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"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." - Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)

Patience and Perseverance

*From Nicky's blog*

We must not murmur, we must not complain - but patiently follow wherever the Lord leads, and quietly bear whatever the Lord lays on us. He will not lay on us more than we are able to bear; but with every temptation He will make a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it.

Patience must calm the spirit, quiet the heart, and close the mouth. Then shall we say with the Psalmist, "I was silent, I opened not my mouth, because You are the One who has done this!" Had it been man - it might have been wrong. Had it been chance - it might have been injurious. But it was You - and, therefore, it must be wise, holy, and kind.

We are required quietly to persevere, to go on, though the way is rugged, though the thorns pierce our feet, though we cannot see one step before us. We must walk by faith, not by sight, believing that we are safe - in the midst of danger; that we are right - though everything is perplexing; and that all will end well - for "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28.

- James Smith, Perplexity

Household of Faith

So a local congregation, then, is a community of people who trust God like this. It's not even that we understand everything He does. In all of our lives there are mysterious providences. And brother and sister, if you are here today at this meeting, in one of those times when you feel you're under a mysterious frown of God, oh I beg you as a brother-in-Christ, trust Him. He is a faithful God.

There are times in the past when you saw that clearly. There will be a time in the future where you see that again. And you will bring Him glory by continuing to put one foot in front of another and following Him even through the hardest of times. Trusting - gambling as it may even feel to you - on His faithfulness, because He will prove good and true to His Word.

We are a community of people who do that. We don't always understand everything He's doing but we trust His character. You realise, don't you, that our fears about the future are rooted in those places where our will differs from God's will.

- Mark Dever, The Church is the Gospel Made Visible (on Caleb's recommendation)

How Can I Keep From Singing

May the Peace of God

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 (NIV)

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

Inquiring of the LORD

I attended a friend's cell group this evening and was reminded of the following verse:

"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD." - Joshua 9:14 (NIV)

How about us? Do we inquire of the LORD?

"The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered." - Jeremiah 10:21 (NIV)

"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NIV)

"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests - those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him." - Zephaniah 1:4-6 (NIV)

But

"...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Trusting God

"...allows for gratitude in prosperity and patience in adversity." - John Calvin

Enlightenment

Today I was telling someone about the purposes of imprisonment (according to the SPS Business Framework) - P.R.I.DE: Punishment, Reformation, Incapacitation and DEterrence - and he suggested that E should stand for Enlightenment.

Planning and Providence

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Graduation 2011

Since arriving in York on Monday, I've had a blessed time meeting up with friends and seeing them graduate.




I'll be attending a wedding tomorrow and going back to York Baptist Church on Sunday before heading to London on Monday for the final part of my trip (meeting Peter and watching Ming's play).

God has been gracious in taking care of my needs over the course of this trip, providing me with places to stay in York and London, decent train tickets etc. He has also answered a few prayers, though not necessarily in the ways I've expected.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

"Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

God is enough

Sometimes we focus so much on what we want God to give us that we forget what God has already given us.

What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?

"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)

We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

Link: 11 Ways to Find Your Idols (5 May 11)

Signposts

God works in mysterious ways. Not once, not twice, but three times - and counting.

Sometimes we can overspiritualise things. But sometimes God gives us signposts to follow.

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:3-4 (NIV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)

Back to York

It's been a year since I returned to Singapore last Jul and I'm looking forward to a short break back in the UK over the next 2 weeks. I don't have any fixed plans apart from attending a church wedding and maybe a couple of graduation ceremonies in York. It would also be good to spend some time alone with God, reflecting on the past year and praying for the year ahead.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

Purify My Heart

Christ will be master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged; you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, the grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit.

Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people?

Lord, save me even now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour.

- C. H. Spurgeon

Purify my heart

Let me be as gold and precious silver

Purify my heart

Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire

My heart's one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You, Lord

I choose to be holy

Set apart for You, my Master

Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within and make me holy

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from my sin, deep within

One day at a time

"What does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but it does empty today of its strength. It does not make you escape the evil; it makes you unfit to cope with it when it comes. God gives us the power to bear all the sorrow of His making, but He does not guarantee to give us strength to bear the burdens of our own making such as worry induces." - Ian Maclaren

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Renewing Our Minds

This morning's message in church was on Ephesians 4:17-24, living as children of light in the likeness of God.

How do we become more like Christ? By being made new in the attitude of our minds.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

How do we know God's will for our lives? By being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

How do we renew our minds?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Man robs bank for $1

A video has surfaced of an American man admitting how he robbed a bank for $1 so he could go to jail and receive free medical treatment.

James Verone, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was so desperate to get help for a bad back, foot and growths on his chest that he made the calculated decision to stage the unusual robbery.

The unemployed 59-year-old, who cannot afford health insurance, told a reporter how he walked up to the cashier and handed a bizarre note demanding just one dollar from her.

The note also said he was armed, but in fact he wasn't. The suffering man then said that he purposely sat on the couch in the RBC bank to wait for the police to arrest him.

Unfortunately for Mr Verone, because he wasn't in possession of a weapon at the time of the robbery, the police could only charge him with larceny - a sentence that warrants a shorter jail time than what he had initially hoped for.

Speaking from Garston County Sheriff's Office, Mr Verone said that he had never been in trouble with the law before.

"I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic. This is what I came up with," explained Mr Verone.

According to the jail's inmate handbook, inmates pay a small fee of $5 for initiated visits and declared emergency visits.

The handbook also reads: "However, no one will be denied access to health care whether they have money or not."

Mr Verone hoped his crime would get him a minimum of three years so he can carry on receiving free health care.

Source: Yahoo! News

Lessons from Monopoly Deal

1. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you want to have.

Don't base your play on getting that elusive deal breaker. It may never come.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

2. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you used to have.

Don't dwell on the cards you've played wrongly or look back on the past with regrets. Believe that everything happens for a reason and move on.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)

3. Play your hand to the best of your ability.

Sometimes you lose to a better player or a better hand. That's life. What's important is that you've tried your best. I would rather try my best and lose than not try my best and win. If your best is not good enough, it's not meant to be.

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India (1947-1964)

We are judged on what we do with what we have, not on what we can't do with what we don't have.

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)

Lessons from this morning's sermon on God's perfect plan for marriage

1. Pray together.

2. Read God's Word together.

3. Make decisions together.

4. Serve in church together.

5. Keep courting your wife.

What is your ambition?

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)