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Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked,
and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.
So Abraham went and took the ram,
and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
And Abraham called the name of the place,
The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day,
"In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
- Genesis 22:13, 14
Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak,
and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
- Habakkuk 2:2, 3
Today the one week Family Foundations-International/School of Ministry (FFI-SOM) came to an end.
It was hosted by the FFI Philippines national office, with a total of 52 participants from various parts of our country, as well as Hong Kong, Norway, and the UAE.
Words escape me at this point. The whole week of receiving fresh insights, as well as fresh revelation, from the heart of God was definitely a life-transforming event for me. But again, this is one of those many times when to put into words what the Father has done in my life is not going to do it justice.
I have often realized that "words" are only the handle by which we grasp what God, or another human being, is trying to communicate to us. The truth is that God communicates to us Spirit to spirit... not by words.
Words are merely the handle by which we try to grasp what He wants to convey.
It is but understandable that words will never be adequate to explain the deep things of God.
Scripture is written word, but there is so much to it than just mere words. There's life flowing between the lines… there's living truth… there's fresh revelation being given to anyone who is hungry to receive.
Suffice it to say is that the SOM confirmed so many things I had been seeking confirmation for.
God confirmed the vision He placed in my heart years ago that He had called me to be a channel of healing and a redemptive agent in the lives of people I encounter. I am in the right ministry, working with the right people. Together, we have been raised to minister to the bride of Christ in the end times. I am on the right track when I seek to receive deeper training and equipping.
There is no time to live in offense or unrighteous judgment.
There is also no time to waste in useless pursuits.
Every minute counts.
What joy this gives my heart to realize that God will not allow me to lose sight of what He has called me to do.
But more than merely doing an assignment, Father is calling me to be.
A daughter of the King.
But also, more importantly, one of the five wise virgins waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom... lamp ready, an extra supply of oil on hand.
The SOM came at just the right time that we needed it. Many of us received encouragement, affirmation, hope.
Where there is a vision, there surely is a provision.
I am reminded of the story of Abraham in Genesis 22, where God calls him and asks him to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice.
Looking for a suitable photo to post with this blog entry, I came across the image I posted above. I quote here some of the words from the site:
When God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac He was essentially testing Abraham's heart to see which he would hold in highest regard: his own relationship with the Lord or his relationship with his beloved son.... Likewise... we too are put to the same test. Through His Word and through the prophets, the Lord Himself has given us precious promises with regard to our own children, our churches, communities, and nations.... A spiritual battle rages in which the enemy is certain that we will not uphold the most important commandment of all to the point of sacrificing our 'Isaacs' whatever they may be: beloved sons and daughters, powerful ministries, or the earthly nations in which we live.... We are put in a position where we are forced to choose between following the way of fear, or the way of God's love. source
I understand this much: In my life, God gives a vision. My heart will be tested time and again, to see if I will stay true to the vision.
A vision is huge... but God gives us glimpses of it… bite sized pieces revealed according to His time frame, according to how much our hearts can receive.
The heart has to be tested, shaped, prepared, cleansed... whatever needs to be done for the vision, the God-dream, to be fulfilled.
For the fulfillment of the calling, we need to raise a standard of righteousness in our own lives and in the societies that we live in, that we may be able to stay true to the vision, which as the prophet Habakkuk writes, will surely come.
I cannot hold on to my Isaacs thinking they rightfully belong to me.
Or that I am entitled to them.
Certain beautiful things in my life are good to have, such as comfort, resources, a beautiful family, friends, church, ministry. But they have to be placed on the altar.
It is a test of the heart.
Or that I am entitled to them.
Certain beautiful things in my life are good to have, such as comfort, resources, a beautiful family, friends, church, ministry. But they have to be placed on the altar.
It is a test of the heart.
Abraham is a prototype man of faith, I have often said that. He was able to raise a standard of righteousness, of obedience.
He chose God over himself.
Only then was the provision for the vision revealed to him, the ram caught in the thicket.
I am amazed at what God has done in my heart this past week. Words could never explain what happened.
But I am so thankful I was a part of it. My life is eternally changed.
Five days ago, we celebrated my grandson Joyful One's fifth month of life.
Together with five friends from Davao, we had lunch at Chicken House. The photos I share below were taken on that day.
Since I am doing a series on the names of God for the twelve monthly blessings that I will be giving my grandson, very much on my heart at this time is to give him a blessing from God as his Jehovah Jireh.
It is so easy to assume that God provides for everything we need as His children. While that is true, my own heart convicts me at this time that Abraham's provision, in this case a substitute ram that spared his son Isaac from death, came when his heart proved that he loved God above all.
More than he loved himself.
Abraham's unconditional obedience caused the solution to manifest in his realm of influence. That ram became the substitute for Isaac who went free. Now that Abraham's highest loyalty proved to be to the Lord Himself, he was free to raise his son into his God-given destiny. source
What a message this story speaks to my heart!
This is a prayer of blessing I speak not only for my grandson, but for myself, and each and every member of my family: my five children and my three other grandchildren.
This is a prayer of blessing I speak not only for my grandson, but for myself, and each and every member of my family: my five children and my three other grandchildren.
I want to bless you today my dear grandson, Joyful One, with a relationship with Jehovah Jireh in the way that Abraham knew his God.
Grandson, raise a standard of righteousness in your life, that you will be willing to let go of whatever Isaac may stand in the way of your giving Father God the best obedience you can give.
It will not be easy for you in the times your generation lives in. I pray that the odds will not deter you.
I pray that God will empower you to live out your divine calling, wherever He has placed you.
Son, this world is not our home. We are only passing through.
May you never drive your stakes down too deeply.
May you never be motivated to live with a warped view of who God created you to be.
May financial concerns never force you to give up on the original call of God on your life.
May unforgiveness never harden your heart or embitter your soul, that you will be trapped in a self-made prison that prevents you from living the freedom that Christ gave His life for.
May you never be content with small dreams… but only continue to aim high and reach for the stars that God has promised to give you, even before you were born.
May you constantly live your life with an awareness that heaven is your true home, but there are kingdom assignments that you alone can fulfill on this earth.
Grandson, may you truly know God as the Jehovah Jireh… who will never withhold from you the provision that you need for your God given vision to become a reality in your life.
Love always,
Nana
I pray that God will empower you to live out your divine calling, wherever He has placed you.
Son, this world is not our home. We are only passing through.
May you never drive your stakes down too deeply.
May you never be motivated to live with a warped view of who God created you to be.
May financial concerns never force you to give up on the original call of God on your life.
May unforgiveness never harden your heart or embitter your soul, that you will be trapped in a self-made prison that prevents you from living the freedom that Christ gave His life for.
May you never be content with small dreams… but only continue to aim high and reach for the stars that God has promised to give you, even before you were born.
May you constantly live your life with an awareness that heaven is your true home, but there are kingdom assignments that you alone can fulfill on this earth.
Grandson, may you truly know God as the Jehovah Jireh… who will never withhold from you the provision that you need for your God given vision to become a reality in your life.
Love always,
Nana
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