The Right Focus

Psalm 90

3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

6 though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

Bee's Thoughts:

Yes, life is like a vapour... or just like wind. I may be here today, but you might not hear from me again the next day.

Many times I wished God will take me away from this earth. I wished I am just like the grass that will wither in the morning. For I see too much evil on earth since my childhood days. I grew up not trusting any man. Some men in my life did help me rebuild that trust, yet they were the same ones that put back the phobia in me.

Now all I ask from God is to teach me to number my days aright, that I may gain a heart of wisdom, to discern right and wrong, to distinguish truth and lies.

I need God to satisfy my heart with His unfailing love, so I may be glad and sing a new song to Him again. This I humbly pray.

.......the devotion of Bee

God Will Take Care of You

Hebrews 13:5

He Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

May your troubled heart
find peace and comfort in the knowledge
that you are never alone.
May God's presence ease
your trembling spirit and give you rest.
He knows how you feel.
He is ever aware of your circumstances
and ready to be your strength,
your grace, and your peace.
He is there to cast sunlight
into all of your darkened shadows,
to send encouragement through the love
of friends and family, and
to replace your weariness with new hope.

God is your stronghold,
and with Him as your guide,
you need never be afraid.
No circumstances can block His love.
No grief is too hard for Him to bear.
No task is too difficult
for Him to complete.
When what you are feeling
is simply too deep for words
and nothing anyone does or says
can provide you with the relief you need,
God understands.
He is your provider -
today, tomorrow, and always.
And He loves you.
Cast all of your cares on Him...
and believe.

- Linda E. Knight

A Past Long Gone

Acts 13:36-41

38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses..."

Romans 8:1-4

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Bee's Thoughts:

"The law condemned us (Romans 7:10-11), but Jesus offers deliverance and new life (8:1).

Are you worried about what you've done in the past? Rejoice! God has "cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). Are you still concerned about your sins? Rejoice! "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17). And "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions" (Isaiah 44:22).

If you have put your faith in Jesus and asked Him to forgive you, the past is truly forgotten. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). Trust and rejoice! —Vernon Grounds"

—Vernon Grounds

Thank God for Today's Daily Bread... it seems to be a direct speaking from God about the problem of someone close to me which also affects me. I pray that God will reveal to him this spiritual truth; that he need not carry the burden and guilt of his past anymore because of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, he is a new creature who can love purely and not selfishly as in the past.

Dear Lord, thank you for your assurance and reassurance that in you, there is no more condemnation.

.......the devotion of Bee

Making the Choice

Romans 13:12

12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Tommy's Thoughts:
Jesus who died on the cross has already paid the penalty of all our sins. We can be forgiven and cleansed if we were to believe in Him. We may have things in the past that needed to be laid aside – memories, guilt, pains and regrets; but they shouldn’t and never determine our future.

Oh Lord, as I come before you now, help to me to see the reality - a reality that I have a choice now about how I’ll live. Guide me Lord to set my heart on You and to walk the right path. Let me know that Christ has put to death all my wrongful desire and self-centeredness. Lead me Lord to work with You in everything and to clothe myself with Christ’s righteousness. Teach me to turn away and stop replaying my past and to move on with a life in truth, purity and sincerity.

.......the devotion of Tommy

Try A Little Kindness

Acts 10:1-8

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Bee's Thoughts:
What is love? We can do something or give to someone without loving, but we can't love without giving. So is kindness alone love? May not be. Kindness is only one of the components of love, just like patience.

In true love we not only give in material things but also in the intangible things, such as those mentioned in 1 Corinthains 13. When we say we love someone, the test will always come to see if we really love. Once the romantic feeling for someone is gone, can we still say that we love someone?

I have lost faith in the human love and found it back, and lost it again. :(

I have learnt that I should love someone in God's way, but never expect to be loved in return.

I believe in the sun
even when it isn't shining.
I believe in love
even when I am alone.
I believe in God
even when he is silent.

- author unknown

Dear God, I may not have found true love for myself but I still want to believe that there is true love for others. For when two people are loving each other in Christ, true love abounds.

.......the devotion of Bee

Our Father's Love

Hosea 11

God's Love for Israel
1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me. [b]
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.

5 "Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?

6 Swords will flash in their cities,
will destroy the bars of their gates
and put an end to their plans.

7 My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.

8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.

Bee's Thoughts:
Why do You love me so much, dear Lord?

I really don't deserve Your love.

How can I say "Thanks" for the things You've done for me;
Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude,
All that I am, and all I hope to be, I give them all to You.

Amen

.......the devotion of Bee

Ordinary People

Acts 4:1-21

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Bee's Thoughts:

Being "with Jesus" can make so much difference to a person's life... something undeniable, just like in the case of Peter and John. They were "unschooled" and "ordinary men", yet they could speak with so much confidence, boldness, and eloquence when it comes to talking about Jesus and performing miracles.

Some people did asked me, "Why must you always talk about Jesus or quote from the Bible in your replies?"

Hmmn... good question. I didn't even realize that tendency in me. But I guess it has become part of me after I have been "with Jesus" since age 12... read through the whole Bible many times, memorizing verses. questioning and searching for answers, experiencing Jesus in my ups and downs of life. So just like what Peter and John said, "we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v 19). I speak from my heart, my conviction, not merely 'throwing scriptures' at others to show how knowledgeable I am, or how 'holy' I am. In fact, I am just as "ordinary" as Peter and John.

So friends, if I have offended you with my bible quotations, please pardon me. I quote what I believe. :)

Just what do Christians look like?
What sets their lives apart?
They're ordinary people
Who love God from the heart.
—D. De Haan

.......the devotion of Bee

Golden Gods

"You shall have no other gods before me."

- Exodus 20:3






Bee's Thoughts:
God delivered the Israelites from the tyranny of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:29-42) and gave them the "Ten Commandments". Yet soon they forgot about God and started to make golden gods for themselves (Exodus 32:1-4).

Aren't we also like the Israelites many times? When we were down and out, we cried before God and He delivered us. But after a while we forgot Him and made other things our 'gods'. *sigh*

Dear Lord, please help me to always put you first before anybody or anything... for you love me more than anyone else can. Thank you.

.......the devotion of Bee

Who Then Is Beautiful?

Genesis 24:12-21

12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."...

..... 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Bee's Thoughts:
Whenever I read the above story, it reminds me of Proverbs 31:30 (Contemporary English Version):

Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the LORD
deserves to be praised.

Being beautiful in look is not enough to be choosen as the wife of Isaac. She has to have a heart of love and care... not only for the people around her, but also for strangers and life stocks.

Isn't such a woman too hard to find these days, though not impossible? Yes! People are getting more self-centered and selfish, and too busy to even care for the person close to them, much less a stranger. Yet the biblical principle of finding a wife with such virtues stays. Anything less means more heartaches down the road. We have already seen too many to need more evidence.

To have such virtue, the woman has to be "a woman who honors the LORD". For only the Lord can teach one to truly love.

Another biblical principle I see is to be specific in our prayer when seeking a partner. The chief servant of Abraham prayed to God specifically and God showed him Rebekah. He is very sure that she is THE ONE.

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that you look at my heart rather than my outward appearance. Thank you for reminding me to be specific in my prayers so I may know your will and to do it.

Tommy's Thoughts:
From Rebekah’s attitude and actions, we can learn a lot about how to redeem the time by faithfully fulfilling our current obligations. Our daily life is filled with mundane and repetitive tasks like Rebekah’s trip to the well and watering the camels. Yet, she performed her tasks diligently and willingly. Her qualities put her in the right place, at the right time with the right attitude when God matches her with Isaac.

As I reflect on this, I know I have various tasks and responsibilities at hand. Though I may not know God’s plan for my future, but I do know things I need to act upon today. Things like focusing my energy toward maturity and Christlikeness. Making most of each moment I have now and preparing myself for the next season in my life. Thank you Lord again for this wonderful lesson I received from Your Word. Amen.

.......the devotion of Bee and Tommy

The Only Way

John 14:6

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Tommy's Thoughts:

The world today is filled with spiritual hungers. People always long for something more in their life; the truth, the meaning and the purpose for life. Deep down inside there are things that never seem to be satisfied. People at times hope and hunger for things they don’t even know or understand.

Some dream of an ideal world where people will never disappoint them, never let them down. While others, indulge themselves to materials things for satisfaction. There are also others who tried their best effort to attain and accomplish all kinds of achievements, successes and fulfillments. There are also those who don’t see a need for God. Their life solely depends and revolves around themselves, people and things. After each round of unsuccessful attempt and disappointment, the cycle repeats again and again in a never-ending loop. In the end, the hunger and emptiness remains.

Although temporal possessions and achievements are not wrong in themselves, temporal life goals are contrary to God’s plan for all Christians. We need to have an eternal perspective in our life with a single-minded commitment to God’s purpose.
Following Christ may involve some changes in our present plans. But no matter how much we “give up” for Christ, He will fill all our spiritual hungers and lift us out from the darkness. Jesus is the gate to a satisfying life. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life!



.......the devotion of Tommy

I Will Come Back For You

John 14:1-6

Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Bee's Thoughts:
The title of Today's Daily Bread, "I Will Come Back For You", 'jumped' at me when I first opened its page. This statement has never mean so much to me as much as it is now. The reason is that someone dear has said that to me last week. I felt very troubled when he suddenly said he needed to be away for an indefinite time. The only assurance given to me was "I will be back for you".

Jesus knew very well how His disciples would feel when He leaves this world (John 13:1). They would feel very sad and troubled. So He comforted them in the following ways:
1. gave hopes for the future... many rooms in His Father's house
2. showed where He was going... prepare a place for them
3. showed the way to reach Him... Jesus is the away
4. promised to come back for them... will be permanent

Dear Lord, thank You for taking care of how we feel when You have to leave us on earth. You are so comforting, assuring, and You showed us how we still may reach You now while You are preparing the best for us. Thank You that You will be back for us soon.

In You is the Way, the Truth and Life. I know You are near me in my spirit. I love You, Lord. Amen

.......the devotion of Bee

The Lord Is My Rock

Psalm 18:1-3
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Footnotes: Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.

Bee's Thoughts:

"The heart has reasons that reason does not know."
- Blaise Pascal, French mathematician and theologian

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten - Today's Daily Bread

I always love to read Psalms. They could describe my feelings very well... feelings of joy or sadness, victory or defeat, gladness or distress, comfort or loneliness, and more.

I could identify myself with the feeling of David in the above Psalms. Every word speaks of what I want to tell God.

Why do I love the Lord?

For He is my...
strength - when I am weak,
rock - when I have sinking feeling,
fortress - when I need a place to hide,
deliverer - when I am down and out,
shield - when I need protection.

Yes, when "I call to the LORD... I am saved from my enemies".

.......the devotion of Bee

New Neighbors

Luke 10:29-37

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Bee's Thoughts:

Going fort the Charity Mission trip to help the needy, with the love and compassion of God, is a real eye opener for me to see what it really means by loving my "neighbours". It's only by the grace of God that I could do such a thing. God let me see that without Him, I might be just like these little children and adults whom I was helping. My love went out to them and I decided to go as often as my time permit.

Another "neighbour" we often forget is our loved ones. Many times we take them for granted, and forget that they are our immediate "neighbours" and we are to love them as ourselves too.

Dear Lord, please give me more love and grace to love my "neighbours" just as you have commnaded, to firstly love you, followed by our neighbours as ourselves.

Tommy's Thoughts:

It's very true at times, we are like the priest, ignoring and ‘blind’ to the needs of others around us. We are so preoccupied with our own concerns, problems, fears, hurts and happiness that we overlooked those ‘neighbors’ we came across everyday. Our self-pitying nature hinders us from showing genuine sympathy for others.

If we were to take time and be constantly reminded of the teaching by Jesus; we will start to see there’re many who need our help, attention and care. Jesus wanted us, like the Samaritan, to go all the way in length when helping others. Not half-hearted or just fake, superficial politeness as a show in front of others.

.......the devotion of Bee and Tommy

No Fast Food In The Bible

Psalm 119:9-24

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

g Gimel
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live;
I will obey your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.

19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.

20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.

21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed
and who stray from your commands.

22 Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.

23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.

24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.

Bee's Thoughts:

I like this Psalms very much, not because it has my name in it, but because they appropriately speak of the longing in my heart. The secret to living a pure life and keeping pure love for someone is "By living according to your word" (v. 9).

The secret to avoiding sins is to hide (memorizing) God's word in our heart (v. 11).

I started to memorize scripture verses when I was in the Sunday School. They have truly kept me from many sins and temptations, and also encouraged me in my Christian walks. They would always come to my mind just at the right time, when I am down or when being tempted. They saved me!

Yes, I want to "meditate" on God's word everyday. I want God to "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (verse 18)

The writer of Psalm 119 obviously did a lot of mental chewing as he read God's Word. No fast food for him! If we follow his example of careful and prayerful Scripture reading, we will:

Be strengthened against sin (v.11).

Find delight in learning more about God (vv.15-16).

Discover wonderful spiritual truths (v.18).

Find wise counsel for daily living (v.24).

Meditation is more than reading the Bible and believing it. It's applying Scripture to everyday life.

Dear Lord, the above Psalms are my prayer to You too. I want to get back to basic... to read and keep Your word in my heart "that I might not sin against you".

.......the devotion of Bee

The Servants Knew

John 2:1-11

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.E

Bee's Thoughts:
A wedding is supposed to be a happy occasion... yet when the "wine" runs out it can be very distressing for the wedding couple. The tendency is for them to worry and jump into action.

However, Jesus said, "My time has not yet come." Jesus knows what he is doing and he has his perfect timing in providing solutions for everything that happens.

In the same way, even any beautiful relationship can have hiccups and unexpected problems that cause the couple to feel distress. The solution is still "Do whatever he tells you." and trust Jesus for his perfect timing to perform his miracle.

Dear Lord, please calm my soul and spirit, grant me peace when things happened unexpectedly. Thank you for the assurance that your timing is always perfect, and in the midst of our problems you are always there to show your power and miracle. Amen.

.......the devotion of Bee

My Wounded Healer

Isaiah 53:3-5

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

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.

Tommy's Thoughts:
Deep down inside, I realized that I am still afraid and not confident to start a new relationship; though I wanted so much to share my love and life with someone. But I know I’m not ready and I don’t know when I’ll be able to open my heart for someone. The pain and hurt from my past still haunts me now and then. Though, some may think I’m trying to look for someone that is perfect and ideal; but I’m not. I know clearly it’s a fantasy to find a companion that will never fail you; a person would have to be God to meet those criteria.

After years of losing my sense of self; I know I need more time to be by myself. Thanks to God, I’ve learnt to always come and submit myself to Him; to allow Jesus to help me in the healing and to be the right person: to serve and give myself more to someone in friendship; to learn how to love faithfully, to learn about the opposite sex thinks and feels and to learn how to communicate our heart to others.

Lord, I need to trust You to take care of changing my heart and to completely heal me; to really open it to the person you'll bring to me according to Your timing and purpose for my life. I know Lord, she will still have imperfections and failings, just as I do myself. But she will complement me to build a happier and a more fruitful life together for Christ in the future. Amen.

.......the devotion of Tommy

Yoke Mate

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Tommy's Thoughts:
Over the years, I realized that the most obvious change in my life is the weight of the load I used to carry on my shoulder. I was at the lowest point in my life with enormous weight and burden of sorrow, worry, anger, hopelessness, depression, guilt and stress.

I had put upon these weights myself. I attempted to carry too much stuff, brought along too many things, excess emotional, mental and physical baggage stooping my every posture. I robbed joy from my life, that fatigued my journey and I’d lost a clear view of life's beauty along the way. My future and goal seemed bleak, far off and nearly unreachable; and there was no hope.

And then, Jesus came, with His gentle and humble heart, invited me to trade with Him the load. Jesus offers “You take mine and I'll take yours”. The verse says His yoke is “easy” (Greek word means “well-fitting”); a good yoke that will be kind to the shoulders, carefully shaped for us; enabling us to carry the load more easily. I believe Jesus is also inviting us to be His yoke mate; to learn how to pull the load by working beside Him and watching how He do it. The heavy load will seem lighter when we allow Him to help us lifting it up together.

Thank you Jesus for your gentle and humble heart; to carry for us our burden, lift and lightens them along our life’s journey with a promise of hope for the future and joy for today. Amen.

.......the devotion of Tommy

Hiding From God

Genesis 3:7-13

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Bee's Thoughts:

Reading the above passage brings sadness to my heart again. :(

Why?

I see the weakness and the fall of man.

1. The man (Adam) blaming his woman (Eve), the only one closest to him, when he is being questioned for his sin... though he had the full knowledge of what he should or shouldn't do, not the woman (Genesis 2: 16-17).


2. He not only blamed the woman, but also blame God for bringing the woman into is life (Genesis 3:12). So it's God's fault, to him. Gosh!


3. True, the woman was very naive and vulnerable, easily deceived (Genesis 3:1). But the man should have guided his woman into the right path instead of following her blindly (Genesis 3: 6).


4. The man didn't take up his responsibility as a man, to face the consequences of his sin and also to protect his woman.

I see the weakness of woman and her influence.

1. The woman amplified and added to what God has said (Genesis 3:2-3). Did God say "must not touch it"? No! She didn't even know the name of that "tree". *sigh*


2. The woman was too greedy and ambitious (Genesis 3:6).


3. The woman was very influential to the man.


4. The woman also tried to blame the serpent for her sin (Genesis 3:13).

Dear Lord, please help me not to be deceived by the devil, to be a woman who could influence the 'man in my life' in the right way, and to be bold enough to confess my sins instead of hiding from You.

.......the devotion of Bee

The Ultimate Physician

Luke 19:1-10

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

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

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

8 But 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."

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

Bee's Thoughts:

What makes a person change from 'bad' to 'good'?

An impulsive change can only last for a short while and one's old self will emerge again when the 'motivating factor' is gone. Example: when a man tries to court a gal, he might have a temporal change in order to impress and 'conquer'. However, once he managed to win her heart his true self would surface.

The change Jesus is talking about here is the transformational change, like the ugly caterpillar being transformed into a beautiful butterfly after going through a process. This change has no reversal effect... it's permanent. Only Jesus can perform such a change in a person.

How can one be transformed?

1. Be in Jesus Christ, accept Him into our life and claim this promise...
   

   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

   2 Corinthians 5:17



2. Give ourselves to God, let our mind be renewed, think differently from the worldview...
   

   "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual(reasonable) act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

   Romans 12: 1-2



3. Stay close to, and be in, Jesus all the time... then we shall see the "fruit" of transformation...
   

   "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

   John 15:4

Yes, I find the above verses working in my life as I learnt to claim them as promises from God. If God says so, it must be so! True enough, I see transformation in my life over the years, unknowingly. What I am today is different from what I was before I accepted Jesus Christ into my life.

Thank You, Lord, for transforming my life. I know there are many areas in me that need more polishing till the day I meet you face to face. I long to see you soon. Amen.

....the devotion of Bee

Come!

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Tommy's Thoughts:
Whenever I read these comforting verses, I felt a special invitation from Christ. I can hear Jesus calling me to surrender my wills to Him for rest. Often times, I felt drained of all my strength and weigh down to the ground whenever faced with problems, fear, failure and disappointment. I am so anxious to manage matters myself and not wearing Christ's yoke and surrender everything to Him. I’ve learned that there is no rest but rest only in Christ: rest of conscience; rest of hope; rest of comfort and peace.

Lord, help me to always come to You with the heart by simple faith. Teach me to cast myself wholly unto You and never need “suppose” anything anymore. Help me to not worry about what my circumstances are but knowing Jesus is amply sufficient for me. Thank you Lord for giving me rest in Your loving presence with promise of comfort, restoration, healing and relief. You will forever be my source of hope, strength and peace.

....the devotion of tommy