I was having coffee with a friend recently and he was sharing about how he had developed the practice of being ready to learn from any and every situation and person that he encounters. This willingness to learn from everyone requires opening oneself to what God would teach you at any given time. My friend’s thoughts struck me because if we are ready to see what God will teach us in any situation, then we may begin to realize just how active God is in our world every day.
Perhaps our eyes would become opened and we would see more and more of what he is doing all around us, all the time.
Perhaps . . .
I think a lot of times we want God to do something big—a neon sign in the sky would be helpful at times—and tell us exactly what his will is and where to go, what to do, and what it all means.
But God doesn’t work like that.
When God called Abraham out to start a new people, he simple asked him to “go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Um, thanks, God, that’s really specific instructions, can I get some more detail here? Go. Go where? To the land that I will show you. Where is this land? Start walking and I’ll show you . . .
God was with Abraham every step of the way—even through mistakes that Abraham made—in order to bring him safely to a new land where he would start a new nation. Was there a big golden road map dropped out of the sky? No. But Abraham ended up there safely nonetheless.
In 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah on a mountain asking a question of God, and God tells him to stand on the mountain and he will pass by. Elijah waits, and the wind picks up and becomes so violent that it shatters rocks. Now that’s impressive, lots of wind, rocks shattering. But God was not in the wind. Next comes an earthquake. Okay, I mean, earthquakes do happen, but they do get people’s attention . . . that might be a good way to announce yourself, God. But God wasn’t in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. Well, fire’s a good metaphor, God, a big fire would really get people’s attention. But God wasn’t in the fire. “And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). It’s at the whisper that Elijah covers his head and goes to the mouth of the cave to hear God.
God was in the whisper.
In the quiet . . .
In the space . . .
See, God will not shout to get our attention; rather, he waits for us to become attuned to his whispers. To do that, we need space. We need stillness. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Be still . . .
Goodnight Revelation,
kev
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
DevotionSEVEN: Know your Father's Name
To the non-christians, He may just be known as Jesus. However, just as how we call our dads 'dad' and not by his name, our Father enables us to to know Him by a unique name too. And that is "Abba" (Meaning 'Dad' in Hebrew)
Romans 8:15-17
15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
To others, our dads may just be known as the guy who works at XXX or the one who cooks well. Addressing our dads 'dad' entails a unique relationship we have with this person we see almost everyday in our lives. The day we accept Christ into our lives, is the day when we are offered to enter into a new level of intimacy with God.
Isnt it so comforting to know that our Father above longs to have an intimate relationship with us? Not a master-servant relationship, as servants do not know the business of his master.
But how often do we chase and long after Him? When we're down and out? When exams are near?
Just as how you would want your friend to come to you not only in bad times but also in good times, how much more is He longing for you to share with Him your daily struggles and joy. I think our Father above must feel very hurt when we only remember Him when we need help.
And surely, we wouldnt our friends to know us just by our names, would we?
Lets, together as a cell, strive to have a closer walk with Him and not to just know Him as 'Jesus'. Even on days we feel so distant, let us utter to God "Draw me close to You, never let me go..."
To the non-christians, He may just be known as Jesus. However, just as how we call our dads 'dad' and not by his name, our Father enables us to to know Him by a unique name too. And that is "Abba" (Meaning 'Dad' in Hebrew)
Romans 8:15-17
15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
To others, our dads may just be known as the guy who works at XXX or the one who cooks well. Addressing our dads 'dad' entails a unique relationship we have with this person we see almost everyday in our lives. The day we accept Christ into our lives, is the day when we are offered to enter into a new level of intimacy with God.
Isnt it so comforting to know that our Father above longs to have an intimate relationship with us? Not a master-servant relationship, as servants do not know the business of his master.
But how often do we chase and long after Him? When we're down and out? When exams are near?
Just as how you would want your friend to come to you not only in bad times but also in good times, how much more is He longing for you to share with Him your daily struggles and joy. I think our Father above must feel very hurt when we only remember Him when we need help.
And surely, we wouldnt our friends to know us just by our names, would we?
Lets, together as a cell, strive to have a closer walk with Him and not to just know Him as 'Jesus'. Even on days we feel so distant, let us utter to God "Draw me close to You, never let me go..."
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
devotionSIX - Psalm 37
Morning, it is another brand new day filled with many excitement that is to come! Haha... UOL peeps, have you been studying or slacking? Time to put on your seat-belt and speed through your notes, else we need to have prayer meeting soon to intercede for prelims. (:
Today, we're going to look at Psalm 37. Recently, it has become my favourite psalm as there are many promises, encouragement from God. Read it and claim all that's in it in Jesus' name yeah? I pray that psalm37 will set into your hearts to walk you through the many days ahead. I particularly love 'The Message' version. Lets' take a good look at the psalm and be inspired to be good for God. We can do it together!
Psalm 37 (The Message)
1-2 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.
3-4 Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God, get in on the best.
5-6 Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.
7 Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.
8-9 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt;God-investors will soon own the store.
10-11 Before you know it, the wicked will have had it;you'll stare at his once famous place and—nothing! Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza.
12-13 Bad guys have it in for the good guys, obsessed with doing them in. But God isn't losing any sleep; to him they're a joke with no punch line.
14-15 Bullies brandish their swords, pull back on their bows with a flourish. They're out to beat up on the harmless, or mug that nice man out walking his dog. A banana peel lands them flat on their faces—slapstick figures in a moral circus.
16-17 Less is more and more is less. One righteous will outclass fifty wicked, For the wicked are moral weaklings but the righteous are God-strong.
18-19 God keeps track of the decent folk;what they do won't soon be forgotten. In hard times, they'll hold their heads high;when the shelves are bare, they'll be full.
20 God-despisers have had it;God's enemies are finished—Stripped bare like vineyards at harvest time, vanished like smoke in thin air.
21-22 Wicked borrows and never returns;Righteous gives and gives. Generous gets it all in the end;Stingy is cut off at the pass.
23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God;his path blazed by God, he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long;God has a grip on his hand.
25-26 I once was young, now I'm a graybeard—not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets. Every day he's out giving and lending, his children making him proud.
27-28 Turn your back on evil, work for the good and don't quit. God loves this kind of thing, never turns away from his friends.
28-29 Live this way and you've got it made, but bad eggs will be tossed out. The good get planted on good land and put down healthy roots.
30-31 Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue. His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins;his feet are as sure as a cat's.
32-33 Wicked sets a watch for Righteous,he's out for the kill. God, alert, is also on watch—Wicked won't hurt a hair of his head.
34 Wait passionately for God,don't leave the path. He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.
35-36 I saw Wicked bloated like a toad, croaking pretentious nonsense. The next time I looked there was nothing—a punctured bladder, vapid and limp.
37-38 Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life;There's a future in strenuous wholeness. But the willful will soon be discarded;insolent souls are on a dead-end street.
39-40 The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe. God-strengthened, we're delivered from evil—when we run to him, he saves us.
Today, we're going to look at Psalm 37. Recently, it has become my favourite psalm as there are many promises, encouragement from God. Read it and claim all that's in it in Jesus' name yeah? I pray that psalm37 will set into your hearts to walk you through the many days ahead. I particularly love 'The Message' version. Lets' take a good look at the psalm and be inspired to be good for God. We can do it together!
Psalm 37 (The Message)
1-2 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.
3-4 Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God, get in on the best.
5-6 Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.
7 Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.
8-9 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt;God-investors will soon own the store.
10-11 Before you know it, the wicked will have had it;you'll stare at his once famous place and—nothing! Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza.
12-13 Bad guys have it in for the good guys, obsessed with doing them in. But God isn't losing any sleep; to him they're a joke with no punch line.
14-15 Bullies brandish their swords, pull back on their bows with a flourish. They're out to beat up on the harmless, or mug that nice man out walking his dog. A banana peel lands them flat on their faces—slapstick figures in a moral circus.
16-17 Less is more and more is less. One righteous will outclass fifty wicked, For the wicked are moral weaklings but the righteous are God-strong.
18-19 God keeps track of the decent folk;what they do won't soon be forgotten. In hard times, they'll hold their heads high;when the shelves are bare, they'll be full.
20 God-despisers have had it;God's enemies are finished—Stripped bare like vineyards at harvest time, vanished like smoke in thin air.
21-22 Wicked borrows and never returns;Righteous gives and gives. Generous gets it all in the end;Stingy is cut off at the pass.
23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God;his path blazed by God, he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long;God has a grip on his hand.
25-26 I once was young, now I'm a graybeard—not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets. Every day he's out giving and lending, his children making him proud.
27-28 Turn your back on evil, work for the good and don't quit. God loves this kind of thing, never turns away from his friends.
28-29 Live this way and you've got it made, but bad eggs will be tossed out. The good get planted on good land and put down healthy roots.
30-31 Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue. His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins;his feet are as sure as a cat's.
32-33 Wicked sets a watch for Righteous,he's out for the kill. God, alert, is also on watch—Wicked won't hurt a hair of his head.
34 Wait passionately for God,don't leave the path. He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.
35-36 I saw Wicked bloated like a toad, croaking pretentious nonsense. The next time I looked there was nothing—a punctured bladder, vapid and limp.
37-38 Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life;There's a future in strenuous wholeness. But the willful will soon be discarded;insolent souls are on a dead-end street.
39-40 The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe. God-strengthened, we're delivered from evil—when we run to him, he saves us.
devotionFIVE - WHO AM I?
Before we can really understand who we are in Jesus, we have to understand who we are not. And when you start to get the picture of who we are not, His love just explodes and you'll start getting a better picture of who God is.
Today's devotion, we'll try out something new and fun. We'll watch this 5mins clip and I pray that the words of this song will minister to you in a very great deal.
Today's devotion, we'll try out something new and fun. We'll watch this 5mins clip and I pray that the words of this song will minister to you in a very great deal.
I pray also that His love will empower you to overcome the many obstacles in life. His love is greater than any problem we face in this world. In Him, we will find rest. In Him, we can soar on wings like eagles. We do not need to do anything to prove that we are of worth because God loves us for who we are.
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