Praise the LORD!

Exodus 15:1-21          

1  Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted.  Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.

2  The LORD is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

11  Who among the gods is like You, LORD?  Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

20  Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.

21  Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted.  Both horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.”

The Israelites had just taken part in one of the greatest miracles of all time—deliverance from their enemies, the Egyptians.  During the Passover, they left hurriedly in the middle of the night (Ex 12:29-42).  Did they burst into songs of praise when they left Egypt?  Perhaps when preparing the Passover, they were too tired and too busy (sounds like most of us!) to get ready to leave that they didn’t give God the praise and honor due Him.  No praises or thanksgiving to God from the Israelites were recorded. This was unacceptable to God, who deserves our praises.  After several days, the LORD disclosed to Moses, “..I will gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”  (Ex 14:4)  The weary, battle-hardened Israelite slaves, who long ran out of hope before God showed up, experienced an unforgettable display of God’s power when crossing through the Red Sea and then witnessing the deaths of their enemies when the sea came crashing down on them.  THAT did it, and the praises poured forth from their mouths, their hands, and their hearts, starting with their leaders Moses and Miriam.  Now they truly realized that God was fighting for them and that He can be trusted with their lives!  They finally started to know Who God is!

Does it take a huge cataclysmic event to move us to finally praise God?  We can praise the LORD for everyday little blessings—God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, peaceful lives, health, family, friends, freedom, church, job, clean air and water, food, opportunities, etc.  It shouldn’t take a disaster to fall on our knees before God!

the Long Road from Pride to Humility

Exodus 8:1-24 

1  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘this is what the LORD says:  Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

6  So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land.

8  Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

15  But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.

16  Then the LRD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,’ and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.

18  but when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.  Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere,

19  the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”  But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said.

22 “But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies, will be there, so that you will know that I , the LORD, am in this land.

23  I will make a distinction between My people and your people.  This sign will occur tomorrow.”

The beginning of Exodus sets the stage for a climatic showdown between the LORD God and Pharaoh the king of Egypt.  After 430 years of slavery with not a word from the LORD and Pharaoh’s power reigned supreme, the LORD decided that now is the time.  Chapter 8 brings us to the middle of this battle, after turning staffs into snakes and water into blood.  Pharaoh’s wise men, sorcerers, and magicians came up short when trying to make little creatures called gnats; they are no match for the living God.  Earlier, they were able to produce frogs (v.7), but they could not make them disappear, and Pharaoh had to summon Moses and Aaron for the job.  But Pharaoh refused to give up his pride and his hunger for power again and again.

I think earthly rulers get cocky and proud too if no one is contesting them and their reigns.  We are going through some of the worse crises of our time—dire famine, extreme poverty, strained international relations, economies buoyed by borrowed money, increased natural disasters, prolonged wars, unemployment, etc.  with no real end in sight, yet our rulers refused to turn to the LORD. Instead, they either shut out the LORD completely, or they blame God for their problems.  They refused to believe that their sin and unrepentant hearts are the cause of all their troubles. 

America was great because the LORD’s hand of protection and blessing was on her:  keeping relations with other nations peaceful, making wars short and decisive, increasing crops and harvests, limiting natural disasters to a minimum. 

We are also to blame, because we often failed to call on God about all calamities happening around us.  O LORD, awaken us! Open our eyes and our hearts to see what You see and feel what You feel.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

the God of my fathers

Exodus 3:1-22    

4  When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”  And Moses said, “Here I am.”

5  “Do not come any closer,” God said.  “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

6  then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

15  God also said to Moses,” Say to the Israelites, ’T he LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’  “This is My name forever, the name you shall call Me from generation to generation.

16  “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘’T he LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

The Israelites knew about the LORD God by how He related to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  They would have no problem identifying which God Moses was referring to.  Up to this point, they knew God had performed miraculous births on all their behalf, led small-scale victories over their enemies, and initiated life-changing relationships with each patriarch.  Now they were going to know God as the God of power and might, worthy to be praised and worshiped, able to take on the most powerful ruler in the ancient world.  They were going to experience His awesome deliverance and jaw-dropping miracles—something the patriarchs never saw for themselves.  They were going to know another side of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

When we pray to God, He just may reveal to us another side of His holy character.  That’s why God was given so many names and titles throughout the Bible: the God who sees me(Gen. 16:13-14), King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), wonderful Counselor (Is. 9:6), Emmanuel(Matt. 1:23), etc.   Through our experiences with God and our God-given answers to prayer, we can know another dimension of God.

the Blessing of Children

Psalm 127 

1         Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

2         In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those He loves.

3         Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from Him.

4         Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

5         Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

I had often thought of my children as my spiritual weapons, ever since a few years back when I last read this psalm.  All 4 of my children have expanded my personal ministry base and broaden my spiritual outlook considerably. 

My daughter Christine, who had lived only 11 days after being born, had opened up the emotional issue of abortion, the hidden grief of miscarriage, and the secret guilt of a mother in my life.  I would not have known a little of the hearts of so many mothers if it wasn’t for Christine.  Now looking back 18 years after her passing, I still have a part of the grief, but even more, I have joy knowing how God had used her life as a testimony to help so many. 

My son Wesley introduced me to the world of boys.  When other moms talked about their sons, I can find common ground to share.  From trains to Transformers to swords and Star Wars to Lego’s to Rubik’s Cubes and various puzzles, he’s my first-born.  He loves math and science but despises art and drawing.  He turned from one who doesn’t care much for learning music to one who wants to worship God on his guitar.  He also went through 10 years of dental treatment, and this experience made him fearless of dentists and needles.  His faith journey changed him from the inside out.

My daughter Stephanie turns out to be the opposite of her brother in both interests and personality.  She’s my sensitive artist and musician, a loner who needed lots of encouragement, my prayer warrior and partner.  Her earlier interests in dolls and dresses has matured into fashion and cartooning/doodling.  She’s the most consistent out of all my children and the most caring and loyal.  Stephanie struggles more with academics and helps me empathize more with parents who have similar struggles.

My daughter Esther is my youngest “cute as a button, sharp as a whip” child.  Whatever she puts her mind to doing, she’ll do it and do it well.  The key is whether or not she wants to!  Her interests spans from stuffed animals to stickers to fused beads to erasers to clay to drawing anime to YouTube videos to…(I can’t keep up because they change or get added on every 1-2 years!).  She’s also my animal lover, talented and sociable to boot!  She’s a born leader, with a group of girlfriends almost everywhere she goes.  She’s keep me up late many nights with her endless questions.  Esther helps me relate to parents with the challenges of raising a gifted child.

I would not be involved in children’s ministry if it weren’t for my kids.  I am shaped uniquely by each of my children.  They make me appreciate the differences and individuality of the people I directly minister to now.    I would be such a narrow-minded woman if I didn’t become a mother.  In this day and age when children are seen more as liabilities than assets, I am grateful for my children and the different worlds they have introduced me to.  I have become a richer Christian because of them!

Idol Worship vs God Worship

Psalm 135 

1         Praise the LORD.  Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD,

2         You who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.

13   your name, LORD, endures forever, your renown, LORD, through all generations.

19   all you Israelites, praise the LORD; house of Aaron, praise the LORD;

20   house of Levi, praise the LORD; you who fear Him, praise the LORD.

This psalm starts and ends with praising the LORD many times.  The beginning of Genesis started with praises to God for the goodness of His creation.  The end of Revelations finished with triumphant praises to the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).  Praises to the Lord are sprinkled all throughout the Bible, with generous helpings here and there (especially Psalms), but they are muddled with sin and idol worship.  So in Psalm 135, the middle recounts what the Lord did to some idol-worshipping nations and reminds Israel what idols really are—lifeless man-made craft/art projects.  The priests and Levites, the spiritual leaders of Israel, who ministered in the house of the Lord, were commanded to praise the Lord and to draw close to Him, leaving no room in their hearts for idols.  As goes the leader, so goes the nation.

What are the idols in our lives today?  I asked my children this morning, and my youngest piped up, “Technology.”  How true.  So are money, status, education, lust, pop stars, athletes—anything that competes with God for our attention and adoration. (I’m writing this as Jeremy Lin finally has the attention of the world as a basketball superstar, and whom I admire for his faith and athletic ability). No one and nothing should overshadow God.  On the other hand, how much do we really praise God?  Most of my prayers are for me or for others, rarely about praising God for who He is.  (Ouch, this hurts even as I’m writing this!).

Father God, I haven’t praised You nearly enough, definitely not to the extent that You deserve.  You are awesome and mighty, yet kind and good.  You are the majestic God, and everlasting Father, the Ruler of all nations, and King of the universe.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that You are Lord (Phil. 2:10-11)!  You embodied perfect mercy and grace, at the same time perfect justice and righteousness.  You possess the perfect balance of love and justice.  We do not need to fear that You’ll slip up or make a mistake, for You are the honest Judge.  You do not give us a spirit of timidity, but of love and power and discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).  Words are not enough to describe all that You are!

 In Jesus’ name, Amen.

the Classic Battle

Romans 7:13-25 

13  Did that which is good, then, become death to me?  By no means!  Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin night become utterly sinful.

14  We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

15  I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

16  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

17  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

18  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

…

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

24  What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

25  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!...

It’s a classic battle, even immortalized in classic Disney cartoons—the battle between good and evil inside all of us.  Even though I’ve been steeped in Christianity for most of my life, I’ll readily admit that I continue to struggle to do what God wants me to do vs doing what I want to do (eat, sleep, spend too much time on the internet, etc).  Every day, it’s a war, choosing the way of discipleship.  I want to serve, evangelize, get up early to pray, read the Bible, help the poor and homeless, etc, but the spirit of fear and timidity (2 Timothy 1:7) within me keeps me away from doing these good things.  The sin nature chooses man’s praise and fame, but the Spirit chooses humility.  The sin nature puffs up the sinful man, but the spiritual man seeks the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14).  Only the overflowing power of the Holy Spirit can overcome my fear and pride.

Lord, help me not to succumb to my sinful nature, but fill me with more of You every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peace and Prosperity

Romans 1:18-25
18  The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
25  They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.  Amen.
How is the wrath of God revealed in our society today?  I don’t think I’m that old, but I do remember a time in my childhood when almost everything was peaceful and prosperous in America:
 Elections were calm and predictable, not like the circus we’re having right now.
 Unemployment was down.
 Property value was up.
 Schools did not need metal detectors or policemen.
 We were not at war with anyone.
I also remembered an older Chinese Christian lady who had worked her way up from serving as a waitress to climbing the corporate ladder in a successful career to enjoying a comfortable retirement now.  Several years ago, when we were discussing about the sad state of our country, she recalled back in her era when the interest in her bank accounts hovered around 15% (not 1% like it is today) and customers showered her with generous tips that were almost equal to the price of the meals themselves!  She had lived through a peaceful and prosperous America.  I could not forget her next words: “America is falling apart.”  Though I am an immigrant in this country, here was where I found my faith in God.  If I had remained in my birthplace Taiwan, I doubt that I would become a Christian.  But that was God’s blessing to me when America was more ”Christianized.”  I had written a song some time ago based on Hosea 14:1-2 that’s the prayer of my heart:
Turn back, O Israel, from your idols.
Turn back, O Israel, to the Lord your God.
Turn back, O church, from your sins.
Turn back, O church, to the Lord your God.
Turn back, O America, to your faith.
Turn back, O America, God loves you.