers at the chapel. Five days a week. We also might do three 24 hours of praying and/or fasting this semester. That was challenging enough, isn't it?

That was what I thought even though I still wondered if I could do more. I naturally strive for more and more, I am a long distance runner and I get runner's high. It's the same with the spiritual discipline. There is nothing wrong with that, but I knew that I had to be careful not to get spiritually injured by the excess increase of the spiritual discipline. I think that is what happened to me last summer. I got worn out and I stopped praying in the mornings. My priorities in my spiritual discipline got messed up.

This year I've learned to weight out my spiritual discipline, I hope, to 240 hours of morning prayers at the chapel and nothing more. I've also asked the few to keep me accountable as I keep them accountable. I am serious about it, yet I know that I am feeble. That's where my accountability needs to take place. My other additional spiritual discipline are optional.

Are you staying in your comfort zone despite of your hunger for God? Or are you pushing yourself with off the cliff? Somewhere in the middle are where we are supposed to be. Seeking God.

Lent's 58

I love and hate changes! I read "Who Moves My Cheese?" when I was a frosh in high school. I ponder about the changes time to time. Maybe I need to heat up my chair- be steadfast- or leave it cold- do something new-but never let it be warm.

As of now, I am heating up my hills of my God given tasks with my bottom. I believe that God created those specific hills for me. So I had to stay in my nest to take care of my cage free eggs.

I also see a lot of hills that I had to remove my bottom from. For I don't want to be like a woman seated on Rev17:9 mountains. From time to time, God will give me grace to move. Meanwhile, I had to experiment with some goals to see if I am ready to move up as a servant-leader. One of them is the "Lent's 58".

Few months ago I decided to try budgeting my grocercy to $100 a month in order to give away the other half. It was a success except that I hadn't give away the other half because I had no clue on how I could do that. This morning I walked 3.2 miles to Trader Joe's and back. Isaiah 58:7 came into my mind once again, "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house." It is so simple isn't it? In my path, I saw several homeless people and some OccupyDC protestors at some parks. There are some existing opportunities here!

It doesn't matter if I agree with their lifestyles, but it matters if I cared about mine. Am I generosity or not. Am I challenging myself in my servanthood or not? Am I asking Him for more of His grace or staying comfortable?

Idea- buy bagels and package of cream cheese (1oz) and grab plastic knives as I go on my weekly morning grocercy during the Lent. I could walk 3.2 miles to pray and meditate, shop foodies, and then walk back to give foodies away.I think it's a great way to do the Lent's 58.

Again, it's just an idea and it's up to God to give me grace to do it, well, actually it's up to me to receive His readily given grace.

Pray and Pray Forward

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmanent sheweth His handiwork."
-Psalm 19:1

Elizabeth laughed with joy after she headed home from the church after she ended her covenant with God. She had tried to wrestle with God toward the altar to pray by 9AM, but God shouted angrily, "GO BACK HOME!" He had to say it three times until she gave up thinking that she have sinned and then He told her sweetly, "Your three years are up. You have prayed through into my glory." (pg. 59, Dabney, Elizabeth J.)

BUT there's more...

When she came back home, God had anointed her with oil in the scary basement and called her into a Prayer Ministry all over the country. Thus she prayed over many pastors and many revival tents. She even came to DC to pray, with heavy tears on the way. Alot of people were in sympathy with her, but she said nothing. She prayed over Pastor Kelsey who then had nearly 90 converts and they were being baptized in the Potomac River. I believe that it took place nearby 7th St SW and O St SW, probably nearby the Gangplank Marina. Her ministry soared even more as someone wrote about her in the article, tract and even broadcasted her. She almost collapsed when she learned of it because she knew that the attacks would be greater. She never wanted this, but she did it out of her love for God.

Once you started, you cannot turn back. Advancing forward.

I was reading this in Library of Congress and when I paused halfway and hold this "out of print" rare book, I recognized those words engraved on the wall by the ceiling. No way! It was engraved on the wall just like how Elizabeth wrote it, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmanent showeth His handiwork."

I sat back in awe.

Elizabeth wrote, "Prayer is the key to the Lord's heaven door."