When I Am Forced to Do the Dirty Job

[S] 2 Samuel 6:10-11 --
10 And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.11 Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

[O] There is always someone who has to do the dirty job and here we see Obed-edom was that guy who had to take in the ark of the LORD after Uzzah was killed instantly by touching it (for a good cause).  Would I have volunteered to house the ark?  No.  So Obed-edom probably was assigned to park the ark in his driveway without much choice.  However the result of his doing that turned into God's blessings for his whole household. I am also thinking of Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry the (physical) cross of Jesus.  Even though he had no idea who this "criminal" was that he had to help carry the cross, but in the end there was no one else who can claim what he had done -- what a blessing that must have been for him.

[A] God allows these moments of being "forced to carry the cross" of others to mature my faith so His glory would reflect off my life.  As I am going through a medical challenge in our family, I am just "forced" to cling on to God's word daily.  I knew this was something I needed to do but not until God put me in this current situation I am actually carrying it out more diligently and desperately.  I cannot readily see the "blessings" outpouring from the situation but whether that really happens or not I will not give up on pursuing Him not because things make sense but because my heart tells me this is the path He desires.

[P] Dear Father, I thank You for putting me in this situation to stay on course of trusting Your mighty power of omnipotence and healing.  I will not deter from fixing my eyes on this course to know that You are allowing things to happen in order to reveal Your wonderful glory and I just need to cling on to that.  I praise Your name now just because of who You are.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Weaving Inward Parts

[S] Psalm 139:13,23,24 --
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

[O] God is the one who put me together in my mother's womb so wonderfully and skillfully for His pleasure.  To think that we some how came about into this world is a very irresponsible position to have because we came into this world with a specific purpose and a detailed design in each inward part.  The author of this psalm realizes this and surrenders his life for the creator of this universe to search and lead his life eternally.

[A] I certainly do not thank God for forming my inward parts in such an orderly fashion that I can live each day as how I was purposed.  Any disharmony in such a wonderful design means my body will not function well or normally.  So I thank God for such a design, and to lead me in the everlasting way for me to be a pleasure in His eyes.  I cannot do this just because I wanted to but because God allows it.

[P] Dear Father, Your wonderful design is what gets me going each day.  Please search my heart and bring healing wherever necessary so I may bring out Your glory through my life at all times.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Together and Yet Separate

[S] Matthew 15:11 --
11 It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

[O] Even though our lives are interwoven between physical body and spiritual soul, God's order of priority is that the spirit of man influences the whole person while the physical  body cannot do the same.  What we eat or alter physical body cannot defile us but once our hearts are defiled then we're doomed.

[A] While this is an obvious observation, it is also obviously easy to miss this truths and deceive myself to think that how I look or act can change the condition of my heart (especially towards God).  I am also reminded that as my child is going through a very difficult medication treatment, it alone cannot alter his stance toward God.

[P] Dear God, would you please protect my child's faith and heart toward You during this physically challenging time?  I pray that the purity of faith will prevail the pains and discomfort.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Set Free from My Prison

[S] Psalm 142:7 --
7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

[O] The desire of praising God by this writer is clearly seen in this passage.  His request to be set free from "his" prison is so he may praise God's name which will bring the fruit of righteous people gathering together.  So many times we try hard to gather others through programs and plans of our own but God's way of gathering people is to set people free from their prison so they can praise God's name.  The focus is on Him.  And that is what is going to attract each other to gather.

[A] God's ministry needs a basic structure and programs to sustain it but once they become the end goal then we have deviated from becoming His followers and worshipers.  Deep down at the core, it should be about being set free from prison of my own in order to praise God's name up high.  This will gather the like-minded followers of Christ and out of that life-giving ministry will spring forth.

[P] Dear God, please free me from my prison.  I want to praise Your name every moment, through thick and thin.  Please gather others with the same passion to lift up Your goodness and to let the world know about such goodness.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Odds Are Against Us

[S] Matthew 13:23 --
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

[O] Just taking a quick look at the probability of God's word landing in good soil from this parable is 25%.  Not that great.  This is true even though God's word itself has 100% pure power because of the condition of our hearts in this fallen world we live in.  In fact, this reminds me that participating in God's ministry may well mean 75% unfruitful results so I should have a reality check whenever I'm involved in serving in His ministry that I will face difficulties for the most part.  However, the good news is that without our efforts going to waste, the moment God's word finds good soil to incubate and multiply there is no limit but enough and then some to cover everything.

[A] I need to specifically pray for good soil (heart) for me and my family so that we would make room for His Spirit to go all out in hundred, sixty, or thirty folds.

[P] Dear God, as I'm pondering on the family crisis we're up against, I am surrendering it into Your hands not as a way of giving up but because I realized that it is the condition of our hearts that will or won't allow Your power to permeate through.  Please make our heart fertile to produce multitude of fruits.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

But Nothing Is Missing In God

[S] 1 Samuel 30:19 --
19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.

[O] When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found out that the Amalekites raided the camp and took away everyone with them before totally destroy the camp.  It is recorded in verse 4 -- Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.  I don't believe I cried until there was no more strength to weep anymore but that's how crushed these valiant warriors were.  David collects himself and then after inquiring God, receiving His approval, they go after the Amalekites and reclaims everything they had lost.  Nothing was missing; David brought it all back.

[A] God used this same passage to speak to both me and my wife this morning.  It was about restoring something completely that was lost; without missing anything God is promising to bring it all back.  We found ourselves in another moment of set back in the late afternoon with the family crisis we're facing now but we're going to hang on to this passage as God's way of preparing our hearts this morning.

[P] Dear God, in You, there is complete restoration whether it's the lost spiritual unity with You or losing some grounds physically as we face some challenges in our lives.  You have prepared us to throw our trust completely on You and that's what we're going to do because You will come through I'm sure of it.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

A Thought of Disguising Before God

[S] 1 Samuel 28:8,12 --
8 Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, "Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you."
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul."
[O] If a fortune teller can see through the disguise we put on, why do we bother to disguise ourselves before God the creator of the universe?  That's how stupid and illogical our minds can be thinking we can fool our God.  This actually comes from the master deceiver, deceiving us to think this way.

[A] Fill my mind with God's word daily so that there won't be any room for such a lie in my mind.  I should honor, praise and worship God no matter what the world around me tells me because He is the unchanging God who deserves me just as I am.

[P] Dear Father, I bring myself to You just as I am.  Please make me more transparent so Your glory may shine through me, or to reflect off me.  May I come to You sincerely and with pure motives at all times.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Even a Cup of Cold Water

[S] Matthew 10:42 --
42 And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

[O] Recognition of righteous people and assisting them in the Lord will be rewarded by God of Heaven.  Many times we are on the giving end to charity, church, or people in need but if you are on the receiving end, this verse speaks loudly about how precious those giving hands are and comforted even more because God knows who they are and will not forget them to give rewards.

[A] By any means, I'm trying to equate myself with the disciples and prophets but simply to relate to this passage's point about how services to each other in the Lord is not only helpful for each other but God takes notice of them also.  Our family's been smothered by wonderful services from our friends in the Christian community and "even a cup of cold water to drink" in the time of need was truly appreciated and even though we will stay indebted to them, we're so proud that God will reward them.  Thank You!

[P] Dear Father, thank You so much for surrounding us with such caring and wonderful Sisters and Brothers in Christ to comfort and encourage us in this storm of life we're weathering through.  Please abundantly bless all of them and draw our community even closer to each other as we build this community for Your glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

In the Shadow of His Wings

[S] Psalm 57:1 --
1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.

[O] Picture of God's wings covering and protecting the afflicted brings forth truly a beautiful and peaceful radiance. This is especially true for those going through great challenges in life where one could easily be destructed. Once we're in God's Kingdom He surely got our backs and that's the comforting picture I see from this verse.

[A] Verbatim, I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the destruction passes by in our family.  I am going to claim that promise.

[P] Dear Father, I'm so thankful to You for preparing my heart to face the challenges that come my way.  Being under Your wings is such a privilege and that my life will under Your full control.  Please let Your plan unfold in my and my family members' lives such that You will be glorified.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Willing Sacrifice, a Freewill Offering

[S] Psalm 54:6 --
6 Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.
(NIV) 6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

[O] The Psalmist emphasizes the fact that our offering to God should be out of free will.  If we offer out of obligation then it's really not an offering but a payment.  But Jesus paid everything I owed to God and so if I sincerely took that to heart then everything I give to God going forward is an offering willingly and joyfully sacrificed.

[A] Willingly giving and willingly sacrificing are totally different and the word sacrificing grabs me today from this passage as I am going through much thoughts lately about the concept of surrendering my will and my plans.  With the family crisis at hand, is my heart willing sacrificing to God and praise His name for it is good?

[P] Dear God, You're total sacrifice for my inadequacy is overwhelming because for me it is so difficult to even think about sacrificing my family as a willing offering to You and yet You did just that for me.  May that same attitude spring up inside me to walk this life here to follow Your footsteps.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

Righteousness Attracts God

[S] Psalm 34:17-20 --
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.

[O] Lord hears the prayers (cries) of the righteous to deliver them from their troubles while He is near to the brokenhearted and saves who are crushed in spirit -- those who is unable to cry out to God.  As long as I uphold God's righteousness, He will not forget about me, in fact, not a bone in my body will be broken.

[A] If I want God to be present in my life, delivering me from troubles of life, stand to be righteous in the Lord because God just loves to be around those who are righteous in Him.

[P] Dear Father, Your message in verse 20 is very touching to my family now because one of my child is going through some bone marrow issues and my family and our whole church had been crying out to You to bring healing.  You will come through again so allow me to abide in You with peace and joy in You despite the circumstances.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Even When God Allows Bad Things to Happen

[S] 1 Samuel 19:9-10 --
9 Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
[O] If someone were to try and pin me to the wall with a spear, that's a terrible thing to happen.  And yet, in this scene, the evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul to take such an action against David.  What I see here is that even the terrible things happen because God allows them and He is in full control of the overall situation.

[A] As I'm face with my child's rare disease, I feel like I've gotten hit with one of these spears deeply wounded and yet this passage is like an oasis to my soul to know that God is still in full control of the situation my family is going through.

[P] Dear Father, I'm most grateful for Your total control of my world because in You there is no foul play and there is no mistakes.  Everything will happen according to Your perfect plan.  I am lifting up my family now so we may recognize that fact and that instead of focusing on the down sides of the circumstance we're in we'd instead ride it like a wave to go to places You want us to be.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Anchoring My Focus in Turbulent Times

[S] Psalm 11:3-5 --
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?"
4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

[O] Even when the foundations of the righteous are destroyed, God's throne in heaven will never change and that's what the righteous will anchor his faith in because God will sift out the righteous from the wicked and He will raise His righteous people up with or without foundations.

[A] It feels like some parts of the foundation for our family's become shaky with a severe earthquake but God's preparing my heart through this Psalm about where to keep my focus during this turbulent times -- on His presence in our lives and His throne in the heaven -- for He is greater than any crisis I face and He is the one who will weigh our hearts to embrace those who are righteous in His eyes.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for always preparing my heart with Your words so I may retain strength to face difficulties coming my way.  I praise You for being such a caring God and I commit this life to be used for Your Kingdom's expansion here on earth.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Ask God Again, and Again

[S] 1 Samuel 14:13-14 --
13 The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley.14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
[O] The word "again" in verse 14 is the key operand here because by now David most likely figured out God is on his side and God is fighting the battles for him; so thing should be more like a routine and could have easily gone ahead without bothering to ask God again each time he goes into battle.  But as he inquired of God, he was given a different direction this time to fight the enemy to defeat them.  Wisdom of being a leader is not forgetting to seek God's counsel before leading the people to the next level/phase.  The opposite of this is to override God and go on an auto-pilot based on my own experiences which at times is known as pride.

[A] I can sense that God has been working mightily in the midst of our family and church ministry and I catch myself just charging ahead without seeking His counsel because God had worked for us in similar situations.  This is dangerous and I must not take anything for granted especially when I am dealing with spiritual warfare.  I need to be careful in this area.

[P] Dear God, may I never count things for grant which come from You above.  Instead, may I always give You total credit and before taking a step forward, may I involve You into my plans and strategy of advancements even though all of these things are for you.  May I strive to obey before I "do" Your ministry.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Be a Big-Dish Antenna

[S] 1 Samuel 3:1 --
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

[O] This was not due to lack of word or visions from God but lack of leaders who can receive them.  It's like having a great 4G hotspot with amazingly fast Internet connections but no smart phone or laptops capable of 4G to take advantage of this service.  In those days, there were no one capable of hearing and recognize God's voice to hear His words or to catch the visions for their generation.

[A] There is no doubt that God is at work all the time.  The question is am I ready to receive the "signal" clearly from Him to apply to my life and surroundings. I want to be a big-dish antenna for God's words and visions tracking Him wherever He's at work.

[P] Dear Father, make me a big-dish antenna for You so I won't miss any of your signals for me and my generation.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Praying Out of Anguish and Grief

[S] 1 Samuel 1:15-17 --
15 But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.16 Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation."17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him."

[O] Hannah's prayer to God (in prior verses) and her plea to Eli speaks volumes about her heart and commitment to God -- she has spoken out of her great concern and provocation (anguish and grief).  Then Eli blessed her for God may grant her petition and she gives birth to Samuel who became the righteous prophet God used mightily in those days.

[A] Although in different circumstances, I can relate to Hannah's "anguish and grief" as she pours out her heart before the Lord.  Without second guessing why she ended up in such a rut, she clung on to God so He would appear in her circumstance in a supernatural way.  I am encouraged to take the same stance as Hannah re: a family situation I'm facing now which seems to have hit a dead-end street.  God also encouraged through Eli's blessings that He will indeed grant my family's petition.

[P] Dear God, we are clinging on to You just like Hannah did so we may enter into the amazing throne of God where all troubles I can and will encounter will no significance whatsoever.  May You grant our petitions we are lifting up to You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Restorer and Sustainer from a Noname Moabite

[S] Ruth 4:15 --
15 May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
[O] There were words from the women of Naomi's town praising and almost prophesying because of how faithful Ruth had committed to Naomi and her people.  Obed's grandson indeed lived up to this well wishes and further down the lineage, Jesus did restore and sustained everyone's lives let alone Naomi's.  Rush was a good person, but more than her goodness, her faithfulness to God of heaven and her people is what made her the instrument God used to bring forth His Savior.

[A] Who would have known Ruth, a no-name Moabite woman, would take part in God's plan of salvation, physically?  Likewise, who would know a no-name Korean-American family will take part in God's plan for grace for this generation of people?  No one.  But despite the outcome, me and my family will commit to the Lord and His leadership because we want to make ourselves available to be in His plan.

[P] Dear Father, we love you and we desire to be right in the middle of Your wonderful plan of grace for this generation of people.  Let this small request be answered by Your mighty power.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Where You Go, I Will Go

[S] Ruth 1:16 --
16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

[O] This type of commitment is quite astounding to watch and very rare to see these days.  In friendship, partnership, parent-children relationship, marriages, and in all relationship we establish, this type of commitment will naturally nurture and edify the relationships.  It is when "I-my-me" is the focus, the relationships tend to go sour.  Ultimately, such a hearty commitment to God is what will sustain and grow our faith in Him as well.  As long as I am pre-occupied with my own agendas first, my faith will always take the back seat.

[A] Watch where God is going and just follow Him. Try not to pave my own path on my own.

[P] Dear Father, I want to go where you go, and dwell where you dwell.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.