Moses' mother

Exodus 1:1-2:25

Moses' mother was reunited with her baby! God used her courageous act of saving and hiding her baby to begin his plan to rescue his people from Egypt. God doesn't need much from us to accomplish his plan for our lives. Focusing on our human predicament may paralyze us because the situation may appear humanly impossible. But concentrating on God and his power will help us see the way out. Right now you may feel unable to see through your troubles. Focus instead on God, and trust him for the way out. This is all he needs to begin his work in you.

Cheers!
Andrea

Psalm 51:1

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1

David wrote this Psalm one year after he committed adultery, deception and murder. He had been struggling with the guilt of his sin without success, until he looked to God's unfailing love and mercy to blot out his sin.

We often struggle with guilt, feeling unworthy to even approach God for forgiveness and mercy. Let's remember His unfailing love and His great compassion so that we can boldly come to His for forgiveness. I realised that I haven't been meditating on the characters of God, His mercy, His faithfulness, His Love, His compassion and give thanks to Him for who He is. When I don't do this, I tend to forget God and lean on my own understanding and strength. I must remember to meditate on Him more regularly.


June


Gen 29:35; 37:26-28; 38; 43:1-9; 44:14-34; 46:12; 49:8-12

People who are leaders stand out. They don't necessarily look or act a certain way until the need for their action is apparent. Among their skills are outspokenness, decisiveness, action, and control. These skills can be used for great good or great evil. Jacob's fourth son, Judah, was a natural leader. The events of his life provided many opportunities to exercise those skills. Unfortunately Judah's decisions were often shaped more by the pressures of the moment than by a conscious desire to cooperate with God's plan. But when he did recognize his mistake, he was willing to admit them. His experience with Tamar and the final confrontation with Joseph are both examples of Judah's willingness to bear the blame when confronted. It was one of the qualities he passed on to his descendant David.

Whether or not we have Judah's natural leadership qualities, we share with him a tendency to be blind toward our own sin. Too often, however, we don't share his willingness to admit mistakes. From Judah we can learn that it is not wise to wait until our errors force us to admit to wrongdoing. It is far better to admit our mistakes openly, to shoulder the blame, and to seek forgiveness.

Cheers!
Andrea

Proverbs 18:10

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Here are some names of God that we can meditate on when we are afraid.

His name is Provider—His grace is sufficient for every circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9) and His wisdom is given in spades (James 1:5).

His name is the All-knowing and Almighty—nothing has escaped His notice, nor is anything beyond the scope of His power (Psalm 57:1-5).

His name is Good—regardless of what He permits to come into our lives, He will bring good from even the darkest situations (Romans 8:28).

His name is Father and Friend—the One who gave His Son to make you His child and to guarantee you a world to come where fear and anxiety are forever replaced by peace and joy (John 14:1-6).

I was preparing for my Precept bible studies and it was on Joseph. Joseph really believed that God is good, no matter what happened in his life. He even believed God will bring good from his suffering, and hence he took everything that happened in stride and he did not allow himself to become bitter. I can really learn from Joseph and trust that God is good and He will bring good from every situations in my life.

June


Gen 29:31-32; 37:18-36; 42:22,37; 46:8-9; 49:3-4

Parents are usually the best judges of their children's character. Jacob summarized the personality of his son Reuben by comparing him to water. Except when frozen, water has no stable shape of its own. It always shapes itself to its container or environment. Reuben usually had good intentions, but he seemed unable to stand against a crowd. His instability made him hard to trust. He had both private and public values, but these contradicted each other. He went along with his brothers in their action against Joseph while hoping to counteract the evil in private. The plan failed. Compromise has a way of destroying convictions. Without convictions, lack of direction will destroy life. Reuben's sleeping with his father's concubine showed how little he had left of the integrity he had displayed earlier in life.

How consistent are your public and private lives? We may want to think they are separate, but we can't deny that they affect each other. What convictions are present in your life at all times? How closely does Jacob's description of his son - "turbulent as the waters" - describe your life?

Let's learn these lessons from Reuben's life:
- Public and private integrity must be the same, or one will destroy the other
- Punishment for sin may not be immediate, but it is certain

Cheers!
Andrea

Luke 5:12-16

This passage is about Jesus healing a man with leprosy by touching him. All too familiar verses. Jesus could have healed him by simply speaking to him, but he chose to touch him to show him His love and acceptance. There are people around us who long for love and acceptance, are we reaching out to touch their life with the love of Christ?

I like to share with you from the Daily Bread,

"God uses us to show His love
To people caught in life’s despair;
Our deeds of kindness open doors
To talk of God and His great care." —Sper


Gen 30:22-24; 37:1-36; 39:1-23; 40:1-41:57

As a youngster, Joseph was overconfident. His natural self-assurance, increase by being Jacob's favorite son and by knowing of God's designs on his life, was unbearable to his ten older brothers, who eventually conspired against him. But this self-assurance, molded by pain and combined with a personal knowledge of God, allowed him to survive and prosper where most would have failed. He added quiet wisdom to his confidence and won the hearts of everyone he met - Potiphar, the warden, other prisoners, the king, and after many years, even those ten brothers.

Perhaps you can identify with one or more of these hardships Joseph experienced: he was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing; he endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped. As you read his story, note what Joseph did in each case. His positive response transformed each setback into a step forward. He didn't spend much time asking "Why?" His approach was "What shall I do now?" Those who met Joseph were aware that wherever he went and whatever he did, God was with him. When you're facing a setback, the beginning of a Joseph-like attitude is to acknowledge that God is with you. There is nothing like his presence to shed new light on a dark situation.

Cheers!
Andrea

Rachel

Gen 29:1-30; 30:1-8; 31:1-35; 35:16-20

History seems to repeat itself here. Twice a town well at Haran was the site of significant events in one family's story. It was here that Rebekah met Eliezer, Abraham's servant, who had come to find a wife for Isaac. Some 40 years later, Rebekah's son Jacob returned the favor by serving his cousin Rachel and her sheep from the same well. The relationship that developed between them not only reminds us that romance is not a modem invention, but also teaches us a few lessons about patience and love.

Jacob's love for Rachel was both patient and practical. Jacob had the patience to wait seven years for her, but he kept busy in the meantime. His commitment to Rachel kindle a strong loyalty within her. In fact, her loyalty to Jacob got out of hand and became self-destructive. She was frustrated by her barrenness and desperate to compete with her sister for Jacob's affection. She was trying to gain from Jacob what he had already given: devoted love.

God loves us! His love had no beginning and is incredibly patient. All we need to do is respond, not try to earn what is freely offered. God has said in many ways, "I love you. I have demonstrated that love to you by all I've done for you. I have even sacrificed my Son, Jesus, to pay the price for what is unacceptable about you - your sin. Now, live because of my love. Respond to me; love me with your whole being; give yourself to me in thanksgiving, not as payment." Live life fully, in the freedom of knowing you are loved.

Cheers!
Andrea



I am so glad to see Cheryl's blog. Yes, I like the song that we posted on our blog. God is our refuge. He is always there to protect us.

Let's continue to post our blog to encourage one another.

June


"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

This verse always came to my mind when I met with difficult problems and was panic-struck. Really helps to know that God is in control when things seemed to go out of hands. Often time when we panic, we just try to do more, run around like headless chicken. We must remember, when we face difficult situation in life and problems, we must be still and know that God is God. Do we pause and pray to God when we face difficulties or do we depends on our own strength and method to solve our problems?

June


Gen 16-17

Have you ever wondered if you were born into the wrong family? We don't know much about how Ishmael viewed life, but that question must have haunted him at times. His life, his name, and his position were bound up in a conflict between two jealous women. Sarah (Sarai), impatient with God's timetable, had taken matters into her own hands, deciding to have a child through another woman. Hagar, servant that she was, submitted to being used this way. But her pregnancy gave birth to strong feelings of superiority toward Sarah. Into this tense atmosphere, Ishmael was born.

For 13 years Abraham thought Ishmael's birth had fulfilled God's promise. He was surprised to hear God say that the promised child would be Abraham and Sarah's very own. Sarah's pregnancy and Isaac's birth must have had a devastating impact on Ishmael. Until then he had been treated as a son and heir, but this late arrival made his future uncertain. During Isaac's weaning celebration, Sarah caught Ishmael teasing his half brother. As a result, Hagar and Ishmael were permanently expelled from Abraham's family.

Much of what happened throughout his life cannot be blamed on Ishmael. He was caught in a process much bigger than himself. However, his own actions showed that he had chosen to become part of the problem and not part of the solution. He chose to live under his circumstances rather than above them.

The choice he made is one we must all make. There are circumstances over which we have no control (heredity, for instance), but there are others that we can control (decisions we make). At the heart of the matter is the sin-oriented nature we have all inherited. It can be partly controlled, although not overcome, by human effort. In the context of history, Ishmael's life represents the mess we make when we don't try to change the things we could change. The God of the Bible has offered a solution. His answer is not control, but a changed life. To have a changed life, turn to God, trust him to forgive your sinful past, and begin to change your attitude toward him and others.

Cheers!
Andrea


"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Ps 46:1

Yes, indeed, this is the verse that comforts me during one of my sad moments in life where I'd a miscarriage. God is our refuge even in the face of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat, he is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstance. Amen?

By grace,
Andrea


"My Jesus,My Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My Comfort, My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath
And all that I am
Never cease to worship You"


gee so okay finally decided to blog. these are the first two verses of our blog song, "Shout to the Lord"

i think the two sentences thingy "my comfort, my shelter. tower of refuge and strength" really makes sense. and made an impact on me.

God's our comfort, our shelter and our tower of refuge and strength. we can depend on Him. but like many a time, we get so caught up with ourselves we think we can do so many things by ourselves. is it arrogance, i don't know. but we use our own strength to do stuff. and we fail and get upset.

and if anything, there's always God there for us.

and today something happened in the taxi which uh really made me be more conscious of how i act as a christian and the importance of impressions christians give out. and how we have to stand firm by our faith and not sway.

-cheryl!

Melchizedek

Gen 14:17-20

Do you like mystery? History is full of them! They usually involve people. One of the most mysterious people in the Bible is the king of peace, Melchizedek. He appeared one day in the life of Abram and was never heard from again. What happened that day, however, was to be remembered throughout history and eventually became a subject of a NT letter (Hebrews).

This meeting between Abram and Melchizedek was most unusual. Although the two men were strangers and foreigners to each other, they shared a most important characteristic: both worshiped and served the one God who made heaven and earth. This was a great moment of triumph for Abram. He had just defeated an army and regained the freedom of a large group of captives. If there was any doubt in his mind about whose victory it was, Melchizedek set the record straight by reminding Abram, "Blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand" (Gen 14:20). Abram recognized that this man worshiped the same God he did.

Melchizedek was one of a small group of God-honoring people throughout the OT who came in contact with the Jews (Israelites) but were not Jews themselves. This indicates that the requirement to be a follower of God is not genetic, but is based on faithfully obeying his teachings and recognizing his greatness.

Do we let God speak to us through other people? In evaluating others, do we consider God's impact on their lives? Are we aware of the similarities between ourselves and others who worship God, even if their form of worship is quite different from ours? Do we know the God of the Bible well enough to know if we truly worship him? Allow Melchizedek, Abraham, and Jesus, along with many other persons in the Bible, to show us this great God, Creator of heaven and earth. He wants us to know how much He loves us; he wants us to know him personally.

Cheers!
Andrea

Luke 6:27-36

Oh no, this is the passage about loving your enemies.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back."

How can we be able to love our enemies, those who are irritating, those who are treating us badly? The answer lies in the verse 35, "... because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. And therefore we have to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful. (verse 36)We have to remember the God loves those we dislike, so what right do we have to insists on disliking or hating them.

June


Gen 5:29-10:32

The story of Noah's life involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in Noah's day was flooded with evil. The number of those who remembered the God of creation, perfection, and love had dwindled to one. Of God's people, only Noah was left. God's response to the severe situation was a 120-year-long last chance, during which he had Noah build a graphic illustration of the message of his life. Nothing like a huge boat on dry land to make a point! For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a project.

Many of us have trouble sticking to any project, whether or not if it is directed by God. It is interesting that the length of Noah's obedience was greater than the lifespan of people today. The only comparable long-term project is our very life. But perhaps this is one great challenge Noah's life gives us - to live, in acceptance of God's grace, and entire lifetime of obedience and gratitude.

Cheers!
Andrea



Huimin laoshi & me is no longer lonely on this blog... hee... 加油！加油！

Today I read about the first human child - Cain. Gen 4:1-24

In spite of parents' efforts and worries, conflicts between children in a family seem inevitable. Sibling relationships allow both competition and cooperation. In most cases, the mixture of loving and fighting eventually creates a strong bond between brothers and sisters. In Cain's case, the troubling potential became a tragedy. And while we don't know many details of this first child's life, his story can still teach us.

Cain got angry. Furious. Both he and his brother Abel had made sacrifices to God, and his had been rejected. Cain's reaction gives us a clue that his attitude was probably wrong from the start. Cain had a choice to make. He could correct his attitude about his sacrifice to God, or he could take out his anger on his brother. His decision is a clear reminder of how often we are aware of opposite choices, yet choose the wrong just as Cain did. We may not be choosing to murder, but we are still intentionally choosing what we shouldn't.

The feelings motivating our behavior can't always be changed by simple thought-power. But here we can began to experience God's willingness to help. Asking for his help to do what is right can prevent us from setting into motion actions that we will later regret.

Cheers!
Andrea

Psalm 126

5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

Every day, we sow seeds with our actions, whether we are conscious or not. When we say nasty things to friends and family, we sow seeds of discord, and that we shall reap. Since the law of nature says that you shall reap what you sowed.

We reap what we sowed, if we want kindness, sow kindness, if we want love, sow love. Sow good things, and I shall reap good things.


James 2:8-13

"8 If you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment."

I guess we all break laws all the time, and we think that it's ok if it's a minor law, or if everyone is doing it. James reminds us that breaking one law is the same as breaking the whole law as these laws originated from a Lawgiver - God. Transgressing on any of the laws is therefore transgressing the one Lawgiver.

God's law is our liberty and will gradually mould us to become "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing". Therefore, we should abide by the laws and count on Him for our lives and and believe that He will provide in he midst of the painful trials we go through in this life.

YESSSSSA I WROTE SOMETHING!!

LOVE YOUALL, PRISSY


Gen 4:1-8

Abel was the second child born into the world, but the first one to obey God. All we know about this man is that his parents were Adam and Eve, he was a shepherd, he presented pleasing sacrifices to God, and his short life was ended at the hands of his jealous older brother, Cain.

The Bible doesn't tell us why God liked Abel's gift and disliked Cain's, but both Cain and Abel knew what God expected. Only Abel obeyed. Throughout history, Abel is remembered for his obedience and faith, and he is called "righteous".

The Bible is filled with God's general guidelines and expectations for our lives. It is also filled with more specific directions. Like Abel, we must obey regardless of the cost and trust God to make things right.

Cheers!
Andrea

Eve

Gen 2:18-4:2,25,26

Eve was approached by Satan in the Garden of Eden, where she and Adam lived. He questioned her contentment. How could she be happy when she was not allowed to eat from one of the fruit trees? Satan helped Eve shift her focus from all that God had done and given to the one thing he had withheld. And Eve was willing to accept Satan's viewpoint without checking with God.

Sound familiar? How often is our attention drawn from the much which is ours to the little that isn't? We get that "I've got to have it" feeling. Eve was typical of us all, and we consistently show we are her descendants by repeating her mistakes. Our desires, like Eve's, can be quite easily manipulated. They are not the best basis for actions. We need to keep God in our decision-making process always. His Word, the Bible, is our guidebook in decision making.

Andrea

1 John 3:1-9

Verse 9 "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God."

We are children of God because of the love God lavished on us. One day when He appears we shall be like Him, and because of this hope, we shall purify ourselves. A true christian will not and cannot choose a sinful lifestyle. Why, because of what Jesus has done for us.

June


Gen 1:26-2:25; 3:1-4:2; 4:25-5:5

One of Adam's first conversations with his delightful new companion must have been about the rules of the garden. Before God made Eve he had already given Adam complete freedom in the garden, with the responsibility to tend and care for it. But one tree was off limits, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam would have told Eve all about this. She knew, when Satan approached her, that the tree's fruit was not to be eaten. However, she decided to eat the forbidden fruit. Then she offered some to Adam. He went ahead and ate.

In that moment of small rebellion something large, beautiful, and free was shattered... God's perfect creation. Man was separated from God by his desire to act on his own.

In the case of man's sin, however, God already had a plan in motion to overcome the effects of the rebellion. The entire Bible is the story of how that plan unfolds, ultimately leading to God's own visit to earth through his Son, Jesus. His sinless life and death made it possible for God to offer forgiveness to all who want it. Our small and large acts of rebellion prove that we are descendants of Adam. Only by asking forgiveness of Jesus Christ can we become children of God.

Andrea

Esau

Gen 25:19-34; 26:34-27:45; 28:6-9 Esau

Esau's life was filled with choices he must have regretted bitterly. He appears to have been a person who found it hard to consider consequences, reacting to the need of the moment without realizing what he was giving up to meet that need. Trading his birthright for a bowl of stew was the clearest example of his weakness. He also chose his wives in direct opposition to his parents' wishes. He learned the hard way.

What are you willing to trade for the things you want? Do you find yourself, at times, willing to negotiate anything for what you feel you need now? Do your family, integrity, body, or soul get included in these deals? Do you sometimes feel that the important parts of life escaped while you were grabbing for something else?

If so, your initial response, like Esau's, may be deep anger. In itself that isn't wrong, as long as you direct the energy of that anger toward a solution and not toward yourself or others as the cause of the problem. Your greatest need is to find a focal point other than "What I need now." The only worthy focal point is God. A relationship with him will not only give an ultimate purpose to you life; it will also be a daily guideline for living. Meet him in the pages of the Bible. (Like what teacher Huimin has shared in her last QT sharing :))

Cheers!
Andrea


We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. —Hebrews 2:1

When we don’t cling to God’s Word through study and reflection, it’s easy to drift. Like a swift stream, the attractions of this fallen world draw us toward sin. But as we meditate on Scripture and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we learn the reality of our spiritual anchor and are kept secure—even in the dangers of the world’s current.

So let us do our best to encourage each other to spend time studying and reflecting on God's words. Let His word be light our path.

June

1 John 4:7-19

It is so appropriate to be talking about love on Valentine day. Here, the bible taught command us to love one another because God is love. When we love one another God will abibes in us. Those who love are born of God and know God, converse, those who do not love do not know God, since God is love. Finally, we love because He first loved us. We can love because He first loved us and that enable us to love others.

June

Rebekah (2)

Gen 27

Although God had already told Rebekah that Jacob would become the family leader, she took matters into her own hands. She resorted to doing something wrong to try to bring about what God had already said would happen.

Favored one of her sons, deceived her husband cost her dearly.One of the consequences: she never saw her sons again.

What I've learnt today: 1) Parental favoritism hurts a family 2) Our actions must be guided by God's Word

Cheers!
Andrea

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Sorry, bad example, have been lazy for the past two days.

This is the all too familiar 1 Corinthians 13 on love. Sometimes when reading such passage, I tend to gross over, since I have already read it many times. Most time I focused on verses 4 to 6, on what love is. However, verse 8 caught my attention today. "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." I was reminded once again, that we should focus on things that have eternal value. When compared with love, all the other gifts are temporal. How often do we seek love as a gift from God? We like gift of prophesy and gift of faith, but we often neglect the more important gift of love. Like all gift, we need to practice love.

June


Gen 24:1-67; 25:19-26

Rebekah's life was characterized by initiative. When she saw a need she took action, even though the action was not always right.

It was Rebekah's initiative that first caught the attention of Eliezer, the servant Abraham sent to find a wife for Isaac. It was common courtesy to give a drink to a stranger, but it took added character to also fetch water for ten thirsty camels. The pots used for carrying water were large and heavy. It took a lot of water to satisfy a thirsty camel - up to 25 gallons per camel after a week's travel. Seeing Rebekah go to work, Eliezer knew this was a woman with a heart for doing far more than the bare minimum.

Servant spirit. When asked to help or when I see a need, go beyong the minimum. That's what I've learnt today :)

Cheers!
Andrea

Eliezer

Gen 15:2; 24

Eliezer was Abram's most trusted servant, acting as household administrator. According to custom, if Abram were to die without a son, his eldest servant would become his heir.

Abraham wanted Eliezer to get a wife for Isaac from his own country and his own relatives. Eliezer asked God for guidance in this very important task. Obviously Eliezer had learned much about faith and about God from his master. What are my family members and friends learning about God from watching me? I want to be like Abraham, setting an example of dependent faith. And be like Eliezer, asking God for guidance before any venture.

As soon as Eliezer knew that God had answered his prayer, he prayed and thanked God for his goodness and guidance. God will also use and lead us if we are available like Eliezer. And our first response should be praise and thanksgiving that God would choose to work in and through us.

When Eliezer told his story to Laban, he spoke openly of God and His goodness. Often we do the opposite, afraid that we will be misunderstood or rejected or seen as too religious. I'll learn to share openly what God is doing for me...

Cheers!
Andrea


haven't been doing my quiet time for the past uh three days i think, including today. i'm down with throat infection and cough.

yeah so i probably won't be posting until i get better which is tomorrow. :D

-Cheryl.



Gen 27; 35:28-29

Jacob was Rebekah's favorite son while Isaac preferred Esau. This created a conflict between the couple. She felt justified in deceiving her husband when the time came to bless the sons, and her ingenious plan was carried out to perfection.

Most of the time we try to justify the things we choose to do. Often we attempt to add God's approval to our actions. While it is true that our actions will not spoil God's plan, it is also true that we are responsible for what we do and must always be cautious about our motives.

When thinking about a course of action, am I simply seeking God's stamp of approval on something I've already decided to do? Or am I willing to set the plan aside if the principles and commands of God's Word are against the action?

Initiative and action are admirable and right when they are controlled by God's wisdom. This is what I've learnt today :)

Cheers!
Andrea


Today's reading is about Abraham responding to God's request for him to offer Issac as a burnt offering. (Genesis 22:1-12) God wanted to test Abraham to see if he treasured something more than God. Of course we all knew the outcome, Abraham did not hold back Issac and the angel of the Lord said to him, " Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

I am not sure if I will pass the test if I were to be tested. Is God really more precious to me than anything else in this world? Will I give up things that I treasured and love for God? Must ask for God's forgiveness, as it was sometime even hard for me to give up my time, my comfort for God. I have to remember that Jesus Christ sacrifice his life for me, so how can I hold back anything from Him.

I like what the author wrote at the end of the devotion guide: No sacrifice we make is too great for the One who sacrificed His all.

June

Isaac

I'm starting on '500 Daily Study for Bible Characters' for my QT in 2009. There are 5 books altogether. So, by the time I finished these 5 books (2 1/2 years), I'll know 500 Bible characters :)

This is the fifth day on Isaac (Gen 26: 1-5; 12-33).

The neighboring Philistines grew jealous because everything Isaac did seemed to go right. So they plugged his wells and tried to get rid of him. Jealousy is a dividing force strong enough to tear apart the mightiest of nations or the closest of friends. I learnt that when I find myself becoming jealous of others, try thanking God for their good fortune. Before striking out in anger, consider what I could lose...

Water was as precious as gold in the land where Isaac was at that time (on the edge of a desert). If someone dug a well, he was staking a claim to the land. To plug up someone's well was an act of war, it was one of the most serious crimes in the land. Isaac had every right to fight back when the Philistines ruined his wells, and yet he chose to keep the peace. In the end, the Philistines respected him 4 his patience.

Rather than start a huge conflict, Isaac compromised for the sake of peace. I admire his patience... really... that's what I most lack of... I prayed that I would be willing to forsake whatever my right is to keep peace. Asking God for wisdom to know when to withdraw and when to stand and fight also.

With his enemies wanting to make a peace treaty, Isaac was quick to respond, turning the occasion into a celebration. Here, I learnt that I should be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with me. When God's influence in my live attracts people even enemies - I must take the opportunity to reach out to them with God's love.

Cheers!
Andrea



i'm starting on "The Purpose Driven Life"

according to the book, you're supposed to do a chapter a day so you can complete it in 40 days. but i haven't been doing a chapter a day so i'm only until day 6 after two weeks. can see how much i need to work on.

Day 6 is "Life is a temporary assignment"

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18

it kinda talks about how brief life is on earth and not to get too attached. i think that's the hardest thing to do. to not pursue worldly stuff and material needs. especially with all the temptations nowadays it's almost impossible to put god infront of everything else. infront of everything worldly.

"We're not happy here because we're not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better"

yeah so i'm done with my first post. i still kinda don't get that chapter. pretty blur about it.


My very first entry!

1 Peter 2:9-17
9But you are (A)A CHOSEN RACE, A royal (B)PRIESTHOOD, A (C)HOLY NATION, (D)A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (E)out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Today's quiet time reading from Our Daily Bread echoed what we learnt in bible studies yesterday, that we have a message to proclaim to the world. What will others see when they observe me? What kind of message am I sending out with my actions? Am I honouring God with my life? May I remember that I have been chosen by God, just like John the baptist, to be His messenger.

June