2011 Feb 01 - Isaiah 32 - Shelley

Isaiah 32:8 'But the noble man/woman makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.' Hebrews 5:10 Find out what pleases the Lord.

 

Hi everyone,

 

The Chinese New Year is just about to begin soon and a time for you all to treasure the time and enjoy it with your families.

 

What exactly does it mean to be noble? On the online dictionary the definition is: 
'of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent. '

 

When we make noble plans and we actively seek God's council and we rely on Him, we will be secure and know that things will work out not because we are in control but because we hand everything over to God to work it out for us in His own way. I was reminded of this scripture since I was a young disciple and it really helps me to get back to that frame of mind and heart to just give it over to God and rely more on Him.

 

I have been going through a challenging time just finding my feet in the new bible talk and sector and getting to know the meeting places for Q.T and BT. On Sunday I found it challenging and felt left out of the group because I had no clear directions on where to meet the b.t. After reading this scripture I have the conviction that I only need to please God and not others. If I focus on what others think of me then I will always feel frustrated. One thing my best friend from South Africa reminded me yesterday was to make it my goal to please God this year. Whatever ministry I am in or which ever bible talk I am in whatever language is spoken that I would make it my only goal to please God. After having a great 1 hour prayer time with Sophia yesterday in Sheungwan I was encouraged to focus more on God and rely on Him when I face some changes in my life.

 

I want to encourage all of us to focus on pleasing God only. Take the focus off on how we 'look' to others and just make it our goal to do what is right in God's eyes. Because when no one is watching us God is always watching us.

 

Great to hear your sharing Brenda, it's been awhile. Joey sms me this morning and we will have prayer time together in Ma Wan this week. I am in contact with her and she came out to our service at Panda hotel last Sunday. We can continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to work in her life. I will also pray for Millie to have more conviction to read more of the book of John. Great to see that she comes out to Q.T and our activities regularly.

 

Enjoy the day everyone. I was priviledged to wake up late today and make myself a nice cup of coffee with whipped cream and cinnamon, not something I get to do everyday because I have to leave so early to go to school.

 

Love in Christ,

 

Shelley :-)

2011 Feb 01 - 1 Peter 1 - Brenda

1 Peter 1:24-25 
24 For All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers,and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

彼得前書  1:24 因為『凡有血氣的、盡都如草、他的美榮、都像草上的花．草必枯乾、花必凋謝．  1:25 惟有主的道是永存的。』所傳給你們的福音就是這道。

Morning everyone!!!

Today's verse is simple but true! I do appreciate the beauty of flowers and Melbourne is known as "garden city" and you can always see beautiful gardens,landscapes everywhere, and that's why I do come every year to take my break here,enjoy the great nature God had created. However,God's word is something I don't want to miss it everyday even though I did miss it sometimes. It's God's power and strength he has given me to live all day long.

I'm glad to know a bit of news from you guys how you love to study the bible with friends like Millie and asked us to pray for her,thanks Cat and Annie and Eva and others to love and pray for her daily. God is powerful and trust in him and only his words can change peoples life like he changed our life.

Also would like you to pray for Joey,she's the one who live in Mawan and donated her liver to Dad recently,she email me from time to time and share her thought and emotions, she still has lots if struggles from here and there still she's in the right track. She shared a lot to me she had a great talk with Ella and she's very inspired by her as Ella has gone through lots of ups and downs in life in the past! Thank you Ella! Proud of you!

Love you!
Brenda

2011 Feb 01 - Psalm 118 - Andy

1 Feb 2011   Psalm 118
 
1.    v 21 -24  God's savation
 
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; 
   you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected 
   has become the cornerstone; 
23 the LORD has done this, 
   and it is marvelous in our eyes. 
24 The LORD has done it this very day; 
   let us rejoice today and be glad.
 
v22 is one of the verses that appeared most in the bible, in 馬太 Mt 21: 42, 馬可 Mark 12:20,
路 Luke 20: 17, 徒 Acts 4:11, 彼前 1 Peter 2:7
When Jesus talk about himself, and the disciples talk about Jesus, they quote this verse. 
What the Lord has done for our salvation is unpredictable & marvelous in our eyes. While others rejected him,
what would we response to Jesus salvation?
This verse also show God has planned long to fulfill his salvation, years back before Jesus came. 

2.     v 6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
               What can man do to me?
A very encouraging yet challenging verses. It makes me think of Stephen (in acts), and Peter plus Paul said before all:"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God."
A full of courage statement that put our lives into nothing because the Lord is with me. It inspire me to overcome what in forward makes me afraid. Recently, (or actually whole X'ian life), I am very struggle to share faith @@, and also struggle to ask schoolmates to sponsor on HOPE, trying to overcome the fear and restarting to think more about who would I like to share life with.

On Monday we have a time to discuss about project with schoolmates and a student talk about his future dream (to be a teacher), quite a constructive talk and maybe when we get to know each other closer, invite him to church.
Apart from that, I also start thinking/planning of another classmate (of my yr 1-2), who is working in PolyU to have lunch together and talk more about recent life.

Pray for I will overcome the fear and get my plans into actions
"最多咪俾人Reject! (The worse case would only be being rejected, what can man do to me?" haha
Cheers,
Andy