With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. - Judges 6:21

Do you know how does God call people into His service? There is a clear pattern in the way God calls men and women into service for Him. Almost every major leader has been called while he or she was in the midst of performing his or her everyday vocation. When Jesus called His disciples, they were all in the midst of their career - Peter was a fisherman; Matthew was a tax collector; Luke was a physician; Paul was a Pharisees; Moses was a shepherd. Even Jesus was a carpenter before He was called to minister to the people of God. (more…)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” - Luke 11:1

God is calling us believers throughout the world who understand the role of prayer in our community. These disciples have learned that prayer is not a five-minute exercise in the morning devotion time, but it is a vital strategic tool to discern and know God’s will and purposes in their lives. You see they have learned that their work lives are their ministries to God and others. (more…)

For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. – Psalm 139:13-14

For today, I decided to share a real-life story of God’s wonderous creation and love. This is about Dana Lu Blessing. May this story touch a chord in your heart as you ponder on the beautiful gift that God gives to every married couple – children.

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news. That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple’s new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing. (more…)

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

The overwhelming burden she has to bear was unbearable. Alone and widowed with four children to feed, bills to pay, households to do, office problems, children’s homework…plundered by chords and responsibilities that seem no end, she simply feels like giving up. How good it is to have a day of rest all to herself. Day after day, she holds on to one hope and the one belief that has seen her through all difficulties. God promised that He is with her and He will never abandon her. At times in the nights, it is her tears that keep her company. These tears of anguish, helplessness and frustration only bring her comfort and closer to God for she knows that every single tear she shed, it is gathered by the angels and it will be turned to tears of joys. She faithfully looks to God for every providence, for every comfort, for every protection. But the widow never gives up. She knows that Yah, the Lord, is her strength and song. He is also her salvation in whom she will trust and not be afraid (Isaiah 12:2).

Are you like the widow? Are there moments when you feel like giving up, throw every problem to the wind and pretend they never exist? Do you feel that you are alone and no one seems to know or care about you? Be at peace, my friend, for there is Someone who knows and understands. There is Someone who sits on the right-hand side of God interceding for you. There is Someone who never leaves you nor forsake you. This Someone is Jesus, who have given His life on the cross for your salvation, to set you free. You are not alone in this world for Jesus has carried all your burdens on Him on the cross. Simply exchange your burdens with His love. The yoke is much easier to carry.

Question yourself:

• Do I know this Jesus as my personal friend just as the widow does?
• Am I willing to give my burdens to God and exchange it with His love and His yoke which is easier to carry?

A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 28:20

In the Promised Land, we learn that obedience is the only thing that matters. We are called to execute, and leave outcome to God. Sometimes that outcome is very positive, yielding a return. In other cases, we may not yield a corresponding return. We may even get a negative outcome. The difference is that we know that we have been faithful to what God has called us to and we yield results to God. God often blesses obedience beyond what we deserve. If God brings wealth to your life, it should come as a by-product of obedience, not an end in itself. (more…)

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy - 1 Samuel 3:8

The prophet, Samuel, was born to Hannah, a woman of great faith in God. Hannah was barren for a long time. At that time, for a married woman to be barren was a great shame. Hannah cried out to God for a son in the temple. The Lord heard her cries and gave her Samuel in whom she dedicated her son to the Lord for His service in the temple. After Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the house of the Lord to be reared by Eli, the priest of Israel. But Eli was not a godly leader. Corruption ruled in his household and his sons sinned against God in God’s house. God was displeased with Eli and his whole household was judged. (more…)

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. - 2 Corinthians 4:12

I believe that everyone of us has been through tough times in life. Things that we valued no longer hold the same value. Small things become big things, and what we once thought big no longer holds much importance.

These hard times allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. It keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships others are going through and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of trials with no real experiences often ended up in judging others facing hardships. It is a superficial Christian experience that often permeates shallow believers. (more…)

He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience. - Judges 3:2

God used Joshua to take Israelites into the Promise Land. After Joshua, there came an entire generation who had very little experience in fighting battles like the ones fought by Joshua. Training and testing God’s people is one of God’s important strategies that enable His children to succeed in spiritual warfare. That is why we always face trials in our life to see whether our faith is real or just nothing. (more…)

“Enter through the narrow gate… wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it… small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Matthew 7:13-14

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” -Psalm 119:105

Sometime, we may think about how easy to find our way into things (situations, relationships, etc) and sometime how not so easy to find our way out. I believe, the Lord is the answer to finding the Way out.

Question yourself:

• Do I walk on God’s way?

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Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. - Psalms 55:22

Whatever our burden may be, no matter how trivial or overwhelming it seems, we are to cast it to the good Lord. When we cast our burden to Him, His sustaining power will flow through our lives. He will strengthen, support and nourish us. He truly loves us. He truly cares for us. (more…)