John 16:33-I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” From this passage, Jesus does not leave the disciples destitute in the harshness of reality, but does tell them the hard truth of it, while leaving them with His presence in […]
God’s calling is almost always to something that is unlikely. God does not usually call you to something that will suit you. You would think God got the wrong person. Moses thought that way. He wasn’t a good speaker, and therefore he could not lead a nation of people (so he thought). There are plenty of […]
Matthew 24:12–And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Over eleven years ago in a coffee shop while planting As One, Pastor Hong asked me, why do you think God has us together? Of course PH being Korean-American, and myself African-American, God was answering us as we considered the question. […]
God’s calling is never for our blessing directly. The blessing comes only as a by-product of that calling. And the calling itself will bring much “trouble” to our lives. When God called Moses, it wasn’t about Moses or his future. It was about the Israelites. God wanted to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the […]
You cannot thwart the will of God. It would be like a child kicking a tank with his tennis shoes on. God’s will will stand!Pharoah thought that he would wipe out God’s people. So, he ordered all the Hebrew boys to be killed as soon as they were born. But one of them survives and […]
Exodus 32:11-12–But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out… It’s safe to say that when you […]
Do not judge whether a happening is good or bad too quickly. What we consider “bad” could actually be good. God often uses apparent evil to do actual good. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis […]
Exodus 30:15-16–The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. The Lord makes no distinction of societal status by making the rich and poor be on the same level, because in essence they are! Before the Lord money […]
There was a little girl who loved her fake pearl necklace. It made her look like her mom. But one day her dad demanded her fake necklace. She said, “no!” But he kept on insisting and after a while, with tears running down her eyes, she said, “yes,” and gave him the necklace. Only then […]
Certain acts get at the heart of God more than other. God has a soft spot for those who will take the place of another.Judah, out of all his brothers, is blessed most. He didn’t necessarily see this blessing in his lifetime, but his tribe is the one Jesus came out of… This is honor […]