e-Devotions

Catechism Logo (Word Cloud)

2012-04-13T22:51:00.001+08:00

Catechism is defined as a book giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in question-and-answer form.

I designed this 'word cloud' in the form of a tree to capture the essence of what we are trying to do through our catechism classic, teaching our Youth the principles of God's Word and helping them to be rooted in Christ.

Legacy (pictured)

2012-04-13T22:43:00.000+08:00

For a recent sermon series I did on family I tried hard to get a picture that conveys the idea of legacy. I could not get exactly what I wanted - so designed this one with the footprints, and the "L" formed by one of the footprints. Sometimes a picture speaks volumes more than our words could, and a picture makes a far longer impression on peoples minds than mere word.

Were there Opera singers in the Old Testament?

2012-04-13T13:15:00.002+08:00

There sure was a lot of drama... but Opera?
It seems that Psalm 46 hints at the possibility. The lead in reads 'According to alamoth. A song.'
Alamoth is a Hebrew word meaning;

*properly girls, that is,
the soprano or female voice, perhaps falsetto: - Alamoth.

Reading Psalm46 is like watching a dramatic opera with a lot of commotion and noise described in the opening verses. There's talk about mountains shaking and the ocean roaring. There are armies fighting. People run and hide, seeking shelter, calling out to God. (Soprano lady hits dramatic high note)
But then suddenly the orchestra stops playing. The Soprano Lady stops singing.
There's a sudden hush that rests on the audience... and then, after a pause, God's voice speaks from on high;
"Be still, and know that I am God."

To capture the essence of such a moment you need to imagine a dramatic scene in a movie. Imagine the sound effect of armies marching and earthquakes and water crashing. Now imagine hitting the 'mute' button on your remote...
quiet... in spite of the scenery that continues;
peace... in spite of the ongoing story line.

You close your eye... shut out the drama... and you think of God... high above the commotion.
He is not surprised by the drama. He is not overwhelmed by our urgency.

Rather, He reminds us, even when the storm hits... that He 'is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.' (v11)

I guess this is what Jesus meant when he said we should build our house on the rock... so that we can weather the storms... (Matthew 7:24-29)
- and say to the dramatic opera voice in our head... "Be quite!"

Memo to self; "Shhhh... !"

Inspiration for Easter

2012-04-05T17:05:00.000+08:00

Most churches will celebrate Lord’s Supper on Good Friday. It speaks to us of Jesus sacrifice; the pain and shame He was willing to endure, all for the sake of redeeming us from our sin. We are reminded of his suffering, the innocent blood that flowed, and the painlaiden words Jesus spoke on the cross;

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Jesus, the blameless Son of God, who healed, delivered and saved people – was Himself sentenced to death. He was accused with lies and wrongfully punished. He did not deserve any of this. It was an injustice. Foul play... But still He trusted his Father and even asked for forgiveness for his tormentors.

This grace and forgiveness of Jesus shames me. Sometimes I get upset over the smallest of things. Sometimes I stay angry for days if someone treats me wrong. And yet - when I do wrong myself - I want so much for God to forgive me as soon as possible.

I want his Grace for myself, and yet I withhold it from people around me.

"God please save me from my own double standards!"

I pray that we can all do some soul searching this Easter. And may we all find our capacity for giving and receiving Grace on the increase.

The Lord be near you all this Easter.

Honest to God.

2011-05-18T12:42:00.006+08:00

Sometimes prayer can get ugly... even messy. When we truly open ourselves up to God and pour our honest feelings, thoughts and fears out to Him, it's not all nice and rosy. But that's the kind of prayers that God loves. He sees through all our pretence anyway.

1 Samuel 1:10 'In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.'

This childless woman longed with her whole being to conceive, but for years she had been struggling. Over the years she probably prayed nice, "clean" prayers. But here she reached a point where she doesn't hold back any more. Her prayers are like a groaning from her deepest being reaching out to the highest God.

When asked by the priest (Eli) why she was 'acting this way... like a drunkard?' she gave a revealing answer. (v15-16). "I was pouring out my soul to the Lord... out of great anguish and grief."

He then speaks a blessing on her. SHALOM! 'Go in peace and may God hear your prayer.'

Somehow, after bearing her soul to God and excepting the word of peace spoken over her, the storm inside her subsides. We read in v.18 that 'she went away and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. (take note... this 'peace' came upon her before her prayer was even answered.)

May you also experience such peace as you call on God in honest prayer.

Shalom!

Worrying my life away.

2010-03-19T08:03:00.008+08:00

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Are you spending hours worrying over stuff?

Stop it!

Worry does not help.

All of us can testify that it's a waste of time. It achieves nothing good and robs us of joy (and sleep).

'Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?' asked Jesus in Matt 5:27
In that same passage He commands us: 'Do not worry!' (v34)

Rather we are invited to trust God. To have faith that He will take care of us.

Does that mean I just sit back and do nothing?
No, that's complacency.
A golden rule to follow is "do your part, and trust God for His part."

A farmer diligently works his land, but trusts God to send rain.
A preacher prepares a sermon, but trusts God to make hearts receptable.
A student studies for an exam, but trusts God to give clarity of mind.

If, as a Christ follower I've done all I can (and should have done), then all that is left to do is 'have faith in God.' He takes care of the bigger picture.

'But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.' (v33)

Imagine people think you’re dead... but you’re not.

2010-02-25T10:22:00.005+08:00

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"I just want to be alive again. I just want to be brought back from the dead," said a Sandford woman after she couldn't open a bank account or even upgrade her cell phone, because the 'Social Security Administration Dept' had mistakenly declared her dead along with her deceased husband.

For this women it’s an administrative plea to the U.S. government. For us as Christ followers, it’s a prayer that Jesus will answer on His 2’nd coming.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies...”

Jesus stated plainly that there is life after death. Even though we die and our earthly bodies decay and turn to dust, we continue to exist in our spiritual bodies. But at His second coming our earthly bodies will be resurrected and reunited with our spirit. It’ll be a miraculous, supernatural experience as we are given glorified bodies. We will be like Him.

1Jn 3:2b But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Christ died, and his earthly body was laid in a tomb. But by God’s power He was raised again. And He was given a glorified body. One that looked exactly like before, but this time it was perfect, and better, and heavenly... it was a glorious version of the old one.
We who are in Christ will be like Him. We shall rise again and our resurrected bodies be made glorious.

Rom 6:5 If we have been united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection.

This ‘resurrection of our bodies’ is a promise we can cling to.
Though we die... we will rise again.

Wired Differently

2010-02-18T12:59:00.010+08:00

Remember your school days?

Did you excel at sports or academics? If yes, you were probably in a popular school group. If no, you probably struggled with a low self esteem.
That was the case for me. I’m just wired differently... more of an artist. I learned best when pictures, colour and object lessons were used. I really struggled with learning from pages full of writing which contained only worded theories, arguments and numbers.

I scored high marks in History. But that was because I converted the facts into cartoons, much like newspaper cartoonist would do. My teacher was most intrigued with how I could remember the facts with pictures. To me it was a necessity. My brain just couldn’t grasp it otherwise. It’s something I still do today.

As a pastor, some of my sermon notes have small picture boxes to one side, and bullet points on the other side. Other times I use more document type sermon notes, but then I highlight them with colour markers. Green = headings. Yellow = sub points. Blue = scripture reference. Orange = illustrations.

God made us all different. On purpose! That’s His creative design.

Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

In a book by Howard Gardner, ‘Frames of Mind,’ he lists 7 types of geniuses (or intelligences). He points out that we all learn differently, and we all excel in different fields. Everyone will be stronger in some areas, and weaker in others. We all have at least one type of genius locked up within us. As parents and teacher we need to help our kids discover what it is, develop it and celebrate their achievements in those respective areas.

I’ll list the 7 types of geniuses here with cartoons that I used for a family service based on Psalm 139.

Verbal Linguistic:
A person gifted with a natural ability to read and write. Gifted to gather and share information. E.g. journalists, writers, attorneys and teachers.

Numerical:
Someone who loves dealing with data that is measured in numbers. E.g. mathematicians, computer programmers and engineers.

Physical:
Those who are gifted to be great in mechanics, building trades and sports people, like athletes and dancers. Often people who learn better with 'hands on' learning. They love doing more than they love sitting behind a desk.

Spatial:
Creative thinkers, artists and designers.
They think in pictures, and have a natural ability to perceive and create art in its various forms, like music, painting, design and productions.

Entrepreneurial:
Folk who have a gift in commerce or business. They are able to see a niche in the market. They are able to take calculated risks and build businesses out of very little, and thereby employ many others. Just think of Richard Branson from the Virgin group. He failed at school, but is one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our times.

Interpersonal:
People who talk easily with others. They are the great communicators of society. They often end up being great communicators, singers, sales people or preachers.

Environmental:
This is the genius that emanates from human beings to the things around them. It's people who are naturally gifted in dealing with things like trees, plants, fish, the ocean, animals and the land. Think of farmers, park rangers, animal trainers and oceanographers. (Like Steve Erwin... the famous crocodile hunter.)

Our God IS an awesome God!

2010-02-11T08:27:00.007+08:00

There's a few times I've tried to comprehend how big the sun is, and how relatively small our planet earth is. And then to think how relatively small I am compared to the size of the earth. I look at the mountains, and the ocean and nature all around me... to think, it's been here for thousands of years before me and will be here for thousands of years after I breath my last breath.
Man, I'm really small! And my life IS but a vapour.

Then I look at the stars, and I'm blown away by its size and brilliance. And to think God knows each star by name... now that's mind blowing!

I can't help but echo the words of the psalmist; "what is man that You are mindful of him?"

Then He reminds me of the words... "I know your name."
In the end, that's all that matters... He knows my name. (John 10:3)

Even if you cannot comprehend how big the universe is, or how long the earth has been in existence. The one thing that matters most is this - that He knows your name, and that your name is written in His book of life. (Rev 20)

Isaiah 40:25-26
"To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing."

Our God IS an awesome God!

The Wonder of Laminin

2010-02-04T16:28:00.004+08:00

Sometimes I come across emails that people forward to me, and this one is worth publishing here!

Shared by an anonymous doctor

A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio... And I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned... But I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway..

He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is... How He spoke the universe into being.... Then He went on to speak of how this universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.)... And I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking.. 'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'

Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart..how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.

And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!! It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see... Laminins are what hold us together.. LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what they LOOKED LIKE.

But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already).. Here is what the structure of laminin looks like.... AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it... If you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see..

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!! Amazing. The glue that holds us together..... ALL of us.... Is in the shape of the cross. Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind.

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible And invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in Him all things HOLD TOGETHER. ' (Colossians 1:15-17)

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool. Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together... One cell to another... By the cross. You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything Other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!!

What an amazing God!

you ARE A MIRACLE

2010-01-28T13:43:00.010+08:00

Psalm 139:13-14 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The human body's design is absolutely miraculous! Here are 30 mind blowing facts:

The female human body is capable of having 35 children in one lifetime.

The average females ovaries contain about two million eggs.

Each egg contains the genetic code of countless generations of human beings.

The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

When you were born, you had 350 bones in your body, and after childhood 144 of these bones fused together.

Your jawbone is the hardest bone in your body.

The spinal cord is 45cm in length and is the same diameter as your index finger, yet the spinal cord contains over 10 billion nerve cells.

You use 200 muscles to take one step.

A pair of human feet contain 250,000 sweat glands.

The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades. (THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS SAFE TO SWALLOW THEM)

Your stomach produces a new lining every 3 days in order to avoid digesting itself in its own production of acid.

The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.( AS YOU GET OLDER THE PAGES FALL OUT)

The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

Your thumb is the same length of your nose. (go ahead - try it.)

The length of your foot is the same as from your wrist to the crease at your elbow.

The nervous system transmits messages to the brain at speeds of 290 km per hour!

The human nose can remember 50,000 different smells.

The human eye can detect over 10,000,000 different colors!

We are unable to taste our food until it is dissolved by saliva, of which we produce around 35000 litres during a lifetime.

Our middle fingernail is the quickest one to grow. It takes about 150 days to grow out a full length fingernail.

There are over 650 muscles in your body. A smile uses 17 muscles, a frown uses 43!
It takes approximately 200,000 frowns to create one permanent brow line.

The average adult has about 9,000 taste buds on each surface of the tongue, roof of the mouth, and throat.

The human body contains up to 4,7 litres of blood. Red blood cells are formed at a rate of 2 million per second.

About every seven years, your body replaces the equivalent of an entirely new skeleton.

Ever wonder if you stood on your head while eating at the same time if your food would go down or not? Well, your food would actually go up because the muscles in the esophagus will still pull the food into the stomach.

A person at the age of 70 will have shed approximately 18 kg of dead skin.

Blood type A can receive blood types A & O safely.
Blood type B can receive types B O.
Blood type O can receive only O blood but are "universal donors" because O is acceptable to all other blood types.
Blood type O is the most common blood type worldwide.

The eye muscle is the fastest reacting muscle of the whole body. It contracts in less than 1/100th of a second.

The brain requires large amounts of stored energy for thinking. This is why you may feel the same exhaustion with intense thought processing as you do with a physical workout.

Stand in Awe.

2010-01-22T16:13:00.006+08:00

The Southern Cross

Zoom in on the left star of the cross. Northern star glare still visible.

Left star of the "cross" close-up.

Cluster of stars appears to the left of the screen.
*Notice the thousands of stars appearing in what we see as the black sky.

Zooming in on the cluster of stars.

Close up of the star cluster called 'The Jewel Box.'

Zoom in on the Jewel Box. Notice the specs of light around and behind it.
Some are stars, some are actual galaxies.

'The Jewel Box' - Hubble Space Telescope.

Psalm 8:3-4 I think about the heavens. I think about what your fingers have created. I think about the moon and stars that you have set in place. What is a human being that you think about him? What is a son of man that you take care of him?

Tonight, when it’s dark, take five minutes, walk outside and look up at the stars. Wait for your eyes to adjust. Let your eyes take in as much as possible of the brilliance displayed in the skies above you.
Stand in awe of God's creation.

(Pics thanks to Google Earth’s Sky viewer. You can try it too. Just type “Crux” in the search box. Remember to change your view to “sky.” Zoom into the left arm of the cross.)

Creation Calls

2010-01-14T11:08:00.007+08:00

Have you been down to the beach lately?
It's a shame how close some of us live to the beach, and yet rarely do we go out and enjoy it.
Maybe you're like me and you've gotten used to it... taking it for granted.

Let's be different this year. Let's appreciate the blessings of God's creation around us. Take a moment. Look intently. See His craftsmanship. See the wonder and beauty of His creation. Be amazed! And think - He gave us eyes and ears to take it all in.

God's the greatest Artist I know, and He left His fingerprint on all of creation - so we could find Him there.

*A friend of mine sent me these amazing pictures taken by the number one photographer of surf, Clark Little.

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Psa 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

Christmas Gift Idea

2009-11-25T08:58:00.010+08:00

"I hate Christmas!"
said a lady as she walked through the church doors.

"But why?" I asked.

She spelled it out for me: "Because I watch everyone else spend it with their family and friends, and I have to go it alone. I hate singing 'Joy To The World' when I feel sad and lonely."

I thought to myself; "the Gringe must be real. He stole this poor lady's Christmas joy"

"Merry Christmas" I said to another family walking through the doors. They were newly arrived migrants. They smiled bravely, but their teary eyes had a glossy shimmer. I noticed that the wife was holding a wet tissue in her hand. This would be their first Christmas alone, far away from the big family gatherings they used to attend.

Most of the folks who walked though our church doors that day were happy and looking forward to our Christmas Day Service. Everything was ready. A sermon had been prepared. The right songs were chosen. There would be coffee and eats afterwards.
I wondered... when this is all over, where is everyone going? What will they be doing? I'm sure the majority would be gathering somewhere with friends or family. They'll be eating nice food. Kids will be playing with their new toys and it would be a day to remember.

I thought of the lonely lady.
I wondered about the newly arrived migrant family.

"The church should do something!" I said to myself.
But I quickly realised that church is made up of people like you and me. We are the church.
I felt God tapping me on the shoulder and asking "What are you going to do about it?"

I quickly checked with my wife, and we both agreed that the obvious things to do was to invite those folks to come along with us for the day. "Just grab some snacks and come hang out with us. We'd share whatever food we had with you."

And that's the happy ending.

No - not really. The grumpy lady declined. It seemed she had alreay decided to have a lonely christmas day and no one was going to take that away from her.
The migrant couple felt a bit unsure at first, but with some encouragement they agreed to come. And we made some new friends that day.

* Let's determine this year that no one in our church will spend christmas alone. Open up your home or 'picnic event' to others. We can reveal glimmers of God's love and kindness by giving 'the gift of an invitation.'

Luke 2:10
The Angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Designed To Work

2009-11-18T13:04:00.012+08:00

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Gen 2:15 “The lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Def' of Work: 'To obtain something with effort/to bring about or to produce a result.'(WORDPOWER dictionary)

Work was part of God’s perfect design for man. It was given to us before sin entered man’s heart. Work is a gift of god. It gives us fulfilment and joy. Especially when we do that which we were designed to do.(Our God given purpose.)

It is good for my motivation to realise that God wants me to be fruitful (productive.)

Here's an interesting observation: Things God gave man BEFORE sin entered in:
• Work (Gen 2:15)
• Responsibility (Gen 1:26-28)
• Free will (Gen 2:16)
• Boundaries (Gen 2:17)
• A wife (singular - v.18,22)

To see any of the above as “Burdensome Duties” is wrong. They were the things God intended to bless me with - part of my God ordained purpose. Though we might live in a sinful world where work has now become toil, and we find ourselves effected by broken marriages, being overworked and victims of burnout - we can find our redemption in God. In the midst of our brokenness and frustration, He is able to make all things work together for those who love Him.

Prayer: God, help me live my life - every part of it - for You.

The Sin Monster

2009-11-11T10:43:00.007+08:00

God's speaks to Cain:
Gen 4:7 "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

We all are in Cain’s shoes. We are sinful at heart, deserving of God’s wrath. But here God gives us a glimpse into the dealings of sin. He personifies it - painting a picture of a sly invader wanting to overpower you and take you into it's control. But then the simple strategy follows. You must master it!

Sin means to miss the mark of what God intends. It is anything I do that does not glorify God. Sin is addictive. It's dangerous and deceptive... especially when we start justifying it.
Do whatever it takes, just make sure you master it. Fight it. If you fail - start again. Pray about it. Confess it honestly to God. Repent. Read books about overcoming specific issues in your life. Seek council. Just do something.

Jesus died for our sins. We've been victims to sin before and who can say that they will never sin again? But before, I was a slave to sin, but now, because I am saved by Grace, I can master it. For God enables me to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Prayer: "Lord, thank You for these words. I miss the mark so many times, and when I do it gets me down. But l will continue fighting sin in my life. Work in me to live a life that is pleasing to you."

'I Am' your Shepherd.

2009-11-04T11:35:00.005+08:00

Thus says the Lord:

'I Am' your shepherd,
you shall not be in want.
I make you to lie down in green pastures,
I lead you beside quiet waters,
I restore your soul.
I guide you in paths of righteousness for my Name's sake.
Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
you will fear no evil,
for I am with you;
My rod and my staff, they comfort you.
I prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies.
I anoint your head with oil; your cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life,
and you dwell in my house forever.

Psalm 23 - - - a prophetic paraphrase.

Joe Vermeulen
*(Refer John 10:1-16)

Creativity... we've all got it.

2009-10-29T09:48:00.007+08:00

Are only artists who paint and sing creative people?
I've got good news for you! - Everyone has built in creativity!

A mother trying different ways to get a toddler to eat her meal is ‘Creativity In Action’. A mechanic trying to fix a run-down car has to be creative in finding a solution to fix the problem. A sales person makes a living by finding creative ways to sell a product. Working at a sound desk, mixing the perfect sound is an art form. It takes a very creative person to hold the attention of a classroom full of kids. To say that some people are more creative than others, is kinda' true, but not fully.

We are all gifted with creativity. It might need developing and practise. But we've all got it. We express it in different ways, but God gave you a specific area of creative ability that He knew you'd need in life for your benefit and for others, but mostly for His Glory!

Our God is THE creative One; Artist, Mathematician, Engineer, Architect, Designer, Planner, Builder, Life Giver and so much more... and we were created in His Image.

Gen 1:1(a) “ In the beginning, God created ..................”

Prayer: God, thank you for making us in Your Creative Image. Inspire me today to use my creative ability to solve problems, overcome obstacles, to be a blessing, to Glorify You, to change the world around me into a better place. Be glorified in how I use my gifting and abilities

The short facts on Psalms.

2009-10-22T09:16:00.007+08:00

Thank the Lord for Psalms.

It's probably the most read of all the bible books. When we’re looking for something to write in a sympathy card or want to send a word of encouragement, we often turn to Psalms. How often do we hear Psalm 23 read at funerals? It's a comforting passage to so many.

As a pastor I do a lot of home visitations, and I must admit, often times my bible readings come from the book of Psalms.

As a song leader, I often do the Call to Worship from Psalms.

The book of Psalms is the longest book in the bible. It is filled with prayers, laments, praise and adoration.

The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119.

The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117.

Interesting enough, if you were to calculate the middle chapter of the whole bible, it would be Psalm 117. It consists of 2 verses:1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. 2 For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

The book of Psalms (chapter 1) starts of by showing us God’s way of blessing – by living life His way.

The closing chapter (150) commands us to Praise the Lord. Praise Him for all He has done, for who He is. Praise Him with all kinds of instruments.

God at the start, God in the centre, and God at the end. He is the focus of it all. A meaningful life begins with Him. He's to be the central point around which our whole life revolves. And when all is said and done... and I breath my last breath here on earth, how marvellous will it be to think I have lived a life that brought Him glory, and so will I praise Him even in death.

This reminds me of some wise words I've read and believe in with my whole heart: The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.*

*(The Westminster Shorter Catechism - 1647)

Joy in my life.

2009-10-14T23:21:00.005+08:00

Psalm 149:2 “Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.”

Let God’s people rejoice and be glad in Him.
- I love that God’s Word commands us to be glad and to rejoice (Phil 4:4).
- God takes joy in His creation (us) and we should take joy in Him, our Creator.

He motivates and inspires me to have a mindset of thanks and appreciation. He gives me joy! Let us sing songs and speak life to install joy and gladness.

Action: Do one act of kindness for someone who would not expect it today, and so install some joy in their day. You'll see - it'll bring joy to your own heart as well.

Pray this prayer of joy:
God – Living life Your way brings joy! I thank You and praise You for giving me life in abundance. You truly are the joy in my life! Use me to bring joy to at least one other person today.

If looks could kill.

2009-10-07T10:15:00.010+08:00

... and how I wish they could!

I'd use my look-powers to zap the annoying person who messed up my day.
It seems like some people have the gift of 'weight.' They walk into your day and when they leave your heart and mind feels 'heavy.' We find that our thoughts keep coming back to that awful conversation... to that event we'd rather forget. We find ourselves being distracted and thinking of them instead of our work.
And then I get annoyed at myself for being so foolish as to give my opponent so much of my 'thinking time.'

It's like that song I heard on the radio: "I just can't get you out of my head..."

Ever see the movie 'The Mask?' Like him I've dreamt up some very creative ideas for death and destruction.
(Hell, fire and brimstone - just to keep it biblical.)

After trying in vain to settle this battle in my head, I finally get a prayer shot off to heaven; "God, you've got to help me here - this is starting to consume me..."

It was then (I'm sure it was inspiration from above) that I decided to let it go. I chose to. If I was going to wait for a feeling to come, it would take much too long. I'm choosing to let it go! The feelings can come later if they want, but for now it's a choice. And I'll keep choosing to let it go every time that person pops into my mind.

Come to think of it... maybe that's part of my weapon arsenal as a child of God. I have the fruit of the Spirit at my disposal. I can bombard my enemies with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23.)

Paul wrote in Romans 12:20-21 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I think our opponents hate to see us at peace, full of joy and not being effected by their onslaughts. And worse yet, to attack them with kindness will be a blow they didn't expect.

So here I go into battle with the weapons of God!

Pastor Joe

P.S. Just in case you know me and you're trying to work out who I'm writing about, I wrote this a year ago in my journal :o)

Time out!

2009-10-01T08:32:00.004+08:00

Mark 6:31-32 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (32) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Quiet. A solitary place. By yourself. Get some rest.

Maybe these few words seem out of reach. Maybe like me, you're longing for just that, quiet... rest.. but your schedule won't allow it.

But maybe we need to take "time out" and do just that. Get some rest. Go to a solitary place. Be by yourself. Drown out the noise.
It might be taking a coffee break and sitting at a window where you can look at the clouds and clear your mind. Maybe it's stepping away from you computer and going for a walk. Maybe it's clearing your schedule for tonight so you can spend it at home with your family. Maybe it's just pushing back all the papers on your desk and choosing to spend the next 5 minutes with God. That little 'time out' can make a world of difference.

For me the past two weeks have been hectic, and yet such a blessing. I've come to discover that ministry is a lot like that. People coming and going, deadlines, appointments, time spent preparing for weddings, music workshops, group devotions and sermons. Inbetween there's admin, newsletters, emails and phone calls.
And then I've also got to remember to write my weekly e-Devotions :o)

I'm sitting at my computer adding the final touches on today's wedding message (my youngest brother is getting married this afternoon). And it's so easy to put aside everything else to concentrate on the immediate, urgent stuff like this weddding. But I knew I needed a 'time out!' And I was going to take it! And writing this e-Devotion is my time out. I get to reflect on God's Word. I spend time talking to Him, asking for His guidance and providence.

And then it happens... my spirit is calmed. Anxiousness leaves. And I have a sense of connecting with God. I don't exactly know how this miracle of "connecting with God" happens. I just know that it does. And it lifts me up like an eagle soaring on the wind (Is 40:31).

"Come with Me..." - said Jesus

Are you feeling anxious/burnt out/overworked? Take time out... you might witness a miracle!

Above all created things

2009-09-23T12:37:00.004+08:00

Psalm 148:13(c) “… His splendour is above the earth and the heavens.”

The Psalmist calls all created things to praise their Creator. God's splendour is displayed all around us, in all that is created. Flowers that bloom in the brightest colours; gigantic clouds that form in hues of blue and grey; the night sky that sparkle with millions of stars, galaxies that are unseen. Looking around us we can see creation's beauty displayed. But it cannot compare to it's Creator. Creation is but a reflection of Him… a “finger print” left behind by the greatest Artist I know. How great is our God?!

God is above all created things. He is even greater, more awesome and more majestic than all that I can see or experience here on earth.
That which I can “see” blows me away... nature … sound … colour … taste … emotions … texture …
→ imagine beholding heaven, and then setting your eyes on Him, the Creator of it all.

Maybe that's why God said to Moses “You cannot see My face; for no man can see Me and live.” Our bodies could not cope with it. It would be overpowering and too much to take in.

Prayer:
"God, You are so huge … it blows my mind just to think of your greatness. I stand in awe of You."

Seasons change

2009-09-17T09:11:00.004+08:00

Psalm 126:4-6 “And now, God, do it again – bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout 'hurrahs' at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with arm loads of blessing.”

(Pictured - cherry blossoms in Spring.)

Seasons change. What was empty will be filled. What was broken, restored. That which looked dead – brought to life. Such is the nature of our God. He is able to take our brokenness, and swing it around and bring restoration. Such is the business of God – those are His miracles.

No matter how broken we feel, or how desperate things seem – God is able to make all things work together for good. The worst that could happen to us in this life is death - and even that's not so bad (for the child of God.) Paul puts it into perspective when he writes: “for me to live is Christ – and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21)

Prayer: "Father – as I look back on my life, I’ve seen how You’ve brought me through valleys and mountains. Help me to lean into You. To trust You. To obey You.
You know best, Lord. Have Your way." Amen.

GOD SHOWS HIS HUMAN SIDE

2009-09-10T17:05:00.003+08:00

Psalm 22:14 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.”
At first glance, I read this Psalm and I’m struck by the lament of King David – feeling forsaken by God. But the more I read it, the more I see it to be a 'Messianic Psalm' – pointing to Jesus and His suffering. The bible say that Jesus had been tested in every way (Heb 4:14-5:10). He knows the pain and burdens that we bear.

He felt the humiliation of being stripped naked, spat upon and ridiculed.

He felt the pain of physical torture; beatings, His beard being ripped from His face, His body being flogged... the crown of thorns... the nails... being hung on a cross.
He felt the pain of rejection... His disciples ran away in His our of need, the very people He came to save turned on Him, demanding He be crucified. Even His Father turned His back on Him while He hung on the cross, bearing all our sin on Himself.

Then He felt the sting of death.

In this Psalm I can take courage in pain/misery – for He’s been there – done that.

Prayer: God – thank you for showing us Your “Human” side. And I know that no matter what I go through in life, You understand, and You help me through it all.

P.S. Jesus rose again from the dead, conquering death, and removing it's sting. We also have this hope that even though we endure hardship or even death, there is life thereafter. Eternal life with Him, where there is no more sickness, pain or death.