Do Not Seek Bethel and Gilgal

[S] Amos 5:3,5 --
3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:
"Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left;
your town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left."
5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."

[O] Bethel and Gilgal were the safe houses for the Israelites but God is warning them not to put their trust in those places but in Him because He is going to reduce them to nothing.  Just in last few days we had some natural disasters in US of flooding, excessive heat, and storms threatening lives and taking out power to millions of people.  Without power there isn't a whole lot we can do these days and these power outages can happen in a flash without any warnings.  That's how things can change from good or normal to disaster -- in a blink of an eye no matter how disaster-prepared we are.

[A] Examine my heart for my "Bethel and Gilgal" where I put my trust as a safety net.  There is nothing wrong with having safety nets to mitigate crisis as a measure of having margins around life's edge points, but I need to be careful not to trust in them more than I trust in God's provision and guidance for my life.

[P] Dear Father, through Your Holy Spirit please convict my heart of areas where I've built up my Bethels and Gilgals so that I won't lean on those that can become nothing in a flash.  Let my heart be trusting You alone 100%.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

I Have Finished the Race

[S] 2 Timothy 4:6-7 --
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

[O] Paul's statement towards the end of his life is more than challenging.  How can one live a life such that s/he can confidently say "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"?  Paul wasn't even part of the twelve disciples following Jesus during His ministry years; in fact, he persecuted Christians harshly.  So if you will, he caught up tremendously to come to this point in his life.

[A] I should not lose hope of drawing closer to God and to live a life that I can also confidently say I have finished the race by keeping my faith.  The enemy whispers into my ears at time that I am no good for God's ministry.  But I should push forward without stopping.

[P] Dear Father, do send Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to uphold my heart so that I will not lose my pace of following You and to run this race without giving up until my last breath on earth.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Scripture to Equip Myself

[S] 2 Timothy 3:16-17 --
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

[O] Our company is having a bake-off contest for employees to show off their baking skills.  As each of the contestants explain the process of preparing and making the desserts it is quite amazing at how much effort they put in to present (and to win) the goodies.  God's Scripture to us is like that where God put together an amazing package of principles and wisdom for us to follow in order to face all aspects of life and to produce good works in the midst of them all.

[A] The ultimate purpose of the Scripture is to equip me for every good work.  So as I read more of His Scripture, my life should produce more good works. If not, then I'm not soaking up His word correctly.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for the wonderful Scripture for me to be equipped to serve others and You to produce many good works.  May I have to right perspectives at all times to equip myself in doing just this on daily basis. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Fan into Flame the Gift

[S] 2 Timothy 1:6-7 --
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

[O] The actuality of believing in the power of the Spirit of God in my life is the key here.  I could write about it and tell about it all the time but if I am not bold, loving, and sensible (from MSG version) then I'm in essence not living out the life God intended for me and I am actually living a hypocritical life.  So, as Paul wrote in verse 6, I need to learn how to fan into flame the gift (power) of God by laying on of hands for each other in our community of believers.

[A] I need to lay my hands on my children to fan into flame the gift of God in their live so they may fully realize and live out the wonderfully bold, loving, and sensible lives.

[P] Dear God, as I lay my hands on my children to anoint them please fan the flame in their hearts by the Holy Spirit's moving so their gifts from You will become real in their lives especially as they spend this summer wisely and sensibly.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Above the Law to Protect the Hearts

[S] 1 Timothy 5:14-15 (NIV) --
So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

[O] There is a fine line here but Paul's teaching here is how saving souls under God's grace and mercy is above the law.  If they are too rigid on not allowing young widows to marry then there is greater risk of them falling into the hands of Satan, so fully knowing their limitations Paul instructs how to protect these young widows from the snares of the enemy rather strictly focusing on the legalistic aspects of following the law.

[A] I need to be careful of not falling into the trap of just following the rules when I follow Christ because He is more interested in my well being to follow Him without being tempted by the enemy.  I must stay humble to follow Jesus without boasting on how well I am behaving as a follower of Him.

[P] Dear Father, please give me wisdom to understand when I should apply Your grace so that I won't fall into the temptations of the enemy.  Allow me to know when I step out of Your grace into using my own efforts to follow You.  I pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Getting Back Everything God's Way

[S] 2 Kings 8:6 (NIV) --
The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."

[O] The woman whose son Elisha had restored to life exiled to land of Philistines for seven years following the advice of Elisha.  And after seven years when she returned she was recognized by the king as the person who experienced Elisha's miracle and ordered his official to restore her house and everything belonged to her including the backlogged income.  This displays God's faithfulness keeping His promises (from when Elisha saved her son) despite the period of famine she had to weather through.  When following God's direction, He will take care of everything without any loss.

[A] Even though I know that I should surrender my financial income to God completely, it is still one of the challenging areas to do just that.  However, unless I trust His ways and guidance 100% I will forego the opportunity of receiving His faithfulness in my career and income just like this woman did.

[P] Dear God, grant me the heart of trust in Your financial provisions when I completely trust in Your way.  I want to bring out Your glory in my finances not because of my great efforts (although not be lazy) but because I am carrier of Your amazing works.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Go Borrow Vessels

[S] 2 Kings 4:3 --
3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.

[O] The number of vessels this woman can borrow primarily depends on the number of neighbors who are willing to lend the vessels.  This is true with us, too, when we are in need because we will be lifted up by the number of our "neighbors" who are willing to lend us a hand to get us out of the hole.  Although this passage does not specify, it implies that she had borrowed enough vessels for God to work in her life back to restoration.

[A] Establishing intimate relationship and trust among many neighbors in the community at large is the wise investment because that will establish a very strong bond to withstand challenges of life.  I am so grateful for those who have been lending us their "vessels" during our challenging times. This is also a true reminder to lend a hand to those in need because even though what I can do may be limited, combined with many others giving at the same time can synergize the overall effect.

[P] Dear God, thank You for surrounding us with so many great neighbors who are so willing to lend us the vessels to fill up the gap during a very needy time in our family.  We are clearly experiencing the works of You through these helping hands just like this woman from the passage and we give You the glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Be Clearly Recognizable

[S] 2 Kings 1:8 --

8 They replied, "He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist."  The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."


[O] Elijah was recognized by his unique appearance which clearly identified him to the king.  The king really did not like Elijah and yet he readily recognized him by his outer appearance as well as his authoritative position for God.

[A] I am wondering how I am recognized by others as a man after God's heart.  I want to be like Elijah where my stance for God is clearly set apart with God's finger prints all over.

[P] Dear Father, I want to be like Elijah where his way of life and how he displays himself to others so clearly identified him as the man of God.  I don't want to be just another ordinary person with an ordinary vision but I want to be an ordinary person with an extra-ordinary appearance that can only come from God. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Watchful Prayer Life

[S]  Colossians 4:2 (NIV) --
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

[O] Prayer is a very familiar concept but being grouped together with watchful and thankful was a fresh concept for me as I read this passage because I have a tendency of just praying with a hoping-for-the-best attitude instead of having a clear trust and vision of expecting God's response to my prayer -- already being grateful for what He is about to do.

[A] As I face my family's crisis and lifting up my prayers to God, I need to change my attitude to be watchful of God's working in my family's life.

[P] Dear God, please reshape my heart so that my prayer life is not an end but a means to experiencing You tangibly in my life.  Grant me a watchful heart looking for Your wondrous works right in my day-to-day living.  I thank yon in advance as I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

No Turning Back Faith

[S]  1 Kings 19:21 (NIV)  --

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.


[O] Elisha's heart of commitment is displayed from his actions before following Elijah as his disciple.  Elisha surrendered his own career, stability of his future in order to follow Elijah.  He slaughtered the oxen and by using the plowing equipment to cook the meat to feed the people it was clear that he had committed to follow Elijah and there was no turning back.

[A] Finding God's calling for my life is important but what I do with it is more significant.  When He calls me into a path of His choosing for my life and whispers that into my heart, I can either ride the fence between that calling and what I've built up as my sound stability of my future, or I can surrender what I've built up to edify the people around me and completely follow God's calling.  I will do the latter for sure when I do recognize the calling clearly.

[P] Dear Father, I surrender my career and stability of leading my and my family's lives in order to follow what You desire for my life. Please reveal that to my heart and please allow my heart to clearly understand it.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Maker or Breaker of My Life

[S] 2 Chronicles 16:8-9 --
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.9 For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

[O] God strongly support those whose heart is completely sold out to Him.  In fact, His search party is looking for these people throughout the earth.  With God's strong support, there is nothing that can get in the way and this is the message especially for those up against insurmountably huge obstacles in life (the immense army) when it is so easy to search for my own way out using my own plans.

[A] In many ways our family is facing an immense army right now and passages like these bring tremendous strength as they remind us how BIG our God is and how He is the maker or breaker of what happens in our lives.  I want to be found by His search party looking for those whose heart is completely His.

[P] Dear Father, I realize that I must go upstream against the currents of this world in order to be spotted by Your search party to be on Your team.  It is then and only then that You will deliver me from the obstacles I face not because of my skills or efforts but because I have been found by You to be on Your team.  May Your peace and strength continue to sustain our family as we go through this challenging period.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Know When and How to Use Your Living Skills

[S] Ecclesiates 9:18 --
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

[O] If weapons of war are equivalent to fighting skills and technology of this world, then wisdom equates to knowing how and where to use them.  So, this passage states that more so than the fighting skills how to apply them in a war is more effective.  Additionally, unity of the warriors to fight with one heart and mind is a key ingredient to the victory of war; it just takes a single outcast in this effort to destroy the efforts of the many.

[A] Not that I have this down myself, but I feel that one of my calling is to teach my children and others in subsequent generations the criticality of valuing the wisdom from God and not rely on the technicality of living skills which many can attain by giving their best efforts while the wisdom only comes from God.

[P] Dear Father, first please graciously grant Your wisdom upon this heart humbly bowing before You.  And please let me be a conduit to pass on that wisdom and how to attain such wonderful ingredient for my children and next generation to rely on as they build their community to reflect more of Your beauty.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Principle for Spiritual Fabric

[S] Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12 --
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

[O] This passage is the cornerstone principle for building up a community that thrives on not just one super-star but a fabric of individuals coming together to strengthen each other.  Based on this our enemy tries its best to divide and conquer by creating islands of individuals.

[A] Teach my children about how important it is for them to stay connected just like the cord of three strands mentioned in v.12.  They need to very soon realize that God brought them into this world for a purpose of displaying His glory and baseline for reaching that goal is to stay strong against all sorts of currents slowing them down or trying to break them apart.

[P] Dear Father, please continue to shower Your grace on my children so that they will be "tied" together to reach the purpose You have for them as a community.  Please provide them the life partners who would share such vision and the extended family to be a strong spiritual fabric for Your glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Search Is On 24x7

[S] Psalm 33:14,18 (NIV)  --
from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—
But the eyes of the lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

[O] Can God see every one of us living here on earth?  The answer is a resounding yes even though it is a difficult concept to grasp in my limited way of thinking.  Not only he sees every one of us, but He does that with a clear purpose of identifying those who fear Him and have hope in His unfailing love -- that is to say, those who recognize His amazing love and accept it -- because that's what pleases Him.

[A] Not just because God is searching for those who fear Him, but I want to receive His unfailing love for me as is and to walk fearfully with Him every day.  I want to be found by God because I am sincerely in His presence at all time.

[P] Dear Father, may my heart be always aware of how Your eyes sweep through this world looking for those who had sincerely accepted Your wonderful love so that what I do and say will reflect Your character to those around me.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Snare of Fear to Freedom of Fear

[S] Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) --
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

[O] The contrast between fear from trusting myself versus trusting in God is like walking in a mind field not knowing when to step on a mine versus running (or riding a horse, or just simply walking about enjoying the nature) in a green prairie open wide to the horizon without worrying about anything.  My own fear will swallow up myself but if I free myself from that and turn to trust in God, then His peace will overwhelm my heart.

[A] Right now, I CAN worry about a few things which can easily put a fear in my heart, but I refuse to go there  and let my heart lean on God all the way.

[P] Dear Father, in the midst of so many things going on, I can so easily lose track of how great having my trust in You all the time.  I want to take another step today of learning how not to feed the fear in me, but to invite Your hope and peace to populate my thoughts.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Check the Weather before Dressing

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:14 NASB)
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:14 NIV)

[O] Combining the two translations above I'm picturing getting dressed in the morning before leaving home. One of the key condition determining how I would dress is the weather and temperature outside. Checking the weather website or the page in the morning newspaper would provide this very necessary information.

[A] Spiritually speaking I need to follow the same procedure before leaving home every morning. This passage pretty much describes the spiritual "weather" to be flesh hungry so I need to wear Christ because without doing that it would be like walking out into snow storm in a pair of Speedo and a tank top. My flesh will be bombarded with the wrong desires I will be immobilized to do anything else.

[P] Dear Jesus, I want to make sure I put You on before I step out into the storms of flesh-desiring world. I still need to work on getting this down every morning so I ask for Your grace to cover the holes in my walk with Tiu. In Jesus' name. Amen.