Saturday, May 28, 2011
She Almost Lived an Uneventful Life - Part2
When you surrender to God do not shortcut discipleship, do not shortcut spiritual growth, do not shortcut maturity, do not shortcut brokenness. Because I surrender there’s no need for shortcuts. Because I learn to surrender, there are no demands. I see that throughout the scriptures like Abraham, like the prodigal son, no demands. So if you’re still demanding to God you have not learned surrender. If you already surrendered to God then there’s no need to hurry. If you learn to surrender there’s no pressure. If you learn to surrender there’s no envy.
She Almost Lived an Uneventful Life - Part1
This woman, the Shunnamite was afraid of God, she would like to deal with the man of God, not God, which is opposite of Hannah, Hannah said I want God, the Shunnamite said I want the man of God. Our word for today is safe. I want the prophet because it’s safe, I cannot stand God. So Holy, so direct, so frank, so powerful. I want this prophet and just give him food, give him house, give him love gift, he will do you good.
Friday, May 27, 2011
“SHE ALMOST LIVED AN UNEVENTFUL LIFE”
“SHE ALMOST LIVED AN UNEVENTFUL LIFE”
BY: Rev. Arnel Tan
“The she said, “ Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say,”Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up?”
2 Kings 4:28 NLT
The Shunemite woman almost lived an uneventful life. Thank God for His intervention, she did not go on living safe. What is a spiritually uneventful life? It is a life too safe that faith in God is no longer required or needed. It is a life too secure that there is no more room for surprise or shock. It is a life too protected that danger is not familiar. On the outside this life seems ‘ideal’… but what most of us don’t see is that this is a life too afraid. It is afraid to love so it won’t get hurt; afraid to serve so there will be no criticism; afraid to help lest help is rejected; afraid to care, to grieve and eventually, afraid to grow.
Not only the wealthy woman from Shunem treads this path. This is the path that many unknowingly tread in their hearts and through their spiritual journey. To expand the idea further, this is the road many churches tread… so safe and so afraid to obey God! God cannot agree with a kind of life that involves no risk… that requires no faith. Thank God for His timely intervention, we are spared from this kind of life. How God intervenes will forever be a mystery, yet the result is a great adventure of faith.
‘Living by faith’ is not a life of reckless irresponsibility nor is it suicidal… it is enjoying the Presence of God in this journey of life. The journey does not guarantee safety or immunity from pain and pressure… rather, it is leads us to God and to avail of His abundant grace so that we are equipped with hope and Godly enthusiasm. In this journey of faith, God stirs a deep hunger in our hearts like the unexplainable stirring in the eagle’s heart to soar high instead of feeding with the hens. Like a sea lion heeding the call of the waves of the sea for him to be the sea lion he was created to be. As the eagle is called to leave his false nest with the hen; and as the sea lion is called to leave his little pool, God calls each of us to leave our safe lives by surrendering to Him.
Many are so deeply entrenched in their ‘safe mode’ that it now requires that God steps in and pulls us out of this rut. God’s methods are not easy to understand… but by faith we choose not to doubt His motives. If the woman of Shunem never had a son, she never would have learned to care, love and later, to release. Unlike Hannah, she was too afraid to even verbalize to God what she longed for – a son! Her addiction to safety almost denied her the adventure of faith… so when the boy died, all her fears came true. Thank God the boy lived again. You know, even if the boy did not make it, having had a son for a while was worth it all - she knew how to be unselfish… she became a MOM!
BY: Rev. Arnel Tan
“The she said, “ Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say,”Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up?”
2 Kings 4:28 NLT
The Shunemite woman almost lived an uneventful life. Thank God for His intervention, she did not go on living safe. What is a spiritually uneventful life? It is a life too safe that faith in God is no longer required or needed. It is a life too secure that there is no more room for surprise or shock. It is a life too protected that danger is not familiar. On the outside this life seems ‘ideal’… but what most of us don’t see is that this is a life too afraid. It is afraid to love so it won’t get hurt; afraid to serve so there will be no criticism; afraid to help lest help is rejected; afraid to care, to grieve and eventually, afraid to grow.
Not only the wealthy woman from Shunem treads this path. This is the path that many unknowingly tread in their hearts and through their spiritual journey. To expand the idea further, this is the road many churches tread… so safe and so afraid to obey God! God cannot agree with a kind of life that involves no risk… that requires no faith. Thank God for His timely intervention, we are spared from this kind of life. How God intervenes will forever be a mystery, yet the result is a great adventure of faith.
‘Living by faith’ is not a life of reckless irresponsibility nor is it suicidal… it is enjoying the Presence of God in this journey of life. The journey does not guarantee safety or immunity from pain and pressure… rather, it is leads us to God and to avail of His abundant grace so that we are equipped with hope and Godly enthusiasm. In this journey of faith, God stirs a deep hunger in our hearts like the unexplainable stirring in the eagle’s heart to soar high instead of feeding with the hens. Like a sea lion heeding the call of the waves of the sea for him to be the sea lion he was created to be. As the eagle is called to leave his false nest with the hen; and as the sea lion is called to leave his little pool, God calls each of us to leave our safe lives by surrendering to Him.
Many are so deeply entrenched in their ‘safe mode’ that it now requires that God steps in and pulls us out of this rut. God’s methods are not easy to understand… but by faith we choose not to doubt His motives. If the woman of Shunem never had a son, she never would have learned to care, love and later, to release. Unlike Hannah, she was too afraid to even verbalize to God what she longed for – a son! Her addiction to safety almost denied her the adventure of faith… so when the boy died, all her fears came true. Thank God the boy lived again. You know, even if the boy did not make it, having had a son for a while was worth it all - she knew how to be unselfish… she became a MOM!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
HANNAH: A WOMAN OF PRAYER
By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“Sir do you remember me? Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord.”
1 Samuel 1:26 NLT
In many ways, Hannah modeled to us the importance of prayer. From her life, we learn to bring all our sorrows to the Lord. I think it was not an accident that she did not bring her burden to Eli, the priest, who was at that time, sitting at his usual post, waiting for people to pray for. Perhaps, Hannah knew that her problem needed more than a man of God… she needed to talk to God directly! It is a remarkable display of spiritual maturity when God’s people grow dependent on God and not on His servants. In Christ, we who have trusted Him as Lord and Savior, have full access to the throne of grace. It is in this throne where we pour out our hearts and it is also here that we receive mercy from God. Honestly, our access to the God’s throne of grace today is far better than during Hannah’s time, yet so few of God’s children pray… really pray.
No one wants to be sorrowful or add to the problems one already has, yet mysteriously, these unwanted problems are royal invitations… so we can be ushered to the throne of grace. Without these problems, most of us would not have learned how to pray. The moment a child of God, or a sinner, calls on God in truth, solutions to our problems are not instantaneous. One thing is true… God draws near and draws close to those who call on Him. During those stormy times, God’s Presence becomes our refuge and rest… so we can go through it all. His Presence is more than enough!
In prayer, we come to Him, not as perfect individuals but needy ones. Honestly, due to the intense pain of the soul, our words may not be enough nor pleasant. It is here where we say a lot of things we don’t really mean. When we release the venom of a wounded soul, it does not look perfect… in fact, it is messy. God understands the mess and honors the brokenness of the heart which is learning a fresh lesson of surrender. Hannah did not only bring her sorrow to God in prayer, she also learned surrender… meaning, she no longer demands; no longer wants short cuts; no longer seeks revenge; no longer is in a hurry and no longer controlling.
“Hannah prayed” may be a short inscription… but it is a loaded one. Prayer brought her to depths of communion with God and taught her the joy of surrender… and ultimately prepared her to receive her granted request. What is remarkable is that Hannah no longer needed sorrow to bring her to God. Even God’s surprise of giving her a son brought her back to God—who is greater than any surprise! ‘Hannah prayed’… ‘Jesus prayed’… ‘the early church prayed’… and when you and I pray, we step into a loaded journey of surrender and surprise. Amen.
“Sir do you remember me? Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord.”
1 Samuel 1:26 NLT
In many ways, Hannah modeled to us the importance of prayer. From her life, we learn to bring all our sorrows to the Lord. I think it was not an accident that she did not bring her burden to Eli, the priest, who was at that time, sitting at his usual post, waiting for people to pray for. Perhaps, Hannah knew that her problem needed more than a man of God… she needed to talk to God directly! It is a remarkable display of spiritual maturity when God’s people grow dependent on God and not on His servants. In Christ, we who have trusted Him as Lord and Savior, have full access to the throne of grace. It is in this throne where we pour out our hearts and it is also here that we receive mercy from God. Honestly, our access to the God’s throne of grace today is far better than during Hannah’s time, yet so few of God’s children pray… really pray.
No one wants to be sorrowful or add to the problems one already has, yet mysteriously, these unwanted problems are royal invitations… so we can be ushered to the throne of grace. Without these problems, most of us would not have learned how to pray. The moment a child of God, or a sinner, calls on God in truth, solutions to our problems are not instantaneous. One thing is true… God draws near and draws close to those who call on Him. During those stormy times, God’s Presence becomes our refuge and rest… so we can go through it all. His Presence is more than enough!
In prayer, we come to Him, not as perfect individuals but needy ones. Honestly, due to the intense pain of the soul, our words may not be enough nor pleasant. It is here where we say a lot of things we don’t really mean. When we release the venom of a wounded soul, it does not look perfect… in fact, it is messy. God understands the mess and honors the brokenness of the heart which is learning a fresh lesson of surrender. Hannah did not only bring her sorrow to God in prayer, she also learned surrender… meaning, she no longer demands; no longer wants short cuts; no longer seeks revenge; no longer is in a hurry and no longer controlling.
“Hannah prayed” may be a short inscription… but it is a loaded one. Prayer brought her to depths of communion with God and taught her the joy of surrender… and ultimately prepared her to receive her granted request. What is remarkable is that Hannah no longer needed sorrow to bring her to God. Even God’s surprise of giving her a son brought her back to God—who is greater than any surprise! ‘Hannah prayed’… ‘Jesus prayed’… ‘the early church prayed’… and when you and I pray, we step into a loaded journey of surrender and surprise. Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sorrow Surrender Surprise - Part2
When you surrender to God do not shortcut discipleship, do not shortcut spiritual growth, do not shortcut maturity, do not shortcut brokenness. Because I surrender there’s no need for shortcuts. Because I learn to surrender, there are no demands. I see that throughout the scriptures like Abraham, like the prodigal son, no demands. So if you’re still demanding to God you have not learned surrender. If you already surrendered to God then there’s no need to hurry. If you learn to surrender there’s no pressure. If you learn to surrender there’s no envy.
Sorrow Surrender Surprise - Part1
In prayer we learn the joy of surrender. It is not always joyful to surrender to God because sometimes what God likes I don’t like, what I like God doesn’t like. Surrender is not a picture of someone threatened. The picture of biblical surrender is a marrying someone willingly, lovingly, giving life for the other. We will not come to a point of surrender to someone until we know from our hearts that we love that someone. You don’t surrender precious things to strangers. It is assumed that there is a deep relationship.
Hannah a Woman of Prayer - Part2
What is the promise when you really pray and when you call on the name of the Lord? The Lord is close to those who call upon Him in truth. Who is close? The Lord, it did not say the blessing is close to those who pray but if you just want the blessings you don’t need to go with God the devil is already sufficient if you just want a good life, wealth, health and riches. But if you choose to go with God, He gives you more than the blessing, He gives you the ultimate blessings of all and what is the ultimate blessings of all? The ultimate blessing of all is Himself!
Hannah a Woman of Prayer - Part1
Hannah is barren woman and she bears no child. In those days if you are barren there’s a lot of judgment of people who will classify you to a category of condemned , judged by a society as accursed by God if a woman cannot bear a child. She lives in a family that was not ideal, her husband married two wives. Remember the truth what the Bible records is different from what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches the lifestyle of long time ago but they disobeyed God’s plan. In the garden it was Adam and Eve and the story of Hannah’s husband was an Adam with two Eves that is a problem! Whenever we compromise, we compromise God’s standard and we are in deep trouble. You know what’s the second big trouble? When we do not listen to God anymore.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Reflections Concerning Mothers and Motherhood
Written by DCBC Admin Saturday, 07 May 2011 11:45
“No man is poor who has had a godly mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Honore’ de Balzac
“Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother’s secret hope outlives them all.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Before becoming a mother I had a hundred theories on how to bring up children. Now I have seven children and only one theory: love them, especially when they least deserves to be loved.” – Kate Samperi
“Making decision to have a child—it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth Stone
“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever you do well matters very much. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Adorable children are considered to be general property of the human race.
Rude children belong to their mothers- Judith Martin
“The mother loves her child most divinely, not when she surrounds him with comfort anticipates his wants, but when she resolutely holds him to the highest standards and is content with nothing less his best.” Hamilton Wright Mabie
“Motherhood brings as much as joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality especially while you struggle to keep your own. “- Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons
“ A mother understands what a does not say.” –Jewish Proverb
“The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.” Erich Fromm
“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”- Cardinal Mermilled
“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” Lin Yu-tang
“Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the Promised Land. She prepares a world she will not see.” Pope Paul VI
“A mother is the most precious possessions of the nation, so precious that society advances its highest well-being when it protects the functions of the mother.”- Ellen Key
“Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world.” Kate Douglas Wiggin
“No man is poor who has had a godly mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Honore’ de Balzac
“Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother’s secret hope outlives them all.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Before becoming a mother I had a hundred theories on how to bring up children. Now I have seven children and only one theory: love them, especially when they least deserves to be loved.” – Kate Samperi
“Making decision to have a child—it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth Stone
“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever you do well matters very much. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Adorable children are considered to be general property of the human race.
Rude children belong to their mothers- Judith Martin
“The mother loves her child most divinely, not when she surrounds him with comfort anticipates his wants, but when she resolutely holds him to the highest standards and is content with nothing less his best.” Hamilton Wright Mabie
“Motherhood brings as much as joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality especially while you struggle to keep your own. “- Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons
“ A mother understands what a does not say.” –Jewish Proverb
“The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.” Erich Fromm
“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”- Cardinal Mermilled
“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” Lin Yu-tang
“Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the Promised Land. She prepares a world she will not see.” Pope Paul VI
“A mother is the most precious possessions of the nation, so precious that society advances its highest well-being when it protects the functions of the mother.”- Ellen Key
“Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world.” Kate Douglas Wiggin
Is There a Hope for the Overconfident Church of Laodicea - Part2
The Laodicea is well known in the medical field for the eye, but Jesus says you are blind spiritually. What a dangerous prayer when you ask the Lord “Lord show me my real spiritual state”. A friend of mine shared to me which I heard long ago from Pastor Jim Cymbala, He said, that “There are two spiritual states of our soul either you are drawing close to God or you’re falling away, no neutral ground. Which one are you?
Is There a Hope for the Overconfident Church of Laodicea - Part1
When we say lukewarm church its not to be interpreted as not so evil and not so good because people might think that we want to be lukewarm which is not so good and not so bad. Most people think that it would be a better choice but, it is evil. It’s not about being good or evil. The church of Laodicea has become indifferent. Their over confidence resulted to their being lukewarm. It is interesting to take note of their background. The city of Laodicea is a wealthy city, wealthy in the sense that there is a banking system or commerce, branded clothing like Versace and other brands, well known in the medical field for the eyes. Their popularity spread out. As a result, it affected the church. It should be the church should infect the world but one way or another, the world infects the church. The church should be a model of righteousness. Now, they are cousins of this world. That’s why Jesus says to them “you are lukewarm.”
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Come to the Table
By: Rev. Arnel Tan
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev. 3:20 NLT
It is in the church of Laodicea that Christ gave his severe criticism for their being neither hot nor cold; it is also here that Christ made the most intimate offer of coming in . . . to share a meal as friends. An offer, made not to a particular individual, but to the whole church. This is a chance to change from being lukewarm into being ON FIRE for the Lord; not as a busy worker, but as a dear friend. Here, we see the heart of Jesus and His desire to have fellowship with His church. Nothing should replace that intimacy . . . no project, no matter how noble, should replace the enjoyment of God’s presence!
The table of God, through the observance of the Lord supper, is one example of how Christ invites His busy or lukewarm church to come aside and once more savor what matters the most in this journey of faith. We come to His table at his invitation . . . not at our initiation. Here, we lay aside all that we call urgent or important to give way to Jesus; here, we repent; we rejoice in our forgiveness; we are refreshed by His nourishing and welcoming presence. The wafer and the cup remain as to symbols. Yes, symbols representing eternal treasures.
This meal, shared with the Lord, is a glorious moment of cleansing and commissioning. We are warned by Paul not to abuse this communion like the Corinthian believers . . . for abusing the privileges of friendship destroys intimacy. The requirement is not a perfect or sinless life but a repentant heart ready to reconcile with God. A heart that is broken is a heart that is blessed. As Jesus offered the bread and blessed it and broke it, so shall we be blessed so we can live a life that shares the blessing of being broken. Today, we open our hearts to Christ and say, “Come in, Lord; take away our lukewarm hearts . . . set them on fire for Your glory. Cleanse our hearts that we may enjoy Your presence, not as a stern Judge . . . not as a stern judge . . . but as with a close friend. All of these we do in remembrance of Christ! Amen.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev. 3:20 NLT
It is in the church of Laodicea that Christ gave his severe criticism for their being neither hot nor cold; it is also here that Christ made the most intimate offer of coming in . . . to share a meal as friends. An offer, made not to a particular individual, but to the whole church. This is a chance to change from being lukewarm into being ON FIRE for the Lord; not as a busy worker, but as a dear friend. Here, we see the heart of Jesus and His desire to have fellowship with His church. Nothing should replace that intimacy . . . no project, no matter how noble, should replace the enjoyment of God’s presence!
The table of God, through the observance of the Lord supper, is one example of how Christ invites His busy or lukewarm church to come aside and once more savor what matters the most in this journey of faith. We come to His table at his invitation . . . not at our initiation. Here, we lay aside all that we call urgent or important to give way to Jesus; here, we repent; we rejoice in our forgiveness; we are refreshed by His nourishing and welcoming presence. The wafer and the cup remain as to symbols. Yes, symbols representing eternal treasures.
This meal, shared with the Lord, is a glorious moment of cleansing and commissioning. We are warned by Paul not to abuse this communion like the Corinthian believers . . . for abusing the privileges of friendship destroys intimacy. The requirement is not a perfect or sinless life but a repentant heart ready to reconcile with God. A heart that is broken is a heart that is blessed. As Jesus offered the bread and blessed it and broke it, so shall we be blessed so we can live a life that shares the blessing of being broken. Today, we open our hearts to Christ and say, “Come in, Lord; take away our lukewarm hearts . . . set them on fire for Your glory. Cleanse our hearts that we may enjoy Your presence, not as a stern Judge . . . not as a stern judge . . . but as with a close friend. All of these we do in remembrance of Christ! Amen.
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