“The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.”
What a great quote. I had seen the "Faith Like Potatoes" movie before; but, this quote had not stuck until I heard it again last night when the movie was showing on TV. It's a great reminder to trust God for the great miracle for nothing is impossible with HIM.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Encouragement
Not only has God been teaching me through my area of focus this year on Encouragement; He has also provided encouragement to me.
Just today, after class, a person told me that the lesson was particularly applicable for her; and she was encouraged by the example of the Scripture passage and the truth taught there. Another person said that the fact he keeps coming to class says a lot, especially since he is one who does not think that women should teach; though he said that he felt I was facilitating more than teaching; and the he appreciated how we try to focus on accurate study of Scripture based on evidence and fact.
In service, I was actually encouraged and motivated through the example of our youth pastor, in what he said right before the prayer for the offering. He said that as he thought about tithing and giving this week, he saw that this was a privilege for us to participate in the Work of God. To me, it was a reminder that we need to walk with Him throughout the week, in order for Him to teach us and give us insights to help us in when we serve and teach. I'm once again convicted to keep my mind on things above; and to be diligent during the week to seek God and allow Him to teach.
Even yesterday, I was encouraged because our time of fellowship in our class get-together turned out well. I was also able to nicely use the tablecloths that I had bought at the swap meet, even though I had started having buyer's remorse before. I thank God for causing things to work together. I've also been encouraged that there have been so many who have truly wished me well for my Birthday; and it's been neat to have been able to celebrate it in so many different occasions with different people, even with my class yesterday.
I thank Him for giving me encouragement, especially when I am in need of it.
Just today, after class, a person told me that the lesson was particularly applicable for her; and she was encouraged by the example of the Scripture passage and the truth taught there. Another person said that the fact he keeps coming to class says a lot, especially since he is one who does not think that women should teach; though he said that he felt I was facilitating more than teaching; and the he appreciated how we try to focus on accurate study of Scripture based on evidence and fact.
In service, I was actually encouraged and motivated through the example of our youth pastor, in what he said right before the prayer for the offering. He said that as he thought about tithing and giving this week, he saw that this was a privilege for us to participate in the Work of God. To me, it was a reminder that we need to walk with Him throughout the week, in order for Him to teach us and give us insights to help us in when we serve and teach. I'm once again convicted to keep my mind on things above; and to be diligent during the week to seek God and allow Him to teach.
Even yesterday, I was encouraged because our time of fellowship in our class get-together turned out well. I was also able to nicely use the tablecloths that I had bought at the swap meet, even though I had started having buyer's remorse before. I thank God for causing things to work together. I've also been encouraged that there have been so many who have truly wished me well for my Birthday; and it's been neat to have been able to celebrate it in so many different occasions with different people, even with my class yesterday.
I thank Him for giving me encouragement, especially when I am in need of it.
"Why are You Sleeping?"
"Why are you sleeping?" - This is the question Jesus asked the disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane in today's sermon passage from Luke 22:39-46. Instead of sleeping, the disciples had the alternative of being in prayer, just as Jesus exemplified.
We are reminded that:
We are reminded that:
- Jesus made prayer a routine - it was His custom to be in prayer regularly
- Jesus had a special place to pray - it would be helpful for us to find a place we can be free from distraction
- Prayer should be the first step in a crisis; not the last resort - we will all be tested, we need to pray that we will not fall to temptation
- It is important to have time ALONE with God
- It can be beneficial to enhance prayer through physical expression, like kneeling as a show of humility
- Jesus aligned His prayer to fit the will of God - do we pray for what we want or for what God wants?
- God does send angels to minister to us
- Jesus prayed fervently for prayer is hard work - it is an "all out war" in the spiritual realm (ref Heb 5:7)
- 1) Ask, 2) Seek, and 3) Knock are actually three kinds of prayer
- Jesus claimed the greatest victory through prayer - victory upon the cross was first started at the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Acts 21, Part 1
A couple of points stand out in this passage in the first part of Acts 21:
This passage also reminds us to always give glory to God; but, also that there may be people who will criticize and judge, even based on false lies. We just need to keep walking in God's ways, and respond as lovingly as we can.
- Paul stayed committed to his conviction that the Spirit was leading him to go back to Jerusalem, despite the prophesied imprisonment and hardships he would face as well, as the many well-meaning people around him who pleaded with him not to go. When, even his closest traveling companions, like Luke, joined in, it affected Paul deeply, but he was still determined to follow God's Will for him: "“Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”" (Acts 21:13b) Paul was so focused on what he was called to do because he knew from the beginning what he was to face and what he needed to do to complete his tasks. At Saul's conversion, "The Lord said to Ananias [of Paul], 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'" (Acts 9:15-16). So, in Acts 20:24, Paul said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."
- When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he faced the contrasts of glory being given to God as he reported all that God had done through his ministry and missionary journeys; but also, of being judged and criticized based on false lies about his turning away from the Law. Paul was willing to show them that he could still follow Jewish Law and tradition; and the Church leaders affirmed that this had no bearing on Gentiles, particularly salvation.
This passage also reminds us to always give glory to God; but, also that there may be people who will criticize and judge, even based on false lies. We just need to keep walking in God's ways, and respond as lovingly as we can.
Monday, August 22, 2011
"What do you want Me to do for you?"
"What do you want Me to do for you?" - This is the wide open blank-check type question that Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man in Mark10:46-52, which was the text for the sermon on Sunday. And wisely, the blind man asked not for what he wanted, but for what he needed: "I want to see!"
As one hymn says "Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal", Jesus not only healed the man's blindness, but the word for "healed" in "Go, for your faith has healed you." is really the word for "saved". Something eternal came out of this miracle. In the midst of the crowd, Jesus heard the cry of this blind man; who correctly identified Him as "Son of David". This blind man may have been the only person who had 20/20 spiritual vision, for he "saw" Jesus as the promised Messiah, and cried out for mercy. In "midnight street" and "despair valley", Jesus will hear our cries also.
Often, our greatest faith comes from our greatest crises; though faith is only as good as WHO we put our faith in. Real faith rises above the cynicism of the doubter; and the crowd around Bartimaeus were full of doubts, trying to silence him and not encouraging moral courage. Nevertheless, he continued to cry out. Jesus actually didn't go to him but called him to "Come". When we need help, we too should get to Jesus. The blind man's show of faith was when he threw aside his coat, rather than folding it up to carry with him or expect to go back for it - He was trusting that he wouldn't need it anymore.
When Jesus asked the question rather than just healing right away, it reminds us that He also wants us to think more deeply. And after He healed the man, he instructed him to "Go". In the same way, after Jesus has called us to salvation, He sends us to "Go" into the world and make disciples.
As one hymn says "Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal", Jesus not only healed the man's blindness, but the word for "healed" in "Go, for your faith has healed you." is really the word for "saved". Something eternal came out of this miracle. In the midst of the crowd, Jesus heard the cry of this blind man; who correctly identified Him as "Son of David". This blind man may have been the only person who had 20/20 spiritual vision, for he "saw" Jesus as the promised Messiah, and cried out for mercy. In "midnight street" and "despair valley", Jesus will hear our cries also.
Often, our greatest faith comes from our greatest crises; though faith is only as good as WHO we put our faith in. Real faith rises above the cynicism of the doubter; and the crowd around Bartimaeus were full of doubts, trying to silence him and not encouraging moral courage. Nevertheless, he continued to cry out. Jesus actually didn't go to him but called him to "Come". When we need help, we too should get to Jesus. The blind man's show of faith was when he threw aside his coat, rather than folding it up to carry with him or expect to go back for it - He was trusting that he wouldn't need it anymore.
When Jesus asked the question rather than just healing right away, it reminds us that He also wants us to think more deeply. And after He healed the man, he instructed him to "Go". In the same way, after Jesus has called us to salvation, He sends us to "Go" into the world and make disciples.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Birthday '11
It's that time of the year when the number that represents my age advances forward yet again. Invariably, it's a time of reflection on years past, the current year, and the years to come.
I am grateful for the growth and maturity over the years; and thus must also rejoice in my challenges, for it is through them that I have grown the most. I thank God for all He has blessed me with - my relationship with HIM, my Church, my friends and family, my home, my job, my health.... It amazes me, how many years I have behind me; and I have no idea how many I still have ahead. I just pray that I will live them faithfully to the end.
I'm also thankful that there are friends and family who want to celebrate my Birthday with me. That is a blessing I should not take for granted.
I am grateful for the growth and maturity over the years; and thus must also rejoice in my challenges, for it is through them that I have grown the most. I thank God for all He has blessed me with - my relationship with HIM, my Church, my friends and family, my home, my job, my health.... It amazes me, how many years I have behind me; and I have no idea how many I still have ahead. I just pray that I will live them faithfully to the end.
I'm also thankful that there are friends and family who want to celebrate my Birthday with me. That is a blessing I should not take for granted.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Acts 20
The main part of this chapter focused on Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders. This was a touching and tearful good-bye, for Paul was taking leave of the leaders of a church he was involved with from its very beginning, had helped build, and had spent most of the last three years with. Expecting that he would not see them again, his message would've included what he felt was most important to leave them with.
He starts by reviewing the characteristics of he service and ministry among them:
This passage is a good reminder to evaluate how I am doing in my service and ministry. Am I an example, humble, enduring thru tears and trials, faithful in teaching, led by the Spirit, walking by faith, keeping my eyes on the finish line, and being a witness? When it comes time to say farewell, would it be a touching, tearful, and prayerful good-bye?
He starts by reviewing the characteristics of he service and ministry among them:
- Being an example
- Humility
- Tears and Trials
- Solid Teaching (repentance and faith)
- Being led by the Spirit
- Going by faith
- Facing hardships (even imprisonment)
- Goal to finish the race and complete the task
- Being a witness, to testify
This passage is a good reminder to evaluate how I am doing in my service and ministry. Am I an example, humble, enduring thru tears and trials, faithful in teaching, led by the Spirit, walking by faith, keeping my eyes on the finish line, and being a witness? When it comes time to say farewell, would it be a touching, tearful, and prayerful good-bye?
Friday, August 12, 2011
Menu Choices
Of the "menu" choices offered to my friend when she visited and stayed with me this week, she selected mainly Asian foods. It was good that most of them turned out quite well:
- Shrimp rice noodles: using fresh rice noodles mixed only with soy sauce and sesame oil; shrimp sauteed in garlic was added. Served with the cucumber salad and gyoza, it was good for a summer meal.
- Curry vermicelli noodles with soy sauce: Initially made with ingredients from singapore noodels, but with dark soy added, and spinach, this was a flavorful one-dish meal.
- Turkish chicken with rice and broccolli: This was made as before, but with more of the spice marinade. And, as a result, it was a little spicier; but, still with a unique taste.
- Ma Po Tofu, Fish, and stir fry zucchini: The Ma Po Tofu is like a staple - it consistently turns out well. The fish was cut into medium-sized fillets, coated with cornstarch, and pan fried with green onion. Ginger would've helped. The stir fry zucchini was a nice surprise. Using some rice wine vinegar and light seasoning, it turned out to be a nice complement to the other dishes.
- Tomato curry chicken: browning the chicken, then adding onions, garlic, curry, tomatoes, and basil with some green onion, this dish also turned out surprisingly well as a first-time experiment.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Spiritual Leaders
"A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation. Such were Moses and David and the Old Testament prophets. I think there was hardly a great leader from Paul to the present day but was drafted by the Holy Spirit for the task, and commissioned by the Lord of the Church to fill a position he had little heart for. I believe it might be accepted as a fairly reliable rule of thumb that the man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader." -- A.W. Tozer
"Wow" - that was my first thought as I came across this quote in an article by Chuck Swindoll on natural vs spiritual leaders. What Tozer said is not something one would expect to hear; but, actually affirms my personal experience. So often I have said that I don't want to lead but felt that I just happen to be put into positions of leadership by God.
Equally as often, I have wished that I had charisma and natural leadership ability. But, interestingly enough, according to Tozer, that might well have disqualified me for spiritual leadership.
"Wow" - that was my first thought as I came across this quote in an article by Chuck Swindoll on natural vs spiritual leaders. What Tozer said is not something one would expect to hear; but, actually affirms my personal experience. So often I have said that I don't want to lead but felt that I just happen to be put into positions of leadership by God.
Equally as often, I have wished that I had charisma and natural leadership ability. But, interestingly enough, according to Tozer, that might well have disqualified me for spiritual leadership.
Acts 19, Part 2
As Paul settled into ministry in the province of Asia, the Enemy once again stirred things up by creating a commotion. The silversmith and craftsmen who were losing business due to believers turning to worship the One True God instead of the idol Artemis. This escalated and grew into a loud mob in the Great Theater in Ephesus whose shouting was finally diffused by the calm speech of a city clerk. As Paul left for Macedonia, it once again showed that it seemed now was God's timing for him to go, rather than the ~9 months ago when he had originally planned to go. Now, he also had traveling companions from throughout the region of Asia and Greece, likely representing the churches that were sending financial support to Jerusalem.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Acts 19, Part 1
Paul's return to Ephesus showed that as part of God's will, the timing was now right for him to be there, whereas it wasn't before, when he had to leave even when they asked him to stay (Acts 18:19-21). This time, he had a long ministry for probably about three years, where he encountered disciples of John the Baptist who didn't yet know the full gospel message, argued persuasively with Jews who "publicly maligned the Way", taught in the hall of Tyrannus, and performed extraordinary miracles. And "the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power."
Ephesus was a place where many practiced sorcery and thus evil spirits and demons seemed to be active there. But, it was interesting to see that the demons recognized the authority and power of Christ and Paul; but, not of the imitating counterfeits. And, it was neat to see that, in fear, the people were challenged to stronger personal commitment - highly honoring the name of Jesus, openly confessing sins, and burning their sorcery scrolls publicly. This shows that true commitment to the Lord requires a life that does not compromise.
And, again, with Paul's plans to go to Jerusalem via Macedonia and Achaia, and then Rome; his staying in the province of Asia and sending Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia instead, showed that God Timing and Plan were different. Also,Paul would later go to Rome; but, as a prisoner, probably not the way he would've expected.
Ephesus was a place where many practiced sorcery and thus evil spirits and demons seemed to be active there. But, it was interesting to see that the demons recognized the authority and power of Christ and Paul; but, not of the imitating counterfeits. And, it was neat to see that, in fear, the people were challenged to stronger personal commitment - highly honoring the name of Jesus, openly confessing sins, and burning their sorcery scrolls publicly. This shows that true commitment to the Lord requires a life that does not compromise.
And, again, with Paul's plans to go to Jerusalem via Macedonia and Achaia, and then Rome; his staying in the province of Asia and sending Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia instead, showed that God Timing and Plan were different. Also,Paul would later go to Rome; but, as a prisoner, probably not the way he would've expected.
Monday, August 1, 2011
True Beauty
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - When used, this quote seems to be saying that different people will view beauty differently; and that what one person might find beautiful, another might find something else beautiful. This may be true when we look at external beauty, which can be subject to opinion and preferences.
But, when we talk about TRUE Beauty, that is an absolute and would not be subject to the relativism of human opinion. TRUE Beauty is a reflection of our Creator, and should be unquestioned and unchallengeable. So, when our inner beauty reflects the beauty of our creator, we are TRULY BEAUTIFUL.
But, when we talk about TRUE Beauty, that is an absolute and would not be subject to the relativism of human opinion. TRUE Beauty is a reflection of our Creator, and should be unquestioned and unchallengeable. So, when our inner beauty reflects the beauty of our creator, we are TRULY BEAUTIFUL.
John 8 - Where are They? Has No One Condemned You?
There is an epidemic of brokenness because of immorality in our society; but, this particular scandal had all the makings of a set-up to try to trap Jesus. The setting was the temple, the house of God - a symbol of holiness. The woman, shaken, forlorn, disheveled, and ashamed is made to stand in the middle of the condemning crowd; where her private sin has been made public.
Jesus handles the situation brilliantly. Stooping to write on the ground was a subtle claim to deity; for who else but GOD wrote with His fingers in the OT, on Mt Sinai in writing the commandments on the tablets? It was also making a statement that He is the giver of the Law and had the right to not only judge the woman, but also her accusers.
When Jesus asks the questions Where are They? Has No One Condemned You?, in application, we can ask ourselves whether we let others dictate our identity by what they say about us? In the end, will it really matter what they say? No one has the right of eternal condemnation; but, the only ONE who does has chosen to redeem and rescue instead. In the shadow of Mt Sinai, all are guilty. So, just as the woman leaves her darkness and walks into the light; remember that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).
My pastor closed with "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."
Jesus handles the situation brilliantly. Stooping to write on the ground was a subtle claim to deity; for who else but GOD wrote with His fingers in the OT, on Mt Sinai in writing the commandments on the tablets? It was also making a statement that He is the giver of the Law and had the right to not only judge the woman, but also her accusers.
When Jesus asks the questions Where are They? Has No One Condemned You?, in application, we can ask ourselves whether we let others dictate our identity by what they say about us? In the end, will it really matter what they say? No one has the right of eternal condemnation; but, the only ONE who does has chosen to redeem and rescue instead. In the shadow of Mt Sinai, all are guilty. So, just as the woman leaves her darkness and walks into the light; remember that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).
My pastor closed with "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."
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