my angels

"7 Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9 Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God"

~ Proverbs 30:7-9


....a timely...reminder....

heard this song during my uni days from an old children worship album by Vineyard Music, when i was attending Randwick Baptist Church...this song was shared by our housechurch leader, the album belongs to her...the little girl who sang solo for this, her voice was just so pretty, pure and full of innocence...it just captured your heart....have been looking high and low for this album for the longest time with no success...just want to note down the lyrics...as a reminder...

Bright and Shining Star
(Vineyard Music)

Lord I want to know,
All that I can know about You,
Lord I want to go,
Where You lead me I will follow.

Lord You are,
My bright and shining star,
And I know,
I'll never be too far,
From Your love,
You're showing me the way,
I just want to obey,
Oh teach me Lord I pray.

a timely reminder from today's devotion from NCC ...to allow my heart to be established by God's Grace...and to continue to be at REST....amen!

========================================

Let Your Heart Be Established By Grace

Hebrews 13:9
9… it is good that the heart be established by grace…

God does not want your heart full of worries and fears, tossed and turned by every challenge that comes your way. He wants your heart at rest and established by His grace toward you.

But when you think that the breakthroughs to your challenges depend on your ability to obey God, then your heart will not be at rest. It will be full of worries and anxieties. Why? Because you can never obey God perfectly.

But when you depend on God’s grace, that is, His undeserved, unmerited favor, the opposite happens — your heart becomes established. When you know that the only thing that qualifies you to receive God’s blessings is faith in the finished work of Christ, your heart becomes established. Then, you will walk without the fear of your troubles swallowing you up. You will walk with full assurance that His blessings will be manifested in your life.

My friend, God wants your heart established, knowing that His righteousness, healing, protection and prosperity are yours — all paid for by Jesus’ finished work at the cross. God’s blessings are sure in your life because they are not dependent on your ability to keep His laws, but Jesus’ perfect obedience.

You see, under the old covenant, you receive God’s blessings only if you keep all His laws. (Deuteronomy 28:1–2) If you sin and fail to keep even one law, you will be disqualified from receiving His blessings. But today, under the new covenant, your sins no longer disqualify you because God Himself has said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

So let your heart be established by God’s grace. Because of His grace, you have full access to His blessings. You no longer have to worry about whether you are good enough. You can stand firm on the promises made in His Word and enjoy His blessings today because Jesus has paid the price. Your part is only to believe and receive!

Still
(Words and Music by Reuben Morgan)

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God





"Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalm 46:10

so be still, my heart...be still....and know that He is God...and He is in control.....

Hillsong United lyrics - From The Inside Out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

( sermon notes taken from yesterday's service...for my reference, as it is messy and all over the place... )

had been playing this lullaby music CD we had since even before we had gabe, called "Butterfly Kisses & Bedtime Prayers" by Bob Carlisle...it is a compilation of songs by different artists put together into this album...am so touched by one particular song written by Bob Carlisle (who also wrote Butterfly Kisses) called "Father's Love"...how it reminded me of the love of my Heavenly Father...how powerful, big and strong as my Father's love...just want to share the lyrics here...to wish all a very...

Merry and Blessed Christmas....

Father's Love ~ Bob Carlisle

Three feet tall and full of questions
You must have thought I was the smartest man alive
I didn't always have the answers
To every little how and where and why

Like Daddy, why's the sky so blue today?
Does Jesus really hear me when I pray?
When I grow up, will I be just like you?
Will I be tall and strong and brave?

CHORUS(1):
There is no power on earth like your fathers' love
So big and so strong as your father's love
A promise that's sacred, a promise from heaven above
No matter where you go... always know
You can depend on your father's love

Especially when it's cold, especially when you're lonely
When your little heart is lost trying to find it's way
I know the world is always changing
But, remember son, that some things never change

And even when my life on earth is through
There will still be a part of me in you
'Cause some things are forever
Nothing's ever gonna take my love from you

CHORUS(2):
There is no power on earth like your father's love
So big and so strong as your father's love
A promise that's sacred, a promise from heaven above
Did I hug enough, did I care enough
When you most needed me,
Was I there enough
Enough to make you feel the power of
Your father's love

From today's NCC daily devotion...

Thanksgiving Can Raise The Dead!

John 11:41–42
41… And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42And I know that You always hear Me…

After Jesus had said these words, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the man who had been dead for four days came out of his tomb!

This is one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed. Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus raised him to life. Wouldn’t you agree that death is indeed an extreme problem? Having no money in the bank, being sick and losing your job, bad as they are, are not as bad as being dead!

But what I want you to see is this: If Jesus, in the most extreme of problems, shows us that the solution is still, “Father, I thank You,” then how much more should we thank God in the midst of the less serious problems we face. If thanksgiving can raise the dead, then let us give thanks in spite of the negative circumstances and we will see victory.

Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite — murmur and complain. But murmuring and complaining only magnify the problem. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is the language of faith which pleases God. I am not saying that we give thanks for the problems we have. No, we thank God that He is our answer and that He has already given every blessing to us. (Ephesians 1:3)

“But Pastor Prince, what I have is so little.”

My friend, thank God for the little you have and it will multiply. Jesus thanked His Father for the five barley loaves and two small fish, a little boy’s lunch, and they were multiplied to feed more than 5,000 people with 12 baskets full of leftovers! (John 6:8–13) And notice that when the Holy Spirit talked about this event again, He specifically mentioned the Lord giving thanks — “the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks”. (John 6:23) The Holy Spirit seemed to be more pleased with the act of giving thanks than the miracle of multiplication or the 12 baskets full of leftovers.

Beloved, the more you thank God, the more you please Him. What little you have will be multiplied and whatever is dead in your life will be raised to life!

From today's NCC daily devotion...

The God Of More-Than-Enough

Luke 5:9
For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;

As a young Christian, I grew up hearing preachers say that God only supplies our needs, not our wants. Yet, in the Bible, God clearly shows us that He wants to meet not just our needs, but also our wants.

For example, the famous “shepherd psalm” begins with “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”. (Psalm 23:1) Another psalm says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9–10)

One of the names of our God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “the all-providing One”. He provides more than enough. The God of more-than-enough came in the flesh and walked among His people. And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He did not give His disciples small blessings. That is why He said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets [plural] for a catch,” (Luke 5:4) and not “let down your net [singular]”. And what a catch it turned out to be — a boat-sinking, net-breaking catch! It was such a big and unexpected blessing that Peter and all who were with him were “astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken”.

Beloved, see God’s heart for you today. He wants to prosper you greatly. Don’t settle for anything less, thinking that He only supplies your needs and not your wants. If you need a job, know that He wants you to pray not just for a job, but for a position. When you have a position, you have influence and you are able to impact lives. Maybe what you need is a pay increment. Then, pray not just for that, but also to be in a position to give increments!

You may start out poor when you follow God. But you cannot remain poor when you follow the God of more-than-enough. In fact, like Peter, you too will be astonished that God supplies more than what you need and beyond what you have asked!

found the below "spam" mail in my mailbox from my dear sister in Gold Coast...

=============================
BY A 15 yr. old SCHOOL KID IN GEELONG VIC:

New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME) !!!

Since the Pledge of Allegiance & The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore, because the word 'God' is mentioned....A kid in Geelong Vic wrote the attached:-

NEW School prayer :

"Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense - it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take !!!

Amen"

If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on.

Jesus said,
'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'

Not ashamed. Pass this on..

=============================

a Psalm of David

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.[a]
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Dear God, surround me with your favor, tender mercies, and loving kindness, all the days of my life...amen.

have come across this chapter 31 in the book of Proverbs about the virtuous wife...

==========================================

Proverbs 31

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.[a]
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

==========================================

ah...if i can be that wife :) someday....by the grace of God, i am getting there...i hope :p

came across Psalm 91 this morning when i listened to one of Pastor Prince (from NCC)'s sermons...a pretty old sermon/teaching that was preached during the SARS period...

=========================

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

=========================

thank You, God for the timely reminder of Your promise...help me God...to conquer my stubborn heart of un-belief and one that is always full of doubts of You. help me to believe, and to give thanks, even for things that have not yet come to pass but to believe with real faith that they will...and give me a heart of thanksgiving and joy...always....

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

was reminded of this verse this morning when listening to one of the many sermons in my MP3 player...it was like breakfast to my hungry soul....it struck me hard as i so wanted, needed this rest from God...

thanks to my LJ friends from NCC (Lish, Esther and Angela) who have so kindly sent me the sermon DVDs, CDs, and MP3 files in emails, and burnt to DVDs (like i was like WOW when i saw the two DVDs full of sermons last sunday from Angela!!)...watching the DVDs from Lish on Grace and Favor of God was the first awakening call like my soul has been starving for so long...even when we went to church on sunday, we were often distracted and could not fully concentrate to listen to the message...

now, i have a new 'routine' in the morning...i have wiped the songs of my MP3 player and filled it with sermon MP3 files...and i have been listening to them on my way to work, and on my way home from work...like my soul has somehow been hungry for so long, it has finally found food for itself and could not get enough of it...

it reminded me of my first cell group (it was called "house-church" in my home church in sydney) meeting...when i was brought to visit this cell group, which was led by my wonderful big brother Daniel...who was a gifted teacher...he would share with us as a group first, like "preaching" to us a small church, the teachings from the Bible...and i remember my other good friend cum brother, Mendel, who is from Hong Kong, would say this almost every Saturday, in Cantonese, "ah...got rice to eat lor..." like listening to Daniel's sharing, was some kind of soul food, we were so eagerly looking forward to in anticipation and excitement...

and that excitement seems to be back like a long lost friend...it is wonderful...i just hope this will last :)

was spending "quality time" time with kris just now watching Johnny and the Sprites on playhouse disney channel...and the episode being shown was called "spring tuning", and the story was about how Johnny woke up the earth in the first day of spring, with his new song called "time to wake up"....

i heard the song and it sure caught my attention...was so surprised, that i could be so touched by God, thru this new song, and of all shows and places, from a kid's show! just so beautiful i have to share it here and keep it in my heart for as long as i can....and to be glad, be grateful and thankful for all that i have been given....no matter how down life can be sometimes...



i can't find the lyrics from the web...so i listened as best i could to write it down...hope i get most of them right...

Time To Wake Up

for such a long time
you've been sound asleep
the buds on the trees
the bobs and the crowns so deep
i look at the sun
and there's only one thing i can say
it's time to wake up, time to wake up
and greet a brand new day

the winter was cold
the nights were so long
now the birds have returned
and they're singing a spring time song
just feel the glow
and see how the snow has gone away
it's time to wake up, time to wake up
and greet a brand new day

now we're starring at growth (??)
as the rain water flows to the deep blue sea
just look up in the sky
you'll see butterflies flying so merrily
it's as beautiful as it can be
so wake up and enjoy it with me
the smoles (??) in their holes
the bees in their hives
it's days just like this
that make me glad i'm alive
there's one thing to do
come look at the blue sky that once was grey

it's time to wake up, time to wake up
and greet a brand new day

Trust His Heart
by Babbie Mason

All things work for our good
though sometimes we can't see how they could
struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blinds us to the truth

Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim, and you just can't see Him
Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart

He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hands
So don't live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him

We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me to someday be just like Him

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand trust His heart

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27

this verse has been in my mind for sometimes...even more so recently...

sometimes...life is just full of changes and uncertainties...i just hope that...among all the trials and turmoils that we face....i just hope and pray for peace...peace in my heart and my mind, that everything is under His control...just when things seem to be so out of whack and control, or when it feels like that way...that i just want to believe and take in comfort of that believe that God is indeed in the driver's seat....

a reminder of my faith...the core...of my belief......

"The gospel is this: Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, gave up His life by being sacrificed on a cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was raised from the dead 3 days later (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Because He took our punishment for sin on Himself, He can forgive our sins and make us children of God if we put our faith and trust in Him (Acts 13:38-39)."

stolen from today's devotion from our daily bread...

needed this reminder as sometimes, amidst the busy-ness of life in general...i tend to forget and take His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness for granted...

Dear God, i can only ask of Your forgiveness again and again, and to help me...stay focus...on You and You alone...