Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Come Follow Me
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The View From The Mountain
Notice three things: (1) Not everybody gets to go up the mountain. Jesus picked the three who went. He didn't take everybody so nobody would feel slighted. And He didn't explain or apologise to the other disciples who stayed at ground level. God loves us all equally but He doesn't give us all the same assignment or experiences with Him. God makes the call, not us, so trust Him. He knows what He's doing.
(2) Those who go up the mountain aren't necessarily wiser or more Spiritual. After seeing Jesus enveloped in the glow of God's glory, Peter blurted out, "Let's build three tabernacles and stay here" (Matthew 17:4). Peter was sincere, but he was sincerely wrong. Resist the temptation to speak by waiting to hear what God has to say, or to build your ministry around an experience you've had with God that's designed to equip you personally rather than become the theme and emphasis of your life.
(3) God's plan is to feature Jesus, not you. And it's a lesson we keep having to learn over and over. "While He was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'… When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus" (Matthew 17:5-8 NIV). The greatest challenge in your life is getting to the place where you focus on "no one except Jesus". The most important relationship you have is with Him. The only plan that will work out right is the one He gives you. And the power needed to fulfil that plan comes from Him alone.*************************************************************************************
Bible Reading: Matthew 17:1
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Pattern Of This World
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SILENCE AND SPEECH
Extracted from today's Meditation for Lent; Posted by Peter Yong. Meditation Text: Mark 15:1-15. Jesus is Judged by Pontius Pilate.
'Jesus gave no further answer.’ During the time when he was accused and judged by Pontius Pilate. Jesus remained silent most part of the inquiry. He spoke when needed but mostly He was silent. In the case of Christ, silence and speech nurtured each other.
Bishop Robert Solomon in his ‘Feast for the Soul’ talked about God being silent because He had something to say. And we can only hear what he has to say if we join Him in His silence. When he speaks he is often heard in a gentle whisper (1 King 19:12). Silence enables us to face God and ourselves and come to terms with reality. Jesus’ moments of silence were deeply penetrating and prophetic. When he was unjustly accused and tried before His crucifixion, he remained silent. His silence showed a deep trust in His heavenly Father.
Read the passage of Jesus being interrogated again. Notice His silence and how penetrating that is. He chose not to speak to defend Himself.
We live in a world of words, articulation, noise and self-advocacy. The more extroverted and self-confident we appear, the more acceptable we are to the world. Yet the way of Christ seemed to counter the ways of the world.
Stand in the court with Jesus and witness the hearing. Listen to their accusations. Look at Jesus. Pay attention to His words and His silence. What do you feel? What are you drawn towards?
Over to you
Is there something in your life during this Lent that you need to bring before the Lord and sit with Him in silence? Pay attention to what happens to you in the silence? Is there something about your life that you feel the Lord seemed silent about? Will you sit with Him in silence and hear afresh the meaning of His loving response?
Prayer
Lord, may this Lent teach that the sound of silence can penetrate the soul so that I will let you have Your way in me and know that You are with me even in silence.
*************************************************************************************************Further Lent Reading: Jer 7:23-28, Psalm 95:6-11, Luke 11:14-23
*************************************************************************************************Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Faith Not Doubt
Monday, March 16, 2009
TOUCHED BY LOVE
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Are You Workaholic?
When you experience rejection early in life you feel like you constantly have to 'prove' yourself, so you become a workaholic in order to gain people's acceptance. One woman writes, "I can still hear my father yelling, telling me I'd never be any good, never amount to aytnhing. The more he yelled, the more determined I became to prove him wrong." Do you have voices like that in your head? It's true that you'll succeed by working hard, but to experience lasting satisfaction you must know that you're fulfilling God's will for your life. When all is said and done, what matters most is knowing you're loved and accepted by God. What can top that?
God measures with a different yardstick. He won't ask what kind of car you drove, but how many people you gave rides to. He won't ask the square footage of your home, but how you raised your children and treated your family. He won't ask about the brand names in your closet, but who you helped to clothe. He won't ask about your salary, but how much you invested into the building of His Kingdom. He won't ask about your job title, but if you tried to perform with excellence and integrity. He won't ask how many friends you had, but how many people you were a friend to. He won't ask what neighbourhood you lived in, but if you loved your neighbour. He won't ask about your politics or the colour of your skin, but about the quality of your character. So don't just work hard, work hard for the right reasons!*************************************************************************************
Bible Reading:
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:6
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***Upcoming Events***
Date: 09/05/2010 |
Thursday Night 8:00pm | Prayer Leader | Worship Leader | LCD |
13/05/2010 | Sally Tan | Yvonne Lee | Wendy Tiong |
20/05/2010 | Ting Kong Yu | Sii Ling | Grace Len |
Shining as Stars
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Phillippians 2:12-13
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