God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Be the agent of fire for God
I have been very much encouraged with the testimonies of people who had been to the Nights of Fire. All the healings and miracles could not have been achieved by human effort but only by Holy Spirit. There is nothing greater than experiencing God in our lives.
My hope and prayer is that these nights of fire do not stop here. It also doesn't necessarily mean we need to have more of such nights unless God says so. It would be better to incorporate it into our lifestyle like what DUMC and some other churches is doing, which is having " listening to God time or being silent in His presence or receiving or renewal time". Basically allow Holy Spirit to move and work during church worship.
But do we also stop here. No! I think, because of what we have experienced with God in the worship time and Nights of Fire, we can be an agent of fire for God. Bring the fire to people's home. Home that needs healing or miracles to happen. These are homes of people who might not step into church.
Recently, I have a friend who had been to the Nights of Fire. She didn't feel anything when prayed for but I encouraged her not to give up. I met up with her over a Saturday afternoon and as we chatted she spilled out all her hurts and frustration in her marriage. She was at the point of giving up on her marriage. In fact, they are at a stage where they are almost living separate lives although staying under the same roof. The kids experienced absentee father symptoms. In fact, all her siblings have broken marriages. She also thought she will end up like them too.
She has sensed that there are some spirits residing in her house. Husband is somewhat a free thinker. She also mentioned that one of her previous maid had also done some black magic in the house. So I decided to bring two of my pastors to visit her home.
We began to pray for her and break very curse that had come upon her family. We led her into time of repentance and restoration before the Lord. Later she said whatever my pastor prayed for her was spot-on. At the end she felt a sense of liberation and she was able to forgive her husband and was able to feel hope again for their marriage.
We prayed in their bedroom for cleansing and restoration into their room. We sensed many spirits residing in the room and we cast away most of them. The next few days there is some changes in the husband and he even send her to church after that had lunch with her. A few days later I visited her again with my kids and broke bread with her and her kids who have also accepted Jesus into their lives. We are looking forward to total transformation in her home. Her mom who is a Buddhist stays with her and I hope to see her experience God too and I have faith with the power of the Holy Spirit this family will experience the healing and miracles of God right in their home.
I strongly encouraged you, the next time you visit your parents' home, your friends' home, during lunches or coffee breaks with colleagues, during your appointment with office subordinate or clients seek every opportunity to pray with them especially after they shared health issues, relationship issues, work issues and financial issues.
Let's have faith to see the fire of God spread beyond the church walls. When Holy Spirit begin to move in the lives of people, testify of God's glory in your cell or church and encourage others to do likewise. If you have been struggling to share John 3:16 naturally and often experience closed doors, listening to them when they are in need and praying with them with the power of the Holy Spirit maybe a fresh change. Having them experience God first and then lead them to Christ maybe a more meaningful conversion experience for them. The most important thing is consistent follow up. Don't do once and leave, stay with the person till he/she finds a cell or church that can take over his/her discipling.
Let's look to our Holy Spirit, our Teacher to equip us with every wisdom and power and authority to bring the fires of God beyond the church wall. We can't offer people powerful experience with God if we don't first experience God in our lives daily. It requires discipline but also grace upon ourselves.
Recommended reading: Holy Spirit, My Senior Partner by Pastor Dr Cho Yonggi, Senior Pastor of Yoida Full Gospel Church Korea
My hope and prayer is that these nights of fire do not stop here. It also doesn't necessarily mean we need to have more of such nights unless God says so. It would be better to incorporate it into our lifestyle like what DUMC and some other churches is doing, which is having " listening to God time or being silent in His presence or receiving or renewal time". Basically allow Holy Spirit to move and work during church worship.
But do we also stop here. No! I think, because of what we have experienced with God in the worship time and Nights of Fire, we can be an agent of fire for God. Bring the fire to people's home. Home that needs healing or miracles to happen. These are homes of people who might not step into church.
Recently, I have a friend who had been to the Nights of Fire. She didn't feel anything when prayed for but I encouraged her not to give up. I met up with her over a Saturday afternoon and as we chatted she spilled out all her hurts and frustration in her marriage. She was at the point of giving up on her marriage. In fact, they are at a stage where they are almost living separate lives although staying under the same roof. The kids experienced absentee father symptoms. In fact, all her siblings have broken marriages. She also thought she will end up like them too.
She has sensed that there are some spirits residing in her house. Husband is somewhat a free thinker. She also mentioned that one of her previous maid had also done some black magic in the house. So I decided to bring two of my pastors to visit her home.
We began to pray for her and break very curse that had come upon her family. We led her into time of repentance and restoration before the Lord. Later she said whatever my pastor prayed for her was spot-on. At the end she felt a sense of liberation and she was able to forgive her husband and was able to feel hope again for their marriage.
We prayed in their bedroom for cleansing and restoration into their room. We sensed many spirits residing in the room and we cast away most of them. The next few days there is some changes in the husband and he even send her to church after that had lunch with her. A few days later I visited her again with my kids and broke bread with her and her kids who have also accepted Jesus into their lives. We are looking forward to total transformation in her home. Her mom who is a Buddhist stays with her and I hope to see her experience God too and I have faith with the power of the Holy Spirit this family will experience the healing and miracles of God right in their home.
I strongly encouraged you, the next time you visit your parents' home, your friends' home, during lunches or coffee breaks with colleagues, during your appointment with office subordinate or clients seek every opportunity to pray with them especially after they shared health issues, relationship issues, work issues and financial issues.
Let's have faith to see the fire of God spread beyond the church walls. When Holy Spirit begin to move in the lives of people, testify of God's glory in your cell or church and encourage others to do likewise. If you have been struggling to share John 3:16 naturally and often experience closed doors, listening to them when they are in need and praying with them with the power of the Holy Spirit maybe a fresh change. Having them experience God first and then lead them to Christ maybe a more meaningful conversion experience for them. The most important thing is consistent follow up. Don't do once and leave, stay with the person till he/she finds a cell or church that can take over his/her discipling.
Let's look to our Holy Spirit, our Teacher to equip us with every wisdom and power and authority to bring the fires of God beyond the church wall. We can't offer people powerful experience with God if we don't first experience God in our lives daily. It requires discipline but also grace upon ourselves.
Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit - Zec 4:6
Recommended reading: Holy Spirit, My Senior Partner by Pastor Dr Cho Yonggi, Senior Pastor of Yoida Full Gospel Church Korea
Bringing the nights of fire home
I was very encouraged with the testimony of a mother who have a son with allergy to gluten, seeing her son healed at the Nights of Fire.
Instead of feeling, "O...I missed the nights if fire", I decided to seek God and said to him, " Lord you are real at the Nights of Fire but you are also real in my home and therefore I claim every promises and healing for my family." I called my son, David who had allergy to chocolate and potato into my room. I shared with him the testimony I heard from the mother seeing the son healed from allergy and I asked him, does he believe God will heal him too. He said yes and he wants to be healed.
So we prayed and worshipped God in our room. That night we began our experiment with MILO ( in the past he will have major vomitting after drinking) and he didn't have any allergic reaction. The next few days we slowly add the list of things that he couldn't eat in the past and he again didn't have any allergic reaction. He was so happy. Friends who noticed that he he had started taking all these things that he couldn't eat in the past, David will tell them " God healed me".
All glory to our God Most High! Jehovah Rapha the Lord our Healer. He is also the Perfector of our faith .
Bring the power of God into your homes! Deal with health issues, relationship issue, financial issues, work issues with the power of God. Pray in the spirit, sing in the spirit, worship Him when you seek Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh, renew your mind and help you to stand strong and victoriously.
Instead of feeling, "O...I missed the nights if fire", I decided to seek God and said to him, " Lord you are real at the Nights of Fire but you are also real in my home and therefore I claim every promises and healing for my family." I called my son, David who had allergy to chocolate and potato into my room. I shared with him the testimony I heard from the mother seeing the son healed from allergy and I asked him, does he believe God will heal him too. He said yes and he wants to be healed.
So we prayed and worshipped God in our room. That night we began our experiment with MILO ( in the past he will have major vomitting after drinking) and he didn't have any allergic reaction. The next few days we slowly add the list of things that he couldn't eat in the past and he again didn't have any allergic reaction. He was so happy. Friends who noticed that he he had started taking all these things that he couldn't eat in the past, David will tell them " God healed me".
All glory to our God Most High! Jehovah Rapha the Lord our Healer. He is also the Perfector of our faith .
Bring the power of God into your homes! Deal with health issues, relationship issue, financial issues, work issues with the power of God. Pray in the spirit, sing in the spirit, worship Him when you seek Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh, renew your mind and help you to stand strong and victoriously.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
God's blueprint for you
We all are very familiar with the Great Commission in the bible. It is the heart beat of most churches. We all love the Lord very much and we have this passion to fulfill this Commission in one way or another. This passion sometimes may have blinded us to ways that the Lord has prepared for us. His ways are better than ours.
Jesus' disciples have great passion to follow Jesus and proclaim Him as the Messiah but yet this very same passion blinded them from understanding why their Messiah needed to die.
Could it be, that at present time, we have the passion to enlarge God's kingdom (Great Commission for general) but this very passion has blinded us of the need to hear fresh revelation of God's will(His specific commission, His blueprint for individual and church).
There is this trend of building mega church. Reason given is bigger church have bigger funding to do more effective things. Yes and no. There are some church called to be mega and you can see the anointing upon that church where the favor of the Lord is with them, the Lord bring them the numbers. But not every church is called for such. Hence, you see many churches striving and pushing leaders to meet numbers, numbers that are produced by flesh effort not by the spirit. The saddest part is such church could have a different calling which they have missed cos the passion to build a mega church has blinded them of that. And the neglect of their specific calling would have drawn them further away from fulfilling the Great Commission, without them knowing.
There is this young man in the States, Jaeson Ma, whose life is one of fulfilling the Great Commission through God given specific commission. He took 3 months to fast and pray for God's will in his life.(This has become the standard for all internship of his leaders). His ministry is with the campus(he started when he was about 21, he is now 27 yrs old). He reminds me of Paul, preaching where God asked him to go. God would tell him where to preach in the campus and often this is not where his limited human mind think it should be. Every time when he obeyed, when he speaks, there are miracles, word of knowledge, deliverance and salvation is like 70% of the crowd(these are people whom he is speaking to for the first time).
Initially, he wanted to direct the new converts to the surrounding churches but God told him to put them in cell groups in the campus. Against all advice of other church leaders he did what God said. So, new converts meet on Sunday in cells for worship, bible teaching, intercession, offering, etc. God's manifested presence is there every week. They often experienced miracles, healing, baptism of the holy spirit in cell. There were less drop out in new converts who goes to cell vs those who were sent to surrounding churches. Those who are in cells grew in depth amazingly thru simple bible teaching. Hence, Jaeson called the cells- simple church. To me, that is truly a church without walls. His movement is very big in UCLA and several other varsities and still growing. If members combined, it could be easily a mega church. Jaeson did not try to group them into a mega church cos he knows that is not what God wanted for this group.
He fulfilled the Great Commission but thru a specific commission(blueprint) given by the Lord, it is not following the trend of the world. You may say people like Jaeson is rare, you are not like him, but when you read his testimony, his beginning is just as normal as you and I. He was desperate(or passionate) enough to ask and wait upon His 'blueprint' for his life. ( He wrote a book by that name detailing his testimony)
What is your specific commission? What is God blueprint for you? It is never too late to find out. If you want to be passionate, be passionate of His blueprint. If you have asked and He has not revealed, keep asking, it is a matter of time.
Jesus' disciples have great passion to follow Jesus and proclaim Him as the Messiah but yet this very same passion blinded them from understanding why their Messiah needed to die.
Could it be, that at present time, we have the passion to enlarge God's kingdom (Great Commission for general) but this very passion has blinded us of the need to hear fresh revelation of God's will(His specific commission, His blueprint for individual and church).
There is this trend of building mega church. Reason given is bigger church have bigger funding to do more effective things. Yes and no. There are some church called to be mega and you can see the anointing upon that church where the favor of the Lord is with them, the Lord bring them the numbers. But not every church is called for such. Hence, you see many churches striving and pushing leaders to meet numbers, numbers that are produced by flesh effort not by the spirit. The saddest part is such church could have a different calling which they have missed cos the passion to build a mega church has blinded them of that. And the neglect of their specific calling would have drawn them further away from fulfilling the Great Commission, without them knowing.
There is this young man in the States, Jaeson Ma, whose life is one of fulfilling the Great Commission through God given specific commission. He took 3 months to fast and pray for God's will in his life.(This has become the standard for all internship of his leaders). His ministry is with the campus(he started when he was about 21, he is now 27 yrs old). He reminds me of Paul, preaching where God asked him to go. God would tell him where to preach in the campus and often this is not where his limited human mind think it should be. Every time when he obeyed, when he speaks, there are miracles, word of knowledge, deliverance and salvation is like 70% of the crowd(these are people whom he is speaking to for the first time).
Initially, he wanted to direct the new converts to the surrounding churches but God told him to put them in cell groups in the campus. Against all advice of other church leaders he did what God said. So, new converts meet on Sunday in cells for worship, bible teaching, intercession, offering, etc. God's manifested presence is there every week. They often experienced miracles, healing, baptism of the holy spirit in cell. There were less drop out in new converts who goes to cell vs those who were sent to surrounding churches. Those who are in cells grew in depth amazingly thru simple bible teaching. Hence, Jaeson called the cells- simple church. To me, that is truly a church without walls. His movement is very big in UCLA and several other varsities and still growing. If members combined, it could be easily a mega church. Jaeson did not try to group them into a mega church cos he knows that is not what God wanted for this group.
He fulfilled the Great Commission but thru a specific commission(blueprint) given by the Lord, it is not following the trend of the world. You may say people like Jaeson is rare, you are not like him, but when you read his testimony, his beginning is just as normal as you and I. He was desperate(or passionate) enough to ask and wait upon His 'blueprint' for his life. ( He wrote a book by that name detailing his testimony)
What is your specific commission? What is God blueprint for you? It is never too late to find out. If you want to be passionate, be passionate of His blueprint. If you have asked and He has not revealed, keep asking, it is a matter of time.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Scott Emulsion in life
Today my son (David) felt sick after coming back from an outing with my sister. My mistake was I did not remind her that David can't take Milo, which he did, and he was vomiting since then.
I did not find out till dinner time ( they returned at noon), after much asking and wondering what could have cause it. The situation looks very similar to the time( 1 year and a half ago) when David would vomit each time after consuming chocolate or food that contains chocolate in it and Milo (Don't ask me why he seems allergic to them but that's how the situation is, even I, a chemist can't explained it). David and the sister knows that he is not supposed to drink Milo, that is why they kept the Milo part a secret.
With that other secrets also spilled out, like they have not been taking their Scott Emulsion. ( It was Scott Emulsion which has been keeping them from being sick for the last one and a half year.) I explained to them the consequences of not following advices that was given to them for their good. They were really sorry and David learnt his lesson well this time. Of course, it is heart sick for the mother to see her child suffer in sickness but it would be irresponsible of me not to help them learn their lesson.
This incident has brought me to think about my spiritual health as well. I am not perfect. I sometimes also do things which I know will bring certain consequences(pain, hurt, bitterness) in my life. My heart's desire is not to be perfect coz no one can except Christ but I do earnestly want to reduce doing things or saying things that will bring those consequences in my life. I know I am weak but I also know I have my friend, the Holy Spirit to empower me to live a life that God has willed for me - a life that is set free by the truth.
When I am tempted to be lazy or feel dry in my special time with the Lord, I turn to praying in the Spirit till something within my spiritman is being set free or read a Psalm till the Lord's manifested presence begin to break that troubled heart of mine and bring tears of rejoicing. Praying in the spirit and reading His word is like eating Scott Emulsion in terms of spiritual health.
I stayed with David through the night to make sure he is alright.I know my Lord also does the same when I am going through those 'sick' moments.
The Lord is with me, He is Emmanuel! He is your Emmanuel too.
I did not find out till dinner time ( they returned at noon), after much asking and wondering what could have cause it. The situation looks very similar to the time( 1 year and a half ago) when David would vomit each time after consuming chocolate or food that contains chocolate in it and Milo (Don't ask me why he seems allergic to them but that's how the situation is, even I, a chemist can't explained it). David and the sister knows that he is not supposed to drink Milo, that is why they kept the Milo part a secret.
With that other secrets also spilled out, like they have not been taking their Scott Emulsion. ( It was Scott Emulsion which has been keeping them from being sick for the last one and a half year.) I explained to them the consequences of not following advices that was given to them for their good. They were really sorry and David learnt his lesson well this time. Of course, it is heart sick for the mother to see her child suffer in sickness but it would be irresponsible of me not to help them learn their lesson.
This incident has brought me to think about my spiritual health as well. I am not perfect. I sometimes also do things which I know will bring certain consequences(pain, hurt, bitterness) in my life. My heart's desire is not to be perfect coz no one can except Christ but I do earnestly want to reduce doing things or saying things that will bring those consequences in my life. I know I am weak but I also know I have my friend, the Holy Spirit to empower me to live a life that God has willed for me - a life that is set free by the truth.
When I am tempted to be lazy or feel dry in my special time with the Lord, I turn to praying in the Spirit till something within my spiritman is being set free or read a Psalm till the Lord's manifested presence begin to break that troubled heart of mine and bring tears of rejoicing. Praying in the spirit and reading His word is like eating Scott Emulsion in terms of spiritual health.
I stayed with David through the night to make sure he is alright.I know my Lord also does the same when I am going through those 'sick' moments.
The Lord is with me, He is Emmanuel! He is your Emmanuel too.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Lingering aroma(presence) of God
Have you experienced a certain aroma(of course I am referring to the nice aroma not the smelly one) that keeps lingering around you? It could be the aroma of a perfume or cooking or the smell of fresh linen. And you kind of like the lingering aroma.
There are two dishes(korean bulgogi chicken and chicken in cream coconut with coriander sauce) which I cooked that always give me this lingering aroma after cooking. The aroma lasts for very long ( the last I recorded for bulgogi was 3 days), I am not exaggerating but I think the sesame oil in bulgogi is very strong (at least the one that I have). Even after taking a bath, I still can smell it. The more I smell it, the more I love that particular dish and remember the whole experience of cooking it.
Similarly, I am sure you have experienced moments in a Sunday (or Saturday) worship or personal worship or cell group worship, where it leaves you with this lingering aroma. When you reach home or went to work or school, the aroma keeps bringing you back to the experience you had with God during that worship. The aroma reminds you of the love, assurance, grace you received at that worship, it simply reminds you of God. And you begin to yearn more for His presence.
It is precisely this kind of worship that you and I should be actively seeking after. Never settle for a second hand worship. Because when God meets you it is phenomenal and it should leave a lasting aroma (impression) of His presence. Learn to worship beyond a systematic-timed-led by perfect worship leader-full band musicians kind of worship. Which means when you enter the church or cell group or quiet time desire for a special touch from the Lord, one that leaves you that lingering aroma. Have a good attitude when the worship leader or the musician does not provide that kind of environment that stimulates high worship. Instead, in those moment ask God to drown out all distraction and judgemental spirit and picture yourself walking into His throne.
God does not turn away a desire so strong to be in His presence.
Be blessed with the lingering aroma of God sweet sweet presence.
There are two dishes(korean bulgogi chicken and chicken in cream coconut with coriander sauce) which I cooked that always give me this lingering aroma after cooking. The aroma lasts for very long ( the last I recorded for bulgogi was 3 days), I am not exaggerating but I think the sesame oil in bulgogi is very strong (at least the one that I have). Even after taking a bath, I still can smell it. The more I smell it, the more I love that particular dish and remember the whole experience of cooking it.
Similarly, I am sure you have experienced moments in a Sunday (or Saturday) worship or personal worship or cell group worship, where it leaves you with this lingering aroma. When you reach home or went to work or school, the aroma keeps bringing you back to the experience you had with God during that worship. The aroma reminds you of the love, assurance, grace you received at that worship, it simply reminds you of God. And you begin to yearn more for His presence.
It is precisely this kind of worship that you and I should be actively seeking after. Never settle for a second hand worship. Because when God meets you it is phenomenal and it should leave a lasting aroma (impression) of His presence. Learn to worship beyond a systematic-timed-led by perfect worship leader-full band musicians kind of worship. Which means when you enter the church or cell group or quiet time desire for a special touch from the Lord, one that leaves you that lingering aroma. Have a good attitude when the worship leader or the musician does not provide that kind of environment that stimulates high worship. Instead, in those moment ask God to drown out all distraction and judgemental spirit and picture yourself walking into His throne.
God does not turn away a desire so strong to be in His presence.
Be blessed with the lingering aroma of God sweet sweet presence.
Are you ready?
Have you been asked this question before? Or perhaps you have asked yourself.
Well... this morning as I was driving home from my errands, God asked me this question re His new plan for me in the new land. For awhile I answered very confidently (like Peter did when Jesus asked him 'Do you love me') - Of course God!. Then comes the daunting moment, I suddenly asked myself, 'Are you really ready?'. For ten minutes I was not as sure as I answered God ten minutes ago. Can you believe that?
But I am glad I went through that experience of asking myself and of not being sure. Because now I know my Lord's intention.
After all that doubting moment, I hear myself telling God, 'I will never be very sure that I am really ready but as long as You are with me, Emmanuel and I will be alright'.When I told Vincent (my hubby) this, he told me he went through that two days ago. And instantly I know God is doing something within us.
So, today I bless you with the assurance from God that as long as God is with you, you do not need to be absolutely perfectly ready for the things He has called you to do. What is important is having a willing heart and a humble attitude that all this is of God, from God and for God's glory. So, I bless you with the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit teaching and prompting, to experience God's presence in your life and to embrace Christ's grace upon your life.
Be supernaturally blessed!
Well... this morning as I was driving home from my errands, God asked me this question re His new plan for me in the new land. For awhile I answered very confidently (like Peter did when Jesus asked him 'Do you love me') - Of course God!. Then comes the daunting moment, I suddenly asked myself, 'Are you really ready?'. For ten minutes I was not as sure as I answered God ten minutes ago. Can you believe that?
But I am glad I went through that experience of asking myself and of not being sure. Because now I know my Lord's intention.
After all that doubting moment, I hear myself telling God, 'I will never be very sure that I am really ready but as long as You are with me, Emmanuel and I will be alright'.When I told Vincent (my hubby) this, he told me he went through that two days ago. And instantly I know God is doing something within us.
So, today I bless you with the assurance from God that as long as God is with you, you do not need to be absolutely perfectly ready for the things He has called you to do. What is important is having a willing heart and a humble attitude that all this is of God, from God and for God's glory. So, I bless you with the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit teaching and prompting, to experience God's presence in your life and to embrace Christ's grace upon your life.
Be supernaturally blessed!
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