Psalm 86:10
You are great and perform great miracles. You alone are God.
Woo Hoo!!!
2 days ago, as I logged into the email system and saw my daily devotion email. What shocked me was when I saw this scary image of a pastor which has always been embedded into it but has been blocked off by my office filter. Then it dawned upon me that the filter was off!
Inside me, I squealed in delight. So what I immediately did was to open the internet and click onto all the previously banned websites. From royal rangers in the usa to daily bread to bible gateway, and I found out that they were all visible. You could imagine the overflow of joy in me when I realised that I now have the freedom to view what I really needed for my reading pleasure and RR preparation. Then, before I could do my song and dance, I told myself that this could well be a bug in the system for one day and perhaps things will go back to norm the next few days. Thankfully, it's not been the case yet.
In fact, I've also typed in Youtube this morning and I realised that I can also access that! Not that I'm a Youtube surfer, but it really just to assure myself that if I can access streaming stuff which was earlier banned, I definitely can access religious stuff.
Oh what joy it is to be able to finally use bible gateway to search for the passages of the bible. What relief it is to be able to now place daily bread as the homepage instead of boring intranet. I also now have access to Christian podcast from Rick Warren and Hillsongs which were banned earlier. To me, it's a miracle that this has happened and I'm ecstatic as can be for this new found christian freedom at work because I've earlier convinced myself that I'm suffering in this company because of all the banned christian websites which I'm not allowed to visit.
To add to this good news, I've just realised that I can now transfer my oh-so-many amazing christian sermons which have been stored up in my computer's podcast and can now transfer it to my latest model of HP and listen to it during my way to work or on the weekend, instead of relying on a free time at work and listen to it via my computer! Such Joy!
Days and times like this, I truly like to say that the Lord is great and perform miracles like this for me! May you also experience such miracles of new found christian freedom in your life.
Blessings,
M.
"For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands" (Psalm 92:4)
30 August 2007
Grace during the Past 2 Weeks
Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
The past 2 weeks have been filled with heaps and heaps of stuff. I don't call it work because so much of it were not value added and really just a pain in light of the key projects which I needed to do. I liken it to having many pesky houseflies constantly flying around you as you attempt to sit down by a breezy beach to read a book.
But thankfully, despite the long hours spend at office and with constant barrage of people coming by to ask for 1 cent, 2 cent work to be settled by me, somehow the past 2 weeks have gone by swiftly. Again and again, the key verse that I've been chanting to myself as I walked to the bus stop in the morning and in the evening was "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).
I know that by the very grace of God, every moment of the past 9 days have been covered by God's covering as I walked along. Why? Simply because as I entered the office and before I could settle down on my routine to wask my mug, get my water, much on a fruit and read my TODAY newspaper, I'll be asked work-related questions and would have to immediately get engaged in work.
Thus, in the midst of doing this and that, I also had to restart my 'get-a-drink-before-work' routine and part of that routine was to flip this daily 'best loved psalm' calendar. Amidst all the tumultuous work stuff and messed up daily routine of mine, every one of the daily psalm spoke to me in my daily condition. Some days it was of being blessed in the Lord because His lovingkindness is better than life, yet some other days it was about His unfailing love being my comfort and His compassion to come to me that I may live.
Not to sound shallow or hypocritical, but to lift up my hands and to thank God is very easy when you have just received a wonderful blessing. But it's always very difficult to do it during the worst moments. However, during the past 2 extremely messed up weeks, somehow there was a special covering that prevented me from dragging my feet to work, sighing all day long in grief and wondering why I was there at work and not somewhere else.
Looking back at the past situation, I'm grateful for the covering of God and provision of grace when I was in the midst of the mess. I'm not saying that it made me numb and all problems adn issues disappeared, but somehow amidst the chaos and mess, I didn't seem to lose my mind and I could calmly profess that nothing is out of control because God was in it. Only when I look back now do I realise the difference God makes in our lives. Unlike non-Christians, we have a different life because we have the covering of God's glorious grace as we live/work/study on the earth.
If you've been hit by a barrage of stuff that have made your life topsy-turvy, I pray too that you may find the covering of God's grace that would shield your mind from the messed-up conditions around you.
Blessings,
M.
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15)
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
The past 2 weeks have been filled with heaps and heaps of stuff. I don't call it work because so much of it were not value added and really just a pain in light of the key projects which I needed to do. I liken it to having many pesky houseflies constantly flying around you as you attempt to sit down by a breezy beach to read a book.
But thankfully, despite the long hours spend at office and with constant barrage of people coming by to ask for 1 cent, 2 cent work to be settled by me, somehow the past 2 weeks have gone by swiftly. Again and again, the key verse that I've been chanting to myself as I walked to the bus stop in the morning and in the evening was "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).
I know that by the very grace of God, every moment of the past 9 days have been covered by God's covering as I walked along. Why? Simply because as I entered the office and before I could settle down on my routine to wask my mug, get my water, much on a fruit and read my TODAY newspaper, I'll be asked work-related questions and would have to immediately get engaged in work.
Thus, in the midst of doing this and that, I also had to restart my 'get-a-drink-before-work' routine and part of that routine was to flip this daily 'best loved psalm' calendar. Amidst all the tumultuous work stuff and messed up daily routine of mine, every one of the daily psalm spoke to me in my daily condition. Some days it was of being blessed in the Lord because His lovingkindness is better than life, yet some other days it was about His unfailing love being my comfort and His compassion to come to me that I may live.
Not to sound shallow or hypocritical, but to lift up my hands and to thank God is very easy when you have just received a wonderful blessing. But it's always very difficult to do it during the worst moments. However, during the past 2 extremely messed up weeks, somehow there was a special covering that prevented me from dragging my feet to work, sighing all day long in grief and wondering why I was there at work and not somewhere else.
Looking back at the past situation, I'm grateful for the covering of God and provision of grace when I was in the midst of the mess. I'm not saying that it made me numb and all problems adn issues disappeared, but somehow amidst the chaos and mess, I didn't seem to lose my mind and I could calmly profess that nothing is out of control because God was in it. Only when I look back now do I realise the difference God makes in our lives. Unlike non-Christians, we have a different life because we have the covering of God's glorious grace as we live/work/study on the earth.
If you've been hit by a barrage of stuff that have made your life topsy-turvy, I pray too that you may find the covering of God's grace that would shield your mind from the messed-up conditions around you.
Blessings,
M.
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15)
17 August 2007
The Everlasting God.
The day which I understood the lyrics of this song (composed by Lincoln Brewster) is forever immortalised in my mind as it was the Saturday which Jael and Audrey had just received their "A" level results. I recall myself witnessing the broken, teary form of the girls trying their best to acknowledge the truth of the lyrics that declared the everlasting nature of God inspite of their disappointment in their results. As so, everytime I hear this song on my podcast, I recall this significant moment because in light of our issues and life's disappointment, the Lord God will always reign forever and He alone is everlasting.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting
May you too declare the everylasting nature of God in and out of season.
blessings,
M.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable." (Isaiah 40:28)
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting God
The everlasting
May you too declare the everylasting nature of God in and out of season.
blessings,
M.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable." (Isaiah 40:28)
14 August 2007
If not us, Who?
Romans 10:14
"But how are they to call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"
The power of God's Word doesn't come from the ingenuity of the messenger nor the cleverness of the presentation. John 8:32 declares that its the Truth of the Gospal that sets people free, not the wisdom of you or the brilliance of my speech. The power of proclamation is found in speaking God's truth.
Ask yourself: Am I committed to proclaiming God's truth? Do I live it? Trust it? Share it? Do I make it the message of my life? If you're not sure, answer these questions:
1. What priority does the Bible hold in my personal schedule?
2. Am I involved in church where I will learn truth on which to build my life?
3. If I stumble spiritually, are there people in my life who will hold me to what I say I believe?
4. If I'm overwhelmed with sorrow, will the people in my life comfort me with a godly perspective?
5. When I hear a conversation that contradicts the clear teaching of God's Word, how do I respond? Do I withdraw? Do I ignore it? Do I step up?
6. Am I committed to living the truth? If I'm in a situation that evolves in such a way that it is not pleasing to the Lord, am I committed enough to the truth to speak up for what is right?
7. Am I promoting the Book God wrote among the people I love? Do I talk about what I'm learning? Am I passing along the treasure?
8. Do those who know me agree that God's Word is the source of my wisdom for decisions and choices?
9. Do I have an immovable commitment to God's truth as the primary resource for my whole life? Do I evaluate all other sources of knowledge and wisdom through the grid of Scripture?
Specifically, I know that this coming Saturday, I will motivate myself to willingly participate in the evangelism programme rather than groan inwardly of the awkwardness of evangelism. Am I willing for the Spirit of God to show me what I need to change? I can only remind myself that if I don't start today, I'll never start doing it
May the Gospel of Christ advance through you and me today.
Blessings,
M.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)
"But how are they to call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"
The power of God's Word doesn't come from the ingenuity of the messenger nor the cleverness of the presentation. John 8:32 declares that its the Truth of the Gospal that sets people free, not the wisdom of you or the brilliance of my speech. The power of proclamation is found in speaking God's truth.
Ask yourself: Am I committed to proclaiming God's truth? Do I live it? Trust it? Share it? Do I make it the message of my life? If you're not sure, answer these questions:
1. What priority does the Bible hold in my personal schedule?
2. Am I involved in church where I will learn truth on which to build my life?
3. If I stumble spiritually, are there people in my life who will hold me to what I say I believe?
4. If I'm overwhelmed with sorrow, will the people in my life comfort me with a godly perspective?
5. When I hear a conversation that contradicts the clear teaching of God's Word, how do I respond? Do I withdraw? Do I ignore it? Do I step up?
6. Am I committed to living the truth? If I'm in a situation that evolves in such a way that it is not pleasing to the Lord, am I committed enough to the truth to speak up for what is right?
7. Am I promoting the Book God wrote among the people I love? Do I talk about what I'm learning? Am I passing along the treasure?
8. Do those who know me agree that God's Word is the source of my wisdom for decisions and choices?
9. Do I have an immovable commitment to God's truth as the primary resource for my whole life? Do I evaluate all other sources of knowledge and wisdom through the grid of Scripture?
Specifically, I know that this coming Saturday, I will motivate myself to willingly participate in the evangelism programme rather than groan inwardly of the awkwardness of evangelism. Am I willing for the Spirit of God to show me what I need to change? I can only remind myself that if I don't start today, I'll never start doing it
May the Gospel of Christ advance through you and me today.
Blessings,
M.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8)