Bee's 1st Month of Devotion

Today marks the 1st month of my devotion time with God since I started it on 26 October 2005.

Firstly, I want to thank God for giving me the perseverance to do my devotion daily without fail. These devotions really keep me 'sane' in times of my discouragement and heartaches the last one month. The word of God (bible) lifted me up each time I felt down and lonely... marked by crying 'spell'.

The word of God is so comforting and powerful. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). No wonder the Psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalms 119:105).

Secondly, I want to thank Tommy for letting me use his blog for my devotion. Perhaps his blog design and soothing music play a part in providing the environment and mood to let God speak to me. Thank you very much, Tommy! I hope you have also enjoyed your time with God here. :)

Thirdly, I know there are many international visitors to this blog every day. I hope this devotion blog has been an encouragement to you too. You are welcome to leave comments if the messages have blessed your heart. Thank you for visiting and reading. :)

Finally, I pray that God will continue to help me persevere in my devotion with Him for the next month to come.


.......the thoughts of Bee

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Love Goes Beyond Liking

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Bee's Thoughts:

These verses are so familiar to me that I can almost quote them anytime, for LOVE is what keeps me alive today... without love, life is meaningless for me.

When I was a 5-year-old child I thought of running away from home or even suicide when my grandma passed away. For she was the only one I could feel loving me, no one else did. The world was a cruel world without her around to shower me with love.

Then I lived my life without much purpose until I believed in Jesus Christ at the age of 12. I began to feel love again... from God and from a few Christians around me.

What is love? Who should we love? How do we love?

We think of love as an emotion, a tender feeling, a positive reaction. So when Scripture commands us to love God and our neighbor, we may be confused about the meaning of love (Matthew 22:37-40)

So love must be more than an emotion. An old translation of our Lord's command may help us to understand love as an action that we choose: "Thou shalt love . . . ." It's choosing to be patient, kind, selfless, and humble (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). We can love others even though we may not like them, because it's a matter of making a choice.

Yes, we can respond obediently to what our Savior directs us to do. He knows, though, that we are not capable of doing this on our own. That's why He's given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to a life of loving obedience. With His help, we can learn to love those we don't like. Who knows? We may even begin to like them.
—Vernon Grounds, Daily Bread

What is love?
We know whether we love someone, or if someone loves us by using the description of love in the above verses... patient, kind, etc.

Who should we love?
We are to firstly love God, then love our "neighbours"... people around us, i.e. strangers, 'enemies', friends, gf/bf, spouses, siblings, etc. Yes, including 'enemies'... if we can love our 'enemies' whom we dislike we would already have learnt the meaning of love and can love someone whom we like in a wholesome way.

How do we love?
Firstly, we love BY CHOICE.. i.e. we WILL to love rather than depend on our feelings or emotions. Our feelings will never want to love strangers or our 'enemies', or people whom we don't like. Secondly, we ask the Spirit of God to help us love despite of our feelings... for LOVE is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is the characteristic of a Spirit-filled Christian.



Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me of love and the fruit of the Spirit. Fill me Lord with your Spirit that I may love in a wholesome way. Grant me your joy and peace again today because He (You) that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. Amen.

A Lost Art

Colossians 1:9-14

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Bee's Thoughts:

What did Paul pray for the Colossian Christians?

1. knowledge of his will - through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
2. live a life worthy of the Lord - and may please him in every way
3. bearing fruit - in every good work
4. growing in the knowledge of God
5. strengthened with all power
6. have great endurance and patience
7. joyfully giving thanks to the Father

This is a good way to pray for a person, for we all need to cultivate the above attributes.

"give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

To be able to give thanks to God in all situations requires absolute trust in God... to thank God in spite of heartaches and sorrows, in spite of wanting to crying, in spite of being left alone...

So what can I thank God for? I like the poem below:

It's that time of year, God,
when even the secular world says,
"Stop! Take time to say 'Thanks'."

For what? For whom?
The list is endless.

First of all - there's us.
Alive, energetic, enthusiastic -
both within and without,
bursting with health and movement
in spite of the periodic slowdowns,
joyous that you thought enough of us
to give us the experience of life.
Our lives are vibrant
with the flow of Your energy,
touched, seared
by the Love that is You,
yearning to be to others
what You have been to us.

For us, dear God, we thank You!

Then there are the others,
utilizing their creative powers
to enrich our lives
through fields that feed
and rivers that quench,
through fabrics that clothe
and forests that house,
through presence and absence
through the rhythm of then and now.
Without them we would be isolated,
crouching in our corners of self-sufficiency.
But with them we are invited,
called forth to contribute
of our plentiful harvest
to the sum total of humanity.

For all of them, we thank You!

But, most of all, dear God, there is YOU -
gracious, considerate, understanding,
cleansing, challenging, demanding,
drawing us to Your embrace,
clearing, pruning, breaking,
touching, lifting, healing.
Our destinies lie with You,
for we are the branches
grafted with Your Spirit
onto the vine that zaps its sap
into our beings.

For You, our God, we thank You!
.....Loretta Girzaitis




Yes, God, no matter how sad and painful I feel, no matter how lonely I am, I want to give you thanks. For I know I am "in this transient world of impermanence" and my life is just a "mist"... my suffering is just temporal. I want to thank you for all you have done for me... for hearing my prayers always, for the friends you sent me, for the love I experienced... for you are good. Amen

Good Workers

Exodus 35:30-36:1

Bezalel and Oholiab

30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.

Exodus 36
1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded."

Bee's Thoughts:

Wow! So many skills and talents - craftsmen, designers, embroiderers—"all of them master craftsmen and designers".

All these skills come from God who "has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge":
- "in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship"
- "the ability to teach others."
- "to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary"

God is the Chief Craftman, Designer and Teacher. If we consider His construction of the universe, His design of man and woman, and His lessons on how to have beautiful relationship, we would marvel at how great is our God. He made all things beautiful in His time. :)

I can't help but to stand in awe of this revelation about God and that all our skills and talents come from Him. Woah!

So what are my skills and talents? Teaching is one of them... perhaps also writing, doing DIY work, or an 'all purpose' helper (just like when I helped at the Charity Mission Trip).


Thank you, Lord, for the skills and talents you have given me. Please show me how you may want me to use them for your glory. Let me be faithful in doing the work you want me to do with the gifts you have given to me. Amen

Difficult Days

Psalm 23:1-6

A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Bee's Thoughts:


"The sweetest experience of God's love can be found in times of sorrow." - Daily Bread

So true... in times of despondency we suddenly feel God so near us. Many people give their life to God only when they give up trying on their own... there's nothing to lose.

However, why should we wait till then to realize that the Lord can be our "Shepherd" of life?

We can actually enjoy these benefits right now. When we allow Him to be our "Shepherd" we practically have all that we "want", for He loves us so much to the point of laying down His life for us. He will supply all our needs for HIs glory... for He is the great God.


Thank you, Lord, for this Psalm.
Thank you for restoring my soul in times of despondency.
Thank you for being with me even in the "valley of the shadow of death".
Thank you for the assurance that "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life".
Thank you!

Let Go!

Hebrews 3:7-19

Warning Against Unbelief

12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15 As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion."

Bee's Thoughts:

Thank you, Lord, for this morning. You have put a song in my heart reminding me that:

The loving kindness of the Lord indeed never cease,
His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning.
Great is Thy faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion", says my soul.
Therefore, I will hope in Him.
(Lamentations 3:22-27)

Now you are reminding me not to harden my heart when I hear your voice... but to have a believing heart myself and to encourage others to obey you too. Help me to be obedient to you, Lord. Amen.

Don't Make News!

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Living to Please God

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

(read commentary here)

Bee's Thoughts:

How may I please God?

1. "avoid sexual immorality" -- a serious reminder to be "pure" in our life, respecting our own bodies and that of others

2. "love each other" -- to love more and more, we can never love too much

3. "lead a quiet life" -- be restful and peaceful with God and others

4. "mind your own business" -- do what we have to do, to make sure we are right with God first so we can help others later

5. "work with your hands" -- don't be lazy, work for our living


Thank you, Lord, for showing me how I may please you in my life. I know I am not perfect, but I am willing to learn to be more like Jesus day by day. Help me to be holy as you are holy. Amen.

Reach Out To The Young

Mark 10:13-16

The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Bee's Thoughts:

These verses have influenced me somewhat in taking up early childhood education as my profession... for children are precious to Jesus.

Thank God that I came to know Jesus and His love when I was 12 year-old, still a child. He welcomed me into His arms, giving me the love and strength which I missed so much from home. He gave me meaning in life, made me know that He will never leave me nor forsake me, and will be with me till the end of the world. I accepted Him in child-like faith.

As I grew older, I experienced God in my ups and downs of life. Sometimes I forgot that I need to "receive the kingdom of God like a little child", trusting Him always to know what is best for me. Though things look impossible or bleak, but to my BIG God nothing is impossible.



Dear Lord, thank you for your reminder this morning that I need to trust you again just like a child... that "all things work together for good to those who love God"... that you allow everything to happen to us for a purpose and for our good. Amen

A World In Labor

Romans 8:18-25

Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Bee's Thoughts:

Dear Father, thank you for reminding me to be patient while waiting for the hope of glory you have promised us. Sometimes I do wonder when you will be coming back, and don't you see the sufferings we have now.... yet I know, you will never break your promise of coming back for us... a promise is a promise to you. What a blessed assurance and hope. Amen

Seven "Ones"

Ephesians 4:1-7

Unity in the Body of Christ
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Bee's Thoughts:

One body—we are a single family unified for one purpose
One Spirit—we all have the Spirit as our power source
One hope—we all look forward to the same future
One Lord—we all trust the same Person in charge
One faith—we all trust Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation
One baptism—we all have a single identity
One God and Father—we all share the same source of our existence

"Followers of Christ should focus on what unites them, not on what divides them."

Thank you, my Father, for reminding us that we are ONE in Christ Jesus. We should emphasize on the oneness that unites us instead of the differences that divide us. Help us be "completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love", that the world may know that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen

Speak And Do

James 3:13-18 (Contemporary English Version)

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. 14 But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth. 15 That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. 16 Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.

Bee's Thoughts:

This morning Daily Bread again speaks to me as a confirmation of certain things that has troubled me lately. I know something is very wrong when a close friend of mine has changed overnight... from a very confident, positive and loving person to one that is so insecure, negative, self condemned, and has a total change of heart. It just doesn't seem right or normal to me. Then it dawned upon me last night that he has been attacked by the devil and is engaged in a spiritual warfare as he wishes to seek God more lately.

The above verses show that there are two kinds of "wisdom"; one from God and one from the devil.

The devil is able to put thoughts into our mind to cause us to do and say things that are harmful to ourselves and to others if we are not careful. He will attack us most when we are tired or stressed out and therefore have no defense against him.

How can we recognize which "wisdom" we are using then? Thank God that the Bible clearly shows us how to test that "wisdom" or actions.

Wisdom that is “earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself” will show up in…
bitter jealousy
selfishness
brag or lie to cover up the truth
cause trouble
do all sorts of cruel things

Wisdom that comes from above (God) leads us to be…
pure
friendly
gentle
sensible
kind
helpful
genuine
sincere

Dear Lord, thank you for your word today. Please help me and also my close friend to be vigilant against the devil’s attack, especially when we are tired and stressed out. Help us to discern rightly the thoughts that come into our minds and to test them against your words, so that we can reject those thoughts coming from the devil and allow pure thoughts from you that lead to life.

.......the devotion of Bee

The Right Focus

Psalm 90

3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

6 though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

Bee's Thoughts:

Yes, life is like a vapour... or just like wind. I may be here today, but you might not hear from me again the next day.

Many times I wished God will take me away from this earth. I wished I am just like the grass that will wither in the morning. For I see too much evil on earth since my childhood days. I grew up not trusting any man. Some men in my life did help me rebuild that trust, yet they were the same ones that put back the phobia in me.

Now all I ask from God is to teach me to number my days aright, that I may gain a heart of wisdom, to discern right and wrong, to distinguish truth and lies.

I need God to satisfy my heart with His unfailing love, so I may be glad and sing a new song to Him again. This I humbly pray.

.......the devotion of Bee

A Past Long Gone

Acts 13:36-41

38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses..."

Romans 8:1-4

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Bee's Thoughts:

"The law condemned us (Romans 7:10-11), but Jesus offers deliverance and new life (8:1).

Are you worried about what you've done in the past? Rejoice! God has "cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). Are you still concerned about your sins? Rejoice! "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17). And "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions" (Isaiah 44:22).

If you have put your faith in Jesus and asked Him to forgive you, the past is truly forgotten. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). Trust and rejoice! —Vernon Grounds"

—Vernon Grounds

Thank God for Today's Daily Bread... it seems to be a direct speaking from God about the problem of someone close to me which also affects me. I pray that God will reveal to him this spiritual truth; that he need not carry the burden and guilt of his past anymore because of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, he is a new creature who can love purely and not selfishly as in the past.

Dear Lord, thank you for your assurance and reassurance that in you, there is no more condemnation.

.......the devotion of Bee

Try A Little Kindness

Acts 10:1-8

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Bee's Thoughts:

What is love? We can do something or give to someone without loving, but we can't love without giving. So is kindness alone love? May not be. Kindness is only one of the components of love, just like patience.

In true love we not only give in material things but also in the intangible things, such as those mentioned in 1 Corinthains 13. When we say we love someone, the test will always come to see if we really love. Once the romantic feeling for someone is gone, can we still say that we love someone?

I have lost faith in the human love and found it back, and lost it again. :(

I have learned that I should love someone in God's way, but never expect to be loved in return.

I believe in the sun
even when it isn't shining.
I believe in love
even when I am alone.
I believe in God
even when he is silent.

- author unknown

Dear God, I may not have found true love for myself but I still want to believe that there is true love for others. For when two people are loving each other in Christ, true love abounds.

.......the devotion of Bee

Our Father's Love

Hosea 11

God's Love for Israel
1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me. [b]
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.

5 "Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?

6 Swords will flash in their cities,
will destroy the bars of their gates
and put an end to their plans.

7 My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.

8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.

Bee's Thoughts:

Why do You love me so much, dear Lord?

I really don't deserve Your love.

How can I say "Thanks" for the things You've done for me;
Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude,
All that I am, and all I hope to be, I give them all to You.

Amen

.......the devotion of Bee

Ordinary People

Acts 4:1-21

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Bee's Thoughts:

Being "with Jesus" can make so much difference to a person's life... something undeniable, just like in the case of Peter and John. They were "unschooled" and "ordinary men", yet they could speak with so much confidence, boldness, and eloquence when it comes to talking about Jesus and performing miracles.

Some people did asked me, "Why must you always talk about Jesus or quote from the Bible in your replies?"

Hmmn... good question. I didn't even realize that tendency in me. But I guess it has become part of me after I have been "with Jesus" since age 12... read through the whole Bible many times, memorizing verses. questioning and searching for answers, experiencing Jesus in my ups and downs of life. So just like what Peter and John said, "we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v 19). I speak from my heart, my conviction, not merely 'throwing scriptures' at others to show how knowledgeable I am, or how 'holy' I am. In fact, I am just as "ordinary" as Peter and John.

So friends, if I have offended you with my bible quotations, please pardon me. I quote what I believe. :)

Just what do Christians look like?
What sets their lives apart?
They're ordinary people
Who love God from the heart.
—D. De Haan

.......the devotion of Bee

Golden Gods

"You shall have no other gods before me."

- Exodus 20:3







Bee's Thoughts:
God delivered the Israelites from the tyranny of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:29-42) and gave them the "Ten Commandments". Yet soon they forgot about God and started to make golden gods for themselves (Exodus 32:1-4).

Aren't we also like the Israelites many times? When we were down and out, we cried before God and He delivered us. But after a while we forgot Him and made other things our 'gods'. *sigh*

Dear Lord, please help me to always put you first before anybody or anything... for you love me more than anyone else can. Thank you.

.......the devotion of Bee

Who Then Is Beautiful?

Genesis 24:12-21

12 Then he prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."...

..... 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Bee's Thoughts:

Whenever I read the above story, it reminds me of Proverbs 31:30 (Contemporary English Version):

Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the LORD
deserves to be praised.

Being beautiful in look is not enough to be choosen as the wife of Isaac. She has to have a heart of love and care... not only for the people around her, but also for strangers and life stocks.

Isn't such a woman too hard to find these days, though not impossible? Yes! People are getting more self-centered and selfish, and too busy to even care for the person close to them, much less a stranger. Yet the biblical principle of finding a wife with such virtues stays. Anything less means more heartaches down the road. We have already seen too many to need more evidence.

To have such virtue, the woman has to be "a woman who honors the LORD". For only the Lord can teach one to truly love.

Another biblical principle I see is to be specific in our prayer when seeking a partner. The chief servant of Abraham prayed to God specifically and God showed him Rebekah. He is very sure that she is THE ONE.

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that you look at my heart rather than my outward appearance. Thank you for reminding me to be specific in my prayers so I may know your will and to do it.


.......the devotion of Bee

I Will Come Back For You

John 14:1-6

Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Bee's Thoughts:

The title of Today's Daily Bread, "I Will Come Back For You", 'jumped' at me when I first opened its page. This statement has never mean so much to me as much as it is now. The reason is that someone dear has said that to me last week. I felt very troubled when he suddenly said he needed to be away for an indefinite time. The only assurance given to me was "I will be back for you".

Jesus knew very well how His disciples would feel when He leaves this world (John 13:1). They would feel very sad and troubled. So He comforted them in the following ways:
1. gave hopes for the future... many rooms in His Father's house
2. showed where He was going... prepare a place for them
3. showed the way to reach Him... Jesus is the away
4. promised to come back for them... will be permanent

Dear Lord, thank You for taking care of how we feel when You have to leave us on earth. You are so comforting, assuring, and You showed us how we still may reach You now while You are preparing the best for us. Thank You that You will be back for us soon.

In You is the Way, the Truth and Life. I know You are near me in my spirit. I love You, Lord. Amen

.......the devotion of Bee

The Lord Is My Rock

Psalm 18:1-3
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Footnotes: Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.

Bee's Thoughts:

"The heart has reasons that reason does not know."
- Blaise Pascal, French mathematician and theologian

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten - Today's Daily Bread

I always love to read Psalms. They could describe my feelings very well... feelings of joy or sadness, victory or defeat, gladness or distress, comfort or loneliness, and more.

I could identify myself with the feeling of David in the above Psalms. Every word speaks of what I want to tell God.

Why do I love the Lord?

For He is my...
strength - when I am weak,
rock - when I have sinking feeling,
fortress - when I need a place to hide,
deliverer - when I am down and out,
shield - when I need protection.

Yes, when "I call to the LORD... I am saved from my enemies".

.......the devotion of Bee

New Neighbors

Luke 10:29-37

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Bee's Thoughts:

Going fort the Charity Mission trip to help the needy, with the love and compassion of God, is a real eye opener for me to see what it really means by loving my "neighbours". It's only by the grace of God that I could do such a thing. God let me see that without Him, I might be just like these little children and adults whom I was helping. My love went out to them and I decided to go as often as my time permit.

Another "neighbour" we often forget is our loved ones. Many times we take them for granted, and forget that they are our immediate "neighbours" and we are to love them as ourselves too.

Dear Lord, please give me more love and grace to love my "neighbours" just as you have commanded, to firstly love you, followed by our neighbours as ourselves.



.......the devotion of Beth

No Fast Food In The Bible

Psalm 119:9-24

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.

16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

g Gimel
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live;
I will obey your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.

19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.

20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.

21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed
and who stray from your commands.

22 Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.

23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.

24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.

Bee's Thoughts:

I like this Psalms very much, not because it has my name in it, but because they appropriately speak of the longing in my heart. The secret to living a pure life and keeping pure love for someone is "By living according to your word" (v. 9).

The secret to avoiding sins is to hide (memorizing) God's word in our heart (v. 11).

I started to memorize scripture verses when I was in the Sunday School. They have truly kept me from many sins and temptations, and also encouraged me in my Christian walks. They would always come to my mind just at the right time, when I am down or when being tempted. They saved me!

Yes, I want to "meditate" on God's word everyday. I want God to "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (verse 18)

The writer of Psalm 119 obviously did a lot of mental chewing as he read God's Word. No fast food for him! If we follow his example of careful and prayerful Scripture reading, we will:

Be strengthened against sin (v.11).

Find delight in learning more about God (vv.15-16).

Discover wonderful spiritual truths (v.18).

Find wise counsel for daily living (v.24).

Meditation is more than reading the Bible and believing it. It's applying Scripture to everyday life.

Dear Lord, the above Psalms are my prayer to You too. I want to get back to basic... to read and keep Your word in my heart "that I might not sin against you".

.......the devotion of Bee

Who Knows Best?

John 2:1-11

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[a]

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.E

Bee's Thoughts:

A wedding is supposed to be a happy occasion... yet when the "wine" runs out it can be very distressing for the wedding couple. The tendency is for them to worry and jump into action.

However, Jesus said, "My time has not yet come." Jesus knows what he is doing and he has his perfect timing in providing solutions for everything that happens.

In the same way, even any beautiful relationship can have hiccups and unexpected problems that cause the couple to feel distress. The solution is still "Do whatever he tells you." and trust Jesus for his perfect timing to perform his miracle.

Dear Lord, please calm my soul and spirit, grant me peace when things happened unexpectedly. Thank you for the assurance that your timing is always perfect, and in the midst of our problems you are always there to show your power and miracle. Amen.

.......the devotion of Bee

Hiding From God

Genesis 3:7-13

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Bee's Thoughts:

Reading the above passage brings sadness to my heart again. :(

Why?

I see the weakness and the fall of man.

1. The man (Adam) blaming his woman (Eve), the only one closest to him, when he is being questioned for his sin... though he had the full knowledge of what he should or shouldn't do, not the woman (Genesis 2: 16-17).


2. He not only blamed the woman, but also blame God for bringing the woman into is life (Genesis 3:12). So it's God's fault, to him. Gosh!


3. True, the woman was very naive and vulnerable, easily deceived (Genesis 3:1). But the man should have guided his woman into the right path instead of following her blindly (Genesis 3: 6).


4. The man didn't take up his responsibility as a man, to face the consequences of his sin and also to protect his woman.

I see the weakness of woman and her influence.

1. The woman amplified and added to what God has said (Genesis 3:2-3). Did God say "must not touch it"? No! She didn't even know the name of that "tree". *sigh*


2. The woman was too greedy and ambitious (Genesis 3:6).


3. The woman was very influential to the man.


4. The woman also tried to blame the serpent for her sin (Genesis 3:13).

Dear Lord, please help me not to be deceived by the devil, to be a woman who could influence the 'man in my life' in the right way, and to be bold enough to confess my sins instead of hiding from You.

.......the devotion of Bee

The Ultimate Physician

Luke 19:1-10

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Bee's Thoughts:

What makes a person change from 'bad' to 'good'?

An impulsive change can only last for a short while and one's old self will emerge again when the 'motivating factor' is gone. Example: when a man tries to court a gal, he might have a temporal change in order to impress and 'conquer'. However, once he managed to win her heart his true self would surface.

The change Jesus is talking about here is the transformational change, like the ugly caterpillar being transformed into a beautiful butterfly after going through a process. This change has no reversal effect... it's permanent. Only Jesus can perform such a change in a person.

How can one be transformed?

1. Be in Jesus Christ, accept Him into our life and claim this promise...
   

   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
   

2. Give ourselves to God, let our mind be renewed, think differently from the worldview...
   

   "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual(reasonable) act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."Romans 12: 1-2
   

3. Stay close to, and be in, Jesus all the time... then we shall see the "fruit" of transformation...
   

   "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

Yes, I find the above verses working in my life as I learned to claim them as promises from God. If God says so, it must be so! True enough, I see transformation in my life over the years, unknowingly. What I am today is different from what I was before I accepted Jesus Christ into my life.

Thank You, Lord, for transforming my life. I know there are many areas in me that need more polishing till the day I meet you face to face. I long to see you soon. Amen.

....the devotion of Bee

Joy Over One

Luke 15:1-10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin:
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Footnotes:
Luke 15:8 [a] Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day's wages

Bee's Thoughts:

As mentioned in my other blog, stories always bring home the truth we usually missed by mere reasoning. I like these two parables (stories) since young. Reading it again now shows me another new revelation. That's the wonderful thing about the Bible, each time we read the same passage we feel different because the Holy Spirit will reveal certain truth to us depending on our needs of that moment. I see the following truth for myself:

1. Jesus loves me so much - even if I am the only one that strayed He will go out to seek me "until he finds" me.


2. Jesus rejoices over finding one "lost sheep" - I am so precious to Him.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much. When I am "lost" You will go out to bring me back. I know you are doing it now, showing me I need to stay with You to be safe instead of detouring into the "wilderness" and be hurt. I want to love You Lord.

P/S: Yes, Fin and Ken, if you are reading this "devotion" I hope you will realize that you are so precious to God too. He is looking for you both now... so come close to Him to be embraced by His love too.

....the devotion of Bee