For we are God’s Workmanship

Share this!

Daniel 4 is the king’s public address to his people, like the President’s State of the Union address. It’s really sad for me to say that even though I have lived in America for more than 25 years, was born and raised in California, I have never been interested enough to watch any State of the Union address, not even from Obama the first black president. However during the offering prayer, this passage was described as the king’s testimony sharing. I have been listening to testimonies for years so I have a better idea what this is about. The king will talk about great things God did for him! How he experienced God personally! Nebuchadnezzar’s personal experience with God was so great that he shared it publicly, with the whole world. God confirms that this is a good testimony by giving it a whole chapter in the Bible.   

From the start the king catches my attention saying he will talk about “miraculous signs and wonders” God performed for him.  His eyes were really opened to God for the first time in his life. After my Bible study in Mark 2, my eyes were opened to Jesus for the first time in my life. If I could express it myself, I might say, “It is my pleasure to tell about the miraculous sign and wonder of Jesus.”  His love was like a miraculous sign and wonder for me. Because I was always taught in Sunday School that God loved the world, that was already in my brain. Also it was just a fact that Jesus was on earth a long time ago. But it never crossed my mind that he knew me as “Son” and he knew about my sins. Jesus having such a depth of understanding about me and a personal love for me was unfathomable. It basically meant that Jesus had been watching me and loving me all my life leading up to that Bible study. It was miraculous that Jesus had been in my life together with me for 18 years.

When I was a confused child, wondering, “Where is my dad?” Jesus saw me and loved me with broken heart. When I was in my room playing with toys and watching movies by myself, I was actually not alone because Jesus was right there. When I was in school, not having any group to fit in with, just going here and there, Jesus watched over me. When I was near the point of death, Jesus protected me from going off the deep end. When I was bummed out that I did not get accepted into USC, Jesus arranged that I would go to CSULB where there was a shepherd, so that I could get fished right away in my freshmen year. Then after 18 years, finally Jesus poured out all his love in that one to one Bible study. In almost every testimony I write, I talk about that Bible study and Mark 2:5, because like the king’s key point of his address; this is really the key point of my life. Jesus is the miraculous sign and wonder of God in my life, so I cannot help but to write about it and talk about it all the time. And I will never get tired of talking about the miraculous sign and wonder of Jesus. This is only the King’s opening line and already his testimony is so touching. He has me reflecting on my whole life.

The content of his testimony is that when God intervened in his life, he experienced the worst case scenario. If I could share my challenges with the king, he would be all the more happy and thankful for God’s goodness, power, and wisdom in my life. Anyone who really encounters him will praise and thank him even after suffering for many years. The closest I ever came to the worse case was around college graduation. Around that time my mom lost her job. She moved out of my childhood home where I had lived in my cozy room for more than 20 years into an apartment that was 2 rooms instead of 3. That’s when I moved in with my dad for a few months until he suddenly died in a car accident. After that my step mom kicked me out, and I was in 3 different motels for about 2 months; living out of suitcases. If my grandmother was still in California, I would have lived with her, but she had moved to Texas when I was 10 years old.

This was my first experience after graduation and entering the real world. It was a depressing and scary time when I was really pushed to my limit.  I had no one to rely on, not my mom, dad, or grandmother–until one day while driving back to the motel room, when I got a call from Missionary John. The first thing he asked was, “Herman, where are you staying?” In John’s Gospel, the disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” It was out of their desire to spend time with him. Looking back I can see that Jesus wanted to spend time with me, but I was rotting in the motel. When I told him where I was staying, Missionary John said, “Leave the motel and go to the Common Life with Pedro right away.” I never thought in my whole life that a Korean would call me and give me a place to stay. But he is a servant of God, and God’s divine wisdom and mighty power was at work behind the scenes.

The message declares, “Everything happened so that eventually, we would open our hearts and meet God personally.” Everything includes my grandmother moving away when I was a child; my mom being one of the few to get laid off; even my dad’s death. When I entered the real world, I felt alone, thinking I had nobody to rely on. But God controlled everything in my life and was driving me to the place where I could really meet him as my Father in heaven who is with me all the days of my life. From heaven, he provides for me with his divine wisdom and revives me with his mighty power. Through my real challenges, God became real, performing miraculous signs and wonders in my practical life. Things always worked out so that I never had to skip one meal. I never went bankrupt or homeless. I always had a place to stay and food to eat. Eventually when it was time for me to leave the common life with Pedro, another place to stay quickly popped up that was close by and affordable. I also had 2 stable long-term jobs, including my job today. Even though I was never qualified, I was hired, promoted, and rewarded.

Apostle Paul says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Of course I am not alone, because Christ Jesus brought me into existence and God worked hard together with him, preparing everything in advance.  He came down to my level and performed miraculous signs and wonders over and over again. He did so much in my life, all so that I could meet him. Today I should no longer insist my own way or understanding just because I dont like it. I need to be a humble son and submit to what my Father in heaven has prepared for me. Ultimately, he prepared for us to have a glorious life together. Then as his workmanship, my life will reveal his glory to peoples and nations of every language.

“Every Good Gift comes from God”

Loading Likes...
14 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
(B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
Member
July 18, 2019 5:35 pm

A state of the union address
detailing God’s progress
in the life of Mr. Morales.

While rotting in a motel
Missionary John asked “Are you well?”
and invited him into the common life
to prepare him for marriage and a wife,
a gravy lady from the Navy.

Now Herman is smiling and shining
happy to reveal Shekinah glory
through drama and singing
for that he is never sorry.

shepalexandra
Reply to  (B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
October 25, 2019 3:17 pm

This is amazing aha.

remfeng
Member
Reply to  (B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
July 22, 2019 11:57 pm

Wow! What is this?! Manna?

(B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
Reply to  HIMorales
July 19, 2019 10:53 am

if her name is Shania then I can’t help you or her…

Sabaaa
Member
Reply to  (B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
July 20, 2019 12:28 pm

Just googled it: Shekinah means “God’s manifested glory” or “God’s presence.” It doesn’t actually appear in the Bible, but Jewish scholars use it to refer to the dwelling place of God, especially the Temple in Jerusalem.

Shania is an Ojibwa word which means “on my way.” It also means “peaceful place.” Cool!

leotbrzl
Member
Reply to  (B)lasting (A)gent (O)range
July 18, 2019 8:04 pm

Wow. We have the next rapper in the church. Amen

leotbrzl
Member
July 18, 2019 8:04 pm

Amen. Thank you for your testimony. I have always been encouraged by your life of faith. It is a tremendous blessing to see how much God has done and continues to do for you. It is really true that God does all things so that eventually we would open our eyes and meet Him personally. And in your life I can see how much God has done for you so that you can be here today. So it’s my pleasure to hear about all the miraculous signs and wonders Jesus has done and continues to do in your life. God bless you bro.

Nez
Nez
Member
July 21, 2019 11:56 am

I was tearing up reading your testimony as I saw God’s glorious work in your life.

When I read, “In almost every testimony I write, I talk about that Bible study and Mark 2:5, because like the king’s key point of his address; this is really the key point of my life,” I was encouraged to write about God’s grace in my life more in my testimonies. Sometimes I think it’s too much, but I guess one can never remember God’s grace too much.

enCRISTOJESUS1
Member
July 21, 2019 12:50 pm

Wow!!!!! This testimony is sooo awesome!!! I see God’s love in your life. Surely God has performed miraculous signs and wonders for you! Your life already reveals God’s glory. I was so touched when you described how God was in your life even before you accepted Bible study in your freshman year. I could imagine Jesus being your good shepherd. Thank you for sharing your testimony 😁👏🔥🔥🔥. God is amazing 🔥🔥🔥🔥🙌

ikovalen
July 25, 2019 10:48 pm

In this testimony, I am encouraged to see how God is in control of our lives. Even from birth, Jesus was watching and guiding. With this understanding, I can be more confident about God seeing me and me not being alone, but instead being with him and that I can trust in his good guidance and leading. When I would follow his ways and directions then I can be blessed even if they are beyond the present understanding. Thank you for this personal testimony and I thank God for his evident grace upon your life

meliburd
Member
July 29, 2019 9:17 am

Wow. What a beautiful testimony. I’ll be honest, I was sad when I got to the end of it because I wanted to keep reading more. “Everything happened so that eventually, we would open our hearts and meet God personally.” That really touched my heart. Indeed, we were never alone; God was watching, guiding, and protecting…all so that we would come to know Him personally. No one in the whole world could be so patient, loving, and merciful like our Heavenly Father. Thanks for posting this testimony. My “blah” Monday is now a really blessed Monday!

shepalexandra
October 25, 2019 3:16 pm

Dear Herman,
Your part of the testimony on this really touched me:

“The message declares, “Everything happened so that eventually, we would open our hearts and meet God personally.” Everything includes my grandmother moving away when I was a child; my mom being one of the few to get laid off; even my dad’s death. When I entered the real world, I felt alone, thinking I had nobody to rely on. But God controlled everything in my life and was driving me to the place where I could really meet him as my Father in heaven who is with me all the days of my life. “

Sometimes, it’s difficult for me to decipher God’s sovereignty in my life and to really see God’s goodness in my life. The most difficult moments of my life were opportunities for me to experience God’s sovereignty and truth in my life. Instead of asking God “why” I need to ask God “how” he’s gonna use it for His glory.

God bless you brother in Christ, your testimony was glorious.