Mark 11:24 (NIV)
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
It was the day before Thanksgiving. We, my coworkers and I, were given our pink slips. Yes, we were laid off. The day before Thanksgiving.
I needed a job. That much was for certain. I spent a month looking, searching, praying. I dressed up in interview clothes every day and walked around with my resume, just in case I might see a job opportunity. The town I live in is a smaller town, so it's possible to find a job opportunity in line at the grocery store.
One thing I learned was that you don't go to the unemployment office in interview clothing because heaven forbid that you should actually want to work that day if you were hired. Instead you ought to roll around in dirt and not comb your hair, because if you don't, people in line at the unemployment office look like they want to kill you because you (a rich person because you are dressed rich when in actuality you are wearing your best clothing because you are becoming increasingly poorer each day and need a job) dare stand in line to take a job that they could get. I have never been looked at like that in my life. The way someone gives a sideways glance to a person who is acting inappropriately. Unlike some people, I was actually actively (key word: actively) searching for a job.
I prayed for a job that would provide a good income, have benefits, be close to my home at the time, where I would be able to use my knowledge of the medical field, where I'd have good coworkers, and where I'd have a good supervisor. I received two job interviews at two tax places, needing temporary workers for the tax season. The first tax place wanted to hire me. I was scared to say no because there wasn't much out there. But I felt like the pay I was offered was too low to live on. Then I got called for the second job interview. And then one of my other applications, at a clinic, came through. They wanted me to interview on the same day. The clinic interview came first. They wanted to hire me on the spot for a job that I did not apply for. After much inner debate, I decided to take the job and let the other place know I was not interested in the interview.
Over the next four and a half years, the job proved to be exactly what I'd ordered and more. Not only has everything been better than I asked for, but the job unexpectedly provided for me in a very tough place, and I am still seeing the provision from it. Last year I went through a very rough time in life, one I might be able to blog about twenty or thirty years from now. We'll see. I had to make many adjustments in living and I went hungry sometimes (although miraculously food turned up at convenient times... more on that later), and I cried a lot because I didn't have enough money to pay for some medical things I needed (and other hard things that were going on in life). The job that I prayed for, thinking only in the short term, ended up carrying me through the hard times and once I adjusted my living, it allowed me to save up for the next adventure in life. It also helped provide for medical expenses through a good insurance program so that actually a lot of my crying about medical expenses proved to be fruitless because most of them were already provided for. I wish I could go into detail, but that is for another time.
I wish I could have found a better scripture for this post, because I do believe that some people treat God like a vending machine. It's not like that. Insert prayer, receive blessing. In this case, I did believe that God would provide me with what I asked for, only he not only provided for my immediate needs, he also provided ahead of time for things in the future. He went above and beyond what I asked for. It is so awesome to be in relationship with a God like that! When you are in relationship with him, then you can do Mark 11:24. That way you are asking things within God's will, coming before God with clean hands and living a life pleasing to him so that He can't help but bless you. Anyway, God is awesome.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Dream That Bomb-Threat Would Happen
I wrote in my last post about dreams. I really believe that Christians today too readily dismiss the spiritual aspect of our walk with God, the spiritual aspect of existence. By denying this portion of existence, we leave ourselves vulnerable in this very real war we are waging. Not against people of course, but against spiritual powers.
In my last post, I posted about a warning dream of how the gas prices would rise. I received another dream in fifth grade about something that took place not long after.
I had a dream about a clinic where I was being seen for problems with my wrists. I played guitar, maybe bass (I forget if I started at the time), cello, played on the computer, and wrote at least four hand-written pages every day, giving myself tendonitis and maybe carpal tunnel syndrome.
I went through various kinds of testing to see what was wrong, and it was costing my parents a lot of money. I felt really bad. I had to follow up with the doctor, and if my symptoms had not improved, I would have to do more extensive testing.
I was in physical therapy, and I felt that if my doctor's appointment was moved a week or two out, I might be completely better. But my follow up with the doctor was scheduled when it was. My parents would have to shell out more money, and I would feel even worse.
I asked God to heal my wrists, or at least make some way for my visit to be moved. I was not at an age where I would think to reschedule my appointment. My parents made it for me, it was set in stone.
That night, I had a dream about the clinic building. I did not understand what it meant, but I saw bright orange cones and pandemonium and smoke. I wondered what it meant as my father drove me to the clinic the next day.
When we got to the clinic, there were bright orange cones blocking off the road. There were emergency personnel everywhere it seemed. There was pandemonium, or so it appeared to me.
My dad rolled down his window and spoke to a policeman. The policeman told my father the clinic was closed because they had received a bomb threat. My dad shrugged, what could be done? As we drove away, I told my father about the dream.
He said, "Why didn't you tell me? You would have saved me getting off work!"
I didn't realize it was an important dream, nor what it meant.
Needless to say, I didn't need to follow up with the doctor. I completed my physical therapy, and proceeded to do the exercises I was shown clear into high school. My wrists healed up, and I learned moderation and taking a break when symptoms start threatening to return. And I learned an important lesson: to pay attention to my dreams.
In my last post, I posted about a warning dream of how the gas prices would rise. I received another dream in fifth grade about something that took place not long after.
I had a dream about a clinic where I was being seen for problems with my wrists. I played guitar, maybe bass (I forget if I started at the time), cello, played on the computer, and wrote at least four hand-written pages every day, giving myself tendonitis and maybe carpal tunnel syndrome.
I went through various kinds of testing to see what was wrong, and it was costing my parents a lot of money. I felt really bad. I had to follow up with the doctor, and if my symptoms had not improved, I would have to do more extensive testing.
I was in physical therapy, and I felt that if my doctor's appointment was moved a week or two out, I might be completely better. But my follow up with the doctor was scheduled when it was. My parents would have to shell out more money, and I would feel even worse.
I asked God to heal my wrists, or at least make some way for my visit to be moved. I was not at an age where I would think to reschedule my appointment. My parents made it for me, it was set in stone.
That night, I had a dream about the clinic building. I did not understand what it meant, but I saw bright orange cones and pandemonium and smoke. I wondered what it meant as my father drove me to the clinic the next day.
When we got to the clinic, there were bright orange cones blocking off the road. There were emergency personnel everywhere it seemed. There was pandemonium, or so it appeared to me.
My dad rolled down his window and spoke to a policeman. The policeman told my father the clinic was closed because they had received a bomb threat. My dad shrugged, what could be done? As we drove away, I told my father about the dream.
He said, "Why didn't you tell me? You would have saved me getting off work!"
I didn't realize it was an important dream, nor what it meant.
Needless to say, I didn't need to follow up with the doctor. I completed my physical therapy, and proceeded to do the exercises I was shown clear into high school. My wrists healed up, and I learned moderation and taking a break when symptoms start threatening to return. And I learned an important lesson: to pay attention to my dreams.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Dream That Gas Prices Would Rise
It was a very long time ago, that much's for sure. Gas is now about $4 a gallon. But back then, it was under $2.
I think in today's day and age, it is really easy as Christians to miss the spiritual aspect of our Christian walk. Sure, don't do bad things, go to church, worship crazy, go to a Bible study. You're set.
The problem is that even though we live in a world with learning, technology, and science, there's still a spiritual element to existence.
I suppose I more easily embrace the spiritual element of existence because of my Eastern background, being half Korean. My parents also, I've found, have spiritual giftings that I've observed since childhood and have also discovered that I have an aptitude for. One of those are dreams. I have had an aptitude for dreams since I was a child.
I think some dreams are the consciousness processing the day's comings and goings. Sometimes I've realized it's the time when I can face things I've pushed under the surface, didn't want to face. Some people think they are the result of pizza eaten too late at night. I'm not so sure if food is a factor.
However, one thing I do believe is that God speaks to people in dreams in today's age still. He reveals things that we are too busy to accept or notice during the day, he shows us the future.
There are a few famous dreams in the Bible that I can recall-- Joseph (husband of Mary) being warned by an angel to go to Egypt to save Jesus' life, Joseph (coat of many colors) dreaming about the sheaves and stars, the dream of the king that Daniel interpreted to name a few.
Here is one dream that God gave me at a young age.
It was pretty brief. All I saw was a gas price sign. I watched it as the numbers rose up, changed to $1.89 a gallon. At the time of my dream, it was well under $1.89.
One day, I am not sure how long after, I noticed that the gas prices had risen to $1.89. I told my father about my dream, and he exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me? I would have bought it in bulk and saved a bunch of money."
I didn't know at the time that I ought to have told him. I wasn't really sure what to do with it. But I suppose this is an example of a warning dream, a warning of hard times to come.
I really appreciate that God chose me for the revelation of this future to come.
I think in today's day and age, it is really easy as Christians to miss the spiritual aspect of our Christian walk. Sure, don't do bad things, go to church, worship crazy, go to a Bible study. You're set.
The problem is that even though we live in a world with learning, technology, and science, there's still a spiritual element to existence.
I suppose I more easily embrace the spiritual element of existence because of my Eastern background, being half Korean. My parents also, I've found, have spiritual giftings that I've observed since childhood and have also discovered that I have an aptitude for. One of those are dreams. I have had an aptitude for dreams since I was a child.
I think some dreams are the consciousness processing the day's comings and goings. Sometimes I've realized it's the time when I can face things I've pushed under the surface, didn't want to face. Some people think they are the result of pizza eaten too late at night. I'm not so sure if food is a factor.
However, one thing I do believe is that God speaks to people in dreams in today's age still. He reveals things that we are too busy to accept or notice during the day, he shows us the future.
There are a few famous dreams in the Bible that I can recall-- Joseph (husband of Mary) being warned by an angel to go to Egypt to save Jesus' life, Joseph (coat of many colors) dreaming about the sheaves and stars, the dream of the king that Daniel interpreted to name a few.
Here is one dream that God gave me at a young age.
It was pretty brief. All I saw was a gas price sign. I watched it as the numbers rose up, changed to $1.89 a gallon. At the time of my dream, it was well under $1.89.
One day, I am not sure how long after, I noticed that the gas prices had risen to $1.89. I told my father about my dream, and he exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me? I would have bought it in bulk and saved a bunch of money."
I didn't know at the time that I ought to have told him. I wasn't really sure what to do with it. But I suppose this is an example of a warning dream, a warning of hard times to come.
I really appreciate that God chose me for the revelation of this future to come.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Prayed For Establishment to Be Closed
Galatians 6:9 English Standard Version
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
I have been praying the past few years for an ungodly establishment to be closed, and the other day I just drove past and it was closed down!
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
I have been praying the past few years for an ungodly establishment to be closed, and the other day I just drove past and it was closed down!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
How I Got My Bible
I was perhaps 12 years old, full of a child-like faith. My father had purchased me a "teen study Bible" when I was 10, because I was an advanced reader and old for my age. At 12, I decided I was tired of my teen Bible, and wanted a Bible that was for adults.
The problem was that I had no money to buy a new Bible. My parents had just purchased the Bible I had, so I figured they wouldn't buy me another one. At 12, there aren't that many other resources. Also, I wasn't sure which version to get. King James? NIV? One of the more modern translations? I didn't know what to do. So I went to God and prayed.
Not too long after, I went with my father to take the trash to the transfer site. We lived in an area that was too far for the city garbage pick up. The vehicle we took sat high up, so I was eye-level with the edge of the dumpsters.
While my father threw the trash out, I looked over, and eye-level to me was a purple Bible, perfectly set on the edge of the dumpster. By that time, my father had just gotten into the car and was shifting gears to drive away.
"STOP!!!" I cried.
My father nearly had a heart attack. "What is the matter?" he asked.
"MY BIBLE!" I indicated the purple Bible on the dumpster.
"What is it doing there?!" my father asked. I could tell he thought I tried to throw my Bible away, and was disappointed in my behavior.
"No, Dad, I prayed and asked God for a Bible and there it is!"
"Well you better get it then," he said.
I got out of the car and ran over and grabbed my Bible. It is the version that I read to this day, a New Revised Standard Version Bible. It has really excellent maps and commentary on difficult verses. There have been many verses that I have had questions about that the commentary gives insight to. Granted, I take time to study and come to my own conclusions, but I value the opinions of others who are wise and have studied the Word as well.
At any rate, the Bible has been very well-worn and loved. I had to use duct tape (it's an Alaskan thing) to hold it together. But it just goes to show you how God will provide the little things. He's a God of details.
The problem was that I had no money to buy a new Bible. My parents had just purchased the Bible I had, so I figured they wouldn't buy me another one. At 12, there aren't that many other resources. Also, I wasn't sure which version to get. King James? NIV? One of the more modern translations? I didn't know what to do. So I went to God and prayed.
Not too long after, I went with my father to take the trash to the transfer site. We lived in an area that was too far for the city garbage pick up. The vehicle we took sat high up, so I was eye-level with the edge of the dumpsters.
While my father threw the trash out, I looked over, and eye-level to me was a purple Bible, perfectly set on the edge of the dumpster. By that time, my father had just gotten into the car and was shifting gears to drive away.
"STOP!!!" I cried.
My father nearly had a heart attack. "What is the matter?" he asked.
"MY BIBLE!" I indicated the purple Bible on the dumpster.
"What is it doing there?!" my father asked. I could tell he thought I tried to throw my Bible away, and was disappointed in my behavior.
"No, Dad, I prayed and asked God for a Bible and there it is!"
"Well you better get it then," he said.
I got out of the car and ran over and grabbed my Bible. It is the version that I read to this day, a New Revised Standard Version Bible. It has really excellent maps and commentary on difficult verses. There have been many verses that I have had questions about that the commentary gives insight to. Granted, I take time to study and come to my own conclusions, but I value the opinions of others who are wise and have studied the Word as well.
At any rate, the Bible has been very well-worn and loved. I had to use duct tape (it's an Alaskan thing) to hold it together. But it just goes to show you how God will provide the little things. He's a God of details.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Confrontation
Matthew 18:15-17 (NASB)
If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
There was a young man at church who had an issue that was very obvious to me, but not to other people. I wasn't being judgmental. As a youth-leader, someone had approached me with a complaint in regards to this young man's behavior. Being a young woman myself, I had felt the same complaint in regards to this young man. As a leader, I knew I had to do something. But what?
I hate confrontation. The Bible talks about the proper way of confronting someone in Matthew 18:15-17. You don't go and gossip to everyone else first. You go straight to that person. You deal with them directly, one on one. There's a chance that if you talk to them, they might have a chance to repent without being dragged through the dirt... gossip only hurts, doesn't heal. Jesus knew this when he laid out the plan for confrontation.
I knew better than to gossip, but like I said, I hate confrontation. I did not want to confront this young man. So I went to God, and I prayed about what I ought to do.
Whenever confronting someone, you really ought to examine your heart. If you do not have a right heart about it, you are actually wrong in confronting them. I felt in this particular situation that my heart was right. Only...
Only, I felt like a rebuke coming from me would not be well received. I was no one in authority in this young man's life. I thought about going to the youth pastor that I worked under for help, but it didn't seem Biblical in the order of confrontation. Or was it? I wasn't sure, so I prayed. And waited.
An opportunity to confront this young man arose, but I really felt that God told me not to.
So I waited. I really hoped I was being obedient. It really felt like an issue that not only I noticed, but also God.
God totally intervened by laying it on another person's heart to confront this young man. The man that did so had so much authority and did it in such a way that the young man received every ounce of it and made a total 180 change of heart and direction. I have seen such a change in this young man's life from that point on, it is incredible!
Not every situation is the same, but there are a few things I learned:
If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
There was a young man at church who had an issue that was very obvious to me, but not to other people. I wasn't being judgmental. As a youth-leader, someone had approached me with a complaint in regards to this young man's behavior. Being a young woman myself, I had felt the same complaint in regards to this young man. As a leader, I knew I had to do something. But what?
I hate confrontation. The Bible talks about the proper way of confronting someone in Matthew 18:15-17. You don't go and gossip to everyone else first. You go straight to that person. You deal with them directly, one on one. There's a chance that if you talk to them, they might have a chance to repent without being dragged through the dirt... gossip only hurts, doesn't heal. Jesus knew this when he laid out the plan for confrontation.
I knew better than to gossip, but like I said, I hate confrontation. I did not want to confront this young man. So I went to God, and I prayed about what I ought to do.
Whenever confronting someone, you really ought to examine your heart. If you do not have a right heart about it, you are actually wrong in confronting them. I felt in this particular situation that my heart was right. Only...
Only, I felt like a rebuke coming from me would not be well received. I was no one in authority in this young man's life. I thought about going to the youth pastor that I worked under for help, but it didn't seem Biblical in the order of confrontation. Or was it? I wasn't sure, so I prayed. And waited.
An opportunity to confront this young man arose, but I really felt that God told me not to.
So I waited. I really hoped I was being obedient. It really felt like an issue that not only I noticed, but also God.
God totally intervened by laying it on another person's heart to confront this young man. The man that did so had so much authority and did it in such a way that the young man received every ounce of it and made a total 180 change of heart and direction. I have seen such a change in this young man's life from that point on, it is incredible!
Not every situation is the same, but there are a few things I learned:
- When you see something, it is your responsibility to do something about it! Chances are you noticed or were made aware of a situation because God is directing you to do something. Obey.
- Pray about it-- chances are, God will take care of them, or you if you are the problem.
- If God directs you, follow the Matthew 18:15-17 procedure
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Tehilla Worship
This is perhaps not an original word, but one I was taught by wise leaders in the worship ministry and one I have found true myself.
Tehillah! I was perhaps ten years old when I first heard the word. No, not tequila, the alcoholic beverage and song, but the Hebrew word tehillah, which means a spontaneous new song. This is a song that you make up as you go on the spot, an ad-lib song, one that's not rehearsed. If you attend a church where they use this kind of praise, it's the portion where they stop singing the words on the projector and start singing whatever comes out. Sometimes it's a variation of the words of the song or completely different.
I think some people might wonder why the worship team does that. The answer is in Psalm 22:3. I like how the King James puts it:
If you do a word study for praise, you will find out that there are seven different kinds of praise, but specifically the spontaneous song is mentioned here. Apparently, this word is also used in Psalm 34:1, 40:3, 66:2, and 2 Chronicles 20:22, but that is what I found with an internet search.
I don't know about you, but when I go to worship God, I certainly want to create an atmosphere that brings His presence. I have found over years of worshipping that one of the best ways to encounter God or to catch his notice (that's the best way I can find to put it) is to sing a spontaneous song. Play a chord or chord progression, and sing what comes to mind.
If you are new to the form of praise, you will probably feel stupid at first. But once you practice spontaneous worship (ha... sounds like an oxymoron, but you can practice by doing), you will gain confidence and not only touch God's heart but be refreshed.
Of course, this isn't a formula of "How to Bring the Presence of God". There's definitely lifestyle issues that have to be addressed, heart-issues, relationships even. But this is certainly an avenue of pursuing God's heart that I've taken, and have had many rich encounters. When I say, rich, I mean velvet-rich.
The best thing about God is that He is so big that you can experience this awesomeness yourself. Need new life, or want the presence of God? Sing a tehillah song!
Tehillah! I was perhaps ten years old when I first heard the word. No, not tequila, the alcoholic beverage and song, but the Hebrew word tehillah, which means a spontaneous new song. This is a song that you make up as you go on the spot, an ad-lib song, one that's not rehearsed. If you attend a church where they use this kind of praise, it's the portion where they stop singing the words on the projector and start singing whatever comes out. Sometimes it's a variation of the words of the song or completely different.
I think some people might wonder why the worship team does that. The answer is in Psalm 22:3. I like how the King James puts it:
Psalm 22:3But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel.The word praise right there is the word tehillah. God inhabits, or sits enthroned on our tehillah praise. The spontaneous song.
If you do a word study for praise, you will find out that there are seven different kinds of praise, but specifically the spontaneous song is mentioned here. Apparently, this word is also used in Psalm 34:1, 40:3, 66:2, and 2 Chronicles 20:22, but that is what I found with an internet search.
I don't know about you, but when I go to worship God, I certainly want to create an atmosphere that brings His presence. I have found over years of worshipping that one of the best ways to encounter God or to catch his notice (that's the best way I can find to put it) is to sing a spontaneous song. Play a chord or chord progression, and sing what comes to mind.
If you are new to the form of praise, you will probably feel stupid at first. But once you practice spontaneous worship (ha... sounds like an oxymoron, but you can practice by doing), you will gain confidence and not only touch God's heart but be refreshed.
Of course, this isn't a formula of "How to Bring the Presence of God". There's definitely lifestyle issues that have to be addressed, heart-issues, relationships even. But this is certainly an avenue of pursuing God's heart that I've taken, and have had many rich encounters. When I say, rich, I mean velvet-rich.
The best thing about God is that He is so big that you can experience this awesomeness yourself. Need new life, or want the presence of God? Sing a tehillah song!
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