Joy of True Friendship and Love

John 15:7-14

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.

Reflection of Bee:

The above passage is a very familiar one. However, the message seems much clearer to me tonight than before. It talks about how we may have joy by having true friendship and love with each other as true believers of Christ.

How can we have joy?
When we remain in Christ's love (v11)

How do we remain in Christ's love?
When we obey His command (v10)

What is His command?
Love each other (true believers) in the way Christ loves us (v12).

How does Christ love?
Willing to lay down His life for His friends (v13).

Who are Christ's friends?
Those who obey His command (v14).

Who are our friends?
Those who are Christ's friends (v14).


Clearly, to be a true FRIEND of Christ is to obey His COMMAND to LOVE our fellow Christians who also obey Him. To truly love is to be willing to lay down our lives for each other. In this way our JOY will be full/complete. Therefore, true joy, friendship, love and obedience are all interlinked and not stand alone. They are 'fruit' of true disciples of Christ (v8).

We can't expect true joy when we don't obey Christ's command to love those who love Him.
We can't have true friendship with Christ when we can't have true friendship with those who love Him.
We can't say we love Christ when we can't love with actions for those who love Him.

If someone says he loves Christ or is a friend of Christ but does not practice the command of Christ stated above, he is lying to himself.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for showing me clearly what it means to be Your friend, to love and to experience Your joy.
I want to be Your friend, to love and to experience Your joy the way You command. Help me to obey fully, Lord.
In Jesus' name I ask these.



Reflection of Tommy:
It is easy to be frustrated and even sink into depression when bad things keep happening to us. We may then seek out ways to temporarily make ourselves feel better or to run away from our problems. But, often as we depend on these earthly ‘horses’ for relief, it doesn’t takes long before we sink even lower in our misery or worst getting us into more problems (Amos 5:19). We will never find true lasting joy and peace when we are easily swept by the rolling waves of circumstance.

The solution to have a lasting and complete joy is by developing a consistent relationship with Jesus. When we walk closely with Him each day and obeying His commands, we will remain in His love (v10). He will supply us with true joy, peace, wisdom and courage to move forward, even as life's challenges trying to pull us down.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to remain in You and having Your Words remain in me (v7), bearing good fruits as a true disciple of Christ. Guard my heart and mind that I may not be constantly distracted and pulled down by my problems. Teach me to follow You, to obey Your commands and to spend more time listening to Your leading. Lord, I will give You praise and thanks in all things; good or bad..bringing all glory and honor to You. 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.

How God Shows His Love

John 13:5-17

5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Reflection of Bee:

Many times we don't know why God allows certain bad things happened to us, especially in the midst of the situations we go through. They may be very hurtful situations, e.g. someone accused us wrongly, or someone we loved deserted us, or someone we trusted very much betrayed us, etc. We might be left broken and wondering why us? What have we done wrong? We need an answers to all our questions.

Yes, we don't understand why. However, one God will disclose to us the reasons and make us understand (v7). A speaker shared recently that when God remove something/someone from us, He may be trying to protect us. Yes, it very painful... I still feel the pain whenever I think of it, even now. But by faith, I know God is doing it for my good. I shall understand fully one day.

Despites the hurt, we need to love in Jesus' way.... we are to be humble (washing of someone's feet) and loving. That is love.

Dear Lord,
As I remember the things that happened to me, the people who have hurt me, I felt the pains once again. :'( Thank You for reminding me that I will understand Your plans clearly one day. Teach me to love in spite of what others do to me. Teach me to know how to response correctly. Teach me humility and service.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.





Reflection of Tommy:

From this passage of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, we learn that as a follower of Christ, we are to serve others with a humble heart. To be a leader, we must be a servant, serving others in love and ways that glorifies God. Are there anyone around us that we can serve today? Are we willing to also follow through and serve like Christ do?

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to have a willing heart to serve You and Your people. Guide me to take time to listen to You, showing me opportunities to serve those in needs. Teach me to let go of any pride or self-will that hinders me from serving effectively for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Preeminent One

Matthew 21:1-11

The Triumphal Entry
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a]

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
"Hosanna[d] in the highest!"

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Reflection of Bee:

In the same village there were those who knew Jesus and those who didn't. Similarly today, some know Jesus, some do not. For those of us who know who He is, we need to proclaim Him to those who don't.

Yes, my church will be having an evangelistic drama show this coming Good Friday to proclaim the One we believed in. I am inviting some non-believing friends to come along. I pray that they will know who the Preeminent One is.

Dear Lord,
May You bless this coming Good Friday as we take the opportunity to share Your love with others. I pray for the friends we have invited that You will remove all obstacles that may hinder their coming. May You touch their hearts as they watch the drama.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen





Reflection of Tommy:

Every Palm Sunday, we lift up glad hosannas of praise to Jesus, our King of kings and Lord of lords. We shout that He is truly the preeminent One, the greatest and most important person in our lives.

But, do we truly see Him as the almighty and sovereign Ruler for the rest of the days? Do we often feel helpless and easily crushed by circumstances around us? Has we been disillusioned by how God works or bad things that has happened to us? Do we sincerely trusting Him to be in control and to rest in His loving care?

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to mean everything I say. I thank and praise You for Your sovereignty and the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus for me. Teach me to always trust in You and see You working in every areas of my life, even when there’re no or lack of tangible or instant results.

Lord, remind me always not to anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presenting my requests to You (Philippians 4:6). And Your peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind always in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Which Way Am I Growing?

Galatians 6:7-10

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature^[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight we are reminded of the principle of retribution or reaping what we sow. It is a comfort to those who seek to do right despite all odds.

There were many times I felt being unjustly treated but each time God reminded me that vengeance is His, He will repay accordingly. Whoever treated me unjustly will receive what they sowed. Sometimes, the ones that do that to me may be Christians whom I have trusted. Yes, I felt very disappointed, hurt and sad. But then again, they are still my brothers and sisters in Christ and I will leave it to God to due with them. I am to do good to them instead.


Dear Lord,
Though it may seems hard to accept that even Christians can do things to hurt me badly, yet I know that I am to do good to them. I pray for your strength and grace to forgive and bless those who hurt me. May You lead them to the path You want them to go and may Your love touches them.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes, we tend to ignore what we sow, thinking our action will have no or little negative effect on us or on others. But, Paul made it clear in today’s passage that if we always sow to please our sinful nature, we’ll reap crop of sorrow, evil and destruction. We may not yet realize the consequences of our action, but sooner or later it will be too late for us to mend the situation.

Paul then teaches us instead of merely sowing to please our own desires; we should sow to please God. By doing so, we will reap true joy, fulfillment and everlasting life with God.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me that every action has results and everything I do matter. Teach me not to be shortsighted and reckless but to have an eternal perspective on anything I do. Lord, continue to guide me to abide in You, sowing what pleases You and submitting all my wills to You each day. I pray You will continue to provide me the strength to live for You and for others; to grow in Your grace and kindness. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Evening

Ephesians 5:6-17

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Reflection of Bee:

To be wise - make the most out every opportunities (v15), share Christ with others

To be foolish - not knowing God's will (v16), reading the bible and pray is how God can speak to us.

Dear Lord,
Speak to me tonight that I know what You have in store for me. Teach me to choose the options wisely to Your glory.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:
In today’s passage, Paul gives us a good insight on how to handle our relationship with unbelievers. He was not talking about cutting all contact or even discriminating them, but instead to have the wisdom and right intention when we befriend unbelievers.

We must not condone to the lifestyle of those who make excuses for their bad behavior and recommending them to others. When we yoke with them, it is more likely they influence us for evil than us bringing them to good (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We must always on the lookout for those who are viciously evil, immoral or opposed to all that Christianity stands for.

Above all, we must befriend unbelievers if we are to sincerely lead them to Christ with love, like how Jesus taught His followers in Luke 5:30-32.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me that as a child of light, I need to live in ways that pleases You (v10) and have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (v11). Guard my heart and mind always when I’m with unbelievers, that I may have the wisdom and right intention to do what is right in Your sight. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Never Hunger

Psalm 23 (Amplified Bible)

A Psalm of David.

1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.(A)

3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Reflection of Bee:

I was so thrilled when I saw tonight's passage, as I had been pondering over v1 during my bath before my devotion. So it seems God is confirming with me that I shall not lack or need anything more than I have, regardless of my situation. In fact, when I reflect on the things that God allowed to happen in my life I see God's hands and blessings in disguise.

Yes, whenever I make Jesus "my shepherd" to guide me, I shall not lack. He constantly refreshes me and protects me from harms. Yes he prepares "a table before me in the presence of my enemies". This really takes place. Praise God!

Dear Lord,
I see Your goodness, mercy and love in my life all these years. Thank You very much. I pray again that the things I do, the decisions I make, the words I say will be to Your glory. Guide me, my Shepherd, lead me to Your green pasture.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:
One of the worst tragedies in life is not having what we want. Discontentment is the primary source of unhappiness, frustration and misery. For most people, the things that they want are not bad in themselves and some are actually very good (eg. a better relationship with children, parent, or spouse).

But God wants us to learn to be content now through our fellowship with Him in Christ. He wants us to experience the peace and joy of His presence now, resting in Him, regardless of our circumstances or unfulfilled earthly desires. We need to ask God to open our eyes to see ways we are exchanging His glory for things on earth, resulting in our discontentment.

As Jesus has said "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35), God wants to fill the emptiness of our heart, all our want and discontentment, with the joy and love of Christ. Not only filling it, He wants to keep pouring until it even overflows to others.

Dear Father, thank You that Jesus has come to give me not only a new life, but to have it abundantly (John 10:10). Teach me to believe and be thankful that I can always have the fullness of joy in Your presence regardless of the circumstances. I choose to obey Jesus' command to abide in His love.

Lord Jesus, I trust You, through me, to keep Your commandments so that I will abide in Your love and have Your joy made full in me. I offer my mind and mouth for use by the Holy Spirit in giving continual thanks with praise, and sharing the love and joy of Christ with others. In Your mighty and precious Name I pray, Amen!

Morning

Lamentations 3:19-32

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.

29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.

30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.

Reflection of Bee:

Very often, my anger for someone never last. Before the morning comes, my anger would have been dissipated. For the Lord has taught me to forgive. Yes, though I may still wonder why that person hurt me, but I don't bear grudge against that person.

As follower of Christ we just reflect the image of God. It is God's work in our hearts, not our own doing. In the same way, God's anger upon us will not last forever. He is full of compassion and mercy towards His children. However, we should not take that for granted.

Dear Lord,
Thank Your for your Your compassion upon me all the days of my life. Thank You that You did not give up on me but continue to transform my life to be more like Yours. May I continue to show compassion and mercy to others as well.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

There are many sincere Christians out there who feel so disappointed with themselves for constantly falling into sin that they stop asking God for forgiveness altogether. They live with guilt and bitterness; thinking they are unworthy of anymore grace or mercy from God.

But from the Bible, we know that God’s great love and compassion for us never fail (v22). There are no sin he would not forgive if we are sincere, and no matter how many times we have fail Him, He still will offer us His forgiveness as they are new every morning (v23). So, before it’s too late, return to God for He is waiting to welcome us back into His loving arms.

Dear Father, thank You for Your love, grace and mercy to forgive an unworthy sinner like me. Thank You for what Christ has done that allow me to approach and reconcile with You again. Teach me with all Your loving lessons, always seeking You and Your kingdom first. Lord, guide me to reflect silently each day on what You wants and be patient to wait on You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Unlikely Heroes

Judges 2:7-19

7 The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres [a] in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.

16 Then the LORD raised up judges, [b] who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD's commands. 18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Reflection of Bee:

History repeats itself, so is our generation of people as stiff-necked as the people of the Old Testament's generation. There is nothing new under the sun, just a different expression of sins. Yet those who continued to seek God despite of these sinful environments are 'heroes' through the grace of God. We need to stay strong in our faith and resist the temptations that surround us daily.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for keeping me despite being in such environments. Thank You for Your grace the saw me through my life's journey. Even as I continue to travel without my special companion now, I pray that You will keep me strong. I pray for my new career venture that You will guide me as I have to make many new decisions. May each decision I make brings glory to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:
Throughout Bible, we can see those who worshipped idols receive the harshest punishment from God. It is very bad in God’s sight and it violates the first 2 Commandments He gave to us. But even today, many Christians are still indulging in worshipping all kinds of idols. They created their own gods to satisfy their selfish and sinful nature.

As Christian, we need to be aware that there are many things that can tempt us to compromise and abandon our faith. We need to always be on guard and seek the guidance of God to help us live in His way and not be pressured into disobedience in order to be accepted by others.

Dear Father, thank You for the message today and how You can see there might be things ahead that may lead me astray. Forgive me if I have not put You first in my life or ignoring Your clear commands to me. Keep my feet firm to walk obediently in Your way and protect my heart and mind from things that are unacceptable to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Number Our Days

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

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.

7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

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

11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

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

13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

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.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor [b] of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Reflection of Bee:

God's term of reference is different from ours. He is immortal, we are mortal. He is eternal, we are transient. His 1-day is our 1000x365-days (v4). That explains why we can't see what He sees. We tend to see the present but He could see our future and have allowed things to happen in our life for our good. For this we could sing for joy.

Yes, we also need God's favour, otherwise the things we do may not be established (v17).

Dear Lord,
I commit all my works and plans to You now. Teach me to number my days and walk in Your favour.
I pray for Your unfailing love to be with me every morning too, that I may sing for joy throughout the day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Psalm 90 written by Moses is probably the oldest Psalm of all. Nevertheless, it contains a timeless, important truth about our time on earth being short and that we should spend it on things that are eternal. But so often, we find ourselves concentrating and channeling all our time and energy on things that are perishable and of little value. We should take time and effort to number our day (v12), to spend them wisely each day, realizing how fragile our lives really are and the urgency of God’s message for us.

Dear Father, thank You that because You are eternal, completely in control and unrestricted by time (v4), I can depend and trust on You. Forgive me of often blinded by the pursuit of temporal fulfillment that I lost track of being an effective follower of Christ. Guide and remind me always to spend my time more wisely and for eternal good. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Hearing The Sermon Again

Matthew 4:12-17

Jesus Begins to Preach
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."[a]

17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Reflection of Bee:

Many of us are quite 'hard of hearing' when it comes to spiritual things. That's why Jesus has to say "my sheep hear my voice". He did not say "my lamb hear voice". That means there is a process of growth needed in our Christian life before we can recognize the voice of God when He speaks to us. What God tells us to do will never deviate from the biblical principles. Therefore, we need to study the bible to know what they are and start following them first. When we are obedient to what is obvious and clear, we will be able to hear God's voice and know His direction.

Repentance can only take place when we know our wrongful ways. So again it is necessary to know right from wrong as we read the bible and allow the Holy Spirit of God to prompt us to do what is right.

Dear Lord,
Please remove all blockages that made 'hard of hearing' to Your voice. Let me be still and know what You want to tell me. Give me strength to obey You even though at times it may seems painful at the beginning. For You promised to work all things together for good to those who loved You and are called according to Your purpose.

Thank You for today's Sunday message that help me see why You have taken me out of certain situations or removing certain people from my life. For You want to bless/promote me and to protect me from harms.
Thank You for so many exciting things and plans that are coming my ways. Thank You for opening the doors for me. I pray for more guidance and wisdom to make the right decisions.
In Jesus' name I pray.Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Jesus started His ministry with the message of repentance. It is as important during that time as it is today, but many still have problem to truly understand what repentance is all about, or how to repent? To truly repent, we need to first direct our heart toward God, asking Him to teach us how to train and make it easier for you to turn and draw near to God.

Repentance is practice of continually carrying our cross and forever dying to self; turning our lives over to Christ’s control. It is also about continually being more and more alive to God!

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to repent from all my old ways that are not pleasing to You. Help me to draw closer to You, to take up my cross, turning away from my self-centered ways and continually trusting and surrender to Your direction and control. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

For Her and Him

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[b] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Reflection of Bee:

Although the above passage seems to be talking more about a marriage relationship, the implication goes beyond that. It talks about true love and submission in a healthy relationship, which can also be applicable to singles.

"We believe that God's purpose for the body of Christ is that it should provide the context for deep and satisfying relationships. Marriage is one context for meeting our needs, but not the only one by God's design."
- FIND OUT WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

The command is for a wife to "submit" to her husband, not so much as to love her husband. Why? Women, by God's design, tend to love their men or husbands without being told when they can feel and see the men's love for them. However, submission might be a bit of a problem when they have more knowledge than their men. Submission and respect also go hand in hand. If the women find it hard to respect their men, it will be hard to submit. Yet women need to learn submission.

As for the men, the command is to "love" their wives. Men have the tendency of falling head-over-heel for their women during courtship or initial marriage. Yet time will tell if the men actually love the women in their lives or it was just some emotional infatuation. Therefore, men need to learn to truly love, just like Christ loves (sacrificial and unconditional).

The love of the men for their women will pave the way for this to happen. Mutual love, submission, and respect are what God wants us to have in a healthy Christian relationship with each other.

Dear Lord,
Teach us, your sons and daughters in Christ, to learn to truly love and submit just like Christ did. Turn our eyes upon Jesus so that we can model after Him. Teach us not to be selfish, but to love unconditionally. Teach us to submit to the authority You have ordained.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

In our today’s culture, submission is not a popular concept and it has been distorted by some to give unlimited authority to husbands. But in today’s passage we can learn from Paul, that true submission is mutual and its God’s way to preserve order and harmony in any kind of relationships. It also increases love and respect between two persons.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to submit and love one another by choice. Thank You also for guiding me to submit to You, that I may willing to obey Your command to submit to others too. Lead me to trust You more to be changed and renewed by Your Word each day, and being sure that Your perfect love will see me through. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Keep On

Psalm 66:1-10

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.
1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.

4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name."
Selah

5 Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in man's behalf!

6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.

7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
Selah

8 Praise our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;

9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.

10 For you, O God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.

Reflection of Bee:

Tonight's devotional title, "Keep on", and the article that followed it struck me hard. For they echoed my thought today and was inspired to write my poem "Stay Strong In The Rain".

Very often, we may crumble when the 'rain' of broken hopes, dreams, trust, love, friendship, or relationship falls on us. We tend to see all things we do in life as "meaningless" just like what Ecclesiastes 1 says. Yet despite the 'rain', despite the fact that our pains mean nothing to anyone, and no one care about us, we have to "keep on" and "stay strong in the rain".

Some Christians may become too 'heavenly' or 'spiritual' that they do not feel their own or others' pains anymore. Instead of being in touch with their own emotions or that of others, they begin to quote scriptures to tell themselves and others that they shouldn't feel sorrowful about the pains and hurts they or others experienced.

Tonight's devotion shows us that God is the one who "preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping". That means, we do go through times of doubts and sadness. He is the one who "tested us" and "refined us like silver" (v9 , v10). We should be able to feel our emotions and that of others, but we take heart that all trials are under God's control.

However, knowing this fact does not make us 'robot' and have no feeling for others since God will be caring for them. In fact, a truly spiritually matured Christian is one who is able to empathize with others. Jesus was 'earthly' and human when He was on earth. He could empathize and weep with those who felt hurt and sad. He did something about their sorrows and not just tell them not to feel sad.

So what is meaningful in life? Ecclesiastes 12 concludes that....

1 Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
"I find no pleasure in them"-

13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for helping me find back my soul instead of just pretend to be 'heavenly'. As I begin to feel my emotion once again, I remember I need to rely on You. Thank You for keeping me from falling and moulding my life. Your "tests" helps me understand others better so I can console them when they need a listening ear and a shoulder to cry. Give me a heart of compassion always.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:
It is always easy to complain what thing doesn’t go the way we wanted it. We seldom see God working in us through our trials; to refine and build our character and to help us to grow. Very often trials bring us a new and deeper wisdom, which helps us to discern truth from falsehood. It also gives us the discipline to do what we know is right.

Dear Father, thank You and I continue to praise You for both the good and bad things. Although there are still things I yet to truly understand but I trust You to make them clear to me one day. Meanwhile, give me Your strength, peace and wisdom to obey and surrender my all to You. Lord, guard also my heart and mind that I may always walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

The Pain Machine

Acts 24:16

16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Reflection of Bee:

How can one forgive, be kind, and compassionate when one has been hurt over and over again by the same person? How can one not feel angry or bitter in such situation? Yet the above passage is asking us to do what seems impossible.

Yes, it is really impossible if we do it in our strength. The above passage says we can do it because God has first forgiven us (though we have hurt Him over and over again too). Because of Christ, we can forgive, we can do the impossible just like what the poem, Forgiveness, by Brenda Terrell says.

I do feel hurt and very sad each time I think of the past and present hurts. Yet when I think of Jesus, forgiveness is the word that rings in my heart. Forgive just as I have been forgiven. I can't forgive in my own strength, I have to rely on God's strength to do it.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for giving me strength to forgive too. Teach me to release all past and future hurts to You. Teach me to forgive and bless those who have hurt me, betrayed me, and made me miserable.
I raise my hands now to give You all of them. Please take over and do what is necessary that Your name may be praised.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

God gives each one of us conscience that alerts us of spiritual harm. But, often we find ourselves ignoring it and allow ourselves to be controlled by our sinful nature. We hide ourselves from God for a moment, foolishly thinking He can’t see us for deliberately avoiding His commands and sinning against Him.

Like what Paul mentioned in today’s passage, he always strives to keep his conscience clear before God and man (Acts 24:16). Likewise, we should do the same whenever the Holy Spirit alerts us of our wrongful ways. Ask God for strength and wisdom to obey and allow His reminder to train and produce in us godly character.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your constant reminder whenever I begin to swerve from Your way. Teach me also to confess and repent from any wrongdoing, keeping my conscience clear before You and others. Remind me also that as Your children I can always choose not to sin against You and others, as You have said that You who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). I thank You and pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What is Love?

1 John 3:11-18

Love one another
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Reflection of Bee:

What is love?

Love is to "lay down our lives for our brothers" (v16). It is not just words, but actions and reality (v18).

It may not be so hard to love this way for just ONE person, but to do this for everyone may be a tall order, or seems impossible. Yet that is how God wants us to love our "neighbours".

Love needs to grow and build upon something. We can't love anyone overnight. Can we? To love in such a way we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Perhaps we can't do it at first since we are born selfish. But the Spirit of God can help us to grow to love one or two persons in this way at first. As our capacity to love expands (when we spend time with God) we will learn to love more and more people in this way.

Dear Lord,
I confess that I can't love everyone in the way You do at the moment. But I will learn to love someone in that way as Your Spirit works in my heart and brings that person to me. I pray that I will learn to love more people in that way as I draw love from You. For You are love.
Guide me to those You want me to love in this way.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

Sometimes it is easier to say we’ll die for someone than to truly live for them. Making daily decision to care for those in need; putting others’ desires before ourselves; be generous in giving our possession, time and energy in service to others without expecting anything in return.

God often bring people into our life, to teach us how to love and care for them. Real love is more than mere words of kindness but involves proactive action and effort to reach out to others in a selfless and sacrificial manner. So, we need to ask the Holy Spirit daily to guide us and teach us to love others genuinely.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me never to be a murderer at heart (Matthew 5:21,22) but to truly love others the way You love them. Guide my heart that I may never harbor resentment or bitterness towards those who has wronged me. May I love others selflessly and sacrificially always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

A Word From The Wise

James 3:1-12

Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Reflection of Bee:

When I was younger I thought losing my hearing is the end of the world for me, 'cos I love music.... I love to listen and to make music. I was in the school band then when I lost my hearing partially. I cried and felt I would rather die then.

But now as a grownup, the most important function I need is seeing. I use it all the time, except sleeping. In a way, I am a visual person. As I mentioned in my blog, Who will be there for me, the losing of my sight will be worse than losing my any other abilities, such as hearing or speaking.

Speaking is the least I need. For I speak little. I speak only when I am compelled to do so to help someone or to refute a wrong statement. I speak only when necessary. I tend to admire those who can speak well effortlessly.

"Silence is golden", as the saying goes. Is it true?

The above passage warns us to control our tongue or speech, not that we should keep quiet. We need to use our tongue for something good, such as encouraging someone or to praise God. We don't use it to destroy someone or to curse. The only way to control this little organ is living a life by the Spirit and have "self-control" over it.


Dear Lord,
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. May my words be seasoned with 'salt' that would heal and build others. Otherwise, let me be quiet if I have nothing better to say.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

With the same tongue we praise God, we use it to curse others (v9). When we care less with our speech, we often do great damage to others with what we say. We display our untamed tongue when we use it for gossiping, putting others down, lying, manipulating and cursing others.

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to help us fight this destructive fire of our tongue by asking Him to give us strength and power to monitor and control what we say. We also need to always remember to ask these questions before we say anything- Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me once again to be aware of what I say to others. Forgive me for often out of anger and frustration, responded with hateful and hurtful words to others. Teach me to not only say what is right at the right time, but also controlling the desire to say what I shouldn’t. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Heart For Others

2 Corinthians 11:22-30

What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Reflection of Bee:

Sometimes the greatest enemy can be those closest to us... from within. Paul was in danger from his "own countrymen" and those who pretended to be "brothers", besides the dangers from without (v27). In spite of those dangers, he was concerned for the churches. He recognized his own weaknesses (v29). Yet he knew that his strength came from God despite of them. Therefore he recognized that his victory came from God.

As I reflect on my life, I too had gone through much sufferings, persecution, enemies within, betrayal, 'desertion', 'abandonment', lost of self-esteem, self-doubt, self-hate, even suicidal thoughts. I have had fair share of weaknesses and sins, just like Paul. But I am what I am today because of the grace and mercies of God in my life. Without God, I may not be here today.

Yes, I may still be human and still need to feel human touch, warm and love. Yet I know that humans will be humans and they can be very unreliable, unless God has transformed their lives. Therefore, the only one I can rely on has to be God.... any one that comes along would be a gift from God.


Dear Lord,
As I read the above passage, it reminds me of how You had saved me and saw me through all my life's trials and temptations. I am weak but You are strong. You have kept me from all wrongs. Let me continue to walk with You, Lord. I pray that You will transform my life even more. That I may be someone who can reach out to another who needs to feel human warm and love, instead of hoping to be loved. May Your love rules my life that I may forgive and bless those who have hurt me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

From verse 28-29, we see how Paul not only faced physical threats and dangers; he was also under pressure in worrying about the health of the churches. He was deeply concerned for the members of the churches in their growth and the threats from false teachings that were so prevalent during that time.

If God has bring opportunities for us to lead or guide His people, we should not do it to make us looks better than others, instead do it out of love for them like Paul.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to always serve Your people out of love and gratitude for the love You have shown to me. Guide my every words and actions that they are not to glorify myself but You alone; helping and building others up and leading them to Jesus and centering their lives on Him. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Religion Or Christ?

Ephesians 2:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)

From Death to Life
1In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. 3Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

4-5But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. 6God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. [a] This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

Reflection of Bee:

Before we accept Christ, we could not see how sinful we were. But after we have accepted the salvation of God through faith and read His words daily, we could see how sinful we once were. The things we once thought were harmless are actually things the devil used to control our thoughts and caused us to sin.

This salvation comes as the grace of God towards us and not because of our good works, and we have nothing to boast about. Someone has paid the price.... He is Jesus Christ... through His blood.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving me Your salvation freely. Let me also share it freely with others that they may also receive Your grace too. I pray that You will guide me in my dealing with people around me that I will use every opportunity to share Your love.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

From today’s passage, does it mean that as Christian, we have the option to do or not to do good works? Although no action or work can earn us our salvation, but when we accept Christ it will result in us wanting to do good as a respond of gratitude, praise and joy. And we will know then, revealed by the Holy Spirit, that we are saved not merely for our own benefit but to serve Him and others, building up the church.

Dear Father, thank You for revealing all these great truths to me. Thank You for Your unmerited grace that allow a sinner like me to be reconciled with You. Guide me to never stop learning and apply Your Word in my daily life, serving You and others with love for the extension of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Rivers Of Living Water

John 7:37-44

37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as[a] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

40On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."

41Others said, "He is the Christ."

Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family[b] and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" 43Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Reflection of Bee:

It's a promise that Jesus will give us the living water when we come to Him. All He asks us to do is, "come". Sometimes we may feel dry in our spiritual walk. That's the time we need to turn to the living water and drink till we thirst no more.

Dear Lord,
I want to drink of Your living water... quench my thirst now, heal my body, soul and spirit. Let me once again be filled with Your life and overflow Your goodness to those come in contact with me. I need You now.
I pray too for Your living water to flow to my special friend.... to cool his stressful body, soul and spirit. That's he will know Your will for his life and follow Your leading. May Your love, joy and peace fill his soul tonight.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:
There are those who risk their lives for the reason of living life to the fullest. They think that through those activities they will receive true fulfillment. It doesn’t take long for them to realize they are still ‘thirsty’, empty inside. So, they begin another search for new ‘wells’ that might somehow quench their thirst; filling the void inside their heart and soul. Often, these earthly “wells” are destructive; making the drinker more unfulfilled, empty, sick, sad, and sorry. The author of Ecclesiastes called it a chasing after the wind.

In today’s passage, we get to know a well that can truly quenched our thirst. By accepting Christ, out of our heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). This source is the Holy Spirit, who is like a well of satisfaction (7:39) and we’ll have a continual source of spiritual refreshment. Not only that, we will be conduit of God to overflow His blessings to others.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to always tap into the right well for true fulfillment and refreshment. Forgive me of easy to find fault in others who drink from bad wells but exhibit similar attitude myself when longing for other fulfillments other than You. Teach me to come back to the right Source, the only Source, Jesus Christ. May I be empowered by the Holy Spirit as I thirst more of You and be used effectively in the great plan for Your people. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

This Is A Warning

Deuteronomy 28:58-63

58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God- 59 the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. 60 He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed. 62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God. 63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.

Reflection of Bee:

The God we serve is one who is both compassionate and just, loving and righteous. Because of these opposite attributes in God's character, Jesus has to die on the cross to fulfill both of them. Our sinfulness calls for God's punishment on us because He is righteous. Yet His love calls for Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf so that those who accept His redemption can be saved from the wrath of God.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your love, but let us not forget that You are also a righteous God who cannot tolerate sins. I want to ask that right now You will search me and cleanse me from all my unrighteousness. May all my thoughts and words be acceptable in Your sight.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Reflection of Tommy:

I saw a very good Christian book that day where the author hand-picked and categorized all comforting passages in the Bible as a quick reference when we are in despair, discouraged, worry etc. Although this is a good book but we shouldn’t rely entirely on books like this for our walk as a Christian.

Today passage is one of the ‘harsher’ sides of the Bible that gives us the bigger picture of the Bible as our ultimate source in our walk. It helps us to see that God is not a mere genie in a bottle for us to satisfy all our wishes. It takes true humility to acknowledge God is above all our standards of justice, to be an obedient child to God.

Dear Father, thank You for the lesson today, not to only know how to ask and take all the time from You without showing genuine desire to change and to follow all Your commands. Thank You for letting me know that despite some of Your commands seem difficult, but they are entirely for my own good. May all my words and action be pleasing to you always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.