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Friday, February 2nd, 2007

Today's Focus: Just the right message.
Today's Prayer Focus: Encouragement from God
Today's Scripture: Psalm 31:1, 19-24 (NRSV)

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.

O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplish for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
In the shelter of your presence
you hide them from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
from contentious tounges.

Blessed be the LORD,
for he has wonderously shown
his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under seige.
I had said in my alarm,
"I am driven far from your sight."
But you heard my supplications
when I cried out to you for help.

Love the LORD, all you his saints.
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one
who acts haughtily.
Be strong, and let your heart
take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.

For those of you who do not know, I was on vacation this past nine days. I was skiing in Utah as well as taking my brother in law around at the Outdoor Retailer show. It is good to take a vacation once in a while, I realized that 1) I needed some rest, and 2) I couldn't wait to get back to doing ministry for God. In the lay-off, I gained 5 pounds. Not good for the physical me. Further, I felt like something in my life was missing, so I was eager to get back to ministry.

This is the passage that I saw when I came back this morning. It is like a welcome back passage from God. "Be strong, and let your heart
take courage, all you who wait for the LORD." I don't know about you, but I needed this. This coming season will be the first Lenten season that I am fully in charge of. We have more than 20 events that's going on during Lent, further, there are a couple of new ministries on the wing, waiting to be started. I can not wait. But I will keep that verse in my mind, to be strong, to wait for the LORD for the right timing of things.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, thank you for the encouragement from the Psalmist. Thank you for encouraging me today. Amen.

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Today's Focus: Mind of Christ
Today's Prayer Focus: Keeping an open mind.
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (NRSV)

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.

"For who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?"

But we have the mind of Christ.

This passage is often construed wrongly by many of our Christian community. Many would use this passage to set up a we Vs. them attitude, and We-are-right Vs. They-are-wrong attitude. This wasn't Paul's intent in this passage.

As I see this, I see myself sometimes as one who is unspiritual and do not see the gift of God. I see it as foolish and I do not understand it. I profess that Christ is my Lord and Savior, however, I do not claim that I have the Mind of Christ at all times. Even though I try to keep an open mind on things that goes on in the world, there are some things that I just do not understand, no matter how obvious it may be to another who sees it as God's gift.

We have spirit in us, but we sometimes let our limitations and shortcomings take over. It is with great care and openness that we should live this life because sometimes, it is us who become foolish. Interpreting Spiritual things is difficult and dangerous, if we don't have the right mind, we become dangerous to the world. In all we do, we do it in humility.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, despite that you have given me the Spirit to discern your will, I often fall short. I pray that I continue to have an open mind to everything that goes on in the world. Amen.

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

Today's Focus: A right spirit.
Today's Prayer Focus: A Clean Heart
Today's Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12 (NRSV)

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

We all know it is very difficult to change a bad habit. My wife this morning reminded me one of mine. It has been very frustrating for me, and I'm sure for her as well that I can not change a bad habit. But I am reminded right now to constantly pray for change, constantly pray for a clean heart, and new and a right spirit.

It takes discipline, but it also takes a transforming spirit from God to change our bad habits.

Jimmy's Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Thursday, February 8th, 2007

Today's Focus: Agent of Healing
Today's Prayer Focus: God's the agent.
Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.

As a pastor, I often have to be the agent of consolation. However, despite that I have been trained in this area, it is very difficult to do so. It is very difficult to answer some of the questions that the person has when he/she has been hurt, we are taught to help the patient or the loved one explore that hurt.

I believe the reason for this is that as the one who is being consoled continue to explore her real feeling, the love of God and the Holy Spirit comes and are in presence with the person. The healing power of God begins to take over during the conversation.

As a pastor, sometimes I need to realize that I can't fix everything, I think that's a good thing to remember when I'm dealing with painful feelings.

Jimmy's Prayer: Help me Oh God, to be an agent of your healing presence. Not trying to fix, but trying to listen and facilitate your healing power. Amen.

Friday, February 9th, 2007

Today's Focus: A Child's Heart
Today's Prayer Focus: Serve and Love without reservations.
Today's Scripture: Luke 9:46-48 (NRSV)

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."

This morning, when I took my daughter to her pre-school, she was crying all the way to school. On the way there, she kept saying, "No school, no work (Mom and dad don't work)." I know that my wife had a tough time letting her go this morning, and I had a tough time leaving her at pre-school too.

Then I come into the office, and I saw this scripture for devotional, a small smile crept into my face. Why would Jesus say to his disciples, and to us, that a child, "the least among all of you," is the greatest.

Then I began to ponder on that thought, my daughter is only 2, and of course, she's very innocent in mind. She would, on the spot, help you do things just because you ask. She would hug you without reservations.

I think as we get older, the questions of the world begins to creep into our minds, this makes us tentative about helping others, and loving others because we know that others will take advantage of that. However, as Jesus tells his disciples, we should be serving and loving others without reservations, just as a child would.

Jimmy's Prayer: Create in my a new heart, Oh God, so I can love and serve others without reservations. Amen.

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

Today's Focus: The Recognition
Today's Prayer Focus: Humility and the Presence of God.
Today's Scripture: Psalm 23 (NRSV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff--they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

This is probably the most popular Psalm in the book. It is used quite a bit during funeral and the first few verses are read most of the time. But this time, I read further to the last stanza of this Psalm - where it reads... "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

One of the most satisfying thing that I believe can happen to one's life is recognition within the midst of your peers. That is why actors look at the SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) award as one of the most prestigious and the NFL players look at the ballot of their own peers as one of the most important determination in the selection of the pro-bowl. The recognition that one gets from one's peers, especially in the same field, is very satifisfying when we have done a lot of work in achieving that.

The Psalmist also agrees. Further, the Psalmist tells us that God has anointed him in the midst of not only his peers, but his enemies as well! What a satisfying thing that is! Even though we do not strive for these moments, but these moments do come by the blessing of God.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, let me dwell in your presence so that you can rescue me in the midst of my enemies. Help me remember also to give all glory to you and remain humble in these moments. Amen.

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

Today's Focus: Power of Prayer
Today's Prayer Focus: Continue to be in prayer.
Today's Scripture: James 5:13-20 (NRSV)

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Are prayers truly that powerful? It is a question that we all have as Christians when we go into prayer. If I pray for the stoppage of rain, will I stop rain for three years like Elijah did? If it does not, does that mean that I am not righteous in the eyes of the Lord?

These are all very tough questions, and these questions are even harder to answer as a human being. It involves delving into the mind of God, which we can not begin to comprehend as human beings.

However, I believe that God has created this world, and it is good. Therefore, the creation has deemed this world to have some kind of order of physics. I believe that no matter how hard we pray, we human beings will not grow wings and begin to fly. Nor will we be able to breathe underwater. Does that mean that when we do pray for these things, and they don't happen that we are not righteous? Hardly. God listens to our prayers, and so do our brothers and sisters when the prayers are shared. When we pray, we make it known to the community that we are in need, or in joy. Thus, when the community rallies around us, our prayers are answered in a magical way. I believe this is what answer to prayer is all about.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me to be in continual prayer so that I can pray fervently and without ceasing. Make your presence ever known to me. Amen.

Thursday, February 15th, 2007

Today's Focus: Communication methods of God
Today's Prayer Focus: Open-mindedness
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (NRSV)

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him"--

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

This speaks of the revelation of God to me. Sometimes, it is very interesting to me how God reveals God's plan to me in my life. One of which is the way I was assured of going into ministry full time. When I decided that I would be in ministry, I had a reason to doubt. I had a reason to doubt because I still hadn't told my parents. Being the first born son and in an Asian family, it was difficult for me to bring the subject up.

One day when I returned from College, I popped the question to my dad. I asked him if he would support me going to seminary. I had expected his first reaction to be, "Well, maybe, you should think about it more," or worse. However, his first reaction was, "Sure!" From then on, shall we say, is history.

It has been very interesting in the way God has revealed God's truth to me in my life - from places that I don't expect.

Jimmy's Prayer: Continue to open my mind as I search for your will for me on earth, Oh God. Amen.

Friday, February 16th, 2007

Today's Focus: Goal of my life.
Today's Prayer Focus: True Riches
Today's Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NRSV)

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

On the way to church this morning on the radio, I heard an ad selling a video that would "more than double your income." I said to myself, wouldn't that be nice...

When I was in college, all I could think about was to how to make the most money with the education that I had. I wanted to go into the computer industry and go into business school. Then I would win the lottery (lofty goal, I know). Then I would be set.

Then... God came calling, here I am, ten years later, a minister with no dream of becoming rich by worldly standards. Then I look around, I have a beautiful wife and daughter, a ministry that I truly love, I am rich. I am rich in this life.

I hear stories of people not content with what they have and striving for more and more until they are burnt out or their family fall apart. I do not think those people believe that they are rich. They may have a lot of money, but they are not rich.

Paul reminds us that the richness of our life lies in the blessing and the presence of God. I really believe that.

Jimmy's Prayer: I thank you for being with me in my life so that I am rich in life. Amen.

Tuesday, February 20th, 2007

Today's Focus: Watch your language!
Today's Prayer Focus: Blessing comes from within
Today's Scripture: James 3:7-12 (NRSV)

For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

I must admit, I catch myself sometimes slipping off with what I say. Especially during those times when there are emotions involved, we can often get caught off guard saying things that we regret later on. Does this mean that what James is saying that blessings can not come forth from my mouth?

I sure hope not because as a pastor, I give a benediction very often, and bless people even more often through prayer. I sure hope that there is some effectiveness to all that. So what is James saying?

I believe what James is saying is the intent of our words. As we all know, the same words that is said can be used both as a blessing and as a curse if taken in different context. Further, sarcasm and other ways of communicating the same words can have opposite effects. What James is asking us to do is to say words that are intentionally, we need to say them with a blessing heart. If we need to communicate in our differences, we communicate them directly and not with a sub-text.

The tongue is a powerful tool, it can be used as a blessing tool or a cursing tool. We are reminded to be a blessing to the world.

Jimmy's Prayer: Oh God, help me use my words to benefit the kingdom that you have established. Amen.

Thursday, February 22nd, 2007

Today's Focus: Love God, not the world.
Today's Prayer Focus: Continue to do God's will.
Today's Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17 (NRSV)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.

During the nineties, one of the contributing factors of the economic boom was the rise of the "dot-com" companies. There were many out there that had their values risen so fast that many millionaires were formed.

However, near the end of the nineties and earlier this decade, most of these high rising dot-com companies tanked, causing many employees and even once - millionaires going bankrupt.

The scripture passage that we read today tells us plainly. If we only love the world, and only pursue the riches of the world, they will pass away. However, if we do the will of God, we will live forever.

I have come to a realization that I will never become rich in the monetary term, however, I have also come to a realization that my life is full of meaning because God is there with me, every step of the way.

Jimmy's Prayer: Continue to help me do your will, continue to move me to your path. Amen

Tuesday, February 27th, 2007

Today's Focus: Accountability Groups
Today's Prayer Focus: Thanksgiving for mine.
Today's Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NRSV)

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A good Methodist would know the value of covenant groups. A recent phenomenon in religious organizations have been using the value of small groups as covenant groups and grow spiritually together. The question "How is your soul" is often not asked in many of the mainline churches these day. Perhaps it is asked on the pulpuit, but it is rarely asked in an intimate and supportive setting. I ask myself, why?

The Teacher tells us that two are better than one, because they will lift each other up. The value of covenant groups is the often missed accountability. There are more to small groups than social interaction, often, the relationship that is built there turns into an accountability and encouraging group. I believe in order for the Church to go back to its roots, we need to rethink how we do church. When the "Church" was growing, it was in houses where they meet regularly to keep each other accountable. You can not do this in a setting of more than 10 people.

There are values in a common worship, but that can NOT be the only thing that happens for us in our lives. There must be more to that. Small Covenantal group is the best way to do this.

Jimmy's Prayer: I thank you for my own covenant group, Oh God. I pray that I will continue to be encouraged and kept accountable in this. Amen.