Barnabas in Ephesus

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17 NIV
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2009-1-4

Shame to Surrender

Devotional Thoughts in Psalms

 

My family is…different. I have two young sisters old enough to be my own daughters, and my second mom is younger than my oldest sister! My marital status is single, but weekends are spent pushing a stroller. In the background of my life, there is aghast and laughter. There is more that I am not yet able to face. How does God answer prayer if I am too ashamed to even let him know?

 

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.                                                                                                       Psalms 25:1-3 NIV

 

Even when the Lord removes MY shame, what about when people laugh at my 5 year old sister? The shame she faces hurts me more than my own. Can our family be victorious? Will this shame be removed?

 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  Ps 34:4-5 NIV

 

Not only can this shame be removed, but our faces, and that of my little sisters’, shall be RADIANT, covered by the Holy Spirit. The shame can only be removed once it is surrendered to the Lord. As the shame is surrendered, our faces can be full of joy.

 

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.                                                                                         Isaiah 25:8 NIV

 

Not because I feel hopeful, but because the Lord has SPOKEN that this will happen. The more shame I can surrender to the Lord, the more he can remove. The more shame he can remove, the more joy can be filled within me.

 

For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”                                                                    Isaiah 52:3 NIV

 

It is not because I am worthless which money can’t redeem me. It is because I am worth SO MUCH that only Christ’s own blood is able to. May I see my value in Christ, may my sister see her value in Christ, and may you see your value in Christ.

2009-1-10

Post Prophet

Devotional Thoughts on Elijah – Matthew 17

 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”                                                                                               Mal 4:5 ESV

 

The prophet Malachi speaks the word of the Lord to Israel. It is the cry of Malachi’s heart for his people to return to the One who loves them. Of the things that must take place before Christ comes again, Elijah the prophet will come a second time.

 

And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.”    Matt 17:10-11 ESV

 

Jesus answers his disciples in a similar way which Malachi was addressing his people. The word of the Lord which the prophet Malachi received was correct! Jesus has the same love, as the Father has, for his people to return, repent and reunite with the loving Father. Elijah needs to come for this to happen.

 

But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”                                                                                                          Matt 17:11-12 ESV

 

There is a mystery to the scriptures and to the kingdom of heaven. The secrets to the kingdom are revealed to those who’s hearts are turned to Christ. To the unrepentant, they will see but not perceive, hear but not understand, and will have hearts hardened to receive the news of Jesus.

 

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

                                                                                                         Matt 17:13 ESV

 

The bold Baptizer, cousin of Christ, is Elijah who was and has come. The great and awesome day of the Lord is closer to us more than ever. Today we are living in a post prophet era.

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, who we appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.                                        Heb 1:1-2 ESV

 

The Lord today speaks to us through his Son Jesus. Blessed are we to be living in these last days, personally and directly hearing from Jesus. Blessed are those around us who also have the same opportunity to HEAR Jesus. Father, help those in our network HEAR your Son Jesus…


2009-1-25

Deeds for Dad

Devotional Thoughts of Hard Work in Paul’s Letters

 

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Pet 2:12 NIV

 

In my city, people work! Only 20 years ago, the entire country was very poor and most people barely had enough food on the table. Work is not only highly respected in my country, but it is part of the fabric of people’s life. Work isn’t a chore or tiresome or something we have-to-do. Work is an opportunity, and everybody takes it!

 

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thes 4:11-12 NIV

 

Yes I am a US expatriate living among the locals. Stereotypically I would be living like a king, having an easy life with tons of money. Yet I before our workers arrive in the mornings I am there. After the workers leave in the evening I am there. Weekends we’re still meeting with factories doing business. After 1 year of this work ethic I do not simply gain some polite respect, I am esteemed throughout our business network.

 

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Col 4:5 NIV

 

Usually on a one to one basis, people will ask what drives me to work, or where the passion comes from. This is when I boldly proclaim that the wisdom of the Holy Scriptures has tangibly helped our business, and that the grace of our Living God has provided for us most heavily during the worldwide economic crisis.

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Col 3:23 NIV

 

Alone at night I know the real reason why I came to this land and why I work hard; I didn’t come for business success, I came for my father and my family- for their salvation. To my father, the most sensitive and deep way to love him is to work hard with him. Now I am a personal traveler alongside of him in his spiritual journey.

 

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Gal 6:8 NIV

 

May my father WORK for the Spirit. May we please him to reap eternal life…