On this Good Friday, I read this story in the news:
With the noose around his neck, Iranian killer pardoned by victim’s mother
Parents choose to spare convicted murderer moments before he was to be hanged (BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF April 17, 2014, 10:48 pm)
The execution of an Iranian man convicted of murder was called off only moments before his hanging was set to take place, after the mother of the killer’s victim requested a pardon.
Balal Abdullah was sentenced to death after he stabbed Abdollah Hosseinzadeh, who was 17 at the time, to death during a street fight in the town of Royan seven years ago.
Abdullah, 24, was scheduled to be hanged on Tuesday in the city of Nowshah.
As the noose was tightened around Abdullah’s neck, Hosseinzadeh’s mother approached the convicted killer and announced that she had chosen to forgive him. Hosseinzadeh’s father untied the noose a short while later.
Abdullah’s own mother ran up to Hosseinzadeh’s mother and hugged her. The two proceeded to weep in each other’s arms.
Hosseinzadeh’s father stated that he and his spouse had decided to pardon the young Abdullah following a dream his wife had, in which their son begged them them not to avenge his death.
“Three days ago my wife saw my elder son in a dream telling her that they are in a good place, and for her not to retaliate,” he said. ”This calmed my wife and we decided to think more until the day of the execution.”
Despite his pardon, Abdullah will most probably remain in prison.
According to a literal interpretation of Sharia law, the parents of a murder victim may take part in the hanging of the killer by kicking the chair out from under his feet. On the other hand, the parents may choose to spare the convict’s life.
Someone wrote in response to this story that this is the chesed ... Loving kindness. It made me tear up remembering on this Good Friday of the chesed of God, his loving kindness. It made me tear up thinking of the two mothers in this story hugging each other, weeping in each other's arms. One had lost a son to crime, and was only asking for justice. The other was losing her son to justice. The grief, the pain, of both.
Like Balal Abdullah, the wages of my sin is death. For God's justice and holiness demands that the guilty one be punished. For justice had to be done.
But my Father God in his loving kindness chose to spare me from death. Instead, his Son Jesus took my place, dying for my sins, paying the penalty for me, to buy my pardon.
'Surely he has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows
Yet we esteemed him stricken
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions
He was bruised for our iniquities
The chastisement of our peace was upon him
And by his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have turned, every one, to his own way,
And The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
Here's a great video on his Amazing Love.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Prophetic vision
Touring the Affordable Art Fair today, I asked the Lord to speak to me through the art pieces. At one point, we stopped at a gallery display of works by the Italian artist Franco Anselmi. Now, I don't know the works of this artist, but had been attracted to them initially because of their whimsical nature. This one is called "Owl on Cat".
At that point, one of the sales people came up to explain the art pieces to us, and to hand us a brochure. Everything he said sounded prophetic to me!
He explained that the pieces of Franco Anselmi are allegorical in nature. In this series, the owl always has both eyes open while the cat, only one. The owl represents "balance, wisdom and justice", while the cat (with only one eye opened), "sees only what it wants to see".
It spoke to my heart. As prophetic people, do we see completely, as God sees? Or do we see only what we want to see ... with our perspective and vision only partially clear? Do we suffer from tunnel vision or do we have kingdom vision?
What is kingdom vision anyway?
What is seeing from the heart, and not as man sees?
Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.
Daddy, please give me eyes to see as you see. Eyes to perceive truth as you see it. I want kingdom vision - your vision. True prophetic vision. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A testimony of healing!
Two weeks ago, I was at a YWAM Associates gathering.
Dean Fujishima, the speaker, was teaching about the importance of alignment and balance in our walk with God, when he felt God wanted to demo it with a sign. So he called out for those whose right shoulder is higher than the left. I put my hand up. He then shared that usually in such situations, it means one leg is longer than the other. I didn't know this was true about me.
At this point, he asked one of the participants in the crowd (there were 60 of us in the room, attending this meeting) to pray for me. But first, she held my outstretched legs together, and true enough, my right leg was slightly longer than the left. This was visible to me and the others who were looking on.
He said to the participant to pray a simple prayer to align me. At that point, the presence and fire of God fell upon me. I started shaking nonstop in my chair. I heard people around me exclaim, "Its growing, its growing." And, I felt a sensation of gentle tugging/ pulling of my left leg by an invisible force. It was incredible. God aligned my leg, and within a few minutes, the left was the same length as the right.
Even when I went back to my seat, the manifest presence of God was so strong that I continued to shake nonstop for another half hour at least!
The Tuesday after our retreat, I met a friend for dinner and shared this testimony with her. Midway through dinner, she exclaims, "God didn't just align your legs. He aligned something else!" I said, "What?" Unbeknownst to me, this friend had noticed that my eyes (which are sometimes wont to drift sideways ... a condition I have had since childhood) were focused throughout dinner. Hallelujah! We hi fived each other in the restaurant because God is awesome!!!
This Sunday past, I had an appointment with my physio. I shared my testimony with her and ask her to check me out. Now, apart from having different limb lengths, she has also said to me in the past that I have scoliosis, that my spine is somewhat S-shaped. This time around, after checking me out, she says, "I can't explain it but your spine is less curved." Fistpump. Yeah God!!! The leg is aligned but beyond that, the whole body is coming back to line!!!
What have all these events of the week taught me?
1. God heals. I have always known this at the head level, but not at the heart level ... in the past, the notion of a healing God has been more theoretical than real to me. But it is impossible to be a recipient of a powerful healing like this and not to have one's paradigm completely transformed. Now, I totally believe that God heals, and He heals today. It's made me more zealous to pray for others, given that God is no respecter of persons, and what He has done for me, He can do for others too.
2. God's healing is a sovereign choice. The prayer my friend prayed for my healing was all of three words, "God, align her." That's it. It wasn't long, it wasn't rambly, it wasn't pleading, it wasn't begging ... it wasn't twisting the arm of a reluctant God to do something He didn't want to do. In fact, before she finished uttering the last word, the presence of God fell upon me. I realised that in the past I had a wrong and misguided notion of God... an erroneous sense that when we pray for someone's healing, we need to be anointed or gifted in the ministry ... as if it's about us. No, it's about God and what He wants to do. If He wants to heal someone, He does it, even if the prayer is as simple as one a child would utter.
3. When God shows up, healing occurs. His presence brings healing and wholeness, both inner healing and physical healing. How do we usher in the presence of God? How do we steward that presence? I am pressing in to know more of what attracts His presence and causes Him to stay. I am increasingly of the view that when God shows up, miracles happen, healings take place, lives get transformed.
4. Alignment is the word of this season. The physical alignment is an outward demo of a deeper inner message - that God wants us to be aligned to Him and each other in this season. What does alignment mean? It means being in sync and in step with all that He wants us to be and do ... Am praying for greater clarity on the things in my life that are out of sync, and which need to be corrected.
My mind has been blown by everything the Lord has done. It is tremendous, awesome and just breathtaking. He deserves all the praise. Lord, may I always walk in alignment with you and others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Dean Fujishima, the speaker, was teaching about the importance of alignment and balance in our walk with God, when he felt God wanted to demo it with a sign. So he called out for those whose right shoulder is higher than the left. I put my hand up. He then shared that usually in such situations, it means one leg is longer than the other. I didn't know this was true about me.
At this point, he asked one of the participants in the crowd (there were 60 of us in the room, attending this meeting) to pray for me. But first, she held my outstretched legs together, and true enough, my right leg was slightly longer than the left. This was visible to me and the others who were looking on.
He said to the participant to pray a simple prayer to align me. At that point, the presence and fire of God fell upon me. I started shaking nonstop in my chair. I heard people around me exclaim, "Its growing, its growing." And, I felt a sensation of gentle tugging/ pulling of my left leg by an invisible force. It was incredible. God aligned my leg, and within a few minutes, the left was the same length as the right.
Even when I went back to my seat, the manifest presence of God was so strong that I continued to shake nonstop for another half hour at least!
The Tuesday after our retreat, I met a friend for dinner and shared this testimony with her. Midway through dinner, she exclaims, "God didn't just align your legs. He aligned something else!" I said, "What?" Unbeknownst to me, this friend had noticed that my eyes (which are sometimes wont to drift sideways ... a condition I have had since childhood) were focused throughout dinner. Hallelujah! We hi fived each other in the restaurant because God is awesome!!!
This Sunday past, I had an appointment with my physio. I shared my testimony with her and ask her to check me out. Now, apart from having different limb lengths, she has also said to me in the past that I have scoliosis, that my spine is somewhat S-shaped. This time around, after checking me out, she says, "I can't explain it but your spine is less curved." Fistpump. Yeah God!!! The leg is aligned but beyond that, the whole body is coming back to line!!!
What have all these events of the week taught me?
1. God heals. I have always known this at the head level, but not at the heart level ... in the past, the notion of a healing God has been more theoretical than real to me. But it is impossible to be a recipient of a powerful healing like this and not to have one's paradigm completely transformed. Now, I totally believe that God heals, and He heals today. It's made me more zealous to pray for others, given that God is no respecter of persons, and what He has done for me, He can do for others too.
2. God's healing is a sovereign choice. The prayer my friend prayed for my healing was all of three words, "God, align her." That's it. It wasn't long, it wasn't rambly, it wasn't pleading, it wasn't begging ... it wasn't twisting the arm of a reluctant God to do something He didn't want to do. In fact, before she finished uttering the last word, the presence of God fell upon me. I realised that in the past I had a wrong and misguided notion of God... an erroneous sense that when we pray for someone's healing, we need to be anointed or gifted in the ministry ... as if it's about us. No, it's about God and what He wants to do. If He wants to heal someone, He does it, even if the prayer is as simple as one a child would utter.
3. When God shows up, healing occurs. His presence brings healing and wholeness, both inner healing and physical healing. How do we usher in the presence of God? How do we steward that presence? I am pressing in to know more of what attracts His presence and causes Him to stay. I am increasingly of the view that when God shows up, miracles happen, healings take place, lives get transformed.
4. Alignment is the word of this season. The physical alignment is an outward demo of a deeper inner message - that God wants us to be aligned to Him and each other in this season. What does alignment mean? It means being in sync and in step with all that He wants us to be and do ... Am praying for greater clarity on the things in my life that are out of sync, and which need to be corrected.
My mind has been blown by everything the Lord has done. It is tremendous, awesome and just breathtaking. He deserves all the praise. Lord, may I always walk in alignment with you and others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Quotes on prayer and the prophet
Prayer
1. A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God. (Leonard Ravenhill)
2. Don't pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with The Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. (Corrie ten Boom)
The prophet (Leonard Ravenhill)
1. He has a heart like a volcano and his words are like fire.
2. He faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.
3. Let him say nothing that will draw men to himself but only that which will move men to God.
4. Let him come daily from the throne room of a holy God, the place where he has received the order of the day.
1. A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God. (Leonard Ravenhill)
2. Don't pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with The Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. (Corrie ten Boom)
The prophet (Leonard Ravenhill)
1. He has a heart like a volcano and his words are like fire.
2. He faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.
3. Let him say nothing that will draw men to himself but only that which will move men to God.
4. Let him come daily from the throne room of a holy God, the place where he has received the order of the day.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Experience vs Encounter
Was at the burning hearts conference last week and Jaye Thomas shared his definitions of "experience" and "encounter" ... which made an impact.
Experience happens on the outside and increases our ability.
Encounter happens on the inside and increases our capacity.
Worship, he said, is a response to encounter.
12 months ago, a preacher from Kansas City IHOP encouraged us to pray this simple prayer that I've been praying periodically now. The prayer is, "Lord, please increase my capacity to know your love, and my capacity to love others." This has been one of my best prayers ever ... in that God has increased my revelation of how deeply He loves me, and my capacity to respond in love, which is the core of our relationship as sons and daughters of God. It is also the source of all ministry. Praying this prayer has moved my heart. It has moved my understanding of God's love from a head level to a heart level.
Lord Jesus, we want an encounter with you. We want an increased capacity to know you, and who you are. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Experience happens on the outside and increases our ability.
Encounter happens on the inside and increases our capacity.
Worship, he said, is a response to encounter.
12 months ago, a preacher from Kansas City IHOP encouraged us to pray this simple prayer that I've been praying periodically now. The prayer is, "Lord, please increase my capacity to know your love, and my capacity to love others." This has been one of my best prayers ever ... in that God has increased my revelation of how deeply He loves me, and my capacity to respond in love, which is the core of our relationship as sons and daughters of God. It is also the source of all ministry. Praying this prayer has moved my heart. It has moved my understanding of God's love from a head level to a heart level.
Lord Jesus, we want an encounter with you. We want an increased capacity to know you, and who you are. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
God's call for the Chinese church at this hour
Stumbled upon this Youtube video, and while Allen Hood of IHOP is speaking about the new Forerunner School in Chinese at the International House of Prayer at Kansas City, everything he says about the destiny of the Chinese church resonates with me. I believe the Chinese have been raised up by God for such a time like this; to join the mighty army of God to bring the Gospel to the nations, and ultimately back to Jerusalem. We need to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us at this hour, and to be prepared, for it is the midnight hour. Amen.
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