Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, O God,
and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Sunday 31 August 2008
Sunday 3 February 2008
-Song- What a Friend we have in Jesus
What a Friend we have in Jesus
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
-Words by Joseph M. Scriven, Music by Charles C. Converse
"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God."
- Psalms 42:11
There are days, sometimes seemingly days on end that overwhelms us completely, but its ever more important then to trust in God, and wait upon Him. And you'll realise what trust really means, and who God really is.
It is love and prayer, a dependence on God, that allows one to live faithfully.
In His love,
Jon
Saturday 2 February 2008
-Thoughts- When have you last seen your heart?
"As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man."
- Proverbs 27:19
So we can consider this verse, of when have you last looked at the condition of your heart - the core of your being? Have you been taking care of it, finding enough rest, and giving yourself enough time to find some meaning for your life? Have you begun that journey of seeking God to ask about really who He has made you to be, and who you are at this point in time?
If you extend beyond yourself, perhaps to someone else that you feel that you "know well", then similar questions apply. Do you know what this friend/family is thinking inside his or her heart? Have you known this person really - on a heart-to-heart level? Its my firm belief that such a beautiful thing can only arise from what will begin with the seed of truth. Is your relationship based on truth? Right now i see 2 aspects, that of honesty in the relationship, and the other of abiding by obedience to God's Word in both of your lives, first individually, then mutually.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
- Ephesians 4:15
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
- 1 Peter 1:22
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves."
- Romans 12:9-10
So what does the bible say about love? That it is important, very important in fact, in giving meaning to life. God's word says too about how we are to love, starting first with purifying our hearts through obedience to God, only then can our motives become pure, and can be truly understand and accede to God's desire for us to love in the manner of commitment, in the manner of sacrifice. And in all this truth must remain, both between us and God, and between us the other person. I realise that if we were to view it simply, then its because we want a functioning relationship to be present, and we want to really know the other party, and only then can we truly love the other party. So if we consider the main elements of what i mentioned about love, it is: Obedience to truth --> purification of heart --> loving as God guides our hearts --> keeping the truth in our lives.
"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out."
- Proverbs 20:5
"Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding."
- Proverbs 23:23
And if you've been keeping up with my blog, you'll know I do feel its good to begin to ponder about God's will. To ponder about how your life can be fulfilling, and how should it be. The book of Proverbs speaks a lot about understanding, about wisdom. And thats one of the elements we crucially need to make sense of what is happening around us. And yet this wisdom has to be godly wisdom, not human philosophies that may sound so attractive, yet on closer inspection you find it as an empty shell.
"Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
- Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
Yet i realise that reflection seems the least of concern for many, both in generations that has passed, and our generation. It's confusing to know that someone can be satisfied living his life, not knowing where he came, why he is here, what he is doing, what his life is going to be all about - all these things. Surely, if you're part of Christian community that took up the book by Rick Warren, "The purpose driven life", you may have a straight argument to me, that you have reflected on your life. Surely that was good, but you've to realise too, that reflection has so much value in life, and it is not a phase in life, but it should be present constantly throughout.
"Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment."
- Ecclesiastes 11:9
And for good reasons too, as the book of Ecclesiastes points out, that as youth, it surely is good to follow the desires of your heart. But don't skip your eyes past what else the author says, that about remembering that every act(seen and unseen) will be known and judged by the Judge on the last day.
Thats it for today, in 3 weeks time I'll probably post up again, on 2 things, one of seeking God with all of our hearts and the other about our perceptions of time.
In His love,
Jon
so a man's heart reflects the man."
- Proverbs 27:19
So we can consider this verse, of when have you last looked at the condition of your heart - the core of your being? Have you been taking care of it, finding enough rest, and giving yourself enough time to find some meaning for your life? Have you begun that journey of seeking God to ask about really who He has made you to be, and who you are at this point in time?
If you extend beyond yourself, perhaps to someone else that you feel that you "know well", then similar questions apply. Do you know what this friend/family is thinking inside his or her heart? Have you known this person really - on a heart-to-heart level? Its my firm belief that such a beautiful thing can only arise from what will begin with the seed of truth. Is your relationship based on truth? Right now i see 2 aspects, that of honesty in the relationship, and the other of abiding by obedience to God's Word in both of your lives, first individually, then mutually.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
- Ephesians 4:15
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
- 1 Peter 1:22
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves."
- Romans 12:9-10
So what does the bible say about love? That it is important, very important in fact, in giving meaning to life. God's word says too about how we are to love, starting first with purifying our hearts through obedience to God, only then can our motives become pure, and can be truly understand and accede to God's desire for us to love in the manner of commitment, in the manner of sacrifice. And in all this truth must remain, both between us and God, and between us the other person. I realise that if we were to view it simply, then its because we want a functioning relationship to be present, and we want to really know the other party, and only then can we truly love the other party. So if we consider the main elements of what i mentioned about love, it is: Obedience to truth --> purification of heart --> loving as God guides our hearts --> keeping the truth in our lives.
"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out."
- Proverbs 20:5
"Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding."
- Proverbs 23:23
And if you've been keeping up with my blog, you'll know I do feel its good to begin to ponder about God's will. To ponder about how your life can be fulfilling, and how should it be. The book of Proverbs speaks a lot about understanding, about wisdom. And thats one of the elements we crucially need to make sense of what is happening around us. And yet this wisdom has to be godly wisdom, not human philosophies that may sound so attractive, yet on closer inspection you find it as an empty shell.
"Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
- Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
Yet i realise that reflection seems the least of concern for many, both in generations that has passed, and our generation. It's confusing to know that someone can be satisfied living his life, not knowing where he came, why he is here, what he is doing, what his life is going to be all about - all these things. Surely, if you're part of Christian community that took up the book by Rick Warren, "The purpose driven life", you may have a straight argument to me, that you have reflected on your life. Surely that was good, but you've to realise too, that reflection has so much value in life, and it is not a phase in life, but it should be present constantly throughout.
"Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment."
- Ecclesiastes 11:9
And for good reasons too, as the book of Ecclesiastes points out, that as youth, it surely is good to follow the desires of your heart. But don't skip your eyes past what else the author says, that about remembering that every act(seen and unseen) will be known and judged by the Judge on the last day.
Thats it for today, in 3 weeks time I'll probably post up again, on 2 things, one of seeking God with all of our hearts and the other about our perceptions of time.
In His love,
Jon
Tuesday 8 January 2008
A quiet trust
A quiet trust
Do you know of a quiet trust, one that some has learnt to have with our God?
When life becomes so much of a struggle that your will is broken beyond redemption and you say, "LORD, save me, for I am nothing." From then, you silently remain in the same struggle and see from the limitations of your mind hte vastness of God Almighty, as He gently guides you out of the darkness bt the hand.
When you have truly known the LORD God enough to know your place in His presence. And how much of a privilege it is to be a child of the Most High God! Thus overflowing from our hearts, through an attitude of reverence and awe in knowing Him, this intense quietness of our lips and deep longing from our hearts to listen to Him comes.
Do you know of a quiet trust, one that some has learnt to have with our God?
A Prayer:
LORD, teach us to learn to submit to You in the many areas of our lives we have always struggled with, and teach us what it truly means to have reverence for You our God and King.
Scriptural References:
"5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 4:5-6
"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water."
- Psalms 63:1
"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."
- Psalms 23:4
"You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
"He did not make me"?
Can the pot say of the potter,
"He knows nothing"?"
- Isaiah 29:16
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
- 1 John 3:1a
"3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor."
- Psalms 8:3-5
"2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."
- Psalms 1:2-3
Do you know of a quiet trust, one that some has learnt to have with our God?
When life becomes so much of a struggle that your will is broken beyond redemption and you say, "LORD, save me, for I am nothing." From then, you silently remain in the same struggle and see from the limitations of your mind hte vastness of God Almighty, as He gently guides you out of the darkness bt the hand.
When you have truly known the LORD God enough to know your place in His presence. And how much of a privilege it is to be a child of the Most High God! Thus overflowing from our hearts, through an attitude of reverence and awe in knowing Him, this intense quietness of our lips and deep longing from our hearts to listen to Him comes.
Do you know of a quiet trust, one that some has learnt to have with our God?
A Prayer:
LORD, teach us to learn to submit to You in the many areas of our lives we have always struggled with, and teach us what it truly means to have reverence for You our God and King.
Scriptural References:
"5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 4:5-6
"O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water."
- Psalms 63:1
"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."
- Psalms 23:4
"You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
"He did not make me"?
Can the pot say of the potter,
"He knows nothing"?"
- Isaiah 29:16
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
- 1 John 3:1a
"3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor."
- Psalms 8:3-5
"2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."
- Psalms 1:2-3
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