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Bee Time Alone

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

God Knows Best


Jeremiah 29:11

Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

耶 利 米 書 29:11

Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)
11 耶 和 华 说 : 我 知 道 我 向 你 们 所 怀 的 意 念 是 赐 平 安 的 意 念 , 不 是 降 灾 祸 的 意 念 , 要 叫 你 们 末 後 有 指 望 。


My thoughts:

Inspite of my own failures and weaknesses, God still encourages me with His promise and shows me His love. How could I not trust Him? How could I put my trust and hope in people who often fail like I do? 

Lord, please help me walk in Your righteousness, to set my eyes upon You, and to let pure thoughts fill my mind always. Amen.

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Are you servicing or do you serve?

I went to church yesterday morning, and I never regaret for going. I enjoyed the worship and the sermon very much. Once again, the worship songs brought tears to my eyes in surrender to God. Only in His presence could I find relief and a sense of completeness - He is my ALL in all.

Today's sermon was  on Ephesians 5:21-6:9 ( 以 弗 所 書 5:21-6:9), about relationship amongst people, a continuation study on the Book of Ephesians series. Pastor Travis used many good practical examples to illustrate how we should treat people in all situations - home, work, church, etc. This could be said as a practical application of the greatest commandment in the Bible - Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. What I like most was the Pastor Travis' explanation on the difference between "servicing" and "serve":
John 13:14 (約 翰 福 音 13:14)

"Servicing" is carrying out a task mechanically, treating people like objects while performing a required task.
My reflection:
I felt that way this morning when I entered the church, where a young lady handed me a church brochure without looking at me at all, while conversing with someone else. Today was my 3rd visit to this church.

To "serve" is to listen attentively in order to know the need of the order person, so as to provide a service for that need.
My reflection:
Thank God that some people in this church made me felt that they have a heart to serve. The first person was Karen, whom I spoke to on my first visit to the church 3 weeks ago. She gave me a lift home after the church on my first vist and today. Another person I spoke to was Pastor Travis. I approached him rather than he approached me, since he would be busy talking to many other church members after service. He did what he preached, i.e. listened attentively when I spoke. One other church member, Carol, whom I spoke to last Sunday came to me today to say "Hello", and we had a little chat. Carol told me that she wished more new comers would be like me, who could inittial a conversation with other regular church members.

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Meaning of Love

This morning DailyVerse that appeared in my mobile app was 1 John 4:18 ( 約 翰 一 書 4:18):

The true meaning of love 
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
爱 里 没 有 惧 怕 ; 爱 既 完 全 , 就 把 惧 怕 除 去 。 因 为 惧 怕 里 含 着 刑 罚 , 惧 怕 的 人 在 爱 里 未 得 完 全 。
(See the context of perfect love in 1 John 4:7-20 and the meaning of love in 1Corinthians 13: 4-8)

My reflection:
Some people claim that they love, yet they have so much fears and doubts in their heart. Do they really love? NO, according to the verses above.


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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

The following Psalm expresses how I am feeling now in my lonely PhD journey...

Psalm 42

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    ‘Where is your God?’
These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
    among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
    the heights of Hermon – from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me –
    a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock,
    ‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?’
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
    as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
    ‘Where is your God?’
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.


詩 篇 42

Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)

42 ( 可 拉 後 裔 的 训 诲 诗 , 交 与 伶 长 。 ) 神 啊 , 我 的 心 切 慕 你 , 如 鹿 切 慕 溪 水 。
我 的 心 渴 想 神 , 就 是 永 生 神 ; 我 几 时 得 朝 见 神 呢 ?
我 昼 夜 以 眼 泪 当 饮 食 ; 人 不 住 地 对 我 说 : 你 的 神 在 哪 里 呢 ?
我 从 前 与 众 人 同 往 , 用 欢 呼 称 赞 的 声 音 领 他 们 到 神 的 殿 里 , 大 家 守 节 。 我 追 想 这 些 事 , 我 的 心 极 其 悲 伤 。
我 的 心 哪 , 你 为 何 忧 闷 ? 为 何 在 我 里 面 烦 躁 ? 应 当 仰 望 神 , 因 他 笑 脸 帮 助 我 ; 我 还 要 称 赞 他 。
我 的 神 啊 , 我 的 心 在 我 里 面 忧 闷 , 所 以 我 从 约 但 地 , 从 黑 门 岭 , 从 米 萨 山 记 念 你 。
你 的 瀑 布 发 声 , 深 渊 就 与 深 渊 响 应 ; 你 的 波 浪 洪 涛 漫 过 我 身 。
白 昼 , 耶 和 华 必 向 我 施 慈 爱 ; 黑 夜 , 我 要 歌 颂 祷 告 赐 我 生 命 的 神 。
我 要 对 神 ─ 我 的 磐 石 说 : 你 为 何 忘 记 我 呢 ? 我 为 何 因 仇 敌 的 欺 压 时 常 哀 痛 呢 ?
10 我 的 敌 人 辱 骂 我 , 好 像 打 碎 我 的 骨 头 , 不 住 地 对 我 说 : 你 的 神 在 哪 里 呢 ?
11 我 的 心 哪 , 你 为 何 忧 闷 ? 为 何 在 我 里 面 烦 躁 ? 应 当 仰 望 神 , 因 我 还 要 称 赞 他 。 他 是 我 脸 上 的 光 荣 ( 原 文 是 帮 助 ) , 是 我 的 神 。

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Devotion Blogging for 2013

It's been a long time since this devotion blog has been deserted. It's time to blog what I have learnt again, so that I could stay focus on something more permanent in life.

Stay tuned...

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