REST AT NOON

Song of Solomon 1:7

The art of resting at noon has been lost, and therefore many are succumbing to the strain of life which is being lived in 'high gear'. Rest is not a sedative for the sick, but a tonic for the strong. It spells emancipation, illumination, transformation! It saves us from becoming slaves, even to good works and deeds.

It is not possible for many to have holidays and vacations at seashores or in mountain glens. We are a busy folk, and we must learn the blessed secret of resting just where we are.

Impatient hearts want action - now!
We fear God's time will be too late;
How prone we are to rush ahead-
When God says, "Wait!"

God's schedule always runs on time,
Though years seem days or days seem years;
But happy he who moves God's pace
And has no fears.
Not fast nor slow God's timepiece is,
So let us set our time with His.

SILENCING VOICES FROM THE PAST

A famous zoo in Germany purchased a great brown bear from the traveling circus. Until this point, this magnificent but abused creature had lived in misery. For the duration of its life the bear had been locked up in a tiny cage about 12' long. Every waking hour this bear took 12 steps forward and 12 steps backward in his prison. Finally he was sold to the zoo, freedom at last! But the bear refused to come out no matter how the zoo keepers tried to set him free. Eventually, they set fire to the cage so that the bear had no choice but to escape the fire by coming out. Even though his new compound consisted of acres of lush green grass with plenty of trees and sparkling pools of drinking water complete with other bears for companions. the bear was not interested. He started pacing 12 feet forward and 12 feet back - the exact dimensions of his cage!

Some Christians find themselves in a similar dilemma. Having become so accustomed to certain thought patterns of defeat and failure in some areas of their life, they convince themselves that things will never change and they remained locked in an invisible mental prison. They still listen to the voice of the past and the enemy's voice though they have been set free by Jesus. (Romans 8:1-2) God wants us to silence those voices of defeat so that we can hear from Him. Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM says that he has found three simple steps that have helped him and thousands to hear God's voice :-
1) Submit to His Lordship (2 Corinthians 10:5,Proverbs 3:5-6)
2) Resist the enemy in case he tries to deceive you (Ephesians 6:10-20)
3) Expect an answer from God (John 10:27,Psalm 69:13,Exodus 33:11)

MINUTE MEDITATIONS FOR TODAY

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord; put your trust in Him, and He will act.

Reflection:Try to make your way pleasing to God. He will then make everything work for your good. What He does may not necessarily be in accord with your ideas. But it will always be better than you could have hoped or deserved.

Is my way pleasing to God?

Prayer:Lord, guide me in everything. Grant that I may always follow the way of Your Divine will.

A MAN WITH LEPROSY

Matthew 1:40-42

A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees."If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion,Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing."he said.

I read this story many times and always come up with the question 'Why did the leper said if you are willing?' His faith is obvious because as a leper he came out of isolation to seek out Jesus, believing Jesus can help him. So why did he doubt Jesus' willingness to heal him?

As I read this passage again, it dawn on me that this leper must have approached many priests and teachers of the law before, but they must have responded unfavourably, perhaps even shooing him away because the man is a leper and may pass the 'sickness' to them. This leper must have been disappointed many times and so even this time, he need to ask Jesus whether Jesus is willing or not because Jesus is also a teacher of the law!

Thank You Father that as we seek answers, You will teach us things that we never know before.

Health Tips to Decrease Stress

We all know that Stress can be a motivator. When you are stressed out, it motivates you to work harder to get your work done on time. However, too much stress is bad for health. It can potentially raise our heart rate and weaken our immune system. Poor decision making is always done when we are too stressed out. We are unable to think logically and consider the consequences of the choices we made.

In the Book on Bible Cure for Heart Disease, Don Colbert offerred some health tips which are useful.




1. You can decrease stress by meditating on the Word of God, especially scriptures about peace like this one: "Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:19-20).

2. Another way to reduce stress is by living more for others. Taking up a less me-centred existence means less worry and a less controlling approach toward life's events. Paul lived a life crucified to self: "I myself no longer live, but Christ and not myself?". Take the focus off yourself and your problems and fix your eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Remarks: I know of a sister who experienced many ups and downs in her life: her son's marriage was called off, the recent death of her in-law and also something happened to her sister. Yet despite all these circumstances, she is still full of energy and strength and she is always on her look out to help others.

RETURN OF THE FATHER AND SON'S HEARTS

Today in church, the speaker talks about the happy family. Papa God desires that we have a happy family here on earth first before we join the big happy family in heaven! The speaker also shares with us some pointers that are helpful towards attaining this goal.

1. Be gracious - honour one another (of course children to parents)

2. Share (not only material things, but deep emotional heart-felt feelings etc)

3. Listen (most of us have lost the art of listening. Just listen and empathize)

4. Encourage (remember the 3 Es)

5. Say sorry(some people find it hard to do this sincerely)

6. Forgive (let go, let God)

7. Embrace

I like to highlight on embrace which what the speaker wants us to do at the end of the service.

She wants us to hug (really hug) each other and show us the hug that makes a difference.
Don't give the greeting hug (we see lots of these at the airports), don't hug and pat people's back (like we are forgiving the other party) but really hug long and sincere telling them how much they mean to you or say sorry how we have not valued them. When we do that, the Holy Spirit is able to work in us, reconciling the two parties, letting all hurts and bitterness melt in the Father's love. Malachi 4:6

I WILL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN

MATTHEW 10:42

It isn't the thing you do, dear
It's the thing you leave undone,
That gives you the bitter heartache
At the setting of the sun;
The tender word unspoken,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts, dear.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of your brother's way.
The bit of heartfelt counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.

These little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind,
These chances to be angels,
Which even mortals find -
They come in nights of silence,
To take away the grief,
When hope is faint and feeble,
And a drought has stopped belief.

For life is all too short, dear
And sorrow is all too great,
To allow our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it's not the thing you do, dear
It's the thing you leave undone,
That gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the sun. By:Adelaide Proctor