clay

Today is another discovery of myself.

Through 2 non-coincidence events, i learn the need to come to term with myself.

In terms of self-awareness, I know quite well of myself.

However, in terms of acceptance, i think i have not really come to term with it.

There are still parts of me which I would not want to grapple with, or leave it to the side.

While probably it's important to bring them to light, and deal with them, or even accept them as part of me.

The sentence i remember today is: "God loves me and knows me". If He created me the way I am, and all this by the His grace, He would expect me to accept the whole me, and not just part of me. For even the not so beautiful and good sides, are created by Him, for a purpose, which I may not know now. The bravity to accept those dark-sides and let God uses them, would glorify Him eventually. For the offering of self is the total offering. Even the weaknesses and frailties, could be used by Him. Only through human eyes and standards that we despised weaknesses and inadequacies. However, in His loving eyes and caring hands, weaknesses are materials for His work and power.

"Help me Lord to accept myself, and offer it totally to you."

clay

The favor and spiritual blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it). ~2 Cor 13 : 14 ~

Those words to the believers in Corinth 2000 years ago, is still alive and as true as ever today. The LOVE of God, the GRACE of Lord Jesus Christ, and the PRESENCE of Holy Spirit be with all believers. Amen.

clay

Really thankful for the remainder to sing a song to the Lord

Probably by nature am not so joyful person.

However, there're hundreds of reasons to sing to the Lord.

In response to His truth, to His gifts, and in all circumtances, whenever we can see His hands all around us.

For friends around us, for the gift of love, for the caring words from others, and there are still more around.

Last nite the study of the Day of The Lord.......well....like John who cries: "Come Lord Jesus come". That's beautiful.

And my good friend question yesterday, "Do you still sing when you shower?"

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation" ~ Ps 51:12 ~

clay

This evening, I determined to learn more about some aspect that I had overlooked for many years. And thinking would be great to look at it from the Gospel. So decided to use Luke, as his gentile audience.

Then, it started

"...and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,..." ~ Luk 1:16 ~

Who is "he" that will go before? He is John (v.13)

Who is "him" that John will go before? Him refers to the Lord, God of Israel (v.14)

What does it mean for John to go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah? John will turn the hearts of people. The turning hearts are important as preparing people for the Lord ("to make ready for the Lord a people prepared" v.17). 

Why is it important? Simple. Because God will visit the people soon, but the people are not prepared. When the Lord visits His people, He want them to meet him prepared. He wants ready people. And in those days, the people are not yet ready. Their hearts need to be turned. And that's John's mission was. To turn people's heart.

But, isn't it the job of God to turn people's heart? No human being could change heart except God's alone? Exactly!! That's why in v.15 before that, the angel announced that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. It's the work of the Holy Spirit to turn people's heart. And He works through people; like John, whom is filled. May i say then, John went in the spirit and power of Elijah as a metaphor as John is filled with the Holy Spirit to turn people's heart, preparing a people ready for the Lord.

Ok, so what? If John was filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish that task, what has it to do with us? I think many!! We want to see people changed. We know it's only by the work of the Holy Spirit. However, Holy Spirit uses people to do the work. Man and woman, whom filled with the Holy Spirit, such that they go with the spirit and power of Elijah.

So, where could we find such people? I think the time still open. John was the first person (as far as i know). And later, in Acts 2, in the day of Pentacost, the Holy Spirit filled the 120 and they did mighty work to began the early church. Peter quoted Joel to explain that day as the last day that Joel spoke:

"And in the last days it shall be, God declares,                                                       that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,                                                            and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
 in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy."

~Acts 2:17-18~

I believe the day has not finished. That God pouring His Holy Spirit, to accomplish His work; turning people's heart. His work is through human hands and feet, and mouth, and eyes, and the whole person's life.

So I would like to close with the last application below: 

Then, what's the role of Zechariah & Elizabeth in the story? I think they have significant roles there, as Luke recorded in v.8, both of them were righteous before God (a term so powerful unfortunately would discuss this another time)

"And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." ~v.8~ 

For again later Luke recorded that the angel reassured Zechariah of his righteous life and God's favor upon his family.

"But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard,...". ~v.13 ~

As James would support the fact Zechariah's prayer was heard, because he is a righteous person, and he lives a righteous life:

"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" ~Jam 5:16~

It started with this righteous couple who upholds God's decree and live it. And they prayed to God. And God answered their prayers. Amen to that. And I believe, He is God who hears and answers prayers. So the prayers for the Holy Spirit to fill us, that we will go with the spirit and power of Elijah, to make ready people prepared for the Lord!

For it's the day of salvation. The year of the Lord's favor. While there's still time, before the Lord's return again, let's brave ourselves. "Visit us again Lord, and like we were told, the works of your hands in days of our fathers, we long to see it again, in our days Lord."

O God, we have heard with our ears,
 our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old: ~Ps 44~  

clay

Sometimes, it takes a shock to make us realize what's in our hearts. And sometimes it takes another shock to make us look really hard on ourselves. For we're such a wonderful creature, with so many of layers of selfs....not sure how many layers till it really go down to the very deep of us.

It happened yesterday, that i was furious with someone. And as i look deeper into my anger, I realized there's some bitterness in me. Of what the person did in the past. However, when i look closer, i think the bitterness is bigger than what i think. I was to some degree, bitter towards God also.

It's quite hard to accept in the beginning. How could it be possible? When I thought I have settled it.

For what happened to my family recently, I thought that I had settled it. That I could accept it and moving on with life. And to take whatever happened as God's blessing instead of a burden in life. However, without realizing, my heart hasn't really agree with it. It has not fully accepted that pain and wound. So this morning, I'm glad for the time of coming back to Him. And pouring my heart before Him. Being true before Him, how I feel within, and the frustration with Him. 

The feeling that He understood and cares was so great   And again, He reassured me with the truth:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called acording to His purpose." ~Rm 8:28~

That I would live joyfully. Triumphantly. Not as loser, but more than conqueror. To declare His loving kindness, faithfulness, steadfast love, and wonderful works.