One Loud Shout for God

[S] Ezra 3:13; Luke 8:39 --
13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.
39 ``Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. 

[O] The amazing sound described here is the people's response to setting the foundation of the temple in their efforts of rebuilding it.  They could not hide their excitement just after seeing the foundational work completed and signifies a time of realizing how great their God was and how He will keep His promise of restoring His people back to the temple of God.  In Luke, Jesus tells the man released from demon possession to go back and proclaim greatly what Jesus had done for him -- testify.

[A] When God moves in the midst of His people, there ought to be testimonies with a resounding sound.  If not, there is something missing there -- God Himself -- because all the noise will be about one human running into another.  I want my life to be full of His testimonies being shouted out so others will know that God is indeed alive in my life.

[P] Dear Jesus, please continue to work in my life.  Please continue to show Yourself in me.  And please forgive me for being so silent about what great things you are doing in and around my life.  I give You the glory and also the loud shout of thanksgiving in total excitement.  May You be lifted up tomorrow during our Sunday worship service.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Now You Don't See It, Now You Do

[S] John 1:31-34 --
 ³¹"I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water."
 ³²John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.
 ³³"I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'
 ³⁴"I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."

[O] In these four verses I noticed the pattern which I boldfaced:  I didn't recognize Him => but God showed me.  I am relating more and more about the not recognizing Him (or His works) when I rely on my own ways and efforts because He needs to "show" me, or open my eyes, first.  It is humbling to read what John the Baptist said about how he couldn't recognize Jesus at first Himself when He was the appointed forerunner before Jesus.  God's assignment or calling for my life does not necessarily mean He will show me everything and all things because He desires for me to walk with Him daily to find out what I need to know from Him each step of the way.  I believe that God's given me the vision to carry on His ministry in the capacity of my home church's needs and I'm grateful and fully commit to do that.  However, I must still rely on Him 100% all the time to be able to see what God is doing so I may align myself with what He's up to.  And in the end I should echo as what John the Baptist said:  "I myself have seen, and have testified."

[A] Ask God to show me what He wants me to see and not try to find what I think I should see.

[P] Dear God, I humbly fall before You to show me what I need to see in the midst of my involvement with the small group ministry as well as the ministry You called me into in my life.  I am throwing my life in Your hands so You will mold me and lead me through the path I need to journey on even if it means making some major adjustments.  Please guide me.  In Your precious name.  Amen.