Reframing The Picture

Deuteronomy 32:7-12

As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, . . . so the Lord alone led [Jacob]. —Deuteronomy 32:11-12

Reflection of B:

"Moses used eagle imagery to describe God. As eagles carry their young, God carries His people (Deut. 32:11-12). Despite how it may seem, the Lord “is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). This is true even when we feel abandoned."

Reading today's devotion with the above verses caused me to be overwhelmed with emotion and tears. For a while, I felt so alone and "abandoned", yet I knew that God has been watching me and protecting me all the time from afar, perhaps. My recent job resignation has brought new lease of life for me...I felt so peaceful and relieved when I finally handed in my letter As I looked back in all my previous employments, I begin to analyze what it means to be a good leader (be it spiritual or corporate).

Someone shared recently that it's more difficult to lead a church of 3000 members, than to lead a corporation of 3000 staff, He explained that church members are volunteers with no benefits yet have to pay or contribute to the church, while staff of a corporation are being paid for their jobs.

I beg to differ! I feel that the same principle of motivation applies in leading these 2 different groups of people. For the church members to stay in the church without tangible benefits, their self-motivation (through their faith in God or in the bond of fellowship they have with their members) are even more lasting than the tangible benefits employees will have. Therefore, the leader of the church must be someone who knows how to motivate its congregation to remain and serve through intangible means (the spiritual, the emotional, the social).

One best example of a great leader is Jesus Christ. He called the outcasts, the fishermen, the tax collectors, etc, to follow Him and He changed them into great leaders.

So what now for me? Each time I wanted to start on my own business, some job offers would come to entice me away from that idea. But now, I have decided to be self-employed, something which I have been postponing for the last few years. All my work experiences have more or less prepared me for this day, though I know it will not be easy. I need God's grace and guidance, and I hope to have more time and chances to impact people's lives through it all.

Psalms 87 and 88 - The Presence of God

1 A song; a psalm by Korah's descendants; for the choir director; according to mahalath leannoth; a maskil by Heman the Ezrahite.

O Lord God, my savior,
I cry out to you during the day and at night.
2 Let my prayer come into your presence.
Turn your ear to hear my cries.
Psalms 88:1-2 (GW)

13 I cry out to you for help, O Lord,
and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence.
Psalms 88:13 (GW)

Reflection of B:

What is the presence of God? The word "presence" means to be near. God is always present, but we may not be in His presence.... we may be too busy with other things or people and not sensing His presence. To be in God's presence, we need to "come into" His presence. That means our part of the action is needed. We need to set aside time to come into His presence.


Dear Lord,
Forgive me for being too busy with other things/people/work that I did not make time for You. I pray that tonight I will learn to set aside everything to come to You to enjoy Your presence. Let me be with You, Lord.
I Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Psalms 83 and 84 - Lovely Dwelling Place

1 For the choir director; on the gittith; a psalm by Korah's descendants.

Your dwelling place is lovely, O Lord of Armies!
2 My soul longs and yearns
for the Lord's courtyards.
My whole body shouts for joy to the living God.
3 Even sparrows find a home,
and swallows find a nest for themselves.
There they hatch their young
near your altars, O Lord of Armies,
my king and my God.
4 Blessed are those who live in your house.
They are always praising you.
Psalms 84:1-4 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Until we come into the presence of God and enjoy His love, peace and joy, we will never know how "lovely" His dwelling place is. I have experienced that before. Ah.... I missed it. :( I have been too busy with my work.... working something like 16 to 17 hours a day, for at least 6 days a week in my current job. That's very bad! I need to change, I shouldn't let doing something 'good' result in something bad for me physically and spiritually.


Dear Lord,
Help me to learn to set a limit to my time spent at work. Help me not to get carried away by the business of life and lose Your presence with me. I missed You very much, Lord. Draw me once aagin and I will run after You.
In Your lovely name I plead. Amen.

Psalms 73 - Seeing In His Presence

1 A psalm by Asaph.
God is truly good to Israel,
to those whose lives are pure.'
2 But my feet had almost stumbled.
They had almost slipped
3 because I was envious of arrogant people
when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
Psalms 73:1-3 (GW)

16 But when I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me.
17 Only when I came into God's holy place
did I {finally} understand what would happen to them.
Psalms 73:16-17 (GW)

25 As long as I have you,
I don't need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
26 My body and mind may waste away,
but God remains the foundation of my life
and my inheritance forever.
Psalms 73:25-26 (GW)

Reflection of B:

This is another Psalm of Asaph. According to Wikipedia,

Asaph Meaning: convener, or collector

(1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and Psalms 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2 Chr. 29:30). The "sons of Asaph," mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master.

Many non-believing friends have told me that they don't understand why God did certain things and some don't even believe there is a God because of what they saw. Well, just like Asaph, who couldn't understand why the wicked continued to prosper while the righteous suffer. He only understand it when he came into the presence of God. He also learned that God was all he needed in life.

Yes, personally I also begin to see things clearly only when I come into the presence of God and let Him show me His plan and purpose. I have learned that He is all I need. Only He will never leave me non forsake me.


Dear Lord,
Thank You that in You I can see what I couldn't. In You I have everything I need. I was too stupid in the past to think that man can give me happiness, but that's not true. Only You can give me true happiness.
Praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalms 24 - Experiencing God's Presence

3 Who may go up the Lord's mountain?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 {The one who} has clean hands and a pure heart
and does not long for what is false or lie when he is under oath.
5 {This person} will receive a blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from God, his savior.
6 This is the person who seeks him,
who searches for the face of the God of Jacob.
Psalms 24:3-6 (GW)

Reflection of B:

People, including Christians, often say that they cannot feel God. In the above Psalm we learned that there are criteria in experiencing God's presence. They are:
- clean hands
- pure heart
- does not like falsehood
- does not lie through his nose
- seeks God
- searches for God

Therefore, if we cannot feel God's presence we need to check ourselves and ask if we have done the opposites of these things.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for showing me how to experience Your presence. Search and cleanse me that I may have clean hands and pure heart in all I do, say, and think. Keep me close in Your presence, Lord.
In Jesus' most precious name I pray. Amen.