Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
The tree was always there. It didn't grow there instantly. What was missing was the seeing. God had to show Moses the tree. I guess it must be a small, non-descript one -- small, because he could uproot it & cast it into the bitter waters. Non-descript, because Moses didn't notice it till God directed his gaze to it.
The solution is there, for God has provided it.
Prayer:
Lord, let us have the eyes to see the solutions that You have already provided in answer to the difficulties we face. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Letting God lead
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still
That verse always encourages me whenever I feel so pressured to "do something, anything!" It's good to know He always comes through, only if we're still enough to receive the solution that comes from, and through Him.
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I've hastened ahead, and as a result, taken a longer time to arrive at the destination than expected. It has been my fault, not to trust in You, trustworthy God. But I'm also thankful for the many times I've learnt to still myself, not rushing ahead, and as a result, seen Your hand at work, sorting & smoothing things out. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
That verse always encourages me whenever I feel so pressured to "do something, anything!" It's good to know He always comes through, only if we're still enough to receive the solution that comes from, and through Him.
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I've hastened ahead, and as a result, taken a longer time to arrive at the destination than expected. It has been my fault, not to trust in You, trustworthy God. But I'm also thankful for the many times I've learnt to still myself, not rushing ahead, and as a result, seen Your hand at work, sorting & smoothing things out. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Only after the blood, frogs and lice
Exodus 8:22 " 'But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.' "
As I read that, I would wonder: How come the Lord made a distinction only after the first three plagues -- of blood, of frogs and of lice? Couldn't he have made the distinction from the start?
Was there a law of sowing & reaping at work? The Israelites in 5:21 blamed Moses & Aaron for Pharoah's harshness, saying they were the cause of their sufferings -- that their actions have "put a sword in their hand to kill us." Even though God spoke further encouraging words through Moses, the people would not listen "on account of their despondency and cruel bondage" (6:9). Because of they had indeed, gone against the Lord in their rejection of Moses, they suffered as the ungodly Egyptians suffered, through three plagues.
Perhaps, sufficiently humbled at seeing the power of God, they could have repented. And so, God spared them the rest of the plagues.
I can only speculate. But mysteries like these make the bible so much more interesting.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, when unfortunate things happen, help us to see how Your hand is at work to bring us to a better place. Help us not to grumble & complain, but to see your faithful providence in action. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
As I read that, I would wonder: How come the Lord made a distinction only after the first three plagues -- of blood, of frogs and of lice? Couldn't he have made the distinction from the start?
Was there a law of sowing & reaping at work? The Israelites in 5:21 blamed Moses & Aaron for Pharoah's harshness, saying they were the cause of their sufferings -- that their actions have "put a sword in their hand to kill us." Even though God spoke further encouraging words through Moses, the people would not listen "on account of their despondency and cruel bondage" (6:9). Because of they had indeed, gone against the Lord in their rejection of Moses, they suffered as the ungodly Egyptians suffered, through three plagues.
Perhaps, sufficiently humbled at seeing the power of God, they could have repented. And so, God spared them the rest of the plagues.
I can only speculate. But mysteries like these make the bible so much more interesting.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, when unfortunate things happen, help us to see how Your hand is at work to bring us to a better place. Help us not to grumble & complain, but to see your faithful providence in action. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Bricks out of straw
Exodus 5:17-18 Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."
Ever felt a drive to produce more & more, while what you're able to actually get done seem to get less & less? Ever felt the condemnation that you're not doing enough -- and that even though you don't have the resources, you have to meet the quota set for you?
That's what the "Pharoah spirit" is like. It takes more & more out of you, consumes more & more of your energy & resources, and when it is done, you're thrown aside.
Prayer:
Father, I pray for those of my brothers & sisters who are being driven by this spirit, too tired to continue, but too hopeless to find a solution for themselves. I pray that You give them the boldness and courage to make the necessary changes in their life situation. Help them face their fears, and help them know that You are their provider, they don't need to fear. Mark this on their hearts, I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Ever felt a drive to produce more & more, while what you're able to actually get done seem to get less & less? Ever felt the condemnation that you're not doing enough -- and that even though you don't have the resources, you have to meet the quota set for you?
That's what the "Pharoah spirit" is like. It takes more & more out of you, consumes more & more of your energy & resources, and when it is done, you're thrown aside.
Prayer:
Father, I pray for those of my brothers & sisters who are being driven by this spirit, too tired to continue, but too hopeless to find a solution for themselves. I pray that You give them the boldness and courage to make the necessary changes in their life situation. Help them face their fears, and help them know that You are their provider, they don't need to fear. Mark this on their hearts, I pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Blessing or cursing
Matthew 12
"...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Also see James 3:9-12.
Curses are negative words spoken that "limit" or "wish harm" on a person. We can readily recognise the latter, but are we as ready to recognise the former? When I spoke to my RTF trainer to elaborate more on curses, she said: "A curse has power to limit a person from moving to her destiny."
The power of a put-down
I remember a story of a child being repeatedly told he was "a failure," and "good-for-nothing" by his father. Guess what he grew up to be? How about "harmless" words, such as "you're forgetful"? Said often enough, the person starts being forgetful. She is bound by the words spoken over her.
The power of a put-down is given through:
a. the emotional energy of the person doing the cursing -- anger, hostility -- all these negative emotions give power to the spoken word. This can be disguised as "playful teasing" unless you're the object being teased -- you know subconsciously that someone is trying to paste labels on you. Labels and libel aren't too far apart.
b. Constant repetition. Someone repeatedly told that she's "too emotional" over time can bring about the very thing that one wants to correct.
c. People, even Christians, who have undealt with occultism in their generational line. There is demonic oppression behind their words.
Christians are generally careful not to use obvious curses. The more subtle ones are harder to spot.
These can come in the form of comparisons:
"Your sister is so pretty." The message given to the other sibling is, she's not.
"Your brother is the smart one." The message given to the other, is that he's not.
Often, we curse ourselves:
"I can't pray aloud in front of others."
"I'm shy."
"I'm clumsy."
All the above seem to be statements based on "fact." Repeated often enough, it binds a person to a certain set of beliefs and behaviours that limit her from moving onto her destiny.
Prayer:
Father, this is a vast and nebulous subject which I'm trying to make concrete & to condense in a few paragraphs. Teach us, I pray, about the power of the spoken word to bless, or to curse. Let us be a people free to always bless others, and careful not to curse. In Jesus' name, amen.
P.S. You can also read "Blessing or Curse" by Derek Prince.
"...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Also see James 3:9-12.
Curses are negative words spoken that "limit" or "wish harm" on a person. We can readily recognise the latter, but are we as ready to recognise the former? When I spoke to my RTF trainer to elaborate more on curses, she said: "A curse has power to limit a person from moving to her destiny."
The power of a put-down
I remember a story of a child being repeatedly told he was "a failure," and "good-for-nothing" by his father. Guess what he grew up to be? How about "harmless" words, such as "you're forgetful"? Said often enough, the person starts being forgetful. She is bound by the words spoken over her.
The power of a put-down is given through:
a. the emotional energy of the person doing the cursing -- anger, hostility -- all these negative emotions give power to the spoken word. This can be disguised as "playful teasing" unless you're the object being teased -- you know subconsciously that someone is trying to paste labels on you. Labels and libel aren't too far apart.
b. Constant repetition. Someone repeatedly told that she's "too emotional" over time can bring about the very thing that one wants to correct.
c. People, even Christians, who have undealt with occultism in their generational line. There is demonic oppression behind their words.
Christians are generally careful not to use obvious curses. The more subtle ones are harder to spot.
These can come in the form of comparisons:
"Your sister is so pretty." The message given to the other sibling is, she's not.
"Your brother is the smart one." The message given to the other, is that he's not.
Often, we curse ourselves:
"I can't pray aloud in front of others."
"I'm shy."
"I'm clumsy."
All the above seem to be statements based on "fact." Repeated often enough, it binds a person to a certain set of beliefs and behaviours that limit her from moving onto her destiny.
Prayer:
Father, this is a vast and nebulous subject which I'm trying to make concrete & to condense in a few paragraphs. Teach us, I pray, about the power of the spoken word to bless, or to curse. Let us be a people free to always bless others, and careful not to curse. In Jesus' name, amen.
P.S. You can also read "Blessing or Curse" by Derek Prince.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
For such a time as this
Gen 45
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.... 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God".
Esther 4:14 "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
God's ways are not man's ways. Joseph, brought up as a favourite, with nice clothes & specially loved by his father Jacob suddenly has everything torn away and is flung, as it were, on the rubbish heap -- the victim of his jealous brothers.
But he had certain characteristics that helped him survive, and even thrive -- he was close to God, he had administrative ability, and favour with people in authority. Wherever he was, he was able find favour, whether it was in the captain's house or the prison. It was hard training -- he had to face injustice after injustice -- first, brutalised by his brothers; then, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife who must be having some kind of mid-life crisis, thrown into prison, and just when he thought he might get out by doing the butler a favour, had to languish another two more years in his dank cell. But God had his purposes. When the time was right, Joseph again, rose to the top, this time to rule Egypt.
By learning to obey God in all things through the school of hard knocks & not giving in to bitterness, he was able to forgive his murderous brothers when they presented themselves in front of him -- although not without giving them a taste of the terror he must have felt, to be handed over to slavers to an unknown fate. (Honestly, he could have taken revenge & killed them all for what they did to him). By this time, God knew he could trust Joseph not to abuse his power.
When I read his story, I have hope -- hope for those of us who feel that they've been given a hard lot in life. When we trust God in the midst of the darkness & learn our lessons well, He'll raise us up to be light for others.
Prayer:
Father, I pray for those of us facing a hard time now, or struggling with past injustices dealt to them. Father, may you show yourself faithful to Your Word, to lift them up from the pit, and to give them a new song to sing, a song of praise to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.... 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God".
Esther 4:14 "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
God's ways are not man's ways. Joseph, brought up as a favourite, with nice clothes & specially loved by his father Jacob suddenly has everything torn away and is flung, as it were, on the rubbish heap -- the victim of his jealous brothers.
But he had certain characteristics that helped him survive, and even thrive -- he was close to God, he had administrative ability, and favour with people in authority. Wherever he was, he was able find favour, whether it was in the captain's house or the prison. It was hard training -- he had to face injustice after injustice -- first, brutalised by his brothers; then, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife who must be having some kind of mid-life crisis, thrown into prison, and just when he thought he might get out by doing the butler a favour, had to languish another two more years in his dank cell. But God had his purposes. When the time was right, Joseph again, rose to the top, this time to rule Egypt.
By learning to obey God in all things through the school of hard knocks & not giving in to bitterness, he was able to forgive his murderous brothers when they presented themselves in front of him -- although not without giving them a taste of the terror he must have felt, to be handed over to slavers to an unknown fate. (Honestly, he could have taken revenge & killed them all for what they did to him). By this time, God knew he could trust Joseph not to abuse his power.
When I read his story, I have hope -- hope for those of us who feel that they've been given a hard lot in life. When we trust God in the midst of the darkness & learn our lessons well, He'll raise us up to be light for others.
Prayer:
Father, I pray for those of us facing a hard time now, or struggling with past injustices dealt to them. Father, may you show yourself faithful to Your Word, to lift them up from the pit, and to give them a new song to sing, a song of praise to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Baby race
Gen 29-30
As a new Christian, when I first read the passage of Rachel being favoured by Jacob over Leah, I naturally assumed that Rachel would get all the babies first. (I have English Lit background & novelists always have a beautiful heroine who'd be witty, wise, & always gets her man, plus everything she needed in life. ) I was astounded that GOD chose to give Leah the babies first! This went against all that I'd been taught about life from the novelists!
Lesson No: 1
Man (in this case, Jacob), may practise favouritism, but God, in His kindness & mercy, favours the "weak-eyed" wife with the babies first. Not that it helped Leah to win Jacob's love, although she hoped and hoped with baby after baby.
Rachel, of course, green with jealousy, says to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" I actually felt pity for poor Jacob, to be faced with such an impossible demand. "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?" was his indignant reply.
Rachel's subsequent ploy was to give her maid Bilhah to Jacob, and so through those means, she got two babies.
Score: Leah:4, Rachel:2
Leah, seeking to keep the lead & taking a leaf from Rachel's book, gives her maid Zilpah to Jacob. Through these secondary means, she got 2 more children.
Score: Leah:6, Rachel:2
Rachel, now desperate, resorts to magic & superstition & she bargains with Leah to have Reuben's mandrakes (there was an old wives' tale that eating mandrakes could induce pregnancy). In exchange, she gave Leah the right to sleep with Jacob.
"I have hired you with my son's mandrakes," Leah tells Jacob as he returns, weary from working in the fields. I wonder what Jacob felt...
But, Rachel was to rue the day she allowed the bargain, for Leah got another son --in fact two more. And after that, a daughter. (By this time, Rachel would have deduced that eating mandrakes doesn't work).
Nevertheless, at long last, "God remembered Rachel" and she became pregnant and gave birth to Joseph.
Score: Leah: 8, Rachel: 3
As we know, Rachel later conceived again, and she gave birth to Benjamin before she died.
But Leah had won the race long before.
Moral of the story:
Man may practice favouritism, but it is God who decides whom to favour.
As a young Christian, I was also astounded to discover from reading the Word that the line of Judah, from whom Jesus descended, didn't come from the loved wife, Rachel, but from the unloved one, Leah. (God doesn't follow the usual story line of the English novelists I used to read.)
Lesson No: 2
God's ways are not man's ways.
Prayer:
Dear Father, let me not judge by what I see, but by Your Holy Spirit. Give me Your wisdom, I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
As a new Christian, when I first read the passage of Rachel being favoured by Jacob over Leah, I naturally assumed that Rachel would get all the babies first. (I have English Lit background & novelists always have a beautiful heroine who'd be witty, wise, & always gets her man, plus everything she needed in life. ) I was astounded that GOD chose to give Leah the babies first! This went against all that I'd been taught about life from the novelists!
Lesson No: 1
Man (in this case, Jacob), may practise favouritism, but God, in His kindness & mercy, favours the "weak-eyed" wife with the babies first. Not that it helped Leah to win Jacob's love, although she hoped and hoped with baby after baby.
Rachel, of course, green with jealousy, says to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" I actually felt pity for poor Jacob, to be faced with such an impossible demand. "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?" was his indignant reply.
Rachel's subsequent ploy was to give her maid Bilhah to Jacob, and so through those means, she got two babies.
Score: Leah:4, Rachel:2
Leah, seeking to keep the lead & taking a leaf from Rachel's book, gives her maid Zilpah to Jacob. Through these secondary means, she got 2 more children.
Score: Leah:6, Rachel:2
Rachel, now desperate, resorts to magic & superstition & she bargains with Leah to have Reuben's mandrakes (there was an old wives' tale that eating mandrakes could induce pregnancy). In exchange, she gave Leah the right to sleep with Jacob.
"I have hired you with my son's mandrakes," Leah tells Jacob as he returns, weary from working in the fields. I wonder what Jacob felt...
But, Rachel was to rue the day she allowed the bargain, for Leah got another son --in fact two more. And after that, a daughter. (By this time, Rachel would have deduced that eating mandrakes doesn't work).
Nevertheless, at long last, "God remembered Rachel" and she became pregnant and gave birth to Joseph.
Score: Leah: 8, Rachel: 3
As we know, Rachel later conceived again, and she gave birth to Benjamin before she died.
But Leah had won the race long before.
Moral of the story:
Man may practice favouritism, but it is God who decides whom to favour.
As a young Christian, I was also astounded to discover from reading the Word that the line of Judah, from whom Jesus descended, didn't come from the loved wife, Rachel, but from the unloved one, Leah. (God doesn't follow the usual story line of the English novelists I used to read.)
Lesson No: 2
God's ways are not man's ways.
Prayer:
Dear Father, let me not judge by what I see, but by Your Holy Spirit. Give me Your wisdom, I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
No longer tongue-tied
Matthew 10
19...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
I love these assurances. Time and time again, God has proved this promise to me. He truly guides me in what to say, and how to say it. He gives me a thirst for him, to seek after Him, to read His word, to pray, to reflect, to learn to continuously lean on Him (I am constantly practicing the last part).
Prayer:
Dear Father, I am thankful for this promise of Your constant guidance. Indeed, time & again, You have proved yourself true. Thank you for teaching me to rely on You each day. In Jesus' name, amen.
19...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
I love these assurances. Time and time again, God has proved this promise to me. He truly guides me in what to say, and how to say it. He gives me a thirst for him, to seek after Him, to read His word, to pray, to reflect, to learn to continuously lean on Him (I am constantly practicing the last part).
Prayer:
Dear Father, I am thankful for this promise of Your constant guidance. Indeed, time & again, You have proved yourself true. Thank you for teaching me to rely on You each day. In Jesus' name, amen.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Discerning true from false
Matthew 7-9
7:15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
How necessary discernment is nowadays, especially for people involved in inner healing & deliverance ministries! Sometimes we need to test a vision of Jesus received by the person we're ministering to, especially when the Jesus behaves differently from the Jesus we know in the bible. How essential it is for us to know the Word, in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.
Prayer:
Father, continue to help us be faithful in reading your Word, especially for those of us called to the inner healing & deliverance ministries. Give us a discerning heart and a quick & sharp mind, to challenge & overthrow the schemes of the evil one against our lives & the lives of those we're ministering to. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
7:15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
How necessary discernment is nowadays, especially for people involved in inner healing & deliverance ministries! Sometimes we need to test a vision of Jesus received by the person we're ministering to, especially when the Jesus behaves differently from the Jesus we know in the bible. How essential it is for us to know the Word, in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.
Prayer:
Father, continue to help us be faithful in reading your Word, especially for those of us called to the inner healing & deliverance ministries. Give us a discerning heart and a quick & sharp mind, to challenge & overthrow the schemes of the evil one against our lives & the lives of those we're ministering to. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Gen 23 -- Singlish version
This chapter never ceases to fascinate me. The custom of polite bargaining and reading "between the lines" is so Chinese! And so Singaporean. So, this is the Singaporean (irreverent) version:
Abraham: "I want buy land bury my wife. Can sell me?"
The Hittites: "No need pay, lah! Can give you free!"
Abraham (pretends not to see Ephron, who's sitting among them): "Oh, let me buy... Can talk to Ephron for me? I can buy -- full price, no problem!"
Ephron: "No need, no need. Can give you!"
Abraham: "Can pay, can pay. No problem, can pay."
Ephron: "Aiyah, worth 400 shekels only. No need to talk anymore ah."
Abraham: "Oh, must pay. Must give you... I insist..."
Ephron (reluctantly): "Aiyah, give also don't want. Okay lah... if you insist..."
So amazing, this save-face procedure, which continues until today, at least among the Chinese. I don't really know any Mid-eastern people, so I can't say if it still continues among them, although I suspect it does.
Prayer:
Father, may we continue to be sensitive to the cultural mores of the different peoples we meet in our lives. May we demonstrate the tact & sensitivity of Abraham wherever you send us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Abraham: "I want buy land bury my wife. Can sell me?"
The Hittites: "No need pay, lah! Can give you free!"
Abraham (pretends not to see Ephron, who's sitting among them): "Oh, let me buy... Can talk to Ephron for me? I can buy -- full price, no problem!"
Ephron: "No need, no need. Can give you!"
Abraham: "Can pay, can pay. No problem, can pay."
Ephron: "Aiyah, worth 400 shekels only. No need to talk anymore ah."
Abraham: "Oh, must pay. Must give you... I insist..."
Ephron (reluctantly): "Aiyah, give also don't want. Okay lah... if you insist..."
So amazing, this save-face procedure, which continues until today, at least among the Chinese. I don't really know any Mid-eastern people, so I can't say if it still continues among them, although I suspect it does.
Prayer:
Father, may we continue to be sensitive to the cultural mores of the different peoples we meet in our lives. May we demonstrate the tact & sensitivity of Abraham wherever you send us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Restitution
Gen 20-22; Matt 6:19-34
Gen 20:16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Do we make restitution when we offend someone? Is a "sorry" enough? I guess it depends on the severity of the offence. The king took Sarah publicly, and so, there had to be a public restitution to compensate for the slur on her reputation. He ensured she was completely vindicated, not only be his words, but by his deeds. He had the fear of God.
Prayer:
Father, may we have that same honesty and integrity that this person displayed when he found out he had dishonoured someone, albeit unintentionally. If necessary, may we make the proper restitution to the one injured by our action. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Gen 20:16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Do we make restitution when we offend someone? Is a "sorry" enough? I guess it depends on the severity of the offence. The king took Sarah publicly, and so, there had to be a public restitution to compensate for the slur on her reputation. He ensured she was completely vindicated, not only be his words, but by his deeds. He had the fear of God.
Prayer:
Father, may we have that same honesty and integrity that this person displayed when he found out he had dishonoured someone, albeit unintentionally. If necessary, may we make the proper restitution to the one injured by our action. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Let us reason together
Gen 18-19; Matt 6:1-18
Gen18:23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
Gen 19:19 "But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. 20 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."
Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord...
Isn't it wonderful that God is open to us reasoning with Him? He can be reasoned with. And He can modify His plan, without compromising His purpose. He's not a Dictator. He is Father.
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you that I can approach you with my prayers and petitions without fear. Thank you for the knowledge that You are willing to listen, and even modify some of Your plans, when we pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Gen18:23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
Gen 19:19 "But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. 20 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."
Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord...
Isn't it wonderful that God is open to us reasoning with Him? He can be reasoned with. And He can modify His plan, without compromising His purpose. He's not a Dictator. He is Father.
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you that I can approach you with my prayers and petitions without fear. Thank you for the knowledge that You are willing to listen, and even modify some of Your plans, when we pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
A reason for the season
Gen 16-17; Matt 5:27-48
Gen 16:9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."
A strong instruction to Hagar, fleeing from Sarah -- "Go back to the one persecuting you!" And yet, comfort -- "I will increase your descendants..."
This is so, so God... Strong in His commands, yet tender when it comes to His promises. With one, comes the other. Our obedience is temporal, but the reward, eternal.
Prayer:
Father, may I obey you, even in the "hard" things, for your heart is one of Love, one of Blessing, one that desires the best for us. There IS a reason for the season.
Gen 16:9 Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count."
A strong instruction to Hagar, fleeing from Sarah -- "Go back to the one persecuting you!" And yet, comfort -- "I will increase your descendants..."
This is so, so God... Strong in His commands, yet tender when it comes to His promises. With one, comes the other. Our obedience is temporal, but the reward, eternal.
Prayer:
Father, may I obey you, even in the "hard" things, for your heart is one of Love, one of Blessing, one that desires the best for us. There IS a reason for the season.
Mount of Beatitudes
Matthew 5
Imagine Jesus sitting at the Mount of Beatitudes & teaching his disciples. What a beautiful view they all had! The present Mount is occupied by the Catholics. The first two pictures were taken in 2004, during the off season -- can be wet, but it was quiet & lush. The Catholic church is in the background. The third picture was taken last year, during the peak season. You can imagine what it was like then!
Monday, 5 January 2009
No quarrels, please
Gen 13-15; Matt 5:1-26
Gen 13:8-9 "Let's not have any quarrelling between you and me...for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you?"
Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
What impressed me was that Abraham was very rich, with livestock, silver & gold -- our modern equivalent will be our houses, cars & country club, etc -- but he wasn't greedy. He could have used his authority as the elder uncle & told his nephew, "hands off!" but he didn't. When he looked, he didn't see a limited amount of resources that needed to be fought over, like the herdsmen did -- he saw that the "whole land" was before him. So, let's share, he says.
Prayer:
Father, forgive us for our short-sightedness & limited vision. Help us to see that the "whole land" is before us -- whatever the land is; the market for our various businesses; the ideas that we have; the ministries we run. The whole land is there. There's enough to go round, so let's not fight. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Gen 13:8-9 "Let's not have any quarrelling between you and me...for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you?"
Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
What impressed me was that Abraham was very rich, with livestock, silver & gold -- our modern equivalent will be our houses, cars & country club, etc -- but he wasn't greedy. He could have used his authority as the elder uncle & told his nephew, "hands off!" but he didn't. When he looked, he didn't see a limited amount of resources that needed to be fought over, like the herdsmen did -- he saw that the "whole land" was before him. So, let's share, he says.
Prayer:
Father, forgive us for our short-sightedness & limited vision. Help us to see that the "whole land" is before us -- whatever the land is; the market for our various businesses; the ideas that we have; the ministries we run. The whole land is there. There's enough to go round, so let's not fight. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
These stones heard Jesus
Matt 4:12 "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum..."
This is a corner of the synagogue in Capernaum, where Jesus had preached to the Jews. When I was there last year, the place resonated with me, and I took the picture. Excavations are still going on at the synagogue, which is below the present-day ground level.
Two kinds of unity
Gen 10-12, Matt 4
Gen 11:6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."
John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Two kinds of unity. The first one, the purpose is to glorify Man, to "make a name for ourselves." The second, to glorify Christ.
If it's to glorify Man, the plan is likely to come to confusion. If it's to glorify God, the world is more likely to believe that Jesus is sent of God.
Prayer:
Father, whatever we do, let us do it under the inspiration and direction of Your Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ may be glorified. Strip us of selfish & self-serving motives, that what we do will be an offering pleasing to you. Amen.
Gen 11:6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."
John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Two kinds of unity. The first one, the purpose is to glorify Man, to "make a name for ourselves." The second, to glorify Christ.
If it's to glorify Man, the plan is likely to come to confusion. If it's to glorify God, the world is more likely to believe that Jesus is sent of God.
Prayer:
Father, whatever we do, let us do it under the inspiration and direction of Your Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ may be glorified. Strip us of selfish & self-serving motives, that what we do will be an offering pleasing to you. Amen.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Spiritual warfare 101
Gen 1-6; Matt 1-2
Gen4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
It's spiritual warfare right from the start. Adam & Eve fell. Heh, even the snake fell (see Gen 3:14) Then, it's the turn of the next generation. Cain -- he got tested as well. And yup, he fell too. What about us?
Prayer:
God, grant us the grace to discern the schemes of the evil one against us, and the will to dismiss his "ideas" from our minds and the wisdom to adopt your thoughts, and your ways. In Christ's name, Amen.
Gen4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
It's spiritual warfare right from the start. Adam & Eve fell. Heh, even the snake fell (see Gen 3:14) Then, it's the turn of the next generation. Cain -- he got tested as well. And yup, he fell too. What about us?
Prayer:
God, grant us the grace to discern the schemes of the evil one against us, and the will to dismiss his "ideas" from our minds and the wisdom to adopt your thoughts, and your ways. In Christ's name, Amen.
The problem, the solution
Gen 1-6; Matt 1-2
God has a plan; satan has one too. God has Adam & Eve; satan has the snake. And it all takes place in a beautiful garden. Eden. We know the outcome of the tussle. But God also has the solution -- a baby in a manger.
God has a plan; satan has one too. God has Adam & Eve; satan has the snake. And it all takes place in a beautiful garden. Eden. We know the outcome of the tussle. But God also has the solution -- a baby in a manger.
Luke 2:7 "and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Prayer:
Father, whenever we have a problem, may we look to Jesus for the solution. We know He lives and moves amongst us. Jesus, living God, the one who rose from the dead, You have the wisdom we need for the challenges in our lives. In exchange Lord, for our worries, confusion, perplexity in our lives, let us now receive Your wisdom. Amen.
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