Know God. Know Love. No God. No Love

photo: keiko adachi

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breath life into his nostrils. But you woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you, I modeled you, I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib: strong, yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The ribcage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.

Support man as the ribcage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken for his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand by him and to be held close to his side.

You are My perfect angel… you are My beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and My eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes… don’t change them. Your lips, how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands, so gentle to touch. I have caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I have held your heart close to Mine. Of all that lives and breaths, you are most like Me. Adam walked with Me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see Me or touch Me.

He could only feel Me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you; My holiness, My strength, My purity, My love, My protection, and support. You are special because you are an extension of Me. Man represent My image, woman My emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man, treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt Me. What you do to her, you do to Me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart; the heart of your Father and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness, show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.

Jesus Loves You                    knowGodknowlove808@gmail.com

team KGKL

Keiko Adachi

The prince finally reached the bottom of the spiral staircase in the east tower. Though breathless, without hesitation he sprinted up the staircase three steps at a time. However, after reaching the top, he found that the door to his princess’ chamber was bolted with chains, locks and spells that his impostor had set in place.

A deep sinking feeling spread in the pit of his stomach as the prince realized there was no way for him to single-handedly pass through to rescue his beloved in time. He could make out his princess’ wearied and desperate cries for help just beyond the door. Fear threatened to overtake him.

Hopelessness flooded his soul as he threw himself in futile attempts against the door trying to break the chains and locks with his sword. Blood soaked through the clothing under his armor as the wounds of previous battles began to reopen. His muscles tore and his body trembled as he exerted all his strength to break down the door. The blisters on his hands from wielding his sword ripped open as well in his efforts to break the chains with his bare hands. Yet, the prince did not desist even in the slightest — his body was numb to the pain, for all he could hear was his princess’ cries.

Over and over again, in desperation he slammed himself against the door, yet to no avail. He continued until the chains turned red from his blood and his muscles no longer supported his weight to stand. The prince slumped down against the door and writhed in agony listening to his princess weep for him to save her on the other side of the door. He could now hear the impostor’s voice as well as he coaxed the princess to relax and enjoy him. The deepest hatred for the scoundrel began to brew in the depths of the prince’s soul as he imagined how the impostor might be defiling his beloved. Tears of anguish filled the prince’s eyes as he pounded the door and pleaded for the impostor to release the princess and to take his life instead. However, it seemed as though there was no hope left.

The prince laid on the cold stone floor, utterly defeated as blood began to pool around him. He closed his tear-filled eyes and remembered the past seven months of war that he had fought. He thought back on the evil seductresses that tried to mislead him in the forest and how he fought them off. He saw in his memory the great lengths he had to go to in order to reach his princess when he heard of the danger she was in. He climbed mountains, waded across icy rivers, scaled walls and slew dragons to reach her… but all of it for nothing.

The prince reminisced about the peaceful days as well. He thought about the four years he had known his love, the genuine friendship that was given them and how over time, his heart for her changed. He remembered back to when he started trying to capture her attention and win her heart. He also recalled the many tests and fiery trials of their relationship. It had truly caused them both to offer up their hearts in total surrender and put their trust fully in the Lord…

The prince’s eyes suddenly shot open. He finally understood how he could save her, or rather how she could be saved. Realizing that there was nothing he could do himself, the prince kneeled down and humbly, desperately, asked God to be his strength and to save his beloved princess. He wept before the Lord as he confessed that his strength was not enough, just as it never was. He recognized that it was his Heavenly Father that provided the strength he needed from the very beginning. It was then that the prince yielded his life completely into the Lord’s hands.

Suddenly, as though a refreshing wind swept through him, his strength was completely restored to him and a peace that transcended all understanding came upon him that His Father was fighting on his behalf and would win the fight for him. His hope was restored as he drew his sword again and with one mighty blow, the prince obliterated the door. He rushed in just as the impostor was about to steal his princess’ first kiss. With fire burning in his eyes, the prince threw his sword down and yanked the impostor off of his princess. He pulled the impostor up to his face by his collar and glared into his fear-filled eyes. The impostor knew he was about to die. The prince then threw him mercilessly against the wall. The impostor fell to his knees and pathetically pleaded for his life. The prince looked at him with disgust, picked him up again, punched him in the jaw and sent him reeling into a table. The prince then dragged the whimpering coward to the door, withdrew his dagger and pierced the heart of the impostor before throwing him down the spiral staircase to his demise.

The prince stood looking over the staircase as he caught his breath, then turned his attention to his beloved that was slowly recovering from her stupor. The prince rushed to her, knelt by her side, and looked sweetly into her eyes as he brushed back her hair from her tear stained face. Though the princess still felt weak, she smiled at her true prince as tears flooded her eyes. The prince gently swept her off of the bed and held her close to his heart. Then, he let her go and they knelt before the Lord. They wept together as they prayed and thanked God. They thanked Him for being their strength in their weakness, for restoring their hope, and for saving them by His endless, unfailing, amazing grace.

-author’s note

Just to bring some clarity… The reason I wrote this story was because of a vision God gave me. I did not see this actual story in my vision, but I saw the events leading up to it. The story is about overcoming lust and sexual immorality by God’s strength and not our own. I decided that I would write the ending to envision victory over this battle I am currently facing. So, I will not disclose anymore than that because I’d rather you as readers allow the Holy Spirit to reveal something to you through it, rather than just reading my explanation. I also pray that this would encourage you if you are struggling in any area of sin or temptation.

Jesus Loves You

designed by Jon Burdios

Matthew 28:19

^“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Going on a missions trip isn’t taking a vacation to another country expecting to get pampered and spoon feed by the native people. It’s a privilege in which we have the opportunity to serve the people and encourage the church. We yearn to reach out to the people of Iloilo and to plants seeds of faith and to know Him because it says in Philippians 3:10 “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him.”

The Philippines Missions Team is having a fundraiser next Thursday, May 28 at Panda Express Pearl City from 12-9pm. Come support and eat.

So that I have reference, my support letter.

May 2009

Aloha! I am really excited about what the Lord has in store for me this summer.  He has provided the opportunity for me to go on a short-term mission trip to the Philippines with Grace Bible Church and I would like to share this opportunity with you.

I am going with many others from Hawaii and we will embark on June 10th to Manila and Iloilo where we will be doing campus ministry, music, preaching, leadership development and other efforts to reach whole communities for Christ. The opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ is unlimited; there is virtually no official prohibition to sharing, what a fantastic opportunity to meet the spiritual needs of the poor in Asia.

Because I will be experiencing a new culture and living conditions that I am not used to (water, food, sanitation, etc.), I feel a strong desire for your prayers. I know God will answer them, His promise from Matthew 21:22, “and all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”  For now, please be in prayer for strength as I prepare for this important trip and for a shared vision and cooperation among our team members.

The total cost of the trip is approximately $1,600 per person, which includes transportation, lodging and supplies. If God is leading you to support me financially, any amount is greatly appreciated and will be used to advance the kingdom of God. The money can be given as a tax deductible donation from my church (Grace Bible Church) and they will give a tax donation credit for each gift.

Thank you very much fro your help and prayers. My prayer is that God will richly bless you for this investment into my life and His Kingdom. To God be the glory.

Jesus Loves You

knowgodknowlove808@gmail.com

concluding the “on God’s timing” series..

PK

Let me first off by saying I am not a relationship expert nor do I have the perfect marriage and friendships.  Even my personal relationship with God can sometimes be messes up thanks to my occasional selfishness, pride and disobedience. Although I will do my best to write (although I think I speak better than I write) my perspective on what it means to “Wait for the One.”

When I  think about waiting for the one, I can’t help but ask the important questions, who is the one? When Jesus became my Lord and Savior back in ‘96, I would hear a lot of my Christian friends say that they were committed to “waiting for the one.” I knew what they were talking about because it was and still is a very popular statement mostly spoken in Christian communities. But I remember asking myself, “how in the heck is that possible?” I mean, what do you do?

Do I wait and hope that God drops the perfect girl into my lap? or the other option is to have a lot of girl-friends and in the process screen them and pick the best one as if I were interviewing them for a job…What does it really mean?

It starts with defining who the “ONE” is.  It definitely is not about a particular person, girl or guy, but rather the ONE is the creator of all things, the ONE is the creator of mankind, the ONE is creator of you and I.  I’ve heard many Christians say they are trusting in God and will wait for the one that God has for them, but then later see them take matters into their own hands and create their own opportunities as if God needed assistance or He was taking too long.  At this point these individuals have taken their focus off of God and put it on themselves, silenced the voice of God and turned the volume up on their own voice.

If the question is, who is the one?  Here’s the answer…God!  There is no way you can discover your future husband or wife without discovering and first loving the ONE who not only loved you first, but also embodies and defines the word love.

My opinion is this…Christians shouldn’t say, “I’m waiting for the one” but rather “I’m loving the ONE and waiting on HIM to reveal who the one is.” I like how one pastor puts it, “You must seek the ONE, to be the one, for the one.” This is how anyone can avoid making the mistake of jumping into a serious relationship prematurely, avoid “missionary dating” or “flirt to convert” motives and avoid wasting time in temporary relationships.  Seeking God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength, and emotions should be the focus.  Too many time people say they trust God but somehow mess it all up by hooking up with someone prematurely and short circuiting God’s developmental plan for our lives.  The result is an un-approved and probably unblessed relationship.

Does this approach to “finding the one” work? Yes…and how do I know? Because I’m living proof that seeking God, treating women with respect and like sisters will, in God’s time, land you a Godly spouse who like you, put their life, faith and trust into God’s hands.  The result is a approved and blessed relationship.