Historically Amazing Victory Revisited

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

For there is no authority except from God, and

those that exist have been instituted by God.

Therefore whoever resists the authorities

resists what God has appointed,

and those who resist will incur judgment.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

for he is God's servant for your good.

But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.

For he is the servant of God, an avenger

who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath

but also for the sake of conscience.

For because of this you also pay taxes,

for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed,

revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed,

honor to whom honor is owed."
(Romans 13:1-7 ESV)

After the elections in November, 2008, I wrote a Facebook Note wherein I shared my personal thoughts on the election results. Soon after, some questioned where my allegiance lied as a born-again Christian. Here is an excerpt,

""What they failed to see was that my focus was not so much on the 'man of the hour', but on God who brought the 'man of the hour' into leadership. Instead of their focus being on Him, they create a checklist of all that 'the man' has done to destroy the foundations of our great country thus far. I know God allowed and, dare I say purposed, 'the man' to be brought into power. Could it be perhaps to show us how, yet again, we as a people look to man, to the wealthy, to political parties, to unions, to governments, to priests, to pastors, to rabbis, to church, to state, to spouses, to job places, to our left and to our right to solve worldly issues rather than to turn to God and seek His Word for guidance for things eternal?

Let me remind you my last thoughts to the "Historically Amazing Victory" Note clearly stated:

"Thankfully, as a reformed Christian - my hope is not in men, but in the sovereignty of God. Otherwise, I would be wasting my life on an insatiable desire for ideaologies that have no eternal victory. So, praise God for He IS working in our midst. May God keep President-elect, Barack Obama, and steer him to lead our great country that we so cherish! [Rom. 8:28]"

You see, I am an ambassador for Christ [2 Corin. 5:20, Eph. 6:20]. My allegiance is first and foremost to God, the author and creator of life and this world, (and) to proclaim the gospel of Christ Jesus. And, I'm called to pray...pray for those in power and not in power...pray for those with much and those with little...pray for those hurting and not hurting...and, to pray for those who believe and don't believe."

Four years later, my mind has not changed regarding our need to pray for our elected officials and to wisely be subject under their God-given leadership role in our country [Rom. 13:1-7]. For I have come to a place in my life where I can rest in God's sovereignty and in the hope of salvation that He offers, which brings me peace.

 

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

[Psalm 27:1 ESV] 

Winning {him} Without a Word

"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct." 1 Peter 3:1-2

  To have any hope in accomplishing this as Christian wives, may we be encouraged to turn to the Gospel of Jesus Christ every single day*. Sometimes several times a day. For if we depend on our own strength, we most assuredly will fail to win our husbands without saying a word. Our words can often times be muddled with hurt, blame, deceit, manipulation, and gasp! -- pride. As often as we like to think ourselves "morally" good, we know our hearts are "desperately wicked" in all of its desires and have no hope of true salvation apart from God's redemptive work in us (Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Psalm 73:13; Eph. 2:10; Eze. 36:26). 

     Moreover, we must choose to "take every thought captive to obey God" (2 Corin. 10:5). This can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit's divine work in us (Phil. 2:13; Heb. 13:21). Be encouraged therefore knowing that as we work out our own "salvation with fear and trembling", "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13, emphasis mine). 

     For further reading and study, Keri Seavy, blogger at Biblical Counselling Coalition (BCC), pastor's wife, women's leader and biblical counselor, wrote, what I believe to be, a practical and helpful article on this very matter. You can find her recent article here.

*Note: I would like to encourage you If you are in an abusive or unsafe relationship, please seek immediate help and counseling. This message is not intended to give any legal or psychiatric counsel or otherwise in any way. 

Rejoicing and Weeping With One Another...

 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, 

weep with those who weep."

(Romans 12:15 ESV)

This past evening, our family rejoiced and celebrated our youngest turning double digits with a traditional birthday dinner. Our tradition calls for me to cook their requested favorite homemade meal and top the evening off with homemade dessert. And this year was no exception!

While we were enjoying a wonderful evening together, inwardly my heart was hurting for my nana. September 10^th is also a day to celebrate my grandfather’s 85^th birthday...

A little over a week ago on the morning of my 40th birthday, a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving was lifted up to our LORD for graciously giving me another day with my family and His provisions, including a day planned in the City. Seconds later, the phone rang. It was a bit early to receive birthday calls I thought. My husband chuckled and teased, "It has begun." He was right, but not in the way we thought. It was a call informing me that my only living grandfather passed away.

You can imagine the emotions that were swirling inside of me. My emotions ran wild from denial to anger, to bargaining to guilt, to depression to hope, and back to denial, etc. My focus bounced from my grandfather, to God, to my grandmother, back to God, to me and then, back to God. Round and round it went all in a FEW short minutes! Of all days, I thought... and yet, as quickly as the thought came I recalled that it was a day like all other days: it was a day the LORD ordained. (Psalm 139:16)

Like Jesus when His beloved friend Lazarus died, I wept for my loss and my sweet husband wept with me.

When I finally reunited with my nana later in the evening, we wept together as we  held onto one another. Then, she turned to me and said something like, "Your tatang waited until your birthday to pass away to let you know he loves you." While not theologically correct, it was sweet of her to rejoice in the celebration of my birthday and comfort my hurting heart as we wept while hers was breaking. 

As the days go by and our family weeps, I am thankful that God's Word continues to comfort my heart as I mourn the loss of my beloved "tatang". (2 Cor. 1:3-7, Matthew 5:4)

<3

Musings on the Gift of Prayer

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
(Matthew 6:6 ESV)

I have very fond memories of playing with cousins at one of my uncle and auntie's home as a child. Auntie had an early work schedule and came home just as we arrived from school. Each day, she would greet us and almost immediately go to her room. She would remind us to play quietly because she was going to her room to take time to rest and pray. It was curious to me that she would pray so often and in such a dark room.

It was not until after becoming a Christian many years later did I understand the importance of praying in my very own ‘prayer room’. I have found it to be a sweet time of fellowship and communion with my Abba Father. To think on his invitation to me (and you) to pray and cry out to him with full confidence that he hears my petitions and sends the help of the Holy Spirit to intercede my inner groanings is a mystery TOO great for me fathom. (Matt. 6:6; Jam. 5; Rom. 8:26).

Whether my "prayer room" is in a particular room, on a favorite sitting chair or in the quietness of my heart, I acknowledge I struggle to do so with humility and genuineness of heart for I am yet still in the flesh and living on this side of heaven. This where I must implore the help of the Holy Spirit to assist me in cultivating true humility and a genuine heart.

Like private prayer, corporate prayer is necessary. The bible illustrates this throughout scripture. One beautiful example I recently read is when the prophet Zechariah spoke of God restoring Jerusalem and Judah from their exile. He exhorted them to love truth and peace. Promising that by doing so many nations would come corporately to pray and entreat the LORD’s favor (Zech. 8:20-22).

What a precious and sweet reward prayer is to us as believers!

Thoughts On Our Children’s Prayer Life

Yesterday, we started a 4-week prayer meeting for our new church plant in Northern California. It was wonderful to meet with the saints and to pray together to our Father in heaven about things that lay heavy on our hearts, for our daily sustenance, for our intended area for ministry, to lay up petitions for those in our midst and abroad who  share the Gospel, and most of all to  praise Him for His goodness!

Two of my three children attended with me and some things came to mind.

Unlike us, our children can pray without 'embarrassment' by how needy their heart is or concern with what may or may not be 'appropriate' to ask God.  They just go boldly before the throne of grace asking the Father who cares to hear and provide according to His will (Matt. 7:7, 9-11; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 11:1-4).

On the other hand, like us, our children will go through seasons in life where they may struggle with praying to God for help with delighting in His Word (Psalm 1:2), worshiping him (Psalm 95:1-8a), dying to sin (1Peter 2:21-25), forgiving others (Col. 3:12-13), serving others as an expression of their worship and gratitude to God (Mark 10:43-45), or for opportunities to give an account for the hope they have in Christ (1Peter 3:15).

Let us be reminded to pray without ceasing for their spiritual strength and growth for the evil one crouches at the door to tempt, accuse, and devour.

Here’s mine for today…

Dear Abba Father in heaven,

I humbly come before You this day as a redeemed daughter to a Father who is able and ready to help. May it please You and glorify Your great name that I lift up these petitions for my children, their future spouses, and Lord willing, for the generation that is to come: 

- May they abide in Christ and Him in them that their joy may be full unto eternity (John 15:1-11).

- May they continue to sojourn this life with a child-like, saving faith in our Savior Jesus Christ; trusting and depending in Him alone (Prov. 3:5-8).

- May they grow in the grace and knowledge of You, O LORD (Ephes. 3:14-19). 

- May they run to Your Word, delight in it and store it in their hearts (Psalm 119:9-16).  

- May You graciously enlarge their hearts for You (Psalm 119:32). 

- May they always shine brightly as the stars and heavens above pointing to the Holy One who is and was and is to come (Deut. 12:3).

This I pray, in Jesus’ holy and precious name. Amen.

There's No Other Place I'd Rather Be...

There's no other place I'd rather be than in the presence of God who is my refuge. He alone knows my heart without me saying a word muddled with sin, hurt or blame. {Psalm 139:4} In Him, my soul finds a haven -- a safe dwelling place for my brokeness to heal {Psalm 91}. It is there that He counsels me. Through His Word, He comforts me, He corrects me and He equips me. {2 Tim. 3:14-17} He keeps me {Psalm 121}. He provides for me. {Matt. 6:25-33} He loves me. {Rom. 8:31-39}

Reminding myself these powerful truths about the one true, holy, and sovereign God and His love for those whom He called, comforts me when I find myself weary of the spiritual battle that wages war within and against me.{Psalm 55:18, Matt. 26:41} When I find myself lacking faith, God doesn't waiver on His promises. He graciously and patiently reminds me He is steadfast and faithful. For it is the centrality of His Covenant with His people that brings Him glory and gives us hope to persevere onto the glory road as sons and daughters of the living God. {Rom. 9:14-29}

It is because of Christ we can find peace with God in times of trouble, even as our emotions of distress tempt and overwhelm us. {John 14:27}

As always, God's timing is perfect and he brought Psalm 91:9 before me not once, not twice, but three times from three varied sources within a couple of weeks. {Isn't it just like God to know what I needed to read}  Accompanying it, I share a quote from Charles Spurgeon,

"Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge..."
(Psalm 91:9 ESV)

"SAFE WITH GOD"

Morning By Morning Devotional

"The Christian knows no change when it comes to God. He may be rich today and poor tomorrow. He may be sick today and well tomorrow. He may be happy today and distressed tomorrow. But there is no change in where he stands with God.

If God loved me yesterday, He loves me today. Let all my prospects fall through; let my hopes be blasted; let my joy wither -- I will never lose what I have in God. He is my safe dwelling place.

I am a pilgram in this world, but at home with God. On the earth I wander, but in God I live in peace."

Hands Open!

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

- Proverbs 16:9

I cannot tell you how many times the Lord has placed this verse before me in the last several years. In fact, he has put this verse front and center many, many times in the last 7 years, including tonight. This does a work in a person who once held positions in Corporate America as a program manager and executive communications coordinator for CxO's; planning was everything! While those days are loooong gone, I still find myself habitually planning things out. Not such a bad habit for a wife and mother of a family, a missions committee member planning a missions conference, or a student studying for a paralegal degree, except when I fail to watch for and pray to the Giver of my strength (Psalm 59:9) and surrender with hands open to the One who establishes my steps (Proverbs 16:9).

There have been times when I found myself rebelling against the very thing I had been praying for because it didn't "look" or "sound" like what I had planned or how I thought it might eventually happen rather than surrendering to what God planned. It wasn't too long ago when I almost missed seeing and giving thanks to God for working out a situation. For years, I prayed that a particular person would no longer have the kind of emotional and manipulative pull on someone I dearly love and me. In God's perfect timing, he made it a reality but with pain -- lots of pain. A pain so deep to the person I love I cringe to think of how it affects them still -- and, painful for me too as I walk through it with them. As I watched all that I had planned for the latter months of last year begin to crumble, I had a moment of sheer and complete panic. I told myself, I worked too hard for all this to slip away. I cried out to Jesus; he was gracious to minister to my aching heart through his Word and bring friends alongside us in prayer. It was then that I was reminded to surrender to his will -- whatever the cost, wherever it might lead. When the dust began to clear, I recalled God's Word where Jesus tore down the temple. He did so only to rebuild it for God's glory. In a similar way, the Lord answered my prayers in a way that tore down my plans and established our steps for our good and His glory. Things are settling in to a new normal, and I can see how God has given us beauty for ashes in this situation. 

Moving forward, I think my sweet sisterfriend says it best, "Hands Open!" 

Dear Lord, As I plan and pray over the year ahead, help me to keep my hands (and heart) open to your will and not married to my own desires and plans. Whatever the cost, wherever you lead me, I surrender and pray that you help me follow. In the sweet and precious name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.