What did the Shunammite woman do when her unasked-for promise child died? She rode straight to Elisha without telling her husband and without telling Elisha what the problem is! Why did she refused to tell them? I think it is because she believed in this unasked-for promise!
She said, "All is well" to her husband when he asked her why she needs to her donkey and set out for Elisha. She said, "All is well" when Elisha asked her if there is any problems. Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'"
I love this courageous mother! She believed that God won't give her a unasked-for child if that child will die. She fought against the issues of life that may shape her thoughts, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Prov 4:23)
In the end, she is still a mother! A conqueror!
There are some promises in our lives that we didn't ask for or asked for. Are we like the Shunammite woman who believed that His unasked-for promise remains? Let's say, "ALL IS WELL, ALL IS WELL" to dump those issues of life as we saddle our donkey and keep on riding til we get there!
Share and let this blog fly!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Ask a Hard Thing (2 Kings 1-2)
Elisha's loyalty reminds me of many heroes or heroines in the Bible! He stayed with Elijah although everyone told him that Elijah will be taken away from him to heaven. He told them to be quiet so that they won't distract him from following Elijah! Like how Ruth refused to depart her mother-in-law Naomi. Like how David refused to dishonor Saul as a king. Like how Joshua refused to depart Moses' commands and laws.
Because he refused to depart Elijah, he received a HARD blessing like the others! Elijah asked him what he should do for Elisha before he will be taken away. Elisha decided to ask for a HARD thing, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." Then Elijah said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so."
So Elisha saw how the Lord had taken Elijah away and received a double portion, and now HARD thing came. Elisha realized that Elijah isn't with him anymore, but he kept believing that he had received the double portion. He also faced a pressure from the people, 'And he said, "You shall not send." But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men... and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"' Now he walked among the people alone physically, carrying the weight of the double portion of Elijah's spirit.
Elisha and many other leaders were followed and admired by the many, but they all asked a HARD thing! Are you willing to ask Him a HARD thing? It is honorable for us to ask a HARD thing that will come with a huge responsibility, but it's worthwhile!
Because he refused to depart Elijah, he received a HARD blessing like the others! Elijah asked him what he should do for Elisha before he will be taken away. Elisha decided to ask for a HARD thing, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." Then Elijah said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so."
So Elisha saw how the Lord had taken Elijah away and received a double portion, and now HARD thing came. Elisha realized that Elijah isn't with him anymore, but he kept believing that he had received the double portion. He also faced a pressure from the people, 'And he said, "You shall not send." But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men... and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"' Now he walked among the people alone physically, carrying the weight of the double portion of Elijah's spirit.
Elisha and many other leaders were followed and admired by the many, but they all asked a HARD thing! Are you willing to ask Him a HARD thing? It is honorable for us to ask a HARD thing that will come with a huge responsibility, but it's worthwhile!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
No Escape (1 Kings 21-22)
Once we step up, sometimes we feel like we are going through a terrible battle with fear and we want to turn back to go into our comfortable zone again. But when we turned to look back, we realized that everything is dark, the door is shut, we are trapped! So we have stay on the straight path and fix our eyes onto the light and keep moving forward!
With fear, Ahab decided to go another way around, he tried to avoid the fact that 'Israel are like a scattered sheep that have no shepherd' by disguising himself to avoid the death! Ahab said, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." So he went into the battle. 'But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel [Ahab] between the scale armor and the breastplate.' So he died even thought he tried to go another way around! God's words always remain true! There is no another way around, except to listen and obey.
Abraham once tried to get another way around by sleeping with his servant Hagar to give a birth to Ishmael, it is what the most called a "Plan B". Yeah it is another way around, but the "Plan A" always exist, for His promise never fail! So the "Plan A" arrived when Sarah finally conceived Issac, and Hagar and Ishmael had to leave.
Why should we try to escape His plan when we are going through the seasons when there is no escape, keep moving forward!
With fear, Ahab decided to go another way around, he tried to avoid the fact that 'Israel are like a scattered sheep that have no shepherd' by disguising himself to avoid the death! Ahab said, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." So he went into the battle. 'But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel [Ahab] between the scale armor and the breastplate.' So he died even thought he tried to go another way around! God's words always remain true! There is no another way around, except to listen and obey.
Abraham once tried to get another way around by sleeping with his servant Hagar to give a birth to Ishmael, it is what the most called a "Plan B". Yeah it is another way around, but the "Plan A" always exist, for His promise never fail! So the "Plan A" arrived when Sarah finally conceived Issac, and Hagar and Ishmael had to leave.
Why should we try to escape His plan when we are going through the seasons when there is no escape, keep moving forward!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
It's Too Much, I Wanna Die!!! (1 Kings 18-20)
Whoa, it's a big switch from fearless Elijah to Elijah living in fear!
Elijah once overcame and mocked 450 false prophets who called on Baal with God on his side! He sang around 450 false prophets, "Your god is probably resting, sleeping, or go out on a journey!" Yeah he is making fun of them because he is over confident in God! He even confronted the people: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions [lukewarm]? If you follow God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." He also poured four jars of water upon the burnt offering and on the wood three times, so that they are in the trench and then the Lord consumed everything when Elijah called Him!
But the switch came when he heard the threat from Jezebel and flee in fear, "I WANNA DIE!" Why did the switch occured? Now Elijah entered a different environment, he just entered into an environment of constantly living in danger and rejection. He had two choices, to follow the worldly ways or to keep following God's ways. So he shouted, "I WANNA DIE!" because he wanted the third choice, which doesn't exist yet and never did! But our God is all-knowing God, He knew and understood that Elijah felt overwhelmed, so He ministered to him and took him on a 40 day journey to be with Him! Then on the end of 40 day journey, He told him to stand on the mount before Him and He passed by! Here came strong wind that tore the mountains and broke the rocks into piece, then the earthquake, then the fire! After He showed him His power to show him that He is a lion, He then whispered in a voice like a kitten to Elijah, telling him what to do!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Elijah story reminds me of the story of Bruchko that I used to listen to when I was a little girl in Youth With A Mission training with my family. Bruchko is about "a young nineteen years old boy who heads into the jungles to evangelize a murderous tribe of South American Indians. For Bruce Olson (the author) it meant capture and torture, but what he discovered revolutionized the world of missions." I listened to that story once, but someday I will read it firsthand myself!
Elijah once overcame and mocked 450 false prophets who called on Baal with God on his side! He sang around 450 false prophets, "Your god is probably resting, sleeping, or go out on a journey!" Yeah he is making fun of them because he is over confident in God! He even confronted the people: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions [lukewarm]? If you follow God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." He also poured four jars of water upon the burnt offering and on the wood three times, so that they are in the trench and then the Lord consumed everything when Elijah called Him!
But the switch came when he heard the threat from Jezebel and flee in fear, "I WANNA DIE!" Why did the switch occured? Now Elijah entered a different environment, he just entered into an environment of constantly living in danger and rejection. He had two choices, to follow the worldly ways or to keep following God's ways. So he shouted, "I WANNA DIE!" because he wanted the third choice, which doesn't exist yet and never did! But our God is all-knowing God, He knew and understood that Elijah felt overwhelmed, so He ministered to him and took him on a 40 day journey to be with Him! Then on the end of 40 day journey, He told him to stand on the mount before Him and He passed by! Here came strong wind that tore the mountains and broke the rocks into piece, then the earthquake, then the fire! After He showed him His power to show him that He is a lion, He then whispered in a voice like a kitten to Elijah, telling him what to do!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Elijah story reminds me of the story of Bruchko that I used to listen to when I was a little girl in Youth With A Mission training with my family. Bruchko is about "a young nineteen years old boy who heads into the jungles to evangelize a murderous tribe of South American Indians. For Bruce Olson (the author) it meant capture and torture, but what he discovered revolutionized the world of missions." I listened to that story once, but someday I will read it firsthand myself!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Clouded Mind (1 Kings 12-14)
1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace."
Sometimes we may be confused by many voices or prophets or even voices in our head! It is like how a man of God was confused by other man's lies: "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.'"
He chose to believe in this false prophet's voice rather than keep following God's voice. But I am sure he felt like his mind is being clouded. It is one of ways we can discern the spirit. When our minds are clouded, then something is not clear. It is a good time for us to stop everything we do and sit back to pray. Sometimes He just want you to be able to relax and listen and allow Him to clear the cloud in your mind for you! The cloud in your mind doesn't come from God. We will need to filter our clouded mind through reading His words and meditating as we pray to Him.
Just sit back and relax in Him!
Sometimes we may be confused by many voices or prophets or even voices in our head! It is like how a man of God was confused by other man's lies: "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.'"
He chose to believe in this false prophet's voice rather than keep following God's voice. But I am sure he felt like his mind is being clouded. It is one of ways we can discern the spirit. When our minds are clouded, then something is not clear. It is a good time for us to stop everything we do and sit back to pray. Sometimes He just want you to be able to relax and listen and allow Him to clear the cloud in your mind for you! The cloud in your mind doesn't come from God. We will need to filter our clouded mind through reading His words and meditating as we pray to Him.
Just sit back and relax in Him!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Worldly Distractions (1 Kings 10-11)
"You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart."
Martin Luther said, "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer"... I think Solomon did the opposite! He married to many wives, which made him busier than ever! So by marrying them and his business, he was strongly influenced by his people rather than God! Unlike Martin Luther, Solomon began to turn away from God!
I love how Andy, one of other Proteges at National Community Church, mentioned this in his blog, "This week I was on the phone with one of our pastors at NCC, and when I was talking to him, I kept moving my arms as if I was explaining something to him face to face. I also recently caught myself laughing similar to someone else. Both are mannerisms I've picked up from people on-staff here. Does everyone do this, or just me and my brother? I think it's something that happens naturally when you observe someone and spend a lot of time with them."
Ta-Da!
We may not realize what we picked up from the others! It is much more than mannerisms, we may pick up the spiritual attitudes from the others even some good Christians, such as disbelief, which may limit our image of a true God! Or even cause us to stop battling in a spiritual warfare, causing us to turn away from His promises like Solomon did!
What do we do? We need to stay in His presence because it will prepare our heart to know which direction we should go. Stay in prayer and watch because the enemy is trying to distract you, so that you may be trapped into an unhealthy cage! Keep watch and pray, then prayers will direct you and protect you as well in your journey up the mountain!
Martin Luther said, "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer"... I think Solomon did the opposite! He married to many wives, which made him busier than ever! So by marrying them and his business, he was strongly influenced by his people rather than God! Unlike Martin Luther, Solomon began to turn away from God!
I love how Andy, one of other Proteges at National Community Church, mentioned this in his blog, "This week I was on the phone with one of our pastors at NCC, and when I was talking to him, I kept moving my arms as if I was explaining something to him face to face. I also recently caught myself laughing similar to someone else. Both are mannerisms I've picked up from people on-staff here. Does everyone do this, or just me and my brother? I think it's something that happens naturally when you observe someone and spend a lot of time with them."
Ta-Da!
We may not realize what we picked up from the others! It is much more than mannerisms, we may pick up the spiritual attitudes from the others even some good Christians, such as disbelief, which may limit our image of a true God! Or even cause us to stop battling in a spiritual warfare, causing us to turn away from His promises like Solomon did!
What do we do? We need to stay in His presence because it will prepare our heart to know which direction we should go. Stay in prayer and watch because the enemy is trying to distract you, so that you may be trapped into an unhealthy cage! Keep watch and pray, then prayers will direct you and protect you as well in your journey up the mountain!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Praying Into a New Victory! (1 Kings 8-9)
"Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice."
Solomon makes a plea that God will keep His eyes open night and day toward His house and listen to the prayer that His servant will offer toward this place. When he makes that plea, he knelt with his hands outstretched toward heaven! When we plead with our whole heart, we will find ourselves kneeling with our faces bowed toward the floor, or kneeling with our arms outstretched toward heaven, lying down with face down, or even stand tall with our arms outstreched toward heaven. We can plead Him in any different ways, we will plead Him in our own "prayer mantis" posture! But it is up to you to believe in Him and plead Him with you whole heart like Solomon did. When you really want to plead Him something in your own room or closet, to plead Him in private, you will know what kind of praying posture you want to set yourself to be in His presence. You will know. You got to set yourself into an act of surrender, to believe!
After his act of surrendering, he stood up to bless all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice! It shows that he followed this, "Let Go, Let God"! He surrendered, and allowed his plea to go to Him and then he stood up to bless Israel in a loud voice because he lifted those up to Him! "It is finished!" (John 19:30) Jesus said when he gave up his spirit and bowed his head to die physically, then God raised him up into a new victory! Sometimes we need to find a time to fall down in surrender to Him, to die to ourselves. So that it will be finished, and He will raise us up into a new victory and we will stand up and shout our victory in a loud voice like Solomon did! An act of surrender will lead you into a renewed life, into a new victory!
Solomon makes a plea that God will keep His eyes open night and day toward His house and listen to the prayer that His servant will offer toward this place. When he makes that plea, he knelt with his hands outstretched toward heaven! When we plead with our whole heart, we will find ourselves kneeling with our faces bowed toward the floor, or kneeling with our arms outstretched toward heaven, lying down with face down, or even stand tall with our arms outstreched toward heaven. We can plead Him in any different ways, we will plead Him in our own "prayer mantis" posture! But it is up to you to believe in Him and plead Him with you whole heart like Solomon did. When you really want to plead Him something in your own room or closet, to plead Him in private, you will know what kind of praying posture you want to set yourself to be in His presence. You will know. You got to set yourself into an act of surrender, to believe!
After his act of surrendering, he stood up to bless all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice! It shows that he followed this, "Let Go, Let God"! He surrendered, and allowed his plea to go to Him and then he stood up to bless Israel in a loud voice because he lifted those up to Him! "It is finished!" (John 19:30) Jesus said when he gave up his spirit and bowed his head to die physically, then God raised him up into a new victory! Sometimes we need to find a time to fall down in surrender to Him, to die to ourselves. So that it will be finished, and He will raise us up into a new victory and we will stand up and shout our victory in a loud voice like Solomon did! An act of surrender will lead you into a renewed life, into a new victory!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)