Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. As we marvel at the flourscent moon, and enjoying time with our family and friends, let us also remember to praise the Creator God. In His infinite wisdom, God creates all things visible and invisible.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16, ESV)
He ordains time and seasons.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV)
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” — Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
The older we get, the more we seem to recognise that trust is a fragile thing. We’ve all experienced disappointments — promises not kept, friends letting us down, plans falling through, and words that don’t match actions.
But Psalm 9:10 gives us a different perspective. It points us to the One whom we can put our trust — not people, not possessions, not circumstances, but God.
To “know His name” is not just to have head knowledge that He is “God.” In biblical terms, to know someone’s name means to know their character. It implies that we’ve been journeying with someone long enough to truly understand who they are. It is a deep and intimate friendship, built over time and through experience, both joyful and painful moments.
Time and time again, God’s friends have found Him to be a solid anchor in this fragile world. His perfect character does not change. He can be trusted, because He has proven, again and again, that He will never forsake those who seek Him. Those who know God have tasted His faithfulness, goodness, love, and mercy. Because of these experiences, we can trust Him despite wherever circumstances we are in.
God can be trusted because his character doesn’t change. He doesn’t waver with the seasons of life. He doesn’t disappear when things get hard. He is there for us not when we are strong, but He is there especially when we are helpless, hopeless, and weak.
Which area of your life is God inviting you to trust Him in today?
Today is Ascension Day. Ascension Day commemorates Jesus ascending into Heaven 40 days after His resurrection.
During the 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, teaching them and preparing them for their mission. On the 40th day, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them and He was ‘taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.’ (Acts 1:9)
Ascension Day is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Sunday, which falls on a Thursday. Let us spend time to reflect on the victory of Jesus by defeating sin and death. We live by the promise of His return for us someday.
Why is “Good Friday” “Good”? In older English, “good” could mean “holy.” So, “Good Friday” means “Holy Friday”.
Good Friday is to commemorate Jesus, the Son of God, sacrificed Himself willingly and died on the Cross to save humanity from sins. Sins separate us from God. “Good Friday” is good because through the work of Jesus on the Cross, we are reconciled to God, the Heavenly Father. We have new life in Him. 🙏🏼
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, offering us the free gift of eternal life. Whoever believes will have Everlasting life with God in Heaven.
Maundy Thursday is observed on the Thursday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the Last Supper Jesus Christ shared with His disciples before He was taken and nailed to the cross.
During The Last Supper, Jesus taught His disciples to remember Him through the breaking of bread (as symbol of His body crushed for humanity on the Cross) and taking the wine (as a symbol of His blood poured out for us during His death).
The Gospel of God also records that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. This was to set an example of humility and servanthood in how we should treat one another.
The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum”, meaning “command.” It refers to Jesus’ command: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
Let us ponder on the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for us and His command to love one another.
“I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is grey. I made you and will care for you; i will give you help and rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4, GNBUK)
Wow, what a comforting verse. God is my Creator and He will take care for me.
I had lingering dizziness which goes on and off for the last couple of weeks. It has been frustrating because it limits my usual daily activities which i enjoy tremendously. I also need to be careful when taking a shower or bending down to play with my pets.
Now that the giddiness is gone, one lesson remains: to surrender to God fully.
I was told that one of the reasons for my dizziness might be the stresses that i was carrying in my body. At first, i brushed this “theory” aside: i thought i was eating well and sleeping well. I am generally a happy person, how can i be stressed out?
But over the past couple of days, i examined myself: are there really stresses that i am holding on to and yet i do not realize it? Indeed there. There is the future to worry about, the long list of to-do items and much to think about. I then talk to myself, reassuring myself that i am doing my best for the things i can do and for the things i can not do, i let go and surrender them to God. After all, God cares for me. Time and time again He shows that He is my Heavenly Father who provides for all that i need. He never abandoned me — I can trust completely upon Him. For the things which I can not control, He knows best and He is in control.
This episode of dizziness re-examines my relationship with God, my Heavenly Father. I preach in church and lead prayer meetings, i visit and pray for the sick but do i have an intimate and personal relationship with Him? Or have i been treating Him like my employer (because i am in full-time ministry) instead of my Heavenly Father? I am also learning to take care of my body. It is only when i am getting older that i realise i should take better care of my health. By honouring my body and caring for it, i am honouring God, my creator.
These self-examinations and rest time bring me closer to God: i experienced His healing grace, and experienced the love of my friends who care for me. Life is good. God is good. I can leave my worries and anxieties to God, knowing that He will take care of me and all that i care about.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4:7, NIV)
In biblical times, jars of clay were fragile, common and easily breakable. We are like these jars of clay. We human beings are weak. We are imperfect. We are here on earth just for a short while. However, through God’s Grace, we have been entrusted with the Gospel, that is, the Good News of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the treasure we have in us.
We are weak and imperfect yet God chooses us ordinary people to be His partners as He carries out His plan for the human race. God’s power and glory is displayed in us and through us — for His glory. We are limited in many ways but the power of the Gospel is never limited. Let us take heart and be faithful to what God has entrusted us to do.
According to the hymn, “And Can it Be” by Charles Wesley, we were once imprisoned, chained by sins. But Jesus Christ left His Father’s Throne above, came to die for us, the helpless race because of His loves for us.
Jesus broke the chains, and set us free. Our response? Arise and follow Him 💕
May God still our turbulent heart as we live in this fast-paced world.
We live in a world where there is no peace. We read of tragic event from the news. We know of people who are going through tough times in life. And things around us seem to compete for our attention.
If we are honest with ourselves, everyday we are rushing from task to task, pressured to use every minute that we have to fill fulfilled. Our hearts are turbulent. But as St Teresa prayed, let nothing disturb us. Focus on God. He helps us. He alone suffice.
In 1765, John Wesley wrote on some practical ways to read the Bible.
John Wesley gave us some practical ways to read the Bible.
In his book which was published in 1765, “Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament”, he wrote:
-To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?
–At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?
–To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it?
–In order to know his will, you should, have a constant eye to the analogy of faith;
–Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing “scripture can only be understood thro’ the same Spirit whereby it was given.”
–Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.
-And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation?
What John Wesley meant was that the reading of the Bible should include these basics:
a.little time
b. a chapter
c. a single eye
d. a constant eye
e. pray
f. pause
g. power
a. little time
You need to spend time to read the Bible. John Wesley said every morning and every evening, every day. You need to spend time to read the Bible. Make time in your schedule for Bible reading.
b. a chapter
Read a chapter from the Old Testament and a chapter from New Testament. If you can’t do that, you can read a chapter.
c. a single eye
We have to figure out what we can apply in our daily lives. After reading the chapter, what we should apply in our daily lives?
d. a constant eye
Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith: the original sin, justification by faith (because of faith, we are saved, and not because of good works), the new birth we have through Jesus Christ, Inward and Outward Holiness (emphasizing on Holy living).
e. pray
While reading the Bible, we pray for the Holy Spirit to give us understanding on the chapter. We also pray that God’s Word will be written in our hearts as we read.
f. pause
We should pause and examine ourselves by what we read. Examine our hearts and lives. This will result in giving praise to God when He has guided us to a path of blessedness, or at certain parts, we identified with the sins mentioned in the Bible, we then ask God for forgiveness.
g. power
The Bible gives us power to live a victorious life. There are so many testimonies of people who are able to face the challenges in life because they hold on to God’s promises and encouragements in His Word.
We will be blessed as we read God’s Word. After all, it is God’s love letter to us. It is the instructions on living our lives. Let us set aside time each day to read His Word.
