My Inheritance

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:5-8

Every so often, I’d come across a story about some fortunate bloke who is left a large inheritance from a long-lost relative. It’s a pity that I don’t have any rich relatives. However, I’m constantly reminded that I do have a rich “Father” in heaven watching over me and He has really taken good care of me.
Thought for the day:
We often take for granted our greatest inheritance from God – a beautiful and meaningful life.

Digging a trap

Psalm 9

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Lord, have mercy on me. See how my enemies torment me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death. Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me. The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set. The Lord is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

I remembered an incident when I was on a youth retreat in a nice beach house. Being young and restless, a bunch of us decided it was a good idea to dig traps and see if the adult chaperons accompanying us would fall into them. We were meticulous in how we dug, covered up, and camouflaged the traps. However, we did not mark all the traps in this “minefield” that we created. When the adults came out to the beach, one of them fell into the trap, and we all had a good laugh that day. The problem was that we forgot where we had laid all the traps and one of my buddies fell into it the next day while walking to the beach. The adults had the last laugh that week.

Thought for the day:
What the enemy plans for evil –God can turn for our good!
All things eventually work for good to those who love God.

God's Handiwork

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth. Psalm 8:1-9
Thought for the day:

There is a pattern and a purpose for everything in life.

If we pause long enough to appreciate all that is around us, we will inevitably see God’s hand at work.

Dealing with Life’s Enemies

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Psalm 3:1-7 (NLT)

Most of us will not go through life with literal enemies, but there are many other hidden “enemies” within us that can cause us to fail in life.
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”

“Five enemies of peace inhabit with us — avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.” Francesco Petrarca Petrarch

Thought for the day:

We can either deal with the enemy within privately or risk public exposure.

Take a Walk through the Psalms with Me

The Book of Psalm in the Bible is a collection of 150 Psalms. The Hebrew name for Psalms is “Tehillim.” The root of the word means praise. This collection of poems, prophecies, prayers and praise utterances reveal the nature of the relationship between God and his children.
The words are honest and sincere and yet powerful in its expression and outcome.
Psalm 1 - The secret of strength and fruitfulness

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1:1-6 (NLT)

Thought for the day:

Where you are planted determines what you produce in life.

Your closest companions can shape your values; in turn it can determine the outcome of your life.
What you think about most directs your path and consumes your energy.

Passion

What would the world be like without passion? Relationships would be boring and uninteresting; sporting events would be lacklustre; even actors in a stage play would be robotic and unreal. Love would not be love if it is devoid of passion.

The best love songs, the most inspiring poems, and the best selling self-help papperbacks all share one thing in common; a rare passion that sells the message of the author.

Often this passion and emotional release can be found in the midst of a crowd:

Normally shy individuals scream and cheer for their sports team till they are hoarse. A sports arena full of strangers will work in unison to produce the “wave” to cheer on their team to victory. A preacher will shout, jump, and even cry to get across his impassioned plea to the congregation. A hockey goon will drop his gloves to get his team into it.

Some closing thoughts on Passion:

Passion is founded on conviction.
Passion needs an outlet.
Passion is contagious.
Passion is needed to power a cause.
Passion is an essential part of our human makeup.

Stones

Isn’t it interesting that something as common as rocks and stones could be used as a lethal weapon in one instance, and in another it is used as an analogy to represent some important truth.
In the Bible, David defeated Goliath with a slingshot and a smooth stone.
Jesus referred to himself as the stone that the builders rejected.

Here are some thoughts to meditate on, the next time you see a stone on the ground:

1. Woman caught in sin, was to be stoned in the temple. John 8:1-11
How gruesome and extreme a punishment for adultery?
Sometimes our reaction to wrongdoing can be too extreme.
How quick the people were to pass sentence on another?
“Whoever is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
“It is as easy to draw back a stone thrown with force from the hand, as to recall a word once spoken.” Menander

How did they get those stones in a temple?
They came prepared. It seems that many of us go through life with stones in our pocket!

“It's not a question of who's going to throw the first stone; it's a question of who's going to start building with it.” Sloan Wilson


2. Jesus’ teaching about prayer. Matthew 7:7-11
God promises us that if we ask for bread - you will not get a stone.

When we ask God for something, He always gives us what is best for us.

We have the capacity to nourish the souls of others. Speak life giving words!

“If you persist in passing out stones when people ask for bread, you'll find people quit coming to the bakery.” Lewis Castle


3. Jesus’ teaching on “mountain-moving” faith. Mark 11:22-24
A mountain is but a mound of stone.
Don’t view a mountain as a barrier, but as an exercise in faith and a growth experience in our life’s journey.
“Turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones.”

Faith involves taking one step at a time.
“The man who moved the mountain began by carrying away small stones.”