Backgrounder to Exodus 16-18:
When Israel left Egypt, there
were two things the people could
do well: make bricks & complain.
So as supplies decrease, their
complains increase. When their
resources run out, God supplies
manna, quail & water in abundance
to demonstrate that He is their
reliable supply. And when in
danger, the Lord helps Israel
fights and wins its first battle.
Lord, You’ll Cover & Protect us:
Joshua fought with Amalek
while Moses, Aaron and Hur
went up to the top of the hill.
And so it was, when Moses held
up his hand that Israel prevailed
and when he let down his hand,
Amalek prevailed. But Moses’
hands became heavy. Aaron and
Hur supported his hands & his
hands were steady. So Joshua
defeated Amelek. And Moses
built an altar and called its
name: The LORD Is My Banner
Jehovah Nissi (Exo 17:10-15). Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Nov 22)”
Backgrounder to Exodus 13-15:
Delivering the people from
Egyptian bondage is only the first
step in God’s plan to bring the
Israelites to the Promised Land
of Canaan. Many obstacles lies
ahead. Trapped between the
Red Sea & the rapidly approaching
chariots of Egypt, the people cry
out in desperation & God answers
in miraculous fashion. And as
they proceed on arid land and as
resources run out, God supplies.
Jehovah Rapha, U are our Healer:
Moses cried to the Lord for help
& the Lord showed him a branch.
Moses took the branch and threw
it into the water. This made the
water good to drink. It was there
at Marah that the Lord test their
faithfulness to him: if u will obey
his commands, then I’ll not make
you suffer the diseases I sent on
the Egyptians, for I am the Lord
Who Heals (Jehovah Rapha)
you (Exodus 15:25-26). Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Nov 21)”
Backgrounder to Exodus 3-6:
With his long period of desert
exile drawing to a close, Moses
becomes God’s choice to lead His
people out of bondage in Egypt.
When confronted by God in the
burning bush, Moses is far from
convinced he is the right man
for the job! But once his objections
have been answered & knowing
the Almighty All Sufficient God
can meet all his needs, Moses
goes forward to confront Pharaoh. Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Nov 20)”
The Meaning of Life Explained (Prayer Walk through Ecc 7-12)
Backgrounder: Up to this point
the preacher has concentrated
mainly on the problems of life
without seeking an explanation.
But the deeper he probes life’s
patterns & perplexities, the more
conclusive becomes the evidence
that points him to the solution:
Fear God. When wisdom turns
to vanity, fear God (E7:18).
When God’s ways seem uncertain,
fear God (E8:12-13). When all is
said and done, fear God (E12:13)
for this is the whole duty of man. Continue reading “Praying thro Ecclesiastes (Nov 19)”
The Meaning of Life Explored (Prayer Walk through Ecc 1-6)
Backgrounder: Making sense out
of life is not always easy. This is
the problem facing the preacher
of the book of Ecclesiastes as
he thinks his way through what
he has seen & experienced in life.
Every enterprise he has undertaken
fr acquiring wisdom to amassing
wealth, has ended in emptiness.
In a sudden burst of emotion
the preacher realises that God
does indeed appoint the times
and purposes of life. But his insight
fades as he focuses on the futility
of life under the sun & overlooks
the One who alone can put life
together into a meaningful whole.
Dear Lord, you are all knowing
and the source of all wisdom
for us to lead a meaningful life.
Help us to purpose to Pursue You
to Please You; to Wait upon You &
have reverent Fear of You. Amen. Continue reading “Praying thro Ecclesiastes (Nov 18)”
Friends, we’ve been systematically
meditating through the bible to
better appreciate its chronological
context and see how the Mega
Theme develops thro each book.
So, we covered 5 books of Laws
& Job to understand deeper the
plan of God and His sovereignty.
We then meditated on the six
historical books up to King David
(the high point of Israel history)
and Psalms where we learn
to pray, thank and praise God.
We then go on to to 2 Chronicles,
Proverbs and Song of Songs.
Next we meditate on Ecclesiastes
to conclude the second phase
of the history of Israel. Continue reading “Praying thro Ecclesiastes”
Backgrounder: Genesis 48-50
concludes the book by recording
the final acts of Jacob & Joseph.
As his final earthly act, Jacob
blesses each of his 12 sons, giving
a divinely guided pronouncement
of their future history. Meanwhile,
Joseph gave a great affirmation
of faith. His body remains in Egypt
until the release of the newly
born nation of Israel.
Lord, we heed Yr sovereign control:
Joseph told them: Don’t be afraid
of me. Am I God to judge and
punish you? As far as I am
concerned, God turned into good
what you meant for evil. He brought
me to the high position I have today
so I could save the lives of many
people… Soon I will die, Joseph
told his brothers: He will bring you
back to the land he vowed to give
to the descendants of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob (Gen 50:19-24). Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Nov 17)”
Backgrounder: Twila Paris (b1958)
has been one of the leading
contemporary Christian artists
for three decades, with 32 of her
singles reaching No 1 on Christian
radio charts. Several of Twila Paris’
songs have been included in
hymnals, including “He Is Exalted”
and “Lamb of God” (1985). Paris
comes from a family of ministers
and musicians. Her great grand-
parents were revival preachers
in Arkansas & Oklahoma, and her
grandmother composed sacred
songs. She was encouraged
to sing in church from a young
age by her father, who was also
a minister & songwriter. Following
graduation from high school and a
year of study in Bible school, Paris
focused on singing & Christian
composition. While composed in
the late 20th century, this hymnal
song’s biblical roots run deep in
Christian tradition & experience.
Lord, we adore U the Lamb of God:
The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world!
This is He of whom I said:
After me comes a Man
who is preferred before me,
for He was before me…
And John bore witness, saying:
I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven like a dove,
and He remained upon Him…
He who sent me to baptise
with water said to me:
Upon whom you see the Spirit
descending and remaining
on Him, this is He who baptises
with the Holy Spirit. And I have
seen and testified that this is
the Son of God (John 1:29-34).
Dear Father God, Your only Son,
no sin to hide; but yet U sent Him
to become the sacrificial Lamb
of God so that his precious blood
can become the substitutionary
atonement for our sins. Your gift of
Love, they crucified. They laughed
and scorned him as he died.
O Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of
God. I love the Holy Lamb of God
I was so lost I should have died.
Lord Jesus, we Praise You for
all that you have accomplished.
For Your sacrificial death, for
Your triumphant resurrection
and for Your certain return.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive
all the power and the glory
forever and ever, Amen!!
Your only Son, No sin to hide
But U have sent Him from Yr side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
Your gift of Love, they crucified
They laughed and scorned him
as he died
The humble King
They named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God
Refrain:
O Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious Blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God
I was so lost I should have died
But U have brought me to Yr side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be call a lamb of God.
Backgrounder: Anna Warner and
her sister Susan grew up near
West Point Military Academy
where they became known for
leading Sunday school services.
After the death of their father,
the sisters supported themselves
with their literary endeavours.
Susan became known for as a
best-selling novelist. Anna also
wrote novels and published two
collections of poems. She wrote
this simple hymn in 1860 to be
included in one of her sister’s
novels. In the story, it was a poem
of comfort spoken to a dying child.
Today millions around the world
sing these words: Yes Jesus loves
me. This profound yet simple truth
is certainly worth singing about.
Lord, we love U for U first Love us:
God loved the world so much that
He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes
in Him will not perish but have
eternal life. God sent his Son into
the world not to judge the world,
but to save the world through him
(John 3:16-17).
Father God, thank you for loving
me beyond what I could imagine.
It amazes me that you love me so
much that you sent your only Son
to pay the ultimate price so that
I could know you and experience
eternal life. Let your love flow thro
me so that even more people may
experience your boundless love.
Lord Jesus, it is hard to understand
love so great as Yours. For You
laid down Your life for me so
that I can live forever with You.
My response to Your first loving
me is to love You wholeheartedly
in return. Help me to lay down
my life fully for You in serving
Yr purpose here on earth. Amen.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.
Backgrounder: We don’t know
who wrote the words to “Savior,
Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” It first
appeared in a children’s hymnal
compiled by Dorothy Thrupp in
1836. But it is clear the wording
was inspired by the 10th chapter
of Gospel of John where Jesus
says: I am the good shepherd.
And we know the music was by
William Bradbury, a gifted music
student in Boston. After finishing
school, Bradbury moved to
New York City, where he worked
as a church musician specializing
in children’s music. He intended
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
to be a children’s hymn, but it
turned out adults enjoyed it too.
Lord, you lead us & we follow U:
He who enters by the door is
The shepherd of the sheep…
The sheep hear his voice,
and he calls his own sheep
by name and leads them out
I am the good shepherd, I know
my own sheep and they know me
So I sacrifice my life for the sheep
(John 10:2-3, 14-15).
Lord, thank you for making me
one of your sheep. What a
privilege it is to belong to you!
Thank you for going ahead
and preparing the way for me.
You call me by name, speak to
my heart and lead me. With all
the voices in the world, quiet
my mind and heart so that
I will recognise your voice and
follow only you my Saviour. Amen
Saviour like a shepherd lead us
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us
For our use Thy fold prepare;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou has bought us Thine we are
We are Thine do Thou befriend us
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock from sin defend us
Seek us when we go astray;
Blessed Jesus, Blesses Jesus!
Hear, O hear us, when we pray.
Early let us seek Thy favour,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Saviour
With Thy love our bosoms fill;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou has loved us, love us still.
