Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Five Loaves and Two Fishes (Corrinne May)
Corrinne May is a Singaporean who has two (or is it three?) amazing albums! Five loaves and two fishes is one of my favourite songs. And I just discovered her sing In a Bleak Midwinter. It just gave me goosebumps! And Same Side of the Moon - is just the most poignant song ever!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sent Ones
Tonight, as I was reading the book of Hebrews, I saw something I never saw before in this verse on angelic beings:
"Are they not ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)
Sent out. Some of my friends who have the seer gifting, or move in the gift of prophecy, see angels in our meetings. Many times this is in church. But they have also seen angels with us once when we were simply praying and ministering to a friend in one of our homes. It is awesome that they are with us. And it struck me, that God sent these angels out. If I were them, perhaps I would prefer to stay in heaven, by the side of the Lord Almighty. But God in His love, sent them out to earth, to serve those who are to inherit salvation.
The Holy Spirit reminded me that we, believers, are also Sent Ones.
And I was really excited to read in a note by Campus Crusade on the Internet on why this is important. Why did Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8 say "Here I am, Send me" rather than "I will go?"
The note says this is because Sent Ones have the following characteristics:
1. Sent Ones go in the power, authority and presence of God (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Sent Ones carry the message of the sender (2 Cor 5:16-20)
3. Sent Ones are empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit (Acts)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." –Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
"Are they not ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)
Sent out. Some of my friends who have the seer gifting, or move in the gift of prophecy, see angels in our meetings. Many times this is in church. But they have also seen angels with us once when we were simply praying and ministering to a friend in one of our homes. It is awesome that they are with us. And it struck me, that God sent these angels out. If I were them, perhaps I would prefer to stay in heaven, by the side of the Lord Almighty. But God in His love, sent them out to earth, to serve those who are to inherit salvation.
The Holy Spirit reminded me that we, believers, are also Sent Ones.
And I was really excited to read in a note by Campus Crusade on the Internet on why this is important. Why did Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8 say "Here I am, Send me" rather than "I will go?"
The note says this is because Sent Ones have the following characteristics:
1. Sent Ones go in the power, authority and presence of God (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Sent Ones carry the message of the sender (2 Cor 5:16-20)
3. Sent Ones are empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit (Acts)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." –Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Psalm 23 to music!
Stumbled upon this wonderful video of Psalms 23 set to music and gorgeous paintings!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord Our Banner
Tuesday night, I had a terrible, terrible nightmare. When I woke up, I was quite disturbed in the spirit. Was it a coincidence that only a few days before, we had an awesome time with the Lord in an overnight prayer, when all of us felt the presence and power of God so tangibly, we believed we had advanced God's kingdom? It seemed to me that the Evil One was saying again to me, "Back off!" I am not naturally courageous by nature, so this disturbing dream did shake me somewhat.
But God is gracious. All this week, I am attending a prophetic conference, and as part of exercising our prophetic gifting, we had to ask the Lord for a word for one another. Given how shaken I was, I prayed to the Lord, "Please God, give me a word that I need." And the sister who prophesised over me gave me just the word I needed by reminding me of my calling in Him.
Then at night, the Lord prompted me to revisit something he's been laying on my heart - which is to KNOW him, REALLY KNOW him... his power, his majesty, his goodness, his lovingkindness. So I decided to spend some minutes reading Herbert Lockyear's "All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible". The name I needed - for my situation - was Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner.
Here's what Lockyear wrote, which was revelatory to me, and which so blessed my heart:
Explaining Jehovah Nissi from Psalm 23:5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies", Lockyear says, "We might well ask, 'What has a banner to do with a table? Well, banners and banquests are a suggestive combination. 'He brought me into His banqueting house and His banner over me was love'. In our human way, the banquet follows the battle, and successful leaders and victorious troops are entertained and feasted. But here is loftier conduct. The banquet is spread before the battle because the banner is already victorious. Even though we live in the midst of foes, ours is the joyful privilege of living in fellowship with Him who is our Banner, our Defense."
Amen, and amen.
But God is gracious. All this week, I am attending a prophetic conference, and as part of exercising our prophetic gifting, we had to ask the Lord for a word for one another. Given how shaken I was, I prayed to the Lord, "Please God, give me a word that I need." And the sister who prophesised over me gave me just the word I needed by reminding me of my calling in Him.
Then at night, the Lord prompted me to revisit something he's been laying on my heart - which is to KNOW him, REALLY KNOW him... his power, his majesty, his goodness, his lovingkindness. So I decided to spend some minutes reading Herbert Lockyear's "All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible". The name I needed - for my situation - was Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner.
Here's what Lockyear wrote, which was revelatory to me, and which so blessed my heart:
Explaining Jehovah Nissi from Psalm 23:5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies", Lockyear says, "We might well ask, 'What has a banner to do with a table? Well, banners and banquests are a suggestive combination. 'He brought me into His banqueting house and His banner over me was love'. In our human way, the banquet follows the battle, and successful leaders and victorious troops are entertained and feasted. But here is loftier conduct. The banquet is spread before the battle because the banner is already victorious. Even though we live in the midst of foes, ours is the joyful privilege of living in fellowship with Him who is our Banner, our Defense."
Amen, and amen.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
When we are the ones who tarry...
Yesterday, I read this account of the heavenly man.
"Brother Yun was born in 1958 in the Southern part of Henan Province among the simple farmers and pheasants of Liu Lao Zhuang, Nanyang County. Brother Yun’s mother had believed in Jesus years before through missionary witness, but after the missionaries were expelled and churches shut down in the Communist take-over, she had grown cold towards the Lord through lack of fellowship. There were no Bibles to help the Christians grow.
In 1974, Yun’s father lay dying of cancer. Such a loss would have left the family in dire straights, and things were so hopeless that Yun’s mother even contemplated suicide. One evening as she lay in bed, she heard a voice say, “Jesus loves you.” In tearful repentance, she rededicated herself to Jesus Christ. She gathered her family around and they all prayed, “Jesus, heal father!” The very next morning, Yun’s father began to get better. Everyone in the family believed on Jesus, and they all began to experience revival.
Brother Yun was 16 at the time. The family did not have a Bible, and it had been many years since Yun’s mother had heard any teaching about Jesus. Yun began to ask his mother who Jesus truly was. She would reply, “Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for us, taking all our sins and sicknesses. He recorded all his teachings in the Bible.” Yun would ask if there were any way he could learn of the teachings of Jesus for himself. His mother would say, “No. All his words are gone. There is nothing left of his teaching.” Imagine a family hungering and thirsting for some knowledge of the words of God, and no way to find out what they were!
Yun’s mother took him on a long walk to see a man in another village who she remembered had a Bible. The man was too afraid to show Yun his Bible, but he told him, “The Bible is a heavenly book. If you want one, you’ll need to pray to the God of heaven. Only He can provide you a heavenly book. God is faithful. He always answers those who seek Him with all of their heart.”
Yun decided to fast and pray for a Bible, and for the next 100 days ate only one bowl of steamed rice every day. He cried out to the Lord for a Bible. His parents thought he was losing his mind. One morning, there was a knock at the door. Two men had brought a Bible to Yun.
Three months before, an evangelist in another town had been instructed by the Lord in a vision to give his Bible to Brother Yun. Although he did not know this young boy, the Lord had showed him the village and house where Yun lived in a vision. It had taken him three months to decide to obey the Lord."
After reading this account, I was quite bothered by it ... bothered by the fact that Brother Yun had to fast for 100 days for an answer to prayer because the person God instructed to be the answer to prayer took 3 months to obey.
It set me thinking: How often do I not obey immediately?
And when that happens, what are the repercussions on the person for whom God had intended for me to bless through my obedience?
God sometimes does not tarry. However, He uses human instruments, and sometimes it is us who tarry. Would it be that we are like the men and women of God in the Bible, who respond immediately when God calls.
"Brother Yun was born in 1958 in the Southern part of Henan Province among the simple farmers and pheasants of Liu Lao Zhuang, Nanyang County. Brother Yun’s mother had believed in Jesus years before through missionary witness, but after the missionaries were expelled and churches shut down in the Communist take-over, she had grown cold towards the Lord through lack of fellowship. There were no Bibles to help the Christians grow.
In 1974, Yun’s father lay dying of cancer. Such a loss would have left the family in dire straights, and things were so hopeless that Yun’s mother even contemplated suicide. One evening as she lay in bed, she heard a voice say, “Jesus loves you.” In tearful repentance, she rededicated herself to Jesus Christ. She gathered her family around and they all prayed, “Jesus, heal father!” The very next morning, Yun’s father began to get better. Everyone in the family believed on Jesus, and they all began to experience revival.
Brother Yun was 16 at the time. The family did not have a Bible, and it had been many years since Yun’s mother had heard any teaching about Jesus. Yun began to ask his mother who Jesus truly was. She would reply, “Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for us, taking all our sins and sicknesses. He recorded all his teachings in the Bible.” Yun would ask if there were any way he could learn of the teachings of Jesus for himself. His mother would say, “No. All his words are gone. There is nothing left of his teaching.” Imagine a family hungering and thirsting for some knowledge of the words of God, and no way to find out what they were!
Yun’s mother took him on a long walk to see a man in another village who she remembered had a Bible. The man was too afraid to show Yun his Bible, but he told him, “The Bible is a heavenly book. If you want one, you’ll need to pray to the God of heaven. Only He can provide you a heavenly book. God is faithful. He always answers those who seek Him with all of their heart.”
Yun decided to fast and pray for a Bible, and for the next 100 days ate only one bowl of steamed rice every day. He cried out to the Lord for a Bible. His parents thought he was losing his mind. One morning, there was a knock at the door. Two men had brought a Bible to Yun.
Three months before, an evangelist in another town had been instructed by the Lord in a vision to give his Bible to Brother Yun. Although he did not know this young boy, the Lord had showed him the village and house where Yun lived in a vision. It had taken him three months to decide to obey the Lord."
After reading this account, I was quite bothered by it ... bothered by the fact that Brother Yun had to fast for 100 days for an answer to prayer because the person God instructed to be the answer to prayer took 3 months to obey.
It set me thinking: How often do I not obey immediately?
And when that happens, what are the repercussions on the person for whom God had intended for me to bless through my obedience?
God sometimes does not tarry. However, He uses human instruments, and sometimes it is us who tarry. Would it be that we are like the men and women of God in the Bible, who respond immediately when God calls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
