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Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you are well. I wrote a few years back about my new hobby, making dolls. But, after a few weeks or so, God stopped me from having that hobby, as I went overboard. Some might think, “How would God stop you from having the hobby? Isn’t it that you spiritualize too many?” But, after I obeyed Him, I learned why, and I got even more grateful to the Father. One night in 2022, after I stopped the hobby of making dolls, I happened to watch a YouTube video of a Korean mom’s singing worship songs, playing keyboards, surrounded by her little kids. Listening to her beautiful voice and watching her playing piano, I really wanted to learn how to play piano. I had years of desire deep in my heart that I’d like to play piano. But, my sister used to make fun of me, since young, saying I have no talent in music. (Only recently in my life did I learn it’s the devil’s lie, using her words. Devils use people and their words to make us believe lies such as “you will amount to nothing,” and so on.) I learned cello for more than a year when I worked for a pharmaceutical company in Seoul. I enjoyed it for a while, but I was a bit discouraged and frustrated when reading sheet music. In a decade, I watched a video of the minister who visited Heaven. Before the visitation, he never played any musical instrument, but he learned 9 different musical instruments there. When I watched him playing instruments, I thought to myself, “OK, when I finally meet my Lord in Heaven and live in eternity, I would learn playing piano and other instruments. Will wait.” But, after watching the Korean mom’s singing worship songs, playing keyboards, I mustered up my courage and found out some helpful videos and online classes for beginners to play accompaniment using chords, not reading sheet music. Everyday, I was thankful for His kindness to lead me to good teachers online. And I practiced easy chord progression for worship songs. Later, I even tried to play some easy versions of classical music, reading sheet music and watching YouTube tutorials. It really was a leap in my piano journey. I couldn’t thank the Father, enough, saying “Father, You had every reason to stop me from making dolls. What if I disobeyed You, but continued to make dolls? I’d not have had this opportunity to make my dream come true.” I didn’t have to wait until I live in Heaven. Lol Yet, one year after I started to learn piano, I felt a bit bored with playing simple chords for accompaniment, and wanted to play jazz. I also wanted to improvise rather than be stuck in reading sheet music and end up forgetting what I played after being out of practice. And I like light and soft jazz instrumental music as background music in cafes and even at home. One of the reasons I went to my favorite cafe was music. They played out jazz without lyrics. I don’t want to go to cafes with loud music with lyrics in background, even if they have comfy chairs or have nice coffee or tea. When it comes to playing instruments, though, jazz seems to be more difficult than contemporary pop music or even classical music. Major 7th chord, minor 7th chord, dominant 7th chord, etc. What a gibberish they were talking, I thought. And I also had a concern on playing jazz, as I sometimes saw pictures and paintings of jazz musicians’ having cigarette and jazz is also often played at bars. I’ve been very careful in music, as Lucifer was in charge of music before its fall. So even now, through music like rock, heavy metals, new age or even some pop music, the evil spirits come into people and ruin their lives. So, I must keep my ear gate as well as eye gate, not taking music & shows lightly. Then, one day, I thought to myself, “Jazz seems to be originated from black people’s labor in the time of slavery. If God forbade jazz, wouldn’t He be a Racist?” Yet I still didn’t know what was His will for me, with regard to jazz. One day, listening to Pastor John Fenn’s teaching, I heard him mention Nancy Honeytree’s song “I am a servant,” and recommend his audience may search her songs. So I did. Among a few albums of her, I played out an album titled “Melodies in Me” and found the first song of the album, “The Broadmoor Song” is jazz. Lol A few days later, I came to listen to the well-known worship song, Great is the Lord by Morris Chapman, a black American. When I googled him, I learned he was a janitor of a high school until he started to work as a musician in his 40’s. I was encouraged to know his story, though I’m not talented to become a musician, but at least, I can still enjoy learning music instruments in my age. While I played out other songs he made, to my amazement, I found out he made many gospel songs which have some bluesy and jazzy feel. Again, I felt that the Father spoke to me through his music, after Nancy Honeytree’s song. Then, in a week or two, I was praying and singing in tongues on the sofa in the living room, after dinner. I didn’t know how long I prayed and sang, but quite soon, I felt Him saying, “Now, go to your room and watch the video.” I still had kind of my own standard on worship time, though it was not about how long, but our heart. So, I said, “Oh, this soon?” He said, “You wanted to watch it.” I knew what He meant by the video. It was one episode of a Christian talk show. I saw a thumbnail of a man with his name, etc. He seemed to be a member of an old music band. I thought the name of the band sounded a bit familiar, but I didn’t think I ever saw him before. I was curious about him, but didn’t watch the talk show yet. So, getting free from my religious thought on worship/prayer time, I jumped into my bed and watched the video. I learned that the guest in the talk show used to be a guitarist in the band a few decades ago, and now teaches in a music colleague. When I watched him sing a few songs live in the talk show, I grinned. He sang jazzy feel of gospel songs. And he even shared a story that he happened to meet Eddie Brown, a musician who worked with Stevie Wonder and Michale Jackson for their album. Very talented keyboardist and musician. Eddie visited Korea, as her mom felt the Lord want to send him here. Divine connection. So they met here and worked together and had a concert for Christmas. Watching the show, I became 100% certain that the Father gave me green-light to learn to play jazz. I was overjoyed. I was amused by His sense of humor and thankful for His kindness. And I felt so free. In the beginning when I wanted to learn piano, I thought I would play worship song accompaniment. So, I felt I was kind of distracted, when I wanted to learn jazz. But, the Father gave me some impression in my heart that He wants me to enjoy music with Him. It wasn’t my doing something for Him (like worship music), but doing with Him (no matter what genre of music I play). He wants communion and friendship. And His kindness didn’t end there. As I signed up in an online jazz piano class with an annual membership and learned and practiced jazz, I got to know about Oscar Peterson, the Canadian jazz pianist. I watched documentaries on him, and learned he was a Christian. I said to the Father, “Father, when I get there, I would like to learn jazz from him. It must be fun. I believe he is well there with You.” “…” A few days later, I searched some jazz books in kindle. Lo and behold, an Oscar Peterson’s book popped up. I never thought he wrote a book. And I was so thankful for the Father’s kindness. He knew my heart and my lack of knowledge. So, He let me know Oscar’s book for practice is available. Not only that, but in one morning, when I was half-awake on my bed, He taught me how to play do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti in all 12 keys. I was confused often in playing those 7 in 12 different keys, but His revelation was simply easy, an eye-opener and a game-changer. On that day, the first thing I did after having breakfast with mom was to sit in front of my keyboards, to try to play that, according to His teaching. I couldn’t thank Him, enough. He cares about everything in our lives. It doesn’t have to be religious or church subject. He cares about our everydayness, i.e. our mundane lives and our daily needs. No matter whether it’s work, study, raising kids, marriage relationship, hobbies, or finances, He cares about us. And He wants to be our Friend and He wants us to be His friend. Just like Eugene Peterson wrote, “Friendship is not a way of accomplishing something but a way of being with one another in which we become more authentically ourselves.” Friend, well, ever since I learned jazz piano, I didn’t progress much. I’m still a beginner. I was very enthusiastic in the beginning, but I excused myself daily, “I’m so tired. I’d lie on the sofa and just read the book.” I was out of practice for about half a year, though I wanted to practice my all time favorite jazz, Christmas songs. Now I should practice all over again before Christmas is coming. :) In my heart, though, I know no matter when I would practice it, He wants me to enjoy it with Him. Just like He enjoys my reading His words or my worshiping Him, He enjoys my playing music with Him, writing with Him and washing dishes with Him. (Remember Brother Laurence was a dish washer!) Friend, I hope this blesses and encourages you even more in your mundane life, your journey as God’s friend. Have a bliss! Julie And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:9~11a) Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you are well. Today, I’d like to write my favorite subject, Friends of God! I was very glad to find out Eugene Peterson wrote in As Kingfishers Catch Fire, which is a collection of his sermons: “In the culture we have grown up in, all of us have been exposed to a good deal of concern that we develop a healthy self-esteem so we can live whole and satisfying lives. In the process the term identity crisis has entered our vocabulary as a key element in self-understanding. Who am I? What does it mean to be me? I understand that and appreciate the concern. But I want to replace the jargon of educators and psychiatrists and psychologists with a simple but far more accurate and comprehensive designation. And I want you to consider well the answer ‘friend of God’ and take seriously the good news wrapped up in those three words. … Abraham was not called the friend of God because he was signed out for special benevolent attention by God, a kind of teacher’s pet. He did not live a charmed life. He was called the friend of God because he experienced God accurately and truly. He lived as God’s friend. He responded as God’s friend. He believed that God was on his side, and he lived like it. To be a friend of God does not mean everything is cozy between you and the Almighty. To be a friend to someone does not mean you pamper or indulge him or her. Friendship also involves struggle and loss, tension and turbulence. One of my favorite proverbs is “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6) A friend, if honest and true, will tell you things you don’t want to hear. A friend, if deeply serious about you, will do things that feel painful. Friends do that because they respect your dignity and honor our uniqueness. … Here is another element contained in the word friend. Friend is totally about a relationship, not a function. There is an everyday, ordinary quality to it. We find ourselves friends with people not for what they can do for us but simply for who they are. … Abraham’s friendship with God was not sentimentally tied to one spot. … It was daily, regular, and frequent, using whatever stones he found there on the ground to mark the spot. That is how friendship works. Friends remember one another in both common and uncommon ways. They call one another on the spur of the moment. They remember special days. They visit simply for the pleasure of the other’s company. Things don’t have to get done in a friendship. Friendship is not a way of accomplishing something but a way of being with one another in which we become more authentically ourselves. As we get a feel for the qualities of friendship, I think this also is important: Abraham’s life seems curiously empty of accomplishment. With the exception of his intercession for Sodom, he doesn’t seem to have asked his friend God for anything. … And get this: being God’s friend didn’t mean that Abraham was heroically good or above average in virtue or untainted by sin. Abraham is not conspicuous in the human qualities that we usually admire. He lied to protect his own skin in exchange for the sacrifice of his wife’s reputation. He laughed at God when the divine promises sounded absurd to him. He played the coward with Abimelech. What friendship means is that two persons are in touch with each other and share important interests. And that is what the friendship of God and Abraham is all about. Abraham was in touch with the God who was in touch with him. He accepted God’s concern for him as the reality of his life, and he returned it by making God the center of his life. He obeyed, he journeyed, he prayed, he believed, and he built altars. He did none of this perfectly. … With persons we talk of response, growth, listening, and acting. Abraham did all of that in relation with God, whom he was convinced was determined to be a good friend to him. … What we do know of Abraham is his quite ordinary friendship with God and God’s friendship with Abraham, using the everyday stuff of the culture - hospitality, altar building, family relationships, famine, sacrifice - but using it sacramentally, using the visible circumstances and people and things as witnesses and occasions for being in faith present to God as friend. In this he marks the very beginning of the biblical process. It is only right that Jesus gets the last word: ‘I have called you friends’ (John 15:15, NRSV). Amen.” Friend, are you encouraged by this? I am. I’m convinced that I am His friend, not because I did something spectacular for God. Again, it was not our doing something for God. From the outset, He doesn’t lack anything. He doesn’t need our work from our self-righteousness. But He wants relationship. He wants friendship. Just like Abraham made mistakes, we also make mistakes and we are not perfect. But, it doesn’t matter in making friends with God. In our daily life, we make Him center of our lives and we become true friends. In that everydayness, mundane life, we get to know Him more. It is not knowing about Him intellectually, but we get to know Him more as a Person, as a Friend. So, we would totally trust Him, as Abraham believed that he would become a father of many, and God would revive Issac even if he killed his precious son on the altar. Friend, I pray that you and I walk with Him daily and live as friend of God, just like Abraham, our father in faith. Amen! Today, I didn’t write my story much, but excerpt from Eugene Peterson’s As Kingfishers Catch Fire. I thought this would encourage us, though. Next week, I would write about my friendship with God. Till then, have a bliss! Julie Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13~15) Dear Friend, How are you? I’m well. I shared Pastor Rick Joyner’s interview with Sid Roth last week. After I watched it, I really wanted to know more about the friendship with God and bought a video teaching, God’s Storm Changers, in MorningStar Ministry website. I did enjoy series of Pastor Rick’s teachings from his encounter with the Lord and I’d like to share with you some of them that spoke to me so much. Pastor Rick quoted what Jesus said to him, “Labors (servants) are cheap; Friends are expensive; Sons are priceless.” Jesus said that Pastor Rick should be delivered from the slave mentality, to become Friends of God. But paradoxically, He said that slave mentality got him into being promoted to becoming His friend. Pastor Rick said that he served the Lord for 40 years, before this encounter and he always wanted to serve the Lord, saying “What do You want me to do? I will obey.” We need to serve the Lord, but He needs more than that. He desires friendship. And Jesus said to him that if Pastor Rick didn’t obey His voice to ride his motorcycle during the storm and despite his weak knees, he would have missed the promotion to be His friend. It was the test from the Lord. Friend, I’m writing this, not that I’m being proud of myself, thinking I’m promoted, but I’d like to encourage you, as anybody can be His friend. Pastor Rick said it took 40 years for him to be delivered from the slave mentality and to be his Friend. But it would take a year or a few months to some. I believe the Lord would be merciful to many of us, perhaps because we are running out of time. In 2016, after I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, my heart desire was to be His servant not only now, but in eternity. I really wanted to be close to Him, serving and worshipping Him day and night in eternity. Then, last year, when I read the late Pastor Neville Johnson’s book, Destiny and the Eternal Purposes of God, his testimony and encounter with the Lord really made me into tears, getting to know about His loneliness. I knelt down on the floor and said to the Lord, “I set my heart to become Your friend.” Then, when I listened to Pastor Rick’s testimony on the Lord’s testing him, I felt that asking my old friend forgiveness was a test, likewise. It was not easy to break the silence and ask forgiveness to someone who I think is immature and self-centered. In addition, I was resolute in not arguing with her, nor backbiting her, after that. When I was tempted, I said to the Lord, “Father, I wouldn’t backbite her.” Probably, not only asking her forgiveness, but being quiet, not defending myself nor backbiting her, just as Jesus was before He was crucified, could have been the test. And I stood in awe again that He orchestrated everything including the timing of watching Pastor Rick’s testimony right after this incident. Interestingly enough, Pastor Rick said, “Some of you might see 11:11 very often. It’s Isaiah 11:11. The second chance.” Since 2020, I saw 11:11 so often and I interpreted that I’m in a transition. With Pastor Rick’s interpretation, I said to myself, “Could it be really the second chance, as the Lord kept showing my friend in my dreams, but I didn’t listen to Him?” Friend, Pastor Rick said he is just a baby in the friendship with the Lord. How much more immature would I be? I may be a fetus in a womb. Yet, I ask His great grace and mercy that I would grow in this friendship with Him. I don’t hear Him often or see Him face to face, as Pastor Rick does. But, I’m fine with that. My heart is to long for Him and want to bring Him joy and be conformed to His character. Being so encouraged, I looked up Pastor John Fenn’s book, Pursuing the Seasons of God, as I recalled he also shared on the friendship with God in it. I reread the part and I’d like to share some of it: There is another aspect to friendship with the Lord that Jesus shared with me that day. Friends keep confidences. He shared that many people have wonderful experiences in the things of the spirit, but many get puffed up, or they don’t learn what he intended for them to learn from it, or they get into the flesh and change it or otherwise err, so he limits what he tells them. Fenn, John C.. Pursuing the Seasons of God . Docs2eBooks. Kindle Edition. It resonated with me, as one of the reasons that made me keep some distance from my old friend was that she didn’t keep confidences. And I indeed limited what I would tell her, due to lack of trust in her. Last, but not least, I would like to share Pastor John’s writing “Heaven’s Value System” that made me into tears. He shared his experience when he was in church on Sunday. In an altar call, he saw a deaf and mute man full of joy on the altar, which he thought was out of place for the type of altar call. Then, he suddenly saw a shaft of light come down at him: Suddenly I found myself eavesdropping by divine revelation on words of love flowing from the Father to this man. I both read and heard the words. In part, he was telling him how much he was loved and appreciated. The Father was telling him he saw his hard work and was pleased. He was sending love that was tangible into this man. Though he is mute, I’m sure if he could have shouted he would have: his mouth was open, he had a huge grin across his face, and he could barely contain himself for the joy and love that was coursing through him. The Father continued: “My son, you have a throne and authority in my kingdom. I have provided great things for you and you shall walk in them, for you have been faithful in your love for me.” As I witnessed this I blurted out in my mind, “Father, why him?” Just as quickly the Father responded: “Because of the simplicity of his love for me. His love for me is unencumbered with ulterior motives and he asks nothing for himself. The purity of his love for me is uncomplicated by issues others are distracted with. It is because of the simplicity and purity of his love that I bless him this way. In the ages to come he will share the wisdom which flows from this simplicity and purity of love.” I asked, “You’ve given him a throne and authority?” Again he responded, “He has been given authority because he has done more with the little he has been given in this life than nearly everyone here [in the church that night] whom you would consider “whole.” therefore he will be their teacher.” I asked, “Why don’t you just heal him?” The Father replied very quickly and with a matter of fact tone, “I enjoy his worship.” “But, Father,” I reasoned, “he’s missing so much of life he could have if he was healed—family, jobs, cars, and so on.” He replied, “I make sure he has everything he needs. He finds his fulfillment in his love and fellowship with me.” “But what a wonderful testimony and example of love he could be to everyone if you healed him, and he could tell us here in this life about loving you with purity and simplicity.” He continued teaching me, “they [the congregation] have the scripture that tells them what pure religion and love is, yet this man is not even given a thought or noticed by them. Therefore I have set him in their midst as an example and testimony to them, that by him they might know humility and simplicity of love for me. Learn wisdom in this, Son: most just see a deaf mute, but I see a man who loves me in simplicity and purity, therefore he will be their teacher. Look at people as I see them, for man looks at the outward appearance, but I see the heart and weigh all things in the balance. Know people according to their heart.” Fenn, John C.. Pursuing the Seasons of God . Docs2eBooks. Kindle Edition. My eyes are still wet, thinking of the simplicity and purity in the man and the Father’s joy. Friend, if you think your spouse or your friend or your child come to you, only when they need something from you, you would understand how our Father would feel. Some people would choose their spouses for money, social status and so on, even from the outset. I would call the relationship “business”. Sadly, there are many believing businessmen who come to the Lord, with their ulterior motives. Yes, we all have needs on earth, and He knows that very well and provides what He thinks is the best for us. Even if we are not businessmen, but His servants, He wants more than that. He desires friendship. He wants you and me as His true friends. Friend, It’s my prayer that you and I simply love the Father and bring Him joy, by knowing Him and loving our brothers and sisters. The life we have here on earth would be 70~90 years, if we could enjoy long life. Think about how tiny proportion it is, when we think of thousand years, or ten-thousand years or an eon to come. But still many believers live like chicken, earth-bound, not looking at the eternity to come. I pray that you and I press on toward the high calling in Jesus’ name. (As trailer, next week, I may write on Sons of God, our high calling. :) Have a bliss! Yunee  He who loves purity of heart Dear Friend, How are you? I’m well. In early February this year, I had a dream and saw one of my old friends had a leukemia. When I woke up, I was a bit uncomfortable in my heart. The Lord showed her so many times in my dreams in the past and I wondered whether He wants me to talk to her. She and I lost contact with one another since early 2016. We were friends since we were in the elementary school. We went to the same church in our high school years. To make a long story short, I kept some distance from her, when I grew older. She is so talkative that she made many mistakes in her talk. When I shared something with her, I found it simply slipped out of her mouth. I knew at that time that she was not ill-meaning, but she simply repeated what I wanted her to keep to herself. In addition, I was uncomfortable with her jealousy towards my friendship with new friends whom I met in the university. It continued even after she got married. I can’t exactly remember the time, but if I’m not mistaken, I think it was 2015 when I worked in Singapore. She texted me, saying she was diagnosed with a breast cancer. So, I prayed for her in Singapore. Later, when I visited Seoul, to spend time with my mom, I texted her to ask how she had been, and whether we could meet near my office during my lunch hour. To my recollection, she either took a long medical leave or left her company at that time, to be refreshed. But her answer was very blunt: “Everybody pays a visit to my town, to see me! They make an effort to meet me!” I was not even surprised at her selfishness, as it was also one of the reasons that I kept some distance from her. She lived in a suburb area of Seoul. As I worked long hours at work and my visit to Seoul was simply to have time with mom, I couldn’t afford to go to see her. If I could go back to that time again, I would do the same. I would prioritize my mom over her, definitely. But I didn’t really want to explain my situations to her, as her immaturity wouldn’t consider that. Yet, the Lord showed me in my dreams so often that I wondered whether He wants me to talk to her and ask forgiveness, if I offended her. I was actually reminded of her face when we bumped in on the street in Seoul, in 2015. As I was on the phone with my boss on a serious subject, I only greeted her with my eyes and kept talking to my boss, walking toward the bus stop to go back home from work. I think she had no idea that I was in town for the moment, but might have assumed that I worked abroad, as I didn’t let her know. If I did, she would definitely want to catch up with me, but I had to manage my time, especially when I was super-busy. Later at home, I could have texted her, to simply say hi, but I didn’t. At that time, I already took some distance from her, being disappointed and tired. But her smiling face on the street kept lingering in my mind. And I really hesitated to ask the Lord whether He wants me to talk to her. If I would listen to His voice to talk to her, I know I must obey Him. So, I didn’t even ask Him last year. But I repented to the Lord that I lacked in love toward her and I prayed for her, though not daily. Then, earlier this year, I listened to Sister Margaret’s teaching on forgiveness in YouTube and she shared her testimony that she obeyed the Lord and asked a lady to forgive her, if she offended her. And Sister Margaret said to the students something like if we obeyed Him and asked someone forgiveness, we did our part. Whether he or she would forgive us or not is a matter between God and him or her. When I listened to her teaching, my old friend came into my mind. And after I had a dream of her having leukemia, I said to the Lord, “Father, do You want me to ask her forgiveness? I will do, if You want me to. Please let me know.” “….” The next morning, when I read the Bible, I felt the Lord wants me to reach out to her, to ask her forgiveness. So, I texted her and asked whether I offended her. And I wrote I would like to say sorry and ask her forgiveness, if I did. She sent a long message and I got to know that while she went through the cancer surgery, she kind of cut off the relationship not only with me, but with some of her friends who didn’t measure up to her expectation, including her in-laws. And my intention to obey the Lord seemed to be backfired, when we exchanged the texts. When she said she didn’t want to open her heart toward me nor want to restore our relationship, I actually made it very clear that I didn’t intend to, but I simply wanted to ask her forgiveness, if I offended her. I didn’t want to explain my situations at that time, as it would simply sound like a lame excuse to her and I know her immaturity and self-centeredness. It won’t help. And I didn’t even want to mention what made me disappointed and offended at her in the past, as I already let it go and it didn’t matter to me anymore. I had no grudges against her. But then she said, “If you don’t want to restore our relationship, there is no need to ask forgiveness!!!” (Bang!) When I read her texts, I felt she was just the same as when she was teen. And I also found she was full of self-pity, self-centeredness, bitterness and so on. Among them, I felt self-pity could be the stronghold in her spirit, knowing her dad passed away at her age of 9 or 10 and her family had more difficulty in finance. And I also recalled her letter long ago which showed self-pity in her. Getting to know her bitterness not only toward me, but toward her in-laws and other friends of her, I got to understand why the Lord wants me to talk to her. I felt He wants me to intercede for her, getting to know her spiritual condition. Yet, her blunt messages kept lingering in my mind. I said to myself, as if I wanted to pour out to her, “Look at you. How old are you? You’re still whining, to get attention, just like when you were teen. Have you ever asked me how I was at that time? Have you ever asked me what made me keep distance from you? Do you think it was easy to humble myself toward such an immature person like you? I didn’t even want to talk about how you hurt me.” And I said to the Lord, “Father, I obeyed You. I will keep praying for her, but please don’t show her in my dream anymore. Have mercy on her.” “…” I tried to calm down myself, but the mind was a battle ground, indeed. I knew it was what Satan wants, but I couldn’t help stopping thinking about her and her messages. Then, it dawned on me that I didn’t even try to share how hurt I was with the Lord. Even if I pretended to be ok, He already knew my heart. So, I thought I would be transparent and honest to my Friend and said to Him, walking to the rest room, “Father, yes, I’m being so upset, You know…” “…” Then, when I was washing the dishes, still lingering on her and being upset, I heard a still small voice in my heart, “Who else’s gonna pray for her?” I knew it was the Lord. And I thought to myself, “Her devout mother passed away from leukemia long ago. And her elder sister was full of bitterness after divorce. Maybe her hubby and church friends wouldn’t know how serious her spiritual condition is.” I thought her having a leukemia in the dream would mean her spiritual condition is actually in danger just like leukemia. And I also felt the Lord saying, “What you said about her is true. Can you pray over that?” Yet, still being upset, I listened to Shekinah Worship Center’s worship and prayer meeting that I saved in my YouTube, lying on the sofa and closing my eyes. At the end of the worship, Pastor Joe Sweet talked about Jesus on the throne and 24 elders worshipping Him in the book of Revelation, being emotional. When I listened to him, the dream where I saw Jesus came into my mind. When I rode on a motorcycle and flied away, I cried out to the Lord before the moment of crash toward a building. And I found myself prostrate upon the feet of Jesus. The dream just came into my mind and I became emotional just like Pastor Joe, thinking of Jesus who is worthy to be worshiped. Then, to my amazement, Pastor Joe talked about Pastor Rick Joyner’s interview with Sid Roth on a friend of God. I happened to watch the interview last year, 2021, only after I had the dream about Jesus and the motorcycle in late 2020. In the interview, Pastor Rick shared his testimony that the Lord told him to ride on a motorcycle for 900 miles, when his knees were bad and there was a storm. Just like I felt the Presence of the Lord behind my back on a motorcycle in the dream, Pastor Rick shared that during 900 miles of journey, He felt the Presence of God and his knees were healed. After that, he met the Lord face to face and heard him talk about friendship. How could all this be a coincidence? I couldn’t stop tears, thinking of Jesus. And I immediately searched the interview in YouTube and watched it again. I stood in awe again, as the interview talked about Brother Lawrence’ book, “Practicing the Presence of God.” Like I shared last week, I reread it in this January, as I felt that’s what the Lord wants from me, the friendship. And I was simply in awe, seeing Him join all the dots. And it even dawned on me that His unexpected still small voice, “Who else’s gonna pray for her?” came to me, while I was washing the dishes, just like Brother Lawrence. I wrote about friends of God last year and I wanted to think about Him, talk to Him and listen to Him all the time, but failed. I felt it really needs a lot of efforts not to be distracted and I should be really intentional now. Just happening to listen to Pastor Joe’s sermon on a friend of God from Pastor Rick’s experience, I became very assured that this is indeed what the Lord wants from us. And I also understood the Lord asked me to pray for my old friend, His beloved daughter, as He took me as His friend. Friend, I think I will continue to write on this subject next week. In the meantime, I would like to encourage you to spend 25 minutes to watch Pastor Rick’s interview with Sid Roth and take some time to read or reread the book, Practicing the Presence of God. I found Pastor Rick’s first question to the Lord very interesting: “What do You think about sports?” And His answer is even more interesting. (This is a trailer. :) He wants friends. He wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him. Pastor Rick shared Jesus’ saying, “I have few friends.” Would you leave Him alone, when He is next you? I would like to encourage us to include Him and invite Him, in everything we do. I said to the Lord in tears, ”Father, thank You for taking me as Your friend, as Your immature and selfish friend.” To my utter amazement, after I had a great moment with the Lord in tears, I felt healed. I didn’t feel offended at my friend anymore but prayed for her with love. Not only for her, I found my heart changed toward a few, simply with love. And the great moment of God didn’t come when I knelt down for prayer late at night, but just unexpectedly when I was resting lying on a sofa. There is no formula, no religiosity. We can’t contain Him nor expect Him in our religious way. Friend, It’s my prayer that you and I would never leave our Lord lonely, and we become His friend, know His heart and bring Him joy. Have a bliss! Yunee  What is man that You are mindful of him,  Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you had or are having a good day, today? Last week, I shared my story that I learned to be flexible and adjust to praising the Lord and praying whenever mom sleeps or watches TV. In light of this, I would like to write about being set free from legalism. Last year, I became aware that I had a religious spirit and I think I was set free, but sometimes I found I had a little bit of residue from many years of legalism. For example, as I used to devote my first hours to reading the Bible and praying, especially when working for company, I still practiced that. So, I used to read the Words, after I fixed breakfast for mom, not having breakfast for myself, but I used to have brunch after reading the Bible. But, recently, I slept in daily and I fixed breakfast for mom and I began to sit in front of her, just to enjoy light meal together. Then, I said to myself, “The Lord doesn’t condemn me nor rebuke me, for having a breakfast before reading the Bible.” I had some kind of peace and didn’t feel guilty nor condemned. Then, I read Pastor John Fenn’s weekly thoughts on legalism in Church Without Walls Internal website that was posted many years back. It simply spoke to me and encouraged me. And I would like to share with you some out of them. How NOT to be a Legalistic Believer #1 & #2 …and it certainly is, that means God the Father is beyond being manipulated. You can’t do something to make him un-like you and you can’t do something to make Him like you more. He is love – it’s just how He is! That makes Him unpredictable in many ways, or appears so with our limited understanding. You don’t always know what He has in mind. You also can’t buy answered prayer, you can’t impress Him by doing x deed, you can’t offer Him anything that will corrupt Him to manipulate things to your liking over and above what someone else needs. He is God and He alone is sovereign. … Just getting out of bed and ready for your day is not a sin. Neither are necessary thoughts and conversations about your day a sin. Eating breakfast isn’t a sin. Being a human being isn’t a sin. Sin is an offense against God. You don’t offend Him by going about your routine. Legalism focuses on self and causes a person to be continually second guessing themselves, worrying they have offended God or done something wrong. If you sin He is fully capable of letting you know in your spirit that you missed it… How to not be legalistic – know the Father Some may recall this that I’ve shared before: While watching a rerun of a TV show I had seen many times before it occurred to me the Father knows everything, and therefore like me watching that rerun I knew so well, He must lead a boring life. So I asked Him, ‘Father, where do you find fulfillment?” Immediately He responded, “I enjoy the process.” The Father is a Spirit, but He created a physical world. By living in us by His Spirit He experiences the limitations of human life in the physical world, and He enjoys the process we call discipleship. Legalism cuts off process. Legalism constrains an individual within a well-defined or understood framework that removes individual personality and gifts. A person cannot grow as a human being nor as a Christian if constrained by legalism. Legalism is not flexible. Legalism is all about performance, not relationship. The Father enjoys the process. … What I do is when I first wake up, I greet the Father and ask Him if there is anyone He wants me to pray for I’ll lay there from a few moments to 30 minutes or more, praying in the spirit as people come to mind, floating across my mind up from my spirit – not me thinking them up – but floating up from my spirit is the best way I know to describe it, like a quiet suggestion that has the presence of the Father attached to their name…and I pray for them until the next person’s name floats up… … I suggest if you don’t know the Father, you start talking to Him, including Him in your life first as your Creator. Demonstrate a core thankfulness for nature, for Him thinking you up, for Him causing you to be born at this time in history, for the natural world around you whenever you notice beauty, order, and design. Just say, ‘Beautiful sunrise Father’ and things like ‘Wow, look at the tree Father, amazing design to make a leaf dying for the season turn so colorful” and when you do things like that, revelation starts to flow. … Start there…just talk to the Father, He loves the process. He is already planning the ages to come. Be relationship based in your faith, not structure based. Friend, I’ve been feeling that the Lord allowed this season of the pandemic, for the Body of Christ to reset. I think many Christians once had or even still have the religious spirit or legalism. But, through this pandemic, I think some of us started to be focused on relationship with the Father and the brothers and sisters at home rather than go to the buildings and do some religious rituals. For me, I do think the Lord has given me the season of declutter and He wants me to be set free from the religious spirit or legalism, to move further and come closer to Him. Friend, I reread Brother Lawrence’ Practicing the Presence of God in this January, as I felt that’s what the Lord wants me to focus on, the fellowship with Him. And just like Pastor John shared his own experience, I also tried to talk to Him more often, saying, “Father, I love the clouds and the blue sky today. Thank You so much!” I will share more on the friendship with God later. In the meantime, I pray that you and I are set free completely from legalism, if any, and our focus is on loving our Father and fellowshipping with Him. Have a bliss! Yunee There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:18~19) |
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