Tag Archives: Voice

John’s Voice

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“A voice of the one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.  The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.  And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ” (Luke 3:4-6)

Jesus talked about John the Baptist as the greatest among those born of women, yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (Luke 7:28).  What made John greater than all the forefathers?  Abraham was rich in faith, Solomon was wealthy and full of wisdom,  king David was a man after God’s own heart who wrote many Psalms that still touch hearts.  I believe it was being the voice pointing to the Savior that set him apart from others.  God has given us the privilege to be the voice, and to be great in the kingdom of God.

We can prepare the way for God to show His salvation through thanksgiving, praise, prayer, and petition, by being the voice.(Philippians 4:6).

Let us be the voice of prayer that prepares the way for others to come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.  Let our prayers fill the valley so that they will be lifted up.  Let our prayers level the mountains of tradition, family, fear, or pride that stand in the way of those who want to establish a relationship with the Lord.  Let us repent of the times our attitudes, words of judgement, or insensitive comments made the way rough for others to come to Jesus.  Let our prayers open their eyes to see Jesus and expose the enemy’s crooked schemes.

This Christmas season take the opportunity to be the messenger who prepares the way.  Be the voice of prayer, invitation and be the friend who will be there for them just like Jesus.

Eye of Hurricane Irene

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We are back home after spending a few days with our daughter and son-in-law in Boston.  Heeding to the warning of approaching hurricane Irene, we stayed home on Sunday.  Praise God, the hurricane lost its strength by the time it hit Boston.

We had our Sabbath at home, took time to reflect on Psalms 91, sang few songs of praise, and took turns to pray.  My son-in-law prayed from Psalms 29: 4,5 and saw the power and majesty of God in the storm that we were in.  I meditated on Psalm 29 and God encouraged me to look at the storms of life with the eye of the Lord (heavenly perspective) rather than the eye of Irene (destruction, fear).

Worship in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:1-2)

Tall pine trees towering over 50 feet swayed back and forth by the powerful wind.  Weather forecasters, with the help of technology, measured and warned about the approaching hurricane but were unable to prevent or re-direct the path of the storm. We could only marvel while looking out the window and seeing the powerful wind bending the trees with ease.  “Ascribe glory and strength to the Lord, worship him in the splendor of his holiness,” instead of being fearful and defeated by the storm.

Cleansing in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:3-10)

Violent wind broke dead and live branches and vines that were entangled between the branches and striped off leaves from the trees. There were no trees uprooted but heavy rain and wind can uproot even the tall trees. We saw and heard the sound of the storm. Psalmist David says the voice of the Lord is over the waters, powerful, majestic, breaks the cedars, strikes with flashes of lighting, shakes the desert, twists the oaks, and strips the forest bare.  His voice, the WORD, can do mighty things in life because it is powerful.  He uses the storms of our life to force us to stay home (His presence), strip away unwanted things, break off the dead and entangled things, and uproot things that are not of God.

Peace in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:10,11)

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; is enthroned over the hurricane, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts, and all over his creations.  Everything is under his feet and he is in control of everything.  He gives strength to his people and blesses his people with peace.

Dear child of God, I encourage you to look at the storm that you are facing now with the “eye of worship” instead of  “eye of fear.”  See the majesty and power of God that is at work.  See the storm with the “eye of cleansing” instead of the  “eye of destruction.” See the hand of the Lord shaking to settle you, stripping to clothe you, breaking to mold you, and uprooting to plant you.  Allow Him to be the Lord over the storms of your life, enthrone Him to be the King forever over it.

Lord, I pray this child of yours will find peace and comfort and will be able to worship you in the storm that is threatening and coming with destructive power.