30 April 2017 - ENCS

Using Genesis three, Pastor Josh spoke on the benefits of pain

Which of course is linked to the old adage of “no pain, no gain”

Josh said pain is actually an extension of God’s grace and mercy

For Adam and Eve should have died after eating from the tree

Lamentations three encourages us to bear the yoke in youth

Handling various tribulations without shouting words uncouth

Doing chores as children results in us being taught diligence

Sometimes we end up facing persecution that is quite intense

But remember that God has compassion and the pain will end

Death can produce life, which is why God did Jesus to us send

The fact that pain can often lead to growth is well supported

Job chapter forty two says no purpose of God can be thwarted

Through his immense pain, Job's understanding of God grew

Later on, all of Job’s possessions God turned from one to two

We should likewise not waste our pain, Pastor Josh did say

For pain can be a catalyst for growth in many a different way

It was also mentioned that pain can lead to additional strength

In Jeremiah twelve, God spoke of the need for this at length

Paul said he received comfort, per Second Corinthians one

So he could comfort others in the way for him God had done

In order to face tougher challenges, we often need to improve

Pain should draw us closer to God, not the relationship remove

Pain, suffering, and persecution can also lead to leadership

Per Genesis thirty seven to forty five, look at Joseph’s life trip

Throughout his tough times, the Lord was with him always

And at all times, Joseph made sure to give God all praise

Per Psalm sixty six, God tests us by putting us through fire

But always brings us to a place of abundance much higher

23 April 2017 - ENCS

The concept of pain was introduced in Genesis three

After Eve and Adam ate fruit from the forbidden tree

Pain in childbirth for women and painful toil for men

We feel physical and emotional pain time and again

Sometimes it is the result of what we have done

Other times it reflects the situation of a loved one

But through all of this temporal pain we remember

Jehovah Jireh is present from January to December

More importantly, whatever pain on earth we feel

The absence of pain is a part of heaven’s appeal

16 April 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke as Easter Day came to a conclusion

In Genesis three, the serpent sowed seeds of confusion

Leading Adam and Eve to eat forbidden fruit, the first sin

So the natural question is whether Satan did actually win

Per Revelation, God has won the war but battles rage

God opted for an interesting option at that early stage

He did not take our freedom away, but free will He gave

Even though consequences can follow us to the grave

Righteousness is impossible, the Old Testament did show

For relationship trumps religion, God wants us to know

The God of peace will crush Satan, Per Romans sixteen

Which links back to God’s words in Genesis three fifteen

Per Revelation five, only Jesus can open the book of life

For He has won the victory against all the enemy’s strife

As a result, we once again have with God a relationship

And be assured of our destination at the end of life’s trip

Jesus paid that price but also felt what we go through

So He understands completely if it is He that we turn to

Per Romans sixteen, Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies

We owe Him everything so our actions should aim to please

16 April 2017 - PLMC

As the morning sun arose on yet another splendid Easter Day

We heard a message using John twenty one from Wendy Tay

Some disciples had caught zero fish despite being out all night

Unbeknownst to them, Jesus was on shore at the break of light

“Friends, haven’t you any fish?” to the disciples He did call out

Per John fifteen, Jesus considered them friends without a doubt

By giving them a sense of purpose, God made His will known

Extreme compassion and empathy Jesus had once again shown

Jesus then instructed the disciples to cast the net out to the right

One hundred fifty three fish were caught, a reversal from the night

The disciples demonstrated obedience, in the text we clearly see

And thus overcame familiarity, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency

Even though He had built a fire; bread and fish He did prepare

Jesus asked the disciples to bring some fish to eat and share

So that the fruits of their labour together they could celebrate

Because they were part of the miracle that He did perpetuate

In summary, before we went to eat breakfast, Pastor Tay did say

We should empathise, show obedience, and fellowship each day

14 April 2017 - PLMC

Using Hebrews twelve verse two on this Good Friday

“Death must precede resurrection” Bernard Lee did say

Jesus was the first born of the dead and the resurrection

He rose to glory as He embraced death without objection

“Death is great mercy” Bernard went on to strongly state

As it shortens our life of sin and sets our focus straight

To the “law of the grain of wheat” Mr Lee also did refer

Grain must die to produce fruit, like us we should infer

In some part of our life, we will probably be asked to die

So that we can do our duty and God we will then glorify

God intends to give us holiness, not mere happiness

So we can fulfil His destiny for out lives, nothing less

Bernard shared “death experiences” numbering three

From these, Moses, Joseph, and Ezekiel did not flee

Moses was in exile forty years; Jospeh became a slave

When they became leaders, they know how to behave

God has a use for us, no matter what we have done

For no matter what our age, His plans can really stun

God wants to resurrect that which is in a way dead

To do things which will serve to glorify Him instead

As Jesus did, death experiences we should embrace

Knowing God prepares us for challenges we will face

We must repent of our sin and to God serve faithfully

Letting “not our will but His will be done” be the key