Kristy's Birthday

W356 SOT students graduate le!!!

The God of the Valley

TITLE: The God of the Valley
AUTHOR: Os Hillman

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T G I F
Today God Is First
by Os Hillman

The God of the Valley

The man of God came up and told the king of Israel,
"This is what the Lord says: 'Because the Arameans
think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of
the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your
hands, and you will know that I am the Lord'."
1 Kings 20:28

Whenever we stand on the mountain, we are able to see
clearly. It is the best vantage point to see what
lies ahead. Wouldn't it be great to live on the
mountain all the time in order to anticipate what is
ahead? God allows us to experience the mountaintop at
times. Joseph's first mountaintop experience was as a
young man. He had the favor of his father, Jacob. He
was given a fine coat and even had a dream about his
future. As a young man, Joseph had a sense of destiny
about his life. God often gives us a picture of our
future so that we will remember this picture when we
are being tested to trust Him in the valley. This
picture usually does not reveal how God intends to
bring about the visions for our life.

However, none of us really derive the character
qualities God desires for our lives while we are on
the mountain. It is in the valley where the fruit is
planted and harvested. It cannot grow on the
mountain; it must grow in the valley. God is a God of
the mountain, but he is even more a God of the
valley. In the valley, it is more difficult to see
ahead; the clouds often cover the valley and limit
our sight. Joseph was thrust into a deep valley that
left him wondering if the God of his father had
forsaken him. Jesus hoped that He might be able to
avoid the valley that caused Him to sweat blood.
There is a valley that each of us must enter, usually
unwillingly, in order to experience the God of the
valley-and to experience His faithfulness in the
valley. Once we have spent time in this valley, we
come out with something we would have never gained if
we had not entered it. The valley brings much fruit
into our lives so that we might plant seeds into the
lives of others. God does not waste valley
experiences. If we are faithful in the valley, we
will enter a new dimension with God that we never
thought possible. There is a harvest of wisdom and
virtue that can only be grown in the valley.

Has God brought you into the valley? Know that the
valley is a place of fruitfulness; it is a place of
testing. It is where God brings what you know in your
head into your heart. The only value of knowledge is
when it becomes part of your heart. Look for God in
the valley today.

Happy Birthday Weetat!!!!

happy birthday to you!
happy birthday to you!
happy birthday to weeeeetat!
happy birthday to yoooooou!!!!

hugs and kisses,
W356

The Well

I have been sitting in the empty well for some time.
(In my own comfort zone)

What I have is limited fresh air and sunlight.
(Complacement about what I have but indeed I dun have much and I have limited capacity)

I wanted to have more of the fresh air and sunlight, and of course more of the things I did not have in the well.
(I am hungering and thirsty for more than what I have now, I want to expand my capacity)

I tried to climb out of the well myself, but only to find more bruises, more bleeding and and more tiredness.
(I wanted to do it on my own strength but to no avail)

I feel so tired that I decided to shout "I want to get out of here to the place up there!! How???"
(Finally I decided to seek God and shout out to Him)

Suddenly, it came the rain, it started off with a drizzle, then it gets heavier and heavier.
(A lot of obstacles and problems, trials and tribulations starts to come)

I was thinking, why did the rain come of all times???
(Why did all the trials and tribulations come at this time?)

The rain started to fill the well.
(All the trials and tribulations started to drown me and fill up my life.)

I started to struggle and kept complaining why did the rain come.
(I was lost, didn't know what to do and only started to blame on God)

I began to feel physically drained.
(I was still using my own strength)

Then suddenly I realized, it seems like I am going up the well.
(I started to realize that I do have little breakthroughs here and there.)

I decided not to struggle, but to trek water.
(I decided to depend on God's strength and not my own strength)

Trekking water doesn't only depends on one's skill of the feet, but also the coordination with the flow of the water.
(flow with the Holy Spirit)

Trekking water make me so tired... so lonely.. so cold
(walking with God... i become very tired... people close to me starts to leave and I am left alone... I feel so cold... I lost the warmth)

I feel so tired... then He said... start floating for a while... My strong arms shall carry you and I will give you rest...
(i am feeling very tired fighting the battle... but God will carry you through and He will give you rest...)

the night seems long... feel so cold... but here and then there are sunlight to give you some warmth..
(the warmth is just like blessings... blessings still come when you are in the midst of trials and tribulations...)

this sunlight will cause some of the water to evaporate... the water level becomes slightly lower...
(blessing will take away some trials and tribulations' trouble but it also means you are slightly away from breakthrough...)

more to come... more to come...
(more trials and tribulations shall come till the final breakthrough of the season comes)

Finally the water overflowed from the well, and there I am.
(When the trials and tribulations ends, the breakthrough shall come)

Standing on fresh dry ground, breathing in fresh air and letting the unlimited sunlight to shine on me.
(Here comes my breakthrough)

I have emerged from the bottom of the well!!!
(Breakthrough and move on to the next level)