Deborah’s Secret Weapon

Deborah was both a prophet and a judge. She was not the only female prophet in the Bible, but the only woman to hold the position of judge in Israel. In the book of Judges, the Israelites lived in a cycle of sin, repentance and deliverance. When they entered into Canaan, the promised land, they did not drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and lived with them and worshipped their gods. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that God sold them into the hands of their enemy. Then Israel cried out to the Lord. The gracious Lord raised up a judge to deliver them. But after a certain number of years of peace, the sons of Israel again worshipped idols. This kind of cycle continued for a few hundred years.

After the death of judge Ehud, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord again. So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan for twenty years. The Israelites cried to the Lord for help. The Lord raised up Deborah for them. She summoned Barak to lead ten thousand men to fight the battle for the Lord. But, Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” So Deborah went with Barak to the battle. They won the battle. They destroyed their enemy. On that day Deborah and Barak sang a song to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Then the land had peace for forty years. (Judges 4-5)

I’m afraid of many things. I’m afraid of water, so I cannot swim well like a fish. I am afraid of heights, so I cannot climb tall mountains. I am also afraid of darkness, so I always leave a dim light in the room when I sleep. If I were in Deborah’s shoes, I am not sure whether I would be brave enough to fight the battle. In our lives, we might not have to go to the battle to protect our country, but we all need to fight the spiritual battle. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11). This is Deborah’s secret weapon, isn’t this?

Deborah’s strength and courage was from her faith in God. She trusted in God’s mighty power. She lifted up God as the banner of her army. In our lives, we also cannot avoid facing some battles, for example broken relationship, illness or financial difficulty. Deborah’s story always reminds us that we should focus on God, not circumstances. When we focus on the circumstances, we will fear and surrender. But, when we focus on God, we will have courage, wisdom and faith to fight the good fight, just like Deborah, a spiritual warrior!

Blog post published at Upper Room Web Site on April 10, 2016

 

 

 

Following

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

– John 8:12 (NIV)

The youth group traveled in a caravan. All the youth thought the people in the first car knew their destination, and the first car continued to lead the way through the neighborhood. After they circled around several times, one of the youth called someone in the first car to ask if they knew where they were going. The people in the first car answered that they didn’t, but because everyone was following, they thought they must be headed in the right direction.

We tend to think that if many people are following someone, that person must be the right person to follow. We don’t always check to see whether that person will lead us in the right direction.

But we can be sure in following our Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He told Simon Peter, James, and John to follow. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Only Jesus can lead us to the destination that gives us life.

Published by Upper Room on September 10, 2016

Learning to Be Gentle

At home, I used to bump into the furniture often. My husband frequently got hit by my pointed elbow when I rolled over in bed. At the grocery store, sometimes my shopping cart would block other people’s way or run into other carts. I was so embarrassed, and I was constantly having to say I’m sorry.

To be gentle is not natural for me, even though I’ve been trying to learn it since I was young. Even when I was not young any more, I still had to pray to Jesus to give me the spiritual fruit of gentleness. One day, my husband saw a bruise on me after I bumped into the bookshelf. He suggested that we should go to learn ball room dancing together. He thought it might help me to move more gracefully through practicing the harmony of dancing.

After a period of time, the result was beyond our expectation. Through practicing, we spent more time together. It not only added some extra sweetness into our marriage, but also helped me pay attention to the movements of my hands and feet. Because I considered the mutual dynamics with other people and environment, the chance of bumping into each other was gradually reduced.

This experience also inspired me to examine my own heart. Did I speak gently to others? I’m a straightforward person with a loud voice. It might be easy to cause unnecessary misunderstanding when I speak. Speaking gently not only can improve communication, but also can turn argument into harmony. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Titus 3:2 teaches, “To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” What great wisdom I can learn from!

“Paying attention” and “considering others” are the two great insights I learned through this process. When I’m not self-centered, I will pay attention to consider other people’s situations. Naturally, it will help me to think, speak and move gently. In fact, gentleness begins with my heart. 1 Peter 3:4 says, “Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” What an inner beauty gentleness is!

I’m still learning to be gentle. Every day, I reflect on myself to see whether I’m gentle to others or not. My husband is so joyful to see my progress. Being gentle is often better than always seeking to be right in marriage. Give thanks to our great God! He not only helps me learn to be gentle through dancing, but also gives a great model for me to emulate. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). I believe that I will be more like our Lord day by day!

Blog post published at Upper Room Web Site on April 10, 2016

Listening

The LORD says, “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”

– Psalm 81:13-14 (NIV)

 

One day, during an argument with my husband, he said, “Sweetheart, you are always right, but you don’t listen to me.” That was a wake-up call for me. All the seminars or marriage workshops emphasize communication skills — especially the importance of listening.

As I reflected on this, I discovered that the reason I did not listen was because I was focused on myself. My pride wanted to prove that I was right and that my husband was wrong. I needed to learn to put myself in my husband’s shoes and listen to his point of view. After all, the Bible teaches us to “be quick to listen [and] slow to speak” (Jas. 1:19).

Listening is also important in our prayer lives. If prayer is conversation with God, then we will listen to what God is saying to us. It may well be that when we listen to and obey God, God will do for us as he promised Israel — to subdue any forces that are hindering us.

So the next time we pray, we can focus on God, not on ourselves and our circumstances. Our prayers may not always produce the answers we seek, but our lives can be transformed by listening to God and then obeying God.

Published by Upper Room on April 10, 2016

Farewell to Fake ID

Read Genesis 1: 26 -27

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

Psalm 8:5 (NIV)

 When I was little, I got a nickname, “Poet Su’s sister” It means that the girl is not beautiful, but smart. With high forehead and tan skin, I was just not in the typical Chinese beauty standard. Luckily, people thought that I was smart. I was not in the stupid and ugly category. Even so, I still grew up with my fake ID which was based on the appearance and views from other people.

Our true ID actually is not about our appearance, or performance or status.

Power Will Rise When We Praise

Read 2 Chronicles 20:12-24

“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NIV)

In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat is the king of Judah, and one day he discovered that his little kingdom was surrounded by the powerful armies of his enemies – the Moabites and the Ammonites. Jehoshaphat knew that little Judah didn’t have a chance in its own might, and he cried out to God. He turned his eyes toward God.

He even appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise Him when they faced the enemy’s vast army. What an odd scene to see on the battle field!

Adopted Sons and Daughters of God

Read Romans 8:15

He predestined us toadoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Ephesians 1:5 (NASB)

I was born and grew up in a traditional Chinese Taoist family in Taiwan.  When we were little, my mom gave my brother and two sisters to the temple gods as adopted son and daughters.  It was a common practice for Taoists.  The purpose of doing so was to ask for health, protection and blessings for her children.  However, my mom never gave me to any temple god as an adopted daughter.

Miriam’s Story

Read Numbers 12:1-15

Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

                                                                   Hebrews 12:6

Every time when I read about Miriam’s story in Numbers 12:1-15, I feel that this dreadful story could happen to me too.  Miriam is one of the great heroes of our faith.  As a young girl, she helped save the infant Moses, Israel’s future deliverer.  (See Exodus 2: 1-10) Herself a prophetess, she exhorted and encouraged God’s people and led the singing of the first psalm ever recorded in Scripture.

However, out of jealousy, she talked against her brother Moses, God’s humble servant. The anger of the Lord burned against her.

Courageous Women

Read Judges 4:1-10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-11

Watching the news about the removal of the military’s ban on women serving in combat on January 23, 2013, I again gave my respect to those courageous women who are in uniform, protect us as law enforcement officers or serve us in a leading role like head of homeland security or Supreme Court Judge.  I admire them for their bravery, confidence and willingness to serve our country.

We see courageous women throughout history.  The story of Debora in Judges 4-5 is one of my favorite in the Old Testament.  Debora was the only female to hold the position of judge in Israel. 

Cast the Pharisee out of My Heart

Read Luke 18:9-14

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Before when I read the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, I immediately identified myself with the tax collector that I was a sinner and needed Jesus’ mercy on me. I never identified myself with the Pharisee.  However one day when I studied this parable again, our gracious God convicted me to examine my inner soul.  Do I have to cast the Pharisee out of my own heart?

We are called by Jesus to be the people of compassion.  However, do I love people with full acceptance? Do I judge and criticize people?