The fear of the Lord -Psalm 34

Psalm 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Do you have peace in your soul? If you do, then you're indeed a blessed person. But if there's anything wrong, you'll have the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Depart, leave, repent, reject, renounce from the things that's bothering you, and do what's right. Pursue, use every effort until you find that peace.

Number of 7, mountain top experience, and burnt offerings -Genisis 8

Gen8
A lot of sevens in this chapter. v4 seventh month, seventeenth day... v10 another seven days ...v12another seven days...v14 twenty-seventh day of the month

It seems to me it has to do with receiving directions for life, and seeking God's will. At the end of the waiting Noah received his mission: be fruitful and multiply on the earth(V17)


Do you want to have a mountain top experience? Here's one: "the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat."(v4)"the tops of the mountains became visible."(v5)
How do we get to the mountain top? Not by climbing this time, but by following God's orders, even though it's quiet inside the ark, even though all we can see for a long time is only flood,even though what we're doing inside the ark has nothing to do with climbing seemingly, but when the time is right, the flood itself takes us to the mountain top. When we do what God tells us to do, then God will do the climbing for us at the same time even though we might not even be aware of it.


V20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

That's a lot of burning! Every clean animal and every clean bird!
And the burning made the Lord said to himself,"I will never again curse the aground...."
It's a life commitment to the Lord, as Paul said, "living sacrifice". Commit the whole life to God until death.

Number of 40 --Genesis 7

What does 40 mean?
The flood came upon the earth for 40 days, Jesus fasted for 40 days, Moses went up the mountain for 40 days, the Israelites in the desert for 40 years, Moses' three 40s...

A completely new beginning, a big turn around, a new hope in the entire hopelessness, time for the desert, a season in God's timing, a new phase...

Sin - Acts 3

Acts 3: 19"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins maybe wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Sin is like dung, as long as it's present, it always attracts flies. You can try to get rid of the flies, but if the dung is still there, the flies will return sooner or later. The most thorough way to get rid of the flies is to clean up the dung completely. If it's not cleansed completely, it might look clean enough, but the flies will still smell them and come back. That's why so many people try deliverance and found it didn't work. As the flies might be out for a while, but sin is still there, or the roots of the sin is still there, so after a while the flies came back again.

This morning I heard a preaching from Lisa Bevere. She was talking about how she was struggling with her problem of anger. Once she threw a plate at John Bevere which he missed it and the plate broke the window. Another time she nearly pushed her 2 yr old son into the wall. And once she was in her rage and John had to lock her in the garage. She had blamed her temper for all kinds of reasons, her parents, ancestors,witches praying against them, hormone, abusive past,etc. and she could always find enough reasons to justify her anger.She'd play up like once a month, although she was then a pastor's wife. Until one day the Holy Spirit convicted her that she had to take full responsibility for her sin, not to blame anyone else. And as soon as she stopped justifying and confessed and renounced, she was free. And she has been free for 15 years

Cain and Abel: attitude behind giving --Genesis4

Gen4:4-5"And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard."16 " Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod.."

Both Abel and Cain gave offerings, but one gave the firstlings and one didn't.
The attitute behind giving is vitally important. If we're not putting the Lord in the first, then "sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it"(v7) If we don't have the Lord as our first desire, we'll lose our true identity in Christ, then we're entering into a place of competition. We might win one or two fights along the way but then there'll always be someone else that's stronger and smarter that will beat us. We'll lose the sense of direction and end up settling in the place of Nod, which means wandering.

Proverb 31 women (Part 5)

V28,29 "Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying 'Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.'"
Her life is so fulfilled. Not only is her own life a success, but also she establishes her children and her husband, she reaps the harvest from the mustard seeds that she had planted in others' lives. Because of her wise choices, her attitute and her commitment, she excels.

v30"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
The charm and beauty of a woman can be attractive, but if a man chases only after that, he will be deceived and trapped, and he will get nothing out of the relationship. But if he searches for character, he'll set his life on the right foundation and right track.
Character for a woman is way more important than the looks.
Life is equal to everyone, some girls feel they're nothing if they haven't got the outstanding looks, but ultimately, it's the character that wins the praises.

v31"Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."
She's so deserved to enjoy her life. She's so deserved for all the praises.
The mustard seed has grown into a big tree, and the big tree has yielded many fruit, and the fruit bear many other seeds, and the seeds multiply, reproducing multitudes of trees and seeds. One day in eternity she'll get the whole picture of the whole production of her seed, which is her own choice of responding to the calling of her life to be the woman God has called her to be, and she will really smile.

Prov 31 Women (part 4)

v25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future."
She's so on the right track. Because of her growth and success, strength and dignity was just kept added to her. She's like the little mustard seed, growing bigger and bigger. And she's so sure that God's on her track, that nothing can rob her gain away from her, and she'll just grow and grow, and when she looks at the future, at what that mustard seed can grow into, she just can't help but smiling.

26 "She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
She knows the wisdom of life, she knows the power of giving, and she teaches the secret of her success about kindness. She's bringing generations of followers after her own model of success and excellence.

27 "She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Her house demonstrates her dignity as well. She's not idle and leaves her house in a mess.
She has her eyes in the future, but at the same time, she keeps her hands occupied and she's into details of the present.

Proverb 31 woman (Part 3)

Prov31:19-20 Every sentense has got "hand" in it, she certainly has her hands full.She's occupied with what's been entrusted to her hands. Out of her abundance she can let the blessings flow out of her hands. She's definately not idle. She knows the secret of joy is to give. She has a family, she has a business, and she has a ministry, what a super woman!
21 She looks after the family and she makes sure that her family is her pride. She won't sacrifice the dignity of her family members because she's busy. She doesn't dress them casually. They're all well and properly dressed.

Proverb 31 woman (Part2)

Prov31:14-18
She's the queen of the castle. She lives her life with a passion. She's a manager, she's an organiser, she's the core to the family. She makes things happen and she's well prepared. She looks to the future and she plans for the future. She takes actions and she's deligent with her plannings. She's always learning, practising, training,overcoming and growing. She keeps up with the flow and never loses the momentum. She protects what's in her hands and she makes sure that the growth in all area is healthy and good. Everything in her care is in control and in order. She spends time with God and renews her strength daily in the presence of the Lord. She keeps the oil of her lamp full.

Proverb 31 woman (Part 1)

Proverb 31:10 "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels."
Excellence is our aim for success in life. So here we find an example, a model of a wife that the Bible calls her excellent.
Can the man find the excellent wife by himself or does he need to trust God to find the wife for him? Is it worth the wait?
Man's eyes are prone to the beautiful lookings. Jewels are beautiful, and the worth is all there is, no more to gain. But her worth is ever increasing and ever growing. Not only does she brings beauty and glory on the outside, but also she changes the inner conditions of the man.

11 "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain."
She picks him up from wherever he might have fallen and establishes him with a sound mind and soul. When a man's attitude is healthy toward life, he can achieve anything and thus will have no lack of gain. She's an encourager, comforter, healer, she speaks truth and faith. She brings wholeness into the husband's wellbeing.

12 "She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life"
She's an angel of God's not the enemy's, she a vessel of God's blessings. She's consistent and she's determined. She doesn't compromise. She's a faithful servant of God. And God's blessings and presence is with her all the days of her life.

13"She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight."
She serves "as if to the Lord", and the Lord gives her joy and energy in everything she does. She looks for blessings and looks to be a blessing. She finds joy in everything she does,even in chores. She doesn't get grumpy or weary, but she enjoys so much that she looks for more things to do. She's very practical and down to earth, she gets her hands dirty and she doesn't complain.

Newborn babies, Stumbling stone, God's favor --1 Peter 2

1peter2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word..
Newborn babies need specially formulated milk, normal milk for adults are no good for babies. Babies respond to mothers best. They need bonding. They need constant feeding but less amount each time. Apart from feeding, they also need lots of cuddles and touches. They definately need lots of attention. Are we treating new christians the same way?


1peter2:6 Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed... the stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,... a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense...

Zion means God's calling in our lives. When we sense that calling and start out following Him, sooner or later we'll bump into this stumbling stone.
For Abraham, this stumbling stone could be Sarah's inability to conceive a child, for Moses, it could be Pharaoh(God said I will harden Pharaoh's heart) or the red sea, for David, it could be Saul...it's the natural limit and inability in us to fulfil God's calling and promise. For a non Christian, he can sense that desire and passion of life purpose in him, but when he comes up to this stumbling block, he has no means to surpass it thus he rejects and walks away like the builder. The stone also means Christ in us, our faith, His supernatural power which becomes the foundation of His work in us.
Jesus says, I am the way. Without Jesus, there's no more way to go when we see this rock. But when we put our trust in Jesus, then He becomes our way, and we will not be disappointed.


Do you want God's favour in your life?
This is a good one: "...if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose..." (1Peter2:20-21)

Flesh withers --1 Peter 1

1Peter1:24,25: All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

It didn't say some flesh, but all flesh. It reminds me, that no matter how much achievement and success we might have in life, if it's not the calling of God, if it's not the purpose that we're born to live for, it's not gonna last in eternity.

Are you treating the callings of your life like Esau? -- Obadiah

Obadiah
Esau is the one who was first given the chance of inheritance of great blessings, but he didn't care about that blessing and didn't take the necessary actions to protect that's entrusted in his hands. Although Jacob can be wrong in lots of things, he's faithful and passionate about the callings and blessings of the Lord.
We're all given the mustard seed, the faith and the callings for our lives. Do we allow that seed to grow or do we allow other seeds to overgrow it? Are we passionate and faithful to our callings in life or are we lookwarm toward them? Are we gonna defend them at whatever the price it takes or just allow them to be cheated away or talked out of?
Do we hold grudges against people that are fulfilling God's calling and promises?
How terrible it is to build our lives against God's calling and foundation:
"Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down" declares the Lord. (V4)

Four wise things -Proverb 31:24

Pr31:24 Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:...

Ants prepare their food in the summer:
Brian spoke a few weeks ago about the heart and the hand, to set the heart on the future, but be deligent with the things that's in our hands.

Shephanim make houses in the rocks:
Make sure we're building on the right foundation. If the foundation is wrong, then one day all our effort could end up in vain.

Locusts go out in ranks:
There's power in unity. Teamwork, corporate effort will achieve most.

Lizard in king's palaces:
If we're dwelling in the promises of God, our blessings are secured. God is our shelter and our defence. No one can harm us.

Apostle -Galatians 1

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle(not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)
This gives a definition to what a true apostle is: not ordained by a church or ministers; not recognised by certain people, not trained by men or other leaders, not welcomed or accepted by audience, but simply called and sent by God.

Give thanks -Psalm 9

Ps9:1-2 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to Your name, O most High.

Give thanks, no matter what circumstances we're in. Sometimes we can see the blessings, sometimes we can not. Sometimes we understand, sometimes we don't. With all my heart, not some of my heart. All your wonders, not leaving some out. I will be glad, even in the midst of adversity, great danger and suffering. exult in You, even if it looks like the enemy's winning. Sing praise, because the Lord is in control, He gives blessings to His children, He is the almighty king.

Married- Isa62

Isa62 A married wife is not focused on courting, dating and romance any more, but rather on building, producing and achieving together.

Weeping and shouts of joy

"Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning."

It's such a comfort to know in the journey of our calling, that whatever weeping we might have will not last, and there will be a shout of joy later on. Although it can look miserable and dark and hopeless at the moment, but in the morning it will be a beautiful day.

Unresolved issues and roots - Proverb 30:21-23

Proverb 30:21-23
This speaks to me of unresolved issues in life. "a slave when he becomes king" this reminds me of Chairman Mao in China, he carried all the resentment and hatred in him, and when he became the chairman, he ruled the country with hatred and torture. "unloved woman when she gets a husband" when carried with jealousy, bitterness, rejection,etc, the wife will not be a blessing to her husband, but will treat her husband from her roots of insecurity, jealousy,rejections, hatred..etc and will make her husband's life miserable.
The roots in us, when unresolved, when they get a chance to manifest will bring disaster to the people around us.

Zion, Jeruselem, Cannan, Contrite --Isaiah 66

Isa 66 speaks to me of "this one thing I do", the calling, the destiny.
v2"but to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."
Contrite means broken, crushed, bruised. Like a gold when first found in the wilderness, it's combined with other goldlike stuff. And by burning, these other stuff will not stand the trial and come off, and it will become pure gold. This process is a "contrite" process, of purification. God puts a stumbling stone along the way to seperate the spirit and the flesh.

V3 "as they have chosen their own ways"
If you haven't found the calling of God, "this one thing" that you're born for, then on the outside you might be achieving and making sacrifices, but it won't be pleasant in the Lord's eyes. And in the end the achievement might be like the city of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Zion speaks to me of faith, callings, God's promise, mustard seed, stronghold(God's stronghold which are to be enlarged and strengthened).

Jeruselem speaks to me of our destiny, God's fulfilled promise.

Zion will proceed and progressed and grow into Jeruselem.

Cannan Land refers to Isa 60 to me, while Jeruselem speaks Isa 61 to me. Cannan land is for ourselves, our wholeness, our prosperity, our blessings, Jeruselem is our blessings to the nations, what the nations can experience through the ministry that God has put in our hands.

Rise and shine --Isaiah 60,61

Isa 60 is such a glorious chapter. To have God be our glory is worth every bit of pain. What else can compare to the glory that God chooses to give to His beloved? What else can you desire more in your life than His favor? It's all in the salvation. v16 "Then you will know that I the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

Isa59:20"A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob"

Often we neglect and undervalue the full content of salvation. Isa 60 calls us to arise, and see, "and your heart will thrill and rejoice"(v5). We often take salvation for granted. But when we read what's involved in this chapter, it's so unreal. How awesome it is to have God's favor in our lives!

Isa 60 and 61 has been the most two exciting chapters for me. Robert Fergusson is teaching a series with the topic "The ladder." For me, Isa60 describes the top of the ladder, and Isa61 explains the bottom of the ladder.