1. This Wednesday, 11/9 at 1pm is our MIP prayer meeting. Theme isGod is Merciful. https://momsinprayer.org/resources/prayer-tools/prayer-sheets/merciful-mobile-prayer-sheet/

Last week I was very challenged with this attribute of God when in our Bible study discussion, a member brought up the story about the serial killer, rapist and cannibal who became a born-again believer while in prison, right before he was murdered by an inmate. My 8-pound brain froze and crashed like an old computer without capacity to comprehend God’s mercy extending to this serial killer. Honestly, I am still in shock at the unfairness of this situation. I have been saying to myself, “God, how can you be so merciful and kind to this super evil, wicked person?! How can you let him into heaven in his last hour? He didn’t even have time to prove his genuineness of faith and even suffer for a long time for his wrongdoings. It’s just not fair.”

I am not sure if I have overcome my struggle to accept God’s mercy for this serial killer.  However, like many principles and rules that I have been studying and learning in the Bible; I must accept God’s house rules and just let them be.  It also helps me to remind myself that I have an 8-pound brain – though magnificent and powerful, it is a very limited organ. 

Tomorrow when I join in the prayer call with this week’s theme – God is Merciful; I will be honest, it will be challenging to pray this attribute of God, now seeing how far reaching it can be.  May my heart be sincere to pray this attribute of God with humility and trust even to the worst of people.  

2. If you are wondering which serial killer it was, it’s Jeffrey Dahmer.  His story was #1 on Netflix recently and it was brought up in our bible study discussion when we were discussing Matthew 8 about the demon-possessed men.  Here’s an article about Jeffrey Dahmer by a Gospel Coalition writer in 2017.  It helped me to read her wrestling as well and she brought it back to what the Bible says, not how I feel or have opinion about.  May her writing help you too.  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sharing-heaven-with-serial-killers/

3. Here is a song that have been playing in my mind for the past few days ever since my visit to Carrie in the nursing home and seeing how much she deteriorated during the pandemic from the Huntington’s disease. May this song minister to you too.

Rise Again 

4. A few church friends and I have been praying together after service in our seats. This Sunday, we prayed for our lead pastor when we learned that he will be having a medical procedure this week. Please keep this procedure in your prayers for him and that he will recover and heal quickly without any issues. As other ladies were praying for him; I saw many, layer-upon-layers of a protective shield or film going around him and all that he reaches in his home, family, work, ministry and our church. It was a very cool visual that I saw in my mind! I wish I was artistic enough to draw what I saw. Our prayers were putting layers of protective shield/film all around him. It created a safe dome for him and his family and ministry. The more we prayed the thicker the dome shield became since more layers were being added on top of one another. This is what intercessory prayer for others is about. It was a very cool visual! Please add your layer of prayer upon our lead pastor this week. He’s a good lead pastor and we really appreciate him. Thank you!

This song came up in my mind when we were praying for him.  It is a good older song and lyrics.  

Take me into the Holy of Holies 

One more thing – whenever my 8-pound brain defaults and freezes when wrestling with God’s “house rules” in the Bible, I take Peter’s words as my own.  I don’t understand it or like it, but it is what it is and besides, where else would I go?  

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68-69 (NIV) (FYI – Many disciples left Jesus at this time because his teachings were bizarre, offensive and even sounded “cannibalistic”. Read the chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206&version=NIV)

Psalm 131 (NKJV)

Simple Trust in the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Lord, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.

2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.