By the time you read this BUZZ, we would have almost crossed one month of the Year of Sabbath...
Have you experienced Sabbath yet?
Have you experienced the delight of God?
Are the relationships in your life satisfying?
Personally, I am mindful that we could easily cruise through the year without realising or experiencing the promises of God. Unless we take time to pray and to seek His wisdom, we could easily be discouraged that this year is NO different from the previous years.
Yes I am talking about the need to spend time with God in REFLECTION.
Sabbath gives us time to reflect. Reflecting in the presence of God is different from normal reflection. Reflecting in the presence of God calls for us to reflect in the light of His Word and His Wisdom i.e. seeing our experiences through His lens. Do you see life as full of stumbling blocks or stepping stones? In Christ, every experience can become a stepping stone in our journey to become more Christ-like. Thus, there is a need for us to pause and to reflect, without which we cannot see God’s hand at work in our lives. Let the presence of God tutor us to see Him in all the experiences we go through this week.
Start reflecting in His presence today!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Road To Intimacy
"O God! Thou hast made us for thyself and our souls are restless, searching, till they find their rest in Thee. " - St. Augustine
Preparation of Heart: "Be Still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)
Obstacles to cross: External Distractions & Internal Chaos
Identify source and remove any encumbrances blocking your way (Hebrews 12:1)
Pathways you must take: Confession of Sin (1 John 1:9)
Forgiveness (Colossians 3:12,13)
Forgetting (Philippians 3:13, 14)
Direction & Focus: "Fixing your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... " (Hebrews 12:2)
Food for the journey: Word of God. Chew on it - Remember the lesson from the cow?
Motivation to keep you going: Jesus, your Joy and Reward!
"The condition of lostness is not the same as the outcome to which it leads. We're not lost because we are going to wind up in the wrong place. We're going to wind up in the wrong place because we're lost." (Dallas Willard)
Preparation of Heart: "Be Still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)
Obstacles to cross: External Distractions & Internal Chaos
Identify source and remove any encumbrances blocking your way (Hebrews 12:1)
Pathways you must take: Confession of Sin (1 John 1:9)
Forgiveness (Colossians 3:12,13)
Forgetting (Philippians 3:13, 14)
Direction & Focus: "Fixing your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... " (Hebrews 12:2)
Food for the journey: Word of God. Chew on it - Remember the lesson from the cow?
Motivation to keep you going: Jesus, your Joy and Reward!
"The condition of lostness is not the same as the outcome to which it leads. We're not lost because we are going to wind up in the wrong place. We're going to wind up in the wrong place because we're lost." (Dallas Willard)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Delight & Discipline
We are almost 2 weeks into our "a-psalm-a-day" corporate effort. How many of us are feeling the strain of DISCIPLINE more than the DELIGHT of hearing God's voice?
His grace to propel us towards seeking Him. Yet our discipline to press in to seek Him is our assurance of continuing delight, towards experiencing the depths in Christ.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."(Jeremiah 29:13)
As we reach this point, it is so important to know that delight is a promise and eventual certainty. But the only way there, is for us to develop discipline to press in.
Delight drives us to develop Discipline
Discipline drives us to seek breakthrough to the next Delight
Child of God, let's dig in further whenever we feel like giving up, so that we will add self-control and perseverance to our character.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8)
His grace to propel us towards seeking Him. Yet our discipline to press in to seek Him is our assurance of continuing delight, towards experiencing the depths in Christ.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."(Jeremiah 29:13)
As we reach this point, it is so important to know that delight is a promise and eventual certainty. But the only way there, is for us to develop discipline to press in.
Child of God, let's dig in further whenever we feel like giving up, so that we will add self-control and perseverance to our character.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8)
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Finding Your Delight
We are going to talk a lot about delighting in the Lord in 2008. When was the last time you took delight in something? When you felt the thrill, that sense of pleasure? When was the last time your eyes lit up, your heart rose with eager expectation and you had a song in your heart?
It was a delightful moment for all at the Countdown Party when Senior Pastor led the congregation to read Psalm 1 just after the stroke of midnight on the first day of 2008. We kicked off the reading of 'a psalm a day' and committed ourselves to eat the Word of God first each morning, before food.
Psalm 1 is just the word to start us off in the Year of Sabbath. It gives us the key to a life full of blessings. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night " ( Ps 1:1,2 ) Remembrance and reliance upon the Lord ! It is in reading the Word that we know more about God and it is in knowing Him that we find our delight. Don't lose the impact of the word, "meditate". It is not enough just to read or even to memorise our favourite verses. We need to chew on it! Meditating on the Word takes time and effort but you'll see its transforming power when the Word of God gets into your system.
We're aware many of you are sharing your meditations and reflections on your blogs. It is exciting to see how the same word can come alive for each one of us in different ways. This is also the joy and delight we will experience in this Year of Sabbath.
It was a delightful moment for all at the Countdown Party when Senior Pastor led the congregation to read Psalm 1 just after the stroke of midnight on the first day of 2008. We kicked off the reading of 'a psalm a day' and committed ourselves to eat the Word of God first each morning, before food.
Psalm 1 is just the word to start us off in the Year of Sabbath. It gives us the key to a life full of blessings. "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night " ( Ps 1:1,2 ) Remembrance and reliance upon the Lord ! It is in reading the Word that we know more about God and it is in knowing Him that we find our delight. Don't lose the impact of the word, "meditate". It is not enough just to read or even to memorise our favourite verses. We need to chew on it! Meditating on the Word takes time and effort but you'll see its transforming power when the Word of God gets into your system.
We're aware many of you are sharing your meditations and reflections on your blogs. It is exciting to see how the same word can come alive for each one of us in different ways. This is also the joy and delight we will experience in this Year of Sabbath.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Countdown To Zero
This Christmas, we re-discovered the joy of playing board games with our children. Difference is, now they're teaching us the new games and unlike the old days when we introduced each new game to them. I like those games which allow you a way of escape, those "back to zero" moves that bring all players to the same starting point all over again. All's equal again and you get as good a chance as any other player to try again for a win.
Life's like that in many ways... especially so at the end of each year. When we reflect on the year past, we face both our victories and achievements as well as our disappointments and regrets. We are often stuck for the next move. How wonderful to get the chance to go back to zero again. The score chart is wiped clean and you get as good a chance as everyone else to decide how you want your next year to turn out.
The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22,23, " The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. "This is the God we worship. He's Alpha and Omega, who directs the beginning and the end.
As we countdown to 2008, let's receive this affirmation from the Lord. Wherever you are and however you've been, you're going to write on a fresh page. Let's wake up to a fresh new morning of our life!
Life's like that in many ways... especially so at the end of each year. When we reflect on the year past, we face both our victories and achievements as well as our disappointments and regrets. We are often stuck for the next move. How wonderful to get the chance to go back to zero again. The score chart is wiped clean and you get as good a chance as everyone else to decide how you want your next year to turn out.
The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22,23, " The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. "This is the God we worship. He's Alpha and Omega, who directs the beginning and the end.
As we countdown to 2008, let's receive this affirmation from the Lord. Wherever you are and however you've been, you're going to write on a fresh page. Let's wake up to a fresh new morning of our life!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
See His Glory!
So, did you see it? See what? See His glory!
The shepherds saw it, that first time the angel appeared to them, announcing the good news of Christ's birth. “The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified" (Luke 2:9). But that fear turned to joy and worship, and they returned to the fields in a totally different mood, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20).
We don't have to wait for an angelic visit or a choir of the heavenly host to see the glory of God. It may be in the face of a child, a moment of joy, a word, or a touch. But it will be a moment of connection, when the human spirit touches God's spirit. Isaiah 6:3 says, “The whole earth is full of His glory."
Christmas comes and Christmas goes. What will make this Christmas a truly blessed one is to have seen His glory and to have the opportunity to share His story. Let's not miss out the CHRIST in CHRISTmas…
Look out! I believe you can catch a glimpse of God's glory today!
The shepherds saw it, that first time the angel appeared to them, announcing the good news of Christ's birth. “The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified" (Luke 2:9). But that fear turned to joy and worship, and they returned to the fields in a totally different mood, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20).
We don't have to wait for an angelic visit or a choir of the heavenly host to see the glory of God. It may be in the face of a child, a moment of joy, a word, or a touch. But it will be a moment of connection, when the human spirit touches God's spirit. Isaiah 6:3 says, “The whole earth is full of His glory."
Christmas comes and Christmas goes. What will make this Christmas a truly blessed one is to have seen His glory and to have the opportunity to share His story. Let's not miss out the CHRIST in CHRISTmas…
Look out! I believe you can catch a glimpse of God's glory today!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Letter From Jesus
Dear All,
As you well know, we are getting closer to My birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many Radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that My birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of Me.
As you know, the celebration of My birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in My honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. However, do you want to know something? I was not invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.
They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug Me and do you know no-one hugged Me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for Me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one?
I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers Me. I would like this Christmas that you allow Me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give My life for you, on the cross, to save you.Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book.
Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be PART of MY GREAT PARTY.
See you soon. I Love you!
Jesus
As you well know, we are getting closer to My birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many Radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that My birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of Me.
As you know, the celebration of My birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in My honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. However, do you want to know something? I was not invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.
They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug Me and do you know no-one hugged Me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for Me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one?
I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers Me. I would like this Christmas that you allow Me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give My life for you, on the cross, to save you.Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book.
Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be PART of MY GREAT PARTY.
See you soon. I Love you!
Jesus
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Life In The Spirit
Last week's message on the 'Fullness of the Holy Spirit' brings to a fitting close the series of messages on "Blessings For Your Life ". How good God is, for "His divine power has indeed given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). The Year of Victory does not need to end on 31st December 2007. If we continue to live a life plugged into the power of the Holy Spirit, we will continue to experience new and greater victories as we enter the Year of Sabbath. These victories will come even as we focus on rest and re-creation of our bodies, our soul and spirit man, remembering and relying upon Him, the God of all Creation, who is able to meet our every need. And victories will continue to flow as we focus on rebuilding and restoring the many relationships that God has blessed us with in our lives.
The key to experiencing the true Sabbath rest of God is living life in the Spirit.
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25)
The key to experiencing the true Sabbath rest of God is living life in the Spirit.
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25)
Sunday, December 09, 2007
JESUS – Yesterday, Today and Forever !
Even though we were in Israel, we shared the excitement and joy of last week’s 3rd Service.
News came to us that the service was packed to capacity. A record 5,110 people came for this special service where Nick Vujicic ministered with his powerful life testimony of a life lived without limits, displaying the greatness of a God whose grace is sufficient for our every need and whose power is made perfect in our weakness. Hallelujah to His mighty name!
Indeed, Christmas came early for each of the 152 salvations, 222 rededications and 305 who indicated they wanted to know more about Jesus.
Jesus is the reason for the season and the best Christmas gift is to have Him in our hearts. Jesus, the Saviour of the world, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 )
We’re back from the Israel Encounter. Renewed and refreshed with all that we’ve seen and heard. There’s much we need to reflect, meditate and pray through. We left Israel with a new surge of faith, hope and love and awed by God’s eternal destiny and plan for a world He loves.
News came to us that the service was packed to capacity. A record 5,110 people came for this special service where Nick Vujicic ministered with his powerful life testimony of a life lived without limits, displaying the greatness of a God whose grace is sufficient for our every need and whose power is made perfect in our weakness. Hallelujah to His mighty name!
Indeed, Christmas came early for each of the 152 salvations, 222 rededications and 305 who indicated they wanted to know more about Jesus.
Jesus is the reason for the season and the best Christmas gift is to have Him in our hearts. Jesus, the Saviour of the world, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 )
We’re back from the Israel Encounter. Renewed and refreshed with all that we’ve seen and heard. There’s much we need to reflect, meditate and pray through. We left Israel with a new surge of faith, hope and love and awed by God’s eternal destiny and plan for a world He loves.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
What God says, He will do
Shalom from the land of Israel! We are into Day 5 of our journey in the Holy Land. Spent the last few days around the Galilee area, walking in and around the very places where Jesus walked, taught and healed. With help from our knowledgeable guide, we have gained greater understanding of places and events in Bible history. It has inspired all of us to read the Bible more diligently.
As we walked around in Nazareth – a village where nobody thought any good could come out of it (John 1:46) we were reminded again that truly, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37) Mary, a simple Nazarene village girl, when told by the angel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of the boy child Jesus, was ready to respond, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be done to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)
We are praying for the same flow of faith in our service this weekend. We believe many will be stirred and challenged by the inspiring story and life message of Nick Vujicic. His life also echoes the very same refrain, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
God never makes a mistake. He has a wonderful plan for you. What He says, He will do. This is the God we worship.
As we walked around in Nazareth – a village where nobody thought any good could come out of it (John 1:46) we were reminded again that truly, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37) Mary, a simple Nazarene village girl, when told by the angel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of the boy child Jesus, was ready to respond, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be done to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)
We are praying for the same flow of faith in our service this weekend. We believe many will be stirred and challenged by the inspiring story and life message of Nick Vujicic. His life also echoes the very same refrain, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
God never makes a mistake. He has a wonderful plan for you. What He says, He will do. This is the God we worship.
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