Month: January 2020

All the Way My Saviour Leads Me

‘Jesus doeth all things well.’ It wasn’t
easy for Fanny Crosby to believe
that. When she was only six weeks
old in 1820, she lost her sight
because of a doctor’s error.
This particular hymn was written
on a day when Crosby needed five
dollars and didn’t know where she
would get it. She prayed about it
and a few minutes later a stranger
came to her door and handed her
that exact amount. She was amazed
at the Lord’s marvellous answer
to her simple prayer. She wrote:
It is sometimes wonderful the way
the Lord leads me, inspired by Ps48.

Lord, we will Follow Your Leading:
In the city of our God,
God makes her secure forever.
O God, we meditate on Your
unfailing love as we worship
in Your temple. As Your name
deserves, O God, You will be
praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with
victory… He is our God forever
and ever. And He will Guide us
until we die (Psa 48:8-10, 14).

Lord Jesus, Thank You for being
our Savior, for caring & leading us.
You will never abandon us because
of Your unfailing love. In You, we are
secure with You as our defender.
And You will be our guide even
to the end and usher us to our
eternal and blissful presence.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I ask thee for wisdom
for You are the great and wise
everlasting God. I ask for the
ability to slow down and focus
my thoughts on You each day.
And help me use my life to further
Your kingdom for Your glory, for
the good of others and for the
fulfilment of my destiny. Amen.

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro life has been my guide.
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well,
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well. Amen.

Be Still My Soul

In midst of the psalmist’s troubles,
the Lord said: Be Still and know
that I am God. These words spoke
to Katharina von Schlegel in the
turbulent times of post-Reformation
Germany. A century after Luther’s
reforms, Central Europe was racked
by the Thirty Years’ War. In the
darkness of that time, God raised
up the Pietist movement, which
stressed personal holiness, charity,
missions and music. Today’s hymn
was penned by the leading woman
of the Pietist movement and also
a canoness of a women’s seminary.

Lord, You are My Refuge:
God is our Refuge and Strength,
an Ever-Present Help in times
of trouble. So, we will not fear,
when earthquakes come and
Mountains crumble into the sea;
though waters roar & be troubled,
though the mountains shake…
BE STILL and know that I am God…
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us (and)
God is Our Refuge (Ps46:1-3,10-11)

Lord, Your Word says U are always
Ready To Help in times of trouble.
Forgive me for the times when
I act as though You don’t exist.
Teach me to pull back fr troubles
and instead focus on You. I don’t
have to fear, no matter what I face.
For every moment that I breathe,
You are My Strength. And though
my life may be shaken to its core,
You are still My Refuge. Amen.

Lord, my heart may worry for though
You’re on Your throne, but I don’t
know what You are going to do.
Help me Be Still in You Lord,
trust You & give me rest in You.
Let me know You are With me
in every circumstance, no matter
how difficult or even traumatic.
And let me Experience You as a
Very Present Help in trouble. Amen.

Be Still my soul ! The Lord
is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross
of fear and pain.
Leave to thy God to order
and provide;
In every change He Faithful
will remain.
Be Still my soul! thy best,
thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads
to a joyful end. Amen !!

As the Deer Panteth…

As the Deer is a well-known hymn
song written by Martin Nystrom
in 1984. He was a school teacher
in Seattle who went to Bible College
at Dallas Christ for Nations Institute
for summer term. I was challenged by
a roommate at CFNI to go on a fast
and to reading the Bible and prayer.
On the 19th day of the fast, I was
at the piano trying to write a song,
when I noticed a Bible on the music
stand of the piano open to Psalm 42.
My eyes fell on the first verse of that
chapter: As the deer panteth after
the water brooks, so panteth my soul
after thee… After reading the verse
I began to sing its message right off
the page. And I wrote the first verse
and chorus in a matter of minutes.

Lord, we’ll Thirst & Hope in You:
As the deer pants for streams of
water, so I long for You, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God…
(Psalm 42:1-2). Day and night,
I have only tears for food, while
my enemies continually taunt me,
saying: Where is this God of yours?
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?
I will put my Hope in God! I will
praise Him again – my Saviour
and my God! (Psa 42:3, 11) Amen.

Lord, as the deer panteth for the
water, so my soul thirsts after You.
I love our relationship Lord, but
I am not content with remaining
as it is. Cause my soul to want and
long to have even more of You.
Satisfy this thirst for You Lord.
Quench it with gushing streams
of Your wisdom and inspiration.
And let Your Words & my prayers
fulfil our deepest desires. Amen.

Lord, I bring the places of my soul
where I am downcast over to You.
For You are my Hope; You are my
salvation and I will Hope in You.
I will trust and not be afraid, for
You are my strength and for You
Lord are Emmanuel – God With Us.
Help me to be Your hands and
feet, Your words of comfort and
encouragement to those who
need to know “where You are”
in their times of deep need. Amen.

Lord, As the deer panteth for water
So my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee.
I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye.
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a5pZkLWZv-E&ebc=ANyPxKqIcll1o3lu_MjNXpG2CuVAT70AA5vn3jjSNOn771Dzd5FfynYEkPQem4oXGsn2sSOC-SJpFKuFNUnEHQBaqZCNN6ztrA

Experiencing Joy of Completion

Before his death, David had charged
Solomon with the responsibility to
build a house for God in Jerusalem.
Now at last it is time to make that
dream a reality. For 7 years Solomon
plans and prepares the Temple.
When the ark of the covenant is
installed in the Holy Place, the cloud
of God’s presence fills the house of
the Lord. Once again, God’s glory
dwells in the midst of His people.

Lord, thanks for revealing the hidden
truths in 1 Kings 5-8 that show the
importance of completion of tasks.
For sometimes we may feel like
failures because we fail to complete.
Grant us the grace to persevere and
finally get Your approval/deliverance.
Lord, we want to Reveal Your Glory:
Lord, we will Abide in Your Presence:
Lord, we Trust in Yr Promises. Amen.

Lord, we want to Reveal Your Glory:
Then the priests brought in the ark
of the covenant… into the inner
sanctuary of the temple, to the
Most Holy Place… And it came to
pass… that the glory of the Lord
filled the house of the Lord. Then
Solomon spoke: Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel, who spoke with His
mouth to my father David and with
His hand has fulfilled it (IKgs 8:6-15)
Lord, thank You that Your Word
says in 2 Cor 6:16 that we are
the temple of the living God and
You will live and walk among us.
Lord, we realise there must be an
emptying before there be a filling.
Help us Lord to be willing to release
that which is contrary to God so that
the Spirit will fill us as He did in the
temple & fill us with His glory. Amen.

Lord, we will Abide in Your Presence:
But will God really dwell on earth?
The heavens… cannot contain You.
How much less this temple I’ve built.
Yet give attention to Your servant’s
prayer & his plea for mercy, O Lord
my God. Hear the cry and the
prayer that Your servant is praying
in Your presence (1Kgs 8:27-28).
Lord, I thank You for Your presence
in my life. I am thankful & humbled
that You through the Holy Spirit
live inside me. Help me to never
be full of myself, but rather to be
filled with more of You each day.
Help me to have a sense of Your
presence, especially as I read Your
Word and pray and live in obedience
to Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, we Trust in Your Promises:
Praise the Lord who has given rest
to his people… just as He promised.
Not one word has failed of all the
wonderful promises He gave thro
Moses. May the Lord our God be
with us… may He never forsake us.
May He give us the desire to do
His will in everything and to obey
all the commands and regulations
that He gave (1 Kings 8:56-58).
Lord, we praise You for keeping
covenant & fulfilling Your purposes.
Give me the desire to do Your will.
Thanks Father for the promise that
in Your faithfulness You will fulfill
Your purpose in my life just as You
fulfilled all Your promises to Moses.
Not one of them failed and Lord
neither will Your promises to me.
What a Faithful God Have I. Amen !!

Rising from Humility to Glory

As David’s life draws to a close,
his son Adonijah attempts to usurp
the throne from its rightful heir,
Solomon. But the plot is foiled
when David proclaims Solomon
his true successor. In the final hours
before his death, David charges
Solomon to walk before the Lord
in integrity and truth – a request
which Solomon fulfills in the early
days of his administration by ruling
with justice, discernment, humility
and honesty before God and man.
Presented with a “blank cheque”
by God, Solomon asks for wisdom
to rule skillfully rather than wealth.
In return, God gives him both!

Dear God, Thanks for the lessons
from the early life of King Solomon
where he rose to glory from humility.
Help us Humbly Seek Your Wisdom.
Help us Recognise/Use Your Gifting.
And Help us Follow Your Ways.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Follow Your Ways:
Observe the requirements of the
Lord your God and follow His ways.
Keep the…commands… written in
the Law of Moses so that you will
be successful in all you do… If you
do this, then the Lord will keep the
promise He made to me. He told
me: If your descendants live as they
should & follow Me Faithfully with all
their heart… one of them will always
sit on the throne of Israel(1Kgs2:3-4)
Lord Jesus, You’re the King of kings,
and You deserve our absolute loyalty.
Help us to be Faithful to all that
You have entrusted to us to do.
Work in us Lord and instil in us
a deep and abiding loyalty to You
as we wait for Your return. Amen.

Lord, we Humbly Seek Yr Wisdom:
That night the Lord appeared to
Solomon in a dream & God said:
What do you want? Ask and I will
give it to you! Solomon replied:
You have made me king… but
I am like a little child who doesn’t
know his way around… Give me
an understanding heart so that
I can govern Your people well
and know the difference between
right and wrong. For who by
himself is able to govern this
great people of Yours? The Lord
was pleased that Solomon had
asked for wisdom (1Kings 3:5-10)
Lord, give me the humility to seek
Your wisdom. Open my ears to
recognise wisdom when I hear it.
Give me the wisdom to know
what to do, how to do and the
courage to follow through on it.
And I know that even as I put You
God and Your agenda first that
You will satisfy all my needs. Amen

Lord, we will Use Your Gifting:
God gave Solomon very great
wisdom and understanding, and
knowledge as vast as the sands
of the seashore… He composed
some 3,000 proverbs and wrote
1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:29, 32).
Their purpose is to teach people…
to live disciplined & successful lives,
to help them do what’s right(Pr1:2-3)
Lord, whilst we may not have
the wisdom of Solomon to write
proverbs; You have given each of
us gifts and talents. For You have
prepared good works that You want
us to walk in them. Make clear to us
the delivery method You want us
to communicate our life message.
And help us to be obedient to
go about delivering them. Amen.

Preview On 1 Kings

Whilst the English Bible is arranged
by types of writings, we meditate
OT chronologically to get better flow:
Genesis on God’s Plan for creation;
JOB on Sovereignty of God; and
Exodus, Leviticus, Num-Deut on
Deliverance, Holiness & Obedience.
Then Joshua on Obedient Faith,
Judges on God Restoring Repentant;
Ruth on Faithfulness/Redemption;
1 Sam on Rule of God in our heart;
2 Sam on Consequences of sin;
1 Chronicles on Genuine Worship;
add PSALMS on Hymns of Worship,
covering Israel’s history up to David.

Continuing, King Solomon’s life is
set forth in the first half of 1 Kings.
Under his leadership, Israel rises
to its peak of power and glory.
The crowning touch comes with
the construction of the temple
in Jerusalem. But Solomon’s zeal
for God cools as pagan wives
turn his heart from godly worship.
Solomon dies a man divided
religiously, leaving behind a nation
divided physically. The next century
sees the decline of two nations,
each growing indifferent to
God’s prophets and precepts.

We will meditate on 1 Kings on the
United and Divided Kingdom over
3 weekends in following 6 divisions:
1Kgs 1-4: Solomon’s Rise
1Kgs 5-8: Solomon’s Temple
IKgs 9-11: Solomon’s Fame
1Kgs 12-16: A Nation Torn
1Kgs 17-19: Ministry of Elijah
1Kgs 20-22: Reign of Ahab

Solomon was the wisest king in
the history of Israel, but his wives
led to the introduction of false gods
and false worship in Israel. It’s good
for us to have wisdom, but that is
not enough; for the highest goal
in life is to obey God. So, help us
Lord such that patient obedience
will characterise our lives. Amen.

This Is My Father’s World

Maltbie Babcock (1858-1901)
was an athlete. When he was
pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church in Lockport New York,
he would run out in the morning
to the brow of the hill two miles
away & look over at Lake Ontario.
Before he left, he would tell his
church staff: I am going out to
see my Father’s world. Babcock
loved athletics & nature as well as
music. So it was not strange that
he should write a hymn extolling
God’s handiwork in nature.

Lord, we Stand in awe of You:
The Lord merely spoke, and
the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries..
Let the whole world fear the Lord.
And let everyone stand in awe
of him. For He spoke and
it was done; He commanded
and it stood fast (Psa 33:6-9).

Lord, thank You that we are not
helpless victim of circumstances.
But we can affect the outcomes
of our situations thro prayer and
following Your gracious leading.
Scripture says You merely speak
and the universe is created. So,
speak words of power into our life;
Speak words of fulfilment so that
we truly live the abundant life. Amen

Lord, believing You created the
world also leads us to the truth of
Your providence in ruling the world.
The truth that God spoke and it
was done means You are in control
of the circumstances of our lives.
And thanks be to God that You
are working everything together
for good for us according to Your
purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This is my Father’s world,
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong
seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth & heav’n be one. Amen.

He Leadeth Me!

At the start of the American Civil
War, Joseph Gilmore, pastor of
Philadelphia First Baptist Church
wanted to turn people’s attention
to the Security of God’s guidance.
The important thing he said is
to know that God is leading – no
matter how or where He leads us.
After service, Gilmore went to
a deacon’s home and the topic
revolved around the Blessedness
of God’s leading. As others went on
talking, he wrote the words of this
hymn, inspired also by Psalm 31.

Lord, we will Follow Your Leading:
In You O Lord, I put my Trust,
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in your righteousness.
You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honour of your name,
Lead me out of danger… I entrust
my spirit into Your hands (Ps31:1-5)
I am trusting You O Lord saying:
My future is in Your hands (v14-15)

Lord, we put our Trust in You for
there’s Blessedness in Your leading.
So, I trust You with all my heart and
lean not on my own understanding.
In all my ways I will acknowledge
You and You will surely make my
paths straight. For You God knows
the plans You have for me, plans
to prosper me and not to harm me,
to give me a future & a hope. Amen

Lord, we put our Trust in you for
there’s security in your guidance.
Thank You for being my Guide
whenever I’m in danger or unsure
of which way to go. You will lead
me and make me know Your ways
for Your name’s sake, for You
are the God of my salvation, for
I entrust my cares to You and for
my future is in Your hands. Amen.

Lord leadeth me! O blessed thot!
O words of heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’re I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me!
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me!
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine
Nor ever murmur nor repine,
Content, whatever lot I see, Since
’tis thy hand that leadeth me! Amen.

Abide With Me

Henry Lyte wore out when he was
54 years old, an obscure pastor
who laboured for 23 years in a
poor church in Devonshire England.
This hymn was written shortly
before his death in 1847, was
inspired by Psa 27:4 & the words
of the two disciples met by Jesus
on the road to Emmaus: Stay the
night with us, since it’s getting late.
It was eventide for Lyte and he felt
very much alone. But he was not
alone; for the Lord is “the help of the
helpless”, our guide & security. And
He will never leave nor forsake us.

Lord, Abide with me as I Come:
The one thing I ask of the Lord,
the thing I seek most – is to live
in the house of the Lord all the
days of my life, delighting in the
Lord’s perfections and meditating
in His Temple. For He will conceal
me there when troubles come;
He will hide me in His sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach
on a high rock (Ps 27:3-4).
I would have lost heart, unless
I had believed that I would see
the goodness of the Lord… Wait
on the Lord; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen Your heart.
Wait I say on the Lord (v13-14).

Lord, help us to see the truth in
Your Word. You are our light and
salvation. You are our protector
from danger and from evil. Indeed
the Lord is the strength of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid? Father,
help me draw close to You and to
rest in the confidence I have in You.
Help me to defeat fear in my life
even as I put my trust in You. Amen

Lord, I listen with an attitude Your
goodness will show up in my life.
Grateful Yr goodness is not theory
but real and expect to see it more.
But Lord, holding on to faith in
tough situations requires fortitude.
So give me patience and courage
to hear You amidst the struggles
and pauses in our dialogues. And
Surely Help comes to the helpless
who Looks to You Lord. Amen.

Lord, Abide with me;
fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens;
Lord with me abide !
When other helpers fail
and comforts flee.
Help of the helpless,
O abide with me.
Lord, I need Thy presence
every passing hour.
Shine through the gloom
and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks
and earth’s vain shadows flee.
In life, in death, O Lord,
abide with me. Amen.

The Lord’s My Shepherd

This 17th century Scottish hymn
is a paraphrase of David’s original.
This version was often sung
daily in Scottish cottages and
so the wordings became more
familiar to the people then and
with us than the Bible text itself.
This text of the 23rd Psalm comes
from Francis Rous, who was a
member of the British Parliament.
Rous’ Psalter was widely used and
was authorised by the Westminster
Assembly, which also created the
Westminster Confession of Faith.

Lord, You Provide, Guide & Protect:
The Lord is My Shepherd, I Lack
Nothing & have everything I need.
He Leads me besides peaceful
streams. He Guides me along right
paths… Even when I walk thro the
darkest valley, I will not be afraid
for You are close beside me.
Your rod and staff Protect abd
comfort me (Ps 23:1-4). Amen.

Dear Lord Shepherd of my soul,
praise & thank You for Your Care.
You are not just my Creator and
my God. You are not just the King
and the Judge of the universe. For
You are my Shepherd. I am blessed
for because of You, I Lack Nothing.
Keep me from complaining; and
Keep me from fear and worry; for
You will Provide all my needs. Amen

Lord Shepherd, it is comforting
to know that I am not alone in
the journey of life. Thank you
that you are ever so vigilant,
Guiding and watching over me.
And thank You that You love Yo
lead me to “Peaceful streams”.
So, help me always respond to
Your voice, stay close to You, and
Follow as You call my name. Amen.

Lord Shepherd, You faithfully
feed, guide and above all Protect
Your flock with Your life. You are
always close by & Your rod/staff
protects & comforts me. And You
protectively hold me in Your hand.
When I am afraid or worried,
remind me that You desire to
always Protect and comfort me.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, You are my Shepherd,
And I shall not ever be in want.
You lead me to quiet waters,
You restore my soul. And
You will walk with me within
the paths of righteousness.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be. Amen.