Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Every Setting Sun leads to a Rising Sun
Going through tough days are never the easiest things to experience. However, we can be relieved to know that all things are still in control with regards to God being in charge.
Ps 50:1
"A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the Lord, Has spoken and called the earth From the rising of the sun to its going down."
Ps 74:16 (MSG)
"You own the day, you own the night; you put stars and sun in place."
Ps 104:19 (NIV)
"The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down."
Ps 104:19 (NIV)
"The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down."
Everything's in place! The day has its purpose to serve, & so does the night. If God feels that something needs to be in place, then what else are we to think? Going with God's direction is definitely going to bring us somewhere. We've learnt in Church, that we live life on levels, and we arrive in stages. At times, the nights simply marks the end of a season - A moving on to a next level.
Ecc 1:5
"The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises."
"The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises."
Ps 30:5
"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."
Every setting sun will always lead to a rising sun! What's true in the natural is also true in the spiritual. We won't live life entirely in the night, cause the day's always round the corner. I love what Ps 30:5 says, "But joy comes in the morning."
Be it success or failure, stay close to God, & His Word. Nothing bad will come out of it at the end. Nothing can smite us & bring us down
Ps 121:6 (ASV)
"The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night."
"The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night."
Ps 84:11 (NIV)
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless... (MSG) All sunshine and sovereign is God, generous in gifts and glory. He doesn't scrimp with his traveling companions."
At the end of the day, it's really encouraging to know that God has His blessings in place for all of us going through life. As we strive to shine for Him in our own individual ways, His gifts & glory towards us are generously showered upon us. Indeed, we serve a great God, who is worthy to be praised!
Ps 113:3
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Labels: Daily Devotion
Posted by Kenneth at
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Impartation & Commitment
Mark 1:17-18
"Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him."
In CHC, it's often said that the anointing is caught, not taught.
Leadership is impartation, not education. We are students through enrolment, but we are disciples through commitment.
Usually, when we meet up with people from different schools, a common question would be "what school are you studying in?" or "(for those in Uni/Poly) Which faculty/subjects do you take?" • more often than not, it's a "what are you studying?" question & not a "who are you studying under?"
Today, textbooks, Internet & computers have taken over the role of "discipleship" which has become less efficient & effective
"Who are you studying under?"
In Jesus' times, the emphasis was on the Rabbi (mentor), & not the material studied - disciples are mentored through time & living lives together - it required commitment & decision making - In Mark 1, Jesus invites Simon Peter, James & John to follow & travel with Him.
The truth is we remember & learn much more quickly from relationships & experiences than from a classroom
The discipleship Jesus provided for His disciples created a launching platform for them to do greater works. A good Rabbi equips the next generation to achieve more in their lives.
May the leadership in the House of God continue to grow stronger & ever bringing the following generation into a deeper relationship with God.
Labels: Daily Devotion
Posted by Kenneth at
Monday, June 28, 2010
I just want You
Mat 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God."
A daunting task for humans! Pure heart?
MSG puts it this way...
"You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."
Desiring to have a deeper relationship with You has been at the top of the agenda. More understanding on life, a better grasp of what's thrown at us constantly, how the Word takes effect in me... ... A list of answers I'm seeking. The exact same ones I had when I first met You, answered, but revisited upon facing a complex growing life.
Keeping a pure heart in the midst of growing up is not easy, yet not unattainable.
Riches & glory - It's a goal that's set before us. Getting them is part of shining for You. But keep my heart pure Lord. I don't want to lose sight of what's most important.
Rom 7:13
"I can already hear your next question: “Does that mean I can’t even trust what is good [that is, the law]? Is good just as dangerous as evil?” No again! Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within God’s good commandment, sin did far more mischief than it could ever have accomplished on its own."
Someone once told me, that if we have set in our hearts on wanting to do something, we can always find enough reasons (even scriptural ones), to justify our actions - Preoccupancy in my own ambitions.
Is what I'm doing eventually going to destroy me? That's probably one of the cues to evaluate my path.
It's truly a daunting task. Moving from salvation into commission while keeping a pure heart.
You're important to me. A pure heart, that's what I long for - one that follows after Thee
Labels: Daily Devotion
Posted by Kenneth at
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tame the tongue
Pro 10
"The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse... The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words. The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless. The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart."
Mastering of the tongue could very well be the toughest to achieve out of all the body parts we have.
It's takes wisdom, patience, long-suffering, love to have control over our speech.
All that life throws at us justifies & tells us to blabber on & feel better about it. But never underestimate the devastating effect it can have on the people around us.
"The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it."
The power of the tongue is indeed formidable. May we all grow to be better encouragers, edifying one another & building up our spiritual family.
May our words help clear the air & not further pollute it.
Labels: Daily Devotion
Posted by Kenneth at