SCRIPTURE:
Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Mark 9:5)

Observations:
I asked myself what was Peter's response to Jesus meeting up with Moses and Elijah?
1. Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.'
2. Let us put up three shelters- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Peter saying, 'Let us put up three shelters- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.?'
Peter wanted to work as a team with James and John to put up shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But more than that, the 3 disciples realize that as a team they were able to encounter Moses and Elijah together with Jesus.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life as I reflected on this verse. The concept of team stood out for me. When Peter said, 'Let us', Peter was including James and John in the equation to reach out to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah by wanting to prepare a shelter.  As I think about that, it reminds me how important it is to work as a team or believe that I can be part of a team instead of having to do things on my own for Jesus. Peter believed he was part of a team with James and John and they were. I too need to look for a team that I can work together to do things for Jesus.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING T.E.A.M:
Recently, I have felt overwhelmed because there is so much to do for http://www.pittsburghstandard.com. But, I have felt that I have been horrible in recruiting writers and editors so I basically do it by myself instead of on a team.  This too puts so much pressure on me and I keep thinking to myself, "It's just me running PS with the Lord's help" when I know the Lord Jesus wants me to be part of a team. KRISTEN AGNEW's ANALYSIS really blessed me as I read it yesterday. It dealt with Elijah's encounter with God after he was so depressed. Depression was a result of Elijah feeling that he was a lone ranger doing God's work and there was no one else. Basically, he had no team. God saw what Elijah was going through and Agnew's Analysis sheds light on the situation in an expressions called 'Trusting Truth Through Tough Times'.

I have felt many times that there is no one to help me with the Pittsburgh Standard and if I cannot do it, the paper will be halted. That is a daunting and depressive feeling. But, I also know that as I depend on the Lord Jesus Christ, He will reveal the writers and editors in His timing. I need to be open and discerning for that. I need to be constantly praying for a team of dedicated writers and editors who would love to run a Christian newspaper for the Lord's honor and glory. The PS being a Christian newspaper sometimes makes it harder for people of other religions to want to be part of it but I wait upon the Lord so I can find the team to help me.

Jesus emphasized a team concept in ministry time after time even at the transfiguration when Jesus met with Moses and Elijah and when He took Peter, James, and John together.

I was so blessed and uplifted when I read Kristen's devotional yesterday. It became that much more special to me because I have been reading about Jesus, Moses, and Elijah these past few days in Mark 9. It is this same Elijah that God appeared to at a mountain centuries ago.

Moses understood the concept of teamwork to when his Jethro, his father-in-law told him that it was too much for him what he was doing alone and that he should appoint leaders so his burden can be lifted and tasks can be delegated accordingly.

My problem is with delegation because I like to do everything on my own but that is not a good thing that I have been realizing over and over. So, if any of you who are reading this devotional sense the Lord Jesus prompting you to help out with a Christian newspaper, I would greatly appreciate your help as I want to emphasize a team concept. Please let me know as I have 12 sections of the newspaper that need articles, photos, videos, etc.

It is in a team that more can be accomplished than as a lone ranger. But more than that the reason to be part of a team is that it is biblical. May you also have a desire to be part of a team.

I ask you now dear friend, why bother being part of a team in life?
Dear friend, it may seem so easy and conflict-free working as an individual than as a community in a team. An individual can do things on his own and how he/she likes to usually but with a team comes diversity of ideas needing collaboration, compromise, and cooperation which do get affected when there is no conflict resolution. Teams engaged in conflict can cause avoidance, aggressive, etc which are unbiblical attitudes in dealing with conflict so a cop out is to work alone. But in the long run, an individual cannot do much as opposed to being part of a community. That is why Jesus Christ when He chose disciples, He chose them in even numbers of 12 and 70 sending them out 2 by 2 too. Scripture has many situations of teams making a difference but there are times God does call us individually to a task and we need to act on that too instead of using not being part of a team as an excuse not to do something. But majority of the time you and I need to be part of a community team that can help build each other up. I just finished reading through the entire Book of Ephesians this morning and the team concept stood out there too.

It is in teams that great victories usually come. Even when David slew Goliath, it is the army that followed David that defeated the Phillistines with God's help. As a team so much can be done that cannot be done solo.

Even our Salvation is based on a team concept because of the Trinity: God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit working together. Without God in our lives, we are lost in sin. God does not want that for us and knows the only way that we can be saved is through His Son, Jesus Christ as Jesus ransoms us by His precious blood to wash away our sins and purify us. So, God sent His only begotten Son into this world to die for our sins that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life. You and I need to believe that on our own we will fail but we need the Lord Jesus as part of our team, to live a victorious life that is provided to us by the Trinity Team. It did not just stop with God and Jesus but we have been promised the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us daily. So, everyday when we trust in Jesus Christ to save us, we are living with the Holy Spirit in our lives who will lead us and guide us into all truth. This is so exciting to know. Jesus promised when the Holy Spirit comes on us we will have the power to be His messengers as He will become our Counselor and Comforter.

That is exciting to know friend. Jesus loves you so much that Jesus died for your sin to save you and give you new life justifying you by His grace for not anything you have done on your own but by what the Trinity decided to accomplish in your life. You can be rest assured no matter where you have been, what you have done, that you are never out of His love and never out of His reach. Jesus has always been a team player and when we turn to Jesus, He will help us be a team player in community too. You and I can do that. For His justification by grace to forgive us of our sins does not stop there but He also sanctifies us by His grace for His honor and glory so we can be assured Jesus will be working in us and will finish to completion, the work started in us. Praise the Lord!

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5-8, NIV)

To bear fruit is a command to follow but a lot of times we do not bear the fruit we can in an organization, in our lives, in a community, etc because we become so individualistic with the attitude of 'my way or the highway'. So we miss out on what Jesus wants to do in our lives and how He wants to accomplish those purposes. Yes, I realize that God can be calling individuals to a task like He called Elijah but even then, He provides and reminds those He calls that they are not alone in this. When I was called to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) years ago, I made many mistakes that were hurt Paul, Oliver, Tom, Chloe and others at the time because I felt with the Lord's help I can do this and that and needed no help. Hogwash! How Lord helps is through His body of believers, the church. He is the Head of the body and 'He is before all things and in Him all things hold together' (Colossians 1)

I missed out on that because I became so individualistic instead of having a witnessing community mentality which I had even given a talk on. This just shows knowledge of Scripture and study of it will not mean much if it is not applied. A lot of times I did not apply what I learned. If I had, the team concept has always been biblical which I would have adhered to. I praise the Lord though for His grace and mercy and bringing me to a church at Oakland International Fellowship, to work in a team in different areas. Right now I love working with children with Heather, Mei Ooi, Magda, Yijen, etc.

Right now I am at a cross-roads again because for 7 years I did ministry with IVCF before leaving due to personal issues. Now, I have done PS for 7 years and don't want to do it alone. I need help. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes and don't want you to repeat the same mistakes of going it alone.

I praise the Lord for help from Kristen, Brian, Ryan, Jason and others who do contribute to PS when they can. I also thank the Lord Jesus for my PS Editorial Board whose main function is to read or reject editorials for publication. They have been so helpful through the years even as board members change.

Whatever area you are in, a team concept is so biblical and I don't want you to fall in the pitfalls that I had fallen in having an individualistic attitude over a community attitude. So, please turn to Trinity first and foremost to be in partnership with God in all you do and ask His help to send people your way to work on a team.

May you always remember that together everyone accomplishes mission!

"Together Everyone Accomplishes Mission! (T.E.A.M.)"/"Why bother being part of a T.E.A.M in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much when we have a word study in Your Word, even one word can give us so much to apply in our lives based on observations, interpretation, and application. Oh Lord, Peter using the phrase, 'Let us' made me think about how important a community team is and how much you always emphasized a team concept with your disciples. Thank you so much Jesus. Thanks for taking Peter, James, and John to see Moses and Elijah with you. Thank you for all that you have taught me and how you use people in our lives to minister to us and convict us at the right time. Oh Lord, we need your help and we want to be part of your team always being sanctified by you and living our lives for you as you have justified us by your grace. Thank you for covering us in your blood and motivating me and exciting me about being in a team and doing things as a team as your body of believers. Help us to always rest in you. Please do forgive us when we  have gone our own way and done our own things. I know I have been guilty of that and hurt so many people. Forgive me Lord and please help. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you that you hear and answer our prayers.  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!