Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Keys to Becoming Wise
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10). It helps when we developed a close relationship with the Lord. More, to follow God's guidance for living should be the first step in moving from unwise to wise.
In the Book of Proverbs King Solomon also affirms that , " the Lord gives wisdom" (Pro 2:6) The key in gaining wisdom, the first involves humility. "With humility comes wisdom" (Pro 11:12) . Solomon also writes about accepting advice and correction: "Wisdom is found in those who take advice" (Pro 13:10) The way we interact with people in our lives provides another key to wisdom. " A wise man's heart guides his mouth" (Pro 16:23)
Lord I definately needs your guidance to unlock the door to wisdom when.......
you see that I am always promoting myself,
I am concerning about elevating myself in the eyes of others,
I aim to determine my own destiny rather than letting God determine it,
I actually tell myself, "I'm humble",
I am not willing to accept advice and criticism from others,
I just casually spouting off with negative words.
Lord I need to place my energy and commitment in you. I need to place my interest and focus back on you. In doing this I can move further toward wisdom.
Blessings....
In the Book of Proverbs King Solomon also affirms that , " the Lord gives wisdom" (Pro 2:6) The key in gaining wisdom, the first involves humility. "With humility comes wisdom" (Pro 11:12) . Solomon also writes about accepting advice and correction: "Wisdom is found in those who take advice" (Pro 13:10) The way we interact with people in our lives provides another key to wisdom. " A wise man's heart guides his mouth" (Pro 16:23)
Lord I definately needs your guidance to unlock the door to wisdom when.......
you see that I am always promoting myself,
I am concerning about elevating myself in the eyes of others,
I aim to determine my own destiny rather than letting God determine it,
I actually tell myself, "I'm humble",
I am not willing to accept advice and criticism from others,
I just casually spouting off with negative words.
Lord I need to place my energy and commitment in you. I need to place my interest and focus back on you. In doing this I can move further toward wisdom.
Blessings....
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Losing Sight of God
King Solomon, is famous for his wisdom and wealth. He had built the most magnificent place for God to dwell. The Lord loves him and has chosen to bless Israel through Solomon's leadership.
The Lord said the king must not acquired great number of horses for himself and not take many wives, because his heart will be led astray. Solomon would not listen, he imports horses from Egypt. He takes 700 wives and nearly half as much mistresses. In addition, he accumulates more silver and gold than any other kings.
When the nation grows wealthy, it will lose its sense of need for God. They will turn to its own power rather than to God for victory. When the king surrounds himself with foreign wives, many of whom remain loyal to false gods, his heart will turn toward their loyalties.
Solomon, who had heard from God himself and possessed more wisdom than anyone else, was gradually drifting "back that way again". It is easy to lose sight of God: when I am getting comfortable in this world; when I am admiring my ability in work; when I am enjoying the growth in ministry; when I am indulging on God's gifts in me and begin to believe that it is solely because of me not God Himself; when I am counting on my good health; God alerts me.....
Father, thanks for watching over me, help me to be an obedient child of yours. Help me not to go back to a self-satisfying mode. Teach me actively seeking your present in my daily walk with you.
Amen.
The Lord said the king must not acquired great number of horses for himself and not take many wives, because his heart will be led astray. Solomon would not listen, he imports horses from Egypt. He takes 700 wives and nearly half as much mistresses. In addition, he accumulates more silver and gold than any other kings.
When the nation grows wealthy, it will lose its sense of need for God. They will turn to its own power rather than to God for victory. When the king surrounds himself with foreign wives, many of whom remain loyal to false gods, his heart will turn toward their loyalties.
Solomon, who had heard from God himself and possessed more wisdom than anyone else, was gradually drifting "back that way again". It is easy to lose sight of God: when I am getting comfortable in this world; when I am admiring my ability in work; when I am enjoying the growth in ministry; when I am indulging on God's gifts in me and begin to believe that it is solely because of me not God Himself; when I am counting on my good health; God alerts me.....
Father, thanks for watching over me, help me to be an obedient child of yours. Help me not to go back to a self-satisfying mode. Teach me actively seeking your present in my daily walk with you.
Amen.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Enjoying His Presence
Psalm 139 is one of my favorite psalm. It said:
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord
You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ...........
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
God is always with us. He's always focused on us, always thinking about us, always aware of what we're doing, thinking and feeling. Never for a second does he turn his attention from us. And all of his attention flows from a burning, passionate love for us that never grows cold, never tires.
The Psalm does reveals the intimacy and reassurance that God provides for me. It is a step of faith, a path to lead me from an obsession with myself to the actual presence of God.
Only, if I make God the center of my attention, I can be in a continual love relationship with Him that will give me perspective on everything in life and fill the deepest needs of my soul.
Lord, help me understood and experience your constant presence in whatever circumstance I am encountering.
Amen.
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord
You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ...........
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
God is always with us. He's always focused on us, always thinking about us, always aware of what we're doing, thinking and feeling. Never for a second does he turn his attention from us. And all of his attention flows from a burning, passionate love for us that never grows cold, never tires.
The Psalm does reveals the intimacy and reassurance that God provides for me. It is a step of faith, a path to lead me from an obsession with myself to the actual presence of God.
Only, if I make God the center of my attention, I can be in a continual love relationship with Him that will give me perspective on everything in life and fill the deepest needs of my soul.
Lord, help me understood and experience your constant presence in whatever circumstance I am encountering.
Amen.
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Goodness of God
Psalm 103:
Praise the Lord, O my Soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name ......
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for 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 has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteouness with their children's children-with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
I really like this Psalm, especially when we sing thru' songs. It remains me of the unmeasurable love of God. Two weeks ago, Cumberland celebrate its 115 years of ministry among the Chinatown community.
Wow what a blessings for me to share the fond memories of the past, present and future.
The picture has a lot of representation.Although not all the memories are positive, just like what the Psalm reviews, the church might have dark times. The Lord understands our weakness and transformed all those dark times into history and help the congregations to pull through. God has always kept his promise to love His church and people and this is a sign of God's grace to Cumberland.
Praise Him for His Goodness!
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