My Prince

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

Reflection of Tommy:

In a marriage, men were called to be spiritual head of the family and wives to willingly submit and follow his leadership in Christ. But, this does not mean men can misuse his authority and exploit the submission of his wife.

Instead, men who are leading the family should put aside his own interests to care for his wife. Like Christ, who served His disciples to the point of washing their feet, men are to serve their wife with respect and love. True spiritual leadership always involves service.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be willing to sacrifice everything for my loved one; to make sure her well-being and happiness of primary importance and to care for her as I care for my own body. I pray that I’ll be a wise and Christ-honoring husband one day. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Refusing Help

Read 2 Kings 5:9-14

Reflection of Tommy:

Many dislike the idea that they need help or that to humbly seek the advice of others. Like Naaman in today's passage, our ignorance and self-sufficiency often shut the door on a much-needed help for us. We tend to be quick in brushing off any advices that call us to change or improve the way we do things.

We must avoid this by first having a humble heart - willing and open to listen; to think of others more highly than you think of yourself. By taking this first step, we give ourselves the opportunity to be truly helped by those God has sent to us.

Dear Father, thank You for your reminder on being open to listen and accept advice from those You have sent to me. Teach me to pray for Your Word to be always in my heart and mind- teaching me, rebuking me, correcting me and training me in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Being Natural

Read Psalm 54

Reflection of Tommy:

If we read today’s Psalm by David, we’ll see how we should approach God more naturally and spontaneously instead of following through an almost forced and ‘scripted’ way and sequence in our prayers. With honesty and true humility, we should come to God without fear to express our true feelings and needs; transitioning them towards praise and thanksgiving.

Dear Father, thank You for being my true and faithful Help, Sustainer (v4) and Deliverer (v7) in all that I have to go through in my life (sorrow; ruthless men –v3; slanderer –v5). I give You praise and all glory and honor to Your Name, O Lord, all the days of my life. Teach me to trust Your power and hold on as You will give me the strength to keep from falling (Isa. 40:31). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Deep Dependence

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-11

Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, I was surprised to learn about the ritualistic and legalistic side of a religion that to me give so much stress and burden to its believer. As mentioned in verse 6 in today’s passage – “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”, we know that trying to be saved by keeping moral law will end in death.

It is only by believing in Jesus Christ that we receive eternal life through the Holy Spirit. The law makes us realize about our sins and showing us how to obey God, but our forgiveness comes only through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ (Rom. 7:10-8:2)

Daer Father, thank You for implanting the Holy Spirit in my heart, giving me new power to live for You. Teach me to always humble myself before You; acknowledging that all my sufficiency and capability is only with Your help and enabling of the Spirit. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Fellowship Of The Cross

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

The God of All Comfort
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our[a] behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Reflection of Bee:

We can learn 3 important truths from tonight's devotion:

1. God not only allows us to go through life's troubles and sorrows, but also comforts us in His compassion, so that we in turn can comfort others (v3,4).

2. Through all these trials we will learn not to rely on ourselves but on God, who can deliver us from all troubles (v9).

3. We need the prayers of others so that God will continue to deliver us from life's troubles (v10).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for showing me again why You allowed me to go through trials in my life. Thank You for Your compassion and love towards me in all my life. Thank You for those who have supported me in prayers so that You can show us the power of prayers and also teach us love and unity.
I also want to pray for Tommy that he will rest well tonight and be fresh tomorrow for the week ahead. May Your love, grace and mercy follows him wherever he goes.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Trusting and depending on God does not necessary means our problems will go away or that we will be relieved entirely from our pain. Although sometimes we do wish God removes them from us, but we should know He may have a better plan for us in those difficult periods in our lives.

It may be His way to lead us to turn to Him out of love and not merely out of the desire to be relieved. Or, it may be His other way of comforting us by supplying His peace, strength, encouragement and hope for us to deal with our troubles. And He may also use our hardship and trial to prepare us to help out and comfort those who are suffering similar pain in their lives.

Dear Father, thank You for both the good and the bad times. Thank You for Your sustaining grace for me when things are getting harder and overwhelming for me. But Lord, teach me to allow You to comfort me through those times in Your ways. I will continue to trust You for all my needs and give You praise and thanks always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
thanks

This Is Better

Proverbs 16:16-32

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction. [a]

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction. [b]

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

26 The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.

30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.

32 Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Reflection of Bee:

Verse 20 seems to summarize the rest of the verses above.

One who "gives heed to instruction" (i.e. not to feel proud about oneself) will "prosper".
One who "trusts in the LORD" (i.e. never think that one's way is right without God's guidance) will be "blessed".

Dear Lord,
Thank You for all the things You have taught me spiritually and in my career. All the knowledge I have comes from You giving me so many opportunities to learn. Let me not feel proud about them and always stay humble and trust in You, not in my own knowledge or ability. Guide me to the right place You have prepared for me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

God’s Wisdom is a fountain of life (v22) for those who live by them. When we seek to understand God’s teaching and abide in Him, we’ll find true happiness, peace, and hope in our lives. We’ll be enlightened by the hope and assurance of an eternal life with God. It gives us a confident and joyful perspective in every situation in our present lives.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to seek to understand Your Word and to apply them into my daily life. Lord, guide me to keep close all Your teachings in my heart. Guard me from any distractions that may lead me away from spending time to meditate on Your Word. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

When Instructions Seem Stupid

2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. [a]

2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents [b] of silver, six thousand shekels [c] of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Reflection of Bee:

Just like Naaman, when we don't understand why we are told to do certain things that seem illogical, we become very defensive and even angry with those who said them. Pride also makes it hard to accept comments from others. Sometimes we also react the same way when God asks us to do certain things we don't wish to do. We tend to rationalize them to our likings.

However, God says He will use the foolish things to confound the wise and that His ways are higher than our ways. We need to humble ourselves and not rely on our intellects so as to receive healing from God.


Dear Lord,
I know that Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. As I reflect on all the events that happened in my life and all the people I met along the way, I know You have a purpose for me through them. Though I may not fully comprehend them, I see Your hands guiding me, keeping me, protecting me from harms, and bringing me into something more meaningful each day. Help me not to cry for the past. Help me to stay close to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Like Naaman, our pride and self-will sometimes rob us from receiving God’s healing. Although we may not be in a rage like Naaman, but we do quietly go our own ways ignoring God’s clear commands to us. We may even doubt His way is the best way for us when we do not understands how He works and when results are few.

But, in today passage we learn that obedience to God begins with humility. It is about acknowledging God’s way is always better than ours and knowing that God wants our obedience more than anything else. By humbly obeying, God in His time and way will bless and heal us from all our infirmities.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to always humble myself to You and Your way. Teach me to obey and abide in You, seeking each day to be more like Christ. Continue to guide me, setting aside my pride that I may see the better way to live for You and Your people. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

We belong to God

Job 41:1-11

10 No one is fierce enough to rouse him.
Who then is able to stand against me?

11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Reflection of Bee:

God has created the heaven and the earth, so all things under heaven belongs to Him. If so, we also belong to God and we need to submit ourselves to Him.

Dear Lord,
Since I belong to you, surely you will take care of me. Once again I want to commit my life, my future, my career ad relationship to You. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:

One once said that it takes greater faith to believe all things happened by mere random chance than to believe in a creator God. That’s why it startled me whenever a person can says that they are marveled by the wonders of nature and creation yet denies the existence of God, and even ridicules Him in words. They also regard everything as irrelevant and that nothing matters, giving them excuse living recklessly and selfishly.

But as Christian, we know and acknowledge humbly that “God created every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded" (Gen. 1:21). The more we learn and realize the wonders around us, the more we recognize God’s eternal power and worship Him as Lord of creation (Rom. 1:20).

Dear Father, thank You that You have blessed us with so many great and wonderful things around us. Thank You for giving me the right perspective on who You are and the humility to acknowledge Your sovereignty over everything. Thank You also for revealing Your amazing love to me through Jesus who came to give me a new life with You. Teach me continue to submit to Your loving care and trusting You for all my needs. In Jesus’ Name I pray, 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.

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.

Tensile Strength

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Bee's Thoughts:

Each one of us have our own "thorn in the flesh", something that is there to keep us humble and relying on God.

I used to prayed a number of times for God to remove the "thorns in my flesh" like Paul did. However, each time I heard God speaking to my heart, "My grace is sufficient for you". That was very reassuring and comforting. Each time I thought I would give way, but each time God sustained me. His word is always true.

Dear Lord,
Thank You that Your grace is always sufficient for me. Thank You that at times I thought I couldn't bear anymore, yet You came to support me and see me through. Praise You for Your strength. In times of testing I pray that You will help me not to fall. Keep me pure in You, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen


Tommy's Thoughts:

While at the prayer retreat, I saw many of my church’s members in tears during a prayer session. I can see there’re all kinds of hurt and pain beneath those friendly and cheerful faces I saw every Sunday. It’s humility to admit their weaknesses that made them to turn, submit and rely on God, affirming His strength, acknowledging only God can heals and comforts their pain and to provide all the deepest needs in their heart.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me of the need to be in constant contact with You, to seek and rely on You instead on my own energy and effort alone. I pray that You’ll fill me with Your strength and power when I’m weak, making me stronger than I could ever be on my own. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.