[S] Genesis 2:15-17 --
15Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
[O] This command of not eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was given to Adam before Eve existed, so it was Adam's responsibility to teach the exact command of God to her. When the serpent tempted Eve about eating this fruit, her response wasn't quite convicting and while I am not alluding to this as Adam's fault, I do see the significance of teaching (or passing down) the exact command of God to my family members. If I don't do this well, then the unclear understanding of God's laws will lead to sinning against God.
[A] I need to take a clear and strong stance for my family to study God's word together so that every member of this family will develop clear understandings of God's heart so as they face challenges in life, they will ultimately grasp onto the the truth clearly as possible to not fall to the side.
[P] Dear God, as I face the whole new year of 2013, I am committing my heart to be a "good" leader for my family by teaching them Your laws and ways clearly from the Bible. I realize this the best legacy I can leave with my children so I ask Your wisdom and leadership in my life through this year so that I will be prompted and motivated by the Holy Spirit every day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Showing posts with label Spiritual Legacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Legacy. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Friday, January 20, 2012
Drawing Feet Into the Bed
[S] Genesis 49:33 --
33 When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
[O] I am pretty sure I journaled on this passage before, but it hits me every time about this beautiful and peaceful scene where Jacob (Israel) addresses his family and then as a sign of "I have finished," he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last. It was as if he chose to make that breath his last before giving into hands of God. A contrasting scene would look like grasping to live on a little longer while regretting why the end came so suddenly and quickly. Jesus also "breathed His last" on the Cross. The sense of accomplishment of completing the task God granted must be an awesome and peaceful scene.
[A] I would love to live my life similar to Jacob's of completing it with peace and confidence to "draw in my feet into my bed" before breathing my last. My mine quickly flashes back to the image imprinted deeply of my own father's face as I walked out of that ICU. There was a bit of sadness but more so there was the expression of "drawing his feet into the bed to breath his last" as he shook his head gently to each side. Right on that bed, he shared and passed on the spiritual legacy of how he had tried to live for God and pass on that "faith" to us. He did that and I would like to sustain that legacy down to my children.
[P] Dear Father, thank You for such divine mentors like Jacob and my dad to look up to as I align my life also to be like them -- just to look to You and only You. As my dad's birthday is approaching and this passage You spoke to me reminds me of our last encounter, I am just so grateful for giving me a solid foundation called family from which I can springboard into this world to carry out Your tasks until I pass on from this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.
33 When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
[O] I am pretty sure I journaled on this passage before, but it hits me every time about this beautiful and peaceful scene where Jacob (Israel) addresses his family and then as a sign of "I have finished," he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last. It was as if he chose to make that breath his last before giving into hands of God. A contrasting scene would look like grasping to live on a little longer while regretting why the end came so suddenly and quickly. Jesus also "breathed His last" on the Cross. The sense of accomplishment of completing the task God granted must be an awesome and peaceful scene.
[A] I would love to live my life similar to Jacob's of completing it with peace and confidence to "draw in my feet into my bed" before breathing my last. My mine quickly flashes back to the image imprinted deeply of my own father's face as I walked out of that ICU. There was a bit of sadness but more so there was the expression of "drawing his feet into the bed to breath his last" as he shook his head gently to each side. Right on that bed, he shared and passed on the spiritual legacy of how he had tried to live for God and pass on that "faith" to us. He did that and I would like to sustain that legacy down to my children.
[P] Dear Father, thank You for such divine mentors like Jacob and my dad to look up to as I align my life also to be like them -- just to look to You and only You. As my dad's birthday is approaching and this passage You spoke to me reminds me of our last encounter, I am just so grateful for giving me a solid foundation called family from which I can springboard into this world to carry out Your tasks until I pass on from this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Don't Let the Judge Die
[S] Judges 2:15,19 --
15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.
[O] As I read this cyclical statement of how the people went from being at peace following behind what God was doing from corruptness after the judge God had sent died, I'm seeing my own life where I am constantly under the pull of the desire to go my own ways (other gods) and pursue them to the max (i.e., career) and whenever a blip of God's grace fades away from my weak memory I'm so ready to jump on my own doings. Even though God knows so well of how I'm wired to do this over and over, He, nevertheless, answers my distressed call to Him every time also by sending the "judge" to relieve me from the misery I find myself under.
[A] Pray and memorize Scripture so God's presence will not depart from me and keep in on the right path. It's like not having the judges die in my heart.
[P] Dear Father, please protect me and my family to not fall into the trap of forgetting what You did. I am praying for my children such that their lives will be disciplined to dig in the Word so when I'm gone from this world they will continue to carry on that legacy. In Jesus' name. Amen.
15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.
[O] As I read this cyclical statement of how the people went from being at peace following behind what God was doing from corruptness after the judge God had sent died, I'm seeing my own life where I am constantly under the pull of the desire to go my own ways (other gods) and pursue them to the max (i.e., career) and whenever a blip of God's grace fades away from my weak memory I'm so ready to jump on my own doings. Even though God knows so well of how I'm wired to do this over and over, He, nevertheless, answers my distressed call to Him every time also by sending the "judge" to relieve me from the misery I find myself under.
[A] Pray and memorize Scripture so God's presence will not depart from me and keep in on the right path. It's like not having the judges die in my heart.
[P] Dear Father, please protect me and my family to not fall into the trap of forgetting what You did. I am praying for my children such that their lives will be disciplined to dig in the Word so when I'm gone from this world they will continue to carry on that legacy. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, March 18, 2011
School of Arise Leadership
[S] Joshua 1:2-3 --
2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.3 "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
[O] This message from God to Joshua tugs my heart today because being in a leadership position is constantly like being Joshua in this phase of his leadership. And come to think of it, when God called Moses by the burning bush wasn't quite ready to run with the ball and was full of fear and inadequacy. I don't think I will ever graduate from this school of leadership where I need to continuously learn about arising to go into the enemy territory and claim it as I trust in God's provision 100%. And that is what I need to pass on as a legend to my children, so they will carry it onward with the same attitude.
[A] The keyword, arise, spoke to me significantly as I need to arise despite the circumstance I am/will be in because that's the life of a spiritual leader to claim what God has already won for me.
[P] Dear Father, I am going to arise and be the claimer of Your fame and glory in the enemy territory (this world). May I be faithful at my own church and in my own community I belong. Please continue to remind me that You have given all these to me already. In Jesus' name. Amen.
2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.3 "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
[O] This message from God to Joshua tugs my heart today because being in a leadership position is constantly like being Joshua in this phase of his leadership. And come to think of it, when God called Moses by the burning bush wasn't quite ready to run with the ball and was full of fear and inadequacy. I don't think I will ever graduate from this school of leadership where I need to continuously learn about arising to go into the enemy territory and claim it as I trust in God's provision 100%. And that is what I need to pass on as a legend to my children, so they will carry it onward with the same attitude.
[A] The keyword, arise, spoke to me significantly as I need to arise despite the circumstance I am/will be in because that's the life of a spiritual leader to claim what God has already won for me.
[P] Dear Father, I am going to arise and be the claimer of Your fame and glory in the enemy territory (this world). May I be faithful at my own church and in my own community I belong. Please continue to remind me that You have given all these to me already. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Turning the Spiritual Tide Through Generations
[S] 2 Kings 21:3 --
3For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
[O] When Manasseh became the King of Judah at the age of twelve, he restored all the corruption back in their places against what his father, Hezekiah had destroyed. At such a young age, he was already biased toward worshiping Baal and other idols such that he was determined to turnover the whole nation. I cannot pass judgment on Hezekiah as a father, but without having to dig into the root cause there was a disconnect from Hezekiah's value system to Manasseh's. It wasn't a slight difference but a completely different basis of spiritual foundation. In order to bring this type of an impact, Manasseh must have been influenced strongly in his upbringing by those against the God of Heaven. The point is the value systems we see now in our society were shaped through several generations and did not happen overnight.
[A] Needless to say that I need to do my utmost best to pass on the spiritual values to my children and their generation just like my father had done just that up to his last days on earth. Instead of being like Manasseh who did his best to get rid of Godly presence, I wish and pray that my children will give all they got to restore the presence of God in their lives and generation they will thrive in.
[P] Dear Heavenly Father, please hear my prayer about passing on the Godly spiritual values to my children and allow me the honor to do just that in my lifetime. I pray that the spiritual foundation I lay down for them will become the basis for their layer of the spiritual foundation imparting their own friends and families. In Jesus' name. Amen.
3For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
[O] When Manasseh became the King of Judah at the age of twelve, he restored all the corruption back in their places against what his father, Hezekiah had destroyed. At such a young age, he was already biased toward worshiping Baal and other idols such that he was determined to turnover the whole nation. I cannot pass judgment on Hezekiah as a father, but without having to dig into the root cause there was a disconnect from Hezekiah's value system to Manasseh's. It wasn't a slight difference but a completely different basis of spiritual foundation. In order to bring this type of an impact, Manasseh must have been influenced strongly in his upbringing by those against the God of Heaven. The point is the value systems we see now in our society were shaped through several generations and did not happen overnight.
[A] Needless to say that I need to do my utmost best to pass on the spiritual values to my children and their generation just like my father had done just that up to his last days on earth. Instead of being like Manasseh who did his best to get rid of Godly presence, I wish and pray that my children will give all they got to restore the presence of God in their lives and generation they will thrive in.
[P] Dear Heavenly Father, please hear my prayer about passing on the Godly spiritual values to my children and allow me the honor to do just that in my lifetime. I pray that the spiritual foundation I lay down for them will become the basis for their layer of the spiritual foundation imparting their own friends and families. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, May 24, 2010
No Neutral Legacy Possible
[S] 1 Kings 9:9 --
9"And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them.'"
[O] One of the goals of my life is to leave behind a legacy for my children (and their generation) to leverage building their own dreams and visions further especially within the boundaries of God's principles much like how David left behind that foundation for Solomon to continue building up the kingdom as well as the Temple. In light of this, reading through this whole chapter had been energizing. However, the warning leading up to verse 9 captivated my mind because in the end, I will definitely leave behind a legacy for my children whether a positive or a negative one. Either I will integrate God's principle into my life effectively and encourage my children with what I'll leave behind, or they would be asking the same question outlined in verse 8 and conclude what's in verse 9: ... therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them. There is no neutral ground of what I'll leave behind -- either edifying or destruction.
[A] My original goal cannot be taken lightly as in, "I'll do my best but if not, oh well, at least my children will start from scratch again." I will strive with my own disciplined life to ultimately pass on a legacy of honoring God and to live according to God's principles. I know this is possible as I remember my own father's life which he left behind. To the last minute of his life here on earth he had stood his grounds of faith, honor, and dignity both for people around him as well as God almighty. His life truly is an inspiration for me which I will model after to leave behind such an impact for my children also.
[P] Dear God, may my life's walk with You continue on with my children for them to positively impact their generation. In Jesus' name. Amen.
9"And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them.'"
[O] One of the goals of my life is to leave behind a legacy for my children (and their generation) to leverage building their own dreams and visions further especially within the boundaries of God's principles much like how David left behind that foundation for Solomon to continue building up the kingdom as well as the Temple. In light of this, reading through this whole chapter had been energizing. However, the warning leading up to verse 9 captivated my mind because in the end, I will definitely leave behind a legacy for my children whether a positive or a negative one. Either I will integrate God's principle into my life effectively and encourage my children with what I'll leave behind, or they would be asking the same question outlined in verse 8 and conclude what's in verse 9: ... therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them. There is no neutral ground of what I'll leave behind -- either edifying or destruction.
[A] My original goal cannot be taken lightly as in, "I'll do my best but if not, oh well, at least my children will start from scratch again." I will strive with my own disciplined life to ultimately pass on a legacy of honoring God and to live according to God's principles. I know this is possible as I remember my own father's life which he left behind. To the last minute of his life here on earth he had stood his grounds of faith, honor, and dignity both for people around him as well as God almighty. His life truly is an inspiration for me which I will model after to leave behind such an impact for my children also.
[P] Dear God, may my life's walk with You continue on with my children for them to positively impact their generation. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Three Generations of Spiritual Legacy
[S] Numbers 25:11-15 --
11"Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.
12"Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace;
13and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God andmade atonement for the sons of Israel.'"
14Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father's household among the Simeonites.
15The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was head of the people of a father's household in Midian.
[O] Here I see a legacy of faith from Aaron to Eleazer to Phinehas sustaining the zeal for God. Phinehas did not waste any time to 1) destroy the sin being committed before God and His people openly; and 2) to stand between the dead and alive to stop the wrath of God as Aaron had done previously. God honored that and gave him His covenant of peace and a perpetual priesthood. How I desire such a spiritual legacy from my father to me and then to my children. My deepest desire is for my children to attain the same, if not greater, zeal for God and live their lives accordingly against the forces and influences of the society they will live in. Even though they may be surrounded by the sins of our ugly human nature, they would stay with God and stick to uphold His values.
In contrast to this, Zimri and Cozbi, who were both in leadership in their respective communities fell into this blatant sin. I notice that even these who sinned greatly and paid their consequences were remembered by God by their first names. He does indeed care for each one of us until the end waiting for us to return to Him. I also noted that being a leader is not easy as we're the targets for our enemies to attack. In fact, when the leaders break down the whole ministry suffers as we see here.
[A] Continue to encourage and uplift the small group leaders such that they would walk closer to God each day because that's the only way to surround them with God's armor of protection. I also need to stay close to God's word daily by starting off the day with His word.
[P] God, Your personal care even for those who fail You (umm that would actually be all of us including me) amazes me and I'm so grateful for your love of second chance. Please continue to surround me and my family with You angels of protection and please also encourage all the small group leaders in our church as we have recently initiated a new structure. Please give us wisdom and humility to thwart all the discouragements our enemy shoots our way. In Jesus' name. Amen.
11"Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.
12"Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace;
13and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God andmade atonement for the sons of Israel.'"
14Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father's household among the Simeonites.
15The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was head of the people of a father's household in Midian.
[O] Here I see a legacy of faith from Aaron to Eleazer to Phinehas sustaining the zeal for God. Phinehas did not waste any time to 1) destroy the sin being committed before God and His people openly; and 2) to stand between the dead and alive to stop the wrath of God as Aaron had done previously. God honored that and gave him His covenant of peace and a perpetual priesthood. How I desire such a spiritual legacy from my father to me and then to my children. My deepest desire is for my children to attain the same, if not greater, zeal for God and live their lives accordingly against the forces and influences of the society they will live in. Even though they may be surrounded by the sins of our ugly human nature, they would stay with God and stick to uphold His values.
In contrast to this, Zimri and Cozbi, who were both in leadership in their respective communities fell into this blatant sin. I notice that even these who sinned greatly and paid their consequences were remembered by God by their first names. He does indeed care for each one of us until the end waiting for us to return to Him. I also noted that being a leader is not easy as we're the targets for our enemies to attack. In fact, when the leaders break down the whole ministry suffers as we see here.
[A] Continue to encourage and uplift the small group leaders such that they would walk closer to God each day because that's the only way to surround them with God's armor of protection. I also need to stay close to God's word daily by starting off the day with His word.
[P] God, Your personal care even for those who fail You (umm that would actually be all of us including me) amazes me and I'm so grateful for your love of second chance. Please continue to surround me and my family with You angels of protection and please also encourage all the small group leaders in our church as we have recently initiated a new structure. Please give us wisdom and humility to thwart all the discouragements our enemy shoots our way. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Spiritual Legacy
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