Friday, July 30, 2010

30 July 2010 - Proverbs 1:1-7

The proverbs helps us to attain "wisdom and discipline"
"For understanding words of insight" and avoiding sin
For acquiring a disciplined life without need of repair
"Doing what is right and just and fair"
Verse four continues "for giving prudence" to the fool
"Knowledge and discretion" to those in school
"Let the wise listen and add to their learning"
And guidance give to the discerning
For understanding the parables' guise,
And "the sayings and riddles of the wise"
"The beginning of knowledge" is "the fear of the Lord"
"But fools despise wisdom and discipline" of the Word.

Proverbs is such an intersting book
Every day I should be taking a look
Thanks to God, Solomon was very wise
(Unfortunately he also had lustful eyes)
But if his words we do read
And his warnings we do heed
Then we will live a better life
And the world would have much less strife

Thursday, July 29, 2010

29 July 2010 - 1 John 1:5-10

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:"
"God is light; in him there is no darkness
" no matter what He may do
"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness"
"We lie and do not live in the truth
", ending up in a big mess
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light"
"The blood of Jesus purifies us" with its might
We deceive ourselves if without sin we claim to be
"And the truth is not in us", that's plain to see
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just"
"He will forgive our sins
", in that we must trust
"If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar"
"And his word has no place in our lives
", something that would be dire

Light and darkness, truth and sin
These are opposites from the world we live in
In darkness and sin we have all walked
Confessing this is about which John talked
For God's forgiveness I therefore pray
And must do so each and every day

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

28 July 2010 - Psalm 51

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love"
"Blot out my transgressions
" with your "great compassion" from above
"Wash away all my iniquity"
"And from my sin
" cleanse me
For my transgressions I know
And my sin before me doth go
I have sinned against you and you only
"And done what is evil" as you can see
"I was sinful at birth" most assuredly
"Sinful from the time my mother conceived me"
"Surely you desire truth in the inner
" space
"You teach me wisdom in the inmost place"
"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean"
"I will be whiter than snow
" has ever been
O God, "create in me a new heart"
"A steadfast spirit within me
" please impart
"Do not cast me from your presence"
Or take from me your Spirit most intense
"O Lord, open my lips", so my voice will raise
"And my mouth will declare your praise”
"You do not delight in sacrifice or
" it I would bring
"You do not take pleasure in burnt offering"
"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit
"
Plus "a broken and contrite heart" add to it
"O God, you will not despise"
For surely your followers will rise

I wake up in the morning
And reality hits without warning
There are times I forget to pray
Invariably that starts a bad day
Yes, Lord there is no doubt that I am a sinner
But also know that your love can make me a winner
Thank you for always being there
And carrying all the burdens that I bear

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

27 July 2010 - Philippians 2:1-11

If we are encouraged by being with Christ united
Or if we feel the comfort and compassion Paul cited
Then we are to be of a like mind
"Being one in spirit and purpose" Paul does remind
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit"
"But in humility
" others you should always greet
Paul goes on to say, referring to Jesus' name
"Your attitude should be the same"
For Jesus "did not consider equality with God something to be" understood
So He made himself nothing and took the nature of a servant when he could
He humbled himself as a man and on the cross
Even though He should have been treated as the boss
"Therefore God exalted him" with honor, without shame
"And gave him the name that is above every name"
So "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow"
"In heaven" and "on earth" - everybody and thing, now
"And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"
"To the glory of God the Father
", so ended Paul's written word

This verse was referred to in my BSF this past week
Reminding us that humble servanthood is what we should seek
Compared to anyone else, none of us is any better
That is one point we should get from Paul's letter
For Christ humbled himself many times and in many places
We should remember this and be thankful as we go through our paces

Monday, July 26, 2010

26 July 2010 - Psalm 91

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High"
"Will rest in the shadow of El Shaddai"
"He is my refuge and my fortress"
"My God, in whom I trust
", nothing less
"Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare"
"And from the deadly pestilence
" that is in the air
Verse four adds that "under his wings you will find refuge"
"His faithfulness
" will protect you from the enemy's deluge
"You will not fear the terror of night"
"Nor the arrow that flies
" in daylight
"Ten thousand" may fall "at your right hand"
But near you no bad thing will land
"You will observe with your eyes"
"And see the punishment of the
" one who lies
"If you make the Most High your dwelling"
"Then no harm will befall you
", verse ten is telling
"For he will command his angels concerning you"
"To guard you in all your ways
" they will do
"They will lift you up in their hands" for you are not alone
"So that you will not strike your foot against a stone"
"You will tread upon the lion and the cobra
" with the neck bent
"You will trample the great lion and the serpent"
"Because he loves me, says the Lord
", even if he is to blame
"I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name"
"He will call upon me and I will answer him
" on the double
Verse fifteen goes on to say "I will be with him in trouble"
"I will deliver him and honor him
" in times of desperation
"With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation"

This is yet another psalm
That brings me a sense of calm
For knowing that our loving God watches over me
Tells me that from troubles I will eventually be free

Sunday, July 25, 2010

25 July 2010 - Letters To God

Last night I saw a wonderful movie
"Letters To God" you really must see
It would be a very big surprise
If it did not bring tears to your eyes
It is based on a true story
And is full of God's glory
There is also a reference to 2 Corinthians 3
That says heart-written letters we ought to be
Like the hero, we can each be a letter
And do our part to make others' lives better

25 July 2010 - ENCS

Pastor Charles continued the series on "Praying Effectively"
His sermon "Pray Through Storms" applied collectively
Verses 23-27 of Matthew chapter eight
Tell of the disciples and a storm that would not abate
In the midst of the storm Jesus acted with aplomb
He woke up, rebuked the winds, and all was calm
Pastor rightly said that we cannot have storm-free lives
But we can be prepared when such a storm arrives

He started by asking "why do we pray?"
Since God knows everything every day
It may seem kind of strange
But prayer is a "vehicle of divine exchange"
Prayer is indicative of our relationship
About prayer Jesus gave us more than one tip
Pray daily, per Mark 1 verse 35
The flow, per Matthew 6 from verse 5
With his disciples, this knowledge Jesus did share
Because important decisions require prayer

Pastor then asked "why don't we pray about something only once?"
Especially since God remembers what we say, for he is no dunce
The key is that prayer changes us as well
God will answer our payers, Pastor did tell
So into our lives don't let storms cast any doubts
Beware for this is one of the enemy's favorite routes
As long as prayer comes from the heart it is good
To communicate with God, it is understood
And from James 5 verse sixteen
Pastor told us what fervent does mean
Our prayers should be "heated until boiling point"
And we know God's power will not disappoint

To Philippians 4: 6 Pastor then referred
"Do not be anxious" says the Word
And "the peace of God", the next verse starts
Will guard our minds and our hearts
In referring to storms whether seen or unseen
Pastor then turned to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all things"
That is "in" not "for" the trouble that life brings

Pastor asked "how do we pray through the storms of life?"
Psalm 91 talks of God's cover through the strife
Matthew 7:24 says to build our house upon the Rock
Per Proverbs 12:7, the house of the righteous is of firm stock

Pastor went on to say we should not walk alone
We need the prayers of others when into storms we are thrown
We should not wait until the storm to develop a life of prayer
God will always hear us, because He doth care
But we will find it easier to hear
If we also pray in times of cheer
There is one final thought in our mind to keep
Jesus is in our boat and He is not asleep

25 July 2010 - Psalm 81

"Sing for joy to God our strength"
"To the God of Jacob" shout at length
"Begin the music" of which we will never tire
Play the tambourine, harp, and lyre
"Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon"
"On the day of our Feast" which is coming soon
And then following on from verse three
For Israel, "this is a decree"
He established it for Joseph who was in a foreign land
"When we heard a language we did not understand"
"He says 'I removed the burden from their shoulders'"
"Their hands were set free from the basket" filled with boulders
"In your distress you called" in voices very loud
"I rescued you" and "answered you out of a thundercloud"
"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you -"
O Israel, it is me you should listen to
Verse nine says "you shall have no foreign god among you"
"You shall not bow down to an alien god" whatever you do
"I am the Lord your God", from Egypt I freed you
"Open wide your mouth and I will" feed you
"But my people would not listen", you see
"Israel would not submit to me"
"So I gave them over to their stubborn heart"
"To follow their own devices"; we grew apart
"If my people would but listen to me" God says
Verse thirteen reads "if Israel would follow my ways"
"How quickly would I subdue their enemies"
"And turn my hand against their foes" with ease
"Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him"
"Their punishment would last forever"; their future would be dim
In conclusion, "with the finest of wheat" you would be fed
"With honey from the rock I would satisfy you" God said

I read this psalm following a request
It is just as powerful as all the rest
Telling about Israel's ups and downs
To God's face their actions brought frowns
That is not unlike his people today
Not doing all that He did say
But I know that God, in the end
Will allow our hearts and souls to mend
So to God we will reconcile
For He loves us all the while
Only He can satisfy our each and every need
Which is why the Bible - and Psalms - I continue to read

Friday, July 23, 2010

23 July 2010 - Proverbs 13: 1-11

To his father's instructions a wise son heeds
"But a mocker does not listen to rebuke" that he needs
"He who guards his lips guards his life" says verse three
"But he who speaks rashly will come to ruin", you will see
"The righteous hate what is false", that is the case
"But the wicked bring shame and disgrace"
"One man pretends to be rich" yet nothing has he
"Another pretends to be poor" yet great wealth he will see
"The light of the righteous shines brightly"
"But the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out" - rightly
"Dishonest money dwindles away", it is good to know
"But he who gathers money little by little makes it grow"

There is much repetition in Proverbs verse
To ignore its words is therefore even worse
Here we read about listening more than talking
And the kind of life wicked men are walking
Also, in this age of 'greed is good' and 'I want it now'
About making money biblically, verse eleven tells us how
May I have the wisdom and willpower
To follow all these guidelines every hour

Thursday, July 22, 2010

22 July 2010 - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Since we know that when our earthly existence is destroyed
God has prepared for us a place in heaven, for that be overjoyed
But while we wait for that day we groan
For we want out heavenly dwelling to be shown
"Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose"
"Guaranteeing what is to come", the Spirit He gave to us
"We live by faith, not by sight"
But would rather be glowing in His light
"So we make it our goal to please him"
Whether His light in us is strong or dim
"Before the judgment seat of Christ" "we must all appear"
So that what we are due (good or bad) we will hear

Although God we can't wait to be with and to see
Our work on this earth determines what our eternity will be
We must make the most of our time here
So judgment day we will not fear
I guess the point of this little rhyme
Is that it is all about how we spend our time

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

21 July 2010 - Proverbs 3:5-12

"Trust in the Lord with all your hearts"
"And lean not on your own" perceived smarts
"In all your ways acknowledge" He who is great
"And he will make your paths straight"
"Do not be wise in your own eyes"
"Fear the Lord and shun evil" lies
"Honor the Lord with your wealth"
And your crops that are in the best health
"Then your barns will be filled to overflowing"
And from your vats new wine will be showing
"Do not despise the Lord's discipline"
"And do not resent his rebuke" when you sin
"Because the Lord disciplines those loves" as kin
"As a father punishes the son he delights in"

I love reading from Proverbs
Straight forward are the verbs
Do and do not
Who, why, and what
No exception is Proverbs three
Several lessons I can see
Trust and fear the Lord
Wealth do not hoard
God will bless us in return
And rebuke us so we learn

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

20 July 2010 - Matthew 5:13-16

Verse thirteen says "you are the salt of the earth"
But if you lose your saltiness, what are you worth?
For such salt cannot be made salty again
It will "be thrown out and trampled by men"
"You are the light of the world" says verse fourteen
Once lit, a lamp is meant to give light and be seen
So always "let your light shine before men"
So others "see your good deeds" and to God say Amen.

These words came from the Sermon on the Mount
Of which Matthew gives a thorough account
If for the world we are to be its salt and light
It is important that we all do what is right
And remember that whilst our actions should please God
They also serve to give others a gentle prod
Our actions are always being watched by others
Strangers, friends, family, and Christian brothers

Monday, July 19, 2010

19 July 2010 - 2 Corinthians 9:11-15

"You will be made rich in every way"
"So that you can be generous" every day
"Generosity will result in thanksgiving"
To God and all His people who are living
Paul then goes on to inform
That "this service that you perform"
For God's people it supplies their needs
As an "expression of thanks to God" it succeeds
And "because of the service by which you have proved yourselves"
"Men will praise God" for reasons into which Paul then delves
For your obedience and generosity
May increase others' curiosity
"And in your prayers for you their hearts will go out"
Reflecting God's grace that we cannot do without
So "thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
Without which we would surely be adrift

Verse eleven was used in church yesterday
A powerful message it does convey
For in many ways God has blessed us so much
If we do not bless others, we are out of touch
That includes money, things, and time
Which is the point of this devotional rhyme

Sunday, July 18, 2010

18 July 2010 - ENCS

A special sermon today was delivered by Jim Laffoon
Some prophetic words for the church that come none too soon
"Turning the Corner" from bad times to good
Can be frightening, that is understood
The pastor felt that our nation Singapore is in this state now
There is a fight for moral leadership, he said with curled brow
As only the church is adequately armed
Church leaders are being attacked and harmed
Remember that there is always a battle before a blessing
So a bigger battle should not lead to stressing
For ENCS, Pastor envisioned 500 more people
As well as another site, perhaps even a steeple

He highlighted four words to describe God's actions
That can bless the church and all its interactions
The first is increasing grace and power - effluence
The second is increasing ethnic mix - confluence
The third is increasing prosperity and spirituality - affluence
The fourth is increasing impact through quality leaders - influence

But while everything is from Christ a gift
Sometimes we have to fight for the blessing to lift
The enemy will try to ambush us in an L-shape
Using accusations to break our unity, making it hard to escape
He deceives us into some serious and deadly sin
As Achan did at Jericho, from Joshua 6-7 we read in
A leader can be lured into a pattern of sin or strife
That serve to destroy and break his life

The level of spiritual warfare has been on the increase
For the enemy will not allow us to grow in peace
Think of the three levels of warfare Jesus did face
Per Luke 4, early in his life in the desert place
Later he went to Judea for safety per John 7:1-10
Then after saving Lazarus, he was targeted by all the Pharisee men
The lesson is that as there is an increase in our spirituality
We are a bigger target for the enemy's brutality
Pastor said that to put these attacks in the proper light
They are paradoxically the result of us doing more things right

He then told us how to handle the enemy's attack
Per Ephesians 6, the armor of God we must not lack
We can expect to fight the enemy alone
Even Jesus took disciples into the danger zone
We must use God's word and have good friends
Who will tell us we are straying or at loose ends
That also means that all the time we should pray
To help others and ourselves, Pastor did say

In conclusion, Pastor said we are turning the corner into greater days
"A big problem leads to a bigger promise" was his phrase
He then encouraged us and did implore
Saying "this is what we were born for"

18 July 2010 - Psalm 63

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you"
"My soul thirsts for you" in this land with no dew
"I have seen you in your sanctuary" and know your story
And I have "beheld your power and your glory"
"I will praise you as long as" my body stands
"And in your name I will lift up my hands"
On my bed you I will always remember
Even through the long nights of December
Because help is what my God brings
"I sing in the shadow of your wings"
Verse nine says that "they who seek my life will be destroyed"
Going down to the "depths of the earth" they cannot avoid
So "all who swear by God's name"
"Will praise him" and his glory proclaim
"While from the mouths of liars"
Silence is what God requires

As I awake on this Sunday morning
This psalm serves as a guide and a warning
To God I must look
And to read His book
For I know that He will hear my plea
And that He will always sustain me
I look forward to singing his praises
And feeling His Spirit that amazes

Friday, July 16, 2010

16 July 2010 - Galatians 5:16-25

"Live by the Spirit", Paul did say
And into sinful nature you will not stray
For the Spirit and the sinful nature are contrary
They cannot co-exist, so be wary
"The acts of sinful nature are obvious:"
Immorality, impurity, idolatry, and being devious
Add in hatred, jealousy, rage, and selfish ambition
Plus envy, drunkenness, orgies, and dissension
"Those who live like this", Paul did warn in verse twenty one
"Will not inherit the kingdom of God" when their time on earth is done
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience"
"Kindness,...faithfulness,...and self-control" in every instance
"Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature"
So "let us keep in step with the Spirit" and be pure

Between the Spirit and sin there is such a dichotomy
The choice is very stark and plain to see
It may not be easy, that is of course evident
But it is consistent with the teachings of Jesus, whom God sent
Long lists of the two opposites, Paul did give
One to avoid while the other is the way to live

Thursday, July 15, 2010

15 July 2010 - Psalm 118:1-6

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His love endures forever”, as it should
Let those who fear the Lord say:”
His love endures forever” and a day
Verse five says that “in my anguish I cried to the Lord
And he answered by setting me free” with His Word
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid
What can man do to me?”; my future is made

A mere six verses from this psalm
Provide me with such a sense of calm
They talk of the Lord’s love
As well as help from above
Some verses are elsewhere in the Bible seen
That doesn’t make me any less keen
In fact because they are a repeat
I should consider them a special treat

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

14 July 2010 - Galatians 5:13-15

"You my brothers, were called to be free"
But for sinful indulgences this is not meant to be
Rather, per our heavenly God above
"Serve one another in love"
A single command sums up the entire law
"Love your neighbor as yourself", as in Jesus we saw
But "if you keep on biting and devouring" one another
"Watch out or you will be destroyed by each other"

The command can not be repeated enough times
It could be the basis for one thousand rhymes
The five words carry so much power
They should be applied at every hour
The focus on others may seem a bit rough
But loving ourselves can also be tough
So remember that God loves each of us a lot
Following His example and err we will not
And try not to be dumb
When thinking of freedom
Our sinful desires try to kill
Use the freedom to do God's will

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

13 July 2010 - Psalm 22

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Why don't you seem to respond to my plea?
"I cry out by day" and "by night"
For "you are enthroned as the Holy One" with might
Our ancestors put their trust in you
They were not disappointed in what you did do
But mocked and insulted by men am I
For still trusting in you until the day I die
You are my God and brought me here
"Do not be far from me, for trouble is near"
"All my bones are out of joint"
"My strength is dried up"; that's the point
"A band of evil men has encircled me"
"People stare and gloat" at what they see
"But you, O Lord...come quickly to help"
"Deliver my life" from the dogs that yelp
To my brothers "I will declare your name"
"You who fear the Lord", bring him fame
For "the suffering of the afflicted one" he does not disdain
He "has listened to his cry for help" again and again
And then "all the ends of the earth"
Will remember the Lord's great worth
The Lord rules over every single nation
Kneel before Him should all of creation
In verse thirty 'posterity' is a key word
"Future generations will be told about the Lord"

This psalm reminds me once more
That God is who I should call for
He can overcome every challenge and attack
For love and strength He does not lack
This is what I must remember
From January through to December

Monday, July 12, 2010

12 July 2010 - Galatians 6:7-10

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked"
That "a man reaps what he sows" cannot be blocked
"The one who sows to please his nature sinful"
"Will reap destruction" by the binful
"The one who sows to please the Spirit"
"Will reap eternal life"; God will confirm it
So "let us not become weary in doing good"
For "if we do not give up", reap a harvest we should
And "let us do good to all people"
Especially those who worship under the steeple

This is a very powerful verse
Even if it may seem a bit terse
What goes around, comes around
What gets planted, grows from the ground
So I must sow what I want to reap
The price of the alternative is way too steep

Sunday, July 11, 2010

11 July 2010 - Galatians 6:1-5

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin"
"Restore him gently", like a close kin
"But watch yourself", Paul preempted
"Or you also may be tempted"
"Carry each other's burdens" it says in verse two
As "you will fulfill the law of Christ" too
"If anyone thinks he is something"
"He deceives himself" "when he is nothing"
"Each one should his own actions test"
"Then he can take pride" in doing his best
To others there is no need to compare
For we each have our own cross to bear

When I read Paul's musing
At first it was confusing
But the passage is about being good to all
Helping others - and ourselves - not to fall
While we each have our own strengths
Paul did go to great lengths
To warn us of sinful pride
If in Christ's law we are to abide
What Paul also seems to say
Is that we each have a unique role to play
So remember that part of doing our best
Is clearly trying to help the rest

11 July 2010 - ENCS

Today we continued the series on praying effectively
Pastor Larry's sermon focused on praying specifically
And of course as always he was wearing a tie
As he spoke on 'aim specific, aim right, aim high'

He started by talking about James 5:16-18
Which mentions Elijah, one of the best pray-ers ever seen
But the point of the passage was that we can pray the same way
Just as Pastor did with the rain on his wedding day
God's reminder shows us that He doth care
Pastor said there are three ways to aim in our prayer

The first is that to God we must make the need known
We must be specific, in other words take time to hone
He asked four questions in this part
'What is a need?' was where he did start
In 1 Kings 15, Elijah confronted the most evil king ever
Without Elijah's word, needed rain would return never
'Why does God allow us to have needs?' was number two
They are humbling and we often don't know what to do
As we read in Matthew chapter seven
Answers can only come from our God in heaven
'Why is expressing a need effective?' was number three
Remember that God was specific in creating both you and me
Pastor then said that as James 4:2 states so clearly
Without asking, we can't get what we want so dearly
Then of course 'why do we sometimes not receive answers to our need?'
One reason per James 4:3 is that instead of a need, we are driven by greed
Another is that God knows the right time
And waiting for God is of course not a crime
But sometimes God wants to keep in check our pride
As in 2 Corinthians 12:7, the thorn in Paul's side

The second way is to involve God's will and aim right
Breaking through the emotions helps us to see the light
Remember that the Word of God is true
It should guide us in what to do
The answer to 'what is God's will?' is found in His Word
So it says in Romans 12:2, from Pastor we heard
And 'how does praying God's will bring confidence?'
Per 1 John 5, He hears our prayers in every circumstance

The third is to ask in faith and to aim high
Believe in what we pray for and God will reply
A prayer of faith is persistent
As well as very consistent
A prayer of faith also believes
Until a result he receives
We must push through doubt
If our faith is truly devout

The other benefit when we pray
Is to tell show other's God's way
For specific prayers can make us bold
And then we can see God's work unfold

Friday, July 9, 2010

9 July 2010 - Philippians 4:4-7

Always "rejoice in the Lord"
Rejoice is the key word
To all, "let your gentleness be evident"
For "the Lord is near" and ever present
"Do not be anxious about anything"
But "by prayer and petition" in everything
"Present your requests to God" with thanksgiving
So that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding"
"Your hearts and minds" will guard
For in Jesus nothing is too hard

There is so much to be thankful for
God has blessed us - and so much more
Worrying is something I shall not do
For God's peace can make all things new

Thursday, July 8, 2010

8 July 2010 - 2 Peter 1:3-11

"His divine power has given us everything we need"
"For life and godliness through our knowledge of him" indeed
He called us through his goodness and glory
To escape the world's evil desires and actions gory
He has given us promises precious and great
So in His divine nature we may participate
For this reason add goodness to your faith
And knowledge to your goodness verse 5 sayeth
Then come self-control, perseverance, and godliness
Love is the pinnacle, building on brotherly kindness
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure"
They will allow you to receive God's eternal treasure
"But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind"
That "he has been cleansed from his past sins" has slipped from his mind
"Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure"
For if you do, you will be welcomed into heaven for sure

What else is there to say?
This is what I must do today
Thank God for His great mercies
And focus on the those qualities

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

7 July 2010 - Psalm 27

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"
Evil men will "stumble and fall" whenever they draw near
Though an army may besiege my tent
I will always remain confident
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek"
"That I may dwell in the house of the Lord", not just get a peek
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling"
He will hide me and "set me high upon a rock" verse 5 is telling
Above my enemies, exalted will be my head
"I will sing and make music to the Lord" instead
Please hear me when I call and do not hide from me
Teach me your way, so on a straight path I will be
So "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart"
"And wait for the Lord" for He will do His part

This is yet another psalm
That helps to keep me calm
No matter who or how many my enemies may be
The Lord is merciful and safe He will keep me

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

6 July 2010 - Psalm 126

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion"
"Restored to health” were the men He had an eye on
"Our mouths were filled with laughter" and our tongues with joyful song
For "the Lord has done great things for us" all along
"Like streams in the Negev", O Lord, "restore our fortunes
For those who sow in tears will reap with joyful tunes
He who goes to sow while weeping
Will joyfully return from reaping

Although I am often a great big dope
This psalm reminds me never to lose hope
He restored the fortunes of His chosen nation
While other people faced His condemnation
So how much easier it should be
For Him to answer prayers from me
I know that He is just and fair
So Lord please answer my prayer

Monday, July 5, 2010

5 July 2010 - Not Mine!

A friend sent me this poem...and it is so powerful that I felt that I had to share it...

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbour
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So sombre - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!

Just going to church doesn't make you a good Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car

Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!

5 July 2010 - 1 Peter 5:5b-11

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another"
"Because God opposes the proud" be it a sister or a brother
But He "gives grace to the humble"
And does not allow them to stumble
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand"
So that in due time, "He may lift you up" and help you stand
"Cast all your anxiety on Him"
Because His care for you is not a whim
Verse 8 says to "be self-controlled and alert"
For you are one the enemy wants to hurt
In faith stand firm and the enemy resist
Know that other suffering brothers make a long list
"And the God of all grace"
Who called you to see His face
"Will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast"
So your suffering will not for eternity last
So to God "be the power for ever and ever"
Let me say Amen and forget this never

I take from this passage messages three
Humble, not proud, is what I ought to be
Be alert and controlled without making a fuss
And above it all, God is always there for us.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

4 July 2010 - ENCS

The "Praying Effectively" series is based on James 5:16b
Powerful and effective will a righteous man's prayer be
Pastor Joshua, like many of us, had doubts about his righteousness
So about his five ineffective prayer types he did confess

The first type is the patient-less prayer
Samuel said to wait but Saul did not care
Per 1 Samuel chapter thirteen verse eight
It would have been much better for Saul to wait
Impatience can cause more harm than good
To hear first from God, we really should

The post-script prayer is the second one
Only asking God to bless us after our way we've done
As we read in Acts 7:22-25
Moses did not leave the Egyptian bully alive
He had a vision of what to do, but not when or how
So as Paul did in Acts 13:3, pray before you act now

The play-it-safe prayer was type number three
Instead, we should ask for wisdom and believe it will be
For God generously gives wisdom to everyone
That is what it says in verses 5-6 of James 1
Beware as when wavering, there are always ways to compromise
Pastor testified about his car and raising funds of adequate size

Then there is the pass-the-buck prayer
Asking someone else to do it while you prepare
As Moses did in Exodus 4 verse 13
Instead react to opportunities as they are seen
And don't just trust in your own abilities
Trust in God's power and His plan you will seize

The panic prayer is the fifth kind
Read the beginning of Mark chapter nine
Peter was scared and knew not what to say
When the transfiguration occurred that day
We should focus on Mark 9:7
"Listen to Him", our God in heaven

Psalm 131:2 tells of our goal
To let God speak, quieten our soul
Zephaniah 3:17 says the same thing
God will rejoice over us and He will sing

4 July 2010 - Psalm 13

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?"
Will I be able to see your face ever?
"How long must I...have sorrow in my heart?"
When will my enemy ever depart?
Please answer me God and put a light in my eye
Or in sleep I might as well die
Then my enemy "will rejoice when I fall"
And brag about his victory to one and all
But in your unfailing love I do trust
In your salvation, rejoice my heart must
For this is the way it really must be:
"I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me"

This Psalm not only spoke to me
But was if my heart it could see
As a reminder it was apt and great
For losing to the enemy shall not be my fate
Even when I am overwhelmed by so many troubles
I remember that God's love more than doubles
I can not be brought down by today's sorrow
For I know with God, there is a better tomorrow

Friday, July 2, 2010

2 July 2010 - James 1: 2-18

My brothers, consider it pure joy
When trials of many kinds do annoy
"Because you know that the testing of your faith
Develops perseverance", as in Romans Paul also says
"Perseverance must finish its work", nothing less
For it leads to our maturity and completeness
If any of us may lack wisdom
Ask God, whom we can get it from
But when we ask, we "must believe and not doubt" at all
Doubters will be blown and tossed by the wind's beck and call

Those "in humble circumstances should take pride"
In their high positions, for God is one their side
But in contrast, “the one who is rich will pass away like a wild flower”
Whose beauty is destroyed by the sun's scorching heat and power

Verse twelve goes on to say that "blessed is the man who perseveres under trial"
For "he will receive the crown of life from God", there can be no denial

When we are tempted, God is not the one to blame
Temptation comes from our own evil desires, we are all the same
And beware for this desire "gives birth to sin"
Which when full-grown, allows death to set in

And always remember that "every good and perfect gift is from above"
It comes down from the never-changing God of love
Through the word of truth, "He chose to give us birth"
So we are a kind of first fruit, of immense worth

1 July 2010 - Psalm 8

“Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth”
You deserve our praise from the time of our birth
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers”
The sight of the moon and the stars still lingers
When I think of man’s place in your eternal plans
“You made him ruler over the works of your hands”
You gave us authority over all living things
Including animals, fish, and the little bird that sings
So when I reflect, I find I must proclaim
“Yes, Lord, how majestic is your name”

Yes, God's name and His work are to be praised
There are so many things at which I am amazed
When I take time to look at the world around me
The beauty of a flower, the flight of a bumblebee
Looking at things of nature fills me with awe
And that is only based on things I actually saw
But at the same time there is an onus everpresent
For us to look after this planet must be God's intent
For with authority comes responsibility
There really is no other possibility
So I thank God for all he has created and done
And I know that my work has barely begun