Psalm 138
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word. - ooh I rmb tt verse ministered to me back in 2005.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Proverbs 24Sigh. I guess I'm still not well. Fretting and all that.
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
It was one month to the day after my six-month-old daughter, Hope, had died of a rare metabolic disorder. Heading out alone on a business trip, I thought getting away and being busy might actually alleviate my grief. But instead, sadness traveled with me. That night in my hotel room, I desperately wanted someone to remember Hope with me.Thank God for this article. I was feeling lonely recently. Thinking about it, I really miss my times with God. Even though I know very well the blessings and have experienced God so real, that He took away my loneliness last time... now, I guess, I feel lonely again during this season. But to be honest, I just sit down and read, and surf the net, and chat - and keep checking my email for a word, a whisper of human contact. Ennui + longing.
I did what most people do when they feel lonely—I reached out to find someone to help make my loneliness go away. I punched my way through the numbers programmed on my cell phone, but no one answered. I didn't know how to connect with God in a way that would soothe my loneliness, so I finally cried myself to sleep.
Throughout the Old Testament, God promises Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the Israelites he will be with them. He told Joshua, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). While I've believed these promises are for me too, sometimes when I've read them, I've thought, Well, I was hoping for something better than that. God's presence seemed more like the consolation prize than the reward.
But when my friend Angela lost her husband, she told me, "It took me two years after Wes died before I was willing to say to Jesus, in the loneliness of my bed, 'I need you to make your presence known to me, to satisfy me.'" She admitted it was awkward to wait in silence for him, but it's been worth overcoming the awkwardness for her to experience God's friendship.
The trouble is, I'm rarely quiet or patient enough to wait for God to meet me. Perhaps what's more deeply true is that I really didn't fully believe being alone with Jesus—even when I'm lonely—would satisfy me.
The very thought of living in the land of milk and honey without God's presence among them brought Moses to his knees: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33: 15).
To Moses, experiencing the felt presence of God was more important than anything. Seeing his example, I've started looking for ways to live like I really value God's presence. So I occasionally turn off the radio in my car and think about him or I turn off the television in my house to cut down on the world's noise. When I'm willing to wait for him to make himself known to me, I offer more than just lip service to what's truly important.
What I wanted in the hotel room that lonely night was to hear the voice of someone who really knew my sad circumstances. But who could know more about me than God? If I want to hear his voice, I have to open up his Word in a spirit of quiet humility and expectation, and wait for him to speak to me.Come to think of it... I haven't gone to any park in the past few months to meet God personally. Just Jesus and me, sitting under a coconut tree. 我跟耶稣在椰子下... =D
Sometimes I'm lonely because I'm waiting for someone else to make the first move. But when it comes to God, he's already made the first move. God doesn't want to love me from a distance; he invites me to draw near. James 4:8 says, "Draw close to God and God will draw close to you" (NLT). But there's only one reason we can draw close to God himself in the midst of our loneliness—because Jesus willingly experienced the ultimate loneliness in our place.=)
Heng: as i was praying, remembered a testimony that my CL sharedThanks so much dear Weizhu for sharing with me this verse.
you know Dr William Tan?
me: the wheelchair guy?
Heng: yeah!
10:53 AM
who runs marathons
me: wat abt him?
Heng: here goes
1. He's Christian
10:54 AM
2. He contracted polio at 2, lost the use of his legs since then
My CL knows him personally, acquainted
10:55 AM
so one day he went and asked Dr Tan, "do you ever pray to be healed?"
Dr Tan said that in the past, in his youth, he would always pray to be healed
10:56 AM
but he was never healed
and he was disappointed, and angry with God
one day, God spoke to him through a verse
10:58 AM
me: bro i gtg now
so sorry
but type out the rest for me n email me?: )
IF u have tim
time
Heng: i'll leave you the verse
Psalm 147:10-11
10:59 AM
Dr Tan's life changed forever after that verse
he stopped praying for healing
cya bro
Psalm 147:10-11 (New International Version)
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Our ref:2010/04/6184
Dear Mr Yeo
I refer to your feedback on 19 April 2010 regarding your unpleasant encounter with the driver of the above-mentioned taxi.
First of all, I would like to extend my deepest apologies to you for this unpleasant incident.
Road safety and courtesy is an important corporate value which our taxi drivers have been consistently reminded to observe. For this case, we have looked into the driver's attitude and warned him to be mindful of road safety. He was further reminded on the severe consequences faced if found guilty of any undesirable driving behaviours.
We value feedback from members of the public such as yourself which will help us in our continuous efforts to improve our service and safety standards.
Once again, we apologise for the incident.
Yours sincerely
Jean Ho
Customer Service Officer
Customer Service Centre
ComfortDelGro - Taxi Business
CS Hotline: 6552 4525
Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to critisize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
His love is like a drop in the ocean
His love is like a drop in the ocean
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?
Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it brave
Act 2"Massive ash cloud shuts down Europe's skies." A sign of the times?
17" 'In the last days, God says,[...]
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Psalm 42yes, dear Father. let Your song be with me through the night - a prayer to the God of my life.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
Hee. Hope this blesses you just like how it blessed me :)Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;“Deep calls unto deep.” Christians use this phrase most often to refer to a deep, personal experience of the Lord ministering to them—from the depths of God’s heart to the depths of their own. Indeed, it is a profound thing.
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The LORD will command His love in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
(Psalm 42:7-8)
But the psalmwriter here was using it in a different way. He was going through very difficult circumstances, sorrow and affliction were pounding him relentlessly, and he was overwhelmed by the weight of it all. All he could hear was the roaring waters of trouble. But at his core, he realized that God had something much better for him. Though disoriented by his situation, he addressed it in faith. His refrain was:Why are you cast down, O my soul?So how did the “deep calls unto deep” of verse 7 transform into the positive and moving expression it is today. Perhaps it is because of the testimony of verse 8:
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
(Psalm 42:5, 11; Psalm 43:5)
The LORD will command His love in the daytime,This is the centerpiece of the psalm. Even in the midst of the worst trouble, those who are in covenant with God have a source that will not only comfort them and get them through the time of distress, but will cause them to overcome and rejoice. God’s love, provision and protection will be made manifest to them in the broad daylight, where everybody can see it. In the night, there will be no terror, no worry, no sorrow—only a song hope.
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
Deep calls unto deep. Outwardly, the depth of misery and pain weighed heavily upon him. But there is a depth that is greater and much more powerful, powerful enough to overwhelm sorrow and affliction and carry them far away. It is the depth of God’s love, the revelation of His heart. This is the will of God being made known on our behalf, and it is always for the working of our good.
There is also the depth of God’s song stirring inside us, the song of His Spirit always encouraging us, renewing our hope and rekindling our faith. This love and this song come from the heart of God and penetrate to the depths of our own hearts, bringing forth prayers of faith, hope and love. So the psalmwriter speaks to his inner man and instructs himself:Hope in God;It is as T. S. Elliot said at the end of his Four Quartets, in the poem, “Little Giddings”:
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help* of my countenance and my God.
And all shall be wellFaithpoint: Do not be overwhelmed by the depths of sorrow and circumstance. Set your expectation on God and He will deliver you completely. Let the depth of His love overwhelm the depths of your heart and fill you with songs of rejoicing and praise. The peace of God that passes all understanding will flood you, and all shall be well.
And all manner of things shall be well.
[* The Hebrew word used for “help” here is yeshuah, the word for salvation. Used as a name, it is Yeshua, rendered in English as Jesus.]
Suicide Myths by Kevin Caruso
Suicide Myth
People who talk about suicide are just trying to get attention.
Suicide Fact
People who die by suicide usually talk about it first. They are in pain and oftentimes reach out for help because they do not know what to do and have lost hope. Always take talk about suicide seriously. Always.
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Suicide Myth
People who talk about wanting to die by suicide do not try to kill themselves.
Suicide Fact
People who talk about wanting to die by suicide oftentimes kill themselves.
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Suicide Myth
Suicide always occurs without any warning signs.
Suicide Fact
There are almost always warning signs.
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Suicide Myth
Once people decide to die by suicide, there is nothing you can do to stop them.
Suicide Fact
Suicide can be prevented. Most people who are suicidal do not want to die; they just want to stop their pain.
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Suicide Myth
Suicide only strikes people of a certain gender, race, financial status, age, etc.
Suicide Fact
Suicide can strike anyone.
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Suicide Myth
People who attempt suicide and survive will not attempt suicide again.
Suicide Fact
People who attempt suicide and survive will oftentimes make additional attempts.
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Suicide Myth
People who attempt suicide are crazy.
Suicide Fact
No, no, no. They are in pain, and probably have a chemical imbalance in their brain. Anyone could attempt suicide.
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Suicide Myth
People who attempt suicide are weak.
Suicide Fact
No, no, no. They are in pain and probably have a chemical imbalance in their brain. Many people who are very "strong" die by suicide.
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Suicide Myth
People who talk about suicide are trying to manipulate others.
Suicide Fact
No. People who talk about suicide are in pain and need help. And telling them that they "just want something" or "are trying to manipulate" is both insensitive and ignorant. People often talk about suicide before dying by suicide. Always take talk about suicide seriously. Always.
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Suicide Myth
When people become suicidal, they will always be suicidal.
Suicide Fact
Most people are suicidal for a limited period of time. However, suicidal feelings can recur.
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Suicide Myth
People who are suicidal definitely want to die.
Suicide Fact
The vast majority of people who are suicidal do not want to die. They are in pain, and they want to stop the pain.
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Suicide Myth
You should never ask people who are suicidal person if they are thinking about suicide or if they have thought about a method, because just talking about it will give them the idea.
Suicide Fact
Asking people if they are thinking about suicide does not give them the idea for suicide. And it is important to talk about suicide with people who are suicidal because you will learn more about their mindset and intentions, and allow them to diffuse some of the tension that is causing their suicidal feelings.
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Suicide Myth
When people who are suicidal feel better, they are no longer suicidal.
Suicide Fact
Sometimes suicidal people feel better because they have decided to die by suicide, and may feel a sense of relief that the pain will soon be over.
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Suicide Myth
Young people never think about suicide, they have their entire life ahead of them.
Suicide Fact
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24. Sometimes children under 10 die by suicide.
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Suicide Myth
There is little correlation between alcohol or drug abuse and suicide.
Suicide Fact
Oftentimes people who die by suicide are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Suicide Myth
People who are suicidal do not seek help.
Suicide Fact
Many people who are suicidal reach out for help.
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
- Robert Herrick
John Keating:
They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe.
Carpe diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.
1. I wish I had not wasted energy wanting to become important and instead choosing to focus on my significance in Christ. When I first became a minister, I noticed that some ministers seemed to be more important than others. (Yes, I know they are not. I'm just telling you that is the way it felt.) I would hear certain ministers talk about the larger public gatherings in which they spoke. I noticed that people referred to some ministers and how they had "preached in some of our most influential churches." So for awhile, I wanted to be important. No, I would have never admitted this nor did I see the conflict between this desire and simply being a "servant.") Eventually, I realized that such a longing appealed to my flesh more than it did my desire to become Christ-like.
2. I wish I had wasted less time thinking "if only" and more time really being present in the moment. This was true especially during my early adult years. At times, I found it difficult to really enjoy and experience the present, because I was thinking, "If only."
"If I could just get that Doctor of Ministry degree."
"If I could just move to a better church."
"If I could just teach part-time."
"If I could just be at a church that had better worship experiences, better elders, better staff, better location, etc."
Consequently, with this mindset, it was almost impossible for me to enjoy the moment.
3. I wish I had known how little I really knew about life (and ministry) and how much I needed to learn. Rookie preachers are a lot like some rookie husbands/wives and rookie parents. We can be so overconfident and not have a clue as to how much we still have to learn. Some new parents read one book or take a class at church and think they now know how to rear a child. In fact, one mother even said, "I've recently read a very helpful book and that is all I need. I won't be making the same mistakes that others have made." Her children were all under the age of 8. Hmmm.
Ministers can have this same kind of overconfidence. If I could do it over, I would be more intentional about learning from several different people. I wish I had really opened up my life to a few who were wise, who had good marriages, and who were godly. Now I did have very good teachers and mentors. Yet, I wish that I had known just how helpful it could be to surround myself with a few people who had permission to speak words into my life. At times I needed lots of affirmation. However, there were also times when I needed guidance and even correction.
4. I wish I had wasted less time listening to fearful and anxious people and more time listening to Jesus. Fearful and anxious people often live with the illusion that it is possible to somehow be a church that is pain free. Fearful and anxious people are all for moving ahead with a kingdom agenda, they just don't want to upset anyone in the process. Consequently, when leaders gather who are fearful and anxious, they spend little or no time talking about the victories of the previous Sunday morning assembly. Instead, they focus on who was pleased or not pleased. When parents are fearful and anxious, the often will do anything to make their children "happy." When men and women live in a state of fear and anxiety, joy is absent.
5. I wish I had spent less time trying to get my needs met through others and more time valuing the relationships I did have. One of the big issues through much of my early years in particular was wanting to feel valued by those who were in my life. Not a bad desire. Right? Yet, I think this became so important to me that stayed in constant frustration and discontent. I wanted this from my parents. I wanted this from my family. I wanted this from groups of elders who I worked with. In my adolescence, I felt a void in this area of my life. Consequently, as a young husband, father, minister, I was responding to this emptiness.
As a result, I probably put too much pressure on my immediate family to help me feel valued. I was overly sensitive to certain remarks that I should have ignored. I suspect this accounts for the frustration that I have sometimes felt with the church. I eventually began to realize that I was wanting something that I may never get. Either I could live in constant frustration or I could adjust my expectations to something that were more realistic.
As a young man myself, your sharing was very good food for thought. Some of what you shared are just what I have experienced - especially #1 and #2. #2 is especially relevant, because I'm having a fruitful period of ministry right now, but I have this niggling personal wish: "If only..." and that does make me more emotional than necessary. =)
Thank God for your wise, heartfelt and gracious sharing, brother! :D God bless you...
“My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes—many times—my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens—and it happens every day in some measure—I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth.
That’s the way I live my life every day. I hope you are with me in that battle.”
- John Piper, Finally Alive, pages 165-166
Isaiah 58]
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 61Yes. I don't want to be just singing songs on Sunday. That is karaoke religion. I want to do God's will, even if it means dying in the course of battle. I want to sing Your war songs, Lord. For You are a mighty warrior, Lord!
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn...
Amos 5
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
I seriously hope that this provides us some food for thought on how to make godly decision. Have the brother prayed about the situation and choices? He offered us three choices but perhaps that also limited God's ability to work in him and limited his capability to explore more choices. Does that sound familiar?
"This is the dogma we find so dull—this terrifying drama of which God is the victim and the hero. If this is dull, then what, in Heaven's name, is worthy to be called exciting? The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused him of being a bore—on the contrary, they thought him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him 'meek and mild,' and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies."
Jesus: "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'
- C. S. Lewis
Today I went to The New Charis Missions, they have a new place near YCK/Jalan Kayu. It was nice. A big nice quaint bangalow that houses abt 50+ of ex-offenders/drug abusers in transition. I was updated that they currently also go to schs to run programmes with at risk youths. So so so encouraged to hear that. What better people to share perspectives with these youths then these band of brothers who are currently leading such changed and inspiring lives? Don shared with me that it is tiring to run all these programmes, but it is that calling that fuels him, and he is happy. :) It is a happy happy atmosphere in that place.
With that ofcos....makes me think abt that little spark of fire in me, and what ignites that spark. It must not just be a spark that is ignited by excitement. It must be a burning fire that continues to burn after that spark of inspiration dies and monotony sneaks in.
Pastor Kai talked abt Eric Liddell in his sermon on Sun. This is a guy who eventually went to China to be a missionary, but before that, he won olympic medals for running. His sis couldn't understand why he was an atheletic since he had a missions calling. Eric Liddell says - "I run for the glory of God". Earlier I had blogged before this quote by him, "When I run, I feel His pleasure."
Even the most godly things we do, if not for God's glory, is nothing.
Even the most mundane thing we do, if for God's glory, means something - that yieldedness of all our activities and our whole life unto Him.
Maybe sometimes for seasons, we have to step back, away from what are the most "godly" tasks, and it seems like a roundabout way away from our calling. But...we need to figure out why we want to step back or should we persevere on? [read more]
The Night BeforeVery meaningful...
Blog — by Rags @ April 7, 2010 11:20 pm
I was reading my old journals and blogs. I realise I used to have a lot of things to say about things than I have now. I thought about why that is so and concluded maybe its because I realise that the more I’m in ministry, the less I know about life, God and leadership.
Now this is not a low esteem, pity party and bash myself type of thing but just a day before my retreat, I truly think there’s more in what we do that is beyond our understanding.
Its not that I’m discouraged, its just that I’ve aged. I’ve become lesser knowing and though it’s been uncomfortable in the beginning, I know that by becoming lesser knowing, I might just be better at being. [read more...]
I used to use my words to interact with girls online. I used to post funny things, or insightful things in hopes that my approval addiction would get fed in some way. I even started sending out long, bibly emails to friends from church in hopes that they would tell me how holy I was. I misappropriated my greatest gift in a selfish desire to feed my massive ego and numb my wounds.WHOA. This bro is saying exactly what has been on my mind for a long time.
After a while, I realized what I was doing and decided to never do that again. The easiest way was to simply stop writing. The way I could control it without turning to God was to quit writing. I might have scribbled in a journal, but the swirling and twisting storm of words that seethed inside remained silent. My gift was stolen. There were too many thorn bushes planted by my one talent. I didn’t want to be anywhere near it.
Rise, clasp My hand, and come !"
Halts by me that footfall :Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly ?
Is my gloom, after all,
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
