If you're a parent, you can identify with the fact that every child has their own unique personality. I have two daughters and the two of them have completely different temperaments! One is a neat freak who functions off a calendar, lays our her clothes the night before, is more soft spoken and process things to death. The other... her room is constantly cluttered, lives in the moment, can't decide on what to wear, runs late, is very vocal and doesn't really think about consequences.
I scratch my head often because I don't understand how we can do the exact same "parenting plan" and get two different responses to almost everything. We have learned that each child, with their own unique personality and different ways of learning, still must have the same expectations within our home. Both kids must share in the responsibilities of the home, do their homework, treat people with respect, go to bed at the same time, etc. We don't change what is right or acceptable just because they are unique and different from each other.
In Genesis 4 there were two brothers: Cain and Able. The bible identifies that they were different from each other; "...Able kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil...". The time came when they were to bring an offering to the Lord. The bible doesn't say that mom and dad (Adam and Eve) made them do it, but it does imply that the Lord had a certain expectation of the offerings that they brought.
"In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” - Genesis 4:3-7
See, Able brought his first fruit; unblemished firstborn of his flock, but Cain just brought some of the common fruit of his harvest, not the 'first fruit'. Regardless of who we are, the Lord expects us as His children to bring our very best, and to do anything less than that is consider unacceptable.
GOD DESERVES OUR BEST!
The Lord accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. Can got pretty ticked. Maybe he thought it was unfair, or made excuses. God gave a word of correction to Cain about what God expects, but Cain would not receive it. See... our gifts are a reflection of our heart. It wasn't the fact that God loves meat more than He loves fruits and veggies... God just wants us to bring our best.
God gave Cain more than an opportunity to change what he was to bring, God was wanting Cain to change the condition of Cain's heart. I don't think Cain sinned with his offering, but the current condition of Cain's heart was going to give and open door to sin to work in his life... "...sin is crouching at your door...". Cain refused and he went on to kill his brother Abel out of jealousy and anger.
What is the attitude and condition of our hearts? Are we willing to bring God our best, even if it's inconvenient? Giving our best is a sacrifice. Are we willing to sacrifice for our Lord who sacrifices His best for us? Let's not get careless or sloppy with the condition of our heart... let's give God the very best!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, October 17, 2010
BEAUTIFUL!
Tonight was Faith Family Church Night of Worship (NOW)... it was absolutely breath taking! Here's a summary: Jesus was exalted, people experienced the real love of God and discovered their true identity! PRAISE GOD....
Since I'm not limited to 140 characters, I'll elaborate a bit more:
To open the night, an incredible young man named Carl Jones did a monologue of Psalm 139. All I can say is...WOW... incredibly BEAUTIFUL and powerful!
"For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16
It was as if the entire night, God was revealing Himself to everyone in such a personal way. It was a prophetic night for many, full of true revelation of His love and "the beautiful purpose" of life. The house was filled with glorious praise that exalted Jesus Christ. I can't even begin to explain it all... It was as if Heaven touched earth.
Amy Murray delivered a powerful Word entitled The Beautiful Purpose. Calling every Christ follower to be who God has created us to be. She said: "God has so uniquely created, formed and fashioned every single one of us... even our fingerprints display the diversity and creativity of God. There has never been anyone like you and will never be like you. But this isn't because we are so amazing... IT'S BECAUSE GOD IS SO AMAZING!"
She then took it to a whole other level when she quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." Reminding us that WE CAN KNOW THE BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE AND PLANS FOR OUR LIFE. That God actually wants to reveal to us our purpose for life even more than we long to know it!
Although I believe I am fulfilling God's plan for my life, I was reminded that I can't just sit on the sideline of life hoping to fulfill it, but I must pursue God passionately as well as the plans that He has in store for me. To remove the lid of fear and insecurity... to DREAM BIG, be creative and innovative; because the Spirit of God is at work in me to reveal the full beauty of the life God has given to me!
My heart is filled and my Spirit is soaring... compelled by the awesome love and faith that God has given to me... that Christ died for. I don't want to waste this life that God has so generously blessed me with.
We learned a new song entitled All that I Am (taken from Psalm 139). I'll end with part of lyrics of the song:
I AM ALL THAT I AM... AND I'M NOTHING WITHOUT YOU! THIS LIFE IS UNMISTAKABLE AND HIS LOVE IS UNFORGETTABLE! GOD IT'S YOU I NEED ALONE!
Since I'm not limited to 140 characters, I'll elaborate a bit more:
To open the night, an incredible young man named Carl Jones did a monologue of Psalm 139. All I can say is...WOW... incredibly BEAUTIFUL and powerful!
"For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16
It was as if the entire night, God was revealing Himself to everyone in such a personal way. It was a prophetic night for many, full of true revelation of His love and "the beautiful purpose" of life. The house was filled with glorious praise that exalted Jesus Christ. I can't even begin to explain it all... It was as if Heaven touched earth.
Amy Murray delivered a powerful Word entitled The Beautiful Purpose. Calling every Christ follower to be who God has created us to be. She said: "God has so uniquely created, formed and fashioned every single one of us... even our fingerprints display the diversity and creativity of God. There has never been anyone like you and will never be like you. But this isn't because we are so amazing... IT'S BECAUSE GOD IS SO AMAZING!"
She then took it to a whole other level when she quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." Reminding us that WE CAN KNOW THE BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE AND PLANS FOR OUR LIFE. That God actually wants to reveal to us our purpose for life even more than we long to know it!
Although I believe I am fulfilling God's plan for my life, I was reminded that I can't just sit on the sideline of life hoping to fulfill it, but I must pursue God passionately as well as the plans that He has in store for me. To remove the lid of fear and insecurity... to DREAM BIG, be creative and innovative; because the Spirit of God is at work in me to reveal the full beauty of the life God has given to me!
My heart is filled and my Spirit is soaring... compelled by the awesome love and faith that God has given to me... that Christ died for. I don't want to waste this life that God has so generously blessed me with.
We learned a new song entitled All that I Am (taken from Psalm 139). I'll end with part of lyrics of the song:
I AM ALL THAT I AM... AND I'M NOTHING WITHOUT YOU! THIS LIFE IS UNMISTAKABLE AND HIS LOVE IS UNFORGETTABLE! GOD IT'S YOU I NEED ALONE!
Friday, August 20, 2010
One Year Ago Today...
Today is the one year mark of when my mother passed away suddenly from a heart attack. But I don't live this day dwelling on her death... today I will celebrate her life.
I spent the day with my sister Theresa: hanging out, lunch at one of our favorite Korean restaurant, going to the grave site. It was great sharing that time with her.
There's no doubt that my mom had a huge impact in my life. Can't imagine all the prayers that she prayed for us kids... they are still being answered to this day. That's the great thing about prayers; they are not limited to space nor time... so keep praying people!
If you're a parent, don't minimize the importance of each day. Your impact will be felt for life! I have my mom's voice recorded inside of me... every funny saying she had, every soap box she ever stood on, all those moments when she was transparent about her feelings toward us... they don't go away. My mom desired for great things for us, wanting us to have a better life experience in every way. There's no parent that exists who did everything right... but the greatest parents give their best efforts as they continue to surrender their kids to God's will and plan.
If you're a child, don't minimize the importance of each day either. Honor them... esteem value, grace and the benefit of the doubt to the heart behind what you don't understand. Variables such as: culture, upbringing, or the era in which they were raised (war or economic stresses) that can be different from anything you may know or have experienced. Each parent is dealt a different set of cards than you have been given. Just because you don't understand or even agree, doesn't make them weird, wrong or out of touch. Instead of complaining or arguing with them... pray. God knows them much better than you do! Besides, you are planting seeds for your future by the way you treat them... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THIS IS UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN A PARENT!
I thank God for my mom. I'm grateful for the impact she has made in my life. Although I miss her, I know we will be reunited again because she knew Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. This is the greatest impact she had made in my life... that's an impact I'll experience for eternity!
Love you mom... someday I'll see you again. Until then... God help me to live each day with impact... especially for my girls.
I spent the day with my sister Theresa: hanging out, lunch at one of our favorite Korean restaurant, going to the grave site. It was great sharing that time with her.
There's no doubt that my mom had a huge impact in my life. Can't imagine all the prayers that she prayed for us kids... they are still being answered to this day. That's the great thing about prayers; they are not limited to space nor time... so keep praying people!
If you're a parent, don't minimize the importance of each day. Your impact will be felt for life! I have my mom's voice recorded inside of me... every funny saying she had, every soap box she ever stood on, all those moments when she was transparent about her feelings toward us... they don't go away. My mom desired for great things for us, wanting us to have a better life experience in every way. There's no parent that exists who did everything right... but the greatest parents give their best efforts as they continue to surrender their kids to God's will and plan.
If you're a child, don't minimize the importance of each day either. Honor them... esteem value, grace and the benefit of the doubt to the heart behind what you don't understand. Variables such as: culture, upbringing, or the era in which they were raised (war or economic stresses) that can be different from anything you may know or have experienced. Each parent is dealt a different set of cards than you have been given. Just because you don't understand or even agree, doesn't make them weird, wrong or out of touch. Instead of complaining or arguing with them... pray. God knows them much better than you do! Besides, you are planting seeds for your future by the way you treat them... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THIS IS UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN A PARENT!
I thank God for my mom. I'm grateful for the impact she has made in my life. Although I miss her, I know we will be reunited again because she knew Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. This is the greatest impact she had made in my life... that's an impact I'll experience for eternity!
Love you mom... someday I'll see you again. Until then... God help me to live each day with impact... especially for my girls.
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