One Hour In Prayer

Hey, I woke up at 7ish and was able to prayer an hour in bed. Zzzz...

1) Praise & Worship God - I used Ps 60 to praise and pray that through our God, we shall be valiantly, it is He who shall tread down our enemies and be triumphant.

2) Pray for myself - Asked the Lord to search my heart to check fault lines and cracks especially in the area of attitudes, judgemental-ism etc. My work, my emotions, God's purpose that will be fulfilled in my life.

3) Pray for my family - Was asking for the strengthening of my brother's marriage and protection over his family. Prayed for each of my spiritual daughters.

4) Pray for my workplace - Blessed the kids as they have CA today and also for KA - only God-given deals to come.

5) Pray for Singapore - Leadership will be God-fearing.

6) Pray for Nations - ?

God Is My Defense

When all our 'enemies' are against us, like King David in Ps 59, what should our response to them or to God be?

O You, my strength, I will wait for You. For God is my DEFENSE. My merciful God shall come to meet me. God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.... I will sing of Your Power, sing aloud of Your Mercy in the morning; For you have been my Defense and Refuge in the day of my trouble.

Am praying much for my ladies & their families especially when many of them are walking through times of affliction and pain - in sicknesses, emotional pain, financial challenges, relationship struggles etc. Lord, have mercy ....

God's Righteousness

The Lord woke me early and I drafted an email to ask a friend for help concerning the purchase of my humble abode. Yes, I am beginning to explore a unit to buy. I have totally no idea where and how to begin but I believe that as I trust the Lord with all my heart, lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways to acknowledge Him, He will make my path straight and direct me.

As I read Ps 58, we learn that God hates wickedness and lies. He is a just God who will reward the righteous in due season. Let's encourage each other to keep speaking and doing what is right and pleasing to Him.

Let My Heart Be Steadfast

Are we in such a predicament like David in Ps 57? Running away from a Saul and having to hide in a cave? Crying out to God for mercy and asking God to be our refuge and truth? Where our soul is among lions and those whose teeth are spears & arrows and their tongues sharp swords?

Be exalted O God above the heavens, let Your glory be above all the earth. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and give praise. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Relief From Tormentors

When David was captured by the Philistines in Gath, Ps 56 gives us an idea of what the situation would be like when we walk through something similar.

I received a sad call this morning ... how when we allow offences and anger to fester, it can torment our body, soul and spirit & cause relationships to be soured or even broken. Be merciful to us, O God, for man would swallow us up. Fighting all day to oppress us. Our enemies would hound us all day for there are many who fight against us, O Most High.

Whenever we are afraid, we will trust in YOU. In God and in His Word will I trust and have no fear. What can men do to me? All day they twist my words and their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps, and lie in wait for my life.

What a relief and comfort ... in vs 8 .. You number my wanderings, You put my tears in a bottle; they are in Your book. You actually collect all our sorrow, pain and tears in a bottle. How sweet!

When we cry out to You, our enemies will turn back because God is for me .. Yes! He is not against me! I will indeed put my trust in Him. What can men do to me?? Nothing!

I will praise You Lord for You have delivered my soul from death and my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in light of the living. Amen!

A Broken Spirit & A Contrite Heart

Hmm, today's message was sober. What does brokenness before God mean? It is a sense of utter desperation for God. SP preached from Ps 51 where David sinned against the Lord when he had an affair with Bathsheba.

What is the condition of our heart? Do we need the cleaning of the Lord? Can God create something new in us?

We all need a new heart transplant and transformation. Let's continue to take time to allow the Lord to search our deceitful hearts and allow the Lord to do heart surgery daily.

Had an interesting day. Went with M to visit Toyota Showroom and she bought herself a beautiful Toyota Altis. How fun!

Running Away From Our Enemies

Have you ever encountered such threats? I have! In Ps 54 David was hiding away from Saul who was after his back.

Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer O God, give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life. They have not set God before them.

God is my helper (Thank You, Jesus!). The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.

I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

Seek God, People!

God is looking down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone of them has turned aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one. Ps 53:2-3

We want to be a generation of believers who seek the coming of the Bridegroom. More than that, in the process of seeking God, we want to ask for wisdom and discernment to know the heart and mind of Christ.

Goodness of God

Ps 52 was David's account with Saul. It was a sad account of Saul's life where he boasted in evil, where his tongue devised destruction & worked deceitfully and he loved evil more than good. He'd rather lie than speak righteousness and loved devouring words.

How many of such people do we know? Do we want God to destroy them forever and take them out of His dwelling place and uproot them from the land of the living? The righteous shall see and fear and shall laugh at the foolish.

Let's make God our strength, and not trust in the abundance of our riches and wickedness. Let's be like a green olive tree in the house of God and trust in His mercy forever and ever. Let's praise Him and wait on His name, for it is good!

A Prayer Of Repentence

How does it feel to stand before a Just, Awesome, Holy yet Loving God who made us in His very image?

In Ps 51, David's response to God was ..Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving kindness, according to Your tender mercies, blot out all my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Create in my a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence O Lord, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.

What are the sacrifices of God? A broken spirit and a contrite heart - God will not despise.

God Is Our Righteous Judge

Our God shall come and not be silent. He will shine forth and a fire shall devour before Him. He shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that He may judge His people.

God, in this season is also calling forth His people to come together to declare His righteousness. God will not approve of our wrong doings because He is a Judge.

He owns everything - the beast of the forest, the cattle on a thousand hills, all the birds of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are His. Even the world and all its fullness belong to Him.

Have a holy fear of God! Offer to God thanksgiving and pay our vows to Him. Call upon Him in the day of trouble and He will deliver us and glorify Himself. Do not forget God ...

Live Wisely

Do we fear in the days of evil? Do we trust in our wealth and boast in the multitude of our riches? Ps 49 has answers for us about how to live life wisely.

No one can use $$ to redeem his brother ... for the redemption of our souls is costly. Wise men die, so does the foolish and the senseless and they leave their wealth to others. We may have overwhelming possessions, have lands after our names yet all this will perish when we are gone! This, the Bible says is the way of the foolish.

How then should we live to be wise?

He Is Our God

Ps 48 is a declaration that even when fear takes hold of us, pain like a woman in labour and come what may, we can be assured that God is God forever and ever. He will be our guide, even to death.

At lunch today, we had a discussion about how expensive the cost of living is in Singapore right now. When there are uncertainties and constrains, our only hope is God. No one is able to provide for us more than God can. In fact, no one knows the extent of what we have to go through in this life but God. No one can forsee the future about what we need except the Lord who is our Maker. We need to place our complete trust and hope in Him.

That's where SP challenged us as a church today to enter into a 40 day of fasting and prayer to lay hold of the heart of God for ourselves. Also, it will be a time of consecration and surrender - no longer my will but God's will be done!

Shout To God With A Voice Of Truimph!

I could really SHOUT a praise to God this afternoon when I experienced a triumphant breakthrough in KA. When we learn to fear the Lord Most High and let Him reign as King over all the earth and our lives, He will really subdue the peoples under us and allow the nations to be under our feet. That's exactly what I felt the Lord did for me today. It's such an awesome feeling!!

He will choose our inheritances for us! Mum and I were joking this morning about my new found 'god-daughter' whose mum would like to receive my 'inheritance'. I do not possess much material wealth so she has chosen a poor godma.... haha! But I have a plush and prosperous God behind me who will allow me to possess a huge, enormous & mighty spiritual inheritance and a legacy that I will leave behind for our precious ones. So, it's not that bad being my god daughter, you know! Who's next?

Our Present Help In Trouble

Ps 46 tells us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We will not fear though the earth be removed, though the moutains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters roar and be troubled. (Are we talking about earthquakes? Tsunami? Natural disasters?) God has an answer for us ...

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the Holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her and she shall not be moved. (We too should not be perturbed when disasters come!)

Our response should be in vs 10 .. Be still and know that He is God; He will be exalted among the nations, He will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us and He is our refuge!

A Love Note

Today is Valentine's Day and it is a special time to express our love, adoration, appreciation and even intimacy to our Beloved.

How well-timed that as a Church, we are reading Ps 45 and like King David, he was writing a love composition concerning the King.

Oh God, You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured out upon Your lips, You ride in Glory and Majesty - prosperously because of truth, humility and righteousness. Your right hand shall teach awesome things, Your arrows are sharp in the heart of Your enemies, the people fall under You. (No one can fight You ..)

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (Hmm, many times, we ask what the Kingdom of God is like?) You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God anoints You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (Yes, I receive the overflowing oil of gladness to be poured out on me today!) All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia ... (Wow! we receive Your healing, Your sweet fragrance, Your deliverance and preserving life from You).

Kings' daughters are among Your honorable women (I would love to be included!) Consider and incline your ear, forget your own people and your father's house, so the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is Your Love, worship Him. (Oh how beautiful that this invitation is extented to us to leave our past, give up every right that we have and fall at the feet of the Most High God!) The daughter of Tyre will be there with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor. (Court my favour? The rich? Hoho, I wouldn't mind abit)

The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. (G12 vision? If we desire to disciple our ladies to be all glorious before the King, we will have many followers. They will want what we have as well...)

With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought in; they shall enter the King's palace ... I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; And the people shall praise You forever!

I love You, My Bridegroom, My Lover, My King!

The Secret Of Our Heart

Ps 43 is a timely reminder that whenever we think we can hide from God, please think again. Vs 21 tells us that God knows the secret of our hearts. He checks our intentions, motives, responses and basically, our heart!

Lead Me

Ps 43 is a prayer to God in times of trouble and I am asking the Lord to deliver me from deceitful and unjust men. God, you are my strength, do not cast me off. I will not go mourning because of my enemies.

Send Your light and Your truth and let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle. The I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Yes! Lord let me find my satisfaction and security in You and indeed be my overwhelming and surpassing JOY! I want to delight in You .... Yeah!

Against The Flesh

We are constantly fighting against the flesh because the fleshly desires of our heart are in constant battle with that of the Holy Spirit.

Today, I had an encounter with one of my little boys displaying rebellion and disobedience and I was awed at how his mother literally 'preached' to him and admonished him with the fear of the Lord. Thought that was really marvelous because the Lord chastises those whom He loves and disciplines them like that of a son.

Ps 42 was the yearning of David's heart for God in the midst of distresses. What can I learn from this? As a deer pants for the water brooks, my soul also wants to thirst for God, for the living God. I would like to pour out my soul within me .... Each time my soul is downcast, I can speak to my heart and declare HOPE. I can praise the Lord in the midst of pain and trials because He is my HELP and my COUNTENANCE.

Yesterday, in church, we brought back a beautiful hymn to sing ...

All the way my Savior leads me,What have I to ask beside?Can I doubt His tender mercy,Who through life has been my Guide?Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,Here by faith in Him to dwell!For I know, whate’er befall me,Jesus doeth all things well;For I know, whate’er befall me,Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,Cheers each winding path I tread,Gives me grace for every trial,Feeds me with the living Bread.Though my weary steps may falter. And my soul athirst may be,Gushing from the Rock before me,Lo! A spring of joy I see;Gushing from the Rock before me,Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,Oh, the fullness of His love!Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father’s house above.When my spirit, clothed immortal,Wings its flight to realms of day. This my song through endless ages:Jesus led me all the way;This my song through endless ages:Jesus led me all the way.

What Is God Saying?

You know, I had an interesting conversation with M this morning and strangely, although I believe it is God's divine rhema word for the season, both of us should be reading the same book during this time. How more apt can the timing be! Anyway, the book is entitled 'Finishing Well' by Bob Budford. She actually reserved it from the National Library and I owned the book some years ago. Recently, i picked it up from my dusty book shelf to read.

We shared excerpts from the book about what God would have us do in the second part of our lives. It was amusing because we had concerted thoughts about how we had to wait for the Lord to speak to us individually for the second half and also to be walking in the centre of God's will.

Is there a place for integration of our lives in the area of our families, jobs, ministry etc in the 2nd half? Relationships should be the core focus? What kind of impact should we be making in the lives of others? What is our core? These were some of the questions we were discussing when sharing about this book.

Guess it is very good food for thought as we read a psalm a day and as we wait for the Lord and allow Him to speak to us. Ps 41, David was discovering what the blessings and sufferings are for the godly. He seemed to be walking through difficult times, even with his closest friends. Yet, God was merciful to him and raised him up and kept him up in his integrity.

Work Out

Hey had to go to the gym to work out this morning after all the feasting at CNY. Bulging all over .... sigh. Age really does not help in keep weight down and fats tucked in. Hee hee! O well, enjoy your well cultivated fats ...

I read Ps 40 this morning about waiting patiently for the Lord, I believe He will incline His ear to me and hear my cry. He will bring me out of the horrible pit, out of miry clay and set me upon a rock and establish my step. Yes, Jesus is my unchanging, stable Rock whom I can depend.

He will put a new song in my mouth ... Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, does not respect the proud nor turn aside to lies... I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.

Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your loving kindness and truth continually preserve me... Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!

Times of Waiting

This CNY was rather significant because I felt rested and thoroughly enjoyed my time with family. It is indeed a CNY Sabbath!

Ps 39 spelled out my times of waiting recently ... Lord, make me know my end. And what is the measure of my days, or length of my days. That I may know how frail I am or how transient my life is. Indeed, You have made my days as hand breaths, and my age is as nothing before You.

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of the foolish... Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, a companion, visitor, a sharer, as all my fathers were.... Remove Your gaze from me that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more.

Happy Chinese New Year

It's the first day of the Lunar New Year and we had a swell time feasting together as a family last evening. And we created a new family tradition among the women folk. We became 'manicurist' overnight. We painted each other's nails and really had much fun! Even the kids got involved!

God has been good in bringing much togetherness each time the family gathers. May this year bring greater depth of love for each other, peace and harmony in the home, health and strength for all and a greater knowledge to know that God will provide more than abundant for us.

Ps 38 .. was a psalm of remembrance ..... and i would like to claim these verses for myself from vs 9. Lord, all of my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. Vs 21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.

The Heritage Of The Righteous

Ps 37 has wonderful promises for me and it's such a delight to read it over and over again.

Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord.... He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light. And your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him... for those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. The meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. For the Lord upholds him with His hand....Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Wait on the Lord, keep His way, He shall exalt you to inherit the land. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright, for the future of that man is peace.

Thank you Lord, for Your promises which I can claim and appropriate for my life.

A Thankful Heart

Hey, I am grateful that I received a surprise $$ bonus this Chinese New Year! It came unexpected and I am thankful to God for His loving and kind provision. Glory be to God!

His Loving Kindness

Oh! I was so awed just pondering on God's loving kindness for me in Ps 36. When we put our trust in the Lord we can hide under the shadow of His wings and be abundantly satisfied with the fullness of His house because He gives us drink from the rivers of His pleasure. For in Him is the fountain of life; In His light,we see light. Wow, arise and see!

Continue your loving kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me. And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. I receive it .. Amen!

Yes, I am seeking and trusting the Lord for new direction in the area of the biz and working out fine details with B. Oh God, grant me Your loving kindness & Your faithfulness.

Let My Tongue Speak Of God's Righteousness

Ps 35 is a passage where the Lord is truly the avenger for His people. In every situation and circumstance, our soul can be joyful in the Lord and can rejoice in His salvation. God will rescue us and keep our precious life from the lions. Give thanks!

Be Real Men After God's Own Heart

Ps E preached such a wonderful message this morning on the characteristics of being a real men - longing after God's own heart! Be like David in Ps 34.

1) Reflect the presence of God - Come closer.
2) Experience the provision of God - Come taste.
3) Advance the purposes of God - Have Kingdom lifestyle.. & Fear the Lord.
4) Lives out the promises of God - Claim His Word.

There are many promises from Ps 34 that we can claim for ourselves :

* When we seek the Lord, He delivers us from fear. He will even send angels to encamp around us.
* When we look to Him, we will be radiant.
* God will provide for us when we lack, even financially.
* There is no want for those who fear the Lord, those who seek Him will lack no good thing.
* God will teach us and our next generation the fear of the Lord. How? What?
* To desire life and love to see many good days? Keep our tongue from evil, lips from speaking lies, depart from evil,do good, seek peace and pursue it.
* God's eyes are on the righteous and His ears open to their cry.
* When the righteous cries out, the Lord hears and delivers them from all their troubles.
* He is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us from them all. He guards all our bones, not one of them will be broken! Wow, how comforting!

God's Word Is Right

I have to believe that the Word of God is right & true! There has been a wave of vicious attacks on my dear ladies recently and I am standing on the promises of God's word to claim healing, deliverance and freedom for them.

Ps 33:18-19 says that Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Our souls waits for the Lord - He is our Help and our Shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His Holy name. Let Your mercy be upon us, just as we hope in You.

Ps 32

Wow! It's Feb 1 already and we are into our 2nd month of reading the Psalms.

I woke this morning confessing my sin to the Lord like David did in Ps 32:5. I acknowledge my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Thank you for your gentle reminder that everyone who is godly can pray to You, meaning can come into Your presence & can stand in Your holy place, while You may be found; Surely when the mighty waters rise, it will not reach me.

You are my hiding place, You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; I thank you that you will counsel me and watch over me.

I do not want to be like the horse or the mule who has no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle .... or that You have to discipline me with the rod and staff, or be harsh to me like how you would chastise children but I want to be obedient, kind and patience, experiencing Your loving kindness and Your unfailing love because You surround us who trusts in You.

Help me to rejoice and be glad! Sing, all you who are upright in heart!