Lord, I know that success is sweet, but the process is bitter. But I also know that there are steps that we can take, steps that You provide for us, so that the journey will be endurable, and success be in sight to glorify you. Lord, help me to be dependent on You along and not men. For men are sinners, Yet You are perfect. I know that when I call out to You, You will run to me with opened arms. Lord, help me also, to be strong and of a good courage. I tell myself that I am relaxed, but inside of me, I am fearing. Lord, please remove this feeling of weariness, of fear. For I know that You will say 'Fear not, for I will always be with you.' Only then, can I move on into the plan that God sets out for me, and taste the sweetness of success. Lord, help me to read and digest Your word in my heart. Speak to my heart as I read your word, so that I may take steps of faith in response to it, a step closer to victory. Lord, help me as well, to be not only a believer, but a doer of Your word. For Your word will give me strength to do all things, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I pray that I will glorify You in everything that I do.
Amen.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Steps to success
Let us glorify God in everything that we do!
Joshua 1:1-8
The LORD Commands Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1) Be dependent on God and not men (v2)
- all men are sinners
- nobody is perfect except God
- the perfect man on earth is Jesus
- the Lord was with Joshua, which ensured him success
- the oneness with God is our only source of victory (Joshua and Jehovah are one in Hebrew as written in the bible)
Jeremiah 17: 5-8
5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Matthew 26:38-41
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak"
2) Be strong and of a a good courage (v9), walk in faith
- it is a command by God, not a word of encouragment
- have the power to obey
- every word of God that he commands has the power in itself to be fulfilled (His word is alive, like a hammer and like a fire)
- do not take your eyes of the word, lest you sink
Matthew 14:28-33
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
3) Be reading and study the word (v8)
-let's be digesting the word in our hearts
- Jesus did not operate apart from the word
Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Matthew 4:4 (its on my post below. It was God's plan to lead me to read about understanding His word as written in the book 'The Power of a Praying Teen', such that when the 3rd and 4th point was preached, the message spoke clearly to me)
Psalm 119:33 33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
4) Be doing all that is in your word (fully surrendered) (v8)
- obey things that you know and have learnt in the bible
- the moment you repent, God restores
- let us come back to You, Lord, our first love
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
James 1:22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
1 Samuel 2:30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
Similar to passage of Joshua:
Isaiah 1:1-6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Joshua 1:1-8
The LORD Commands Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1) Be dependent on God and not men (v2)
- all men are sinners
- nobody is perfect except God
- the perfect man on earth is Jesus
- the Lord was with Joshua, which ensured him success
- the oneness with God is our only source of victory (Joshua and Jehovah are one in Hebrew as written in the bible)
Jeremiah 17: 5-8
5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Matthew 26:38-41
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak"
2) Be strong and of a a good courage (v9), walk in faith
- it is a command by God, not a word of encouragment
- have the power to obey
- every word of God that he commands has the power in itself to be fulfilled (His word is alive, like a hammer and like a fire)
- do not take your eyes of the word, lest you sink
Matthew 14:28-33
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
3) Be reading and study the word (v8)
-let's be digesting the word in our hearts
- Jesus did not operate apart from the word
Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Matthew 4:4 (its on my post below. It was God's plan to lead me to read about understanding His word as written in the book 'The Power of a Praying Teen', such that when the 3rd and 4th point was preached, the message spoke clearly to me)
Psalm 119:33 33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
4) Be doing all that is in your word (fully surrendered) (v8)
- obey things that you know and have learnt in the bible
- the moment you repent, God restores
- let us come back to You, Lord, our first love
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
James 1:22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
1 Samuel 2:30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
Similar to passage of Joshua:
Isaiah 1:1-6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Food for our souls
Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
I pray, Lord, that you speak to my heart as I read your word, so that I may respond to Your word appropriately, and be not only a hearer, but a doer of Your word. And that my soul may never be thirsty or hungry again. Amen
I pray, Lord, that you speak to my heart as I read your word, so that I may respond to Your word appropriately, and be not only a hearer, but a doer of Your word. And that my soul may never be thirsty or hungry again. Amen
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Trust
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
When a strong voice calls out to me from the depths of my mind, "Trust in me and I will lead the way", a tiny voice at the back of my brain replies "I will!" That's all that is needed to secure a promise with God that He will be there for us. We just need to trust!
When a strong voice calls out to me from the depths of my mind, "Trust in me and I will lead the way", a tiny voice at the back of my brain replies "I will!" That's all that is needed to secure a promise with God that He will be there for us. We just need to trust!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Obedience is key
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Luke 11:28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Obey His commands, and we will have strength to stand upright, and are blessed. Your grace shall be my strength.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Running for Him
Let's sprint the last lap and not slow down or give up.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Your name
Your name,
is a strong and mighty tower.
Your name,
is a shelter like no other.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
is a strong and mighty tower.
Your name,
is a shelter like no other.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
He holds my future
Psalms 37
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
1. God will guide our steps.
God has a specific plan in mind for each of us, suited to our own individual talents, abilities and sphere of influence. God delights when His children follow His path. I bet He even smiles. Won't you ask God for direction for each step of your journey today?
2. God will break our fall.
Even the best of us get tripped up from time to time - even if we are following God's directions. We get tripped up from our insecurities. We get knocked down by being overwhelmed at all that we have to do. God will break our fall so that when we do hit the ground we will also be able to get back up again. Where are you today? Have you fallen? Have you gotten back up? If not, why not?
3. God will hold us up.
In spite of our failings, we are guaranteed by God's word that we will not remain down for good: we will not be utterly cast down. Isn't that a great promise? We will not be utterly cast down because the LORD will uphold us with His hand. In what way can you let God hold you up today?
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
1. God will guide our steps.
God has a specific plan in mind for each of us, suited to our own individual talents, abilities and sphere of influence. God delights when His children follow His path. I bet He even smiles. Won't you ask God for direction for each step of your journey today?
2. God will break our fall.
Even the best of us get tripped up from time to time - even if we are following God's directions. We get tripped up from our insecurities. We get knocked down by being overwhelmed at all that we have to do. God will break our fall so that when we do hit the ground we will also be able to get back up again. Where are you today? Have you fallen? Have you gotten back up? If not, why not?
3. God will hold us up.
In spite of our failings, we are guaranteed by God's word that we will not remain down for good: we will not be utterly cast down. Isn't that a great promise? We will not be utterly cast down because the LORD will uphold us with His hand. In what way can you let God hold you up today?
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Great things He hath done
Romans 11:36 Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through God and for God. To God be the glory forever! Amen.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Evangelistic Night
God's grace knows no boundaries
Forgive and forget
Let Go, Let God
God gave us our being
Be grateful for what we have
Do not crave for what we dont
Man is saved by grace, the heart is established by grace, and we are justified by grace (Eph. 2: 5, 8, Heb. 13: 9, Tit. 3: 7).
Forgive and forget
Let Go, Let God
God gave us our being
Be grateful for what we have
Do not crave for what we dont
Man is saved by grace, the heart is established by grace, and we are justified by grace (Eph. 2: 5, 8, Heb. 13: 9, Tit. 3: 7).
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Combined service with children's church
Uth service 8/7/07
Are you ready for the RAPTURE?
God is coming.
He may come today, tomorrow, or 100 years from now.
No one knows!
But if He comes today,
have you done anything shameful that makes you afraid to meet God
To cover your face, and cower in fear,
Or are you going to say: "God am i Glad to see you!"
Be ready.
Give up all your transgressions to God,
so He may forgive you of all your sins.
And trust and believe in the Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ!
I am not sure if Im ready.
I have a lot more to learn.
I pray for You to give me the guidance.
So i may follow You without turning back!
Those who do not believe
and will not learn to believe
shall regret
when they have to suffer 7 years of tribulations.
God will not be there for them
It is too late to say, "Im sorry!"
So start today.
Make your promises with God.
A new heaven and earth.
Eternity begins.
What more can we look forward to,
then the Coming of our Lord!
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Are you ready for the RAPTURE?
God is coming.
He may come today, tomorrow, or 100 years from now.
No one knows!
But if He comes today,
have you done anything shameful that makes you afraid to meet God
To cover your face, and cower in fear,
Or are you going to say: "God am i Glad to see you!"
Be ready.
Give up all your transgressions to God,
so He may forgive you of all your sins.
And trust and believe in the Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ!
I am not sure if Im ready.
I have a lot more to learn.
I pray for You to give me the guidance.
So i may follow You without turning back!
Those who do not believe
and will not learn to believe
shall regret
when they have to suffer 7 years of tribulations.
God will not be there for them
It is too late to say, "Im sorry!"
So start today.
Make your promises with God.
A new heaven and earth.
Eternity begins.
What more can we look forward to,
then the Coming of our Lord!
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Facing the Giants, a Christian film
Uth service 1/6/07
For all those who are not saved, are fearing, weary of life and wanna be lifted up, this movie will definitely touch your hearts and inspire you. The show was created by a church, with only volunteers as cast and crew, but it turned out to be a great success, with His grace, in bringing people to God, . The main theme in the show is: DO NOT FEAR FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
The movie spoke right into my heart, especially a bible verse from Revelations 3:7-9 - What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
As my mum put it so succintly, God has closed one door, but opened another for me. Yes, this year has indeed been a tremendous challenge for me. But, whatever happens, i will still love, praise and worship you. And i will never give up. You alone hold my tomorrow and You hold my hands. God has closed doors that He doesnt want me to open - council, exco, team, but He has opened doors as well - CT rep. I am really grateful for this opened door, Lord. Yes, now i know that life is never smooth-sailing, but NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with YOU.
Amen
For all those who are not saved, are fearing, weary of life and wanna be lifted up, this movie will definitely touch your hearts and inspire you. The show was created by a church, with only volunteers as cast and crew, but it turned out to be a great success, with His grace, in bringing people to God, . The main theme in the show is: DO NOT FEAR FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
The movie spoke right into my heart, especially a bible verse from Revelations 3:7-9 - What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
As my mum put it so succintly, God has closed one door, but opened another for me. Yes, this year has indeed been a tremendous challenge for me. But, whatever happens, i will still love, praise and worship you. And i will never give up. You alone hold my tomorrow and You hold my hands. God has closed doors that He doesnt want me to open - council, exco, team, but He has opened doors as well - CT rep. I am really grateful for this opened door, Lord. Yes, now i know that life is never smooth-sailing, but NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with YOU.
Amen
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