Was reading the reflections of a friend on his 3 mth mission trip to papua new guinea

One of the things that struck me was his observations that the way the short termers decorate their houses is different from the long termers. In the same way, are we decorating our earthly houses like we are short termers, or building lavish houses, putting our major resources in, like we are long termers in this earth?

The rich young ruler found it hard to follow Jesus as he had much to let go of. If he had sold all he had, and followed Jesus, it would be lifechanging to follow the Lord and witness all the things He did and said.. but presumably he left sad and all he had in the end were his possessions and missed the opportunity. The apostles lives were transformed after their time with the Lord.. to seek the Pearl of great price..

I was having lunch and the guzheng busker next to the coffeeshop started playing my fav chinese song. 

Thank You for Your kindness, Lord

Yesterday at service they shared abt tithing. After message finished a leader went up to share his personal experience, he say there is 10%, 90% and 5000%. 

90% with God is better than 100% without God. 

And 5000%, is when the boy gave his 5 loaves 2 fishes , God used it to feed 5000 people

I found it encouraging that what we give in faith to God, He has the potential to multiply it to 5000% (and more!)

David asked her what advice she had, to serve the Lord faithfully as she had done on the field (for many yrs) and even now in her 70s as cell leaders in their church

She said “ Don’t give up. Don’t give up. The ministry has its ups and downs.. but don’t give up.. Press on..”

 Was reading ezekiel 38 and been reading through Ezekiel for a few weeks and past weeks have been a lot of measurements and cubits and chapter 38 the last chapter ended with the below verses and the explanation i read. 

Feel moved that God would want to be with us so much and there is so much thought to the design of the city and specific rooms and what will be done in each room and what the measurements of each room is..

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

b. THE LORD IS THERE: Throughout the larger section of Ezekiel 40-48, the name of the city of Jerusalem is never specifically mentioned. Here we discover why; God will give the city a new name. It will be known as Yahweh Shammah, “Yahweh is There.” In that day, the overwhelming character and idea of Jerusalem would be that God was there.

i. Ezekiel experienced the horror of seeing the glory of God departing from the temple in a vision (Ezekiel 11). Then he saw it return (Ezekiel 43:5). Now, in the new name for the city, he received the assurance that God would remain.

ii. “We bethink us of the truth that there is to be a millennial age — a time of glory, and peace, and joy, and truth, and righteousness. But what is to be the glory of it? Why this, ‘Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is there!’” (Spurgeon)

iii. The principle will carry on into the eternal state. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.(Revelation 21:3)

iv. Wiersbe explains: “This is one of seven compound names of Jehovah found in the Old Testament.”

· Jehovah Jireh—’the LORD will provide’ (Genesis 22:13–14).

· Jehovah Rapha—’the LORD who heals’ (Exodus 15:26).

· Jehovah Shalom—’the LORD our peace’ (Judges 6:24).

· Jehovah Tsidkenu—’the LORD our righteousness’ (Jeremiah 23:6).

· Jehovah Shammah—’the LORD is present’ (Ezekiel 48:35).

· Jehovah Nissi—’the LORD our banner’ (Exodus 17:8–15).

· Jehovah Ra’ah—’the LORD our shepherd’ (Psalm 23:1).

v. “The name tells of complete satisfaction; that of God, and that of man. God is at rest among His people, His original purpose realised. Man is seen at rest in God, his true destiny reached.” (Morgan)

(c) 2021 The Enduring Word B

 From a tv show 

... there is no timeline for getting over the loss of someone you love.

so i was lying in bed, waiting for L to go to sleep, but just content to lay next to her and stroke her hair while i waited.. and feeling thankful and glad for this simple moment.. and You said to me,, "did it ever occur to you that I can delight over you, in this same way..?''

no conditions, not based on how well i performed today (or any other day), but just because You love me.. like a Father loves His child..

Thank You, Lord

Zephaniah 3:17 New International Version (NIV)

17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.[a]
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”