Hearing & Obeying

At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven

Daniel 2:16-19

I'm thinking of how great of a task this was. How Daniel took it upon himself to interpret this dream by asking God to reveal the mystery. And this wasn't just making up an interpretation to a dream Nebuchadnezzar asked, I don't even think he told Daniel the dream at all. He, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah pleaded with God to speak to them... and God did faithfully. We need to be expectant worshipers of God. We need to go into each situation faithfully knowing that He's right there with us. This doesn't mean to do just anything but as we are in tune to God's ways we need to just push forward and not hesitate God's plan.

I'm starting my masters program and it took a lot of convincing. I see this as my flaw and my lack of faith. What would've happened if I just responded in obedience in the first place? How would things have changed? I'm not sure but it seems like the only thing I lost during this wait time was faith. Last night in small group, I was talking to Craig about conviction and if he hears it or acts on it... it got me to thinking how well I respond when I hear God telling me something. Maybe it's not that often or I have a difficult time hearing because I'm not in tune either. Maybe He's giving me all kinds of direction but in the busyness of life I'm passing it by. I need to respond quickly and expectantly. I need the confidence that God has gone before me and that I'm not leaping into uncharted territory but into His embrace.

Father God, thank You for this amazing season. I know things are going to be tough but I will glorify You in it all. I pray LORD that You continue to guide me and show me Your ways. Help me, yes help me to hear You clearly so that I can move when called. I want to go where You're working and join in Your mighty works. So much to do. So much to do. I love You LORD! In the master's precious name I pray, Amen!

Faith in Silence

You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

Lamentations 5:19-22

To have lived in this time; where the sins of our fathers would be our punishment. It must've been so hard to live during this time where God's blessings were absent because of the choices of our fathers. But yet the people still turned to a God who was silent to them. They desired for a relationship they knew they could have based off the elders, prophets and other Godly people.

This day in age we are so spoiled. Jesus made everything right by His sacrifice on the cross but we take advantage of it and get fat off our own selfishness. We turn grace into our privilege and soon enough we'll lose it completely due to our greed. This glimpse back into history reminds me that we absolutely need to cherish and desire a relationship with our Father. Once we are stripped of every little thing we have we'll see it clearly.

Do I cherish Jesus this way? If not one more beneficial thing were to come my way would I still call every circumstance a blessing? Where is my heart when things bad happen, especially when they are unfavorable? To see the condition of my heart, all things that make me happy (not to be confused with joy) needs to be stripped away. Only then can I see myself the way God sees me.

I just enrolled at Trinity Seminary yesterday and I can count so many favorable things that has happened. But when God becomes silent will I be able to continue studying? Will I make excuses and stop the course given me? I cannot! I need to remain steady and faithful even if I never hear another word from Him. Mother Theresa was the same way, God rarely ever spoke to her because she knew her path and she remained on it.

Heavenly Father, I don't ever want to get to that point where You are silent to me. But if that were the case You would have already known what my course was and that I'm equipped to take the next step to fulfill it. I trust and have faith that there's nothing You would place me in that isn't covered by Your blessings. Help me to remain true to Your desires. I love you, my King! In the all-knowing name of Jesus, Amen!

Singing a New Song

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Revelations 14:3-5

I don't quite understand this passage. It seems like the 144,000 are representative of the people who follow Jesus, Christians who have accepted Jesus into their hearts with pure devotion. They kept themselves from sin as the LORD equipped them and they were now in heaven singing new songs of worship and praise. Those who could not learn the new song tried but could not because the new song is pure worship of the Father in heaven. The new song represents God in heaven. Only those who belong to the Father knows this song.

I believe the passage above was meant to be taken figuratively instead of literally. That said, what this is speaking to me about is how we are going to be entered into Heaven. God won't be asking me details about my walk, what I've done or even my resume while on earth. One simple thing will happen: will I know how to sing the new song. Will I know the Father through the Son and will He know me. The new song isn't something you prepare for, you either know it at that time or not.

My life can be so full of tasks. I get consumed with this ministry, this task, work and forget about the basic commands He gave: love Him, love neighbors. I need to do the tasks only after I align myself properly with Him. Everything must be filtered through the love of Jesus so that every aspect of my life will have a touch of God on and within it. It's not hard. The hard part is to choose His way. I need to re-focus myself on the foundations and keep this judgment time in clear focus because nothing else will matter.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my guide. I pray LORD that I don't get distracted with "stuff" that leads me away from Your calling for my life. I will obey, I say yes to You. Cover me LORD with Your blessings to endure another day in this world. In Your beautiful name Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

All About Action

"O remnant of Judah, the LORD has told you, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake ^"> when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.' I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the LORD your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle."

Jeremiah 42:19-22

The remnants of Judah was saying to Jeremiah how much they would obey the LORD if he inquires no matter how good or bad the news. And when the news came back from the LORD to stay put, they rejected saying that God didn't say that; the Babylonians just want to prevent us from going to Egypt. Isn't this just how we treat God? We pray and petition that we will follow only to reject His ways when it comes to action. God is not a God of intentions but a God of action. When He says something He does it. We too need to follow His lead and move when called no matter how much we can't understand. We need to be willing to follow His call.

Last night we had dinner & fellowship at Maricar's house. I had a chance to hear her journey to come to Hawaii and how she left everything behind to follow her ambitions. I see how God has blessed and the testimony of what great things will come to those who are obedient. Then I think about my life; how I only do things after I've prayed and received many confirmations. When I went to Sri Lanka, it was after lots of prayer and I think God finally got through to me then. Now fast forward to where I'm being called to study at Trinity but I'm using finances to hold me back. I'm allowing the devil to hinder God's work within me. I'm starting to listen to the lies of the enemy and feel that I don't belong. I just have to move already, enough with feeling unworthy!

Heavenly Father, forgive me once again for not moving when called. I know You can't work with a heart that's unwilling to move when You give clear direction. I've been listening to the lies of the devil; trying to reject it but it's only a matter of time before he cracks me and has his destruction. I need to break free of this by the power of Your Holy Spirit! And so LORD I pray for restoration and renewness that will glorify Your Name! In the powerful, all-knowing name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Satan is After Us

But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:16-17

Jesus here is the offspring and I'm thinking that Mary is the woman here escaping the dragon, Satan. The devil wanted so bad to destroy Jesus as soon as He was given birth but God would not allow it and provided safety by granting mother and Child a place to flee. With nowhere else to turn his anger, he went after those who are adopted into God's family; those cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

This passage is a great reminder that the devil is pissed off and wants to do great harm to those who follow Christ. Yes, he's a great schemer and is cunning in his approach but he's definitely furious and wants to destroy those who love the Father, Son and Spirit. Having now the right framework of who our enemy is it only provides more urgency to the spiritual battles going on. How can we just sit around and do life as normal knowing the character of the enemy? Knowing that he will never take a break in trying to steal our souls? We need to be more than ready to go out into the world and claim more lives for Jesus. It's not just a suggestion it's an urgent command.

Father God, forgive me for being passive in my faith. I've allow too many opportunities go by because of my lack of urgency. Help me to see every opportunity to love and reflect Your Light. There's no rest even on the Sabbath to do good and preach the mighty testimony of Christ Jesus. Help me seize every opportunity to advance Your mighty Kingdom! In the mighty name of Jesus Christ our King, Amen!

Discipline or Punishment

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

Revelation 11:7-10

This passage was about the two witnesses God sent to punish the people for 3-1/2 years. They were given authority to do all kinds of destruction but at the end if their allotted time, God sent the beast to kill them. The sinners were happy because they were no longer attacked. After 3-1/2 days, the two witnesses were raised from their death into the glorious presence of God in heaven. Many terrified people were killed in the earthquake and the survivors gave glory to God.

I read this scripture and automatically my mind says those who were killed deserved to die because of their disobedience and those who survived transformed their minds and hearts to follow God. What does this mean? Does this mean that their hearts were transformed after they saw the 2 witnesses being raised or did something happen much earlier while they were being punished in those 3-1/2 years? God's wrath was being poured out during this whole time; I really don't know much of the details other than God gave the authority to destroy as they saw justified.

The lesson I'm receiving here today is that we are all given chances to repent of our transgressions way in advance before judgment. What's going on in my life today where God is putting me through pains and struggles? Is it the 3-1/2 years warning or is it the earthquake punishment? I need to be in tune to what God is speaking to me because I will never know when I'm called home. I will never know when God is calling those I'm chosen to minister to will call home. I must live each day like it's my last.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient with me. You are the same God who carefully planned out the times when You spoke to John on the island, giving him Revelations. And You are the same God who is speaking to me today. Thank You for never waivering and being so constant. Help me see the limitations and struggles with my own faith that hinders Your glory. Love You my faithful King! In the wonderful name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!