From Don
05.03.09
It was 10:30 P.M., and I was still in my office working on the final song list for John Chisum’s new project called “Firm Foundation.” I knew there was something missing on the list and I felt somewhere on this project we needed to say, "Lord I Offer My Life To You … Everything I’ve Been Through," because this particular project was dealing with inner healing believing that God can restore everything that has been broken in your life. It was important to say something like, “God, I believe you can use all that I have been through for your glory, somehow.”
I decided to call Claire Cloninger who I love to write with. She is one of the most incredible lyricists I have ever known. I called her at 10:30 P.M., and after apologizing for calling so late, told her what I was looking for and played a bit of the chorus of the song over the phone. “Lord, I Offer My Life To You … Everything I’ve Been Through," and told her what I think the song needed to say. In 15 minutes she faxed over some lyrics and we spent 10 more minutes on the phone tweaking this and that and by 11:00 PM the song was finished! I still sing this song at almost every concert.
One little bit of trivia here. There is also a pretty nice bridge to this song that we recorded on Firm Foundation but I have never used it when I sing the song live. I think the reason is because it’s a little tricky and a congregation could get lost singing it. I like to get right to the heart of a song and stay there.
- Don
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
Loving Children Effectively
Most parents love their children, but many children do not feel loved. I like to picture that inside every child is an emotional love tank. When the tank is full, the child grows up emotionally healthy. But when the love tank is empty, the child will grow up with many internal struggles. Loving children effectively requires parents to express love in a language that the child understands.
Children and the Love Languages
Every child has a special way of receiving love. When Dr. Ross Campbell and I wrote The Five Love Languages of Children, we discovered that children understand love in five basic ways: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts and acts of service. If you have several children, chances are they each understand love in a different way.
Wrap Your Discipline in Love!
Loving children must be unconditional. Unconditional love says to a child, "I love you no matter what." Don’t withhold your love from a child when they misbehave. A child’s emotional love tank must be filled before any effective training or discipline can take place. A child with a full love tank can respond to parental guidance without resentment. On the other hand, when the child does not feel loved, the discipline seems harsh and unfair. Discipline wrapped in love is the most effective discipline.
The First Eighteen Months
During infancy, a child does not distinguish between milk and tenderness, between solid food and love. Without food a child will starve. Without love, a child will starve emotionally and can become impaired for life. A great deal of research indicates that the emotional foundation of life is laid in the first eighteen months of life, particularly in the mother/child relationship. Speak all five languages to your child the first eighteen months, and you are laying the best possible foundation for emotional health.
Teaching children how to express love to others in all five languages prepares your child for good relationships as an adult. Your example is the most effective method of teaching. Love your children effectively and they will learn to love others.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Children and the Love Languages
Every child has a special way of receiving love. When Dr. Ross Campbell and I wrote The Five Love Languages of Children, we discovered that children understand love in five basic ways: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts and acts of service. If you have several children, chances are they each understand love in a different way.
Wrap Your Discipline in Love!
Loving children must be unconditional. Unconditional love says to a child, "I love you no matter what." Don’t withhold your love from a child when they misbehave. A child’s emotional love tank must be filled before any effective training or discipline can take place. A child with a full love tank can respond to parental guidance without resentment. On the other hand, when the child does not feel loved, the discipline seems harsh and unfair. Discipline wrapped in love is the most effective discipline.
The First Eighteen Months
During infancy, a child does not distinguish between milk and tenderness, between solid food and love. Without food a child will starve. Without love, a child will starve emotionally and can become impaired for life. A great deal of research indicates that the emotional foundation of life is laid in the first eighteen months of life, particularly in the mother/child relationship. Speak all five languages to your child the first eighteen months, and you are laying the best possible foundation for emotional health.
Teaching children how to express love to others in all five languages prepares your child for good relationships as an adult. Your example is the most effective method of teaching. Love your children effectively and they will learn to love others.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
How to Be a Good Listener
You're probably familiar with the five love languages--quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts and physical touch. Did you know quality time has many dialects? One of the most common dialects is that of quality conversation. By quality conversation, I mean sympathetic dialogue where two individuals are sharing their experiences, thoughts, feelings, and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context.
Have you ever wondered if you're a good listener? How can you improve in this area? Here are eight steps to becoming a sympathetic listener.
1. Maintain eye contact when you are listening to someone. This keeps your mind from wandering and communicates that the person has your full attention. Refrain from rolling your eyes in disgust, closing your eyes when they give you a low blow, looking over their head, or staring at their shoes while they are talking.
2. Don't engage in other activities while you are listening to another individual. Remember, quality time is giving someone your undivided attention.
3. Listen for feelings. Ask yourself: "What are this person's emotions right now?" When you think you have the answer, confirm it. For example, "It sounds like you are feeling disappointed because I forgot..." That gives the person a chance to clarify his/her feelings. It also communicates that you are listening intently to what they are saying.
4. Observe body language. Clenched fists, trembling hands, tears, furrowed brows, and eye movement may give you clues as to what the person is feeling. Sometimes body language speaks one message while words speak another. Ask for clarification to make sure you know what the person is really thinking and feeling.
5. Refuse to interrupt.
6. Ask reflective questions.
7. Express understanding. The person needs to know that he/she has been heard and understood.
8. Ask if there is anything you might do that would be helpful. Notice, you are asking, not telling the person what she ought to do. Never give advice until you are sure the other person wants it.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages Singles Edition by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Have you ever wondered if you're a good listener? How can you improve in this area? Here are eight steps to becoming a sympathetic listener.
1. Maintain eye contact when you are listening to someone. This keeps your mind from wandering and communicates that the person has your full attention. Refrain from rolling your eyes in disgust, closing your eyes when they give you a low blow, looking over their head, or staring at their shoes while they are talking.
2. Don't engage in other activities while you are listening to another individual. Remember, quality time is giving someone your undivided attention.
3. Listen for feelings. Ask yourself: "What are this person's emotions right now?" When you think you have the answer, confirm it. For example, "It sounds like you are feeling disappointed because I forgot..." That gives the person a chance to clarify his/her feelings. It also communicates that you are listening intently to what they are saying.
4. Observe body language. Clenched fists, trembling hands, tears, furrowed brows, and eye movement may give you clues as to what the person is feeling. Sometimes body language speaks one message while words speak another. Ask for clarification to make sure you know what the person is really thinking and feeling.
5. Refuse to interrupt.
6. Ask reflective questions.
7. Express understanding. The person needs to know that he/she has been heard and understood.
8. Ask if there is anything you might do that would be helpful. Notice, you are asking, not telling the person what she ought to do. Never give advice until you are sure the other person wants it.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages Singles Edition by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Sunday Sermon 28 June 2009
Speaker: Sis Tan Choon
White Fields Assembly Seremban
http://www.fileqube.com/file/PaTZRQw203638
( 7MB 53 minutes 16kbps 16Khz MP3)
Note: Audio download link is available for only 30 days from date posted.
White Fields Assembly Seremban
http://www.fileqube.com/file/PaTZRQw203638
( 7MB 53 minutes 16kbps 16Khz MP3)
Note: Audio download link is available for only 30 days from date posted.
What Is A Missionary?
A Christian missionary is a person whose passion is to make the Lord Jesus known to the whole world. They are completely under the command of King Jesus, and they will go anywhere, under any circumstances, for no pay, with poor living conditions and food, even though no one ever notices. They know that their Sovereign is watching every minute, and that is the only reward and joy they seek.
We see in the Bible that all Christians should continually be seeking every opportunity to lead the unsaved to Christ no matter where they are, for this is the privilege of every believer. But I believe that too many people use the world 'missionary' too lightly - it's a term that has become misused in our everyday 'Christian vocabulary'. Too many justify their not obeying the call of the Lord to go to the front lines of the battlefield, by saying they are 'missionaries where they are'. I believe that 'being a missionary' in the truest sense of the word is taking the Gospel where it has never been before, or at least to a difference culture or a different language group. A true missionary is someone who will risk everything for the sake of the lost of this world.
Of course, as in every battle, not everyone can be in the frontlines, for there are many things that are needed to aid those who are. But you must be clearly called by the Lord to stay away from the front lines before you can be assured that you are in the will of God. It is obviously true that many Christians are called to reach out to the lost in the ghettos, red-light districts and homosexual communities in their own areas. And there are always those faithful wives and mothers who diligently let Christ be known to their doctors, plumbers, and P.T.A groups. These things bless God's heart, there's no doubt about it. Someone who loves Jesus should always be ministering His love no matter where they are. But every Christian should always be willing, ready and 'on-call' to leave everything at the command of their General, and go to different 'battlefield' to war against the king of darkness, bringing healing and light to 'free the captives'.
The goal of a true missionary is to please and glorify their God by delivering the whole world into His hands and under His rule. It does not matter where they are stationed, for they are always at the home in their Father's arm, no matter what the landscape or the language may be. They are only 'aliens and strangers' (1 Peter 2:11), and they are not concerned with trivial things like location or comfort. They are God's soldiers, perhaps hidden to our eyes, but always evident in His. Please seek Him to see if you might be privileged to take the Gospel to those who never heard it.
- Keith Green
We see in the Bible that all Christians should continually be seeking every opportunity to lead the unsaved to Christ no matter where they are, for this is the privilege of every believer. But I believe that too many people use the world 'missionary' too lightly - it's a term that has become misused in our everyday 'Christian vocabulary'. Too many justify their not obeying the call of the Lord to go to the front lines of the battlefield, by saying they are 'missionaries where they are'. I believe that 'being a missionary' in the truest sense of the word is taking the Gospel where it has never been before, or at least to a difference culture or a different language group. A true missionary is someone who will risk everything for the sake of the lost of this world.
Of course, as in every battle, not everyone can be in the frontlines, for there are many things that are needed to aid those who are. But you must be clearly called by the Lord to stay away from the front lines before you can be assured that you are in the will of God. It is obviously true that many Christians are called to reach out to the lost in the ghettos, red-light districts and homosexual communities in their own areas. And there are always those faithful wives and mothers who diligently let Christ be known to their doctors, plumbers, and P.T.A groups. These things bless God's heart, there's no doubt about it. Someone who loves Jesus should always be ministering His love no matter where they are. But every Christian should always be willing, ready and 'on-call' to leave everything at the command of their General, and go to different 'battlefield' to war against the king of darkness, bringing healing and light to 'free the captives'.
The goal of a true missionary is to please and glorify their God by delivering the whole world into His hands and under His rule. It does not matter where they are stationed, for they are always at the home in their Father's arm, no matter what the landscape or the language may be. They are only 'aliens and strangers' (1 Peter 2:11), and they are not concerned with trivial things like location or comfort. They are God's soldiers, perhaps hidden to our eyes, but always evident in His. Please seek Him to see if you might be privileged to take the Gospel to those who never heard it.
- Keith Green
5 JULY 2009
5 July 09
Tom C.
Kai Yew
Gigi, Jacquelina, Ken Fhui
Grace Lee, Jonathan Long
Darren
Anna Sim
Tian Sia, Moses Tan
Tom C., Hiew FF
Tom C.
Kai Yew
Gigi, Jacquelina, Ken Fhui
Grace Lee, Jonathan Long
Darren
Anna Sim
Tian Sia, Moses Tan
Tom C., Hiew FF
Acts 2:44
NIV
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
KJV
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
In another part of Scripture Jesus was referenced as saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive". This statement became alive in the early church. It implies that they were a community who knew each other enough to discern the true needs of people.
Charity was directly connected to community. It is easier to give to anonymous people than to take the time to get to know our neighbor. The act of giving in community requires discernment, humility, and trust in God and those involved. This is the heritage that God created for us to learn from and practice.
Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
KJV
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
In another part of Scripture Jesus was referenced as saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive". This statement became alive in the early church. It implies that they were a community who knew each other enough to discern the true needs of people.
Charity was directly connected to community. It is easier to give to anonymous people than to take the time to get to know our neighbor. The act of giving in community requires discernment, humility, and trust in God and those involved. This is the heritage that God created for us to learn from and practice.
Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Love is Not a Feeling
I really do believe that “love makes the world go round.” Why would I say that? Because God is love. It is His love for us that makes all of life meaningful. So, what does that have to do with marriage? God made us for each other. Husband and wife – designed to work together as a mutual support team to discover and fulfill God’s plans for their lives.
In a word, love is the choice to look out for each other in the same way that God looks out for us. It doesn’t require warm feelings, but it does require and open heart.
Love is not our only emotional need, but it interfaces with all other needs. If I feel loved by my wife, then I also feel good about myself. After all, if she loves me, I must be worth loving. Ultimately, it is discovering that God loves me that gives me my greatest sense of worth. Also, if my spouse loves me, I’m more likely to feel that my life has significance.
Threat or Haven?
Spouses become God’s agent for helping their partners feel loved. Few things are more important than encouraging one’s spouse to accomplish God’s plans. Marriage is designed to help us accomplish more for God. Two are better than one in His kingdom.
If we do not feel loved in marriage, our differences are magnified. We come to view each other as a threat to our happiness. We fight for self-worth and significance, and marriage becomes a battlefield rather than a haven.
Love is not the answer to everything, but it creates a climate of security in which we can seek answers to those things that bother us. In the security of love, a couple can discuss differences without condemnation. Conflicts can be resolved. Two people who are different can learn to live together in harmony. We discover how to bring out the best in each other. The decision to love your spouse holds tremendous potential.
The Power of Love
I believe that love really does make the difference between success and failure in a marriage. Keep in mind that love is not a feeling, but love stimulates feelings. The euphoric feelings of the “in love” experience are temporary; usually two years or less. But when we learn to love each other effectively we keep warm emotional feelings alive. Life is much better when we feel loved.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
In a word, love is the choice to look out for each other in the same way that God looks out for us. It doesn’t require warm feelings, but it does require and open heart.
Love is not our only emotional need, but it interfaces with all other needs. If I feel loved by my wife, then I also feel good about myself. After all, if she loves me, I must be worth loving. Ultimately, it is discovering that God loves me that gives me my greatest sense of worth. Also, if my spouse loves me, I’m more likely to feel that my life has significance.
Threat or Haven?
Spouses become God’s agent for helping their partners feel loved. Few things are more important than encouraging one’s spouse to accomplish God’s plans. Marriage is designed to help us accomplish more for God. Two are better than one in His kingdom.
If we do not feel loved in marriage, our differences are magnified. We come to view each other as a threat to our happiness. We fight for self-worth and significance, and marriage becomes a battlefield rather than a haven.
Love is not the answer to everything, but it creates a climate of security in which we can seek answers to those things that bother us. In the security of love, a couple can discuss differences without condemnation. Conflicts can be resolved. Two people who are different can learn to live together in harmony. We discover how to bring out the best in each other. The decision to love your spouse holds tremendous potential.
The Power of Love
I believe that love really does make the difference between success and failure in a marriage. Keep in mind that love is not a feeling, but love stimulates feelings. The euphoric feelings of the “in love” experience are temporary; usually two years or less. But when we learn to love each other effectively we keep warm emotional feelings alive. Life is much better when we feel loved.
What's your love language? Take the 30-second quiz.
Adapted from The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Acts 2:42
NIV
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
KJV
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost one of the effects was that the early Christians devoted themselves to the teaching of the Scripture.
There is a difference between devotion and learning. The early believers laid their views on the altar of God's Word. They allowed it to shape them.
How do you view the Scripture? Are you willing to devote yourself to it? To simply learn is not enough.
Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
KJV
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost one of the effects was that the early Christians devoted themselves to the teaching of the Scripture.
There is a difference between devotion and learning. The early believers laid their views on the altar of God's Word. They allowed it to shape them.
How do you view the Scripture? Are you willing to devote yourself to it? To simply learn is not enough.
Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Ephesians 2:10
NIV
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
KJV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Tangle Video - "God's Chisel"
When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be very painful. In one of their most requested skits, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.
"God's Chisel" by the Skit Guys:
.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
KJV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Tangle Video - "God's Chisel"
When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be very painful. In one of their most requested skits, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.
"God's Chisel" by the Skit Guys:
.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Matthew 5:16
NIV
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
KJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
There are so many awesome ways to learn about God and make our light shine; through prayer, church, the Bible, friends, the Holy Spirit and the list goes on.
He did not intend that we store up the light of His teachings for ourselves, but that we share it with others! We should let our lights shine brightly, so that when people see our good works, they will glorify our Father in heaven.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
KJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
There are so many awesome ways to learn about God and make our light shine; through prayer, church, the Bible, friends, the Holy Spirit and the list goes on.
He did not intend that we store up the light of His teachings for ourselves, but that we share it with others! We should let our lights shine brightly, so that when people see our good works, they will glorify our Father in heaven.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Sunday Sermon 21 June 2009
Speaker: Pastor Beniah Naresh
(8MB 62 minutes 16Kbps 16Khz MP3)
Note: Audio download link is available for only 30 days from date posted.
Note: Audio download link is available for only 30 days from date posted.
My Dearest Father ...
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. - 1 John 1:7
It is a day when I specially remember and thank the Lord for you, one of the best gifts in my life. With gratitude, and thankfulness in my heart, I want to tell you how blessed I am to have a wonderful father like you. You taught me to look beyond myself, to choose the hard and difficult things in life. And though it was not easy for me to accept such a reason, in the end, it has paid off well. You taught me to aim higher, to reach for the stars so that I would at least make it to the roof-top.
Discipline and hard work which are teh hallfmarks of your life have made a deep impact on my life through and through. WHen I wanted to have my own way in a lot of issues which we did not see eye to eye, I am glad your reasoning prevailed. Through I chose not to see it then, I am now forever grateful. When I did not have enough faith in my own ability, you pushed me to go further than myself by instilling confidence in me, such that trhough the grace of God I could make it. Father, you spent so much time on me and though I have let you down, you did not give up on me. You were there for me and encouraged me to stand up and walk on. THank you for encouraging me to stand up boldly and face the world and its challenges.
All the good things that I have been blessed with came from a lot of sacrifice, and you took it as your responsibility, so that I could have a good life. You paid the price so that I could be happy and enjoy the best of everything. I thank the Lord for you. I ask for grace so that I will never put you to shame or behave in ways that could bring grief and pain to your heart. I have chosen to walk on the long and narrow way that you have showed as the best for me. Though at times, it is not an easy path to tread on. I know that the Lord is with me and you constantly uphold me in prayer.
Father, I have grown through these years. I am now able to see a lot of wisdom in everything which you told me and how you deal with me. As I try to discipline, teach and build good values in my own children, concerned that they should make the right choices in life, I then understood your struggles and patience with me. When they come crying with broken hearts and I hold them close to me, I remember your love for me.
On your speical day today, let me tell you again, father: I love you and you are very special to me. God bless me, my dear father.
Honour your father - God put him there over you.
- Daniel O.C
28 JUNE 2009
29 June 09
Caleb R.
Shankar R.
Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Richard
Jun Fhui, Meng Fhui
Terry/Weng Ern
Darren
Ken Fhui, Colleen
Tommy, Manjit
Caleb R.
Shankar R.
Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Richard
Jun Fhui, Meng Fhui
Terry/Weng Ern
Darren
Ken Fhui, Colleen
Tommy, Manjit
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Psalm 127:3
NIV
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
KJV
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Father's Day! It's a wonderful time to celebrate our Fathers. The Hebrews held sacred that all children were a blessing from the Lord, bringing joy to their parents.
You are a gift from the Almighty to your earthly father. And your own children are special gifts from God, a blessing and a responsibility.
Think of the joy, laughter and smiles you get from your own children. Your Heavenly Father sees you in the same way; your very existence brings Him joy. You make Him smile and laugh.
Today, as you celebrate with your families, praise your heavenly Father. And to those with children, may God show you His love through your kids today, you deserve it.
.
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
KJV
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Father's Day! It's a wonderful time to celebrate our Fathers. The Hebrews held sacred that all children were a blessing from the Lord, bringing joy to their parents.
You are a gift from the Almighty to your earthly father. And your own children are special gifts from God, a blessing and a responsibility.
Think of the joy, laughter and smiles you get from your own children. Your Heavenly Father sees you in the same way; your very existence brings Him joy. You make Him smile and laugh.
Today, as you celebrate with your families, praise your heavenly Father. And to those with children, may God show you His love through your kids today, you deserve it.
.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Proverbs 29:7
NIV
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
KJV
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
A person's relationship with God is reflected in his or her attitude toward the needy.
People seeking to follow the Lord want to see justice rather than oppression extended to the helpless and poor.
What can you do for the poor and needy today?
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
KJV
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
A person's relationship with God is reflected in his or her attitude toward the needy.
People seeking to follow the Lord want to see justice rather than oppression extended to the helpless and poor.
What can you do for the poor and needy today?
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Hebrews 12:1
NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
The great cloud of witnesses is not referring to actual people who are watching us; but witnesses and examples of those who have testified to the truth of the faith.
The Book of Hebrews was an encouragement to the Hebrews, who had left Judaism to follow Christ. They were facing severe persecution. The writer wants to communicate that their suffering is not unique, but part of the great marathon.
The Christian life is a marathon full of hills, bad weather, green pastures, and sharp turns. In order to keep our endurance strong, we need to strip ourselves on anything that separates from God, especially sin. When we free ourselves of the baggage that entangles us, we can stop tripping over our sin and run freely toward the prize of Heaven.
.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
The great cloud of witnesses is not referring to actual people who are watching us; but witnesses and examples of those who have testified to the truth of the faith.
The Book of Hebrews was an encouragement to the Hebrews, who had left Judaism to follow Christ. They were facing severe persecution. The writer wants to communicate that their suffering is not unique, but part of the great marathon.
The Christian life is a marathon full of hills, bad weather, green pastures, and sharp turns. In order to keep our endurance strong, we need to strip ourselves on anything that separates from God, especially sin. When we free ourselves of the baggage that entangles us, we can stop tripping over our sin and run freely toward the prize of Heaven.
.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Sunday Sermon 14 June 2009
Speaker: Pastor David Chan
Trinity Community Centre, Petaling Jaya
http://www.fileqube.com/file/IYSzoEVt200505
(10MB, 79 minutes, 16KHz 16kbps MP3)
Note: Audio download link is available for only 30 days from date posted.
Ask God For His Timing and Direction
God is God of timing and direction. He wants us to know what to do an when to do it. Psalm 32:8 says "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye." You don't have to live your life ahead of God's will or outside of His will.
Patience will do wonders, but it was not much help to the man who planted an orange grove in Alaska. There is never a right time to do the wrong thing. If you take too long deciding what to do with your life, you will find you have lived it. Time was invented by almighty God in order to give dreams a chance. "Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season." says Tyron Edwards. Ideas won't keep. Something must be done about them. "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come," says Victor Hugo.
WE need to always apply light and not heat to your dreams. Light always revelas, but heat brings forth impatience and impulsivesness. "Your Word is a lamp to my feet. And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105). The lamp illuminates things we are dealing with now. The light directs our future.
Jumping to a wrong decision seldom leads to a happy landing. Too many people leave the right opportunity to look for other opportunities. Seize today's opportunities today and tomorrow's opportunities tomorrow.
Success always depends on accuracy, and hurrying over decisions never helps. Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness. The fastest running back is useless unless heading toward the right goal line.
Timing is the vital ingredient for success. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time." (Hab 2:3). There is an appointed time for your vision. Have 20/20 vision; do not be to far-sighted or too near-sighted. Godly leaders have never done anything successfully on their own initiative. They have always waited upon God, diligently seeking His will. Then, they have said finally, "God led me to do..."
What Good is Aim If You Do Not Know When to Pull The Trigger?
21 JUNE 2009
21 June 09
Barnabas P.
Peggy Tan
Tian Sia, Jun Fhui, Siew Pin
Lydia Sim
Jocelyn Lee
Anna Sim
Kai Yew
Meng Fhui, Timothy C.
Manjit, Hiew FF
Barnabas P.
Peggy Tan
Tian Sia, Jun Fhui, Siew Pin
Lydia Sim
Jocelyn Lee
Anna Sim
Kai Yew
Meng Fhui, Timothy C.
Manjit, Hiew FF
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