Jacob's Ladder

by Crown of Glory

“Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone

he had placed under his head and

set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.

He called that place Bethel…”
Genesis 28:18-19

Bible Passage: Genesis 28

Jacob’s name literally means, “heel-grabber.” In our modern-day language, it means, “Cheat, Trickster, Swindler.” Instinct tells us to stay away from people like him.

But God thought differently. Jacob is the third in line where God’s covenant relationship is concerned, and it is after him that God chooses to name the nation of Israel.

I have many favorites in the Bible. Abraham is one, Isaac is another. But Jacob is my “most favorite” of them all. I never get tired of reading the story of his life.

One evening many years ago, Ernie came into our living room and found me in tears. “What’s wrong,” he asked me. “Jacob died,” I told him. “Jacob who?” he asked. “Is it anyone I know?” “Yes, it’s Jacob the patriarch, he died…” At that, my husband just quietly left me. He understood that I was again being moved by the dealings of God in this man’s life.

Even now as I write these lines, I am misty-eyed. How difficult Jacob’s life journey had been. And what he went through to be transformed into the noble patriarch that he was at the end of his life!

It’s a long story. And while many may have an idea about the story of his life, I have gone through the chapters of Jacob’s life over and over again, that I feel like I know him as a close friend. This is the reason that I sometimes find myself crying when I reach the part in Genesis 49 where Jacob, after blessing his sons and giving them specific instructions about his burial, draws up his feet up into the bed, breaths his last, and is gathered to his people. Even the way his death is described is so beautiful. What a meaningful way to die!

But let me not be carried away and get ahead of myself in what I really want to say.

The story of Jacob actually begins long before he is born. God reveals to Rebekah at the time of her pregnancy that two nations were in her womb, but that one people will be stronger than the other, and that the older will serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

Jacob is the younger one. And for sure his mother must have told him all about these things. He was impulsive, and impatient. He didn’t know how to wait for God’s appointed time. He literally lives up to his name. Surely he would have received the said blessings at the right time. But he manipulates his brother Esau into selling him the first-born birthright for a measly bowl of soup. And several years later, he tricks his father Isaac into giving him the blessing reserved for the first born son.

Esau, realizing that he has been cheated twice, vows to kill him. It is in this context that we read Genesis 28. Under the pretext of finding a wife for himself, Jacob leaves Beersheba and embarks on a journey to his uncle Laban’s house. He is actually fleeing from the wrath of his elder twin brother.

Before Jacob leaves home, however, in addition to the blessing that he had already received through trickery, he is given a going-away blessing by his father. Isaac probably realizes that this son of his will need all the blessing he can have. In Genesis 28:3-4, we read:

“May God almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham.”

The “blessing of Abraham” is the aspect of the birthright that Esau gave up, but in his place, Jacob will benefit. We all think that Jacob is just as unworthy to receive this generational blessing, but well, we are not in the place of God. In God’s sovereign plan, Jacob is somehow the one chosen to carry on His promise to Abraham.

On the way to Paddan Aram, Jacob decides to spend the night in a place called Luz. He lies down to sleep, using one of the stones there as a pillow for his head. Jacob, weary, confused, and running for his life, dreams.

He sees a ladder on earth, “with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God…ascending and descending on it.” Above the ladder stood the Lord. In this dream, Jacob is given the terms of the covenant that God had previously given to Abraham and Isaac. Now it was his turn to personally receive the promises of God.

God introduces himself by his covenant name, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. And God reiterates the terms of His covenant with Abraham. Jacob, in essence, is promised a land, a nation, and a blessing. But there is more. God speaks to Jacob what he needs to hear at that very moment. “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

And this is what amazes me about God. Is Jacob worthy of these covenant promises? At this point in time, definitely not. But a covenant is a covenant, and God is no covenant breaker. He is the ultimate Promise Keeper. God enters into a covenant with a Trickster and a Cheapskate to honor His covenant with Abraham.

Jacob’s audacity is appalling. Instead of humbly receiving the covenant terms, he bargains with God, adopting a wait and see attitude. In effect he tells God, “Be with me, protect me, provide for my needs, and bring me back safely to my father’s house. Then, and only then, will I honor you as my covenant God.”

Notice that God doesn’t even lay down any conditions. His “terms” were not actually terms in the real sense of the word, they were one-sided unconditional promises. “I will do this for you.” Period.

With such a response from Jacob, you’d think that God would change his mind and call the whole deal off. Yet, God is not ashamed to call himself the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6).

Jacob nevertheless realizes that he was standing on holy ground. He gets the stone that he used for a pillow, pours oil on it, sets it up as a pillar, and renames the place “Bethel,” meaning “house of God.” Even in his worldly condition he had sense enough to recognize that there was indeed a ladder, a heavenly connection in that place where God had somehow reached him, and revealed Himself to him.

Jacob’s story is actually a story about the making of a man after whom the promised land will eventually be named. Therefore, it was necessary for Jacob to go through the crucible, and traverse the painful road from being Heel-grabber to becoming Israel, Prince With God.

REAL LIFE:

In my college years, a close friend once told me: “Lidj, how I envy you. You have such a “well-oiled existence.” She had a drunkard for a father, and her mother was a schoolteacher who had to take in washing on weekends to make ends meet and earn enough to put her and her siblings through school. There were times when she would come to school with puffy eyes, for her father had again beaten her mother up the night before. I would cry with her, but I never could relate. I came from a good home, had loving responsible parents, and was well-provided for. Secretly, I considered her remark a compliment.

But a few years after I got married, I realized that there is really no such thing as a well oiled existence, unless one is willing to go through the process. I have awakened nights asking God if He is for real, asking Him to show me a connection to heaven from where I was.

I can’t say that I’m a literal Jacob… but we all are like him in many ways. My story is also the story of a woman in the making, going through the crucible of joy and sorrow. But I have no regrets. God has graciously shown me heaven-to-earth connections in the Bethels of my life.

When I reach heaven’s shores, I will kneel at the feet of my God, my King… and then I will put my arms around Jacob and thank him for having been such an instrument for the shaping of my character.

ACTION STEP:

Are you confused, tired, and wondering where your life is leading? Ask God: Where is the vital connection between where you are and where He is? Have you somehow missed on this and just went on your journey, and therefore missed hearing Him speak to you the unconditional promises that He has been longing to reveal to you? Have you been like Jacob, bargaining with the Father, insisting on your own terms, striving to run your life your way, instead of just humbly allowing him to work in your life? Go back now to your Bethel, pour oil on that rock and set it up as an altar of promise. And there, hear what God wants to say to you.

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, I humbly kneel now at the foot of that heavenly ladder, and know that You are there, reaching out to me, and saying to me, “I am with you, my child. I will watch over you, I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” I acknowledge you as my covenant God. I put my trust in You.”

Revelations VIII

by P31

The Power of Blessing in our Tongues

"But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
He who gives a right answer kisses the lips."

(Proverbs 24:25)

Bible Passage: Genesis 24

Real Life:

I was so angry and frustrated about how the exams were put together by the examiners. Right after I took the June 2007 tests, I heard myself shout a loud cry, ‘ I hate BON! I hate BON! [BON- Board of Nursing]. I screamed in my room’s bathroom to my heart’s delight since nobody could hear me anyway. It was a complicated exam! And much to my dismay, I swore to myself that BON will never succeed in their efforts in uplifting the integrity of professionalizing nurses in the country.

You have journeyed with me as I recount my REVELATIONS experiences. I recalled very vividly God’s leading for me to consecrate myself [v.10,14] before I met up with HIM in my spiritual holy mountain. [At the time of Moses, Mt. Sinai was a place irreverent to touch. The mountain was to be constituted “holy” due to the fact that God would manifest Himself to Moses and to the Israelites there. Thus, just as the ground around the burning bush was holy (Exod. 3:5), so the mountain was holy as well. This is the reason why the mountain was to be “consecrated” by placing boundaries around it (v. 23).] But then again, this is another story to tell that I will share with you in my next Revelations series].

There in the holy mountain [Mt. Sinai experience], was the word BLESSING.

We often miss the supernatural significance of this word, blessing. Sometimes we become so familiar with the concept that we lose its concrete meaning. Think about it. We often use the word "bless" in familiar speech. I hear many people say, "God Bless you!" The other day I sneezed and my 5-year-old daughter said, " Bless you!" What do we know about what it really means?

In my many years of working with Family Foundations, International, I have learned that Blessing in Greek means, “well spoken of, praised, to speak well of, to call down God’s gracious power, empower to prosper”. On the one hand, we learn the true meaning of the blessing from Jacob. Blessing in Hebrew is the word barak, "to kneel." And the word picture here describes a man who had his camel bend down on its knees so he could get on it (Genesis 24:11). In the Scriptures, when barak, "to bless," is used in association with God, it means, "to bow with bended knee to express awe and value." We're familiar with the concept of blessing when we encounter royalty. In history, and even today in countries with a royal family such as England, a person bows or curtsies to express to royalty their inherent honor and value. So when God blesses us, as He so often does, He says to you and to me, "I value you and I add value to your life."

As I took this concept from the heavenly realm, "to bless" simply means to recognize value in a person and to add value through a spoken word or a specific deed. So why did God point out to me the word, Blessing? Because it is important for me to understand that in my tongue, I have the power to speak a “blessing” or a “curse”.

In my case, I sinned for cursing BON and maligning their name, through my spoken words from my angry heart and frustration. I fully realize that I have to have a certain amount of thought life cleaned up to some degree in the Lord with the sanctifying help of the Holy Spirit, but if I can't make the next step and transmit the right words to others in my own personal dealings, then all of the sanctification that I went through to get my life cleaned up will have all been for naught.

I can either choose to learn how to speak and release positive words of blessing of love, blessing of encouragement and blessing of edification to other people, or I can choose to release negative words of condemnation, criticism, coldness and harshness.

I choose the former.

This is a very serious warning being given to us by our Lord - and how we talk and express ourselves to our children, our husband, our family and to other people in this life should never, ever be taken for granted. God has given each and everyone of us a certain amount of power with the words that we can speak out to other people - and those words can either bring life [blessing] or death to the person we are speaking to.

Here is this most solemn verse:

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36)

This is a grievous matter.

Not only will the kind of words we speak out to others in this life determine how many good friends we may end up making or how good those personal friendships will end up being, but our words are also going to be appropriately judged by the Lord Himself on our day of judgment with Him.

As for me, I may have been judged already, but God is always gracious! I know in my heart that I have been forgiven.

Prayer:
“My precious God, It’s easy for me to forget about how my tongue should operate. Thank you for teaching me to use it wisely. For whatever words come out, may it be to bless my spouse, my children, my family, and my friends. Help me to model a life that’s reflective of your Son, Jesus Christ and I pray, Lord, that I may be a blessing to those around me through the power of blessing with my tongue. In Your Name, Jesus, AMEN."

REVELATIONS VII

by Proverbs 31 Woman

KNOWING GOD’S WILL BY GODLY COUNSEL

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously

to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,

because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,

blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Bible Passage: Exodus 18

Real Life:
The day when I sought God’s face at my own Mt. Sinai experience, one among many vital instructions was to seek for godly counsel.

The book of Exodus, in chapter 18 reiterates Moses’ experiences with his father-in-law, who gave him wisdom with his affairs for he was submerged beneath the numerous needs of the Israelites that his burden grew to such proportions “laboring himself from morning until the evening”, everyday (Ex. 18:13).

I have to admit, I was enslaving myself to work hard so I could fulfill my goals and dreams! With good intentions, I was doing it well. Aside from being a full time mother and wife, I was likewise a full time nursing student and a volunteer church worker, juggling myself in between. There was very little room to seek God for directions. By the time the alarm strikes in the morning, I was on my feet ready to face the day’s battle. And by the time I was to lay my head down to sleep, I was just too tired to even think of praying.

After reading the chapter, I was just prompted to see my father-in-law. I really don’t have that kind of a relationship with him but that day was marked by God for our meeting. When I arrived at his home, he looked at me, didn’t say much yet he knew why I was there. All I did was cry. He stood there, didn’t know what to do for he is not much of an affectionate person but his encouragment was more than words can say. I remember him saying, “Move on. If you have to take the exams all over again, or even a hundred times, just go and do it.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and felt his blessing. That was all I wanted to hear… his blessing of encouragement.

Why did God instruct me to seek advise from others? The Holy Spirit uses godly counsel from godly people to help us discern God’s will. Godly counsel means, godly counsel, not good opinions from nice people! Godly counsel comes from God which means that a godly counselor is one who knows the Word of God, is spending quality time with God in prayer, and is living a godly life. I have learned three things from this lesson:

1. Godly counsel helps us learn from the mistakes of others.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by godly people in my church. During my lowest point, they were there when I exhausted my heart with my story. My pastor never failed to give me bits and pieces of encouragement and wisdom at the time I needed the most. My mentors, Mizpah and Crown of Glory. Their lives are living examples of God’s faithfulness and my small group of moms and wives, they listened…. and they imparted godly counsel.

“If you find that you need specific counsel, seek out a godly person who is an expert in that area or who has experience in the very circumstances in which you find yourself. Follow the suggestions that are based upon God’s Word. None of us do well in walking through life alone. We need to be in close communication and association with other people who believe in Christ Jesus, are studying God’s Word, and are seeking to follow Christ daily. We need to spend some time with people who have been through experiences that we are facing. We also need to spend time with people who have succeeded in an area of life in which we would also like to succeed. We need to talk things over with them, learn from them, and receive their wise counsel.” -Walking Wisely: Charles Stanley, 103.

2. Godly counsel gives us a godly perspective.

“Nearly every king mentioned in Scripture relied on advisers to share their wisdom in difficult situations. Moses spoke with his father-in-law. David and Solomon turned to their trusted counselors when in need. In the early church the believers looked to the disciples for counsel. Even Paul had those he could turn to for wisdom. First it was Barnabas, and Paul was also willing to listen to the leadership of the church in Acts 21:20-25.” -Dr. Bruce Waltke: Finding The Will Of God, 112.

3. Godly counsel helps reveal our hidden motives.

“Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success.” Proverbs 15:22

We often cannot see God when we are just too busy doing our own agenda. Godly counsel points out our hidden motives by exposing it gently for correction to take place leading us to the right path. They can see things we cannot see and discern God’s guidance we often cannot fathom.

The book of Proverbs has a rich collection of verses regarding seeking godly counsel:

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”

Proverbs 1:5

“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.”
Proverbs 11:14

“Get all the advice you can and be wise the rest of your life.”
Proverbs 19:20 (LB)

“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Proverbs 12:15

“Wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Proverbs 13:10

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
Proverbs 19:20

“Make plans by seeking advice…”

Proverbs 20:18

“The pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”

Proverbs 27:9

Prayer:
“Lord, I thank you for Your advise through these godly people in my life! Their words bring encouragment and life. I know in my heart that they are not there by mistake. Bless these people Lord. I pray that You will increase their ministry so they can bless others more, just as I was ministered by You through them. In Your name Jesus, Amen.”

CAN A MOTHER’S HEART REALLY LET GO?

by Mizpah

(lyrics of the song here)

“Then her heart becomes an altar, which holds each burden & care;
AND, nothing moves the heart of God, more than a mother's prayer.”
Mary Carter Mizrany

I became a mother at 19 years old. Young as I was, I had nothing on my sleeves about motherhood except that I was one. Despite my lack of knowledge, by God’s grace, I can say, I have been a good mother albeit I was working ever since I did my best to keep up with my mothering responsibilities.

Allow me to quote a line from a song I so love, “For all that I’ve done wrong, I must have done something right, to deserve…” Yes, to deserve our children. I am a mother of two. God willing, my son, John is turning twenty eight this April and my daughter, Sandi will be twenty this coming November.

Loving them is my life. Taking care of them and their needs are my priority. Literally, I live and breathe for my children. I will sacrifice anything where they are concerned. Since they were born until today, what comes their way, big or small, tears or laughter, failures or victories, significant or insignificant, I am there.

Who can tell me when should mothering stop? Who can tell me it’s easy to let go?

I can just look back at time how worried I was when they got their first vaccination and ran a slight fever; how my heart thumped as I extended my arms waiting for them as they took their first two steps; how excited I was when they attended their first day in school and the pride I donned was when they handed in their first test paper marked with “VG” (Very Good) or 100%; how I grinned from ear to ear as I watched their first calisthenics program in school and how I wanted to smack the face of that little guy who teased him!

Panting for breath, I would run to Lopue’s Department Store after office to get them their lead and mechanical pencils, art papers and glue so they will be marked “complete” for their project requirement; I recall the day I walked liked Mrs. Hillary Clinton when the names of my children were called to receive awards in school; my ears grew like Dumbo the Elephant when I overheard they’ve got a “crush”; I got so excited preparing for their outfits for their prom night and made sure they smelled “good”; Giving them their own cell phones was a sight to behold! I remember those nights I waited until dawn to make sure they got home safe and that was not funny!; attending their graduation was like being in the “Red Carpet”; and finding out that they were in a relationship was a thrill!

Soon after, it was preparing résumés for the first work application. The first time my son was called for a job interview, I was at home imagining what questions will be asked. “Will he make it?” inquired my anxious heart. Not before long, my son got his first job! A most memorable time for me was bringing him to Robinsons to get his complete set of wardrobe. “Hey world, my son is a professional!” That was more than five years ago.

These beautiful memoirs are too many to recount yet when I do, they never fail to lift my heart. The Lord has been good! Next month, John is moving to his own home. His future plans…his wedding? Oh, haven’t reached there yet. And my daughter? Well, it’s a joy to dream of our shopping spree when she gets to receive her first pay. However, she just made clear to her Pap and me that she will be claiming her full independence the day right after her college graduation next year.

They may be both adult persons in their own right, both assertive and secure to take their place in this tough world yet, they would still answer to our call of “My baby!” If they’re free, weekends would mean the four of us feasting over our special Sunday lunch after church and watching DVD movies for our night together, munching on our favorite midnight snack. A real treat for us is still being able to stay in bed, snuggle close and tickle each other ‘til we scream with glee to our hearts delight.

Now, who can tell me what “letting go” means? Can a mother really “let go” of her children? When can she start letting them go?

I know, I must. I know I should.

On my own, I can’t.

With Jesus, I can. With Jesus, I am.

“A MOTHER HOLDS HER CHILDREN’S HANDS FOR AWHILE – THEIR HEARTS FOREVER.”

“INHERITANCE”

by Mizpah

“The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”
Psalm 16:5-6

Real Life:

While most of the people were excitedly looking forward to their evening rendezvous last February 14, I found myself attending two burials that day. With our two children off to their own escapades, my husband and I decided to enjoy a quiet evening at home instead over a yummy Calea chocolate cake and a “mestizo” chili con carne.

I woke up early the next morning. As I was spending time with the Lord, He brought back to my mind the words spoken during the eulogy. It was from the youngest daughter of “Lola Pat” as April, my friend would fondly call her grandmother. Fighting her tears, she said, “Mom, I will surely miss you but I will always have you with me wherever I am, even as I work. I will always smell you every time I bake the delicious apple pie you taught me to make…” I really don’t know what exactly made those words touch my heart. It must have been my desire to emulate the quality of life that Lola Pat left behind her family and the people who surrounded her. Sad yet beautiful! Though she may be gone, her legacy will live on forever. Oh, I wish I can be like her!

That surely got me thinking. What about me? What if the Lord calls me “home” today, what legacy am I leaving behind? What have I prepared for my children?

As mother to two wonderful, precious children, I know I should, but what in the world could I possibly leave behind? What am I working on that will be made ready for their use in case I die? What inheritance will my husband and I give them to afford security and stability for their future? What do I have in my hands? Helplessly, I said, “nothing, Lord…nothing!”

Then, the Holy Spirit gently tapped my heart and said, “OF COURSE, YOU HAVE! Remember the promise the Lord gave you in Numbers 18:20, ‘You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], neither shall you have any part among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.’? The Lord Himself is your portion. The Lord Himself is your inheritance! How could you have easily forgotten ?”

Lifting my head out of my sullen mood, I said, “Yes, Oh, Yes! I remembered!”

Indeed, I have an inheritance to leave behind for my children and they don’t have to wait for my death for them to start enjoying what I have allotted for them.

Each morning as I bring myself before God, I pray, “Lord, may my life be the “inheritance” my children will live on today. I leave them…

…the joy of loving you with all their heart, soul, and strength;
…the fear of you, Lord which will protect them and give them wisdom;
…the gratefulness to have been forgiven; the graciousness to give the same;
…the generosity and compassion that will extend love to those in need;
…the value of building authentic and deep relationships that will keep them;
…the power of prayer that will bring them through any test and trial;
…the love for your Word that will teach them to hold on to every

promise you’ve made;
…the choice to remain honest and not to let go and compromise even when the whole world taunts and jibes at them;
…the contaminating laughter that wipes the doldrums and stress of their day;
…the courage to cry when they feel like giving up and abandon themselves in realization that it is only in you that their soul can rest;
and…

…the faith that confidently declares, You, Oh, God are my portion, my inheritance and my reward!

WHAT AN AWESOME PRIVILEGE TO LEAVE THE FOOTPRINTS OF MY LIFE TO YOU, MY CHILDREN, AS GOD BRINGS YOU THROUGH TODAY UNTIL ETERNITY. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

To Ponder Upon:

Your life is the best legacy you can ever, ever leave. What are you working on today? What’s top on your list? Your career? Your business? Your ambition?

PRAYER:

I know, Father, that my life will continue to heap more and more blessings as I receive from you each day. Empty me, Lord that I will always have my hands open to receive from you. I thank you for giving me the Lord Jesus Christ, the best inheritance ever! What more can I ask? I will never be able to thank you enough. I love you. In Jesus Name, I pray…Amen.

Isaac: Redigging Old Wells

by Crown of Beauty

“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug
in the time of his father Abraham,
which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died,
and he gave them the same names his father had given them.”
Genesis 26:18

Bible Passage: Genesis 26

Genesis 26 opens with a famine in the land and Isaac on his way to Egypt. God tells him not to go down to Egypt, but to remain in Gerar. In that place God promises to bless him.

Isaac obeys, and indeed, the promised blessing begins to manifest.

With the increase of flocks and herds, having a steady water supply becomes Isaac’s priority. For some reason, all the wells that Abraham had dug were filled with earth by the Philistines. Isaac therefore instructs his servants to look for these old wells, and to dig them again.

The servants initially discover two of the wells, but upon being reopened, the wells become a cause of strife between Isaac’s men and the herdsmen of Gerar. Thus Isaac names the wells Esek, meaning Contention, and Sitnah, or Enmity.

A third well is re-discovered, and this time no one quarrels over it. Isaac calls the well Rehoboth, saying “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Rehoboth literally means “Spaciousness, or Broad Places.”

Shortly after Rehoboth is re-dug, Isaac goes up to Beersheba.

What is so special about Beersheba?

In this passage we see how history repeats itself in the lives of Abraham and Isaac. Years earlier, the men of Gerar had also disputed with Abraham regarding his wells. In this place, King Abimelech and Abraham made a covenant, or an oath, to live in peace with each other (Genesis 21:31). The place is called Beersheba, meaning The Well of the Oath, or the Well of Seven, “seven” being an ancient word that also means “oath.” Here in Beersheba Abraham planted a tamarisk tree and called on the name of the Lord as “The Eternal, or Everlasting, God.” In Gen 22:19 we read that after Abraham encounters God on Mt. Moriah, he and the boy Isaac set off together for Beersheba where they both remain for a time.

Apparently this place holds a special meaning for both Abraham and Isaac. After digging Rehoboth, or the “Well of Broad Places”, Isaac revisits Beersheba.

It’s as if the Lord was just waiting for him to get there. That very night, the Lord appears again to Isaac, saying “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid for I am with you, I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

In those days, whenever one of the persons in a covenant agreement died, the terms of the covenant was again made clear to the next of kin, to ensure that the covenant remains in force. Abraham having died, it was Isaac’s turn to personally receive the words of the covenant promise. God honors his covenant with Abraham, and speaks to Isaac about it. God is so clear with his words to Isaac in Gen. 26:3: “I will be with you and I will bless you…I will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham….”

And there, after God appears to him, Isaac builds an altar and calls on the name of the Lord, just as Abraham his father did. His servants also reopen a fourth well, and Isaac calls it by the same name that Abraham called it: Sheba, or Oath.

Real Life:

These past weeks I have sensed that God has a special message for me from Genesis 26. Almost everyday, I have kept going back to this chapter, as if there was a magnet pulling me to keep reading, and re-reading, the verses. I have also begun thinking deeply about its personal application in my own life.

The account, so beautiful, is beyond words to describe. It’s like finding myself in a cave full of hidden treasures. I choose one, a multi-faceted gem, and I am speechless as I hold it up to the light. In the light I see its unique design and colors. And I want to keep going back for more. It is one of those Bible passages with characters, places and events that cannot be adequately explained…only experienced.

Abraham is the prototype man of faith, obedience and prayer,
who always built an altar at significant stops in his journey,
who always called on the name of the Lord,
who dug the wells for the next generation.

Isaac is the man who knew how to go back in time, to the revisit the past, and reopen the life sources that his father had tapped into in his lifetime. Isaac knew that there were secrets to his father’s spiritual strength; ancient wells that he needed to rediscover and personally drink from.

I need to be like Isaac. I need to review my life story, and rediscover waterholes that have nourished me in earlier years but have somehow been stopped, filled with earth, through neglect, complacency, or wrong priorities. Many areas in my life that I have taken for granted. Valuable lessons that I have simply forgotten. Unwatered portions in the garden of my heart where the soil has become hard and overtaken by weeds.

This is interesting. Gerar, where Isaac dwelt, means “to bring up the cud.” To meditate. Literally, to ruminate.

We hardly use that word these days – to ruminate. To chew, to swallow, and to chew again. To roll something around in your mouth. I need to find my own Valley of Rumination, like Gerar where both Abraham and Isaac dwelt for a time.

And while I need to dig new wells, this time God was clearly telling me, “Revisit your past. Rediscover, re-dig the ancient wells of revival in your life. There is fresh water in those wells.”

Many people tend to look at time as a straight line. But actually, time is circular. I didn’t know this before. But it made much sense when someone explained it to me so clearly. Our life history is not linear. It is a circle, or more accurately, a spiral. It starts with a point, and then we go around, the circle getting bigger as we go back to past lessons and learn something new. We often think the past is past and that there’s no use crying over spilled milk. But God is always giving us a fresh perspective, and His correct re-interpretation of the past events of our life. I’m not saying that we live in the past, but that we must not just fill up our past with sand. We can choose to discover the clear blue waters at its bottom, waiting to be re-visited and re-discovered, and drank from!

ACTION STEPS:
Set one day aside to prayerfully read and re-read Genesis 21 and 26. Think about your own life story. Listen to the questions that arise.

Are there wells you need to re-dig, places you need to re-visit? Relationships that need to heal? Maybe a friendship you have neglected? An insult you need to forgive, an offense you need to let go of?

Is your life like a dimly burning lamp whose wick needs to be trimmed, and re-filled with oil?
Is there a painful area in your life that you have simply shoved under the rug and forgotten about? Is there a past event, a buried family heritage that you need to re-connect with? Where are your spiritual roots?

Do you need to re-kindle your First Love and let passion for Jesus beat once more in your heart?
Whatever it is, face it this time. Maybe it is an old lesson that needs to be re-learned, or unlearned. Ask God to speak to you about it. Ask him about your Esek, your Sitnah, and your Rehoboth.

Re-visit your Beersheba. Build an altar. Call upon the name of the Lord.

PRAYER:
“My Father, the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, re-open in my life the ancient well of Broad Places, the well of Abundance. Bring me to a place of enlargement, where there is enough room be fruitful, to know You in a deeper way. You desire to show and reveal to me the unfathomable, unsearchable things of Your heart. Oh, dear God, help me to know which old wells I need to re-dig. Light my fire again, dear Lord. I need Your fresh water to seep through the parched places in my garden.”

Revelations VI

by Proverbs 31 Woman

Sell the Oil and Give!

“She went and told the man of God, and he said,

"Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.
You and your sons can live on what is left."
2 Kings 4:17

Bible Passage: 2 Kings 4: 1-7

Real Life:
Through the years, I have this weakness for hoarding things. I have accumulated quite a treasure in clothes, shoes, household gadgets, and bolts of cloth materials for my quilts that would probably sum up to more than a thousand yards, among others!. Most often, I would buy on credit which would set me off quickly to some rigid income-generating activities to pay off my debts. Obviously, the motive was for the wrong reasons. Since I quit working, my husband and I had no other means but to live on a very tight budget. Needless to say, there was not any extra to support myself and my “wants”.

On the other hand, my husband is the complete opposite, thank God! He is gifted with a generous heart even if it meant giving our last food to feed the hungry. Sometimes I wonder if it hadn’t been for his giving heart and faith in God, maybe my family would probably not experience miracles of provision from the Lord. I prayed and asked God to give me a heart like my husband’s so I could also give freely with a cheerful heart. Often, my hubby reminds me to weed out my closet and give my old things to the less fortunate. One day, I did. In fact, I was able to yield four extra large boxes of old clothes, and two large boxes full of shoes and used curtains and sheets, all from one closet! Regrettably, I found myself labeling prices on them thinking I could earn a handsome return if I so decide to sell at a rummage sale.

I was reading the book of 2 Kings while I continued on heeding God’s instructions. The passage talked about a widow who became the recipient of another’s wealth. But the riches she received came from the hand of God. The woman had known great heartache. She had lost her husband, who was of the men from the “company of the prophets.” Soon she would lose her sons as well, since they were about to become slaves. It was not a happy prospect, and the prophet Elisha, who knew her husband’s devotion to the Lord, wanted to help this desperate widow. When he learned that she had nothing in her house but a small flask of oil, he told her to collect from her neighbors as many empty jars as she could—leaving the number of jars, and the size of her faith, up to her. The woman was to shut herself and her sons inside the house and pour from her flask until all of the jars were full. Nobody else was to see or know about the miracle. Nobody needed to know about it, except Elisha. The woman did as Elisha instructed, and had enough oil to pay her debts and live off the rest. We read that God’s prophets were not only messengers of His judgment, but instruments of His miraculous provision for His people.

Then, He led me to the following verses:

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7).

The Lord has promised to answer when we lay our needs before him. Jesus also promised, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38).

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25: 35-40)

From the verses, I knew I only had three ways to raise money: pray, obey and give.

I prayed and decided to obey God and desired the kind of faith of the widow. But surely, it didn’t come overnight. I had to go through the process of pain to let go of what I considered “precious things”. It took me a while to give out my old clothes, shoes, and house things to the poor and to friends without having to sell them at rummage sales. I also made myself more available for the Lord’s work. I gave it all and do you know what? It felt really good! I was freed of the bondage of materialism (spirit of mammon). The more I gave of my time and resources, the more was given back to me! My prayer was answered!

To this day, I still wonder how we can ever live the best way possible with just a meager income. But I know one thing. God provides (and even much more) and will always do!

And yes, miracles do happen! I see them everyday.

Prayer:
How wonderful it is to know that my needs are supplied before I even receive them. I thank you, dearest Lord! You are indeed my Jehovah Jireh, my God that provides! Father, You told us in Your Word, that if we would seek first Your Kingdom and all of Your righteousness, all of this will be added unto us. In your Word, You said that if we delight ourselves in You, You would give us the desires of our hearts. Father, I pray that may I always be reminded to always seek You and Your righteousness first and foremost in my life and find my delight in You and as I do so, I thank You for supplying all of my needs according to Your riches and glory through Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Make peace with the awareness that
you can't have everything you need.
Contentment comes when our
essential needs are met."
Sarah Ban Breathnach

Poem written:
Everyday, I see Your glory (October 27, 2007)

Related article:
Just Give

REVELATIONS V

by Proverbs 31 Woman

GIVE, AND IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”.
(Gal. 6: 7- 9 KJV)

Bible Passage: Exodus 34:1-10

Real Life:
In the Scripture passage you will read that Moses met up with God at Mt. Sinai, a barren place. During this encounter, Moses received specific instructions meant to prepare the Israelites for the crossing of the Jordan River and to equip them for the possession of the Promised Land. I, too had to meet God in a specific place during my desert experience. At this point in time, I only need to get away and find answers to my questions.

The Hebrew word for desert comes from a verb which means, “to speak”. Indeed, in my desert experience, God was not silent. As I shared with you God’s Revelations, God was communicating to me in my most barren time. But firstly, I have to be broken enough to be teachable and secondly, I have to be humble enough for Him to commit to me wisdom while waiting for His instructions. My communing with Him through fervent prayer was His way of giving me clear instructions to equip me in my desert experience for my crossroads journey ahead.

Giving was one of His significant instructions as I continued to commune with Him. In the Bible, it reads: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38 KJV).

But take note of this verse: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (Luke 6: 37 KJV) Did you notice this verse immediately precedes the one quoted above, and that there is not even a period after it? It continues right into the ‘give, and it shall be given unto you’ verse! My impression is that the scriptures was not merely talking about tithing, it talked about forgiving!

These two verses tend not to be seen in the same context. The judging portion is often regarded as a separate subject from the 'giving and getting' part. I pondered on these verses for a while until He showed me some more. It was important for me to read at least a number of verses in sequence in order to get the full meaning of God’s Word.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6: 7- 9)

Sometimes, I often feel I’m not getting rewarded for my tithes, offerings, and goodwill gifts and services. Is it maybe because I may have judged, condemned, or harbored unforgiveness towards others?

Then it hit me! There are consequences to every action I take.

I have sinned! I have judged, condemned and harbored unforgiveness in my heart. It was this very time when I asked the Lord to forgive me from of all the grievances I have of Him, of my loved ones, and of my friends.

And my God, in all His mercy, graciously forgave me through the enlightening of these verses:

”Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:47-48

“If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,” 2 Corinthians 2:10

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-34

With this instruction, it’s not about what I can give, but it’s about whom I will forgive.

To Ponder Upon:
Have you taken time off to examine yourself and bring your barren self to God? Do you think you need to hear from Him? Do you need to forgive someone? If you haven’t done that yet, come away in a quiet place with the Lord. Read your Bible and record God’s instructions in your journal. You need to meet God with sensitive ears to hear, a willing heart to obey and a desire to be cleansed, and the attitude of honor and respect for the One True God. You will reap your blessings in due season!

Prayer:

“Almighty God, I come to You in humility and strip myself of self-conceit. You have been gracious to me as You have listened patiently to my concerns and consoled me in times of hardship. Let me remember Your love for me when I am called upon to forgive another person. May I recognize this failing in myself and remember Your words and example whenever I have a need of a forgiving spirit. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

Revelations VI coming soon.

Abraham-I

By Crown of Beauty

CROSSROADS

This is just a few meters away from our Maejo U. flat in Sansai, Chiang Mai.
Crossroads remind us of the many choices we need to make each day. Which way, Lord?
"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.'"
(Is. 30:21, NKJV)

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey,
and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son;
and he split the wood for the burnt offering,
and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”
(Genesis 22:3, NKJV)

Isaac was the son of promise. I’m sure Abraham didn’t understand why he was being asked by the very same God who made the promise, to offer “your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love” as a burnt offering.

But Abraham was a man of faith, and faith is tested, proven, and rooted in obedience. I am amazed at the depth of this man’s faith that makes him willing to obey and let go of his only son Isaac. Without a murmur, without a complaint. Just a yes.

How much faith was needed before he could confidently say to his menservants, “Stay here with the donkey, the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

Look how tenderly he responds to Isaac’s question:

Isaac: My father!

Abraham: Here I am, my son.

Isaac: Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Abraham: My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.

What guarantees did he have? What kind of faith did he possess that he could speak about such matters so matter-of-factly? Tears well up in my eyes as I imagine this conversation between father and son. Here he was, very close to losing his own son. And he speaks so gently, so softly.
Then in just a few more minutes, Isaac himself realizes the truth: he was to be the burnt offering. At the moment of realization, Isaac had no other choice but to hold on to his father’s faith.

At this point, both father and son had nothing, but faith that God will act. Did Abraham embrace his son before tying him up and putting him on the altar? I’m sure he did. Did Isaac struggle? Most probably.

We women want to know details like those. But the Bible is silent and highlights instead the kind of faith that Abraham, and Isaac, demonstrated at a crossroads in their life.

We are familiar with the rest of the story. As Abraham was about to slay his son, God did provide a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And in this place of painful obedience, Abraham’s life took a turning point. So real was Abraham’s encounter with God that he called the place, “The Lord Will Provide.”

In this place of provision, when he thought he was facing a dead end, his faith was rewarded. And God speaks to him these awesome words of blessing: “Because … you have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing, I will bless you, and multiplying, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore, and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.” (Gen. 22:16-17, NKJV)

Real Life:
I find myself face to face with hard choices. To give up, to let go, to give in. To offer as a sacrifice what I hold dear and precious in my life. To say, “Yes, Lord,” even if I don’t understand. Even if deep inside of me, I’d rather not. Asking God to give me the grace, and the gentle strength, to yield. But I know my faith has to be broken before it can be proven strong. Faith is just a handle. It is the object of my faith that matters.

And though I know the rewards of faith are real: blessings of faith, multiplication, and possessing the gates of my enemies (vindication), there is no substitute for the greatest reward of all. God Himself.

Action Step:
What difficult situation are you facing right now? Do you hear yourself asking your heavenly father, “My Father, where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” What is His tender reply to you?

Prayer:

“My Father, I don’t always understand, or see the end of the road, but you are a God who can be counted on. When I have nothing to hold on to but my meager, mustard seed faith, I ask you to open my eyes and reveal to me options I never thought possible. Above all, lead me closer to your heart. You’re all I want.”

Revelations IV

by Proverbs 31 Woman!

THE VITAL KEY: PRAYER

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Phil. 4:4-6

Real Life:
How amazing it is to be aligned with God in spirit. For the last three Sundays now, Pastor Joe’s sermons talked about what the Lord revealed to me last year. As I was going through my journal, it was evident to me that He was talking about the same things. I was telling my husband yesterday at church that this was not a coincidence. It is indeed a confirmation of His word of instruction to His people. I remember someone said to me before, “If you hear the same message over twice, God is telling you something. Take heed.”

During my desert experience, it was the very time when everything seemed to go downhill. Aside from my failing the examinations, my family was faced with financial difficulties and challenges as well. In my desolate state, my mind was bombarded with questions: “Why couldn’t the Lord show himself powerful in our situation? Why are you far from me, Lord? Why are we merely treading on water and trying to survive? Why?… Why?…. Why?” My heart ached as I pondered upon these hard-hitting questions.

I knelt down and wept in prayer. Gradually, as I sought the Lord, a number of promises from his Word came alive. In my heart, as I began to rely upon them in prayer, God dispelled my sense of being overwhelmed. The Holy Spirit was helping me to understand the truths of Scripture, which in turn gave me the faith to trust the Lord.

One of the best gifts God gave at that time was teaching me to come to Him in sincere prayer. The Bible says: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30. Upon reading this, I wept again.

More and more I realized that prayer was the key. Why did God emphasize prayer?

*Prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38).

*We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7).

*Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also.

*God intends for prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations:
a) Preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13).
b) Overcoming demonic barriers in our lives (Matthew 17:14-21).
c) The gathering of workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2).
d) The gaining of strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41).
e) The means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).
f) The means for physical healing (Genesis 20:17).

We have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we don't receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15).

A lack of prayer demonstrates the lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word, and will bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of "plugging into" God's power, it is our means of defeating a foe and his army (Satan and his army) that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a High Priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18).

MY SILENT PRAYER

(written during my desert experience)

I come to you, O Lord in prayer,
Knowing and believing, you're always there;
With folded hands and bended knees,
Prayer, I know, is the ultimate key.

I wept, my heart in despair,
I asked if You ever care,
"Trust and Obey", was all I could hear,
In my heart, t'was ever so clear.

"Come and taste my goodness," You mused,
All the while I wandered, so confused.
In the desert, I was dry and alone-
Bewildered, I pondered until dawn.

Finally, I released of myself and stripped off,
Suddenly, fresh anointing of Your Spirit, I felt.
So gentle, so loving, so fragile, so soft,
Before His throne, with humility, my heart melts.

In prayer, relentlessly, unknown,
My God, in His favor, He has shown-
True love, my burdens He has carried,
For me on the cross until He was buried.

You gave me Hope, You gave me life!
Through resurrection power, You are my light.
My heavy yoke, the battle is not my fight,
But by Your Spirit, not mine power nor might.

Precious dear Lord, I thank you, I pray-
I will hear of you, in Your arms I stay.
In my silent prayer, You teach me to do,
In my life's journey, you leadeth I go.

May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.

Prayer:
“Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us to pray. Thank you that in your name, our battles within are silenced in prayer. Thank you that when we call upon your name, You come and hear our cry. Thank you that when we pray, You answer what’s best for us, in your perfect time. Amen.”

Prayer.... Make it a lifestyle. I have written more about it in my website: Proverbs 31 Journal's Prayer Tray. Click here for the link:
http://jensnursingchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/01/prayer-tray.html

Coming soon…Revelations V. “Give and it will come back to you”

L.O.L.

By Mizpah

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22

Real Life:

Two of my long-time resolutions that never got to be done are losing weight and getting into a regular exercise regimen. To date, they are just mirages as they stay on my list forever hoping that the next morning I wake up, I can say, “This is it! I’m on!”

Well, one good thing about being 40 up is that you get to loosen up on yourself! Not that I’ve given up hoping on having a 26 inch waistline, flat abs and tipping the weighing scale with 100 lbs. But the Lord surely must have known how lofty this dream may be for me, He showed me something!

Would you believe that I was having a good amount of exercise everyday? In Dr. Don Colbert’s article on “The Miraculous Medicine of Laughter”, he wrote that according to Dr. William Fry, Jr., who has spent thirty years or so in his study on the healing power of laughter and humor compares laughter to a good aerobic exercise. He said that laughter ventilates the lungs and leaves the muscles, nerves and heart warm and relaxed-the same benefits provided by aerobic exercise. It temporarily accelerates the heart rate, increases blood pressure and breathing, enlarges circulation and enhances the flow of oxygen in and out of the body. Laughing 100 to 200 times a day is equivalent to ten minutes of rowing or jogging. Belly laughter is the most therapeutic form of laughter and do you know that ten belly laughs are roughly equivalent to thirty minutes of aerobic exercise?

To add to that, it raises the level of our “feel good” hormone and “growth” hormone. I think I have to laugh some more as the latter hormone has not been activated in me yet! As what the Word of God tells us, “a merry heart does us good like medicine.” It also has been proven to lower blood pressure and produce overall improved health.

Healthy laughter is an expression of delight and joy that springs forth from a sense of well-being and peace. Only those who have known the peace that surpasses all understanding will be able to laugh like this! Only those who have known that they have a Father who is in charge of every detail of their lives can laugh at the days to come.

Life is so short to be lived with heavy hearts and down-cast souls. Let’s not take this life so seriously. This world ain’t getting better, guys! This world wants to bury us alive and eat us up everyday. But it can’t because we have a God who stands and fights for us! So, let’s make a daily, conscious choice to be thankful and enjoy life to the fullest. Let’s laugh out loud!

Praise God for the joy and laughter He has blessed me with! Ummm…I have long been in a regular exercise regimen after all.

I’ll try and ask God if He has an alternative to losing weight. I’m sure He has one!

To Ponder upon:

If you must take an inventory of yourself each day, will the attitude of gratitude outweigh your complaints? Will good words for others overflow more than tearing them down? Will kindness overtake your self-centeredness? Here’s something to think about. A good, pure, hearty laughter can only come from a heart that is at peace with God, with others, and with one’s self.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the gift of laughter. Thank you that truly no money can buy the times when you make us laugh till our belly hurts. Troubles may be many but thank you for those memories that never fail to bring a smile on our faces as we bring to mind your goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Lord, you are so good! In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Read more on laughter:

http://justlaughter.com/ageless_prescription.htm

Revelations Part III

by (JSL) Proverbs 31 Woman!

WAIT UPON HIM

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry."
Psalm 40:1

Bible Passage: Psalm 40:12-31

Real Life:
God engraved three major words in my heart: HUMILITY, WISDOM, and now, WAIT.

The words in Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.”

The magnificent, all-knowing God, bestowed to me the “wisdom” of “waiting” upon Him in my “humble” state. In reference, it is one of the most fascinating lessons in Isaiah 49:8, “This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you.” Isn’t this a wonderful promise? In no uncertain terms, God affirms the fact that he will answer and will help his people. But notice carefully the time slot for his help and answers: “in the time of my favor…. and in the day of salvation.” God has a designated time when his promise will be fulfilled and the prayer will be answered. It is a “day or moment” that he knows is best for the help to arrive and the deliverance to be accomplished.

And I wonder why God sighted the eagle as an illustration at the end of the verse. So with much curiousity, I made some research about this “magnificent” creature in the internet.

The eagle, known as the masters of the sky, represent a striking illustration of strength and courage. An eagle may have a wingspan ranges from 72 to 85 inches. Its wings are long and broad making them effective for soaring. Soaring is accomplished with very little wing-flapping, enabling them to conserve energy. An eagle’s tail is very important for flight and maneuvering. While the eagle is soaring or gliding in flight, the tail feathers are spread in order to attain the largest surface area and increase the effect of thermals to fly up and high. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/eagles/masters.html)

What an astounding representation! Our difficult situations are not hidden from God, nor are we being disregarded because we don’t yet see the answer. Furthermore, we don’t have to give in to unbelief because God gives “power to the weak.” But one thing I’m very sure of. When the time of favor comes for the fulfillment of His promises, it will flow, effortless! I will mount my wings and soar casually like an eagle and fly in the horizon wherever the hand of the Lord leads me.

To Ponder upon:
What is your strength? Is it your youth? ... your conditioning? ... your wisdom? ... your friends? ... your experience?… your material resources? None of us can depend upon our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerable to the fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times. Let's call upon, let's wait upon, let's depend upon the LORD and soar effortless like an eagle!

Prayer:
My Lord, my first love, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life I praise you and thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Revelations IV coming soon.

Revelations – Part II

by JSL - Proverbs 31 Woman!

Sir Edmund Hillary

MARKED BY MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33

Bible Passage: Proverbs 15

Real Life:
Last Friday broke the news of Sir Edmund Hillary passing away at 88. A man who lived in relative obscurity as a beekeeper in Auckland, New Zealand. But the unprecedented feat of scaling the world's highest mountain brought him a fame he could hardly have imagined. He conquered Mount Everest and the South Pole and captured the world’s imagination. He led expeditions to the South Pole and other remote corners of the earth, but he returned often to the mountains of Nepal, the scene of his greatest triumph. Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his long life to environmental causes and to humanitarian efforts on behalf of the Nepalese people. More than half a century after his most famous feat, his fame remained undimmed. His name has become a byword for courage, endurance and great humility. Read about it here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/siredmundhillarytopoftheworld;_ylt=AtFek0ktuEpXUdE0S1XQqutvaA8F

Simon Robinson of TIME magazine wrote about him, and I quote: “Once, while resting on a rock during a short trek in Nepal with friend and film director Michael Dillon, an American walker stopped and showed Hillary how to hold an ice-axe. “Hillary listened and thanked him, but said nothing else,” remembers Dillon. "The American went away without any idea whom he had spoken to. The first man to stand on top of the world didn't see himself as a hero. Others always will.”

I admire this man. The more I read about him, the more I desired of his humility.

I was once full of myself. I was too engrossed with my achievements and fetes in nursing school that I thought I was in control of my life. I determined my days. I decided what I was to do today, tomorrow and a year from now. I became too busy that I forgot what God thought about what I was doing and where I was going. But because God gave me free will, he allowed me to go my own way. And because He cared for me, He had to stop me before I went too far. Maybe this was why He allowed me to fail the local nursing exams.

I found myself destined for God’s appointed “desert” experience where I could humble myself and receive from Him. I was dry, weary and heavily laden. In this “desert” I saw myself as prideful, fearful, and resentful.

I knelt and wept before the feet of Jesus and surrendered and repented of my transgression before His very throne. Then I sensed God’s touch, forgiveness and magnificent restorative grace through these powerful verses:

- He is Able - Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
- Fear not- Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- He loves me – 1John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

At that point, I knew that the One who allowed that difficulty is the One who loves me more than anyone else does in the whole universe. No, I may not understand the state of affairs, but I know He loves me….. deeply.

Action Step:
Stop. Drop everything. Be still and know that He is God.

Prayer:
My Lord, I only need a flicker in this dark world enough for me to hold on to Your perfect promises. I want to stay close to you in the dark for You are my light of life so I will not stumble or fall. Amen.

Part III coming soon.

WHO? ME?

by Mizpah

“He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.”

Ecclesiastes 5:20

2007 was a year of confrontation with I, me and myself. The diversity of circumstances God showered my way did much of its part to surprise me and forced me to come to terms with who I really was and what stuff I was really made of.

Unexpected tremors and rumblings stripped me of the flimsy and volatile covering I had so long tried to cover myself with. Hot flushes, a quarterly menstrual period, hyperventilation, hypertension, the discovery of a more pronounced “missing” waistline, larger skin pores, not to mention inability to refuse sleep at 9:00 in the evening , and sipping my first cup of coffee at 3:00 in the morning were among the highlights of last year. And my clincher was checking out of Riverside Medical Center on December 31 after a five-day admission, gulping down thirteen bottles of dextrose when “amoebiasis” got me down.

Is this it? Am I in it? I never imagined that it included these! “Not in one clump, Lord! YES, YOU ARE! relentlessly resonated in every crevice of my heart.

The process of acceptance came a little bit slow but thank God, it did!

Come to think of it…honestly, and I mean, really honestly, I think I’m beginning to like the new “me” now. I never imagined that this liberation would bring me to the real “me”, the more secure “me” , and yes, the freed “me”!

When my sister-in-law forwarded this article to me, I can’t help but chuckle. Oh, yeah! Right on!

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!
MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
FRIENDS & SISTERS FOREVER!

(name of author not included)

Where are you right now in your life? Have you been going through some stripping lately? Give yourself some time and embrace the changes God is doing in your life and you will surely be in for the greatest surprise of your life.

Welcome aboard, women! It’s an enjoyable trip!