A Deep Dependence

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2 Corinthians 3:1-11 (NIV)
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

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Father this message is extremely dear to me. While I was sharing with a colleague today, I asked her, what's her purpose in life? She replied me that she did not have any purpose, and did not find the need for any purpose to begin with. She lives happily everyday, takes life for granted, waiting for things to happen. She's not bothered by not having a clear purpose in life. Not worried at all.

I was trying to find a way that I can explain to her, but I was lost, which only implies of my lack of knowledge of Your Word Father. But thank You for showing me this answer today. Indeed to experience God's strength, we first need to experience our own weakness.

Only through the experience of our inadequacies, will we experience the love of God, His strength, love and support. Father Lord, give me patience and the wisdom to know when it's the best time to reach out to my non-Christian friends, so that when the right opportunity arises, I will do You proud.

Not Boredom But Freedom

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2 John 1-6 (NIV)
1 The elder,

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth - and not I only, but also all who know the truth - 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

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The reason behind why I initially started daily communion with You Father, was that I felt bored. I was still serving the army that time, and I really had nothing else to kill my time with.

After I came out from army, I wanted to continue with the daily communion habit. How seductive is the world! I lost interest in Your Word and began to stray. There are just way too many enticing things out there for me to get involved in.

Nothing in this world can replace Your everlasting love. Months down the road, emptiness crept into my heart, which I initially thought was fun and exciting. I knew I had to come back to Your Word.

Now that I'm back, and even stronger in faith than before, I know I can never go back. I no longer felt that daily communion is boring. I love Your Word, Your wisdom, Your truth, Your teachings, Your guidance, Your grace, Your love, and I can really go on. Through my astray, You led me back with a greater desire to know You.

Now that I feast daily in Your Word, I do realise that Your commandments have set me free. I experience freedom from the bondage of sins. No longer do I feel pressurised by the devil for You kept them away from me.

All praises be unto You Lord, for setting me free. People who feel that a Christian's life is boring are because they have not known You. Give me strength and courage to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to them Lord. I want my families and friends to experience real freedom as well, through my life as a testimony for Your love.

Use It Wisely

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Genesis 2:7-15 (NIV)
7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

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Father I'm glad that You've instilled in me the good habit of saving resources ever since I was a young boy. I knew the importance of saving the resources, and as global warming continues to cause the rise of temperature every year, it seems all the more prudent to act now.

Lord I pray for wisdom for all people, that they'll realise the importance of saving resources for future generations, that we can indeed be good stewards in managing this earth that You've created so beautifully for us.

Here I Am To Worship

Verse 1
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see

Beauty that made
this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Chorus
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God

You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Verse 2
King of all days
O so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above

Humbly You came
to the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Bridge
I'll never know
how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross

A Letter From Dad

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2 Timothy 1:1-10 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Encouragement to Be Faithful

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

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Today's message seemed to be a lesson for me which I can only apply when I'm a father myself. Though it's targeted at fathers, I found another way to apply it.

Love and affirmation does not necessarily point only to parents, giving to their children. As sons and daughters, we can also express our love and affirmation to our parents. This is so true especially in my family where I'm the only Christian. Even with friends, I can also give love and words of affirmation. Lord I pray that You’ll bless my heart and tongue.

Father You gave Your best, Your Son Jesus Christ, to the world to save all, including me. I give my best to You too Father, to bring the unsaved into Your loving arms through love and affirmation. I know You’re going to guide me through. Thank You Father.

No Bragging Rights

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Ephesians 1:3-12 (NIV)
Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

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Father I am nothing, yet through Your loving eyes, You saw me. You picked me up time and again, even though I'm so prone to falling. You created me according to Your pleasure and will. Lord please forgive me, for the sins I've done. You reminded me of where I am, where I am standing, and where You are. I submit myself to You Father. Let it not be a casual talk but one where I'll be mindful. Take my life Lord. You're the only one that I need.

School Of Hard Knocks

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Psalm 119:65-72 (NIV)
Teth

65 Do good to your servant
according to your word, O Lord.
66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I believe in your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

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Not all pain is bad. Father as You use afflictions as a tool to guide and teach me, let me understand Your perspective and thoughts, so that I may be brought closer to You. Even if I don't understand, I'll still delight in the knowledge that You're always here with me, going through with me whatever You have planned. Thank You Lord.