Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
TO PONDER:
Realizing how easily people forget God, the Psalm reminds us of the many blessings, physical and spiritual, that God has given us. Gratefully, we should praise God for all He has done for us. Who is it who cannot make the spirit of this worship his own? Every one of us has received countless benefits at the hand of the Lord, has been healed of many diseases, has received forgiveness of sins, has experienced the redemption of our life from destruction threatened by many dangers, and has enjoyed countless satisfactions from the good things which the Lord has provided. The word “bless,” as applied to God, means to praise, always implying a strong affection for Him as well as a sense of gratitude. The soul of every person was “made” to praise and bless God; to enjoy His friendship; to delight in His favour; to contemplate His perfections. It can never be employed in a more appropriate or a more elevated act than when engaged in His praise.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, let all this is within me, my heart, my will, my affections and my emotions, praise your holy name this day. Amen..
Today's Daily Verse is written by Francis Leung, our Chinese Ministry Pastor.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
TO PONDER
Let our words be right, and our actions upright. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus — Begin with him, and end with him; invoke his name, and pray for his direction and support. Doing everything in the name of God, and referring everything to his glory, is as rational as it is pious. All our actions are to be accompanied with thanksgiving. We are to engage in every duty, not only in the name of Christ, but with thankfulness for strength and reason; for the privilege of acting so that we may honour him; and with a grateful remembrance of the mercy of God that gave us such a Saviour to be an example and guide.
PRAYER:
Lord God, we come to you, not because you require and command it, but with a deep desire to honour you. Your authority is our warrant, your glory the aim of all our actions and words. Let all we do be in harmony with what you have revealed to us in Jesus Christ that our lives may flow with thanksgiving that brings honour to your name. Amen.
Today's Daily Verse is written by Francis Leung, our Chinese Ministry Pastor.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
TO PONDER:
Christians are saints, God’s holy people, who live their lives in union with Jesus Christ. We should offer praise to the triune God. God’s blessings, which we receive because of our union with Christ, are not limited to the things of this world. The blessings lift our lives above everyday things so that now, in the present world, we can enjoy the spiritual blessings of the heavenly world. What is the chief purpose of our lives? The answer is to glorify God; that is why he created us and redeemed us. The praise should be ascribed to him as the result of our salvation. Having heard the word which brings the truth, the good news of our salvation, Christ enables us moment by moment, to praise GOd's glory and reveal his presence to others.
PRAYER:
God, my glorious Father, give me the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit which brings me new revelation, that I may come to know you more and more fully. Open the eyes of my heart and enlighten me, so that I may know the hope your calling has brought to me, and proclaim that hope in my living. Amen.
Today's Daily Verse is shared with you by Francis Leung, our Chinese Ministry Pastor.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
TO PONDER
When Christians go through times of trouble, they should not complain or swear, but pray. Christians should realize the power that is available to them through prayer. God will provide healing to all the afflictions we face. It does not matter what the form of the trial is, it is a privilege which all have to go to God in prayer. And it is an inestimable privilege. He never fails us or disappoints us if we trust in him, and his ear is ever open to our cries. That's the beautiful gift we have access to at the throne of grace. One of the designs of affliction is to lead us to the throne of grace; and it is a happy result of trials if we are led by our trials to seek God in prayer. On the other hand, if our mind is free from trouble and is cheerful and present, it is proper to express that in notes of praise. Praise is appropriate to such a state of mind. The heart gives utterance to its emotions in songs of thanksgiving. Christian singing is supposed to be the medium of the light and joyful as well as more serious sentiments. Songs stir the soul and direct our hearts to the God who is worthy of our worship and honour .
PRAYER
When sickness, bereavement, disappointment, loss of health come upon us, to whom shall we go but to you, God? In every pain I bear, I seek relief in you Lord. In every joy that crowns my days, my heart shall find delight in praise, for you alone are worthy. Amen.
Today's Daily Verse is written by Francis Leung, our Chinese Ministry Pastor.
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”
TO PONDER:
There is something magnificent about standing at the base of a waterfall and hearing the power and noise of a torrent of water unleashing off the edge and falling below. There is also something so calming and comforting about that overflow that simultaenously fills you with a sense of peace and harmony. When confronted with the power and majesty of God, when we witness the overflowing of his grace on our lives, when we join together with other's in giving praise to the God who has poured out his blessings on our lives, it is an overwhelming and awesome experience that is life-giving and life-affirming. It brings healing, it fills with strength and hope. It reminds us of what is true in midst of challenges and difficulties that confront us daily. If you need to be reminded of that truth...jump in the shower...get dressed and join with God's people of all time and all places in declaring the faithfulness of a God who is alive, with us and for us.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, may our worship today be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear. Amen,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
TO PONDER:
"You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love". I don't know who first wrote that, but it has become a meme that has popped up on several social media platforms in recent months. It often includes a tag line of "Always be kind." It's about adopting a different posture towards those that we interact with each day. It's about recognising that there are things going on in other's lives that we are unaware of that drive their response, their behaviour, their reactions to things. Paul reminds the Church to stop putting labels on people or making distinctions between people because what Christ has done on the cross is for everyone. The door of heaven is open to all who would receive Jesus and respond to his invitation. How might your attitude, your posture change today if every set of eyes you looked into today, you say a person God loves and died for? How might the love and light of Jesus be reflected back to them? How might the love and acceptance of Christ through you, transform their world and reveal a new reality to them? Worth thinking about. Even better...worth trying!
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, let the resurrected life I have received in Christ help me see others today with a new heart, a new perspective, a new love. Amen.
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
TO PONDER:
I love the curiosity of young kids. To open everything. To look at everything. To explore everything. We found one of our children sitting on an egg in the middle of the kitchen floor one day, trying to hatch an egg after seeing a program of a brooding hen! Needless to say, it did not end well! Then there are the questions? Why do Zebras have stripes? Why is the sky blue? Where do babies come from? Or the sheer willingness to love. What parent has not had their heart bursting with love when coming home they are greeted by the exuberance of a child running full speed yelling "Mummy", "Daddy!"
It is this childlike curiosity, receptivity, trust, dependence and wonder that God desires all of us to have when it comes to him. To come with a posture of curiosity and wonder; to run to him with open hands and heart to embrace and love him fully. Is that you? Is that something you wish for, long for? Maybe today, it is just time to stop and rest in God's provision. Stop being uptight about life thinking that it all depends on you. Maybe today, you could open your eyes again to the wonder of life around you and embrace the simple pleasures of life, the colours of the leaves, the song of a bird, the warmth of a smile, the love in an embrace. Maybe today you need to look at your own heart and then jump with a sense of abandon into the arms of a God who will not let you fall. Let the children come...
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me come to you today and live with childlike trust and wonder. Amen.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
TO PONDER:
Driving back from the other side of Nowra last Sunday night, I was forced to dodge more kangaroos than I have seen in a while, In one small stretch of road, I encountered over 15 jumpers! But there was actually a greater danger. On the side of the road I saw more cars parked and more tow trucks with orange flashing lights than I have seen in a long time. The recent rains had undermined the roads and there were deep potholes everywhere. Many small cars and expensive cars with low profile tyres had obviously hit these potholes at speed and caused damage that had halted the journey of the occupants. The warning sides were there. Mobile signs had been erected alerting motorists to the danger, warning people to slow down. But many obviously didn't read the signs. Many thought they knew better.
On the highway of life, there are many mobile signs warning us of danger ahead, advising us to proceed with caution, inviting us to go an alternative route in order to get home safely. It may be the counsel of a friend that puts up caution tape to prevent us doing damage on the unstable edge of a relationship. It may be a heart attack that sends the dashboard flashing red with warning, telling us that we are pushing our body beyond the limits it was designed for. It may be the eulogy of a loved one or friend that we are listening to that jolts us awake from the microsleep that makes us wonder how on earth we got where we are. All of these are warning signs God gives so that we don't perish but enjoy life with him eternally.
In a world that was taking no notice of the repeated warning signs on the highway of life, God in his love, took one last drastic measure to ensure that people could experience the fullness of life they were designed for, and reach the destination for which he intended. He sent his Son Jesus to hop into our car and show us an alternative route via the cross that will get us home safely. He's waving at you to slow down and stop. He's offering to jump in and travel with you today. He knows the dangers ahead. He also knows the only way through the potholes and landslides of life that will get you to the destination you were intended to reach and will lead to joy forever - heaven. Will you stop the car and listen to his Word? Will you trust that Word and invite him to journey with you? For God so loved you that he sent Jesus...to get you home safely.
PRAYER:
God, thank you for loving me so much that you sent Jesus to journey with me and lead me home. Help me to listen to his voice and trust the directions he gives me today. Amen.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
TO PONDER:
There are times in our life that it takes something dramatic for us to sit up and take notice. Perhaps it readily pops into your mind right now...a moment that shook you to the very core. A moment that you were not expecting and unprepared for. A moment that was surprising. A moment that changes your present and your future. When Matthew reports the events of Good Friday and the death of Jesus, they are more dramatic than any other Gospel, there is earthquakes and split rocks and opened tombs. The whole natural order of things is disrupted and turned on its head. Something that is not normal is occurring. This moment is significant. The curtain of the temple which kept the holy God separate from ordinary people is ripped in two. God's presence is unleashed into all the world giving all people complete and open access to his mercy and grace. The death of Jesus means there is nothing that is ever able to separate us from the love of God, as Paul writes in Romans 8:39. This moment is life-transforming...it shakes up everything in your relationship with God. It opens up earth-shaking possibilities for your life that have cosmic implications. Spend some time today thinking about how God can unleash you today to give others access to his presence, his mercy and his grace.
PRAYER:
Lord, it is so easy to forget the earth-shaking and cosmic implications of your death for the world and my own life. Shake me up today that I may experience again that beauty of your presence and reflect it in every interaction I have. Amen.