Weblog
Jul 09: God's Grace
When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, butmerely opening your hands to receive something better.
Jul 06: Delight yourself in the LORD
Tuesday 6th JulyPsalm 37:4-5
Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
What is your deepest desire?
Take a minute to stop reading and really think about your answer to this question. What are you chasing after the most in your life?
If we are honest, many of us find ourselves thinking about things that will not last for eternity, things of this world. Those things won't last. It must make God sad how we often don't learn this lesson until late in life when we have tried all those things and found they still haven't filled up that empty spot in our hearts.
What really matters the most? The one thing that will matter to you the most for all eternity—your living relationship with God Himself.
Today God wants you to know that if you will make Him your deepest desire, then He will satisfy your desire. Do you desire love, acceptance, forgiveness, purpose, security, joy, peace? You will find it all—and more—in Him. He has wired our hearts to long for Him. For that reason, the only way to be truly satisfied in life is to make God the great delight and enjoyment of your heart.
Delight in Him, commit your way to Him, trust Him, and "He will do it."
Jul 01: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
July 1He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
Daniel 2:20-22
How many of us have listened to the global or national news and wondered, What in the world is going on? Without a firm foundation of biblical truth, we can easily be overcome with fear and despair. Despite the upheaval in political and financial realms, Christians can find peace in the knowledge that our God is sovereign over every nation and ruler on earth.
Though the future of a nation appears to be in the hands of its rulers and lawmakers, an omnipotent hand is orchestrating a good and glorious plan: the Lord is the one who "removes kings and establishes kings" (v. 20). Ultimately, every governmental leader is put into office, not by voters, political campaigns, or personal abilities, but by the hand of God.
Nothing that the Lord does is carried out in isolation. He's working all things according to His divine plan. We tend to think that a ruler has to be righteous for God to use Him, but Proverbs 21:1 tells us that the Lord can direct the heart of any national leader wherever He wishes. In fact, He describes two pagan kings—Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus—as "My servant" (Jer. 25:9) and "My shepherd" (Isa. 44:28). Unbeknownst to them, God guided their paths to fulfill His purposes for Israel.
When the news threatens to dislodge your peace or cause despair, remember who holds the nations in His hand. God's plans for this world are moving along according to His divine purposes, and no unrighteous ruler can thwart Him. Just keep singing, "He's got the whole world in His hands."
Jun 21: 那双看不见的手
虽不见你，触不到你，但是我知，你正在对我低语。
喔主耶稣！喔主耶稣！
我深知道你一直就在这裡。
是你的手，钉痕的手，
重新抚慰，我那破碎的心田。
是你声音，温柔话语，
再度填满我心灵中的飢渴。
From 06/18/10 YPF Fellowship led by James Mei
Jun 21: 眼光
不管天有多黑星星还在夜里闪亮
不管夜有多长
黎明早已在那头盼望
不管山有多高
信心的歌把它踏在脚下
不管路有多远
心中有爱仍然可以走到云端
谁能跨过艰难
谁能飞越沮丧
谁能看见前面有梦可想
上帝的心看见希望
你的心里要有眼光
From 06/18/10 YPF Fellowship led by James Mei
Jun 21: Today's Truth
Today's Truth2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Friend To Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. I'm sure you can relate to the fact that there always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the tedious process all over again. Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for washing everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. After a few loads of producing pink, male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting and in cold water. Heaven help the man, woman or child who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic and very human setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to "peace" by counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful. We can count on Him to be with us every step of the way. Worry is a trust issue stemming from our desire to be in control. When we try to play God, the result is always worry and stress. We keep trying to fix tomorrow's problems with today's resources. God gives grace in daily doses that are always enough and right on time.
Isaiah 43:2 "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you" (NLT).
Count on God for direction. When we don't know or refuse to follow God's plan, life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. God offers direction and guidance through His Word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 32:8 "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you" (NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from scenario sickness of "what if." There are no "what ifs" when we choose to trust God for every need. God is at work around us, meeting needs we are not even yet aware of. Even as we pray, God's answer is on the way.
Isaiah 65:24 "I will provide their needs before they ask. I will help them while they are still asking for help" (NLT).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we yield control to God and follow Him, God fights for us but when we pursue our agenda, we step out from under His umbrella of protection and into our own limited strength.
Exodus 14:13 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, "If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!" The story is told of a newly licensed pilot who was flying his private plane through a fierce storm. He was not very experienced in instrument landing, so when the storm worsened, he realized that the control tower was going to have to bring him in for a landing. The pilot started thinking about all of the hills, towers and buildings in the area and began to panic. Over his radio, a calm but stern voice commanded, "You just obey instructions and we'll take care of the obstructions." Many of us have good reason to be afraid because we are sitting in the control seat of our life, trying to maneuver around every obstruction we face. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender all control to God and find the peace waiting in His hand.
Let's Pray
Father, my heart is so often filled with fear and it seems like I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Help me learn to surrender my fears to You and leave them in Your hands. Strengthen me to face each storm and walk through it, knowing that You are with me. I choose to trust You and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and for peace. I choose You, Lord.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
From http://www.crosswalkmail.com
Jun 07: How's Your Day Looking?
How's Your Day Looking?In Game Plan for Life, Os Guinness mentions this quote from a 90-year-old Winston Churchill: "Life has been a grand journey—well worth making once."
Once. That's all we get. No dry runs. No do-overs. This day you're living now is not a dress rehearsal or a practice lap. You're on the stage. You're in the game. Start playing.
What this kind of thinking does is rip the disguise off today, revealing it to be every bit as momentous as the first morning on a new job or the night before major surgery. There are things to be said. Today. There are people to take notice of. Today. There are ordinary decisions to take seriously. Today. As the Bible says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
The newspaper commits a page or two each morning to dozens of death notices—guys who once supervised a work crew at the auto plant, who once coached boys' baseball on Saturday afternoons, who once served on the school board or were once active in the Rotary club. Once.
All those one-time daily things that could be said of you in the paper—about your family, your work, your interests, your passions—are they getting your best today? Clock's ticking down. Better get out there.
Pray this prayer: Dear God, I've been letting some things slide. I've been going whole weeks without my priorities being in balance. It's time to get this right. Show me what that means and how to get there.
Jun 01: Dreams and Schemes
Dreams and Schemesby Berni Dymet
Luke 12:29, 31 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
We all have different priorities in life. You do. I do. And if God is God - well, He must too.
Interesting. Some people care about some things that as it turns out, aren't that important to God. Let me give you a "for instance". There are people - Christians - who'll tell you, well, you shouldn't eat this type of food or that type of food. Or you have to follow this rule or that rule. Or don't drink this or that.
You've heard it, I've heard it. But Jesus said - Look, it's not the stuff you put into your body that defiles you, but the stuff that comes out of you.
What does that mean? Well, Jesus explains. What you eat and drink goes into your stomach and out through the sewer. But what you say and do that comes out of your heart.
And actually, it's what's going on in our hearts that matters so much more to Him. Because the dreams and schemes of our hearts - well, that's who we are. That's where we live.
Oct 11: Call On Jesus
Call On JesusVerse 1:
I'm so very ordinary, nothing special on my own.
Oh, I have never walked on water,
And I have never calmed a storm.
Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me
Like a child who's afraid of the dark
Chorus:
But when I call on Jesus,
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call
La la la la la, la la la la la
Verse 2:
Weary brother, broken daughter,
Widowed, Widowed lover you're not alone
If you're tired and scared of the madness around you
If you can't find the strength to carry on
Chorus:
When you call on Jesus,
All things are possible
You can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When you call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue you when you--
Bridge:
Call Him in the morning', in the afternoon time
Late in the evening' He'll be there
When your heart is broken,
And you feel discouraged,
You can just remember that He said
He'll be there
Chorus (2x):
When I call on Jesus,
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me (back to top first time, 2nd time finish with "when I call")
La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la-a-a
Jul 27: Oh Be Careful Little Ears...
Oh Be Careful Little Ears...Thanks Sister Sue for sharing this song on Friday night Fellowship.
(VS 1) Oh, be careful little ears, what you hear (repeat)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears
what you hear.
(VS 2) Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see, (repeat)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes
What you hear.
(VS 3) Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say, (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little
mouth what you say.
(VS 4) Oh, be careful little hands, what you do (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands
What you do
(VS 5) Oh, be careful little feet where you go (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet,
Where you go.
(VS 6) Oh, be careful little mind what you think (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind,
What you think.
(VS 7) Oh, be careful little heart what you love (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little heart,
What you love.
]
Actions:
"ears" - point to ears
"eyes" - point to eyes
"Father" - point up
"looking down" - shade eyes
"love" - give self a hug
"hands" - hold out hands
"feet" - march in place
"mouth" - point to mouth
"mind" - point to forehead
"heart" - point to chest