![]() Dear Friend, How are you? Hope you had or are having a good day today? Today, I would like to share some of my stories on the love of the Father. I cannot recall when it was exactly, but I know it was sometime in 2012 ~ 2014 when I worked in Shanghai. In order to check out my mom at home in Seoul, I paid a regular visit home like every other month. To max out my time with my family, my flight back to Shanghai used to be in the Sunday afternoon before the work of the week starts. Then, at the international airport in Korea on one Sunday, I found the airline company bumped me up to business class. Of course, I was overjoyed by the unexpected gift. Although it was only two hours of flight from Seoul to Shanghai, it’s always good to take a spacious comfy seat and nice meals in there. So, I was on board and took a seat in the business class. Much later after I took the seat, I heard the announcement by the captain that he was still in the middle of waiting for the permission to take off from the control tower. I do not recall the reason for the delay, but at that time, I got to know we had to stand by for take-off for two hours. I was even more grateful for my Father to give me the business class, knowing the take-off would be delayed. I imagined that it would have been very uncomfortable to wait for 2 hours in the economy class, without flying, but on the ground. I really felt that it was the gift from the Father, and He wanted to give me some time to relax alone while waiting. I was able to read my book, simply thanking Him. Though it took four hours in total to get to Shanghai airport, I was grateful. Then, later in 2015, I had a summer vacation in California, visiting my sister and my brother-in-law. As one of my employer’s offices and plants were around three hours drive from my sister’s place, I was allowed to make the business trip there and my local travel expense to the office and the plant in California was paid by the company while I paid my international flight and bought the economy class from Singapore to California. Along the line, I was able to lay over in Seoul and spend some time with my mom. After the nice vacation in California, I went to the international airport in Los Angeles, to return to Asia. During the check-in, I got to know the airline company bumped me up to the business class again and I was able to use the business class lounge at the airport. I couldn’t thank the Father, enough. It is a very long trip from Seoul to California, and even longer from California back to Seoul like 13 hours. What an unexpected and extravagant gift from the Father! As I’ve tried to spend money prudently for the Kingdom and for the poor and needy, I acknowledge that I sometimes feel guilty about spending some money for myself. But I realize that I shouldn’t feel guilty because my Father sometimes wants to give me even lavish treatment and the guilt is not from the Holy Spirit. I recall a Korean missionary’s testimony. When he was invited to speak in an Arabic country, it was arranged for him to stay in a very extravagant hotel. Everything was paid by the host. While he stayed in the luxurious hotel and had meals in there, he didn’t feel comfortable at the luxury. And he kind of grumbled to the Lord, “Lord, I don’t really need these luxurious meals and hotel. I would rather have money for those in need, for my ministry!” But the Lord said to him, “Can’t you simply enjoy My love?” I believe our Heavenly Father wants to give His children something very nice. I think we need some wisdom that we live prudently, but we are free to enjoy His extravagant gifts. I think I can understand His heart, as I always wanted to give my family the best treatment whenever we have a getaway. I wouldn’t spend that money for myself, but I was happy to spend money on my family for a nice accommodation and meals. It’s because I love them. So does our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we think as if being rich is evil, but I don’t think it is. And the Scripture says the love of money is evil, not money itself. If business class and luxury hotels are evil, why would He give such gifts to His children? I’m not saying that He doesn’t love those whom He didn’t give those gifts. But I’m trying to say that our Heavenly Father loves His children, and if He is willing and our heart motive is right, He wants to give us lavish gifts. Likewise, I believe He wants us to share our love with His children. Do you like gift cards? I do. I found that when gift cards are given, a good duty to spend money is also given. After I received some gift cards for coffee and dessert from my friends, I always had to go to coffee store to enjoy those nice gifts. It’s nice treatment. And I also want to give the good duty to spend money to those who wouldn’t, unless gift cards are given. I heard from a missionary that one day her friend gave money to her before she went to a mission trip to China. Her friend said that the money was for the missionary to take a taxi and eat nice meals during the trip. She gave it not for the people in the mission field, but for the missionary to enjoy some good things from the Lord. Her friend wanted to give her nice treat out of His love. Friend, I pray that as we freely receive, we freely give, for all His children to taste and see the goodness of our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name. And I pray you and I continue to taste and see His goodness and that He sometimes gives us unexpected gifts, and we be overjoyed with surprise in Jesus’ name! Have a bliss! Yunee Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Comments are closed.
|
Archives
May 2023
Categories
All
|