Actions of Jesus:
1. Coming to Galilee after John was arrested.
2. Proclaiming the Good News of God!

I asked myself what were the sayings of Jesus?

Sayings of Jesus:
1. The time is fulfilled.
2. The kingdom of God has come near.
3. Repent and believe the Good News.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why are the actions of Jesus significant?
It is interesting to know that Jesus came to Galilee after overcoming every temptation thrown by Satan at Him and after John, the Baptist was arrested so that He can proclaim the Good News. He was baptized in the Jordan River but began His ministry in Galilee.

We need to remember that John, the Baptist was the one who was proclaiming the Good News and preparing the way of the Lord. John also lets people know that there is more to the concept of baptism than being 'baptized in water'. John realizes that he is just a messenger and there would come One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John was preparing the people for a transition. He did not want people to regard him highly as opposed to the One who was to come. God allowed John to prepare the way and when John's time would come to an end, the people could be prepared for the transition.  (Mark 1:1-8)

When John was arrested, there was a vacancy in the ministry area pertaining to 'proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins' and 'baptizing those that repented with water' (Mk 1:4-5).

Jesus finally came to preach in Galilee after John's arrest. Jesus said, 'the time is fulfilled'. This could refer to what John was proclaiming especially about the 'One who would come'. Jesus came to accomplish all that John was proclaiming. Jesus knows the perfect timing when things need to be done.

(To be continued....)

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. There is a timing for everything so I need to depend on the Lord Jesus instead of acting on my own when it comes to ministry or any other area. I should always wait on Jesus’ timing for things in my life for things to be right.

There is an awesome promise that has helped me a lot.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I ask you now dear friend, how can T.I.M.I.N.G be right in your life?
Dear friend, it can be so easy and tempting to follow our own timing in the things we want to have or get done. The focus can be so much on ourselves to get this or that, to do this or that, etc because we think it is the right thing to have or do at this time but even in those situations timing is paramount. Just because something is the right thing to do or have does not mean we should trust our own timing. From Jesus, we can learn that He did not rush in to preach the Good News after He was baptized, loved, and approved by God. Instead, He went through a testing period for 40 days. Only after handling the temptations thrown by Satan and after John was arrested did Jesus begin His ministry saying, "The time promised by God has come at last!"(Mark 1:15) This shows me that Jesus trusted God's timing to begin His ministry.

Timing can only be right in our lives when we look to the One who made us and gave us life to lead us in His paths no matter how much we want something.

Timing is close to my heart because my loving wife Chandra and I have waited for 17 months to be together in the United States. On New Year's Eve, I was able to bring my Chandra to the United States. Praise the Lord! Even through the months of pain, we understood that God had  a perfect timing for her to receive her visa and enter the U.S. What perfect timing  to start  the year 2012 as husband and wife here. We started 2012 together here at midnight under the fireworks.

When my darling came here with me, she wanted to literally hibernate for one whole month without meeting anyone or doing anything outside of the home. Coming to the U.S. has definitely been a culture shock to her so she wanted to follow her own timing but I believe God had other plans for her life. The Lord knew she needed a community of believers to be plugged in right away, so the Lord sent Calvin (Small group leader of Transformers from OIF), Elise, and Chloe our way to give us a ride from the airport. Then, the Lord sent David, Yvonne, and Jomei to interact with her. Finally, she got to meet Pastor Hugo of Oakland International Fellowship who gave us a ride to buy stuff.

If she relied on her own timing to adjust, she would have stayed at home without meeting anyone. But, she moved forward trusting God wanting to honor and respect my wish. Because of that she also got a wish that she never expected. When we got married, we did not have a wedding reception because of time and travel constraints so she and I were disappointed. However, 17 months later, she got a wish on our 75-week marriage anniversary that she had no clue it was coming. Granted it was not a wedding reception but it felt like that when Calvin and Elise organized a welcome party/housewarming party for Chandra and I yesterday.

It was a special time for her when we were introduced as bride and groom to all those that came to welcome her with love and gifts at the Taj Mahal Restaurant. For someone who wanted to use time to hibernate for at least a month, she gave that up and relied on God to move forward. God's timing was to use a day that many in the world of superstition stay away, Friday the 13th. God used that day to bless her and I tremendously. The welcome party itself was special but then she and I were showered with gifts. It did have a mini-wedding reception feeling to it with food being catered, being welcomed as bride and groom, receiving gifts, etc.

Because she relied on God's timing to do things than her own, she got to meet many brothers and sisters in Christ who love her and have prayed for her even before she stepped foot on U.S soil.

It becomes that much more special to realize that all of them came even amidst bad weather and snow to bless Chandra and I. Just as God used Jesus Christ to begin His ministry to preach the Good News in His timing, the Lord has used Calvin, Elise, Kristen, Josh, Yvonne, David, Pastor Ed, Pin Hsi, Marie, Edwin, Suzanne, Rodney, Bill, Matt, Vicki, Pastor Hugo, Eric, Rebecca, Steve, Cecilia, and Meera to help Chandra be part of a STRONGER COMMUNITY in His timing because she trusted the Lord and moved forward being obedient to God's Word. I praise the Lord for that!  Thank you Jesus! Now she has met many  brothers and sisters who have already been praying for her:) The Lord Jesus has used all of them from Oakland International Fellowship to be a blessing to us especially those from Transformers small group to kick of the New Year 2012.

Friend, I don't know where you are at right now and how much you wish this or that can be accomplished in so and so timing. Having a wish is not bad but there is a perfect timing for everything. I have shared a testimony from our own life about timing. Waiting in itself and receiving has a special blessing of feeling to it. Chandra and I have experienced it first hand with her being by my side in the U.S. the surprise welcome party. Thank you so much Jesus.

^“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

"In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and petition, let your prayers and supplications be known to the Lord and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will keep your hearts and mind, quiet at rest as you trust in Jesus Christ!" (Philippians 4:6-7)

"He will keep in perfect peace whose thoughts turn to the Lord, for in the Lord Jehovah is your strength!" (Isaiah 26:3)

We have relied and rested in the Lord Jesus Christ for His timing in our lives to be reunited together again no matter what we saw as obstacles, the Lord united us. Thank you Jesus! You should too rely on the Lord Jesus for His timing. It won't always be easy but He will help you through and get you through as He has been helped us.

Lord's timing is the perfect timing to follow not only in relationships but in all areas of our lives because He who created you and knows you by Name, knows perfectly well what you need and when you are need of it. His waiting time is for our own good to develop us more and build us up for His honor and glory. This goes for any area including ministry.

So friend when you are tempted to go your own way and do your own things, resist the devil and he will flee from you, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will life you up. Leave to Him all your worries and cares for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

That is so exciting to know friend that He is always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us which means He knows the right timing for our lives. Praise the Lord! So always be courageous and follow the timing of the Lord. But to experience the Lord's timing, you have to know Him and be known by Him. Help us Lord Jesus.

God knew the people needed a Shepherd and sent Jesus Christ in His perfect timing after John prepared the way. The Lord wants to be your Good Shepherd too! Knowing Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior is the best thing we all can do.

Jesus' coming is the best thing that happened to the disciples of John too. Jesus is the best person to intervene in your life because He can be your Lord and Personal Savior and help you through as He is helping in our lives for He knows the right timing for everything.

For Jesus alone can give us the power and transform our lives when we turn to Him asking Him to take control of our lives for He knows the perfect timing for everything. This means we need to be willing to surrender our lives to Jesus knowing He alone can rescue us from the bondage of sin and death.

Jesus came to proclaim the Good News so each of us can reach the Father. The Good News is Jesus Christ's intervention in this world to save this world. Jesus also knew the perfect timing to die for all of our sins that are past, present, and future nailing them to the cross. Jesus shed His precious cleansing blood for you and me so when we turn to Him His blood can be the antidote for the deadly virus known as sin. That is exciting to know friend. I know it is exciting to me that Jesus knew the exact timing when I would turn to Him. Jesus chose humanity first when Jesus paid the price on the cross and gives humanity the opportunity to come to Him. So come to Jesus as you are and instead of following your own timing to do things, start relying on the Lord Jesus Christ for His timing to do things, quietly trusting yourself to Him. You will not be disappointed when you rest in Him and believe He has the right timing for everything. Thank you Jesus!

I have done that friend and pray that you will do the same using the time you have to give your lives over to the Creator of the Universe. We all don't know when we will leave the earth so the time we have, we need to use it preciously because the time the Lord gives us is precious.

No matter what you are facing now, know that the Lord feels your pain too. When you feel helpless, bring even that before the Lord for He cares for you. Ask the Lord Jesus to transform you by the power of the Holy Spirit and He will! In His perfect timing, He will open the doors as you trust in Messiah everyday!

"Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you." (1 Peter 5:7) 

"Trust In Messiah's Involvement Now Greatly!"(T.I.M.I.N.G)/"How can T.I.M.I.NG be right in your life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you right now and bring our requests before thee.  Lord our life can be so rushed at times. We want so many things when we want them but I thank you Lord that you do not always give us what we want but you do give us what we need. You know some of the wants we want are not good for us and you keep them from us. There are needs we have that you give in your prefect timing as we wait on you. Thank you there are our wants that are good for us that you do bless us with too. Help us Oh Lord to rely on your timing. Thanks for coming to proclaim the Good News and set the captives free in your timing We do repent of our sins and turn to you for help and choose to believe in the Good News you offer. We give our lives to thee. I pray Oh Lord that you would be with those that are not feeling well and have so much on their mind. You alone can heal them and restore them completely. We do know and believe you are a God of miracles. Please intervene in your timing Oh Lord. We lay our requests before thee and ask thee for your strength to help us get through the times of pain and sorrow. I thank you Jesus! We trust in you the lives of those who are hurting physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, and spiritually. Thanks for hearing us and answering us! We leave to you all our worries, cares, and needs. Thank you Jesus for always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us!  In Your Name We 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”)