Dwells in The Shelter of The Lord

 

 

Hello my beloved readers! I’m grateful to God during this very difficult time I could get a quite time to write a short post. I also thanks to God in this global pandemic situation I and my family are in good condition. I hope and pray all of you also in good condition too.

I was inspired to write this post because some time ago when Paris lockdown in order to prevent and reduce the spread of corona virus, my neighbor called me and said that he would stop his children from going out of the bedroom. All children’s activities must be done in the bedroom, and must use protective gloves and masks. He also urged me to do the same thing to my son.

Well, doesn’t mean I’m not afraid and underestimate this harmful corona virus, I really know covid-19 is very dangerous, everyone can be infected no matter who they are, not only that, this pandemic also gives very bad impact to some sectors, for example, in the business world. The business world as if totally down due to the spread of this virus. But, I think what my neighbor did to her children is exaggerated.  Looking down children in their bedroom wasn’t a good idea and will give bad impact to the children.

To be honest, during this pandemic, my family didn’t apply very specific things at home. Beside obeying the advice to keep clean, go out of house for important purposes only, do the social distancing, and some other advices, we hold one of God’s promise that written in the verses of Psalm 91. Let’s take a look together…

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91: 7 & 10

My dear readers, these verses are very great promises from God. Soothing, and comforting us in this very bad situation. Not only that, God also promised,

Surely, he will save you from the Fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91: 3 – 4

By under wings, shield, and rampart, we don’t need to be afraid of pestilence and plaque at night and day. God promises

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. Psalm 91: 5 – 6

God will deliver us from the deadly pestilence, therefore we shall not be afraid. Not from the deadly viruses, not from the terror, not from the evil plots and slanders of the wicked, not from anything. In the bad and difficult situation right now, we really need to holdfast this promises. At the time God’s promises was written, I’m pretty sure there wasn’t technology that can destroy thousands or even tens of thousands of people at once. But this modern era, it’s very possible. Corona virus has spread throughout the world and thousands of people have been infected.

However, my beloved friends, there is condition for us to be able accept God’s promises in that verses. The beginning verses of the Psalm are conditions that must be fulfilled in order can receive God’s promises. Let’s take a look.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91; 1-2

Those verses very clear said that only people who dwells in the God’s shelter and people who always life in God who will receive God’s promises.

in the middle of the global pandemic, in the middle of hard time because of covid-19 that don’t know when it will be over, allow me to ask all of us. Have we remained dwell in the shelter of God Almighty? Have we made God as our refuge and fortress? It’s very important during this pandemic we protect ourselves by taking shelter at home, it’s very important to do social distancing, it’s very important to keep obey advices to prevent and break the chain of virus spreading, but besides all, the most very important we to do is, keep dwelling in the God’s shelter, make God as our refuge, totally trust Him, and also put hope and confidence to God alone.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

My dear friends, we really don’t know when this global pandemic will be over.  We really don’t know how many more people will be infected covid-19, we also don’t know when the antivirus to ward off this virus will be invented. But this time allow me to encourage all of us that beside make physical protection by doing some things that has been advised, let’s us keep dwell in God’s shelter so that we can get God’s promises. There will be no viruses can penetrate God’s wing, God’s refuge and fortress.  Doesn’t mean then we are complacent and underestimate this problem. We must remain vigilant and watchful! But let it not frighten us and make us do extreme action like my neighbor.

Keep calm and believe in God and His faithful love. Live and walk with God will keep us safe from any danger. Allow God to rule in our lives, let’s life according to the truth of His word and according to His will, then God will be present where we are, He will spread His protection wings and shielding us from anything that will harm us. Trust that God can do anything and He never failed

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)

Keep dwell in the Lord, keep safe, keep healthy, stay home. Amen

 

Karina Lam

Living by faith

Image source: living grace church

 

Behind the Sadness

 

Hello dear readers!! It’s me again. How’s you going? I hope and pray everything is going well with all of you. My post this time isn’t a new post. I wrote it a year ago but has never been posted before. I hope and pray this post could be a blessing to all of us.

Not many people know that I’m a melancholic woman. I have a very sensitive feeling. I’m easily moved and sad. My tears easily drop when I see something really touched my heart such as sad movie or story. Many people argue that someone who easily touched, sad, and crying is a weak people. Well, I don’t agree with this opinion. People who are sensitive or easily sad aren’t necessarily a weak person. Sadness is a thing that couldn’t be separated from our lives.  No matter how good we organize our lives, still, there’re times we’ve to feel sad and should to cry. A simple example, we could be feeling sad and crying caused losing someone who we really love. My dear readers, through this post allow me to discuss about this topic. Let’s see what God’s word says about sadness.

Indeed, the Lord doesn’t want us to be people who are full of sadness but instead wants His children to be full of joy to completely feel His love and cares. Yet, as I said before at a time unavoidably, like it or not we should get into the sad time and situation and we even cannot avoid it. There’re many verses in the Bible which strengthens us to go back to feel joy when in difficult conditions, under pressure or when oppressed, but God’s word also said that:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance… (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4)

There’s a bible verse that sounds very controversial and opposed with the strengthen verses. Begin with the passage: “The Value of Practical Wisdom” It’s written:

Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. (Ecclesiastes 7:3)

This verse was written by the most wise man who ever existed in the world, Solomon! But, this verse seemed pretty weird. This verse as though has a meaning suggest us to be sad because will be better than to be happy. Is that true? Does God want us to be people who are often filled with sadness? Does God want us to be person who always have grim face and cheerless? Furthermore, let’s say God allows us to feel sorrow, what’s benefit for us? If any, what are they?

Essentially, God doesn’t want all of us to be in a prolonged sadness. He gives so many tips and promises that can affirm, strengthen and restore us into a sense of happiness, full of peace and joy. But once again, there’re times we’ve to be sad and it isn’t wrong as long as we could handle it very soon and not make our relationship with God frays. Well, it turns out, based on my experience, there’re positive things we can learn and it all will make us become stronger, wiser and better than before. After took quite long time to ponder this verse, I finally conclude that this verse break a paradigm that we absolutely shouldn’t grieve no matter the situation and condition. So that means, although we have to live joyfully and peacefully, if one day we must be sad, just be sad because through our sadness we could learn something positive and it will makes us better in the future and finally will bring happiness to our heart.

My beloved readers, let’s take a look to the next verse of Ecclesiastes 7. This following verse also looks so weird.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. (Verse 4)

Let’s to be honest, where we like to be, at the house of mourn or in a festive party? Of course we would prefer want to be in the party. There’s no sadness there. We just happy and enjoy the delicious foods, drinks, and other. But God’s word says the opposite. The fool is in the house of pleasure and the wise is in the house of mourning.  This verse will be difficult to accept but let’s take a look why being at the house mourning is better than the party house. Let’s think about the true meaning of this verse.

For an example, let say, we are in the festive birthday party. What we think about while we are in that party? I am pretty sure when in a party we don’t think about important and essential things of our lives. Probably we don’t ponder and think hard the way out of problems we face. We will dissolve in the festive spirit and we will busy involved in chat with friends or relatives. Now, in the house of mourn. Being in the house of mourn often brings the moment of reflection for us. Maybe we will think and ponder that life is short, maybe we will think about of our own lives whether we are ready if one day God calls us home to the Father’s home. Or maybe we will think weather in our lives we have pleasing God? The point is being in the house of mourn will usually remind us and bring a reflection for us and make us wiser. This’s the essential significance of the verse.

I reminded of David’s word that was written in Psalm 119:71 and in my opinion still related with the verses in the Ecclesiastes. David said,

” It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”

David didn’t use his hard time as an excuse to be weak, to be disappointed to God, desperate, hopeless, and so on. He even felt that it was an opportunity to explore deeper about God’s statutes, learn more than before, and made it as moment to feel God’s touching extraordinarily.

Many people around me often said that I’m a woman who has never experienced trouble and sadness. Oh no! That’s totally wrong! Like other women I also often sad and cry, I often experience the pressure of the hard problems, even I’ve experienced being at the lowest and hardest point in my life. But in that very bad condition I was always reminded and strengthened by that verses. There’s a time for everything.  When I have to weep and cry in sorrow, that does not mean God is being cruel and having fun torturing me. Precisely for me, at that moment the Lord is forming me be strong and resilient. The hard situation teach me to be wiser and closer to God.

My dear friends, what about us now? Weather we are in “sad” season? If yes, this time I encourage all of us not to be discouraged and do not despair. Don’t waste our sad time just by moaning and crying but let’s use those time reflect thoroughly. Once again, please trust me, based on my own experience, there’re many valuable lesson we can learn behind our sadness.  Please be grateful because behind our suffering and sorrow, realize that we’re being formed and transformed to be stronger and wiser person. Through the difficult season we will experience spiritual and faith growth, learn more about God statutes, learn to always rely on God’s power more than anything. There’s a time for everything! Let’s put our faith on it and totally trust to God that in God’s time, He will lift all of our sorrow and change it to relief, joy, peace and happiness. Amen

Karina – Living by faith

Image source: thedailyverses.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A few days ago I went to make a visit of condolence the wife of my manager who suddenly passed away. According of his story, it all happened so fast, his wife only complained of headaches and breathless, and a few hours later she passed away. I know this is a very hard for him and his children. Losing someone they love is a very sad thing, especially when occur abruptly.

There is one thing that makes me so touched and amazed. He did not show a deeply sadness. He remained strong, calm and smile to each person who attended the mourning service. Even when he gave a speech, he cites a Bible verse of Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack.”(Psalm 23:1)

This verse spoke directly to my heart and makes me ponder. How far we apply this verse in our daily lives? How far we are able to believing it when we experience pain or suffering? David expresses it short but concise, and very clear. He said that whatever happens, he will never lack. Is it because of his strength, his prowess, ability and endurance? Not at all!  David knew that his strength as a human being is very limited. At certain situations, as good as the human ability will no longer be able to do anything. David could say that he will not be lack because realizing the existence of God as a good shepherd of his life. No more and no less.

Let’s dive deeper to the next verses in Psalm 23. We can see and will feel the greatness of God in His role as the Good Shepherd in our lives, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2-3) This verse feels so comfort and comforting us. These verses came from David who has so many problems in his life. Many times he faced threats, being chased and eliminated from his own people, many times he faced a life-threatening situation, but he could put his entire life and entrusted to the God’s care. David said it all when he is not in having fun, but his faith is enough to give a sense of calm for believing in God as a good shepherd for him. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Verse 4)  Beside believe that God always with him, David has strongly faith that God also prepare everything that he need. Not only has enough but overflowed.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Verse 5)

Both in quiet and difficult times, David realized that God will always be with him, so that he could say: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Verse 6) Very marvelous! It might be easy for us to say these things when we’re in good condition, but how far we can still believing it when the problems are being repeatedly hit us? Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)  Such was the figure of the Shepherd who always protects us as His sheep.  Trouble could come over our lives, but God promises us to still have a life. Not only life but living in all its fullness. Not lack yet in fullness? Yes, right! Although the problems are present in our lives, God promises that His providence could give strength, give relief, protection, give hope, and that’s all He provides not only sufficient but abundantly.

My manager was able to experience how God gave him strength in his difficult times, and he realized that there is no reason for him to be disappointed to God and blame Him. He certainly sad and loses but he also realized though he lost his beloved wife, he believes God still preserve his life and did not show a conclusion that God is not fair. He realized and believes that his wife had gone into the peaceful kingdom which full of joy, where there is no crying and no more suffering again as often we experience in this world. His wife has been in the eternal God’s providence in heaven.

My lovely friends, when we have a situation full of suffering, could we continue to believe that we will never lack the strength? Can we believe that God’s presence will always give reassurance and relief in a heavy burden? When there are events that occur beyond our control, could we rely on unlimited God’s power or we are still busy hanging on our own strength or another human being who have limitation? In any difficult situation, remember that God never leaves us. He will never lose by anything. He said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)  These verses show us what a close and beautiful relationship between God as the shepherd and us as His sheep. If we truly comprehend the meaning of these verses and put in the bottom of our heart and minds, why do we have to worry with all the trials and suffering that might happen in our lives?

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) There are no problems that He could not overcome. Believe that God will not remain silent when we really need his touch. Therefore, do not be discouraged, but always be thankful. Make our relationship with God still close and closer day by day, experience God’s presence and providence personally, until at the some point we can say with full confidence as David said, “THE LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not lack.”  Amen.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Karina

Related Article

Psalm 23 by http://secretangelps911.wordpress.com

Photo Credit: justonemore.info

Are You too busy for God?

I am on my way to the office when I received this devotional by email. My best friend in Japan sent me this good devotional which is very appropriate with my daily condition. And this evening I am pleased to share it to all of you.

When life gets you down and you feel like what’s the point to all this? There is not much time left in a day for the things you enjoy, because of all your responsibilities. Between working, taking care of your family, your home, and running around doing errands it’s easy to become exhausted. Well may I remind you that God has a purpose for your life, He has a purpose for you every day. Sometimes life does get pretty hectic and when it does we can feel overwhelmed, God tells us

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

If you feel like you haven’t heard from God and don’t really know what your purpose is then obey God’s word, be still, pray, and listen. Sometimes our daily purpose is something that doesn’t seem significant to us like taking care of your sick child. To Jesus when we care for the sick we are showing love and when we show love to others we love God as well. There might be times when God will bring people into our lives that are broken and your purpose is to reach out and comfort that person. No matter how small or big a purpose seems to us, to God they are all equally important.

Something to Ponder
We should be able to always find time for God even during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If this is an area you struggle with maybe take a closer look at your daily priorities.
Is God at the top of your list?

 Thank you to my best friend Kimiko for sharing this devotional

Photo sources: life.paperblog.com

I Know the Shepherd

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.

 Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation – “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”…The crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor’s incredible ability to bring the verse to life.

 But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up. “Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?” The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent.

With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man’s recitation that every eye was full of tears.

 Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, “I don’t understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training – but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?” The young man quietly replied, “Well sir, you know the Psalm… I know the Shepherd.”

My mom told this old story when I was a teen. She is not given me an explanation about the message or moral of this story. She said: “My dear princess, I want you to think and ponder.  If you only knew about the Psalm and you only get something big that makes you proud or you know the Shepherd and you give something bigger and valuable to others than you received and makes others moved and knowing how great our shepherd is.

How about you my dear friends?  It’s all your choice.

Karina

Photo sources : commons.wikimedia.org