©  Focus on Jesus.  Focus on Souls.  ©

It’s an unusually ‘traumatic,’ intense yet miraculous summer in the yes household.  (Many assignments in the Lord are unexpected and unpredictable.  You hardly know what the next one will be like.)  Our super gracious Father has orchestrated a series of events, unraveled secrets in a young boy’s heart, and brought divine inner healing and freedom to the family, once again. 

 Edmond’s Growing Pain

After staying with dad for half of the summer break (two and half weeks), Edmond came home Wednesday afternoon on 7/9.  Sonya had come home a week and half earlier for attending a half-day violin camp for the whole month of July.  Upon kids’ return during each break, they need adjustment to settle down in ’the Irvine way.’  (In mom’s house, Jesus is the head of household.)

Edmond has had a conflict with dad.  Although dad dislikes him playing an internet-based strategy game, ShadowBane, ten long hours a day dad allows it.  Dad does threaten Edmond of certain consequence but does not back up with actions.  Edmond became disappointed at dad’s empty threats and continued to play the game.

In Irvine, Edmond can only play the game up to three hours a day.  For few months, his tendency of shorting out on other home assignments and schoolwork in order to maximize game play has increased.  He could not maintain his 2^nd trimester grade level (average GPA 3.5) in the 3^rd trimester although he clearly knows he has straight-A capacity.  He also knows his challenge is ‘to do his best to reach God-given potential’ in everything – spiritual, academic, music, emotional and physical development.

Half a year before turning a teen, Edmond began to say no to many things – house chores other than washing dishes, shopping for groceries, his personal items, or extracurricular sport activities.  With his sole focus on playing ShadowBand, this young boy seems to have become ‘addicted’ to it.   

After about a year’s counsel with Edmond yet seeing his growing resistance to cooperate, mom finally decided to disallow him to play in Irvine.  It was a tough decision.  Edmond, however, understood mom’s reasoning and accepted the verdict.  Mom explained clearly to him, the issue is 'self-control.'  As Edmond grows older and gains better self-control he may play the game in the future.

Mom’s Dream #1 – Taking Shots

Early Thursday morning on 7/10, I had a dream.  We were in an audience.  President George W. Bush came with his

crew off the stage.  He picked two others and me.  He was going to demonstrate something like how violence impact lives.  They plugged my ears, wrapped me in a protective layer and lay me on a table.  President Bush took a pistol and fired shots straight down at my diaphragm position.  I felt the impact and counted the shots.  After about six or seven of them I became too overwhelmed to keep count.  Somewhere after eight or ten, he stopped.  They sat me up.  I was speechless.  The dream lasted a little longer but I woke up and forgot the rest.

I prayed about this dream.  My interpretation is that President Bush is a godly man and represents God’s authority.  The Lord allowed the shots (shocks) to be fired at me point-blank but well protected/prepared me (spiritually) beforehand.  He let me sense the overpowering impact of the shooting bullets but stay unharmed. 

A Picky Eater

Although Edmond understood well why his privilege of playing ShadowBane was taken away, he became unhappy.  He also refused his daily home assignments – pray for half an hour, practice piano half an hour and violin an hour.  Mom gave him time to cool down and sort his emotions out.

On Friday 7/11, Edmond refused, again, to eat onions and tomatoes in his dinner.  Mom decided this fuss should last no longer.  She said the family would have food prepared with onions and tomatoes for a week.  And if Edmond continued to be picky he would not have any snacks outside of the regular meals.  So, this young man went on an eating strike and lived on mixed apple juice with tea for two days. 

Mom was hurt, disappointed and overwhelmed.  She recalled many times during various fasts she still needed to feed kids with best effort – on taste, nutrition, variety and presentation.  Then, while she fasted and watched her young to feast on her masterpieces, she received her son’s disgusted expressions.  (God healed her heart many times.)  With many discussions, this picky on food situation moved a step forward and improved.  Now, it went backwards again.

She spent extra long hours in prayer in order to receive divine counsel and wisdom.  Holy Spirit instructed her to pray against the spirit of stubbornness.  So she did.  She knew what the Lord says in 1 Samuel 15 and taught kids before:

 ²³For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

A Spiritual Showdown

Sunday afternoon 7/13, mom saw that this spiritual stalemate needs to end.  She informed Edmond, “Go and pray in the garden.  If you don’t hear the Lord and journal what He says you will sleep in the garage tonight.”  Then, she pulled out a rolling pin and said, “If you don’t pray or practice music you’ll get five sticks for each uncompleted item before bed.”

In about half an hour, Edmond heard the Lord and wrote: “I should eat the food on the table.  I should eat tomatoes and I can only not eat if I am full and not hungry.  Tomatoes are good for the body.”

Mom responded, “Ask God how many times He has told you to eat vegetables and fruits.”

“A thousand times.” Edmond immediately answered with ‘slight’ exaggeration.

Mom persisted, “Then ask God ‘why’ you still refuse to follow His instructions.” 

Reluctantly, Edmond went for prayer the second time.  It took longer this time.  About an hour later, he came in and said, “God said I am stubborn.” 

Mom knew only the Holy Spirit can help and get to the bottom of it, “Ask Him ‘where’ you got this stubbornness.  Is stubbornness useful or useless?  Does it make you useful or useless?” 

After another 40 minutes, Edmond received divine answers: “I got stubbornness from daddy.  Stubbornness is useless.  It makes me useless.”

Once more, mom sent Edmond back to the garden to repent to the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness and renewal.  The young boy obeyed.

In the Sunday evening family time with Jesus, we discussed stubbornness again.  When we know what’s good and what’s bad but are unwilling to change for the better we are stubborn.  When we refuse to listen and follow sound suggestions we are stubborn.  Stubbornness makes unreasonableness.  The Lord says, “…stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)  In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, iniquity means wickedness or sin.  Stubbornness is a spirit and needs to be fought spiritually in prayer.  Sadly, we permit devil to defeat us if we are unwilling to let the Lord deal with us and pull down the stronghold.

Mom also encouraged kids to pray for daddy specifically on stubbornness.

--- Next: More shots to come (2003 Summer Testimony II) ---