“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Acts 11:18
GOSPEL: God offers sinful people eternal life
What great good news! The truth is that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are sinful and are sinners from birth. All of us are estranged from our Creator God and as such, are dead spiritually, and condemned to judgment and eternal separation from Him who is Life.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
All of us need to repent from our own way of life, being our own master, doing our own thing and neglecting the Author of life and His ways.
As Peter said, "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses." Acts 3:14,15
So Lord, I thank You for Your mercy and grace upon us sinners, for giving Your Son to die for us, bearing our sin and shame. I thank You for offering to us this gift of life, forgiveness and freedom from sin and darkness. Thank You that this offer is to all humans on this earth.
Remember this land in these troubled days: grant to the many diverse people groups here this gift of repentance to life, that in days to come we shall all come before You in praise and thanksgiving with varied tongues and bring glory to Your name. Heal this land: let the few of those who know You here remain steadfast and strong, to be salt and light for the health and regeneration of the multitudes of the lost.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Anyone who fears Him and does what is right?
"...God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." Acts 10:34,35
Surely O God, You are the creator of all the earth and of all mankind. Surely, You are the Holy and Wise One who sees and knows all, and yet, wonder of wonders, You are also the Loving One who cares and has compassion on us, frail children of dust.
Today, are there any who fear You and do what is right? Cornelius was one in the time of the early church, and there were many others too. Today, here in Malaysia, are there any? You know, Lord, and You will bless them wherever and whoever they may be, and grant them to come to Your salvation. Surely there are, and surely O Lord, You will bless them.
And grant that You may use Your children, as You did Peter and the other disciples, to be that channel of blessing for these precious ones You are seeking. And for us too, grant that we may fear You, revere You in the heart always, and do what is right, and be prepared to give an answer to those who inquire of our hope, to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15)
Surely O God, You are the creator of all the earth and of all mankind. Surely, You are the Holy and Wise One who sees and knows all, and yet, wonder of wonders, You are also the Loving One who cares and has compassion on us, frail children of dust.
Today, are there any who fear You and do what is right? Cornelius was one in the time of the early church, and there were many others too. Today, here in Malaysia, are there any? You know, Lord, and You will bless them wherever and whoever they may be, and grant them to come to Your salvation. Surely there are, and surely O Lord, You will bless them.
And grant that You may use Your children, as You did Peter and the other disciples, to be that channel of blessing for these precious ones You are seeking. And for us too, grant that we may fear You, revere You in the heart always, and do what is right, and be prepared to give an answer to those who inquire of our hope, to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15)
Friday, June 24, 2011
My Petitions
Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
...
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
(Psalm 147:2-6,20-11)
Lord, thank you so much for these 2 weeks' break from school. It's a time to refresh myself and prepare for the new semester. Thank you that You are so great and mighty and that Your understanding is infinite. You know what I need before I even say it. I really need wisdom and organisational skills, to plan the lessons and activities for the coming semester. I need Your strength and power to love and understand others, and compassion to care. And I need and want a good memory too, for all I read and watch and hear and learn.
I need You, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit, to sanctify and mould me more and more into the likeness of Your Son.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing me, for answering me even before I call. Thank You for healing me and lifting me up.
I love You, Lord, and praise You for all that You are and do.
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
...
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
(Psalm 147:2-6,20-11)
Lord, thank you so much for these 2 weeks' break from school. It's a time to refresh myself and prepare for the new semester. Thank you that You are so great and mighty and that Your understanding is infinite. You know what I need before I even say it. I really need wisdom and organisational skills, to plan the lessons and activities for the coming semester. I need Your strength and power to love and understand others, and compassion to care. And I need and want a good memory too, for all I read and watch and hear and learn.
I need You, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit, to sanctify and mould me more and more into the likeness of Your Son.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing me, for answering me even before I call. Thank You for healing me and lifting me up.
I love You, Lord, and praise You for all that You are and do.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
To be or not to be
To be or not to be - that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
or to take arms against a sea of troubles
and by opposing end them; to die, to sleep,
No more - and by a sleep to say we end
the heartache and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
devoutly to be wished: to die, to sleep -
to sleep - perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub
for in that sleep of death, what dreams may come
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil
must give us pause. There's the respect
that makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
that patient merit of the unworthy takes,
when he himself might his quietus make
with a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear
to grunt and sweat under a weary life.
but that the dread of something after death,
the undiscovered country, from whose bourn
no traveller returns, puzzles the will
and makes us rather bear those ills we have
than fly to others we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
and thus the native hue of resolution
is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought
and enterprise of great pith and moment
with this regard their currents turn awry
and lose the name of action.
Shakespeare, Hamlet
To be or not to be, to live or to die, to live fully or to just exist, to do or not to do but just think, talk, watch and pray? - these are decisions that we have to make daily, that determine our life story.
I'm memorising these lines and find them to be truly sublime. O, if I were to be marooned on an island, or more likely, detained and cast into prison, just give me a Bible and Shakespeare, and it wouldn't matter how long the stay there!
But to return to real life here - I am amazed at the grace and mercy of God who hears the cries of the helpless and downcast, who cry to Him in desperation, humility and faith. There are some smiles now on the face of the 16 year old girl, some glimmer of hope shining through. Thank you, God, for opening a way for her, at just the right time. Please give her the strength and will to choose life, to choose You.
Please be with A2, heal her of her sicknesses and grant her to continue in strength and wisdom to reach out to even more, for Your name's sake.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
or to take arms against a sea of troubles
and by opposing end them; to die, to sleep,
No more - and by a sleep to say we end
the heartache and the thousand natural shocks
that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
devoutly to be wished: to die, to sleep -
to sleep - perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub
for in that sleep of death, what dreams may come
when we have shuffled off this mortal coil
must give us pause. There's the respect
that makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
that patient merit of the unworthy takes,
when he himself might his quietus make
with a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear
to grunt and sweat under a weary life.
but that the dread of something after death,
the undiscovered country, from whose bourn
no traveller returns, puzzles the will
and makes us rather bear those ills we have
than fly to others we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
and thus the native hue of resolution
is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought
and enterprise of great pith and moment
with this regard their currents turn awry
and lose the name of action.
Shakespeare, Hamlet
To be or not to be, to live or to die, to live fully or to just exist, to do or not to do but just think, talk, watch and pray? - these are decisions that we have to make daily, that determine our life story.
I'm memorising these lines and find them to be truly sublime. O, if I were to be marooned on an island, or more likely, detained and cast into prison, just give me a Bible and Shakespeare, and it wouldn't matter how long the stay there!
But to return to real life here - I am amazed at the grace and mercy of God who hears the cries of the helpless and downcast, who cry to Him in desperation, humility and faith. There are some smiles now on the face of the 16 year old girl, some glimmer of hope shining through. Thank you, God, for opening a way for her, at just the right time. Please give her the strength and will to choose life, to choose You.
Please be with A2, heal her of her sicknesses and grant her to continue in strength and wisdom to reach out to even more, for Your name's sake.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The One who Bore Me
Yesterday was a blessed day, thank you Lord!
D took me n Elliot out to lunch at the newly opened Korean restaurant below Hope. The food was pretty tasty. In the afternoon, I drove to Eric's, enjoyed baby Jian Shern, and took mother out to Carrefour.
Mother is getting on: she has been complaining of weakness, and has gone for a medical checkup. Today she'll be going for a blood test. She walks extremely slowly now. Her left foot is still hurting her, and her back is hunched.
O Lord, have mercy upon my mother, and papa, my brothers n their families too.
I praise you, and thank you that Lord, you are
"... gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them."
Psalm 145:8-19
On my birthday, I remember it was my mother who bore me and gave birth to me. Without her, I would not be here. She has worked hard all her life, serving us all selflessly.
Remember her, O Lord, in Your great mercy and compassion. Let her know Your very presence even today, and help her come to taste of Your goodness and to call upon You in truth.
Thank you, Lord.
D took me n Elliot out to lunch at the newly opened Korean restaurant below Hope. The food was pretty tasty. In the afternoon, I drove to Eric's, enjoyed baby Jian Shern, and took mother out to Carrefour.
Mother is getting on: she has been complaining of weakness, and has gone for a medical checkup. Today she'll be going for a blood test. She walks extremely slowly now. Her left foot is still hurting her, and her back is hunched.
O Lord, have mercy upon my mother, and papa, my brothers n their families too.
I praise you, and thank you that Lord, you are
"... gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them."
Psalm 145:8-19
On my birthday, I remember it was my mother who bore me and gave birth to me. Without her, I would not be here. She has worked hard all her life, serving us all selflessly.
Remember her, O Lord, in Your great mercy and compassion. Let her know Your very presence even today, and help her come to taste of Your goodness and to call upon You in truth.
Thank you, Lord.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:3,4
Today is my 53rd birthday. I am filled with thanksgiving for all the Lord has given and done for me, all undeserved. Thank You, Lord, that You took knowledge of me, that You have been mindful of me. Nay, more than that, You have been exceedingly kind and gracious, to forgive my sins and show me Your goodness. You have given me the very best gift of all: Your very own Son, Jesus Christ/Messiah, to bring me from darkness to light, from death to life.
So here I am, all Yours. Do with me as You will. Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, like You did Stephen and the other members of the early church. They were filled with the Spirit and with wisdom and faith and power, and were able to do great things for You, becoming effective witnesses for You.
How I need Your Spirit! Without You, I am nothing. Apart from You, I can do nothing. So live in me, and take control.
Let me say, as Paul did, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
And Lord, let me not just say it with my mouth but with my life: let it true of me, that it may be even said of me: "She had been crucified with Christ; it was not longer she who lived, but Christ lived in her; and the life she lived in the flesh, she lived by faith in the Son of God who loved her and gave Himself for her." O let it be so. Amen.
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:3,4
Today is my 53rd birthday. I am filled with thanksgiving for all the Lord has given and done for me, all undeserved. Thank You, Lord, that You took knowledge of me, that You have been mindful of me. Nay, more than that, You have been exceedingly kind and gracious, to forgive my sins and show me Your goodness. You have given me the very best gift of all: Your very own Son, Jesus Christ/Messiah, to bring me from darkness to light, from death to life.
So here I am, all Yours. Do with me as You will. Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, like You did Stephen and the other members of the early church. They were filled with the Spirit and with wisdom and faith and power, and were able to do great things for You, becoming effective witnesses for You.
How I need Your Spirit! Without You, I am nothing. Apart from You, I can do nothing. So live in me, and take control.
Let me say, as Paul did, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
And Lord, let me not just say it with my mouth but with my life: let it true of me, that it may be even said of me: "She had been crucified with Christ; it was not longer she who lived, but Christ lived in her; and the life she lived in the flesh, she lived by faith in the Son of God who loved her and gave Himself for her." O let it be so. Amen.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Spiritus Sanctus
"I think the Holy Spirit struck me!" said James when I asked him how it was that he had chosen an amazingly apt song for the closing yesterday. It was his first time leading worship service at Hope, and he had done well. All the songs were well-chosen, and there was an atmosphere of reverence, with the absence of the drums a nice change. The last song was "Spirit fill my heart with Jesus" and D's sermon had been on Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. I, and everyone else, had thought that James must have communicated with D and found out about the topic. But no, he had not known at all what was going to be preached.
"That's wonderful! It surely is the Spirit's work!"
Thank You, Abba God, thank you for Your gracious work in our midst. We want more and more of Your Spirit. Jesus, come and fill Your lambs.
In the evening, surely it was God too who led A2 and me to visit with this family, to talk with and listen to a sixteen year old girl afflicted with depression.
This morning, surely it was the Spirit who led us 4 ladies to pray and intercede for her and other precious ones facing trials and temptations.
Gracious God, forgive us for grieving Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, dwelling within us. Fill us more and more, and help us walk in step with Thee, please Thee, do the works that glorify Thee, and bear the fruit that that reflect Thee.
Venire, Spiritus Sanctus, venire, come and have Thy way.
"That's wonderful! It surely is the Spirit's work!"
Thank You, Abba God, thank you for Your gracious work in our midst. We want more and more of Your Spirit. Jesus, come and fill Your lambs.
In the evening, surely it was God too who led A2 and me to visit with this family, to talk with and listen to a sixteen year old girl afflicted with depression.
This morning, surely it was the Spirit who led us 4 ladies to pray and intercede for her and other precious ones facing trials and temptations.
Gracious God, forgive us for grieving Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, dwelling within us. Fill us more and more, and help us walk in step with Thee, please Thee, do the works that glorify Thee, and bear the fruit that that reflect Thee.
Venire, Spiritus Sanctus, venire, come and have Thy way.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Life, Oh Life!
Here I am, blessed with Life! Not just physical but Eternal! Jesus said: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3 and "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
And this is my prayer to You, O Lord of all,
in the words of David in Psalm 141:
"LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely."
I am Thine, and Thine alone. Let me abide in Thee, and never leave Thee, never let my heart grow cold. Let me do that which please Thee, and do all for Thee and Thee alone.
What is life on earth apart from Thee? I cannot live without Thee! So feed me, O Living God, and teach me, lead me in Thy everlasting way.
Thank you, O Lord, for giving me Life, for making me for Yourself. You died that I may live, You gave me Your very own Life and all You have that I may share in Your heaven and abundance. Thank you, thank you, I love You.
And this is my prayer to You, O Lord of all,
in the words of David in Psalm 141:
"LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely."
I am Thine, and Thine alone. Let me abide in Thee, and never leave Thee, never let my heart grow cold. Let me do that which please Thee, and do all for Thee and Thee alone.
What is life on earth apart from Thee? I cannot live without Thee! So feed me, O Living God, and teach me, lead me in Thy everlasting way.
Thank you, O Lord, for giving me Life, for making me for Yourself. You died that I may live, You gave me Your very own Life and all You have that I may share in Your heaven and abundance. Thank you, thank you, I love You.
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