Claiming Responsibility

Isaiah 53:1-10

4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes [c] his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

Reflection of Bee:

Dear Lord Jesus,
All I can say is THANK YOU for willingly taking over my punishment. For this I owe You my life. Take me and let my life be Yours. In all I do, may Your name be glorified.
Amen

Reflection of Tommy:
Whenever we have opportunities for sharing, we need to focus on what Christ has done on the Cross for us. It is easy to center everything on what we have achieved or gain, rather on the importance of God’s great gift of salvation for us all. This Good News is so important that God claimed responsibility for it in the prophecy of Isaiah, seven centuries before it happened.

Dear Father, thank You for your great gift of salvation for me. Thank You that when Jesus died upon the cross, He took away my sin, grief, sorrow, suffering and shame and offered me His righteousness. Teach me to share this to others by focusing on who He is and what He has done for us. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Existing Or Truly Living?

John 10:1-11

The Shepherd and His Flock
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Reflection of Bee:

There is a vast difference between the thieves/robbers and the shepherd:
enter by the other ways Vs enter by the gate (v1 & 2)
voice is strange to the sheep Vs voice that is familiar (v3-5)
steal/kill/destroy Vs giving life that is full (v10)
steal/kill/destroy Vs laying down his life for the sheep (v11)

When we are over-stressed by our work or the cares of life, we may feel like just "existing" and not living. I feel that way in may occassions too. To know who is speaking or working in our life, we need to listen to our Shepherd's voice. He promised to give us life that is full, not empty, or half-filled. He loves us even unto death.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your promise of life that is full. Though at times I feel like 'zombie', or 'robot', or have lost my meaning in life during my down moments, You always 'breathe' Your 'breath of life' into me to 'resuscitate' me.
I pray that I will always recognise Your voice speaking to me and follow Your leading.I pray for my 'bf' too that You will lead him to Your 'green pasture' wherever he is.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

How comforting to know that as believer, Christ came to gives us a new life. Because of His overflowing forgiveness, love and guidance, it is possible for us to live a life of true joy and hope even in our broken world today. This life that is abundantly richer, fuller and it begins right now and lasts eternally!

Dear Father, thank You that my life is hidden with Christ (Col 3:3). Thank You for showing me when I’m wrong, and leading me to change; living the life as You intended it to be. Guide me daily to live for Christ, to love You with my whole being, and to serve Your people. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

The Right Comparison

2 Corinthians 10:12-18

12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others.[a] Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. 17But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[b] 18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Reflection of Bee:

During our last Sunday Church Service, the speaker asked a number of thoughts-provoking questions:

1. What is your greatest achievement in 2006?

Hmmn... I never thought of that. He followed by sharing Matthew 7:16, "By their fruit you will recognize them." This fruit is the "KPI" (Key Performance Indicators) for Christians. Well said!

2. What is this "fruit"?

Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

3. Can you think of someone whose life shows forth the fruit of the Spirit?

I thought very hard. If I have to think so hard... it's not a very good sign.


Today, as I was talking over the phone with an ex-colleague who resigned 4 months ago, she commended that I did very well in my current work that has brought about new growth and expansion for my company this year.

Erm... I felt so 'pai seh' at that moment, for I have never thought about that or realize the growth. I simply work so hard and did my best as unto God. Her remarked made me realized how God has blessed me in my work. I quickly said, "Praise God! It's He who did that".

With such remark and commendation about us could easily make us 'swell headed' and forget about God's blessing if we are not careful. So just like what v 17 said, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Dear Lord,
Thank You for sending my ex-colleague to remind me today of the blessings You have in my life. Sorry, Lord, that when I 'drown' myself in work so as to escape from my pain I fail to see Your goodness in my life.
Help me to learn to count my blessings one by one each day. Thank Yo for the people around me whom I can have a chance to share Your love and grace. Make my life count tothose around.
In Christ's name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

We need to be aware of our pride when we think highly of our spiritual maturity compares to other believers. It is easy to boast about our bible’s knowledge and our proud achievements without showing genuine love, care and concern to those who are new to the faith. We neither care to listen nor giving opportunity for them to share with us. Worst, we may invalidate their every thoughts or views; thinking only our thoughts matters or right.

If we are indeed feeling spiritually superior, we need to humbly ask God to give us the right and proper attitude. Like what Paul said in Philippians 2:3-4:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me about the right attitude to have when sharing with others. Teach me always quick to listen and slow to speak; to have true humility and a servanthood heart when sharing what I’ve learn from You with others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

What Is In The Name

Exodus 20:1-7

The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Reflection of Bee:

Because God is the one who brought us, Christians, out of our "slavery" to sins and the devil (v2) He earns the right to command us not to have "other gods" before Him (v3) or "idols" in our life (v4). These "gods" and "idols" may be in the forms of our work, or our wealth, or someone close to us, or even ourselves. Our God is a "jealous God" (v5) and we belong to Him alone.

Not only that we are to honour God's name and not "misuse" it (v7) in any way. None of us like our name to be misused too, for our name represents us and we want others to respect our name. So all the more the name of Jesus is not to be taken lightly.

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:9-11

Dear Lord,
May Your name be glorified in my life.
In Jesus most wonderful name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

We always hear people use the name of God and Jesus frivolously. The name of God is like any other word that they can flippantly misuse to express shock, surprise or even disgust. To them, calling out His name neither bring any significant meaning nor sense of respect for a Creator that has created their very being.

As Christian, we pray the Lord’s Prayer by saying “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name”. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word ‘hallow’ means “to respect or honor greatly”. Thus, we need to revere the holy Name of God in this way, instead of misusing it like another flippant phrase on our lips.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to honor Your holy Name with my words. Lead me in every way possible; to honor and protect Your holy name, preserving its use only when I’m truly speaking of You or addressing You in faith and in total reverence. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Law of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-25

Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Reflection of Bee:

Becoming Christians do not rid us of sins, may have discovered to our dismay. In fact, we may find ourselves 'more sinful' than ever. This is because our born-again spirit becomes very sensitive whenever we sinned against God. In addition, the devil tries to tempt us even harder. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with sins as shown in Romans 7:7-25:

4We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Yes, as we try to please God we may become very discouraged whenever we give in to our sinful nature, and we cried out "What a wretched man I am!" Thank God that through Christ and the Holy Spirit we can overcome the sinful nature (Romans &:25).

Instead of focusing on the negative aspects (sins) and try to avoid them, we should focus on the positives aspects of the fruit of the Spirit:

love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

When the above aspects of the fruit of the Spirit are shown in our lives we don't have to struggle to fight our sinful nature. They come about when we allow the Spirit of God to lead us daily.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for always answering my prayers. Tonight I pray that each aspect of Your fruit will be evident in my life.
I pray especially for "joy" and "peace" which are missing in my life the last one month or so. I pray that tonight you will restore the joy of my salvation and give me peace that surpasses all understanding.
I pray too for Tommy that Your Holy Spirit will indwell him daily that Your fruit will be seen in his life clearly by those around.
I know You will hear my prayers tonight just like You always did.
For I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

There are many who give the excuse of being ‘normal’ or natural for indulging in wrongful and selfish desires. They find that there is nothing wrong with their attitude as everyone is like that or that they ignore and refuse to deal with them but continuing doing what is wrong. They think that God being merciful and all that, will obviously understand their action.

But is it really so? The danger is that they’ll eventually find them selves coping with not doing what they want but doing the very thing they do not want. This happens because the desires of the sinful nature are totally conflicting and contrary with the Spirit (v16).

So, how do we counter this obvious (v19) trap of our sinful nature? Whenever there are sinful desires or passions in our heart, do not ignore them but to ask God to bring them to light for us. By committing our sinful tendencies to God’s control and empowering the Holy Spirit to lead us, we then make the decision to do what associated with the fruits of the Spirit, not our sinful desires. By doing this we will gain the power of Christ to help us control and overcome our selfish desires and to keep in step with the Spirit (v25).

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to identify any contradicting desires inside me that go against the Spirit. Remind me always that Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature in me together with all its passions and desires. Because of this, I no longer under the law (v18) but to live by the Spirit - living each day led, controlled and guided by Him. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Into The Desert

Exodus 15:22-27

The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [a] ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

Reflection of Bee:

Reading the passage above and what Marvin Williams said below in Our Daily Bread made my heart cried. It is as if God is speaking to me directly:

"If you are being led into a wilderness of disappointment and bitterness right now, trust God, for He knows exactly where you are and what you need. As you obey His commands, He will lead you out of the desert and into a place of spiritual abundance, healing, and refreshment."
—Marvin Williams

Yes, thank God for always knowing my needs and always using the right passage to encourage me. He knows what's in my heart, my deepest thoughts and inner cry. He knows what I have gone through.


Dear Lord,
You never fail to lead me on even when I am in the desert place.
You are with me to see me through my sweet and bitter experiences.
Thank You for keeping me through all my journey.
It's not an easy road to travel when my travelling companion has left me alone.
Thank You that You never leave me nor forsake me.
May You continue to see me through till You bring me home.
Thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
God’s message to the Israelites in today’s passage teaches us how to deal with pain and suffering in life. Instead of complaining or feeling sad and helpless; God reminds us to listen carefully to His voice and do what the Spirit prompted us to do (v26). God who is faithful and love His children so much will surely, in His time and way, bring true healing to our suffering.

Dear Father, thank You for hearing my cries and showing me how Christ will heal all my ‘sicknesses’. Keep me strong with Your peace and grace, always ready to listen to You and to do what is right in Your eyes. Teach me to trust You for all the things You’ve promised me in Your Word.

Lord, I would also like to pray for those who are struggling in the ‘dessert’, that they may see Your love and care, to come to You for healing and finding true fulfillment with Christ, in this life and the next. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Valuing Others

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Reflection of Bee:

Most people tend to look at others' weaknesses rather than their strengths. I was no difference in the past till something that Tommy told me about a year ago changed the way I look at a person. Though he was referring to his own learning and doing the things that capitalize on his own strength and do well, I used it to apply on the way I should view my colleagues.

Example, my boss tends to write off certain staff he deems as not suitable for some positions, yet I beg to differ. I tend to see their potentials and strengths rather than their weaknesses. I feel I should give them a second chance and help them succeed in doing what they may be good at. I believe such attitude I have comes from the Lord. For my God is a God of compassion and mercy. He came for the 'sick' not the 'well', of whom I am one of them, a wretched soul saved by grace. I am where I am because of His unfailing love.

As I was talking to one of my colleagues, she remarked that God has put me in my present company and position so that I can reach out to others that need help. Yes, I feel I am just like Joseph the 'dreamer'. :P


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace and compassion for the 'sick' and the 'lost'.
Thank You for looking beyond my faults and see my needs.
Thank You for Your wonderful grace to me.
I will show grace to others that they may know You.
Thank You for placing me in my working place and in a position of influence.
Thank You for those whom I met and work with in my work place.
For those who do not know You, I pray that they may know You by and by.
For those who have back slided I pray You will restore them to Yourselves.

I pray all these in Jesus' name. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes, we avoid sharing the Good News to people we think that are too different from us; their behaviors, life-style and values. We only ‘pick’ certain group of people, consciously or unconsciously, to tell the Good News.

But in today’s passage, we see how Jesus loved and displayed compassion even to Zacchaeus, both a cheater and a turncoat. Likewise, whenever God gives us opportunities to spread His message, we should show similar kind of love to those who are lost (v10), regardless of their background.

Dear Father, thank You for using me to share Your amazing love to those around me. Forgive me O Lord that at times I displayed the same attitude as the crowd in today’s passage. Forgive me also for not using the opportunities of sharing to glorify You but myself. Lord, guide me next time to be a more effective witness for Christ. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Die With Christ

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

The Resurrection of the Dead
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Reflection of Bee:

God knows that I have been praying to be taken 'home' ASAP, for I know there is resurrection after death for the dead in Christ. It reminds me of the old hymn:

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angel's backing me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord, You know I have no friend like You.
If heaven is not my home then Lord, what will I do.
I know You'll take me through though I am weak and poor.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Dear Lord,
You know my desire is to be gone from this world and be with You immediately. For there's nothing that hold me here anymore. Take me home quickly, Lord. Otherwise show me how You may want to use me on this earth.
I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

We know that all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). There will be no way we can be forgiven if Christ had not been resurrected. Because He rose, He lives and represents us to God, this ensures us that all our sins are forgiven and both our body and soul will be united after resurrection. Because He rose and defeated death, we will be raised and be given an eternal life with Him.

Dear Father, thank You for the hope and certainty I have in You. Thank You for giving me the strength, peace and patience to endure and keeping to Your commands while in this world. Lord, I pray for Your continuous guidance to lead me to do what is pleasing to You; bringing all the glory and honor to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Running From God

Jonah 1:1-10

Jonah Flees From the LORD
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."

7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.

8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"

9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."

10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)

Reflection of Bee:

A question I asked God frequently is, "Why did God allowed me to be born?" I wished I were never never born, like what I wrote in my poem in 2005. When I am in great distress I asked God:

How I wish I were never born
or my first cry were soon gone
or I were given to a good family
then I don't have to suffer this misery

I want to run away from this harsh and loveless world. People only want to receive but not give. People just want to make use of others and discard them when they are no longer useful to them. Even close ones can betray us and drain us totally. I feel so tired. *sigh*

Perhaps I can run away from people but I can't run away from God. Just like what Psalms 139: 7-12 says:

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Dear Lord,
I know I can't run away from You. Please help me to find meaning of my existence in this sinful world.
Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

Like Jonah, sometimes we clearly know what God wanted us to do but we didn’t do them. Instead, we run away because of stubbornness or ignorance, claiming that God is asking too much from us or thinking we are in control and knows what best for us. But often running from Him brings us worse trouble.

Not only that, Jonah’s disobedience also endangered the lives of the ship’s crew. Our deliberate act of disobedience can hurt others around us. So, we need to always obey and do what God asks in the first place instead of paying the unnecessary and costly price of running away in the end.

Dear father, thank You for making known to me everyday the things You wanted me to do. Teach me to have a receptive heart to follow them obediently; trusting You knows what best for me. Help me not to be distracted by the ‘noises’ around me but to seriously take time each day to listen and understand Your plan for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Worthy Life

Colossians 1:9-14

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Reflection of Bee:


Some may feel that God owes them many things, such as good health, wealth, a partner, etc. They blame God for what they don't have instead of be thankful for what they have.

The above passage tells us that we, as Christians, already have the "inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light". Therefore, we are to live our lives "worthy of the Lord", "please him in every way", "bearing fruit in every good work" and "growing in the knowledge of God".


Dear Lord,
Thank You for such a great inheritance. I pray that my life would be pleasing to You. Though at times I may murmur for what I think I lack, yet I know that You will provide me with all I need.
Though I still mourn for my loss, I pray that You will turn my mourning into praise soon. I pray that he will grow in You after all these happenings.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

There are times we are greatly troubled and disheartened by things and situations around us. Everything seems so bleak and hopeless. It can be hard to find anything to rejoice or be thankful about. But, we can learn from Paul today that despite all the hardship we are going through at the moment; we can always find reasons to be thankful for God.

God has made us qualified to share His inheritance (v12)
We are rescued from Satan’s dominion of darkness and made us His children (v13)
He brought us into His eternal kingdom (v12)
He redeemed us – free us from sin and judgment (v14)
He forgive all our sins (v14)

We should be grateful to God as each day, whether good or bad, is one more gift from our God.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love and all the gifts and blessings You have given to me. Teach me to trust You for all my needs and be willing to submit my all to You. Guide me to love and serve Your people likewise, in return. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Spiritual Famine

1 Peter 2:1-10

1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."[a] 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,[b]"[c] 8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reflection of Bee:

As we grow spiritually in Christ through reading God's word (v2), we will be more able to rid ourselves of "all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (v1). Being a Christian does not mean we automatically become sinless. We need to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives. As we learn to gradually let Him take control of us we will become more and more like Christ. For it is "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)

We need to remember we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (v9). Therefore we shouldn't behave like slaves of the devil.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me who I am in Christ and what I should do. I am not mourning the death of my 'twin'. I pray that soon my mourning will turn into dancing because of Your unfailing love. May You wipe away all my tears soon.
In Jesus; name I pray. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

Instead of taking the full responsibility for our action, we sometimes blame our condition, circumstances and even Satan for doing something wrong. But in Mark 7:21-23, we know that all evils come and originated from within and inside our heart: it is when we deliberately choose to sin against others, our selves and God. This normally happens when we neglect our spiritual growth by spending less and less time for God and stop seeking the nourishment from Christ daily.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be a responsible person and a person of integrity. Forgive me of my self-centeredness, seeking only my own selfish desire and hurting others with my words and action. Teach me not to wait but to start learning and showing Christ-like love towards others now.

Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to be my guide and keep me away from all acts of disobedience and unrighteousness. Remind me that the opportunity to serve You is always close at hand. Give to me the mind of Christ, that I may show myself worthy to be called your people (v10). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Forever Perfect

Hebrews 10:8-18

8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds." 17Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more." 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Reflection of Bee:

By ourselves we are all sinful. We may try very hard not to sin but our old sinful nature tends to surface every now and then, making us feel rotten and guilty after that.

However, tonight God said He will remember our sins and lawless acts no more. How can that be? Because Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. What He did was a perfect sacrifice, unlike the sacrifices in the Old Testament. He therefore becomes our great High Priest to intercede for us. God sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ instead of our sins.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for what You have done for us that we can be perfect just as You are perfect, not by our works but by Your blood.
Forgive me for all my sins and give me strength to live a life that is pleasing to You.
In Your name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:

We may feel surprised, ashamed or disappointed with our selves when we fail and fall. We are troubled by the fact that we have been made perfect, once for all, through the death and resurrection of Christ but yet we still falter.

The truth is God’s work in us is not finished yet. Although we have been made perfect in His sight, we are still, at the same time, “being made holy” (v14), progressively cleansed and made for His special use in our daily walk.

Instead of giving up when we fall, we should immediately ask God for forgiveness and God who is faithful and just will forgive us and cleanse us again from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He will lift us up again and give us strength to go on. And, we can help and encourage this growth process by always taking time for God and deliberately applying His Word in all areas of our lives.

Dear Father, thank You for forgiving me completely and that You have made me perfect in Your sight. May I always know how immeasurable these gifts really are, and to respond by giving You my devotion and service, accepting Your guidance and discipline and giving You control of my desires and goals. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Forgetting God

Matthew 13:3-8; Matthew 13:18-23

Matthew 13:3-8

3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.


Matthew 13:18-23

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Reflection of Bee:

Frequently we use the above parable to emphasize that non-believers are not able to receive the gospel because of hard grounds (hearts). Though that is true, I feel the saddest truth is those who gave up their faith because of the cares of this life... either too poor or too rich. Only few are able to make it and bear fruits.

Since the day I gave my heart to Jesus, I face many trials to test my faith. At times I fell like giving up, yet God's word kept ringing in my mind that He will carry me through. Yes, He had carried me through all my trials of life. Even now, He is with me in my confusions and lost in direction.

Through all these trails God strengthens my faith and trust in Him, and help me bear fruits.

Dear Lord,
I pray that You will continue to preserve my faith in You despite the trials in my life. Keep me in Your mighty arms.
I am so sleepy now... let me have a good sleep tonight.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

What kind of soil are we? Are we the type on rocky places that welcome God’s message when things are all nice and easy? Or are we the type among the thorns who constantly bogged down and distracted by worries and enticements of the world; never ready to have His Word taken root in our lives?

We need to set our priorities right, by turning off and away from the attractions of this world that keep us from reading and meditating on God’s Word. We need to take time to listen to God and feed on His Word. We need to pray to be strong and receptive to God’s guidance and leading in our spiritual journey, bearing good fruits for His kingdom.

Dear Father, thank You for showing to me again what is more important in this life. Teach me to always have the right perspective on things and putting first thing first. Give me strength, wisdom and peace when dealing with difficulties and confusions. Thank You and I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You And Your Possessions

Matthew 19:16-26

The Rich Young Man
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[a] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Reflection of Bee:

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (v21)

Love is not just words alone, love is actions. It will be hypocritical to say we love God and our neigbours yet our actions show no care and concern or are hurtful to others.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (v26)

In our own effort it is "impossible" for us to be "perfect" but with God's transformation power in our life it is possible.


Dear Lord,
I know that without Your works in my life,it will be impossible for me to enter Your Kingdom. Thank You for saving and changing me moment by moment so that I shall be "perfect" in Your sight one day. Help me to love in actions and not just words.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen


Reflection of Tommy:

Did Jesus ask us as believer to give away all our possessions? No. Each of us are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families. But, what Jesus brought up was the importance of having the right attitude towards all our God-given wealth. We should be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. With this kind of attitude, we will not make ourselves an idol and put it above God, violating the first and greatest commandment of all (Matthew 22:36-40).

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to have the right attitude towards my possession. Thank You for reminding me that all that I own and have now are from You. Teach me to use this wealth wisely, in ways that are pleasing to You. Keep me away from putting any other things above and more important than You in my life. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."


26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Reflection of Bee:

Sometimes, as Christians, we may feel silly or look silly to others when we try to follow what God said in the Bible. God's teachings looks foolish by men's standard. We can see what the world says and what God says in Matthew 5:

Beatitudes
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Murder
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Adultery
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Divorce
31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;
37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

An Eye for an Eye
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

How can we love someone who hurts us so much and gives us so much pains? Isn't that very foolish? Yet God's word says in Romans 12:19-21:

19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On 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." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Dear Lord,
Though Your cross and Your ways look foolish to men, yet they are wisdom and power. As Your child, certain things I do also look foolish, yet I know that You are pleased. I must admit it may be a struggle at times to follow Your ways, to love those who have hurt me over and over again. I pray for strength and love to love these just as You have loved them. I pray for Your peace and love to be with them.
In Jesus; lovely name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

The message of Chris’s death for our sins is so simple and clear that any person, either ordinary people or children, can understand it to receive salvation. But, it sounds foolish and unacceptable for those who don’t believe (v18), To them, eternal life is only obtainable through their own intellect and achievements, by being good, wise and finding the hidden secrets of enlightenments. Salvation to them is only for those who are intellectually gifted, well educated and knowledgeable.

But, for believers, we know that human’s skill and wisdom will never get us into God’s kingdom, simple faith does. Because of this, no one can boast that they secure their eternal life by their own strength and achievements (v29). As we believe what Christ has done for us and trusting Him as Lord and Saviour, we are assured for to receive the gift of eternal life from God.

Dear Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation and the clear promises to have an everlasting life with You. Teach me not to add up other things to want Jesus has already achieved on the Cross to earn this gift from You. Guard my heart and mind always that I will not be distracted by the wrong teachings from the world around me. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Integrity

Genesis 39:1-12

Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"

8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Reflection of Bee:

Having personal integrity in the eyes of God is important. When temptations come our way, our integrity or fear of God will keep us from falling. Though others may not know what we do but God knows. That's why Proverb 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". Our fear of sinning against God will help us to be wise.

Dear Lord,
Cleanse me from all my sins tonight. Teach me to fear and honour You that I may not sin against You in any way.
In Jesus' name I ask. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

If we were to put weak excuses like “not to hurt/harm others” or “not to bring trouble or sin against our selves”, it’s easy to give in to temptation under pressure. But, we can learn from how Joseph responded when tempted. Instead of relying on all kind of excuses, we should view our act as sinning against God; an act of disobedience against God. This brings us into the right perspective when dealing with temptation.

Dear Father, thank You for showing to me how giving in to any kind of temptation is an act of disobedience against You- sinning against You. Thank You for teaching me that at times, merely trying to avoid temptation is not enough, I must ‘turn’ and ‘run’ from all things that may lead me to sin and stop making weak excuses that can be easily rationalized under pressure. Lord, I continue to pray for wisdom and strength to guide my every way each day. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

True Fasting

Isaiah 58:1-10

True Fasting
1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

Reflection of Bee:

IF we do as God said above, THEN healing will take place and God will answer when we call. True fasting is not done for men to see but a real desire to help others in needs and to set captives free.

Dear Lord,
You desire sincere act of kindness from us without hypocrisy. May I never refuse helping anyone in need.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

As Christian, we know that deeds alone without faith in Christ will never save us. But, this faith lacks sincerity if we stop there and doesn’t reach out to others. We missed the point of a living, vital relationship with God when we neglect to care, serve and show true compassion for those in need.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me about the meaning of true worship and service that goes beyond my own personal growth to acts of kindness, charity, justice and generosity. Teach me to apply what I’ve learned from You in my life, that I may glorify You to the world around me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Love & Grace

Matthew 22:34-39

The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Reflection of Bee:

The word "love" seems to have lost its real meaning these days. To many, "love" is just an emotion or feeling.... people fall in and out of 'love' quickly. The moment the feeling is gone, the conclusion is "love" is gone.

However, real love does not rely on feelings. Real love is an act of WILL and it demonstrates itself through "grace", which is what God did to us. Instead of using law to judge us for our sins, God's love, in the form of grace, shows mercy and forgiveness for our sins. Love accepts us despite of our shortcomings and ugliness.

"By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."
—Ephesians 2:8

Yes, God has commanded us to love Him and others. In order to obey God's command, we need to know what it means to love and to apply God's grace to others, which was freely given to us.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace, which You have freely given to me. You have accepted me JUST AS I AM. Likewise, may I love and accept another just as he/she is and shows grace and mercy instead of law and justice.
In Jesus' name I humbly pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:
Whenever we are discouraged or in despair, it is easy to be blinded from seeing all the wondrous deeds God has blessed us with. We forget how God has sent His Son to die for us and allow us to be enriched, strengthen and called into fellowship again with Him.

We should make it the most important thing in our lives, regardless of the situation, to put God first and to love Him with all our heart, soul and mind. This helps us to focus on God instead of our problem; bringing our minds to follow Him in true, joyful obedience and to have the zeal to tell others about the Good News.

Dear Father, thank You for Your mercy and faithfulness to always forgive me even when I’d spend so much time and energy on worthless things, ignoring Your way and choosing the weaker way and fallen into sin.

Lord, give me a clear mind to follow You and continue to fill me with zeal to bring others to know You, that they too may follow You and be renamed as Your own. I put my whole trust in You alone, as I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.

Echoes Of Paradise

Revelation 21:1-7

The New Jerusalem
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Reflection of Bee:

"I am making everything new!" (v5)

The above verse just struck me when I read tonight's devotion. It's like God telling me, "I am going to make everything NEW for you". A sudden joy flooded my soul with the verse echoing in my heart...

Yes, I wish to be made NEW. If only I can start my life all over again... I will do things differently. I guess in this life it's not possible, but all things will be NEW in my next life with the Lord. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (v4). How wonderful!

God promises "living water" to those who are thirsty. Yes, I want to drink it.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your assurance that You will make all things NEW. Renew my heart, mind, and soul Lord. Let me have a brand new start of my life for 2007. Let me be the channel of Your love.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Today’s passage gives tremendous hope, comfort and encouragement for believers who are going through trial and hardship. God has promised those who love Him true fulfillment and eternal joy; there will be no more death, pain, sorrow and crying (v4). God has also promised us to be made perfect like Him and be invited into His new creation.

Dear Father, thank You for these great and wonderful promises I have in You. Thank You that because of Your love and grace that I will be united to live forever with You and my loved ones in lasting peace, security and love. Lord, may my heart continue to be receptive to your guidance and mold me to be more like Christ each day. I ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Help!

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Reflection of Bee:

"Be still and know that I AM GOD." (v10)

Verse 10 has a different meaning for me tonight. I always read this verse in the context of busyness but tonight I see it more in the context of troubles, calamities, storms and mountains that come my way. In times like these, God wants me to "be still"... don't do anything, don't say anything, just listen, and know God. Only then will I know this mighty God of mine who can calm the storms, and flatten the mountains that come my way. He will be with me in all these troubles.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for teaching me to be still before You when things happen in my life. I should not do anything but just let You be God.
Thank You for answering my prayer for my colleague yesterday and today. Thank You that he is feeling better now and You have assured him that all will be well. Praise You that he has the confidence now to take up the challenges in his work.
I also want to pray for another brother-in-Christ, Tommy, that You will continue to be his guide as he seeks Your face everyday. Show him your plan for him and let him trust in You more each day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Without knowing God’s promises for us in the Bible, we will be easily swept away by fear and worry over circumstances in life. For true seekers, the Bible becomes alive when they can find true, lasting solutions for all their problems and also the purpose for their lives.

When we are lost and afraid, read Psalm 46. It offers great assurance that God will not only helps us but will be with us through our trials. He will provide true refuge, security and peace. He will not fail to rescue those who love and seek Him.

Dear Father, thank You and I praise You for who You are, my almighty and loving God. Forgive me at times for my little faith, being easily troubled and discouraged by the wind and waves around me. Help me to not be worry but to come to You in prayer and trust You to do what You think best for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

How To Be Happy

Psalm 146

1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.

Reflection of Bee:

When I set my goal (not resolution) early this year, similar to the Ten Rules for Happier Living found in tonight's devotion, I seemed to be happier. For my goal is to be "a channel of God's peace", borrowing the prayer below:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

- attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Yes, I am seeing things happening in my work place. My relationship with my colleagues improves. I find myself having many opportunities to share God's love with others. I feel better when I focus my attention on others rather than on myself and my loss.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for making me a channel of blessing, especially today. I pray that Your words which I shared with this particular brother-in-Christ will not return to You void. I pray that he will be stronger spiritually and physically after a good rest tonight. I pray that Your peace and rest will be in his heart. Guide him in his path, let him follow and trust in You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen


Reflection of Tommy:

True, lasting happiness begins with a right relationship with God. This relationship helps us to trust God for all our needs, appreciating His character, taking our minds off our problems and focuses them on Him and changing our perspective from the temporal and earthly to the heavenly and eternal.

Dear Father, I praise and thank You that Your help is lasting and complete, that I can have the full confidence and trust in You for all my needs. Thank You for teaching me to ‘leave’ all my burden for Christ to manage and begin living a life in obedience. Lord, continue to guide me to pray to know Your way for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

You Will Be With Me

Luke 23:32-43

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

38There was a written notice above him, which read:|sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Reflection of Bee:

Someone ever promised me. "I Will Run With You." Yet I am 'running' alone now. :( The promises of men are often not reliable... they change over time. But not so with God... His word never fail.

In Isaiah 43:2,5 God said: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;" and "Do not be afraid, for I am with you;"

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, "And surely I am with you always".

In John 14:16, Jesus promised, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever".

How comforting that promise is! No matter what happen to me, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will be with me always.

Dear Lord,
Thank You that Your promises are always true. Even though I "pass through the waters" and almost got 'drowned', yet You were with me to be my 'life buoy' to keep me 'afloat'. Thank You for Your presence despite my shortcomings.


Reflection of Tommy:

The story of Jesus on the Cross with the two criminals clearly shows that salvation doesn’t depend on our deeds but our faith in Christ. This also shows God’s great love and compassion to forgive even for those who repent at the very last moment. It is never too late to turn back to Him. But, this doesn’t mean we can wait until the very last minute, as the earlier we submit to God, the more useful and fulfilling our lives will be.

Dear Father, thank You for the confidence and hope in have in Christ. Thank You for what Christ has done for me on the Cross. Teach me to be like the believing criminal, to have such a faith to see beyond the present setback to the coming glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Plans And Realities

Proverbs 16:1-9 (Amplified Bible)

1THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

3Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

4The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose--even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil.

5Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished.

6By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

7When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.

9A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Reflection of Bee:

We often heard the saying, "Failure to plan is planning to fail". Tonight we learn some important aspects about planning from the above passage:
1. If we give our works and plans to God, He will cause us to plan and work in the way He desires and thus we will succeed (v3).
2. If our lives are pleasing to God, He will make our enemies be at peace with us (v7).
3. God is the one who will guide us to walk in the right path towards our plans (v9).

These promises are very appropriate for our work and personal life situations. They explain why we often fail in our plans. If we have enemies, we need to ensure our life is pleasing to God to have none.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that I need to commit my works and plans to You and let You take charge.
I pray You will guide me in how I should reply to those below and above me at work so that I can get my works done without offending anyone.
I pray that even my enemies will make peace with me as I live my life to please You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Often we put our plans into action without asking ourselves whether they are in harmony with God’s truth and our attitude is pleasing to Him. We are very good at rationalizing almost everything we do and proving that we are right. Without truly committing what we do to God, things often don’t go as planned or will even fails badly.

We need to commit whatever we do to the Lord; asking Him for guidance as we make our plans and then act on our plan as we trust in Him. And all plans that are committed to the Lord, will succeed (v3).

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me on how to truly commit everything I do to You and learning to trust You more. Guide me to be aware always whether my plans are in harmony with Your truth before putting them into action. May my attitude and motive be pleasing to You and acted in Your way. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Silent Witness

Philippians 1:21-27

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

Reflection of Bee:

To the born-again Christians, death is just like sleeping. We don't have to fear death. In fact, Paul said "to die is gain".

There were many times I too "desire to depart to be with Christ", just like how Paul felt. I wished I could leave this corruptible world and my corruptible body. In fact, yesterday I made a prayer to God during our Church Service to take me home to be with Him. I felt very tired living in this sinful world and I wished I can be in the presence of God all the days of my life. Yet I know, my life is not in my hand. God will decide when He wants to take me home. Meanwhile, when I am still living in this world I need to make my life counts.

Dear Lord,
I pray that You will take me home soon. Otherwise, show me how to be a channel of blessings to the people I have contact with. Guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord.
In Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:

How do we become a good witness for Christ? If we were to examine our daily lives: our speech and action, we’ll realize there are many opportunities to shine for Christ to the world. Our daily conduct can be one of the best ways to witness for Christ. Others can see clearly how we respond to situations, our attitude, values, etc.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to witness for Christ with my life as well as my lips. Keep me aware that many can read about Christianity through my daily conduct. Guide me always to do what is right and pleasing in Your sight, that I may shine brightly for Christ to the world. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Who Am I?

Psalm 8

A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reflection of Bee:

A song that touched my heart this morning during my church service was the song:

Still
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

The above song is still ringing in my mind now. Tonight's devotion also reinforces the mightiness of God who will covers me from all storms of life. For I am precious to God even though I am so small in this universe which is created by Him.


Dear Father,
Thank You that even though I walked through the shadow of death, or the storms of life, or the desert place, You are always there with me.
Thank You that You are mindful of me though I am such an insignificant being in Your creation.
Thank You that even when others or even myself don't see my worth, yet You see me as precious to You.
Thank You for encouraging me today through the church service and also Your word tonight.
When You test me by allowing me to go through the desert of life, let me not fail Your test. Keep me in Your mighty hand, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Many prefer not to trouble God through prayer, thinking He’s rather be busy with big, important crisis than our small and petty problems. Some also think how could a God could be concerned for people who always disappoint Him. There are also those who constantly depreciate themselves and feel worthless, thinking it’s a healthy way for being humble to God and others.

From Psalm 8, we can learn that how precious and valuable we are to God; we are only a little lower than God and the angels! But, this doesn’t mean we should think highly of ourselves by being proud and arrogant towards others. Instead, this helps those who constantly dwell on their smallness and worthlessness to have the right understanding of humility. True humility is about having proper respect of God for who He is and what He has done for us.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love and grace for a sinner like me to be able to reconcile again with You . Lord Jesus, thank You for coming into my life to be my Saviour, my God, and my friend. Teach me to always have the proper respect for You, for who You are and what You have done for me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Total Giving

Mark 12:41-44

The Widow's Offering
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."


Reflection of Bee:

What is "total giving"? It's giving of all that we have, no mater how little it may be, yet its significance is 100%.

The widow "put in everything—all she had to live on". That is, she would have nothing left for her living after that. Why did she do that? I guess that is an act of surrendering her life to God and dependency on God's providence, besides gratitude and worship.

The bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, that means we need to give willingly and happily. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Dear Lord,
Teach me to give You more of my time than other things in my life. Teach me to give You my all just like the widow did.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:

I used to get it wrong about this story about the widow’s offering. I thought the poor widow gave more than the others put together was because the amount she gave compare to what she owned greater than the rest. Although this is true but the real lesson is about the value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but by the spirit and attitude in which it is given.

Instead of giving grudgingly or under compulsion, we should give with a spirit of generosity and thankfulness to God (2 Corinthians 9:7). Gifts of any amount are pleasing to God if we give it with a cheerful and grateful heart.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me the right spirit in giving to others. May I make good use of all that You’ve given me to help and serve others in return. And most of all, teach me to give my all to You: my speech, my time, my choices. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Waiting

Genesis 15:1-6

God's Covenant With Abram
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward. "

2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit [c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Reflection of Bee:

How nice it would be if God were to tell us directly not to be afraid and that He is our "shield". God said that to Abraham, yet he doubted God initially. However, Abraham finally "believed the Lord".

We learn from the above account that it's ok to question God or even thought Him at first. If we are frank with God in our doubts, God will answer and assure us. Ultimately, we need to trust God for who He is and not just look at our circumstances.

Very often we jumped the gun and conclude that God isn't doing anything for us or that He is saying "no" to us when we don't see result in what we prayed for. We may feel discouraged and give up hope too early.

Abraham waited patiently for 25 years for God to fulfill His promise. Can we even wait for 2 years?


Dear Lord,
Teach me to be patient to wait for You to reveal Your plan for me. Help me to trust and obey Your word though sometimes I can't understand why things happen in a certain way or see my future. Teach me to be still and know that You are God.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.




Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes, we do fear and troubled by things lying ahead or the unknowns, even after we’ve said we trust God will take good care of us. Whenever a situation arises, we get bogged down by anxiety, regret, restlessness and all kinds of other negativities.

We can't see or forget what God has promised to us and how Christ can carry our burdens for us. It is this times, we need to learn from how Abram has trusted God for courage and peace through difficult times, and the great blessings He has promised to him.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me that Your blessings are always beyond my imagination; that I should have the patience to trust You for the greater things You have planned for me. Forgive me and purge me from any rebellion that still resides inside me.

Lord, teach me not to worry about things beyond my control but to leave them to You to manage for me. Teach me to surrender all to You, that You may works in me to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Guard my heart and mind always Lord, that I may glorify Your Name with everything I say and do. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Our Dwelling Place

The Call of Abram
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."

4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring [a] I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.

Reflection of Bee:

Abraham is great man of faith. But more than just faith, his trust in God is shown by his actions in 3 tests given to him by God.

Hebrews 11 says:

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Abraham trusted and obeyed God
- for his unknown future.
- for the impossible in men's eyes
- for God's promise against all odds


Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me tonight to trust in You like Abraham did.
I place my future into Your hand now, though I do not know what my future hold... for I know You hold tomorrow.
I trust that You can do the impossible for me at my workplace, though in men's eyes the tasks are too much for me to handle alone.
I believe in Your promises shown in the Bible... Your word never fail.
I pray that the ones I spoke to today will come to know You one day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

We can miss God’s plan for us when we get too comfortable and secure with our present position. Instead of concentrating only on our personal gain and plans, take time to listen to God’s calling for us into service. We need to be always ready, receptive and willing to be led to a place of greater service and usefulness for His kingdom.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me about other-centeredness and not to focus only on my self all the time. Thank You for showing to me ways I can help Your people in need.

Lord, I take this time to pray for two of our kidney dialysis patients: brother Lee Kwang Jau and Mr. Ang Chee How to have a safe and successful transplant tonight or tomorrow. I also pray for wisdom for the team of surgeons who will be doing the operation. I pray that You will sanctify the donor’s kidneys so that both our patient’s body will not reject them. Thank You Lord, for this I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.