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.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
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.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Cross: symbol of shame and degradation? or sign of power and wisdom of God?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:7-8
The attitude of selfless concern, sympathy and self-sacrifice for those far lesser than oneself is exactly what makes God even more majestic, noble and commendable to Christian thinking.
Whereas for a Muslim, that a ruler would subject himself to such humiliation for the sake of his lowly subjects is unthinkable.
That God would degrade Himself and come down to the level of His own creation; that God would sacrifice Himself/His own son (in fact, even having a son) for lowly created beings; that a perfect, infinite, uncreated God could at all relate to a flawed, finite, created world; or even that an innocent prophet might die at the hands of sinful unbelievers – these ideas are anathema to Islamic thinking.
As Hodi Jones sneers, such actions would disqualify a King from being worthy of his throne.
So the same action of God sacrificing Himself for humanity makes Him more deserving of worship to Christians, while making Him totally undeserving of deity to Muslims.
(http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/one-pieces-neptune-a-kingly-sacrifice-christian-and-muslim-views/)
It is exactly as what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23,24 -
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
On Good Friday, we who believe in the Christ, came to the Cross and contemplating it, fell in love with and adoration of such a great Saviour. There's no other love that can compare. But many others can only see the humiliation and scoff: "What kind of god is that who is so weak and pathetic?"
But they forget: then came Sunday! The One crucified and buried broke out of the grave, rose from the dead, defeating Death and all the principalities and powers, and now reigns on high over all. He is alive! And His spirit is moving mightily all over the world today, convicting and drawing men to Himself still, bound by unbreakable cords of love and gratitude.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:7-8
The attitude of selfless concern, sympathy and self-sacrifice for those far lesser than oneself is exactly what makes God even more majestic, noble and commendable to Christian thinking.
Whereas for a Muslim, that a ruler would subject himself to such humiliation for the sake of his lowly subjects is unthinkable.
That God would degrade Himself and come down to the level of His own creation; that God would sacrifice Himself/His own son (in fact, even having a son) for lowly created beings; that a perfect, infinite, uncreated God could at all relate to a flawed, finite, created world; or even that an innocent prophet might die at the hands of sinful unbelievers – these ideas are anathema to Islamic thinking.
As Hodi Jones sneers, such actions would disqualify a King from being worthy of his throne.
So the same action of God sacrificing Himself for humanity makes Him more deserving of worship to Christians, while making Him totally undeserving of deity to Muslims.
(http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/one-pieces-neptune-a-kingly-sacrifice-christian-and-muslim-views/)
It is exactly as what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23,24 -
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
On Good Friday, we who believe in the Christ, came to the Cross and contemplating it, fell in love with and adoration of such a great Saviour. There's no other love that can compare. But many others can only see the humiliation and scoff: "What kind of god is that who is so weak and pathetic?"
But they forget: then came Sunday! The One crucified and buried broke out of the grave, rose from the dead, defeating Death and all the principalities and powers, and now reigns on high over all. He is alive! And His spirit is moving mightily all over the world today, convicting and drawing men to Himself still, bound by unbreakable cords of love and gratitude.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Mercy and Justice
How compassionate and merciful God is! The laws He laid down for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 23 and 24 show a concern for the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, the hired servant that is poor and needy. As He is, so we, His people, are to be: compassionate, merciful, considerate of the needs of the disadvantaged in society.
But against those who sin, He will punish. He is holy and He cannot see any unclean thing in us, or He will turn away from us.
Thank God for Jesus becoming our Passover Lamb giving His body for us, shedding His blood for us and writing a New Testament in His blood for us. (Luke 22)
He who is Lord and King of all so humbled Himself and became a worm, trampled on by evil men, crushed and disfigured, without resistance. And we, His followers now, also have to humble ourselves and be prepared to suffer as He did, to serve as He did, to live and die as He did. Therein lies our hope for resurrection and salvation, for he who saves his life will lose it, but he who gives up his life for God will gain it.
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
So help me, God.
But against those who sin, He will punish. He is holy and He cannot see any unclean thing in us, or He will turn away from us.
Thank God for Jesus becoming our Passover Lamb giving His body for us, shedding His blood for us and writing a New Testament in His blood for us. (Luke 22)
He who is Lord and King of all so humbled Himself and became a worm, trampled on by evil men, crushed and disfigured, without resistance. And we, His followers now, also have to humble ourselves and be prepared to suffer as He did, to serve as He did, to live and die as He did. Therein lies our hope for resurrection and salvation, for he who saves his life will lose it, but he who gives up his life for God will gain it.
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
So help me, God.
Monday, January 03, 2011
The God who makes all things new
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Rev 21:5
O Lord, what a promise and a hope for Your children!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Cor 5:17
or according to the KJV:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Eternal Word and the Everlasting Father. By Thy will and wisdom, and in love, hast Thou created all things, and art indeed redeeming and making all things new, redeeming and moulding fallen men and women into new creatures bearing Thy very likeness.
All praise and honour and glory be unto Thee!
Renew my mind and change my heart again and again today and in the coming days of this new year, for Thy glory and name's sake.
p/s started using the KJV again to read through the Bible in this year.
O Lord, what a promise and a hope for Your children!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Cor 5:17
or according to the KJV:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Eternal Word and the Everlasting Father. By Thy will and wisdom, and in love, hast Thou created all things, and art indeed redeeming and making all things new, redeeming and moulding fallen men and women into new creatures bearing Thy very likeness.
All praise and honour and glory be unto Thee!
Renew my mind and change my heart again and again today and in the coming days of this new year, for Thy glory and name's sake.
p/s started using the KJV again to read through the Bible in this year.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Coming Soon
Last day of the year, and what a year it has been! Full of changes on every front: David's company, FLC and work for me, Ethan to the US, Elliot did his O's. The Teys came during the summer like a whirlwind, and we're still unpacking the lessons taught.
The last chapter of the last book of the Bible tells about the new city of God and gives the promise of Jesus:
So, Lord, I come to You. I am thirsty for You. Let me drink from You the water of life. Lord, continue Your work in me, renew my mind, and fill me with Your Spirit that I may continue to do right and be holy, walk in Your ways and worship You alone.
Yes, come, Lord Jesus, and may "the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen."
The last chapter of the last book of the Bible tells about the new city of God and gives the promise of Jesus:
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:12,13
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." v17
So, Lord, I come to You. I am thirsty for You. Let me drink from You the water of life. Lord, continue Your work in me, renew my mind, and fill me with Your Spirit that I may continue to do right and be holy, walk in Your ways and worship You alone.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. v20
Yes, come, Lord Jesus, and may "the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen."
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
“What shall we do to save ourselves?"
“What shall we do to save ourselves? There is nothing left but to make ourselves prisoners in our homes,” said Talib Ali, 50, who was at the hospital attending to his son Mohammed, who had been wounded in his abdomen and back.
RAMADI, Dec 28 — Twin suicide bombings rocked a government compound in Iraq’s western city of Ramadi yesterday, killing 17 people, a deputy interior minister said.
It was the second attack this month on the compound, which houses the provincial council ands the police headquarters for Anbar province, and the third bombing there in the past year.
(http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/twin-suicide-bombings-kill-17-in-iraqs-ramadi/)
What shall we do? How can we save ourselves? We're all in this mad world, killing one another, fighting for power, position, property, prestige, pride and prejudice.
O Lord of all, we can't save ourselves, we need You desperately. O Lord, hear the cries of the suffering, the lost and helpless. You are the Saviour of the world, the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. Lord, have mercy upon all these people in Iraq, and in the other strife-ridden parts of the world, which would include most parts if not all.
Help your children to shine as light and be like salt to the world. Be with the soldiers and peacekeepers and peacemakers and help them bring peace and healing.
And in Malaysia, there's this squabble over the appointment of the State Secretary for Selangor. The Chief Secretary, acting for the Federal Govt, which means BN, which means UMNO and PM, wants to appoint the head of JAIS! Lord forbid it! Please, Lord, help the PKR leaders to have wisdom to deal with this. You are the one who elevates and dethrones, may You give power and authority to one according to Your will to accomplish Your good purposes.
RAMADI, Dec 28 — Twin suicide bombings rocked a government compound in Iraq’s western city of Ramadi yesterday, killing 17 people, a deputy interior minister said.
It was the second attack this month on the compound, which houses the provincial council ands the police headquarters for Anbar province, and the third bombing there in the past year.
(http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/twin-suicide-bombings-kill-17-in-iraqs-ramadi/)
What shall we do? How can we save ourselves? We're all in this mad world, killing one another, fighting for power, position, property, prestige, pride and prejudice.
O Lord of all, we can't save ourselves, we need You desperately. O Lord, hear the cries of the suffering, the lost and helpless. You are the Saviour of the world, the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. Lord, have mercy upon all these people in Iraq, and in the other strife-ridden parts of the world, which would include most parts if not all.
Help your children to shine as light and be like salt to the world. Be with the soldiers and peacekeepers and peacemakers and help them bring peace and healing.
And in Malaysia, there's this squabble over the appointment of the State Secretary for Selangor. The Chief Secretary, acting for the Federal Govt, which means BN, which means UMNO and PM, wants to appoint the head of JAIS! Lord forbid it! Please, Lord, help the PKR leaders to have wisdom to deal with this. You are the one who elevates and dethrones, may You give power and authority to one according to Your will to accomplish Your good purposes.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas has come and gone?
Yea, Christmas came and we sang and ate and gave and received, and we remembered the birth of our Gracious Lord and Saviour. It's over, but is it gone? For me, it's still here, here to stay in my heart.
Reading Isaiah, I am reminded that even from the days of old this is the God who says:
43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more."
and
44:22 "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist."
How can the Holy One of Israel, the God who is Righteous and Just do that?
And yet, and yet, He has, He has!
Because the Baby born on Christmas Day grew up into the Man who laid down His life for us sinners on the Cross of Calvary - to pay the penalty for all our sins.
How marvellous this is in our eyes! How amazing and wonderful!
So I say to myself:
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103)
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Christmas has come and stays and never is gone: it is the Gift that keeps giving, the Love that never ends, the Joy and Peace that thrills and keeps through trials and tribulations, the Light that shines in the darkness and cannot be extinguished!
Hallelujah!
Merry Christmas! And God bless us everyone!
Reading Isaiah, I am reminded that even from the days of old this is the God who says:
43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more."
and
44:22 "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist."
How can the Holy One of Israel, the God who is Righteous and Just do that?
And yet, and yet, He has, He has!
Because the Baby born on Christmas Day grew up into the Man who laid down His life for us sinners on the Cross of Calvary - to pay the penalty for all our sins.
How marvellous this is in our eyes! How amazing and wonderful!
So I say to myself:
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103)
Praise the LORD, my soul.
Christmas has come and stays and never is gone: it is the Gift that keeps giving, the Love that never ends, the Joy and Peace that thrills and keeps through trials and tribulations, the Light that shines in the darkness and cannot be extinguished!
Hallelujah!
Merry Christmas! And God bless us everyone!
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