Week #3

1. Song of Solomons (the speaker)
This past 3rd week was awesome. We had 3 days teaching on the Song of Solomons. The speaker, Jen Roberts, is a staff here. Dwane and Jen Roberts had been missionaries before they came here. Dwane is in the media ministry.

Jen shared with us her testimony. She grew up in a messed up family. Her mom had bad marriages and never were satisfied with her marriages until one day she and her husband encountered Jesus at a church. Jen, a teenage girl at that time wasn't interested in what her parents were doing with church. When she later did encountered Jesus, her first understanding of Jesus was the bride and bridegroom relationship. She took it so seriously that she thought she would never marry a man because she was already married to Jesus. She was on fire for God and serves God in anyway she could since then. Anyway God keep renewing her mind and eventually she got married to her ministry partner.

She is really humorous and yet down to earth. I loved her teachings. One time, she shared her struggle with not being able to be in the ministry like her husband because she had to take care of her kids. She said, during those days, her husband would be in trouble even before he stepped into the house when he came home from ministry... because she was so tired taking care of kids the whole day and her temper was already hot. Wow! That was me!! Hahaha. Jerry used to say he can't rest whenever he comes home. Just by knowing she went through the same thing and overcame, brought so much comfort to my heart. For the past few years, from the time Joshua was born, to last year, God had been speaking to my heart that He has given me children as my ministry for this season of life. It wasn't till end of last year that I finally heard Him and willingly accept His invitation. The vision and calling from God still boils inside of me from time to time, but I know God has His timing for everything.

Jen said, one time she was struggled so much with having to stay home changing diapers and taking care of kids, she cried out to God and God gave her a vision. She saw she was getting ready to run a race. Next to her, were Mike Bickle, her husband, and the big guys with big ministry/responsibility... and she told God how could she run with these big guys? Then she saw herself, having diapers around her, stroller tied to her feet, and kids with her, and she got even more discouraged. Then God said "run!" She said "how?" God said "run!" Then she saw a tunnel appearing around her and all she could see was a tiny light far ahead at the other side of the tunnel. God said "run!" Yes, she isn't competing with any other believers. She tried. She did take a few steps little by little, though very slowly, she knew she was moving forward. And she knew she was in the race. And she knew she was obeying God. When she was telling us this vision, tears came rolling down my cheek. God's presence was on me and He brought much comfort and affirmation to my heart.

2. Song of Solomon (content)
The approach to interpret the Song of Solomon in the Bible : spiritual interpretation. This is a symbolic interpretation to see the spiritual truths in our relationship with Jesus behind the natural love story. Theologically, all believers on earth are betrothed (engaged) to Jesus. In Hebrew tradition, an engaged couple was legally married and needed to be divorced if they broke their engagement. (2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.") The consummation of the marriage relationship occurs in the age ot come (Revelations 19:7 "Let us be glad and give Him flory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.") The Bride's destiny is ensured by God's ravished heart for her. His heart is ravished for all of His people.

I'm always amazed by how much God loves us. He is not a big guy out there with supernatural power, that is so faraway from us, that doesn't understand how we feel, that has nothing to do with us. Our God loves us and is full of passion....

3. Parents and Children
When Jen's daughter was about 5, she had a dream that she was married to Jesus. She was wearing very pretty wedding dress and when she approached Jesus the Bridegroom, she saw His eyes were so tender and loving and she could tell from His eyes that He loves her very very very very much. Her daughter has encountered God at a young age and she has followed God since then. Jen said her children loved IHOP as much as they do. She made a comment, if her children hates IHOP, she would leave this place just to win their heart to God. This is a new concept to me.

I remember there was another message that spoke about winning the heart of the children. I don't remember this speaker, But I remember he said, when he was a rebeling teenage towards his parents, his father made sacrifices for him. It was his senior year in high school and his father got a great job offer at another place and he was planning to move there with his family, about 4-5 hours away. Then his guy told his father he will not move no matter what. (I think it is really hard for senior in high school to move to another place and have to restart with all the friendship at a new school). The next thing he knew, his father came to him and said "You are not moving and you're staying here, staying at your high school to finish up your senior year. " His father meant he was going to move there by himself, and he told his son to take care of his mother and sister. As unmature as a high school rebeling teenager, he thought that was right, his dad should just move there himself. Later, he noticed that his dad would showed up in all the events or ball games that he was in. His dad would drive 4-5 hours just to get there for him. At first, during his ballgame when he was his dad, he thought his father was crazy. But slowly, he started to look forward for his dad to come to his ballgame. Then, he started to walk over to his dad and the next thing, he realized that he liked to hang out with his dad during the break of the ballgame and after the game. One time his friend came to him and said why would he want to hang out with his dad and not with his friends? He said that was because his dad was cool and he likes to hang out with his dad. Without him realizing it, his dad has won his heart over. He wasn't rude to his dad anymore. He wasn't rebeling anymore. Because he knew his dad loves him and would do anything for him. One time his dad picked a hat for him. That hat wasn't a kind of hat that young people would like. But he didn't mind, because he loves his dad. He took that hat and went to the cashier. The cashier told him to pick another one, because the one didn't match him, that hat was for old folk. He replied "that old folk is my dad and I love him. He likes it, and I'll like it too. " I'm amazed to hear the power of a loving and pursuing father after his son.

Jerry and I realized the frustration in our children during this past week. Even sweet Samuel can be very irritating with his temper and "I don't want to..." Cheryl started to have this pattern of crying whenever she can't get her ways. We realized that in the midst of this tight schedule, we hadn't been able to spend quality time with them because we were in a hurry all the time. So, we took time to intentionally be with them individually. One day I came back from prayer room and saw Jerry playing balls with Joshua in the basement, and that day, Joshua was different. He was content, he wasn't demanding as usual, he was just happy and satisfied (quiet by daddy's love). Jerry and I are still learning to balance our time between ihop/family.