DETERMINED IN PURPOSE

DETERMINED IN PURPOSE

Daniel 1 

Message:

"But Daniel RESOLVED not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." 

v.8

Resolve, according to Encarta Dictionaries, means "to come to a firm decision about something, or cause somebody to do this". It is a strong conviction. While the word resolved means "determined in purpose". So Daniel has a strong conviction or firm decision. He was determined in purpose. What purpose? The purpose of not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Why? What about the royal food and wine? What's wrong with it?

Before answering these questions, let's have a little background about Daniel Chapter 1. What happened here?

"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the LORD delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand..." (Daniel 1:1-2) "The king Nebuchadnezzar then ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility--- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service. Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. " (Daniel 1:3-6) "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. " (v.8) 

APPLICATION: 

Imagine all the expensive food in the world served in front of you; food cooked only for a king. It must be very tempting- the color, how it was prepared and set on the table, the smell. Even the plates, spoons or fork, it must be made of gold and silver. Who would want to refuse such privilege? To eat what the king eat, the very same food only fit to be eaten by the highest ruler in the kingdom, could make you feel you are the king himself or equal to the king when it comes to food at least. Maybe the other young men thought that way. Did it not ever occur to Daniel to taste the food by dipping his finger in order to know how delicious it was? Maybe those thoughts did enter their minds but Daniel and his friends did not compromise.

Daniel resolved. It was not just any ordinary or simple decision but a firm decision -a difficult decision to come up with and that cannot be broken.

If you were in Daniel’s shoes, will you decline? Will you refuse the offer? Think about it. You are from the noble family. You are used to eat delicious food. You are used to fine dining with chandelier above your head. But not this grand. Not the food for the king, the food at the king’s table. It’s a great privilege. 

But look what Daniel and his friends did! They exchange such privilege for vegetable and water! The food for the poor! The food for the servants and the slaves! So ordinary. 

I remember when my older sister Jovy was still a child and I was only eight (if I’m not mistaken), our mother cooked “guinisang kangkong.” It was our first time to eat kangkong. My sister asked our mother what will be our viand and when she heard Mama’s answer, she was astonished and somehow a bit disgusted. “Kangkong? Isn’t that food for pigs?!” I no longer remember if my sister ate that “ginisang kangkong” or not. She really thought that kangkong are only for pigs and not for humans. We had pigs and we fed them kangkong from Lolo’s (Grandpa’s) “kangkongan” –a marsh or something where kangkong are planted- so we cannot blame her for thinking that way. 

Well, maybe you think the same way. “Eww! Green leafy vegetable? Am I a goat?!” I know many people who do not eat vegetable. When I was a child, the only vegetable I was able to put inside my mouth was squash. So I believe most if not all of us can relate to this story. You know how difficult it was for Daniel to decide to eat the grass called vegetable and the tasteless and colorless liquid called water. 

Some of you may be thinking, “Why not eat BOTH the ‘vegetable and water’ and ‘the royal food and wine’? You can eat the delicious royal food, drink the wine, and eat the vegetable (as a side dish) to keep you healthy. Why not indeed! 

Daniel DID NOT compromise. He knew what the royal food and wine can do to him. It will defile him. It will make him unclean. 

Unclean food in the Old Testament: 

· Food sacrificed to idols 

· Foods written in Leviticus 11 

I cannot be certain what food exactly is the royal food. I am not a historian. ^__^ All I am certain of is that it will surely make them unclean and eating such food that could make them unclean is a violation to the Law of God- the Law Daniel so determined not to violate! He is an Israelite, the chosen people of God. He is from a royal/noble family. He was one of the young men chosen to serve the king Nebuchadnezzar. He passed all the qualifications e.g. without physical defect, handsome, etc. And he wants to keep that! He did not want to degrade himself. He knows the law and he abides in it. He knows what pleases God. He knows the heart of God. In fact, Daniel had a very close relationship with God and is even called today as the most prayerful man. Again, he didn’t want to defile himself. 

So what does this chapter has to do with us?

Just like Daniel, we Christians are part of a royal/noble family- the family of God. God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. Though we were imperfect because of SIN, He restored us and healed all our defects. We are now beautiful in His eyes because we are now cloth in Christ's righteousness and God who fearfully and wonderfully made us (Psalm 139:14) has wash away the mud that clung to us through the blood of Christ. And because we are God's children, we are meant to excel(show aptitude). 

You are no ordinary man or woman. You are above average for you are a child of God. Therefore, just like Daniel and his friends, we must also resolve not to defile ourselves, who we are, by what we do or eat (not just literally). We should not feed our mind or soul things that could make us unclean by what we read, hear or see.

GOD doesn't want us to be like Jehoiakim, king of Judah who "...did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his fathers had done." (2 Kings 23:37). God does not want to deliver us into the hands of the enemy just like what He did to Jehoiakim. For three years, Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar's vassal. Jehoiakim who was king became a vassal or a slave, a bondman. He was king but he became subordinate to king Nebuchadnezzar. He used to be the superior or the boss but became lower than somebody in rank or status. All because of SIN. 

(We've come to the end of part 1 of this two-part blog post. In the next part, we'll be studying further the ROYAL FOOD of today, the devil's tactic called deception, what the Vegetable and Water symbolizes, compromising/conforming to the world and holiness. By the way, I don't own the picture. No copyright infringement intended. God bless! )

WHICH KING ARE YOU?

WHICH KING ARE YOU?

Jeremiah 24

MESSAGE:

Then the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

   “Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.” 

v. 4 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED TO MAKE A HARD DECISION and it seems that you don't really have  a choice? If you choose option one, you will have to sacrifice and have a great loss. On the other hand, option two is risky and if you'll make one mistake you will lose just the same.

Two kings from the old testament can understand your predicament. They were given only two options and one end up being regarded as a bad fig while the other was as good fig.

What happened? Who are these kings? What are their options?

THE TWO KINGS:

• JEHOIACHIN, son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, became king at the age of eighteen and reigned in Jerusalem for three months. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father had done.

• ZEDEKIAH, Jehoiachin's uncle, was made to be king in place of Jehoiachin by Nebuchadnezzar. He was twenty one years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

THE TWO OPTIONS:

Because of the LORD's anger from their evil ways, the LORD sent Babylon against Judah and Jerusalem. Though they sinned against God, He still loves them and gave them a chance to live. He gave them two options. 

In Jeremiah 21:8-9, the Lord says:

" See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives." 

• Option1 : To stay in the city and die (the way of death). 

• Option 2: To surrender to your enemy (Babylonians) and live (the way of life).

If you were in their shoes, what would you choose? If God has commanded you these things, what will your reactions be?  

Imagine yourself to be either of these two kings. Your kingdom is being attacked by a great army of a powerful kingdom. You are given only two options. To surrender and live or to stay and die. You tried to consider both.

If you'll stay and fight, there's no guarantee you'll win. But if you'll win, you will be able to keep your position and possessions and you will also be regarded as a great king and a hero to your people. However, God already said that you will not win but will die. Will you accept and believe what God has said? Or will you think God is undermining your strength and power? Will you go continue to prepare for battle, count your fighting men and continue to believe that you have enough men to defeat the enemy?

Or maybe you believe and not doubt what God says. But are you willing to go out and leave your kingdom, your wealth, and position? Are you willing to give up everything you have and surrender to your enemy? Are you willing to accept defeat and lose your pride?

THE TWO BASKETS OF FIGS

Although both kings did evil in the eyes of the Lord and both deserves to die, one of them chose the way of life. 

He was king Jehoiachin. He listened and obeyed God. He surrendered to his enemy and so he and the people with him (the officials, the craftsmen and artisans of Judah) were regarded as good figs. The Lord says, "Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians" (v. 5). He accepted defeat and lose his pride. He let go of all his possessions- left everything he treasured so dear to him and everything he was proud of. He saw their gold and wealth taken away as plunder by the Babylonians. It was painful seeing the thins they worked hard for years being taken away. It was difficult leaving their comfort zone. What he and the people with him did was a total surrender for they only have their own lives to bring with them. However, because of these also, they learned to depend on God alone for their protection and for their joy. When they turn to God, they return to God with all their hearts. No more pride, possessions and position that owned their hearts and hindered them from loving God.

On the contrary, Zedekiah did not listen and obey. He was too obsessed with his possession and did not want to lose his kingdom and his position as king. He depended on his own strength and power. Maybe he though he could win or maybe not. He was on a suicide mission. Maybe he thought it is better to die with his crown still on his head and lie flat -with blood-on his treasures than to surrender and die to his pride. He must have thought that to die is better than losing all he treasured so much in his heart. Zedekiah was foolish and stiff-necked that God considered him as poor figs. He was proud but end up shamed and "became an object of ridicule and cursing; a reproach and byword, an abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth" (v. 9).

APPLICATION:

We all did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all deserve to die but still God loves us an does not want us to die and so He let us choose the way of life and the way of death. 

If you are already a Christian, will you continue to stay in the "sin city" - the place where you did all the detestable things against God, the person you used to be? Will you continue to sin? Will you be like Zedekiah who was stubborn and remained stiff-necked? Are there things you haven't yet surrendered to God? Are you willing to let go of what you are holding on s dearly?

You see, God loves us so much that He has given us a warning so that what happened to Zedekiah and also to Jehoiachin and the entire Judah and Jerusalem will not happened to us. 

You, a Christian, are now a king but you are subject to the King of kings. Learn to submit to Him. Do not continue sinning or God will send Babylon (problems, trials, etc.) and hand you over to the enemy and allow the enemy to steal your joy, destroy your wealth and kill you. In heaven, God will give us crowns and we will cast all our crowns at the feet of the Lamb. Here on earth, we must practice and learn to die to our own will, desires and pride (the crowns we are holding on to). Surrender. Obey God even if it will cost you to leave everything you treasured and loved. Make God your treasure and your First love.

If you'll obey God, He  promised this, "Because you have obeyed me, I will consider you as good just like these good figs. My eye will watch over you for your good and I will bring you back to your possessions, positions and not only that, I will build you up and not tear you down. I will plant you and not uproot you. I will give you a heart to know me that I am the LORD. You will be my people, my child, and I will be your God for you have return to me with all your heart" (v.4, paraphrase mine).

If you have not yet accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, accept Him today. Place your trust in Him. Accept that you are a sinner and that you deserve to die for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). GOD loves you so much that He has set before you the way of life. He is Jesus Christ. Repent,surrender and choose Him and you will live.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Zedekiah was captured and his  sons were killed before his eyes. His eyes was put out and he was then taken to Babylon and was put in prison till the day of his death.

Jehoiachin was released from prison on the thirty-seventh year of the exile. He was treated kindly and was given a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings wo were with him in Babylon. He put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king's table (2 kings 25).

To the King of kings I lay down my crown and give glory!

Your sister through the blood of Christ,

Rizeru

God vs. Satan's Point of View

GOD VS. SATAN'S POINT OF VIEW

Job 2

Message:

"...shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" v.10

APPLICATION:

"Treat me right and I will be your best friend. Treat me wrong, you've just met your worst enemy."

It was my motto during High School. I used to think and live my life that way. I would say, "I am a good friend to those who are good to me but I could be bad, very bad, if you are bad." I was like a mine hidden on the ground-harmless when untouched but step on it and it will explode to hurt and to kill.

How many of us has exploded, has thrown off shrapnel- hurtful words- to those who hurt us? If somebody throws a stone at you, did you give back bread or did you pick up the stone and throw it back? When something bad happen, how did you respond?

"Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." v.4

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.  But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:9-11

This is how Satan sees man. In Satan's POV, man is selfish. Man would only worship God because of all the good God has done or given to him. Man would do good in order to gain something but if he can't get anything from God or from anyone, he will curse, hate and leave (Job 2:4). 

But GOD disproved Satan. For God, man is good because he is good, because God created man to be "very good" (Genesis 1:31) and because God created man after His own image, man supposedly has inherit God's trait or character. God loves because He loves. God is kind because He is kind; faithful because He is faithful; because that's simply who He is. What He does, did and will do does not depend on how man would treat Him. And God believes man can be like Him - not as God but in character. 

And Satan could never see that. He did not see man the way God see us because he could only perceive man base on his own character. He perceives man is selfish, ungrateful, deserter -because that's who he (Satan) is. He sees man as a reflection of his self. Satan's distorted view of man shows how distorted, evil  and darkened his heart and mind are.  

I don't know about your life and what you've been or are going through but I believe most of us are familiar with the life of Job and how he responded to the bad things that has happened to his life. Regardless of his great loss- livestock, seven sons and three daughters - he still maintained his integrity (v. 3). He did not sin (v. 10). He did not curse God even though his wife incited him to. Instead, he responded, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (v.10) Imagine the look on Satan's face, shamed by Job's response (Job 1:20). Job did not disappoint GOD. Imagine God's face - His smile radiating His face. 

How about your life? Are you living your life a disappointment to God or a life that makes Him proud?  Which point of view was disproved by your life? Satan's or GOD's? Which point of view are you siding with? Are you seeing people through the eyes of Satan or through the eyes of God?


I remember I heard this song "Father's eyes" by Amy Grant. It was one of my Bible study Leader's favorite song. 

She's got her Father's eyes,
Her Father's eyes;
Eyes that find the good in things,
When good is not around;
Eyes that find the source of help,
When help just can't be found;
Eyes full of compassion,
Seeing every pain;
Knowing what you're going through
And feeling it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes,
My Father's eyes,
My Father's eyes,
Just like my Father's eyes.

"Father, give us eyes just like yours. Lord, help us see people, things, and situation through Your eyes so that we may respond the way You do, with love and not with hate, with compassion, with kindness, with great patience, with mercy.  Amen" 

To the Eyes that see me through it all(good and bad) and yet still love me be the glory!

Your sister through the blood of Christ,

Rizeru

PRIORITY MATTERS: Self or God first?

 PRIORITY MATTERS: Self or God first?

Haggai 1

MESSAGE:

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’”  Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:  “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”  v. 2-4

APPLICATION:

Did you ever expected much from something or someone ,yet, it turned out to be little? You did your best. You exerted much effort, only to get less than what you've expected?

Maybe you are a student working on a thesis. You spend most of your time doing research in the library and on the net. You have less sleep and you've already spent too much money for it. You say to your self, "I am confident I'll get a high grade because  I did my best." But upon receiving your grade card, you were disappointed and even asked why.

Why, indeed.

God has an answer for your question.

Let's read what God has said to His people during the second year of King Darius through the prophet Haggai. He said,

" You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." (v.6)

Sounds familiar, right? Can you relate? 

In verse 9 of Haggai chapter 1, God gave us the answer. He continued, "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his OWN house." 

How  many of us who have been busy with  work, school and even with our family that we have let our relationship with God to remain a ruin? Many or most people are too busy making a living and not life. We focus so much on our work, on what to eat, drink or wear. We give too much attention in meeting our need. We exert too much effort for our self, our physical needs but left our soul starving for God. We forget the Giver, the Source of everything, the Answer to our needs, and yet we want to receive a blessing. 

Though we may get our desired work, eat everything we want and wear whatever we like, we will never be satisfied and happy. We will always be discontented. You may have all the riches in the world and buy everything you want but without God and without a right relationship with God, everything is useless.

The LORD commands us to "give careful thought to your ways..." (v.5, 7) He said it twice in that same chapter. Whenever God said something, we must listen. But when He said something twice, it means it is very important.  And if He will said something (whether it is a command, warning or a promise) thrice, it means that you should really heed, follow and make actions.


What did He say? He said to "give careful thought to your ways." God commands us to assess our way of living, our hearts, our lives. He wants us to check and examine how  and for whom we live. If you are a Christian, are you now living for God or still  for yourself?



A house if not well taken cared of will eventually be in ruin. You must continually build, repair and maintain it. You must also take good care of it so that termites will not  feed on it and destroy it and that no spiders would live and make cobwebs on it. And so  is our relationship with God. Just like any relationship, our relationship with God is two way. God does not do all the loving, communicating, talking, etc. We must learn to respond too. We pray, we listen, we talk, we spend time together with God. That's relationship. A one-sided love affair is not a relationship. Relationship is a connection.

So, how's your relationship with God? Is it in ruin? Is He number one on your priority list or still your self? Have you taken Him for granted? Were you too busy with other things that you have forsaken the Lord? 

If you found out, after assessing your life and "giving careful thought to your ways", that your relationship with God is in ruin; that there are parasites eating the line of connection with Him, you should listen and obey what He commands you to do.



God has given us this solution:
"Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the Lord. (v.8)

No, not literally.

After checking our lifestyle and our hearts, the next step is to recognize or know what are the timbers that needs to be brought down. What are these timbers God mean and  what do these timbers can do? 


Timbers that need to be brought down in our life could be sin, pride, selfishness and more. These are the things that could block or hinder you in knowing God deeply.


What are the things that need to be brought down from your life? What are the timbers that block you in knowing God deeply? Are there still sin that you are not yet willing to let go? 

You must bring them down first before you can build up! Therefore, bring them down! Cut them off! God is willing to help you. He is eager to help you but God could not help you if you are unwilling or will not allow Him to help you.



"Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands." (v.9-11)


If you want to be promoted in your work, if you want financial blessing and if you want God to bless you whatever you do or the works of your hands, then make God your priority. Put Him at the top of your priority list, not second nor third. Don't seek the gift. Seek the Giver. 


Again, if you want God to bless you, just follow these commands:

1. Give careful thoughts to your ways. 
2. Recognize and bring down the timber. 
3. Build.

"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD." (v.12)


Just like Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnants of Israel, be willing to listen and be attentive to the voice of the Lord and with holy fear (reverence) and a teachable heart, obey His command. Obedience is the key. 

If you will obey, God will stir up your spirit (v.14) and make you able to do the building work. It might seem difficult to follow all His commands but He promised and declared, "I am with you." (v.13)


".......and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the Lord. (v.8)  Honor God in everything that you do. Honor God with your lifestyle or your ways and your very life. Make God your first and ultimate desire and He will give you your hears desires. (Psalm 37:4) Seek Him first and ALL these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33). Make Him your priority. And you will receive, without even exerting too much effort you'll be amazed, blessings upon blessings.


To My One Desire be the Glory!

Your sister through the blood of Christ,
Rizeru

Be Rooted on the Stream of Life

BE ROOTED ON THE STREAM OF LIFE 


"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat come; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV

A PAIL OF WATER VS. THE STREAM

There was a tree planted by the stream. It was young and healthy. It has plenty of green leaves and about to bear fruit in a year or two. One day a man came by, saw it, and decided to plant it on his backyard. The tree, with its roots not deeply rooted, was easily carried away without even putting a good fight.

It was painful. Many of its roots were cut by a sharp object. While the man was carrying it, the tree looked at the gently flowing stream. Its water was shimmering like crystals as rays of light from the sun hits its surface. It was a beautiful view but was gone and out of sight now.

The heat of the sun started to penetrate on its limb. The leaves started to wither. It screamed for water but the man could never seem to hear its cry. Comforted by the still damp soil from the rain last night, the tree was finally set on the not-too-deep hole dug by the man. The man covered the hole with the soil and then went inside the house. The kitchen door opened as the man came out carrying an old pail with cracks poorly sealed. Some of the water dropped to the ground as the man walked towards the newly planted tree. And then splash! The tree thirstily drunk the water poured unto it. But even the simple act of drinking was painful for the grains of sand and soil blocked the passages and some even entered its vein with the water.

"This is a new environment, new trees, new land. Tomorrow, maybe it will be okay. After all, somebody is going to take care of me. " , the tree said to itself.

For the next few days, the tree saw the man coming in and out of the house bringing that same old pail with water in it. Days passed by but the tree's thirst is unquenchable by one pail alone. There are even days that the man forgot or did not water it at all. The tree reminisced the time when it was still planted by the stream. It longed for the water which is always available to drink.

This is what the Lord says:

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD..." (Jeremiah 17:5)

TREE:MAN=STREAM:GOD

Tree and man, both living, both created by the Omnipotent God. In order for any plant or any living organisms to live, it needs water. Water is very important. Two-third of the earth is water and two-third of man is also water. Try not to water the plant and it will die. We see in the deserts that there are only few plants that live and most of them are planted near an oasis. A person can live for months without eating but he can never survive in just few days without drinking water. It is the same with us (man). We can never survive long without God-the spring of living water (v.13) in our lives. God has planted us NEAR Him but oftentimes we transplanted ourselves away from Him. God is all we need but we are disillusioned to believe that there is something much better somewhere other than with His presence. Again, we are disillusioned. We are hallucinating. We leave the spring of water in exchange of what we are seeing from afar, in the desert, only to find out it's just a mirage.

God is our source of life just like water to plants. The stream is just always there waiting for the tree to send out its roots to the stream. God is always there, always available, waiting for us to draw nearer to Him, to be connected to Him. God is always beside us, ahead of us, above and before us. Wherever we go (literally and figuratively), wherever we are right now in our lives, God is there also. We only need to reach out for His hand and He will be, always, ready to take our hands into His.

ROOT:TREE=HEART:MAN

Trees need roots in order to get some water. It needs to send out (an action) its roots to the source of that water. What connects the tree and the steam is the root. If the root is removed or cut off, not only the root is affected but every part of the tree. The tree must therefore grow its roots once more and send it back to the stream or it will die. Without water running through the veins, it will dry up and eventually die. Death will come. We may not notice it immediately but the very moment the root is cut off from the stream, the water will stop flowing and the farthest destination of the water will be affected first: the fruits or the flowers then the leaves, bark/branches and the trunk. The young fruit will fall to the ground unripe and not even suitable to be eaten.The flowers that are about to bloom will die without being pollinated. Leaves will start to yellow that with the slightest blow of the breeze will not be able to cling to its branch and will be easily carried by the wind to fall to the ground and decay. Everything will be useless. Everything will be a waste. What would happen to a dead tree? It will be cut off and will be thrown to the fire.

The root is the heart of the tree and the heart is the root of the man. We must always be connected to the stream. If there are times that the root (our heart)is cut off or are clog because of the mud (sins) clinging on it, we must always send our hearts once more to God and let Him wash away all our sins that keep us from God and in knowing Him deeper. If the tree runs away from the stream, dirt and mud will cling to its roots in the process of running, so the tree must return and go back to the stream.

GENTLY FLOWING WATER

God is a stream flowing gently. He is never harsh so do not be afraid to dip your heart to God. He will not flood over you. Sometimes He may cause the land you stand on to weaken or erode but only for the purpose that you will stop depending on it and trust in Him instead. He will never let you fall to the ground. He just wants you to trust and depend on Him.

In Him, you are strong and have life. In Him, you are fruitful and have everything you need. He is the source of every good thing. “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)

When heat or drought or troubles come, God will sustain you. You will never thirst because God is a river that never runs dry. Jesus said, “…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). If you lack hope, go to God. He will give you hope and you will never be disappointed. If you hunger for love, come to God. His love for you will never run dry. God said, “I will maintain my love to him forever…I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.” (Psalm 89:28, 33) People may betray,forsake and abandon you but God’s love for you endures forever. “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.” (Psalm 146:3) So put your confidence to the One who has and never will ever put you down. Reach out to Him always. Send out your roots to the spring of living water and you will never wither.

Do not deceive yourself by thinking that you do not need God, that you can weather this life on your own. "Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? " (Job 8:11) No, apart from God we are nothing (Psalm 16:2)

Do not depend on your intelligence, talent or skills. "What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold." (Job 8: 14-15)

Do not depend on your wealth for “whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” (Proverbs 11:28 ). If you trust in your riches but does not have God, you will never endure. "But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. " (Psalm 49:12)

Do not depend on yourself or on someone else. “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” (Isaiah2:22) Trust in God. No more running away from God, draw nearer to Him instead. Do not let anything: pains, hatred, not even happiness, clog your heart from God. “My people have committed two sins. They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) 'He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden; it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones. But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, "I never saw you.' Surely its life wither away, and from the soil other plants grow. " (Job 8:16-19) This is the fate of those who forsake God. So do not forsake the Lord.

TREE VS. BUSH

“I have planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” (Jeremiah 2:31)

God intended you to be a tree. You are supposed to grow, to bring shade and shelter to others and you are supposed to bear fruit. But if you turn away from the Lord, you "will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives." (Jeremiah 17:6)

A bush is just a bigger version of grass. Would you rather choose to be a bush by turning away from God instead of being like a tree wich bear fruit in season and out of season?

If you have forsaken the Lord, don't lose hope. The Lord declares, " ' Even now, return to me with all your heart with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing..." (Joel 2:12-14) "...there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its root may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. (Job 14:7-9)

Therefore, send out your roots to the stream. Rend your heart. Return to God and you will become "like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God." (Psalm 52:8 ) and feast on the abundance in His house, and drink from God's river of delights. For with God is the fountain of life..." (Psalm 36:8-9)

To the Fountain of life, the spring of Living Water be the glory!

Your sister through the blood of Christ,

Liezl

When Your Joy is Withered Away

 WHEN YOUR JOY IS WITHERED AWAY

Joel 1

Message:

"...surely the joy of mankind is withered away." v. 12

 Application:

Whenever I see or catch my sister smiling alone in her room, I know without even asking her the reason why she's happy. She's crazy-not the lunatic or psychotic kind of way-but crazily in-love with a guy.

Love. Just one of the many things that could make a person happy. A mother, when asked what makes  her happy, would usually give an answer such as "seeing my children grow and in good health." A father, on the other hand, would say being able to provide the needs of his family is what makes him happy. A student would answer getting high grades and a teenage girl would say shopping. So on and so forth. 

How about you? What makes you happy?

But what if, all the things that has made you happy will be taken away? You lost your dream job. You break up with your boy/girlfriend. Have you ever been in a situation where it seems your joy has withered away? Are all your whys been answered?

If you want some answer, let us first examine the first chapter of the book of prophet Joel.

These are the joy of the people:

• New wine - the joy of the drunkards and drinkers of wine (v.5)
• Good harvest (fields, fertile soil, fig trees,  wheat and barley, wine - abundance of food and wealth) - the joy of farmers and vine growers.
• Grain offerings and drink offerings - the joy of priests and ministers.

All of these were taken away. The wheat and barley and all the plants (fig tree, palm, pomegranate, apple tress) were destroyed by a nation's invasion, by locust and by drought. They dried up and withered. Grain offerings and drink offerings were cut off from the house of the Lord and the new wine has been snatched from the lips of the drinkers.

But why? Why has God allowed these things to happen to His beloved people - Jerusalem, Judah and Israel? Doesn't God wants them to be happy? 

Of course God wants them and us to have abundance or wealth. God always wants to give us a good future and bless us. But the problem starts when people (you, me, we) are satisfied and contented with having full stomach that the gift has become the source of joy instead of the Giver. Even the priest were enjoying their duty and maybe were enjoying their duty more than being in the presence of the Lord.

So the Lord allowed man's joy to be taken away so that man will return to Him. God longs for His people to spend time with Him even for a night in sackcloth (v.13). Just one night. That's all He ask from us. A little of our time. He wants His people to be gathered and united in the assembly maybe because the people had forgotten to join together in thanking or worshiping God for they were busy with their jobs, farms etc.

Because of the drought, famine and sword, the people remembered the Lord and returned to Him. "Even the wild animals pant for you..." (v.20) God wants man to come to Him, seek Him and thirst for Him for He will surely satisfy those who earnestly seek Him.

So when problems come or when our joy withered away, it's just God's way of calling our attention because we have forgotten Him and made other things our source of joy.

Commands:

What should we do when all our joy are withered away? God commands us to:

• PUT ON SACKCLOTH (v.13)

          It means we must humble ourselves, take off our robes (pride) and humble ourselves before the Lord. It also means that we've realize our mistake and repented.

• WAIL BEFORE THE ALTAR (v.13)

           Cry out to God. Ask God's forgiveness for loving other things than God and for making other things your joy instead of Him.

• COME, SPEND THE NIGHT IN SACKCLOTH (v.13)

          Go back to the Lord with humility and spend time with Him. You've been busy with other things. Don't be like the priests and ministers during the time of Joel who were busy with their duty for God. God wants you more that what you do for Him. God does not need our grain offering or drink offering. He longs for us. For our time. For our hearts. Not just what we do for Him. Make yourself available to God. God wants us to seek His face always. 

          Because of what happened, the people have nothing to bring or to offer to the Lord but THEIRSELVES.

• DECLARE A HOLY FAST (v.14)

          Not just abstinence of food but of what's been stealing your time for God. Leave whatever is keeping you busy. Cut down your time spent in watching TV or whatever that has own your time. Spend time with God.

• CALL A SACRED ASSEMBLY (v.14)

          Gather around with other Christians and worship the Lord.

• SUMMON THE ELDERS AND ALL WHO LIVE IN THE LAND TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD (v.14)

          Do not just go back to the Lord alone. Let others come back to God if they too have forgotten the Lord too.

• CALL TO THE LORD (v.19)

          Pray. The Lord will surely hear you.

God wants you to be happy. But don't let your happiness keep you from God. Don't let the things that has made you happy make you forget WHO the source is. DO NOT FOCUS OR BE FIXATED AT THE GIFT but FOCUS ON THE GIVER. Do not forget God. Earthly wealth, abundance, and many others are only temporal and the happiness we get from them will never last forever. These could give you happiness but not true joy which only comes from God. Go to God. MAKE HIM YOUR JOY and your joy will be complete.

To the Giver of life and my Joy be the glory.

Your sister through the blood of Christ,

Liezl