Dear Friend, Happy Friday! A couple of months ago, I went to a bakery on the lobby floor of my accommodation, after I threw away wastes. I wanted to grab some bread and ice cream for mom. The bakery is a Korean company’s franchise store. They sell their own brand’s ice cream as well as Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Haagen-Dazs’ price is 5~10 times higher than Korean local brands’ ice cream. I didn’t buy Haagen-Dazs often, but Korean ice cream. Yet once in a while, I bought Haagen-Dazs, and my mom loved it. Actually Haagen-Dazs is my favorite ice cream. So, in the bakery, I debated for a few seconds as to what ice cream I would choose, and I thought I would buy two Haagen-Dazs for mom and myself. I don’t eat ice cream often, but on that day, I had a craving. Both mom and I enjoyed ice cream time. Later at night when I worshiped the Father and prayed, He reminded me of something. When I lived in Shanghai, buying Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream was my joy. I used to enjoy that flavor in Korea, even before moving to Shanghai. As I didn’t enjoy Chinese local foods or snacks at all, having Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream was something like having home foods and giving myself a good and soothing treat, after a long day. As Haagen-Dazs was expensive in Shanghai as well, in some convenience stores, it was stored in a locked freezer against theft. After moving to Singapore later, I still used to keep Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream in my freezer. During my time both in Shanghai and Singapore, whenever I came back home to see mom, she used to buy Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream for me. She always wanted to buy my favorite foods including Haagen-Dazs, no matter how expensive they were. But now, I tried to be prudent in buying ice cream for her, as she was still happy with Korean local brand ice cream, cheaper one. And the Father said to me, “Buy her Haagen-Dazs.” I burst into cry. He reminded me of mom’s extravagant love for me, and He wants me to be more generous and extravagant to her. I don’t mean being prudent is bad, but He made me hear His heartbeat again. I must be more generous and extravagant to her. And He gave me more than enough, to honor her. No matter how generous and extravagant to her, I still cannot outgive her. I kept sobbing. Since then, I bought her Haagan-Dazs. In addition, since this spring, she and I started to go to my favorite coffee store that sells her favorite soft ice cream. Both price-wise and quality-wise, it’s close to Haagan-Dazs, and she and I enjoy some precious moments together in my favorite cafe everyday. While she eats ice cream, I also enjoy espresso macchiato. Whenever I ask her, “Shall we go to the cafe for ice cream?” she becomes so excited like a child. And I’m grateful to the Father for precious moments with her daily as well as for teaching me. Friend, I do not know whether your parents are around and what memory you have with them. It’s my prayer that you and I know our Father’s heart and honor our parents. Honoring them with generosity is an act of worship to the Father. We are to God the fragrance of Christ by our worship. Happy Mother’s Day & Have a Bliss! Yunee Listen to your father who begot you, Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you had or are having a good day, today? Do you have a life-changing teaching or experience? Depending on how old we are, we might have one, I guess. Recently, I had one, and it was not something spectacular nor looked spiritual or religious. It was actually very practical in my daily life. I don’t know about you, but I used to find it hard to say no to others, and I thought I must sacrifice myself, though I felt uncomfortable or unpleasant. Sometimes, I felt guilty, if I had to say no, or didn’t meet someone’s request. Then, earlier this year, I listened to Pastor John Fenn’s audio teachings, Boundaries & Priorities and Nehemiah. I really like those teachings and share a short description of Boundaries & Priorities in his website: This very practical series is about how to establish godly priorities in life and the decisions that come from those priorities. Things covered include knowing when our responsibility ends and when it is time for others to take responsibility for their lives, discerning the direction, a visitation where He taught me about how He teaches us step by step, and so much more to help establish priorities, boundaries, and walk with God into wise decisions – even if some people aren’t happy with us. I think it was in that audio teaching that he talked about how to feel good about establishing boundaries. He said that Jesus hurt a lot of people in terms of making them angry, and not meeting their expectation, but He never apologized for being in the right. Yet we live in a Christian culture that seem to make people wimpish and spineless Christians. I couldn’t agree with him more. In Christian culture and circle, it has been widely thought that we are to be a doormat. So, not only unbelievers, but also Christians misuse and/or abuse relationships with other believers in the name of brethren. (And I shared about false brethren that Pastor Rick Joyner wrote. There are false brethren!) And I would like to share excerpts from Pastor John’s weekly thoughts on Nehemiah: Many Christians think they are to be victims Many read Jesus telling us to offer the other cheek, give the extra coat, walk the extra mile in Matthew 5: 39-41 to mean we are to let people take advantage of us, but that is not what He was saying. What Jesus said places limits on how much we are to offer ourselves, how much we are to give of ourselves, how far we are willing to go for others. We offer 1 cheek, 1 coat, 1 extra mile. We are not to be a victim, not to give away our wardrobe, not beyond 1 mile. Jesus is saying our responsibility to others has limits. After we walk that extra mile with a person, they must walk by themselves. We give 1 coat but keep our closet of clothes, for they now have to clothe themselves. We offer 1 cheek but then put a stop to it, for they must deal with their own anger. Let them do that. Nehemiah answered their accusations. He stood up for himself for he knew what he was doing was God’s leading. He didn’t ask for forgiveness when they were offended, for he was in the right and they would just have to deal with their emotions. Nehemiah realized his 3 accusers had no power over him. They no longer had any place in his city. They no longer had the authority to offer their opinion about the city. And they did not like being powerless. Amazingly, these 3 accusers still had their own areas they governed, but it was THAT work that bothered them. Isn’t that the way it is so often? People who accuse you or don’t like the direction you’re going, have their own full and busy lives to live. But for some reason (often demon inspired) they focus on you to rip you apart – sad, but that is the way of man and Satan. … Realize that when others don’t understand the direction you’re going. When people do things just to distract you and delay what you are doing. When they lie about you or threaten you with lies, when they spiritualize their attack by bringing God into it, realize their issue is with the Lord – and if you stick to what you are doing, they will eventually see that you are from the Lord, what you are doing is from the Lord. A mature person can love a person while disagreeing with them morally or spiritually. Such a one can maintain fellowship, even friendship. The immature find points of disagreement and break off friendships and fellowship. Their issue is with the Lord at that point, and their own heart. Realize what you are doing affect many more than just your family We would not receive the full impact of Nehemiah’s work unless we looked what happened after the wall was finished. As a result of the completed wall, people felt safe and secure within those boundaries. You are your own Jerusalem. Make sure your walls are built so that in your heart and soul you feel safe, secure, at rest. Then include in the city your spouse, children at home. Then just outside the wall of your Jerusalem, is relatives – Judea – family, but they know their boundaries, know that you are in covenant now with your spouse and children, not with them. Then outward to distant relatives and associates, then outward to strangers in the ‘uttermost parts’. (Acts 1: 8) These teachings did come into my life, timely and practically. My niece and I had an honest and constructive conversation on this subject, related to her mother, i.e. my oldest sister. Before she came back to Seoul in this March, leaving her mission field, my niece and I had an opportunity to talk about my oldest sister’s having no boundaries and trying to control others as she wants. We also understand her upbringing was different from ours, yet it doesn’t mean that she can continue to get away with murder. Especially, when my niece had some conflicts with her mother over her future husband, I said to her that her future husband would be her head, not her mother, and she would set up boundaries sooner than later. Yet she would continue to pray for her mother with love, still honoring her. I shared Derek Prince’ teaching with her that it is ok to be away from a controlling parent, as controlling (including manipulation) is witchcraft. And in His time, He will restore relationship. And I went on to share Pastor John’s teachings that adult children are outside boundaries, taking an example of old parents’ taking care of grandchildren, being exhausted, but saying no to their adult children. So, likewise, to adult children, their parents are outside their boundaries. Then, in March or late February, my sister asked me to do her a favor before coming to Seoul, and I helped her. Yet I felt uncomfortable when she asked me. I wouldn’t describe it all in details. I extended grace by meeting her request, though I couldn’t understand why she didn’t ask her own daughter to do that. Later in Seoul, she asked me to do her a favor again (similar kind of request to the previous one), while she lives together with her daughter. My niece texted me privately, after hearing her talk to me over the phone. She also felt uncomfortable just like me, when she heard her mother ask that. So, when all of us got together for lunch in my place, my niece and I agreed to my speaking up now rather than later. I was encouraged by my niece’ support. Previously, I was also confirmed by the Father that siblings are outside my boundaries. So, after dessert, over the table, when my sister brought up the subject, I shared what was in my heart. I literally talked about boundaries. I willingly did her a favor when she asked me first. But, from now on, she would ask her own daughter to do that, or she would do it on her own, and I would not do that for her any more. Her immediate family is her daughter, not me. The conversation went well, and my sister didn’t seem to be offended. And I felt so much relieved. Indeed, I felt my walls set up. Later, when I exchanged texts with my niece, a little bit worried whether my sister was offended, she said, “I thought you actually communicated so smoothly with much grace and love!! I think she really understands your reasoning too. If not fully now just yet, definitely more with time. I think the concept of boundaries is unfamiliar yet but over His leading and time, it’ll all be smooth sailing.” And she said she actually mustered up courage, saying now it’s her turn to set up boundaries between her mother and her. Later, I also had an incident where I said no to a Christian lady someone introduced. I felt her using manipulation, which I think is common among Christians. She expressed as if I were being the Father’s answering her prayer. I was grateful, as before talking to her, I prayed about her. And He said I don’t have to meet her. So, while talking to her over the phone, I set up my boundaries, being still kind to her. I was reminded of Sister Margaret’s testimony late last year or so. A Christian lady she knew asked her whether a family who would go back to their country, after closing their business in Singapore for good, could stay in her place for a while, until they would fly out to their home. It sounded like they needed a temporary accommodation. Sister Margaret said no to that person. After that, she felt guilty, yet she realized that guilt was not from the Lord, but from the devil. And she rebuked the devil, and understood that if it had been His will to receive them in her place, He would have known her in advance. I got to know through other testimonies of hers and the book, “Margaret in Singapore” that she and her late husband, Pastor Fred used to host and care even the demon-possessed in their house, until they got free. While they had five little children, it would have been difficult to receive and minister to those people, unless God told them to. When I listened to her story of saying no, I was actually angry at the Christian lady who had asked her for those foreign family, and said to myself: “Wouldn’t she know her age? And wouldn’t she know how occupied she is for 3 classes per week at her age? She needs her own space. Why did she try to find other host? Hosting even one person for a day or a week can exhaust younger people. Sis Margaret would rather need care from others. Urrrr” I wished we Christians really think of others, being wise. I do not recall in which teaching of Pastor John he said this, but I paraphrase that as we should grow in the faith as in 2 Peter 1:5~8, others should grow and be fruitful likewise: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, this is required for every believer. Grow! As I wrote the draft of this blog, I came to know about the book called “Boundaries” written by a Christian doctor, Henry Cloud. A Christian talk show host mentioned the book, saying he used to find it hard to say no to others, and one day someone gave that book to him for a gift, knowing his difficulty. I simply felt it is His confirmation, as I was writing on this subject. Friend, I don’t know whether you used to think you should be a victim or a doormat, and you felt bad or guilty, after you had to say no. Or you already set up good boundaries around your house and protect your home. I hope my writing and Pastor John’s teachings would help and bless you. Have a bliss! Yunee The Wall Completed Dear Friend, How are you? If God would appear in your dream and ask one thing you want Him to do, what would you ask Him? In all honesty, I once expected Jesus to visit me in person or me to go to the third Heaven. As I got hungry for more of God, and sometimes listened to or watched prophecy or others’ testimonies, I wanted to have those spectacular experiences. As He showed me short visions and dreams, and made me smell the fragrance of Jesus, after the Holy Spirit baptism, I sort of expected and longed for His manifestation. Actually, there are many prophets or teachers who encourage people to expect them or even teach how to visualize Jesus and so on. But, thankfully I learned through Pastor John Fenn’s teachings that Jesus said to him in person that they are erroneous. And Pastor John wrote and said that he never asked Him to visit him. Everything is initiated by God, not us. It is actually in line with Derek Prince’ teachings, too. I’m grateful, as the Father led me to balanced and right teachings through them, away from those erroneous teachings. And my heart is longing for having Abba’s heart, not those spectacular experiences, WOW moments. I would often say to the Father, “Father, I want You to transplant Your heart into me.” Though it may not happen in a blink of an eye, I believe He would answer my prayer. One day when I was reading a Watchman Nee’s book, Worship God, a lady’s story simply hit me: worship comes only from seeing. It does not come because we see doctrine. It is revelation. Praise and worship is something objective, thanksgiving is something subjective. Know the Father and the heart will be filled with joy. Know God and the heart will be filled with glory. Glory cannot be explained, but those who see God know what glory is. Let me illustrate this with an experience from the life of Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis. From her biography we learn that she was seeking for the enduement of power from on high. “Then two or three searching questions were put to me by the Spirit of God. The first was: ‘If I answer your cry, are you willing to be unpopular?’ Unpopular! Be rejected? Well yes, I am willing. I have never faced it before, but I am willing. Why did I desire the fullness of the Spirit? Was it for success in service, and that I should be considered a muchused worker? Would I desire the same fullness of the Spirit if it meant apparent failure, and becoming the off-scouring of all things in the eyes of others? This had not occurred to me before, and I quickly agreed to any conditions the Lord should please to set before me. “Again came the question:—Would I be willing to have no great experience, but agree to live and walk entirely by faith in the Word of God? ... Yes! These were the questions put to me by God, and then the matter dropped. “Then came the climax, when one morning I awoke, and lo, I beheld before me a hand holding up in terrible light a handful of filthy rags, whilst a gentle voice said: ‘This is the outcome of all our past service for God.’ ‘But Lord, I have been surrendered and consecrated to thee all these years: It was consecrated work!’ ‘Yes, my child, but all your service has been consecrated self: the outcome of your own energy: your own plans for winning souls: your own devotion. All for Me, I grant you, but yourself, all the same.’ “The unveiling was truly a horror to me, and brought me in deep abasement to the Blood of Christ for cleansing. Then came the still, small voice once more, and this time it was the one little word— ‘Crucified’! “Crucified—what did it mean? I had not asked to be crucified, but to be filled. But now Romans 6.6-11 became a power to me, and I knew the meaning of ‘our old man was crucified with Him . . .’and what Paul meant in his words, ‘crucified with Christ’ (Gal. 2.20). After reading this, I became serious, and I asked the same questions to me: If He would answer my cry (i.e. giving His heart to me), am I willing to be unpopular and even rejected? Would I be willing to have no great experience, but agree to live and walk entirely by faith in the Word of God? At that night, I knelt down on my bed, and said to the Father, “Father, I am willing to be unpopular or misunderstood. I am willing to have no great experience, no WOW moment. I would not expect Jesus to visit me in person, nor would expect Your manifested presence. I just want to have Your heart in me.” I did mean it, and I began to have such peace since then. In Pastor John Fenn’s teaching on holiness, he shared Jesus’ asking “Why are you doing what you’re doing?” He sees our motives. Holiness is transparency and has no ulterior motives just like the Father, and our Lord, Jesus. It spoke to me much, and I started to ask myself why I’m doing what I’m doing. So, while I prayed that prayer, I wanted to be honest and transparent to the Father, and did mean that I would not expect any spectacular experience any more, but simply want to have His heart and the likeness of Jesus. That would be my goal for the rest of my life on this earth. Since that prayer, I became peaceful during my worship, as I was transparent in front of the Father. Without expecting some kind of wonderful moment of God, I was able to sing worship songs, and take time to listen to Him in silence. Then, one day, He taught me on His meek and lowly heart through the Scriptures as well as Pastor John’s teachings. Another day, He taught me on the subject I kept wondering, through a Pastor Rick Joyner’s book. They were all so timely that I was marveled. There was nothing spectacular. Yet I felt that is indeed supernatural. He sees everything in my heart and every subject I was curious about. And He taught me His ways through others’ teachings & writings in a timely manner. One day, early in the morning, I read the Bible on my bed under a dim light, and prayed and worshipped Him for a while. Later, after the sun rose, I went to the living room and continued reading my Bible on the sofa. While reading the Bible, I suddenly smelled fresh fragrance just under my nose. It was like I used to smell His presence just under my nose, in my Singapore time, after the Holy Spirit baptism, but the fragrance was different. And I just thought that it was as though the train of Jesus’ robe caused the fragrance, and He tried to say to me that He is here with me in the living room. I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1) I was surprised by this unexpected fragrance, yet I didn’t long for having that experience. Then, one night, to worship the Father, I went to my bedroom early, and sat on my bed. But my mom kept coming into my room, and said goodnight a few times. I didn’t feel bothered at all, but I thought to myself that I would rather lie on my bed, to pretend to sleep, and I would just worship the Father, lying on my bed. I thought it’s better under that circumstance, though I don’t like to worship Him, lying, and at the end of the day, my heart is important. So, I didn’t even play out worship music to sing along, from my phone or iPad. Without any songs to play out, I made my own melodies. I sort of improvised songs with my own melodies and my own lyrics. They were just my praise and confession on how great, how good, how kind, how awesome He is. There are so many things to praise Him for, and I sang my songs, as if I were a psalmist. I made lyrics, simply saying why I love Him. Then, tears welled up in my eyes. I had to keep using Kleenex, while singing on my bed. Then, a moment came when I couldn’t say nor sing any more, but knew I should be silent due to the weight of the Father’s presence. I simply sobbed under His presence. And He gently spoke to me. And I learned what worship is. It’s not necessarily music, but it’s really heart. When I think of the reasons why I worship Him, and express my heart, He consumes my sacrifice with His fire. He is satisfied. And I should also be transparent, with no ulterior motives. Friend, Would you take some time today or tonight simply to express your love toward our Father and our Lord, Jesus with your own lyrics? It’s my prayer that you and I become the true worshipers and satisfy Him. Have a bliss! Yunee But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23~24) Dear Friend, Happy Friday! On March 31st, I had a dream where I got to know I had made an appointment with a Buddhist co-worker in my first company. In reality, he was interested in me, and after he left the company, he called me to go out for a dinner. I didn’t want to see him so that I ignored that. But in the dream, I got to be reminded by another colleague that I had planned to date with that co-worker without asking the Father. I felt I made a grave mistake, and I hated to see him, feeling disgust inside. Finally, I called him, to say I would not go to see him. He already seemed to be waiting for me, and he expressed how upset he was. Though I felt sorry for him, I chose not to feel even more sorry for myself later. When I awoke, I simply felt that it was a warning dream, and He wants me to ask Him before I meet anyone. Otherwise, I would regret, just as I did in the dream. Later in the evening, when I worshipped the Father and took some time, being silent, to listen to Him, He said, “My daughter, the dream was from Me. Ask Me before you try to make an appointment with any. It is to protect you from distraction. To be My priest, completely surrender to Me. Even if it seems weird to others and you feel uncomfortable about it, obey Me. You can still intercede for those whom I wouldn’t allow you to meet.” When I heard that, I was reminded of the testimony of the elder in my previous Seoul church, who used to be an ambassador to China, and wrote the book, The Ambassador of God. After retirement, whenever he got calls or texts from his ex-colleagues, friends, etc., he would ask the Father whether he should meet them. When the Father said, “Don’t meet him,” he wouldn’t even reply to that person. But he was not afraid of losing friends or being misunderstood or backbitten. He said that he actually interceded for those whom the Father didn’t allow him to meet. So, instead of seeing them in person, he kept them in his prayers, which is more important. Reminded of his testimony, I thought to myself I would do the same. Then, next morning, when I read Mark chapter five, I came to read the word, permit or permission three times. It was Jesus’ giving or not giving permission. The word, permission, was highlighted to me, and I felt the Father repeated what He said the other night, and reminded me that I should ask Jesus permission. Then, I found out I had received an email from Pastor John Fenn’s ministry and it included weekly thoughts for that week. I have been subscribing his monthly newsletter, but not weekly thoughts. I usually visit his website to read weekly thoughts. But, for some reasons, for the past 2 weeks, his weekly reports were not posted in his website. I wondered why. Then, I came to receive his weekly thoughts email for the first time, and got to know from the title that it was the last episode of the series with total 3 episodes. As I didn’t see the previous 2 episodes in his website, I thought I must search the same title in it. Finally I located the previous 2 episodes I had missed over the last couple of weeks. When I read through 3 episodes, I got to understand why He hindered me from reading them for the last 2 weeks, but gave them to me that day. The series of episodes timely explained why He wants me to ask Him permission before I would meet any. They were on Nehemiah, and the short excerpts are: “All of that happened because 1 man refused to be distracted, threatened, coerced, bribed, or manipulated by those who opposed him. That 1 man motivated others to join him, sharing the vision, and making it that each person had to rebuild the wall in front of their own house, making it personal, so that they were building to protect their own families.” He wants me to set a boundary, not to be distracted, threatened, manipulated, etc., when He does something new with me. I was amazed to read this explanation, only after I had the dream, heard His voice (Rhema) and read His confirmation through Logos till that morning. And I felt He orchestrated the time of receiving the weekly thoughts by email, though I didn’t subscribe it. After that, over the next couple of weeks, I had a couple of incidents where I applied my learning, i.e. setting a boundary. I might share part of them in later blogs. In the meantime, I would also like to share some excerpts from a Pastor Rick Joyner’s book, the Prophetic Ministry, I recently read. They gave me affirmation: The Protection of Prophecies Years ago I was given a prophecy that one of the greatest attacks against the church in the last days was going to come from false brethren. These are not false shepherds, false prophets, or false teachers, but false brethren. They are being sent to steal the children’s bread by consuming 90 percent of the leadership’s time, energy, and resources without ever really changing or producing fruit. This is part of the devil’s strategy in the last days to “wear out the saints.” This one word has probably saved my ministry, my family, and maybe even my life. I have watched those who did not heed this word pay a terrible price for it. As watchmen and shepherds, we must learn to spot these spiritual traps and avoid them. False brethren are “black holes” of self-centeredness and self-pity, who will steal the children’s bread if we do not recognize them and refuse to continue ministering to those who do not produce fruit in keeping with their professed repentance. … As we come closer to the end, it will become increasingly important that we not be distracted or waste our time, energy, and resources on problems that could have been avoided. For this we need dependable, accurate prophetic ministries. I was so grateful for getting to read this in the book. I felt as though He wanted me to be enlightened and equipped for my future house church as well as my future family. Interestingly enough, while I was writing the draft of this blog, I came to watch a Korean Christian TV show over lunch, and listened to a guest speaker’s sharing her testimony. After she had some supernatural encounters with the Father, and was changed, she didn’t want to waste her time any more. She used to have more than 3,000 contacts in her phone, as she was a people person. But, she started to ask the Father whether she can call or see her friends, etc. before she tried to call or see them. She ended up with losing many of them, but she knew she did the right thing, in order to closely walk with the Father. I felt Him affirming this subject, and I wanted to re-watch that part from her testimony before going to bed. Then, in that evening, my niece texted me to ask whether I would be available on this Saturday. Her mother, my oldest sister, and she would come over to my place on the weekend, to have lunch and hang around with our mom, her grandmother, since my sister came back to Seoul in late March. My niece wanted to give me a heads-up that she might have a reunion lunch meeting with some of her friends on Saturday, yet she was debating whether she would go to that meeting. And she also asked my opinion on another appointment during the week with her old friends from the USA, who are in town. Since she asked my opinion, I shared my thoughts, knowing the background of their relationship, and said to her, “Ask the Father, anyway.” Then, after re-watching the testimony, I felt the message of our being set-apart was supposed to be shared with my niece. So I shared it. Immediately, she replied, “That was literally just having this exact conversation with my friend!!! That simplicity of circles of friends is a much better way to live!!! Since Sunday I’ve been thinking how I used to be so addicted to social engagement but now I’ve become significantly more social minimalist. haha As in being intentional about who I give access to be part of my circles. Thank you for sharing! Always grateful for how He speaks through you!” Friend, I don’t know whether this speaks to you. You might think, “Should I need permission from the Lord, even for meeting someone?” I would do this, not because of religiosity, but out of my submission to the Father, and I’d like to share the excerpts from a Watchman Nee’s book, Worship God: What is the kingdom? “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” [see Matt. 6.10]. That means that there will be no human will coming out to limit Him. When the question of the will is settled, then the question of power is also settled. What is the secret of really serving the Lord? It is not doing a hundred and one things for the Lord. Service is really submission to the Lord—knowing the true meaning of that word, “to obey is better than sacrifice” [1 Sam. 15.22b]. Abraham was one who obeyed God’s voice; and the Lord is after such utter responsiveness to himself, so that He can have a free way unhindered. And I believe there is always a good reason when the Father tells us to do something, and obedience is from our total trust, even if we don’t understand why. But like Pastor Rick Joyner wrote, I think we shouldn’t be naive on false brethren. Not only some unbelievers, but false brethren would distract, discourage, threaten or manipulate us. It’s for close walk with the Father as well as protection of our family, our house church, and the work He would do with us. May He give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and our eyes of understanding be enlightened. Have a bliss! Yunee I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1~2) Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you had or are having a good day, today? In this February, my sister and brother-in-law in California went to a vet for a regular medical check-up of our doggie girl, Honey. Before that, they found out something hard around her mamma, and the vet recommended a surgery to remove it. According to his report, mammary masses in dogs are 50% benign vs. 50% malignant. And he said even if it turns out to be benign, it’s safe to remove it. Before they made a decision on surgery, they wanted to go to another vet who was helpful in the last urgent care a few weeks ago. He is a Korean American and is also a pastor. They got to know him through their elder in their church home group. One night before they went to the vet, I prayed for Honey girl, and heard the Father say, “Her tumor is not malignant.” But then, after my sister came back from the second vet, she texted me to share an update, “The vet said her tumor is malignant. If she didn’t get a surgery to remove it, it would spread fast. And usually, dogs with malignant tumor lives 6 months to 1 year only. But with a surgery, they can live 3~4 years more. I don’t want her to die that soon.” Me, neither. Initially I didn’t like the idea of getting her an open surgery so that I shared my opinion that I would rather let the nature run its course. But with my sister’s report from the second vet, I agreed with her. Anyway, now Honey girl is under my sister and brother-in-law’s care and authority, so that I should respect their decision, no matter what. Yet, I was so confused, as I heard the Father say otherwise on her tumor. I thought to myself, “Did I hear Him wrong?” One night, I said to Him, “Honey has a cancer, the vet said, You know…” Again, He said, “Her tumor is not malignant.” I didn’t share it with my sister, though I heard it twice. Later a night before the surgery in California, my sister lost her sleep, too worried about Honey girl. So, she called me via FaceTime to ask me to pray for her. While we had a conversation, I got to know more background on the vet’s report. He only touched Honey’s mammary tumor with his hand. From his experience, he said with confidence that the tumor seemed to be malignant. But only after the surgery and biopsy, we would know for sure. So, I got to know it was his opinion only. And when my sister kept worrying about Honey, I blurted out, “Her tumor is not malignant! Don’t worry.” And she said, “How do you know? Did God say that to you?” I only nodded. And she went on to say, “Why don’t I hear Him? How can I hear His voice? Should I be baptized in the Holy Spirit to hear Him?” She has been longing for the Holy Spirit baptism, since the spirit of depression was cast out in early January this year. And I encouraged her to keep longing for the Holy Spirit baptism. I said to her, “No, even the donkey in the Old Testament heard (saw) what God said (showed). Before the Holy Spirit baptism, you can still hear His voice.” Our conversation wasn’t long, as she wanted to go back to bed. Yet, I was grateful to the Father, as we had a chance to talk about hearing His voice, and my sister started to have a hunger for it. Later, Honey got a surgery. Like the Father promised to me, her recovery was very fast, and now my sister said that she is even more stronger and healthier than before the surgery. We are all grateful for His goodness. And in about 10 days after her surgery, my sister texted me, to share a good news, “Honey’s tumor turned out to be benign! Indeed, she didn’t have a cancer.” And I could sense how happy she was with the report. So was I. From this incident, I learned the lesson. Even if experts or experienced people say something, God is always right and we must listen to Him. I lacked in confidence, wondering whether I heard Him wrong. And we all make mistakes in hearing His voice. Yet He is kind, and is willing to give confirmation, if we would need it. So I must always ask Him confirmation for important decisions. And I was also grateful, as my sister became really interested in and hungry for listening to His voice. So, later I had a chance to explain to her more via FaceTime. I said to her that the Holy Spirit baptism came only after Jesus was ascended. (Though I couldn’t remember and quote the Scriptures at that time, they are as below: Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7) The Holy Spirit Promised (Acts 1:4~5) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”) So, it tells us we can hear His voice even before the Holy Spirit baptism. Adam and Eve had communion with God in Eden. Abraham, David, Solomon, Samuel, etc. in the Old Testament were not baptized in the Holy Spirit, yet they talked to and listened to Him. And I encouraged her to start to talk to Him, instead of saying to herself. If she thinks to herself, “what shall I cook for dinner?” she would say to the Father instead, “Father, what shall I cook for our dinner?” I encouraged her to try to talk to Him or think of Him every minute, and pause Him to hear Him. And His ways of speaking to us is limitless. Then, she said, “Oh, now I think they were His voice. There were two cases.” She went on to explain them. She used to complain of her husband’s snoring horribly every night. In the middle of the night, she often left him, and went to a guest room to get sleep. He didn’t like her leaving him alone, to go to and sleep in other room. One night, when she heard him snore and tried to go to other room, a question came to her, “Do you want to sleep and live alone or do you want to sleep next to your healthy husband and live long together?” Without asking herself where this question came from, she simply answered, “The latter.” Amazingly, since that night, she was able to sleep next to the terrific snorer, without complaints. She never moved to other room since then. It simply reminded me of Sister Margaret’s story, and I shared it with my sister. Many years before her husband, Pastor Fred passed away, she used to complain of his keeping many stuffs in a room. She wanted to throw them away. One day, when she complained in her heart of his keeping so many things, the Lord said to her, “Do you want Me to take him away then?” And she said, “No, Lord, I don’t want You to do that!” Another story of my sister was from many years ago when she and her husband had a big fight while driving. She yelled at her husband. At that time, our oldest sister was sitting at the back seat in their car. After their fight, when her husband was not around, the oldest sister said to her, “When I saw you yell at him, I was able to see what I did to my husband. It reminded me of my yelling at him. And it also reminded me of what our mother did to her husband. I repented of my wrongdoing.” Since then, she didn’t yell at her husband, but tried to calm down. I was amazed to hear her stories. I already heard the second story of her, but it was my first time to hear her first story that the question from the Father came to her. So, I said to her that it was His question that changed everything. And He also used other people to talk to us, and He used our oldest sister to speak to her. Those two experiences really changed her. Not only her, in the second story, He also convicted our oldest sister of her transgression, and made her repent. His ways are marvelous. Friend, I hope my writings have been used for our Father to speak to you personally and timely. :) Even if not, I’m glad to share my sister’ & Honey’s story. Again, our Father is meek and humble so that He cares for us and He even cares for our doggie girl. And He longs for communion with us. It’s my prayer that we long for fellowship and friendship with Him, and talking to and listening to Him becomes our breathing. Have a bliss! Yunee Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? |
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