Bright Gems For His Crown

The Bible’s School Of Prayer

2009-01-14T00:52:00.000-08:00

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. —Job 7:11

Habakkuk 1:1-4 (New International Version)

Habakkuk 1

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk's Complaint

2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, "Violence!"

but you do not save?

3 Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and conflict abounds.

4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never prevails.

The wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.

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To call God and us unequal partners is a laughable understatement. And yet by inviting us to do kingdom work on earth, God has indeed set up a kind of odd-couple alliance. God delegates work to human beings so that we do history together, so to speak. Clearly, the partnership has one dominant partner—something like an alliance between Microsoft and a high school programmer.

We know well what happens when human beings form unequal alliances: the dominant partner tends to throw his weight around and the subordinate mostly keeps quiet. But God, who has no reason to be threatened by us, invites a steady and honest flow of communication.

I sometimes wonder why God places such a high value on honesty in our prayers, even to the extent of enduring unjust outbursts. I am startled to see how many biblical prayers seem ill-tempered. Jeremiah griped about unfairness (20:7-10); Habakkuk accused God of deafness (1:2); Job conceded, “What profit do we have if we pray to Him?” (21:15). The Bible teaches us to pray with blistering honesty.

God wants us to come to Him with our complaints. If we march through life pretending to smile while inside we bleed, we dishonor the relationship. — Philip Yancey

Give Him each perplexing problem,

All your needs to Him make known;

Bring to Him your daily burdens—

Never carry them alone! —Adams

The best thermometer of your spiritual temperature is the intensity of your prayer. —Spurgeon

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Erm.....

Prayer is such a wonderful way to communicate with God. With Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins and raising from the dead, we are able to come back to God once again. We are able to have this privilege to communicate with Him and prayer is one of the many ways. We are able to turn to God all out troubles and worries, happiness and sorrows. However we sometimes do not appreciate this privilege. We often have the mentality that our problem is too small for God to handle. As all this burdens builds up on our shoulder, we would soon feel too tired or that our Christian walk is not so pleasing to God. Therefore, bring to Him your daily burdens, never carry them alone! —Adams. As we cast our daily burdens to Him, our load is surely lighten because we can have the faith that God will take care of it, but do not forget to thank Him for joyful and sweet experience too. Life's like a roller coaster, therefore we need God to be there too calm and lead us.

Don’t Waste Your Breath

2009-01-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. —Psalm 150:6

Genesis 2:1-7 (New International Version)

Genesis 2

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Adam and Eve

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens- 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth [b] and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth [c] and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams [d] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground- the LORD God formed the man The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah) it is also the name Adam (see Gen. 2:20). from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Footnotes:
Genesis 2:2 Or ceased ; also in verse
Genesis 2:5 Or land ; also in verse
Genesis 2:5 Or land ; also in verse
Genesis 2:6 Or mist

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If I were to scoop up a handful of dirt and blow into it, all I would get is a dirty face. When God did it, He got a living, breathing human being capable of thinking, feeling, dreaming, loving, reproducing, and living forever.

As one of these human beings, I speak of “catching” my breath, “holding” my breath, or “saving” my breath, but these are idioms of language. I cannot save my breath for use at a later time. If I don’t use the one I have now, I’ll lose it, and I may even lose consciousness.

When God breathed into Adam, He gave more than life; He gave a reason to live: Worship! As the psalmist said, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6).

This means that we waste our breath when we use it for something that doesn’t honor the One in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Although we cannot blow life into a handful of dirt, we can use our breath to speak words of comfort, to sing songs of praise, and to run to help the sick and oppressed. When we use our breath to honor our Creator with our unique combination of talents, abilities, and opportunities, we will never be wasting it. — Julie Ackerman Link

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love,

And do what Thou wouldst do. —Hatch

All that I am and have I owe to Jesus.

Source:http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

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Hmm.....

God is really so awesome. He could turn nothing into something. He created human beings and all that is in the world. He created the mountains and the valleys, the sky and all that's in it, the ocean and all it's creature the sun. moon, stars and so much more. Isn't that awesome?

But, God choose to create human beings from dust. (Dust is a general name for minute solid particles with diameters less than 500 micrometers.) It only just occurred to me the thought of why God created us from dust. I don't know whether this was God's reason but here is what I think. Dust is something so small, something that looks so harmless and weak. The dust just flies in the air according to the direction of the wind.

Atmospheric dust

Airborne dust is considered an aerosol and can have a strong local radiative forcing on the atmosphere and significant effects on climate. In addition, if enough of the minute particles are dispersed within the air in a given area (such as flour or coal dust), under certain circumstances this can be an explosion hazard.
Coal dust is responsible for the lung disease known as Pneumoconiosis, including black lung disease, which occurs among coal miners. This danger has resulted in a number of laws (only some being passed) regulating environmental standards for working conditions.

Road dust

Dust kicked up by vehicles travelling on roads [7] may make up 33% of air pollution [8]. Road dust consists of deposition of vehicle exhausts and industrial exhausts, tire and brake wears, dust from paved roads or potholes, and dust from construction sites.[9] Road dust represents a significant source contributing to the generation and release of particulate matter into the atmosphere [10].

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust

But, it can cause so much harm. It's same like us, human being, we are really very weak if we choose to walk alone. However, when we choose to walk alone without following God's will and commandments, that is when destruction comes into the picture. Without having the fear of the Lord, human being choose to go their own selfish ways. We will be like the dust in the air, going along with the ways of the world, moving on in life aimlessly.

Beside that, another thought just came into my mind, God choose to create man from dust because He wants us to realise how awesome and powerful He is. Dust are solid particles with diameters less than 500 micrometers. From something so small, he could create something so complex, He created a human being.

That's is why I think God created man from dust. He wanted to remind us that we are really helpless without Him. We will be going through life aimlessly and without Him as our guide, we will be bringing on to ourselves harm and destruction. However, He has given is a way to return to Him. He has given us a free choice to choose. Therefore, I think that it is really important that if we made up our mind to follow Him, we are to live lives that bring glory unto Him, and lives that make a difference in this world.

Live It ...........!!!!!

2009-01-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

You are to them as a very lovely song . . . they hear your words, but they do not do them. —Ezekiel 33:32

Ezekiel 33:30-33 (New International Version)

30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
33 "When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

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Each year, one of my goals is to read the entire Bible. While listing it among my New Year’s resolutions, I noticed a bookmark on my desk. On one side was a brief appeal for people to take in foster children. On the other side were these words referring to that appeal: “Don’t read it. Live it. Real children. Real stories. Real life.” The people who produced the bookmark knew how easily we absorb information without acting on it. They wanted people to respond.

Regular intake of God’s Word is a worthy practice, but it’s not an end in itself. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to an audience who loved to listen but refused to act. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (33:32).

Jesus said: “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24).

How will each of us read the Bible this year? Will we read it quickly to achieve the goal of getting through it? Or will we read it with the aim of doing what it says?

Don’t just read it. Live it! — David C. McCasland

The Bible gives us all we need

To live our lives for God each day;

But it won’t help if we don’t read

Then follow what its pages say. —Sper

The value of the Bible consists not only in knowing it but obeying it.

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

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Food for thoughts...

Reading God's word is like a daily fuel for us. Like how we pump fuel into the car in order for it to be able to move, we too need fuel to go in life. After refueling we still need to start the engine and let the fuel burn in order for the car to move. If we leave the car aside after refueling, the car wouldn't move, the battery will just eventually die off. The fuel will slowly evaporate bit by bit. This is because car has been left aside or being abandon.

This also applies to our daily life. If we just read God's Word without living it, we are just pumping the fuel we need but not using it. Eventually, we'll just get too tired or busy with our daily problems, slowly but surely we will be discourage to move on in life. His word will just evaporate from our mind as all the daily worries cloud our thoughts. Therefore, it is important that we apply what we have learnt through His word so that we will be recharged each day. So that we'll have brand new strength and courage from God to walk through each day according to His will. If we apply His Word in our life, we have this fire burning within us giving us the motivation to move on when time goes bad. Besides that, we are able to share this warmth with those around us who are in need.

Soul Food

2008-12-27T23:37:00.000-08:00

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. —Jeremiah 15:16

Psalm 19:7-14 (New International Version)

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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Grocery shopping with my wife, Martie, is like taking a seminar in nutrition. I’ll often pick up a box of something that looks good, and she’ll say: “Look at the label. Are there trans-fats? What’s the calorie count? How about the cholesterol rating?” I have to confess that if she weren’t the nutrition cop in my life, I’d look like Shamu the whale!

More important than making good choices in the grocery store is thinking carefully about the food we digest for our souls. I love the verse that says: “Your words were found, and I ate them” (Jer. 15:16).

When we read God’s Word, we have to be doing more than checking it off our to-do list. We have to read it to digest it. Slow, thoughtful absorption of the Word of God with quiet reflection on its implications is high in nutrition. His Word provides all the ingredients we need to thrive spiritually:

> a direct connection to the sustainer of our soul

> brain food that makes us wise and discerning
> a daily check-up revealing the condition of our hearts
> preventive medicine keeping us from sin
> a spiritual shower of peace, hope, and comfort

Eat God’s Word. It’s a spiritual feast! — Joe Stowell

God’s Word provides the nourishment

That Christians need if we’re to grow;

But if we do not feast on it,

A vibrant faith we’ll never know. —Sper

The Bible contains all the nutrients for a healthy soul.

Source: http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

My thought for the day:

This is indeed so true. Sometimes, we're so busy with our daily activities that we juat do our quite time like a touch n go. Eat God’s Word. It’s a spiritual feast! — Joe Stowell This statement is indeed so true. There's so much to learn from God's word. Each time u read it a different message comes across depending on What God wants you to learn for that day. Behind all the lessons learned, you will also feel comforted if you're sad, relieved if your burden, and even answered if your confused. God's word is amazing. It contains different lesson for each one eery individual. God's Word is indeed so important to our soul. It ensures the well- being of our soul.

The Task Remains

2008-12-20T05:36:00.001-08:00

Psalm 112

1[a] Praise the LORD. [b]
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. [c]

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn [d] will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Footnotes:
Psalm 112:1 Chapter 112 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 112:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
Psalm 112:4 Or / for the LORD is gracious and compassionate and righteous
Psalm 112:9 Horn here symbolizes dignity.

Our life had always been rather simple. When my wife and I were first married, we were not looking for riches or fame—just a way to glorify God with whatever He gave us to do. In all arenas of our life, that purpose stayed clear. As our children grew and I began working at RBC Ministries, our goal continued to center around glorifying God.

But then, in 2002, came bad news of the worst kind. Our third child, 17-year-old Melissa, was unexpectedly ushered into heaven. Suddenly, we were forced to rethink things. Could we, in our new identity as bereaved parents, still find a way to glorify God? Or did this unbearable circumstance alter our perspective and goal?

We’ve spent a lot of time pondering that question. When the One you’ve entrusted with your children allows one of them to be taken, it would be easy to stop trusting, serving, and pointing others to God. But the psalmist’s words showed us the way. He said that the person who fears God “will never be shaken . . . . His heart is steadfast” (Ps. 112:6-7). And so we—and you, no matter what you are facing—can continue to be “steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Even in the face of “evil tidings,” the task remains: Glorify God. — Dave Branon

Griefs bravely borne may serve Him

And richly glorify,

As quiet waters mirror

The beauty of the sky. —Nicholson

Trust through sorrow brings triumph over sadness.

Source:http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2008/12/16/devotion.aspx