The Tipping Point

Read Romans 12:1-8

“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” - Matthew 10:39

Reflection of Tommy:

The idea and thought of surrendering or submitting to someone is scary and daunting when it means we lose control of things we hold and depend on to for security. But as a Christian, we are called to surrender our will and heart to God, submitting to Him (James 4:7), and presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). The verse that best describes this complete surrendering can be found in the beautiful paradox of Matthew 10:39.

The Barclay Commentary wrote:
“The Christian may have to sacrifice his personal ambitions, the ease and the comfort that he might have enjoyed, the career that he might have achieved; he may have to lay aside his dreams, to realize that shining things of which he has caught a glimpse are not for him. He will certainly have to sacrifice his will, for no Christian can ever again do what he likes; he must do what Christ likes. In Christianity there is always some cross, for it is the religion of the Cross.

The man who seeks first ease and comfort and security and the fulfillment of personal ambition may well get all these things--but he will not be a happy man; for he was sent into this world to serve God and his fellow-men.The way to serve others, the way to fulfill God's purpose for us, the way to true happiness is to spend life selflessly, for only thus will we find life, here and hereafter.”

Dear Father, thank You for reminding this truth once again; to have Christ sitting on the throne of my life. Search my heart and reveal to me anything that may have taken His place and lead me to surrender it to You and trust You to know what best for me. Guide me through the Spirit as I come to serve Your people with love and selflessness. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Good Stretch

Read Romans 8:26-28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:26

Reflection of Tommy:

In Romans 8:28, Paul clearly stated that God works for our good not only in certain circumstances or incidents in our lives but in “all things”. This means both good and bad things that happened to us.

To fulfill His purpose, God can turn something seemingly bad at the moment to good eventually. This gives us the courage, hope and encouragement to persevere in times of hardship; trusting and relying on God more.

Note also that this eventual good is only for those who truly love and faithful to God; called according to His purpose. These people trust fully in God, knowing their security is in heaven and God is always present with them.

Dear Father, thank You for showing to me how the Spirit can pray with and for me even when I do not know the right words and things to pray. Guide me Lord, never to be anxious of anything, but in everything, by prayers with thanksgiving, presenting my request to You. And Your peace that transcends all understandings will continue guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Amen.

Unchanging Love

Read James 1:12-20

Reflection of Tommy:

Today passage has many good reminders for us; things we often forget as we are too busy with our works and other commitments in life. Firstly, the crown of life in verse 12 is our reward of an eternal life living with God forever. God is reminding us to get ourselves ready, persevere, and staying faithful to Him for all the trial, temptations and hardship lying ahead of us.

Secondly, the reason God allow Satan to tempt us is to refine our faith and to help us grow in dependence on Christ. And, God has promised not to allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He is teaching us to resist by turning to Him for strength and make the choice to obey His Word.

We are also reminded not to blame others for the wrong decisions we’ve made instead to accept responsible and ask for God forgiveness.

Finally, QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY (v19).

Dear Father, thank You for leading me in a better path to seek You. Teach me to spend more time reading Your Word, remembering them well and applying them in every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Whitewater Experiences

Read 1 Chronicles 28:9-20

Reflection of Tommy:

"Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." —1 Chronicles 28:20

I was with some friends this weekend thrashing through forest and crossing streams with ridiculously strong rapid and experience the amazing sight of a huge waterfall. As we were settling down for a swim, I climbed up to this big log that fell across the stream and planning to do a plunge from there into the sandy riverbed below.

It took me awhile before making the jump. A nearby guide advised me to just close my eyes and make the jump. I did and it was so easy, I did another jump instantly after that.

Similarly in today’s passage, David advised Solomon not to be frightened about the size of his task as both king and builder of the temple. Our fear of our tasks at hand, its risks or pressure can easily immobilize us and causing us to do nothing. The remedy to this fear is not to focus on the fear but to fully trust in God and to get to work! Our loving God has promised to always be with us (v20); never fail or forsake us (v21).

Dear Father, thank You that I can be honest and direct with You at all times for You know and understand everything in my heart. Search me, try me and reveal to me any part of my heart that are not right with You, that I may ask for Your forgiveness and to be changed and refined by the power of the Holy Spirit. May my heart be always open to Your molding that I will become a better witness and more obedient follower of Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Sticky Burdens

Read Psalm 32:1-7

Reflection of Tommy:

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” - Psalm 32:7

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.” —Psalm 55:22

Most Christians know very well that we need to somehow rest all our burdens and worries to God, but not many truly understand the meaning of doing that. I found a good illustration from a book I recently read. The author described most Christians are like a man who was toiling along the road, bending under a heavy burden. As a car overtook him, the driver kindly offered to help him on his journey. He joyfully accepted the offer, but when seated in the car, he continued to bend beneath his burden, which he still kept on his shoulders!

Like the man, we too often think that it is almost too much to ask God to ‘carry’ us, and could not think of letting Him further carry our burdens too. So we who have given ourselves into the care and keeping of Jesus, often continue bending beneath the weight of our burdens, and often go weary and heavy-laden throughout the whole length of our journey. There are also those who at first fully surrender their burden, only to take them back as soon as they finish praying.

As we read through His Word, we can see how many times God has promised to take care of us when we cast all our burdens to Him. There is no great crisis or 'sticky' burden that He can’t handle for us; thus, we can fully trust Him to sustain and see us through every situation. Instead of worrying and panicking, we should pray and submit all our concerns to Him, and His peace that transcends all human understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

God knows our burdens and our crosses,
Those things that hurt, our trials and losses,
He cares for every soul that cries,
And wipes the tears from weeping eyes. —Brandt

Dear Father, thank You that I can present my anxious thoughts to You any time and You faithfully supply me with Your peace and strength in return. Teach me to trust You more in ALL things that through them I can emerge stronger and become a better witness for Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Perfect Storm

Read Mark 4:35-41

Reflection of Tommy:

Like the disciples, we too become panic when facing the storms of life. Though we have said we will trust in God, but there are times we still feel God is not doing anything to help our situation (v38). We can easily be paralyzed by our fear when we underestimate God’s power and His total control over our situation.

Instead of panicking, we should resist fear and putting our total trust and care in God. We should confess our need for Him and submitting all our concerns to His control. God who is faithful and sovereign will give us the right perspective over our situations. He will also supply us with the peace and strength to endure through those struggles.

Dear Father, thank You again for reminding me that You are in total control of every situation; that You will care and protect me if I rest all my trust and care into Your hands. Guide my ways and thoughts that I will be a bolder and more obedient follower of Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Reach For . . .

Read Psalm 55:1-7,22

Reflection of Tommy:

In times of stress, crisis or sorrow, many tend to seek out things that bring temporary relief and escape from their problem. It doesn’t take long for those problems to crop back and haunts them again and again; leading them to seek for other ways to comfort and calm their restless heart and mind. Very often, these ways are destructive and worsen their situation even more than before.

As Christian, we need not to seek for all these temporal and negative solutions but instead we should be like David, to cast all our cares to God (v22) in times of grief and sorrow. Our faithful and loving God not only listens, knows and understands our struggles; He has also promise to sustain us with the strength, peace and grace to endure (v22).

Dear Father, thank You that I can rest all my cares unto Your hand; that You will handle them for me. Teach me to trust You on that and not taking back my burdens every time I’ve submitted to You. Guide me to earnestly seek Your Word daily and allowing the Spirit to fully work in me; changing me into the person You wanted me to be. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Little Concern

Read Psalm 91:9-16

Reflection of Tommy:

Many of us worry about others more than ourselves- our loved ones, family members, our children. That’s why in our prayers we often pour out to God to protect and bless them. Each time we hear any bad news about them, we are struck down with fear and worry. We think of the worst and panic fully occupied our mind.

In today’s comforting passage, we find the ‘cure’ to all our fear and worry in this life. No matter how intense our fears may be, we can trade them for faith in God, trusting Him as our shelter and refuge. We do this when we “dwell” and “rest” with Him (v9), entrusting ourselves and our loved ones to His protection and pledging our daily devotion to Him.

Dear Father, thank You for Your protection and Your love for me and my loved ones. Thank You that I can always trust in You and Your faithfulness; and that You are in control of all things. Thank You for being with me, hearing my prayers and deliver me from all my worry and fear. Teach me to fully rest and dwell with You, my Refuge and my Fortress (v2). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

How long

Read Psalm 13

Reflection of Tommy:

It's easy to get impatient and frustrated when God seems slow to help us in our situation. But we shouldn't allow our unanswered prayers and trials make us turn away from God or doing things that we'll regret later.

Instead of focusing and being preoccupied with our problems all the times, we should look unto God and know who He really is. When we do, our perspective will change. Like David, our frustration and fears will turn into trust, peace, strength and hope when we know He is always faithful to those who love Him.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to wait upon You in all things. Teach me to be obedient and to trust You more when facing the challenges ahead. Lead me always to turn my eyes to Jesus with complete trust in prayers when I'm lost and troubled. Guard my ways that they will be pleasing to You in all times. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Worry immobilizes...

Read Matthew 6:25-34

Reflection of Tommy:

Recently, a church member in her late 20 shared about her struggle of undergoing dialysis treatment due to her kidney failure few years ago. Despite the hardship and pain of going through those treatments few times a week and losing her job, I was amazed by her cheerfulness and positive outlook in life. Her prayer to God was also so simple and sincere, like a child trusting everything on the father.

Life on earth can be very unfair sometimes, but as Christian we do not have to constantly wallow up in bitterness, self-pity, worries and even hatred. We know that God loves us so intimately that He cares and knows everything they we are going through (Matthew 10:30). If we were to seek His kingdom and righteousness first (v33), He will surely provides not only all our needs but also what most important and best for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the assurance and confidence to trust in You for all my needs. Forgive me at times for exhibiting all those ill effects of worry, being fully consumed by my problems and even allowing it to negatively affecting the way I treat others.

Lord, teach me not to worry but to seek first a close relationship with You and Your righteousness. Lead me to always look unto You for guidance in my planning for everything and leaving the rest into Your hand. Thank You and I pray all this in Your Name, Amen.

Displaced

Read 2 Samuel 15:13

Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.- 2 Samuel 15:25-26

Reflection of Tommy:

In today’s passage, we learn about the trust and submissive attitude of David towards God. We too should take on this attitude even when we yet to understand or grasp what God has planned for us.

By truly knowing how much God loves and cares for us frees us from feeling of hopelessness and discontentment over our situation. By tapping unto the strength and peace that He freely give to His children, we will be able to overcome the obstacles lying ahead of us and to come victoriously in the end.

Dear Heavenly Father, how great and wonderful of You who know and in control of all things. Forgive me of my lack of trust and ignorance to Your promises and plans for me. Help me to see how much You care and love for me that You sacrificed Your only Son in order I can have eternal life with You. Release me from any anxiety and uncertainty over what Your will and plan for me by seeking You daily and meditating on Your Word. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

For such a time as This

Esther 4:13-17

13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

Reflection of Tommy:

There are basically two extremes in the way we respond to a situation. First, we may do absolutely nothing, withdrawing from the problem or even waiting for God to intervene and fix everything for us. The other extreme is we feel we are responsible to fix and do everything ourselves; taking on the role of God unconsciously!

The right way is found in the way Mordecai and Esther have responded in their situation. They saw that God had placed them in their positions at exactly the right time for a specific purpose (v14); and they seized the moment and acted with courage and trust in God’s direction. God chooses to work His will through those willing to act for Him. So, we should pray by thinking all depended on God and act as if all depended on us.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to turn to fellow believers for support during difficult times. Instead of withdrawing, lead me to act when You’ve given me the direction through my prayers. Guide me always to act selflessly, giving strength and encouragement with one another through prayers, sharing and fellowship. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Peace-Of-Mind Game

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight's devotional passage is a very familiar one.... "The Lord is MY Shepherd". Yes, He is mine and I can feel secured in Him in all circumstances. He can restore all my brokenness, and give me victory over my physical and spiritual enemies.


Dear Shepherd,
Thank You for restoring my soul
and for making me whole;
For the table You spread for me
in the presence of my enemies;
For Your goodness and great love
that follow me till I leave this earth.
May Your peace reigns tonight
even though sometimes I may cry.

In Your wonderful name I thank You. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

We can get so worried over things that we forgot who our Shepherd is. We somehow are able to separate what God can do and what He can’t in our lives. We tend to seek our own ways to calm ourselves and to get back in control of the situation.

But as Christian, we don’t have to rely entirely on our own strength to carry all our burdens and worries. God is always there with us (v4) and He will give us His peace, guidance, comfort and sustaining grace to face the challenges in life.

All we need to do is to first seek Him, pray to Him and then to trust Him fully to do what is best. As what the Scripture says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”.

Dear Father, thank You again for reminding me to pray and to trust You to do what is right. Thank You also for reminding me that there’s nothing so complicated or difficult that You can’t handle it for me. Forgive me of my lack of faith and underestimating what You can do and what You’ve planned for me even before I was born.

Lord, I pray that You will continue to lead me to You, obeying Your commands and relying always on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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.

No Longer Young

Psalm 37:23-31

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

Reflection of Bee:

As I learn to live as a Christian from the day I gave my heart to Jesus at the age of 12, I stumbled many times. The stumbling blocks could be others or myself. Yet through all those years I did not fall away from God. God kept my feet firm and my faith strong and upheld me with His hands (v23, 24).

God will watch over His children and will not allow them to become beggars. In fact, God told us not to worry about our future, for He knows our needs. We are more valuable than the lilies or the birds. He will watch over us as we keep our faith in him and obey His words. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Yes, as I grow older and reflect on how God have kept me and supplied my needs, my faith grows stronger each day.

Dear Lord,

Without You I can do nothing.
Without You life is just a dream.

Without You I will stumble and fall.

Without You I may lose my all.

Thank You for keeping me safe.

Thank You for guiding my way.

Thank You for supplying all my needs.

Thank You for the place in eternity.

In Jesus most wonderful name I thank You. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:
When bad or difficult situation arise, it is easy to lost sight of how God has been faithfully helping us to go through our past trials and tribulations. We sometimes also tend to forget how He has been shaping us through the years.

Instead of feeling discouraged or doubting the care, love and presence of God, we need to remember the countless times He has lifted us up when we stumbled and gave us a new start. Be thankful always for He has promised to protect and bless (v26-28) those who keep His commands and trusting His providence.

Dear Lord, thank You for teaching me to always keep Your law in my heart. Guide me to take time to know Your Word and apply them in everything I do. Keep my feet from slipping and always turning from evil and do good. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

El Roi: You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees

Genesis 16:7-13

7 The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?"
"I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."

11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:
"You are now with child
and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael, [a]
for the LORD has heard of your misery.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward [b] all his brothers."

13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen [c] the One who sees me."

Reflection of Bee:

There may be many injustice done to us, be it at home, in school, in church or at work. Sometimes the things that others say about us may not be truth and they hurt badly. Yet the bible says in Romans 12:19-21 (Deut. 32:35; Prov. 25:21,22):

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,"[a]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."[b] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Sometimes I do feel tired of the hypocrisy in life.... the world is like a stage and people are just acting. Who are real and true? who are sincere? I find it hard to detect the truth anymore. There are so much betrayal, even by people whom we trusted. When I heard about others' death, at times I asked, "why not me?"

It's comforting to know that God will avenge us as He sees everything. Our lives are in God's hand. When it's time that He takes us home, we'll be there.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for all the things that have happened to me. Thank You that You are the God who sees and justice is in Your hand. Thank You that You will always be with me in all situations.
In Your precious name I give You thanks. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
Even after reading countless times verses where God ask us not to worry (Matthew 6:31-34), many Christians still find themselves struggling with all kind of anxieties. Instead of trusting God, our tendency is to look for earthly securities; to depend and lean heavily on things that are tangible, real and look substantial for relief.

We hope for a change of circumstance or some help from man. We mount on these to runaway from our trouble. In ignorance, we think by mere change in our environment, our weary souls will experience some sort of deliverance. Often these earthly refuge carry us out of one trouble only to land us into another (Amos 5:19).

True deliverance comes to us only when our soul waits upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31), entirely surrendered to Him, trusting Him perfectly and seeing Him in every details of our lives. When we are able to apply actively these attitudes, our soul will be carried up into a spiritual plane of life, into the “life hid with Christ in God”, which will utterly independent of all circumstances.

Dear Father, thank You that You are always near and you know all that I’m going through. Thank You for Your continual guidance to help me see when I’m lost. Teach me always be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving making all my requests be known to You (Philippians 4:6). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Cast Your Cares

Philippians 4:4-9

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Reflection of Bee:

Thank God for the above assurances that I need not worry about anything, be it my career or my future. All I need to do is to give all my cares to Him and let Him care for me. I need this assurance especially now.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for caring for me. Thank You that in the midst of uncertainties I can be certain that all my needs will be taken care of. Praise You for being my Redeemer in every aspects of my life. May You make my life counts.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
We sure do worry about a lot of things in our every day life – our work, career, money, people etc. Can we really never being anxious about anything like what Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:6? Worrying not only waste our time and energy but shows our lack of trust in God.

Paul advices us that whenever we start to worry over something, we need to just stop and pray to God instead. Prayer helps to shift our focus on our problem to God, trusting Him to take care of us and acknowledging He is always in control. Although, our problem may still be there but through prayer, God gives us the peace that guards our hearts and minds against anxiety.

Dear Father, thank You for Your peace that is always available for me. Teach me not to be always weighed down by earthly cares and anxieties but instead to meet them with an active and experimental attitude of surrender and trust to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Keep Praying

Luke 11:5-13

5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[a] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight's passage is so comforting.... "how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (v13). We need to ask for the right thing so that we will receive. The right thing and the most important thing we need is the Holy Spirit. When we have Him in our life, He will guide us to do and ask for the right thing.

I need to ask, seek and knock till my prayers are answered. God wants me to open my mouth and not just simply say He knows what I need.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for guiding me in my life. Even as I embarked into another new phase in my career, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will guide me to the path I should go, where You want me to be. Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit's leading.
I pray also for my 'bf' that You will grant him peace and the serenity to trust You in his life and career. Grant Him Your peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Some Christians has prayed for years, but God never seem to answer their prayer. It is easy to give up praying and concludes that God doesn't care about us or we've missed the mark. But, whenever we are tempted to think these ways, read Luke 11:11-13.

It gives us the understanding and peace to trust our loving Father in Heaven to know what is best for us. Though, we may not have the full picture to why certain things turned out the way they are, we can still have the confidence to continue praying to God and learning to recognize His work.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love and sovereignty that everything is in Your control. Help me to submit and trust in You; never be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, letting all my requests be made known to You and Your peace that surpasses all understanding will always guard my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dead Or Alive

John 20:1-8

The Empty Tomb
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Reflection of Bee:

There is a tendency for us to see first then believe. Even the disciple whom Jesus loved believed only after he saw His clothe at the tomb (v.8). Is Jesus dead or alive? To those who have not experienced His power and love, He is dead. But to those who have a real experience with Jesus, He is alive in their hearts.

Dear Lord,
Thank You that You have risen from the dead and is living in my heart right now. I pray that You will help me share this truth with those I come in contact with that they my know You too. Let me experience Your resurrection power now even in my feeble and sick body.
Thank You for giving my 'bf' and his family a safe journey home tonight.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:
Our hope for salvation will never be possible if Christ has not risen from the death. It’s only because of His atoning death and resurrection, we can have eternal life.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to love, heal and forgive me. Thank You that because of the empty tomb, I can have an eternal life with You (1 Cor. 15:20-22). Thank You also that because You lives, I have the peace and calm assurance to boldly face all uncertain days ahead. Lord, I pray for Your continuing guidance to bring me closer to You and Your will for my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Knock, Knock

2 Timothy 1:8-12

8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Reflection of Bee:

Have you ever heard the conversation between mothers or fathers? You are quite likely to hear them talking about their children. When one loves someone, one will love to speak about that someone as much as there's opportunity.

It it the same if we love the Lord Jesus Christ... we will have the tendency to talk about Him in our conversation with others. It can't be help if we have fallen in love with our Saviour, we will never be ashamed to talk about Him.


Dear Lord,
You are so worthy of my praise and boasting about You. For You have done great things in my life and in those who loved You. I pray for more opportunities to share Your love with those around me that they may love You too.
In Your most wonderful name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

We can sometimes be so overwhelmed by our problems that we think it is too complicated or difficult even for God to help us. We feel totally lost and confused as to how we can solve our problems.

In today’s passage, we see how Timothy was greatly discouraged by the problems in Ephesus and fearful of persecution. But, Paul advised him to trust fully in God when facing setbacks, problems or difficult transitions in life because God is always in control. He will provide everything we ever needed to face the future, if we would hold on tightly to His resources.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me not to be ashamed to share the Good News to others. Teach me to share it with boldness, gentleness, tact and most importantly out of love for Your people. Guide me to spend more time reading and meditating on Your Word and listening to what and where You want to lead me to as a true disciple of Christ. In Christ’s Name I pray, Amen.