The Gospel Of Judas

(View Daily Bread)

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

__________________________________________________________

Father ever since I got to know You, there's been so many "discoveries" of new Gnostic gospels that wants to undermine Your great power and sovereignty. Yet, amidst all these doubts, there's always a special tug in my heart whenever my ears get exposed to such messages, trying to warn me that none of them, absolutely none, are plausible.

Lord, I know that heartfelt tug comes from the Holy Spirit. Maybe I'm still a young adult and Christian at the moment, whenever I hear about such misleading “discoveries”, I will respond in defensive anger. I strongly feel that they're insulting You, especially when these messages come from close friends who choose to challenge You.

However, my quick temper might actually push them further away from You than in winning favour for You Lord. Father I pray that in view of all these Gnosticism, I can have a cool head and react calmly, pointing out to people around me of Your greatness and mercifulness. Guide me to be a better servant for You Father.

How Long?

(View Daily Bread)

Psalm 13 (NIV)
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.

__________________________________________________________

Father I may not know the exact length of time to wait for some things to happen. Probably I've rarely petition any of my worries or thoughts to You. Deep in my heart, I know that I have to trust You to bring me answers that I need. There are actually a lot of matters that I can pray for, but I chose not to.

Is it because I'm lazy?

Or is it because I don't trust You with the weightier things in my heart?

I lied to myself that nothing drastically huge had happened that required immediate answers, and so, I have no expectation from You. Lord You know me from the inside out, and there’s nothing that I can hide from You. You know me even better than myself. I just have to confide in You, right?

Lord from today onwards, I shall commit my whole heart to You, and pray unceasingly on things that matters to me the most. Many such things linger around in the inner sanctuaries of my heart and I think it's time to entrust them to You.

Nothing is coincidence. You designed all the circumstances around me so that I will choose this decision today. I'm glad Father, that I can trust You with me in my entirety, and You will love me and never forsake me.

No matter how long it takes Lord, I know You're the One in control of everything.

Searching For A Rare Jewel

(View Daily Bread)

Proverbs 2:1-21 (NIV)
Moral Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair - every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
16 It will save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;

__________________________________________________________

Father what are the means of finding Your wisdom? Have I done enough?

I read my daily bread for expanded knowledge based on Your word, I pray occasionally for wisdom to come upon me, I try to put You in front of my every decision, I believed that I entrusted my life in Your hands, I applied what I learn from You to some important relationships around me, I'm proud to say that I started my journey with You in blind faith, at a stage when I don't even know much about You.

Are those enough?

Obviously no. My heart is not chasing after You entirely. I only pray occasionally for wisdom, I try to put You in front of my every decision, I believed that I entrusted my life in Your hands, I applied what I learn from You to some important relationships around me, and my faith journey with You is still pretty much blind.

Father I can't hide myself from You, for You are everywhere I go. You know me better than myself, and You know that I know I’m doing too little. I need to change and really need to start seeking for Your wisdom. Wisdom is the best gift one can possibly receive from You, for it'll help one to discern many different situations in one’s life.

I want to seek You even more than what I'm doing today Lord. Fertilise me with Your wisdom Lord, I want to grow and stand on firmer ground when it comes to You.

The Heaven File

(View Daily Bread)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
The Coming of the Lord

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

__________________________________________________________

Lord whenever I read from Your Word regarding the Rapture that is promised to happen at the end times, I'm both elated and sad.

I'm elated because I know I will be able to spend eternity with You, with all the people who had been faithful in You during their walk in life, and have fellow brothers and sisters to share eternity with.

At the other end of the pole, I'm sad because at this point, I'm still the only one saved in my family. I have countless close friends who are still unbelievers, backsliders, and some who probably have not even got the chance to hear of Your Word. If the Rapture happens today, I would probably lose them forever.

Father God I know that everything is in Your hands and Your ultimate plans. You have Your plans for me and there is no way I can understand Your ways, which means that I do not have to worry so much. Whatever that I worry is futile, and I should learn to trust You in any given situation.

Lord make use of me to seed seedlings of Your Word in every conversation that I make, so that Your good news may be spread outwards to others. Make use of me to seed seedlings of Your Word in every single thing that I do, so that Your goodness, faithfulness and love may be reflected and made known to others.

In Your time through Your power, let these seedlings germinate and grow, and may all the people around me believe that they DO have a tangible God who is always here for them.

The Pain Of Falling

(View Daily Bread)

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (NIV)
Warnings From Israel's History

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

__________________________________________________________

Lord I fall every so often, when I give in to recurring sins that I convicted myself to get rid of. Each time after I fall, self guilt and being shamefulness never fails to haunt my consciousness. The feeling that I'm not worthy of Your love lingers on...

When I sense that I’m dwelling in such negative thoughts, I will start to pray immediately and do what I can to realign my life back on Your track. I'm always encouraged by Your unfailing love. You know of our imperfectness, and only through that can Your perfectness be glorified. Your everlasting mercy takes me back every time. Time after time through such trials I really began to see Your great love for me, and further heighten my determination to be rid of my recurring sins.

The pain of falling spiritually, I know it all too well. Father guide my walk with You, and bless me with wisdom to understand Your principles and live by them. I want to be truly free from those ensnaring recurring sins. Thank You for everything Lord.

Hebrews 4:16 (TEV)
Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

The Scorpion's Sting

(View Daily Bread)

Proverbs 6:20-35 (NIV)
Warning Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,
24 keeping you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes,
26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;
34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

__________________________________________________________

Father I pray that I'm forever attuned to Your Word Lord, and that You quicken my heartbeat so that it syncs with Yours.

God You're eternally merciful, and You forgave me after all my transgressions against You. How can I stay astray from You? Your love wraps around me and care for me, and You watch me grow. How can I stay away from You?

Help me grow in wisdom and knowledge with Your Word Lord. I want to act out my faith for You, live according to it, and be happy and free through obedience to You.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Corky

(View Daily Bread)

John 16:1-16 (NIV)
1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

__________________________________________________________

Father the reason why I'm feeling so low, is it because I'm trying to take charge of so many things in my life? When things don't go my way, I'm disappointed and sad. When things get rough, I'm stressed.

Lord, I confess all these worries to You, and cast them all unto You. You're my Saviour, my Salvation, my Provider, and I cast everything to You. Lord I don't want to keep holding on to things that are not mine in my heart. I'm tired. If it’s not Your will, I shall obey and be free in You.

I entrusted my life to You, and now I pray that You answer me Lord, that You take them all away. I walk with faith that everything that I trust unto You will be made good in Your time and plans. I trust You with my life. I know You'll take care of me if only that I come.

I’m here Father...

Looking Ahead

(View Daily Bread)

Proverbs 24:13-20 (NIV)
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
do not raid his dwelling place;
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

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.

__________________________________________________________

Lord Jesus I'm most thankful for today's encouraging message. I've fallen many times, too many to remember each in details, but I’m sure with each fall, I gained new knowledge either about my own character, or about how to avoid similar pitfalls or handle similar situations in the future.

Probably the best way to learn who we truly are and who we will become is through failure. What is our reaction when things do not go our way? How do you handle matters when they are irreversible? Do you stand bravely and face the music for something wrong you have done?

For all the past mistakes that I've made, I have the encouragement today not to look back at them anymore for You Lord have already forgiven me. What the need to hold on to them and reproach myself? The more I look back, the more I dwell in them, and the more despair I will become. No Lord, that's not what who I intend myself to be, or what I intend myself to do.

Father God, I'm thankful for each valuable lesson that You have planned for me so that I may learn more. Whether they were successes or failures, I’m thankful for them. I know You will always be around to share with me my joys and problems, and ready to celebrate or pick me up again. You are always here with me. Thank You Father God. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Empty-Handed

(View Daily Bread)

Leviticus 23:16-22 (NIV)
Feast of Weeks

16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings - an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

22 " 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.' "

__________________________________________________________

Because of what Lord Jesus had done for me, I am found with favour in the eyes of God. Because of Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the entire mankind is no longer required to sacrifice animals of any kind to please God.

Today's message reminds me that I'm not found with favour in the eyes of God because of what I have done or what I have given, but rather, all glory goes to the Lord of lords and King of kings, Christ Jesus.

I am not saved because of those works that I had accomplished, but I’m saved because of my faith in the works of Christ. I’m reminded that no one can work for their salvation, but it is given to us freely as long as we believe. Good works come naturally when we believe and give ourselves to God.

Scaredy-Bear

(View Daily Bread)

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
Do Not Worry

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

__________________________________________________________

Father I'm not in doubt of You, but I'm in doubt of myself. If I've received Your salvation, why do I continue to give in to the pleasures of sin? It's always natural to comfort myself that I’m just a human and will always fall short of the glory of God. But the entire point is to live in Your faith, live by Your teachings, and abide in Your warnings. Isn’t it?

Temptations can be made good when we survive its challenge. Father I'm not supposed to worry, for my faith should lie in You. Yet I fear it for I have a tendency to succumb to its voice, and land myself on the guilt trip.

I'm still learning to be faithful Father. It's definitely not easy. Am I lacking support from peers? Am I lacking faith? God You taught me to cast all my burdens unto You, so that I may not have to bear them. Help me to keep You always in my mind and in my heart. I cry out to You Lord, help me. Help me know You are near.

I know I can be a better man in You. You never said that learning Your ways is easy, or that the path to You is a quick one. Learning on how to be a better man is a life long journey of commitment. Let the repentance starts now and in a daily form Lord. I do not want to stray to a point when I can’t get back. I can be a better man in You.

On Purpose

(View Daily Bread)

2 Corinthians 3:11-18 (NIV)
11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

__________________________________________________________

Father God, I have one good part to proclaim and one not so good part to confess.

The good part is that ever since I started to read the book, "The Purpose Driven Life", I'm more attuned to Your Word and Your ways. I understand a lot of things better, and have a better perspective when I'm looking at different situations. I feel more encouraged with the things that I do in Your Name, and I know that I have definitely become stronger in faith.

At the other end of the scale, I've not been reading it consistently, or reflecting the lessons as the way I should have. Though I've tried to record all the details down initially, I found it harder and harder to commit and especially be honest with myself. Is it because the book is digging into my deepest darkest secrets that I've yet to commit myself to change?

In view of my progress today, I feel there's no need to look back on days that I did not do reflection. What I'm preparing myself to do is that after reading this book, I'll do it again, and again, and again until I learn all the lessons and applied them in my life, while be able to share them where everyone can see me as the way You please. I think that is important and I prayerfully seek Your wisdom for guidance.

Meanwhile Father, I just want to be thankful that You prompted me to buy this book back when I'm casually browsing in the book store, because I have definitely opened up more since then to share about Your goodness to the people around me. I find the courage that I long lacked, and that's probably the best find so far. By Your will, I will continue in faith Father, and spread Your great news to all.

He Wants More

(View Daily Bread)

John 17:1-8 (NIV)
Jesus Prays for Himself

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

__________________________________________________________

Father I'm thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ that You have planted around me. In the midst of life's struggles when we are lost and do not feel Your presence, or when our prayers go unanswered, it's always comforting to have a fellowship to go to, where we have our siblings in Christ whom we can talk and look up to, share about Your truths, encourage one another, and affirm each other’s doings.

I am especially thankful for my cell group leaders, both brother Ming Xiong and sister Yiyi, who have always shown a lot of concern to me because I’m still an infant in Christ. They are always willing to go the extra mile for You and have set a very good example for members like me to look up to.

I’m thankful to sister Raphaela, because she listens to my every whim of sharing of Your Word, and enjoys them. Because of her joy in listening, it gives me more confidence to share even more, and the more I share, the more I build up my confidence to share with non-believers next time.

Father at this point I must proclaim that the more I walk with You, the more joy I experience. Let this passion for You not burn out, and I pray for blessings upon all siblings in Christ, that we constantly look out for one another, keep each other in sight, walk in faith and be full of praises for You, until Lord Jesus comes again.

Give Thanks!

(View Daily Bread)

Psalm 92 (NIV)
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

1 It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.

4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
5 How great are your works, O Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 The senseless man does not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.

8 But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.

9 For surely your enemies, O Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured upon me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, "The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

__________________________________________________________

I'm so afraid of losing the joy that I found in You Lord. Each passing day brings new stressful works and troubling burdens, some of which even requires immediate attention. As a result, I find myself losing the joy to give thanks to You in those days.

Recent mornings that I wake up to, instead of having the awareness of Your omnipresence, I felt tiredness. Instead of singing praises to You, I fall fast back into bed, trying to catch more sleep for fear of another tired and sleepy day ahead, which I so dread.

But Father today I realised another way to keep awake and still be in joyful praise of You through the psalmist! Constantly giving You the praise and thanks that You deserve, keeping You in spiritual sight and proclaiming Your everlasting love, can make me awake and brimming with energy too! That kind of overwhelming happiness cannot be denied.

Father God, I shall rekindle this practice of giving thanks tomorrow morning, and I know that better days are here to come when I walk in faith! Thank You Lord!

Mistaken Confidence

(View Daily Bread)

Romans 4:4-8 (NIV)
4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

__________________________________________________________

Freethinkers are a group of people who do not believe in religious dogmas, want nothing to do with them, and enjoys living without any sort of accountability.

I used to be such a man, and I further believed that I am the only person who can help myself. My heart was hardened through times of disappointment with the people around me, and I “learnt the hard way” to trust and depend only on myself. No one else is dependable.

Since I started going to church, God has a miraculous way of touching my heart. Events and happenings happened around and in me to prove that God is indeed real and always with me. By His power my heart was soften and I changed from a self-centered person into one who trusts the Holy Spirit's promptings for me.

This chain of events that I mentioned is only trivial matters, and they already changed my perspective of life. How much more of a significant change will it be if we talk about salvation? I can never have the ability to save myself from sins, for without the grace and love of God, I will only continue to get ensnared deeper and deeper.

With sins in my life, only death and hell awaits me. I placed my faith and trust in Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life to save mine. This new found confidence will not be shaken.

If you have not believed, why haven't you? If your heart is rejecting and resisting, I pray that you’ll allow a little room for God to start with. In time, God will show you His way and the magnificent plans He had installed for you.

The Ascended Christ

(View Daily Bread)

Hebrews 4:9-16 (NIV)
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

__________________________________________________________

What the ascension means to believers:

It speaks of an accomplished redemption.

Hebrews 8:1 (NIV)
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.

The Savior's high-priestly work.

Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

His lordship over the church.

Ephesians 1:22 (NIV)
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.

His intercession for us with His heavenly Father

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Acts 2:33 (NIV)
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

The Lord's presence with us today.

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
And teaching them to obey everything I have command you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The expectation of His return to this earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

As a new believer, I only got to know about the Ascension Day today. What great joy to read through the previous verses! I'm thankful Lord Jesus, for all the works that You've done. Help me fix my eyes on You, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and I know my joy will be in abundance!

Thank You O Lord, for guiding my life and leading me back onto the path leading into eternity. I'll keep following You forever and ever! All glory and honor and praise be unto You!

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty!

For The Children

(View Daily Bread)

Psalm 68:5 (NIV)
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)
The Little Children and Jesus

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

__________________________________________________________

Lord Jesus, prepare my heart so that I'll always be ready to serve, even to little ones who cross my path. Bless those little children who are suffering O Lord, provide them with spiritual comfort and the awareness of Your goodness.

The Waggle Dance

(View Daily Bread)

John 4:27-36 (NIV)
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"

34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

__________________________________________________________

Lord Jesus I'm still having difficulty in spreading Your good news to other unbelievers. Even though I have tried, but I still fail at reaching out to their hearts. God You had probably hardened their hearts so that I may grow as I try to share with them, but one of my friends always seems to love to twist the meanings of Your Word. I deem those attempts as insults to You, which I will become very defensive and want to stand up for You Lord.

Lord You taught me to be patient and be full of gentleness when reaching out to unbelievers, but what should I do with such twisted words? Is it correct to be defensive towards the Word that I love? Or should I keep quiet and let it go by, and probably speak to the person another time? God I pray for Your wisdom in handling such dilemmas.

Father God, everything on earth is planned by You. All things have their own time and date and are only known to You. God help me to be steadfast in sharing the good news of salvation, and be full of wisdom when handling difficult atheists who refuse to listen.

I believe that by Your power and love, nothing is impossible. I want to do things according to Your will, not mine. Help me trust in You entirely, with a passion of faith that burns unceasingly to save the unsaved.

Just For Show

(View Daily Bread)

Matthew 23:1-12 (NIV)
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi'.

8 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

__________________________________________________________

Influence Of Godly Moms

(View Daily Bread)

Proverbs 31:10, 25-31 (NIV)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

...

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

__________________________________________________________

No Need To Panic

(View Daily Bread)

1 Peter 4:12-19 (NIV)
Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

__________________________________________________________

Displaced

(View Daily Bread)

2 Samuel 15:13-26 (NIV)
David Flees

13 A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword."

15 The king's officials answered him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses."

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you."

21 But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be."

22 David said to Ittai, "Go ahead, march on." So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the desert.

24 Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him."

__________________________________________________________

The Right Answer

(View Daily Bread)

Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV)
Peter's Confession of Christ

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ..."

__________________________________________________________

The Truth About Sin

(View Daily Bread)

1 Kings 15:1-5,11 (NIV)
Abijah King of Judah

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. 5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord's commands all the days of his life - except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

...

11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done.

__________________________________________________________

The Adventure

(View Daily Bread)

Esther 4:13-17 (NIV)
13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

__________________________________________________________

SPEM Prayer

(View Daily Bread)

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

__________________________________________________________

Source Of Gladness

(View Daily Bread)

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 (NIV)
Paul's Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

__________________________________________________________

Talent Search

(View Daily Bread)

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NIV)
Isaiah's Commission

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

__________________________________________________________

Fake Family

(View Daily Bread)

Matthew 15:1-9 (NIV)
Clean and Unclean

1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"

3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 " 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.' "

__________________________________________________________

Bold Persistence

(View Daily Bread)

Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV)
The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

__________________________________________________________

A Boost Of Courage

(View Daily Bread)

Hebrews 12:1-13 (NIV)
God Disciplines His Sons

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

__________________________________________________________

May my Lord discipline and mold me, so that as each day passes, the fruit of Christ may grow in me. Jesus Christ, the author and perfect of my faith. I welcome you into the deepest place in my heart. Cleanse me and guide me into the light.

The World Wide Web

(View Daily Bread)

Proverbs 4:5-13 (NIV)
5 "... Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

__________________________________________________________