8-9-2009: Do Not Waver

8-9-2009: Do Not Waver

Scripture

James 1:16-18 (King James Version)

¹⁶Do not err, my beloved brethren.

¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

¹⁸Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Observation

We must never make a mistake when we receive blessings from God. God doesn’t swerve. We are considered firstfruits of God’s creatures. We are His treasured possession. Sometimes I wonder, why us? Why God put us on top of the food chain to govern the world despite knowing our sins and still makes us survive to this day? He is indeed a God of hope. Let us not give up on God because he still has hope for us.

Application

I must appreciate all gifts from god. Nothing I achieve is by my own efforts.

I must always trust God.

I must always turn to His words of truth.

Response

Lord, I thank you for all that you have done in my life. I praise you for you never change and are always the same. Teach me to emulate your ways Lord. Guide me in your truth. In Jesus name I pray.

Journal 1-9-2009 to 7-9-2009

1-9-2009: Remember, Remember, Remember, and Remember

Scripture

Deuteronomy 32: 44-52 (Amplified Bible)

44And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea (Joshua) son of Nun.

45And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel,

46He said to them, Set your [minds and] hearts on all the words which I command you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be watchful to do all the words of this law.

47For it is not an empty and worthless trifle for you; it is your [very] life. By it you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.

48And the Lord said to Moses that same day,

49Get up into this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan which I give to the Israelites for a possession.

50And die on the mountain which you ascend and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,

51Because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin and because you did not set Me apart as holy in the midst of the Israelites.

52For you shall see the land opposite you at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I give the Israelites.

Observation

Moses again asks us to remember God. We have to set our mind and heart. We are also asked to remind them to our children. Often we get distracted by everything else. Our mind is scattered. Moses also mentions that, these words are supposed to be our life. We are not to think of anything else but we think of everything else. We have to keep our minds focused.

Application

I must remember God’s word. Nothing else matters.

I must treasure God’s word. God’s word is my life.

I must be focused and not distracted.

Response

Lord, I thank you for sparing me. Sorry for my loss of focus Lord. I pray that I’ll be more alert and not fall into sin. Your word is my life, Lord. Help me treasure your words and remember you always. Amen.

Journal 2-9-2009

Scripture

Deuteronomy 33 (New International Version)

Moses Blesses the Tribes

¹ This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. ² He said:
"The LORD came from Sinai
and dawned over them from Seir;
he shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came with myriads of holy ones
from the south, from his mountain slopes.

³ Surely it is you who love the people;
all the holy ones are in your hand.
At your feet they all bow down,
and from you receive instruction,

⁴ the law that Moses gave us,
the possession of the assembly of Jacob.

⁵ He was king over Jeshurun
when the leaders of the people assembled,
along with the tribes of Israel.

⁶ "Let Reuben live and not die,
nor his men be few."

⁷ And this he said about Judah:
"Hear, O LORD, the cry of Judah;
bring him to his people.
With his own hands he defends his cause.
Oh, be his help against his foes!"

⁸ About Levi he said:
"Your Thummim and Urim belong
to the man you favored.
You tested him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.

⁹ He said of his father and mother,
'I have no regard for them.'
He did not recognize his brothers
or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
and guarded your covenant.

¹⁰ He teaches your precepts to Jacob
and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

¹¹ Bless all his skills, O LORD,
and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Smite the loins of those who rise up against him;
strike his foes till they rise no more."

¹² About Benjamin he said:
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders."

¹³ About Joseph he said:
"May the LORD bless his land
with the precious dew from heaven above
and with the deep waters that lie below;

¹⁴ with the best the sun brings forth
and the finest the moon can yield;

¹⁵ with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;

¹⁶ with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among ^[e] his brothers.

¹⁷ In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
such are the thousands of Manasseh."

¹⁸ About Zebulun he said:
"Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
and you, Issachar, in your tents.

¹⁹ They will summon peoples to the mountain
and there offer sacrifices of righteousness;
they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
on the treasures hidden in the sand."

²⁰ About Gad he said:
"Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain!
Gad lives there like a lion,
tearing at arm or head.

²¹ He chose the best land for himself;
the leader's portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
he carried out the LORD's righteous will,
and his judgments concerning Israel."

²² About Dan he said:
"Dan is a lion's cub,
springing out of Bashan."

²³ About Naphtali he said:
"Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD
and is full of his blessing;
he will inherit southward to the lake."

²⁴ About Asher he said:
"Most blessed of sons is Asher;
let him be favored by his brothers,
and let him bathe his feet in oil.

²⁵ The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days.

²⁶ "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty.

²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you,
saying, 'Destroy him!'

²⁸ So Israel will live in safety alone;
Jacob's spring is secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
where the heavens drop dew.

²⁹ Blessed are you, O Israel!
Who is like you,
a people saved by the LORD ?
He is your shield and helper
and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
and you will trample down their high places. ^[f] "

Observation

Moses lived a complete life; escaping the Egyptians to being raised in the hands of the Pharaoh’s, then fleeing Egypt again after discovering his true identity. Forty years later, he returns to Egypt to deliver his people from bondage just to move in circles when it wasn’t his fault. Finally, just because he lost his temper, he couldn’t enter the Promised Land. As Moses spends his last days on the mountains overlooking the Promised Land, he blesses them. Bless? He didn’t enter Canaan because of the people he was about to bless. Would you bless those who gave you a hard time? 2/3 of his life was spent on them. Moses learnt his lesson. He was calm. He didn’t get upset but focused on raising Joshua. Moses made sure that the next generation was ready. He blessed them.

In v9, he blessed the Levites for giving no regard to His parents and concentrate on God’s word. Was Jesus referring to this chapter when His parents came to see Him? (Just a thought)

Application

I must bless everybody.

I must remain faithful to the cause which God has sent me to do.

I must be humble enough to raise and bless others to continue God’s plan.

Response

Lord, I thank you for the life of Moses. I’m sorry for letting you down. Teach me to always bless everybody, even those who persecute me. Lord, you have given me a plan. Help me follow through this plan lord. Teach me to be humble. Guide me to raise others to continue your good work. Amen.

3-9-2009: Deuteronomy Finale

Scripture

Deuteronomy 34 (21st Century King James Version)

¹And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan,

²and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea,

³and the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.

⁴And the LORD said unto him, "This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, `I will give it unto thy seed.' I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither."

⁵So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

⁶And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor; but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.

⁷And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.

⁸And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

⁹And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

¹⁰And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

¹¹in all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,

¹²and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

Observation

Deuteronomy ends with the end of a great leader and the beginning of Joshua. We see in v7 that he was old only in numbers. He was healthy and had good eyesight. He died a peaceful death. God indeed keeps old people young. The same people who repeatedly grumbled against him now mourned his death. This is the first time I notice of the people actually giving respect to Moses without a miracle or sign. Many of us only pay tribute to a person after he/she is dead. When they are alive, we just do our own thing. It is indeed a weird phenomenon. Many of my family and close friends come to mind. When they passed away, it just hit me as a bullet. It’s very weird. I am lost for words for words. Of course we Christians know that we’ll meet them in heaven but on earth………… Let’s continue to cherish the people we love. I think of a time when my cousin called me and told me that my uncle (his dad) had a stroke and was admitted. My parents called and said that he was recovering okay in hospital. I thought of finishing my work and going towards the weekend. He passed away the next day. Years later, this event still saddens me… Every event in life is a lesson learnt,

Applications

I must live a full life.

I must cherish my loved ones when they’re alive.

Response

Lord, I thank you for being in my life. Thank you for all that you have done in me. Help me to continue to life a life worth to your glory. Teach me to humble myself in all circumstances. Thank you for my loved ones. Teach me to always be with them. Guide my ways lord. Sorry for my sins. Teach me to always be with you. Amen.

4-9-2009: Faith

Scripture

James 1:1-4 (King James Version)

¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Observation

As we fall into temptation, our faith is tried. When our faith is tried, it works patience. When we have patience, we are perfect, whole and desire nothing of the world. Patience is a very hard virtue for me. I get upset at everything. Though I don’t show it outwardly, I am angered inside. I must be really really patient.

Application

I must be patient

Response

Lord, I pray that you give me patience Lord. Teach me to be humble like you and not harbor my hate towards others. Amen

6-9-2009: Humility

Scripture

James 1:9-11(King James Version)

⁹Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

¹⁰But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

¹¹For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Observation

The King James Version has a unique way of putting things. It is very poetic and it also is my favourite version. Man’s ways are nothing. We think that we are so great that we have accomplished much. All that I am is by God’s mercy and grace. Without grace, we are nothing. We just don’t deserve any glory. All glory goes to God and Him alone, especially when I have everything. I only seem to find God when I lack something as if God is my ATM. I must be careful when I am lifted high to shine for Him.

Application

I must not forget God in good times.

I must always give God glory.

Response

Lord, thank you for showing me how to be humble in your presence. I am nothing without you Lord. Help me always remember that. Amen.

7-9-2009: Suffer

Scripture

James 1:12-15 (King James Version)

¹²Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Observation

We are called to endure temptation, not sin and feel apologetic about it. The endurance to temptation is futile without prayer and knowing God’s word. Isn’t it nice when we say, “Ooh, God has tempted me beyond our bearing, that’s why I fell.” Our no.1 enemy is lust. Our desire for the things we don’t have will siphon us out of God’s presence. It is indeed strange that we blame God for the good things and the bad as if He never gave us freewill. Lust brings sin. Sins brings us death: that is eternal separation from God.

Application

I must be content of what God has provided me.

I must live righteousnesss and purge sin in my life.

Response

Lord, thank you for being merciful. Please forgive me of my sin. Let me not lust and fall into temptation father but help me to endure temptation. Please give me the strength to fight Lord. In your mane I pray. Amen.

31-8-2009 : Don’t make God angry

31-8-2009 : Don’t make God angry

Scripture

Deuteronomy 32: 1-43 (Amplified Bible)

1GIVE EAR, O heavens, and I [Moses] will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

2My message shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the light rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb.

3For I will proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord. Concede and ascribe greatness to our God.

4He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He.

5They [Israel] have spoiled themselves. They are not sons to Him, and that is their blemish--a perverse and crooked generation!

6Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Is not He your Father Who acquired you for His own, Who made and established you [as a nation]?

7Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations. Ask your father and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

8When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the Israelites.

9For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob (Israel) is the lot of His inheritance.

10He found him in a desert land, in the howling void of the wilderness; He kept circling around him, He scanned him [penetratingly], He kept him as the pupil of His eye.

11As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, He spread abroad His wings and He took them, He bore them on His pinions.(A)

12So the Lord alone led him; there was no foreign god with Him.

13He made Israel ride on the high places of the earth, and he ate the increase of the field; and He made him suck honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock,

14Butter and curds of the herd and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and he-goats, with the finest of the wheat; and you drank wine of the blood of the grape.

15But Jeshurun (Israel) grew fat and kicked. You became fat, you grew thick, you were gorged and sleek! Then he forsook God Who made him and forsook and despised the Rock of his salvation.

16They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations they provoked Him to anger.

17They sacrificed to demons, not to God--to gods whom they knew not, to new gods lately come up, whom your fathers never knew or feared.

18Of the Rock Who bore you; you were unmindful; you forgot the God Who travailed in your birth.

19And the Lord saw it and He spurned and rejected them, out of indignation with His sons and His daughters.

20And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

21They have moved Me to jealousy with what is not God; they have angered Me with their idols. So I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people; I will anger them with a foolish nation.

22For a fire is kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth with its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23And I will heap evils upon them; I will spend My arrows upon them.

24They shall be wasted with hunger and devoured with burning heat and poisonous pestilence; and the teeth of beasts will I send against them, with the poison of crawling things of the dust.

25From without the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers shall be terror, destroying both young man and virgin, the sucking child with the man of gray hairs.

26I said, I would scatter them afar and I would have made the remembrance of them to cease from among men,

27Had I not feared the provocation of the foe, lest their enemies misconstrue it and lest they should say, Our own hand has prevailed; all this was not the work of the Lord.

28For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.

29O that they were wise and would see through this [present triumph] to their ultimate fate!

30How could one have chased a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had delivered them up?

31For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themselves judge this.

32For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of [poisonous] gall, their clusters are bitter.

33Their wine is the [furious] venom of serpents, and the pitiless poison of vipers.

34Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up in My treasuries?

35Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, in the time when their foot shall slide; for the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom comes speedily.

36For the Lord will revoke sentence for His people and relent for His servants' sake when He sees that their power is gone and none remains, whether bond or free.

37And He will say, Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,

38Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, let them be your protection!

39See now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me; I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand.

40For I lift up My hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever,

41If I whet My lightning sword and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will wreak vengeance on My foes and recompense those who hate Me.

42I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the foe.

43Rejoice [with] His people, O you nations, for He avenges the blood of His servants, and vengeance He inflicts on His foes and clears guilt from the land of His people.

Observation

We anger God simply by worshipping someone else. We also incur his wrath by giving glory to ourselves or others for His works and efforts. It is sad how we forget god. God emphasizes His anger by giving us gory details of his punishments. We only see some of these things in horror movies. I sometimes cannot comprehend why our God does these things. God only does this to instill fear in His people so that the next generation won’t repeat their father’s, friends or grandfather’s mistakes. Having done all these, we still fall like flies. Our love for money, sex and entertainment deviates us from God. When God punishes, he askes us “ where is the God you worshipped and spent your time and spent your money on? Let him/her/it rescue you. “ Satan’s pleasures have a bitter aftertaste but God’s pleasures are eternal.

Application

I must remember God always.

I must not turn away from temporal pleasures of the world

I must always turn to God.

Response

Lord, I’m sorry I’ve sinned. You alone are my source of hope. Let me always remember to turn back to you. Help me always remember your words. Amen.