SCRIPTURE:
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" (Mark 9:7)

Observations:
I asked myself what 3 things do Peter, James, and John experience?
1. Then a cloud appeared
2. And enveloped them,
3. And a voice came from the cloud:

Observations:
I asked myself what does the voice reveal to the 3 disciples?
1. This is my Son,
2. Whom I love.
3. Listen to Him!

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of the voice's revelations?
There is a personal relationship involved between the Father and the Son. The voice is of the Father who lets the disciples know: Jesus is His beloved Son who is loved dearly. Now,  Peter, James, and John get to hear God saying that Jesus should be listened to. In other words, whatever Jesus tells them, they need to do because God wants them to be engaged in active listening and not passive listening when it comes to Jesus interacting with them. Because God loves the Son, whatever the Son asks, the Father wants the disciples to listen to.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. If I say, Jesus is my Lord and my Personal Savior who I love dearly, then I cannot keep living my life how I want to live but I need to live out my life for the Lord Jesus Christ listening to Him and doing what He wants me to do whether I always feel like to or not. God needs to see that I do listen to Jesus because just as God wanted the 3 disciples to listen to Jesus, God wants me to do the same. His voice of revelation is as much for me as it was for the 3 disciples.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING L.I.S.T.E.N:
Sometimes I can lose the vision and the mission my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has given me when I get so preoccupied in wanting what others have. Recently, I have experienced that a lot when I have been down about not being able to find writers or editors for Pittsburgh Standard. Only when I actively listen to Jesus am I encouraged regarding the Pittsburgh Standard. Jesus reminded me through my mommy that the paper exists primarily to be used as a means to reach students and non-students with the love of Christ through the EXPRESSIONS section and all the other sections are a means to draw people to the EXPRESSIONS section and not for higher stats, money making, competition against other papers, etc. When I lose the focus of listening to Christ on how He wants me to use the paper, I succumb to covetousness because I am listening to the lies of the enemy than to the contentment of having Jesus Christ guide and lead me. When I listen to the Word of God, I am reminded of the signature verse that Jesus Christ has given me even to run the Pittsburgh Standard: "But life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus Christ, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love!" (Acts 20:24). When I listen to the Word of God and put it into practice, I am content and happy. I am able to wait upon the Lord for writers and editors without becoming restless or giving up.

I am reminded of how the Lord Jesus impressed upon Kamella's heart, Amigo's heart,  Pastor Hugo's heart, and Kristen's heart to help out with Pittsburgh Standard in His timing. I did not even have to exert that much energy. I continued to do what I could with the PS and the Lord Jesus sent brothers and sisters my way to help me. I know He still can in His timing.

I also know when the Lord Jesus has given me opportunities to recruit writers and editors, I should do that and leave the results in His precious loving Hands. Most important thing is that I listen to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every facet of my life by actively doing what He wants me to do remembering EXPRESSIONS should always be my main focus when it comes to PS and the other sections as time allows or the Lord sends other laborers to take care of them simultaneously. You too should listen to the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has to say to you so you can put it into practice.

The concept of listening/obeying is what I had the honor of impressing upon young children yesterday when I helped Yijen, Magda, and Mei Ooi with children's Sunday School.

I prayed to the Lord for help and got an idea to do a Bible version of musical chairs incorporating the lesson of  Joshua 24:15: "Choose you this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord"

I would read the verse over and over again and when I said the reference, they would have to sit on the chair. The one left in the middle would answer a question regarding 'Who are people you should obey/listen to in life?' or other questions regarding 'choices we all have to make and which choice to choose from' just as the choice Joshua and his family made to serve the Lord.

It was wonderful to hear the children say that we should listen to God, Jesus, parents, teachers, etc. Then the children got to take turns to read the Bible verse over and over again and when they gave the reference, the other children had to find a seat. The one who was left in the middle got to be questioned about choices by the child who read the Bible verse. They had lots of fun and learned about choices, listening, and obedience sharing with me even about a story regarding Samuel and God.

I ask you now dear friend, what voice do you listen to?
Dear friend, there are so many voices that demand our attention to listen to. Not all voices will lead us to green pastures and safety always. Some of the voices will lead us to pain and destruction. Satan will use voices of people around you to deceive you and try to succumb you to his ways. He will use voices that will encourage you to have an attitude of covetousness, rebellion, complaining, doubt, and criticalness to name a few. If you listen to those voices, you will trap yourself.

But you don't have to listen to those voices because the GOOD NEWS is that God has used His voice to proclaim PEACE, POWER, PARDON, PURPOSE, and PROMISES to you through His Word, the Bible when you listen to His voice calling you. He calls you through His Word. His Word points to His beloved Son Jesus Christ whom you and I should listen to. When we hear the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoken through His Word, we will be listening to a voice worth listening to. This voice will never condemn us but convict us in love. We will be moved to action not out of fear but out of love, not out of complaining but out of thankfulness, not out of covetousness but contentment, not out of doubt but faith, not out of rebellion but submissiveness, and not out of criticalness but out of caring.

It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves us when we turn to Him. When Jesus died on the cross to ransom each one of us from the deadly power of sin and death by shedding His precious cleansing blood, Jesus said, "It is finished"

By that statement, Jesus was telling God that He accomplished what He was sent to do, to save humanity by His sacrificial death on the cross. Because of Christ's death on the cross, each one of us have been given a way out from destruction. It is because of God's grace shown through Jesus Christ that we can experience SALVATION over destruction. This also means you and I do not have to live life on our own but can experience His PROMISES, PEACE, POWER, PARDON, and PURPOSE for our lives revealed through His Word when we listen to Him. We can always listen to Jesus everyday because when we make Him our Lord and Personal Savior, He will walk with us leading us and guiding us by the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth. This truth is the revelation of the voice of God through His Word that will never change and is always absolute. So, friend it is exciting for me to know that I have the Word of God with me that can be used to listen and act upon. You too can.

Jesus did His part to save humanity but Jesus will not force any human being to come to Him but gives us a free choice to come to Him. You and I can come to Him knowing He alone can save us by His grace and mercy. Without Christ, you and I will forever be lost. It will not matter how much the world things good of you or me because God does not measure our standing with Him based on the world's measure of goodness.

In God's eyes none of us are good and all have fallen short of the glory of God. That means, He will not let anyone enter into Heaven without being sealed by the blood of the Lamb. That is why Jesus had to pay the ultimate price so to all those who received Him, He gave them the right to become children of God, children born not of human will but the will of God! (John 1:12)

In Christ alone can you and I be saved and have eternity with Him but also have abundant living here on earth knowing we are being guided by the Creator of the Universe. Thank you so much Jesus for making a way to save us.

Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No man comes to the Father except through me!" (John 14:6, NIV)

Yes, friend only when we listen to Jesus will we come to the Father and be with Him for eternity. Friend, whatever you are going through right now, you need to know that you are not alone. Jesus loves you so much that He paid the price that you cannot pay. You can be holding on to shame, guilt, restlessness, fear, regrets, etc but when you hold on to Jesus, you will be holding on to hope. Yes, friend listen to the Word of God where God promises to deliver us from our oppressions and redeem us by His beloved Son. That is exciting to know that we need not live in the past but can move on in the present into the future our Lord and Savior has called us into by His grace and mercy. We can walk by faith and not by sight knowing Jesus Christ loves us so much that whatever He has asked us to do, He will give us the strength and ability to do it no matter what we are going through. It starts with listening to Jesus by giving our lives completely over to Him for He wants us to surrender all that we are to Him so He can lead us the right way! Praise the Lord!

May you always experience Jesus' love knowing Lord is saving today emancipating now!

"Listening In Savior's Truth Emancipates Now! (L.I.S.T.E.N)/"Who do you listen to in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me about listening. Oh Lord, you know how we can be down many times when we go our own way. But, I thank you for your grace and mercy you shower upon us. It is exciting to know that we can always listen to your voice and be on the right path. We also know that you will not withhold anything good from us but always look after us. Lord help us not to listen to the lies of Satan with his deceptive voices but always be eager to listen to you and do what you say claiming your promises. Thank you that you are the Head of the Church and have given us the body of believer to uplift one another. Help us always to be listening and active to Your Word for Your Word has power to change lives. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!