Unanswered prayer

“Have you ever wondered what would have been if God answered all your prayers?
Let’s ponder … If God had answered your prayers on the excellent school you dreamed, the tempting job you could enjoyed or gorgeous partner you wished to have that you might thought it was great, what might have been? Aren’t you glad that God didn’t answer you?” BSF Teaching leader asked this question last night as we studied Exodus 5:1-6:27 – Moses’ First encounter with Pharaoh.

“Yes! I am glad that God did not answer all my prayers especially those ridiculous requests” I told myself. WOW! It was so true that sometimes when I prayed for something, it gets worse before it gets better.

Exodus 5:22-23 Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

I am just like Moses by asking God “WHY?” I often judge the future with the current situation and focus on the problem instead of lesson God wants to teach me.

God did not answer Moses why He did that instead God told Moses His plans and promises. God reveals Himself and His plan through our disappointment and seeming failures.

I remembered Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane asking same request 3 times “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [Matthew 26: 36-45] What would have been if the request was granted? I am thankful that Jesus took the cup (died of us) so that we who believe in Him are saved by His blood. Aren’t you glad now? To be personal with God is to involve with God!

We never satisfy till we empty ourselves! I like this clause from BSF notes “As long as we are full of ourselves, even in small things we are no use (useless) to God. When we die to self, we become vessels fit to God’s service.” Do you want to be God’s vessels? Let’s do it!

3:16

The book 3:16 was written by Max Lucado.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Using his own daily life story, the author described phrase by phrase of the passage John 3:16. It very light reading yet powerful message connecting to our life.

At the end of book, there are chapters of conclusion and Only Jesus: 40 days with the Son.

I like Only Jesus: 40 days with the Son, which brought us to Jesus' birth to His death. I felt the emotional touch as if I was one of characters in the story of Jesus. Yes! Jesus the King became a servant, God became a man to give hope for you and me. God loves. God gives. We believe. We live. Do you want to live?

An instrument of Thy peace

How can we be an instrument of God's peace?

My church choir is singing this song this week.
What a beautiful, meaningful and powerful message!

Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Let's learn to be an instrument of Thy peace wherever we go... home, church, school, workplace, etc. Be blessing to others as you have been blessed by Thy peace!

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.