Don't Give Up

Not long ago, a woman came to me in our Wednesday evening church service for prayer because she was desperate for a place to live. She told me that she tried to get an apartment but was turned down because of her income. As I listened to her story, I thought about Elisha in the Bible. Elisha prayed and prayed for rain in the midst of a drought, but his servant told him there were no clouds in site. Elisha, empowered by faith, said to his servant, "Go look again!" And sure enough, there was a rain cloud on the horizon. Thinking of Elisha's determination, I looked at the woman and said, "Go ask again! Just go back and ask one more time." The following Sunday, she came to me and said, "Can you believe, I went and asked one more time and they gave me a rental contract for nine months!" We both rejoiced in the faithfulness of God!

I encourage you today; if you are believing to see the promises of God come to fruition in your life, don't give up! He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. You may be tired, things may seem dark, but remember it's always darkest just before the dawn appears. When you are weak, that's when His strength will rise up in you! Keep standing, keep believing, keep declaring His Word over your life. Don't give up because God wants to pour out His abundant blessing in every area of your life!

절대로 포기하지 마십시요.

최근에, 한 여자분이 기도를 위한 수요 저녁 예배 때, 저에게 오셨습니다. 왜냐하면 그 분은 살 수 있는 장소를 간절히 원했습니다. 그녀는 저에게 그녀의 수입때문에 (임대 계약에 대해서) 거절받은 아파트를 가지려고 노력했었다고 말했습니다. 제가 그녀의 이야기를 듣고 나니, 저는 성경의 엘리사가 생각났습니다.
엘리사는 가뭄 한가운데서 비가 내릴 수 있도록 기도하고 기도했지만, 그의 하인은 그 곳엔 구름 하나 없다고 말했습니다.  엘리사, 믿음으로 힘을 얻을 수 있도록 하여라 라고 그의 하인에게 말했습니다.
가서 다시 보거라 라고 말하자 어김없이 지평선상에 비구름이 있었습니다. 엘리사의 결정을 생각하면서, 저는 그 여자분을 보면서 말했습니다. "가서 다시 물어보세요. 되돌아 가셔서 한 번 더 물어보세요"
그 다음 주에 그분이 저에게 오시면서 이렇게 말하셨습니다.
"정말 믿으시겠어요? 제가 가서 한번 더 여쭤봤더니, 그들이 저에게 9개월동안의 임대 계약을 할 수 있도록 해주었어요" 우리 모두 하나님의 신실하심으로 즐거워했습니다.

오늘 저는 여러분에게 힘을 주고 싶습니다. 여러분이 하나님의 약속이 여러분의 삶안에서 열매 맺는 것을 바라보며 믿고 있는다면, 포기하지 마세요. 그 분은 그 분을 열심히 찾는 사람들의 보상자이십니다.
여러분이 피곤할 수 있도 있고, 모든게 어둡게 보이지만, 새벽이 오기전에는 항상 가장 어둡다는 것을 기억하세요. 여러분이 약하면, 그의 강하심이 당신에게서 일어날 때입니다. 계속 서있으십시요. 계속 믿으십시요. 계속 여러분의 삶속에서 하나님의 말씀을 선포하십시요. 하나님이 여러분의 삶의 모든 부분에 엄청난 축복 을 부어주시기를 원하시기 때문에 포기하지 마십시요.



* Not long ago = lately = recently
* desperate for …을 간절히 원하는.
* turn down 거부하다. 싫다. 사양하다. 거절하다. ...
* sure enough = certainly 과연, 어김없이, 생각했던 대로.
* rental contract  임대 계약

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출처를 근거로 제가 나름대로 해설하고 번역을 하였습니다.

출처 : http://www.joelosteen.com/HopeForToday/JoelAndVictoriasBlog/March2009/HeOpensDoors/Pages/HeOpensDoors.aspx

He Opens Doors

God has been so faithful to us in so many ways over the years. Since 2004, we've had the opportunity to minister in person to over 700,000 people in over 45 cities around the world. And still, God is opening new doors for us all the time.

We are especially looking forward to being with our friends in New York City on April 25th at Yankee Stadium–just nine days after the New York Yankees home opener at the new ballpark! It will be the first non–baseball event in the stadium, and we are so honored to bring the message of hope and inspiration to the tens of thousands who are expected to be there. We'd love for you to come out and join us if you can. There's plenty of time to get tickets and make travel arrangements if you need to.

Revelation 3 tells us that when we follow God's Word and put Him first, He opens doors for us that no man can shut. I just want to encourage you today, if you're in a situation and you don't see a way out, remember, God will make a way through. Keep looking for that open door of opportunity. Maybe you've done all you can do in the natural, but that's when you can trust that God is working behind the scenes in the supernatural. He'll bring you out wiser, stronger, and better off than you were before!



하나님은 문은 열고 계십니다. (신문기사 처럼 진행의 의미로 현재형을 사용한다.)


하나님은 수년을 넘어서 수 많은 방법으로 우리들에게 믿음을 그렇게 가지고 계십니다. 2004년 이후에 우리는 세계 45개의 도시의 7십만이나 되는 사람들에게 개인적으로 직접 미스스트리(Ministry는 점차 고유명사처럼 쓸 필요가 있는 듯함)할 기회를 가졌습니다. 항상 우리를 향해서 하나님은 새로운 문들을 열어주십니다.

우리는 특별히 4월 25일 뉴욕시의 양키 경기장 - 새롭게 개장된 뉴욕 양키 경기장 - 을 9일동안 우리의 친구들과 함께 있기를 엄청 기대하고 있습니다. 그 경기장에서 야구가 아닌 이벤트가 열릴 것입니다. 그리고 우리는 거기서 기대하고 있는 수만명의 사람들에게 희망의 메지와 영감을 줄 수 있는 것에 대해 영광스럽게 생각합니다. 우리는 여러분들이 나와서 우리와 함께 참여했으면 아주 좋겠습니다.

가능하다면, 티켓을 구할 충분한 시간이 있고, 당신이 필요하다면 여행을 준비할 수 있습니다. (진짜 여행이 아닌 같이 뉴욕 양키 경기장에 있기를 강력히 있기를 희망)

요한계시록 3장에 우리가 하나님의 말씀을 따르고 그를 나의 첫번째 위치에 올려 놓을 때, 나를 향해서 다른 이는 닫을 수 없는 문들이 열린다고 했습니다. 나는 오늘 여러분에게 용기를 주고 싶습니다. 여러분이 어떠한 상황에 있고, 여러분이 나갈 수 있는 길을 보지 못했을 때,  하나님은 그 길을 형통케 하십니다. 열려있는 기회의 문을 향해서 계속 구하십시요.  아마도 자연스럽게 여러분이 할 수 있는 것을 할 수 있겠지만, 그것은 여러분이 하나님이 초자연적으로 그 장면 뒤에서 하나님이 일하시고 있다는 것을 신뢰할 때를 의미합니다. 그분은 예전의 당신을 좀 더 똑똑하게, 강하게, 나은 모습으로 드러내도록 해주실 것입니다.

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http://www.christianpost.com/church/Megachurches/2008/09/osteen-arms-thousands-with-hope-not-doctrine-07/index.html

 

조엘 오스틴에 대한 여론이 많다.  그의 설교 스타일은 독특하다.

그에 대한 기사가 있어서 소개하고자 한다.

 

최근에 낸 책 Become a Better you 에서 나온 것처럼 그의 부르심은 사람들의 마음에 희망의 싹을 심는 것이다. 부르심이란 각자에게 있고, 그 것을 향해 달려가는 데, 종교적 편견에 따라서 각자 믿음의 편견에 따라서 판단하지 않았으면 좋겠다 하는 생각이 든다.

 

부르심에 대해서 왜 이런 부분은 없느냐, 왜 너는 이상하냐 라는 것은 어쩌면 우리의 편견이 나타나는 것이 아닐까? 하나님의 모든 모습을 우리가 다 얘기할 수 없고, 겨우 몇 부분만 알 뿐 인데, 그의 부르심은 그것일 뿐이다. 그는 그저 그 부르심을 받는 데로 갈 뿐이다.

 

존 밀의 자유론에는 종교적 편견을 가진 사람들이 위험하다고 했다. 즉, 종교를 가지지 않은 사람보다 종교를 가진 사람들이 편견을 가지고 다른 사람의 자유를 침해한다고 했다.

이 부분에 대해서 깊이 생각해 볼 필요가 있다.

예수님이 죽으신 이유는 당시 유대인이 알던 하나님에 대해서 하나님을 모욕했다라는 죄목임을 잊지 말아야 할 것이다.

 

누구나 사람은 자기의 신앙의 잣대, 양심의 잣대, 도덕의 잣대를 들이대고, 상대방에 대해서 왜 그러하지 않는지, 왜 저렇게 행동하고 말하는지에 대해서 판단하고,상처를 준다.

제일 중요한 것은 부르심을 따라 행동하는 것이 더 중요한 데 말이다.

 

희망의 싹을 주는 사람에게 그렇게 이상하다고 말하는데, 왜 수만명의 사람들이 와서 조엘 오스틴의 설교를 들을 까 생각했다. 조이스 마이스와 같이 하나님의 속성에 대해서 영적전쟁, 치유, 중보기도에 대해서 설교하시는 분과 달리 초급적인 신앙에 대해서 설교하는 데 수많은 사람들이 시간을 내어, 돈을 주고 설교를 들을까 하는 생각이 들었다.

 

즉, 단순한 것에 대한 소망이 아닌가 싶다. 하나님이 살아계시는데, 나의 감정, 나의 이성은 끌리지 못함이다. 바로 이것에 대한 첫번째 소망이 아닌가 싶다. 나의 나됨부터 가장 먼저 만져지고, 하나님과의 깊은 친밀감이 없는데, 교리와 사도바울의 교회론 기도론이 먹혀들지 않을 수 있음을 말하고 싶다.

 

누구나 사람에게는 필요가 있다. 그 필요를 채워주는데, 그것이 하늘로부터 내려온 것이 아니면, 분명 그것은 문제가 있다. 하지만 부르심을 가지고 그 부르심으로 사람들의 필요를 채워주는 것은 나는 하나님의 영이 함께 함을 느낄 수 있다고 말할 것 같다.

 

비록 그가 영적 전쟁, 중보기도, 예배에 대해서 깊숙히 말하지는 않지만, 그는 희망과 복음과 하나님의 선하심이 그들안에 있고 하나님과 친밀함을 강조하지 않는가??

나를 향해서 말하는 것 같고, 나에 대한 하나님의 계획을 먼저 얘기하면서 그들의 첫번째 사귐, 하나님과의 깊은 친밀감을 강조하는 것은 나쁘지 않다고 생각한다.

 

그 이후의 판단은 성도들이 하는 것이다. 좀 더 깊숙히 들어가려면, 신앙인으로서 판단을 하고 거기에 맞는 훈련을 찾아가면 되는 것이라 생각한다.

 

상대방을 비판하고 시험하기 보다는 그저 부르심을 인정하고 먼저 자신을 모습을 돌이켜보고 자신의 편견부터 제거하는 것이 좋을 것이다.

 

마지막으로 그의 글귀를 적는다..

 

"I'm called to plant a seed of hope in people's hearts," as he wrote in his latest book, Become a Better You.

 

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Your Heavenly Father is looking down the road of your life, and He sees nothing but promise and the divine purpose He has for you. Today, I encourage you to take a step in His direction. He wants to connect in a new way with you and help you to rediscover your purpose.

God is madly in love with you. No matter where you are in life or what your struggles are, He's looking for you, waiting for you to return home and receive what He has for you.

Victoria and I want to help you re-connect with the Lord, so we've developed a new audio devotional for daily encouragement.

With your best gift to the ministry this month, I would like to send you Connect: 28 Days to Rediscover Your Connection with God. This brand-new CD resource is great for the car, listening on your computer or wherever you're most comfortable. With your gift of $100 or more to the ministry this month, you'll also receive our "I Believe" leather journal and "Anything is Possible" coffee mug to remind you of His love and His goodness in your life.

It's a great privilege to partner with you as we share the heart of our Father. Just listen; you can hear Him calling out, "Come home!"

We’re praying for you and believing that great things will be accomplished in your life,
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Praise Him in the Sanctuary

Today's Scripture

“I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you among a mighty throng” (Psalm 35:18).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

There is tremendous power available when we worship the Lord. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people, and when God’s presence manifests, the enemy must flee. When we worship together in a corporate setting, at church or a prayer meeting or Bible study, that power is multiplied. The scripture says that one can put a thousand to flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight. That’s why it’s so important that we give thanks and worship when we come together in our church services.

Worship begins with an act of our will. We have to choose to give God praise and thanks even if we don’t necessarily feel like it. That’s why the Psalmist says, “I will give You thanks…” Choose to worship Him today with your whole being—body, soul, and spirit. Praise Him and thank Him and connect with other believers. As you do, He will empower and strengthen you. He will take you places you never dreamed, and you will live as an overcomer in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, today I choose to bless and magnify You. I will praise and honor You because You alone are worthy to receive all glory. Thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness to me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Eternity Is In Your Heart

Today's Scripture

 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds, a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy (Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God has placed eternity in the hearts of mankind. Everything we experience not only serves a purpose here on earth, but it serves a purpose for eternity. Right now, God is working in you and putting inside of you everything you need to fulfill your eternal destiny. He is making you ready to rule and reign with Him. As long as you are moving forward and gaining strength, you are gaining eternal victory.

View what’s going on in your life with an eternal perspective. You have a higher calling; you have a greater purpose. Focus on what God is doing in your life. Don’t allow the little irritations to get you off course or distract you from what God has called you to do. Open your heart and mind and allow Him to prepare you for eternity. As you keep an eternal perspective and stay determined to be who God has called you to be you will see His hand moving in your life and you will live as an overcomer now and throughout eternity. 

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for placing eternity in my heart. Help me stay focused on things that have eternal value so that I can live to give You glory. In Jesus’ Name
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Experience His Love

Today's Scripture

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38 KJV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God loves you so much today. He wants you to know and experience His love. When you experience something, it becomes real to you. You “own” it, so to speak. For example, if you’ve never eaten chocolate, someone else can describe it to you. They can tell you all about the taste and texture, but until you take a bite of it, it won’t really mean anything.

In the same way, you can hear all about God’s love and how wonderful He is, but it’s not until you experience it first hand and allow His love to sink down into your heart, that something happens on the inside of you. His love changes you. It builds confidence and strength in you. It empowers you to overcome temptation and to stand strong no matter what difficulty you may be facing. When you open your heart and receive His love, you will be fully persuaded that nothing can separate you from Him!
 

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I open my heart to You today. Fill me with Your love so that I can know You more. I surrender every area of my life to You and ask You to fulfill Your purpose in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

 

 

 

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Be Still

Today's Scripture

"Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

In this day and age, our culture has become so accustomed to having constant activity going on; computers, cell phones, television, email, video games.  And there’s nothing wrong with that stuff but sometimes, we have to stop and be still so we can focus on knowing God. This is especially true during the difficult times in life. When you are facing a challenge, it’s easy to want to run to a friend or talk about it with a neighbor, but at some point, you have to stop and say, “God, I rest in You. I know You have me in the palm of Your hand.” Remember, our battles are spiritual battles. The people in your life aren’t your enemy, the forces of darkness are. When you choose to be still and know that the Greater One lives on the inside of you, you are saying to the whole world, “I trust God. He is my Defender.” When you choose to believe in Him you will enter into His rest. Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord. As you are still before Him, You will see His hand of victory and blessing in every area of your life! 

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I humbly come before You. I choose to be still before You. Speak to my heart so I can know You more. Fill me with Your peace as I put my trust in You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

 

 

 

I trust God. He is my Defender

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The Armor of God

Today's Scripture

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm (Ephesians 6:13 NLT).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God has fully equipped you today with everything you need to stand strong in the midst of any battle you may be facing. He’s provided His full armor to protect your heart and mind. Ephesians 6:14-17, tells us about God’s spiritual armor that covers us—He’s given us the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith which stops the fiery darts of the enemy, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. When you receive God’s truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and His Word, you are fully protected to resist the enemy and stand firm. Remember, God holds victory in store for the upright. As you put on His armor by faith you will be positioned to receive His victory. You will be strengthened and empowered to live as an overcomer in every area of your life! 

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to live as an overcomer in this life. I receive your full armor knowing that with You I can stand and overcome every obstacle. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

 

 

Our Armour

belt of truth

the breastplate of righteousness

the shoes of the gospel of peace

the shield of faith

 

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A Place of Abundance

Today's Scripture

…We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:12 NIV).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Everyone has times in life when they feel like they are going through the fire or perhaps feel overwhelmed with everyday life. If that’s you today, understand that God is going to bring you through those challenges; He’s going to bring you through the fire and the flood into a place of abundance. We serve a God of more than enough, and His heart is to always make sure you have whatever you need to be successful in every area of your life. The Bible says that Jesus came so that we can have life—abundant life! He wants you to have an abundance of resources, an abundance of wisdom, an abundance of peace—everything you need. Open your heart and thank Him for His goodness. Begin to receive His promises by faith. Remember, your praise opens the door for Him to move on your behalf, and He wants to take you to a place of abundance in every area of your life! 

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You today, giving You all that I am. Thank You for leading and guiding me into a place of abundance. I give You all the glory and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 

 

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