Fellowship in the Gospel

. . . fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ . . .

—1 Thessalonians 3:2

After sanctification, it is difficult to state what your purpose in life is, because God has moved you into His purpose through the Holy Spirit. He is using you now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of our salvation. If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, “God has called me for this and for that,” you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God’s interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world. Your understanding of your ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him. I should never say, “Lord, this causes me such heartache.” To talk that way makes me a stumbling block. When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work His will in me without any hindrance. He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it I cannot be used by God for His purpose in the world. Doing this creates for me my own cozy “world within the world,” and God will not be allowed to move me from it because of my fear of being “frost-bitten.”

- By Oswald Chambers, from his book, My Utmost for His Highest

Choose To Be Happy !!!

A positive attitude can help you feel good and spread cheer

People want to be happy. They want a fulfilling career and a satisfying life filled with good experiences. They want good relationships and a job they enjoy and can be proud of. They want to see their dreams come true. And they want to be loved, liked and respected by all.

Unfortunately, happiness is not something that you can acquire – either you are happy or you choose to be.Everybody has different ideas on what will make them happy. In 1957, a large number of people in the United Sates were asked whether they were happy with what they had in life. About a third said “yes”

Then in 1962, when the researchers conducted the same study, again a third said “yes” despite the fact that the standard of living had increased substantially.So what does the study mean? It means that about one-third of the people interviewed knew the secret of being happy.

Happiness comes from within. It depends not on what possessions you have but on what you are and what you experience.Many people think they are happy when they buy that next possession or achieve another goal. This is a mirage! The reality is they will stop being happy after a while until the next thing comes along to buy or chase after.

So how happy are you? Do you have an accurate self-assessment, a high degree of self-confidence and an accurate self-awareness of who and what you are? Can you make yourself happy even in dire economic times?

If you take the time to focus on what you already have and be appreciative and thankful for it, you are a good candidate for happiness.Rather than pine for the material success that you want to pursue, why not simply just decide to be happy now?

Try to see the glass as half full, rather than half empty. At work, don’t moan, complain, whine, condemn or criticize. You certainly won’t gain happiness that way. Stop being a liability to yourself by indulging in this unseemly and negative behavior.

Stop sucking away like a vacuum cleaner whatever goodness the office environment may offer and replace it with a sour and negative environment.

Simply decide to act positively. Even if you don’t feel positive, try putting a smile on your face that says you’re happy! Research shows that a positive attitude can influence the way you feel. In other words, choose to be happy and you will be happy.

Be positive about your fellow work mates and the future. Be grateful fro what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have.

I am not suggesting that you ignore the bad news about you.When financial times are not so good and the organization has to take people off the payroll, or if a project’s gone badly wrong, then discuss it. Face the facts and discuss them in the right context.

It is not possible to skip into the office daily, wearing a false smile and pretending that life is perfect.But you can monitor your thoughts and avoid whining and complaining in a negative fashion.So choose to be happy and you will be happy. Count your blessings. Put a smile on your face. Do something nice for someone and spread some happiness.

Sharing frm : Sis Ah Guat

Article by Ricky Lien, a specialist in conflict resolution, communication and emotional intelligence

叶医生的见证

叶医生的见证（选）

叶陈淑淑 当我从图书馆流着泪开车回家时，撞上了一辆停在路边的车．那时，我很清楚听到一句话：＂你能控制一切事情吗？＂这句话有如当头棒喝，敲醒了我．我曾以为这世界上，没有我办不到的事，但是现在我儿子患了病，我竟连病名都不知道．那我算什么？圣经上说：＂人算什么？神啊！您竟顾念他？＂当我以前看到这句话时，心想，我有两个博士学位，怎么还说人算什么？但是如今，事实摆在眼前，我在神面前算什么？那时，在中学读过的圣经章节，和这几年来求证神的经过，都一一浮现在心里．我问自己：＂如果耶稣基督是真神，为什么我还不跪在他面前，将我的一生交在他手里？＂ 我又问自己，谁能来帮我？我知道钱不能解决问题，心理学家也帮不了我，他们会发现问题，但他们不能解决这样的问题．最后神解决了我的问题．他说：＂凡劳苦担重担的人到我这里来，我必使你们得安息．＂那晚，我在神面前认罪．当我凭信心接受了耶稣基督以后，我的生命再次与神连结，他就带领我走过这一段十分难走的路．我知道靠着自己没有办法养大这个儿子．那晚，神破碎了我的自我． 在我知道儿子所患的病名时，就带他到处去找医生看病，但是没有医生肯收他．他们叫我不要浪费钱，因为这病是没得医的．那时我开始学习做一个主的门徒，凡事祷告，希望能替儿子找到肯医他的医生．我先生那时还未信主，他说：＂那是你的神，我又没信他，怎么跟你一起祷告？＂我说：＂难道你不希望我们的儿子好起来？你只要以他为神，他一定会听祷告．＂因此，我们两人就天天为此事祷告．三个月以后，找到了一个基督徒心理医生，愿意祷告三天，看看神有什么指示．三天以后，那个心理医生打电话来，决定诊治我的儿子．因他发现我的儿子智商超过一百四十五，个性非常好胜，并且还未满六岁，性情尚未定型，所以决定收他． 接着他向我提出三个条件：１．一星期带他来两次，一次美金一百四十五元，这个?病可能要拖上二十年而毫无进展，那时你不能说是我骗了你的钱．２．你现在马上要辞职不做医生．因为你儿子三分钟就做完人家一天的功课，做完就去搞别人．在这种情况下，没有学校肯收他，所以你要在家里找老师教他．３．替儿子做讲话治疗，因他一直不肯开口．医生说你每晚只要教你儿子说＂妈妈＂就好了．为这些条件，我请医生给我一个晚上的时间祷告． 那时我心里并不真的想祷告，我那时想和神吵架．我想问他，我可不可以两样都要？又要我的儿子，也要我的事业？我心乱如麻，无从祷告起，也不知道自己在讲什么，所以我就去看圣经．一翻开是创世纪，看到了神造了亚当和夏娃之后的一段：神就赐福给他们，又对他们说：＂要生养众多，遍满地面，治理这地．．．＂我的眼就盯在这十二个字上，不能再看下去了．我向神说：＂现在哪里还有人要生养众多啊？＂ 当我再次祷告时，我的心中有个很深的感动，原来这就是神所设的优先秩序．神让我知道，因为我的生命是从他来的，所以不管什么时候，他都应该在我的生命中占第一位，第二位是家庭，第三才是自己的事业．经过了整晚的挣扎，我终于顺服下来，第二天就辞掉了工作．但是儿子的医疗，学习样样需要钱，因而我申请了一个研究工作，可以在儿子入睡以后做，如此我养成了一天只睡四小时的习惯． 开始做以后并不是很容易的事．每次带儿子去看心理医生，感觉上好像是为了送钱去似的，因为儿子日日如是．我又是性急之人，神藉此事让我培养耐性，每日晚饭后，我要抓住儿子的下巴，使他眼睛能看着我的嘴型，然后教他叫＂妈＂．我常常想要半途而废，但是神藉着圣经的话来鼓励我：人会失信，但神绝不会失信．就这样过了四年，有一天我带他去看心理医生时，突然那个医生发狂似的走出来，说：他说＂ＮＯ＂了．那天带儿子回去的途中，我向神说：＂神啊！说ＮＯ要用到九条神经肌肉的，这么难的字，你都让他说了，请你今晚也让他叫我一声妈．＂ 那天整晚我都很紧张，但是到了十点半，他的眼泪掉下来时，我硬着心不肯停，我求神给我能力，并成就他的应许，过了十点五十几分，他用尽了吃奶的力量，突然叫了一声：＂妈＂，每次说到这个见证，我仍然无法不流泪，因为我等这一声妈等了十年． 今天，我的儿子已经念完了大三，已经信主，会自己读经，还会写电脑软件．这不是人的作为．那十三个医学家没有医到他，但他们看到我痊愈的儿子，便全部相信了主．除了神，没有人能医治我的儿子．那晚，当他开口叫＂爸爸＂时，我先生那种喜乐真是难以形容．他平时非常刚硬，不肯信主，但是那晚他相信并接受了主．在他受洗时，他做了一个见证：＂原来这个神不只存在于牧师的讲章里，也不只活在圣经里，这个神就住在我们一家三口当中，我每天在经历他的信实，我怎能不相信他？＂神拯救了我们全家，他给我们的恩典实在是数说不尽．亲爱的朋友们，但愿你也认识这位真神，接受他做你的救主．

Why Believe in God’s Existence, When It Can’t Be Proven Scientifically?

By Dan Vander Lugt

Why believe in God’s existence, when it can’t be proven scientifically?

Something that can be demonstrated by the scientific method is a scientific fact. But it doesn’t follow that just because something can’t be demonstrated scientifically it is less “real” or important than “scientific fact.”

For example, the survival of human civilization depends on the distinction that most people make between good and evil. Yet moral values like good and evil can’t be scientifically proven. Does the fact that moral values can’t be proven imply that they are less real—less “factual” in an ultimate sense—than the things that science can prove?

Most people would consider it morally evil for a man/woman to abandon his/her wife/husband and young children to begin a new life with another woman/man. Most people would consider this a serious moral failure, one of the “worst” things a person could do. But is there any compelling “scientific evidence” that could be brought to bear on such behavior to “prove” that it is wrong?

What “scientific evidence” could prove that murder, rape, and robbery are wrong? What would become of our system of justice if the prosecution had to scientifically prove that it is wrong for one person to kill, rape, or rob another person!

The existence of love, evil, and good are not “falsifiable hypotheses.” Yet most people—including atheists—admit that values like “love,” “goodness,” “friendship,” and “loyalty” are moral/spiritual realities that truly exist. Theists, whether Christian or non-Christian, have long considered the mind-boggling complexity of the material universe as evidence of a Creator. Although the scientific “spirit of the age” of the 20th century once insisted that the material world was nothing more than the product of impersonal, random evolution, today’s scientific consensus is shifting towards the conclusion that the universe was consciously designed (with incredible exactitude) for the development of life.1

Just as it is reasonable to assume that everything in physical reality has a cause, it is reasonable to assume that everything in spiritual reality has a cause. Immaterial spiritual values like love and goodness are even more amazing than the material wonders of the universe.

God’s existence cannot be proven scientifically. But although God’s existence can’t be proven, reasonable people acknowledge that the small number of alternative explanations for the wonders of material and spiritual reality can’t be proven either. Although faith is as much a matter of the heart as the mind, and belief in God is a moral as well as a rational decision, the rational case for the existence of God as the source of all reality is stronger than any other explanation.

Anthony Flew, an eminent British philosopher who has been widely published as one of the world’s most intellectually capable and well-known atheists, has recently become a theist on the basis of scientific evidence for design:

Darwin himself, in the fourteenth chapter of The Origin of Species, pointed out that his whole argument began with a being which already possessed reproductive powers. This is the creature the evolution of which a truly comprehensive theory of evolution must give some account. Darwin himself was well aware that he had not produced such an account. It now seems to me that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument to design.

What We Really Need

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing’

Revelation 3:17

Veruca Salt, one of the not-so-sweet characters in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was notorious for demanding whatever she wanted. Her indulgent parents didn’t know what to do, especially when they couldn’t comply. The result? A foot-stomping, arms-flailing, out-of-control tantrum.

Most of us have probably learned to control our tantrums, but our inner desires still burn within us. We crave what we want until we get it—or get mad and depressed if we don’t. Yet, often what we thinkwe really want is not actually a need at all. What we really are after is peace, security, and a deep-down sense of joy, purpose, and meaning in life. But with our eyes fixed on the next best thing, we miss the fact that what we really need is a deeper, more reliant relationship with Jesus. Everything else is at best temporary and sometimes, quite frankly, not all that good for us.

This is why Jesus is so bothered with the Laodicean believers inRevelation 3:14-21. They thought they had gotten all they needed, but, in reality, they had forgotten their real need for Jesus. This was so offensive to Christ that it made Him sick.

Could it be that He is bothered with us for the same reason? Could it be that we are so consumed by the clutter of stuff and the clamor of our desires that we barely hear Jesus knocking? Where does it leave Him when we are spinning out of control in our self-sufficient world? On the outside.

Toward the end of His comments to the Laodiceans, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). I love the fact that Jesus, though offended by our sense of flagrant independence, still wants us! He still longs for the intimate fellowship that occurred around the dinner tables of the ancient world. And don’t think you are off the hook just because you think that the knocking on the door metaphor is about non-Christians accepting Christ. Don’t miss the point! Jesus is talking to us in this text—specifically, to those of us who no longer feel the need to sing the old song, “I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee!”

So, He calls us to repent and to open the door of our hearts to let Him in. To pursue the riches of fellowship with Him and to covet the things that money can’t buy but that He can supply: Purity of character—“gold refined in the fire.” The covering of His righteousness—“white clothes.” Wisdom to see life from His point of view—“salve” for our eyes (Revelation 3:18).

If our needs today are all about physical treasures and temporal pleasures, we’ll assume that we’re fine without Jesus. But Jesus tells us that we’re not. And so He knocks and invites you to open the door of your heart to Him and to know that what you really need is deeper fellowship with Him. When we know that we can count on it, He will be sure that we have what our hearts truly long for.

-by Joe Stowell

Christians Can Look Like They Are Not

Disappointment is often attached to our encounters with people who don’t measure up to what we had hoped them to be. This is true of Christians as well. Followers of Christ sometimes fail to match the ideals of our own faith, or the expectations of a watching world. Still, is it possible to be a Christian, yet not act like it? This brochure offers careful thought on this challenging issue.

Disappointment With God

Many church people seem to be saying with their actions what they would never admit with their mouths. Even the expressions on their faces suggest that they are unhappy and bored. Their behavior makes it difficult to believe that their faith gives them any real satisfaction. How can others be expected to trust a God who hasn’t lived up to the expectations of His followers? One answer offered by the Bible is that some who claim to be followers of Christ are not authentic. For a while they look genuine. But they are not (Matthew 7:21-23; 13:24-30; 1 John 2:18-19). The infiltration of impostors, however, is not the whole story. The Bible does not hide the fact that real people of faith also have been disappointed with God. Both Old and New Testaments give examples of people who were distraught and even angry with God because He allowed them to suffer circumstances they expected Him to protect them from (Numbers 14:1-4; Psalm 73 ).

Distraction

Under pressure, and even in times of prosperity, real Christians can be distracted from the confidence that their ultimate well-being doesn’t lie in the hands of other people or circumstances. Because of ever-present diversions and distractions, the Bible urges the people of God to renew their minds continually by remembering what God has done for them (Romans 12:1-2). The Scriptures urge believers to keep their hope and faith alive by stirring up the memories of what they already know (see 2 Peter 1:1-15). The reason is clear. A lack of basic Christian behavior can often be attributed to a critical lapse of memory (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

Dangerous Relationships

Jesus was known by the company He kept. He ate and drank with people other religious leaders wouldn’t think of associating with. But Jesus did not eat and drink with such people because He was attracted to their way of life. He did it to be the best friend a sinner ever had. With the wrong motives, the relationships He cultivated would have been dangerous. Without His strong and loving purposes, the accusation that He was a “friend of sinners” would have been more damaging. His own apostle Paul would later write, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning” ( 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 NIV ). Even the wise King Solomon paid dearly for such forbidden relationships ( 1 Kings 11:1-13). The resulting confusion caused him to act like someone who had never known God ( Ecclesiastes 1-12).

Unchanged Tendencies

Genuine Christians have made decisions of faith that signal a change of direction in their thinking about God and themselves, but they have not overcome their struggle with self-centeredness. Neither are they morally superior to non-Christians. Their capacity to be self-centered remains unchanged (Romans 7:14-25). The downward pull of desire remains as predictable as the law of gravity. When real Christians stop living under the influence of the Spirit and the Word of God (Galatians 5:16-26), it becomes as natural for them to revert to self-interest as for a kite to drift slowly to earth when the wind stops blowing.

Self-Reliance

The God of the Bible asks His people to trust Him on His terms rather than their own. He urges them not to rely on their own understanding but to use their best judgment and sense of reason to rely on Him. He invites His children to let Him live His life through them. Those who forget this principle of God-dependence fail in practice to distinguish themselves as genuine Christians. Even the original disciples of Christ learned about the danger of self-reliance the hard way. On the night of Jesus’ arrest, one of His closest followers, a tough-minded fisherman named Peter, announced that he was ready to follow his teacher to prison or to death (Luke 22:33). But within a few hours, he found himself denying repeatedly that he even knew the man from Galilee. His mistaken confidence was recorded for our warning.

Prayerlessness

Look-alikes have a reputation for being hypocritical in their prayers (Matthew 6:5-8). People of genuine faith use prayer, not as a means of impressing others but as an honest means of giving thanks, confessing sins, and asking for direction and help. They know that prayerfulness is not optional for anyone who wants to develop a personal relationship with God. When followers of Christ do not show their dependence in prayer, they can end up acting like anyone else (James 4:1-6). Jesus warned His disciples about this likelihood on the night of His arrest. Pausing from His own struggle in prayer, He urged, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). They didn’t understand. They slept instead of praying, and within a few hours all had abandoned Him.

Carelessness

King David was a man of authentic faith. By his love for the law of God, he distinguished himself as someone committed to avoiding moral and spiritual failure (Psalms 1; 119:11). The Bible itself acknowledges that he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). His record of spiritual accomplishments, however, did not keep David from becoming an adulterer and murderer. One night, as others fought his battles, and as he stood in apparent security on his own palace rooftop, David used the power of his office to pursue another man’s wife. In an unguarded moment, David discovered the meaning of the statement, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

An Unexamined Heart

As a teacher of the heart, Jesus reminded us that unexamined motives can result in complicated forms of self-deception. Many years earlier, the prophet Jeremiah acknowledged the dangers of “inner darkness” when he wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Modern psychology has confirmed our tendency to avoid emotional pain through subtle forms of transference and denial. It has documented habits of the heart by which we attempt to blunt the pain of real or false guilt. Psychology, however, cannot change the heart. We all have reason to join King David in his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24).

An Unseen Enemy

The people of Christ have a spiritual enemy who is attempting to confuse them and neutralize their impact. This adversary is fighting a war of attrition. There are many casualties. Countless numbers of real Christians are rendered ineffective by one who is far more subtle and clever than they think. While he can’t make Christians sin, he and his demons are constantly looking for weaknesses that give him an inroad into the lives of genuine believers (Ephesians 4:27; 6:10-20). Like a predatory animal, he looks for vulnerable prey (1 Peter 5:8).

A Lack Of Accountability

People don’t develop into spiritually mature persons by doing what comes naturally. Neither do they grow in Christlikeness by being left to themselves. Even the strongest Christians were never meant to go it alone. Jesus taught His disciples not just to make converts, but to train them thoroughly in His ways (Matthew 28:19-20). A few years later, the apostle Paul likened followers of Christ to a human body where all members are dependent on one another (1 Corinthians 12). While many in our day have developed a spirit of independence, such an attitude does not reflect the original intent of Christ for His church. He made it clear that He calls people not only to Himself, but also to one another.

You’re Not Alone

You’re Not Alone.

You’re not alone if you find yourself honestly unconvinced about whether Christ rose from the dead. But keep in mind that Jesus promised God’s help to those who want to be right with God. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV).

If you do see the reasonableness of the resurrection, keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him.

-by RBC Ministries, publisher of Our Daily Bread

信心

“信心就是行动中看见那还没实现的果效。
信心是靠着神的话成为我们脚前的灯。”

对的 ， 上帝的恩典一定够我们用。一次又一次的经历更证明了这一点。当然 ， 我的pharmacy第二学期年终考试也是靠着爱我们的上帝 ， 它浓浓厚厚的恩典以及它大能的手度过的。

一直体弱的我心想到底我该怎样度过这次的考试呢？难道我将要在这次的考试中“战死”考场吗？？？上帝说：“不”。平常容易因考试而紧张的我 ， 这次竟不是很紧张也可以说没怎样的紧张吧！

最多份notes的biochemistry是最令我头痛的。相信每个pharmacy学生都是这样觉得吧！但 ， 靠着一颗相信和一直祷告的心 ， 我豁出去咯。诗篇118:5也如此说 ， “我们要振作起来伸手祷告交托。”。也感恩因上帝的安排 ， biochemistry是第一课考。这样我们就有足够的时间去准备。当然也少不了身边朋友的鼓励 ， 尤其是温暖又可爱团契中的契友在祷告中纪念。就这样 ， 考完咯！！

愿我们时时刻刻都有一颗依靠主的心。保罗说：“我将我所有的精力专注在一件事上 ， 就是忘记背后 ， 努力向前”。 因此 ， 我们要专心竭力追求目标 ， 我们心里所想要的 ， 神会赐给我们但也要跟着它的旨意。阿门。
By:小真姐妹

John Waller : While I Am Waiting

John Waller
While I Am Waiting
Take a minute and imagine this :

you are STARVING.
You finally found a restaurant.
But, it's full of people.
You have no choice, this is the only restaurant you can find.
You grumble to yourself and you join in the super long queue.
You waited and waited.
Sweats are dropping from your hair, and they stink.

What would your response be?
A) Complaining
B) Angry
C) Wondering why is this happening to yourself
D) All of the above

Obviously the answer is D.

Very often, when we wait for something, we tend to get impatient.
Then all the whining, complaining, anger, will come along.
And often, we might just walk away.

This is no difference when we see our walk with God.
We face problems and difficult situations in life. They tear us apart, they worn our souls out, they rip away our faith.
We pray, and we wait.
But very often, in the process of waiting, frustrations, anger towards God tag along and sometimes we even start to wonder if the so called God really exists or not.
Some just stray away from Him, when they think that they have waited for too long.
All the anger, complaints overshadowed the faith that we should have.
We focus on our own earthly emotions, that we zoom in to the negative things and we let it swallow the light which we will find at the end of the tunnel.

I was sort of being awaken when i came across this song.
John Waller sings,

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint

I was shocked, actually.

Especially by ''while i'm waiting, i will worship".

Ashamed, but true, i have never done that before.
Each time when a problem strikes, and i wait for the answer.
However it never comes along with the thought of worshiping Him while waiting for the answer. What we always ended up doing is, asking Why Me? Why this? Why now?
And we worry about it all the time, all of our prayer will only be filled with "God, why?"

We got so lost and busy with our own whys and anger that we forgot how to praise Him and worship Him.
It is just like, something bad just happened, but you still have to give thanks to God who let that happened.
It's hard to be done.

But, when we fully understand Jesus, it is not hard to be done at all.
All you need, is, faith.
When we have faith in Him, all things are possible.
Just like it's said in Philipians 4:13 -I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-

It is tough times like these, when we have to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
And in times like these, we should learn how to worship and serve Him while waiting. Because very often, these are the times when God is working something through us.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

By：Ashley

Handle with Care

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

-Psalm 90:12-

Our world can be filled with unexpected tragedies. Life is fragile—it needs to be handled with care! Listen in as Joe Stowell* discusses the importance of loving, listening, and forgiving the people in our lives.

*Joe Stowell serves as an Associate Teacher withRBC Ministries and shares his love for the Word of God in several of its ministries: Strength for the Journey, Our Daily Bread, Day of Discovery, and Discovery House Publishers.

Joe also serves as the President of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His web ministry, Strength for the Journey, features daily devotionals, video devotionals, and weekly messages with downloadable study guides.

Joe and his wife, Martie, are the parents of three adult children and ten grandchildren.

Put God First

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25

Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God.

Put God’s Will First. “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:9).

A person’s obedience is to what he sees to be a need— our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, “We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him.” But we must first make sure that God’s “needs” and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, “. . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.

Put God’s Son First. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:5).

God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a “Bethlehem.” Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

*passage read and meditated on during one Saturday Bible Devotion