My morning devotion, Our Daily Bread...

"The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." ~Hebrews 4:2 ~

"Sometimes life can seem like an arid desert. But God can quench our spiritual thirst in the most unlikely circumstances. When by faith we believe the promises of God's Word, we can experience rivers of living water and grace for our daily needs."

Drink deep of God's goodness, His faithfulness too,
Leave no room for doubting and fear;
His Word is the water of life pure and true,
Refreshing and cooling and clear.
--Hess--

Absolutely Nobody

"There's a downside to insisting that we are "nobody" if it is to avoid doing what God commands (Exodus 4:1-17). We may treat ourselves and others as having no worth. But remember, God doesn't make nobodies. If we surrender to God, we can do anything God wants us to do - in His strength. Without Christ, we can do nothing. With Him we can do everything He wants us to do."
--Our Daily Bread--

JESUS

Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely he has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.


--Isaiah 53:1-6--

Lend a Hand... from Our Daily Bread

"Some of us walk into Advent
tethered to our unresolved yesterdays,
the pain still stabbing,
the hurt still throbbing.
It's not that we don't know better;
it's just that we can't stand up
anymore by ourselves.
On the way to Bethlehem,
will you give us a hand?"
--Poet Ann Weems--

Only God can heal the deep wounds of the heart, but we can lend a hand.
-- David McCasland--

If I can help some wounded heart,
If I can by my love impart
Some blessing that will help more now -
Lord, just show me how.
--Brandt--

No one is strong enough to bear his burdens alone.

How to behave like a Christian..

Romans 12:9-21

~ let love be without hypocrisy
~ cling to what is good
~ be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love
~ not lagging in diligence
~ fervent in spirit
~ serving the Lord
~ continuing steadfastly in prayer
~ given to hospitality
~ bless and do not curse
~ do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble
~ do not be wise in your own opinion
~ repay no one evil for evil
~ live peaceable with all men
~ do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

Let God do the holding and you do the trusting

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand;
Bu I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
--Stanphill--

May all I am and do and say
Give glory to my Lord always,
And may no act of mine cause shame
Nor bring reproach upon His name.
--Amon--

True love dares to confront

Fellowship with other Christians
Strengthens us when we are weak,
Reprimands when we are sinning,
Helps us when God's will we seek.
--Sper--

No Greater Love

There is no greater love than that of Christ above,
That made Him stoop to earth, become a Man,
And by His death provide redemption's plan;
There is no greater love
--Peterson--

The cross of Jesus is the supreme evidence of the love of God.
--Our Daily Bread--

Make haste O God

"Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!"
--Psalm 70:1--

By God's timing, happened to read this chapter today, Psalm 70. It fits my cry right now. Caught the flu bug yesterday, running nose the entire day, and the day before sore throat. Today.. later... Oral Presentation (A level marks). I need healing.

So, indeed, make haste O God to deliver me from my sickness. Make haste to help me recover and my group to do well for OP later, O Lord. for YOu are my help and my deliverer, O Lord, do not delay.

Thank You Jesus, for hearing my prayer.

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.
--Orr, Our Daily Bread--

As we talk the talk, let's make sure we walk the walk.

The devil is crafty, deceptive, and sly;
He cleverly tricks us to swallow his lie.
But his cunning methods we're sure to discern
If we make God's warnings our daily concern.
--D. De Haan, Our Daily Bread--

Jesus longs for our fellowship even more than we long for His.
--Our Daily Bread--
(i agree.. very true!)

The date of Christ's birth may be debatable,
but the fact of His life is indisputable.
--Our Daily Bread--

The Bible: Know it in your head, stow it in your heart, show it in your life, sow it in the world.
--Our Daily Bread--

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost;
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
--Oatman, Our Daily Bread--

spend your time counting your blessings, not airing your complaints.

PowerWord for 170908

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learnt or received or heard from me, put it into practice. Then the God of peace will be with you." ~Philippians 4:8-9~

actually, used to rmb this last time. but to recall and remember it now, i shall 're-remember' it, and use it for today's Power Word. haha. XD

Power Word for 160908

"For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living."

Psalm 116:8-9

feels like i've gone back to discovery land (DL) where we have power word to remember every week. haha.. XD

God uses ordinary pple to do extraordinary work

"When you feel impelled to help fill a need, when you are inwardly driven to serve - listen to those thoughts. You don't want to miss God's call. " -- Our Daily Bread--

being encouraged and reminded by my bro in Christ not to neglect the Lord and His Word even in the midst of busyness. Indeed often, when we honour God, God will honour us back. Was doing homework this morning, then read Our Daily Bread, and here, taking another 5min break to write a little on my morning devotion today...

Indeed Lord, i'm sorry that these weeks i've doubted those thoughts and is getting slightly hesistant about reaching out to those needs of people around me, although i'm so compelled to reach out to them in your love. Here i am O Lord, use me as you will. But Lord, check my heart, and help me not stray off focus such that wanting to meet the needs of people around me comes no longer from your compassion, but comes from my own self-esteem, pride, and confidence booster.

In gladness I go forth each day
Expectantly to serve and claim
The happiness that service gives
When freely rendered in God's name.
--Anon--
GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY WORK!!!! =D

A Cure For Futility

After one week of not touching 'Our Daily Bread'...

"In times of desolation we must never make a change, but stand firm and constant in the resolutions and determination in which we were the day before the desolations."

Spiritual battles must be fought with the very weapons heardest to wield at the time: prayer, meditation, self-examination, and repentance.
Perhaps you sense you're in a spiritual rut. Stay at your assigned task! Obedience to God - and only obedience - offers the way out of our futility.


Readings: Micah 6:6-8

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Vs. 8)
It's just 3 things that the Lord require... but is that even too difficult for me to accomplish???

"If you sense your faith is unraveling, go back to where you dropped the thread of obedience."