TOTD, April 30

Praise the Lord!

It’s always good to start our day with praise. Praise the Lord! Because He’s so good to us! (-fon-)

1 Praise the LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

² The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.

³ He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

⁴ He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

--- Psalm 147:1-5

TOTD, April 29

Fake or Truth?

One lie will lead to another. In the episodes of Glee Season 1, the wife of Will Schuester had this fake pregnancy and hidden it for quite some time. Until Will found out and decided to leave her.

Well, as we know that one lie will push us to live in a fake life forever… It’s better to choose the way of truth. Yes, somehow the truth is painful, might hurt the person who knows it, but it’s always good to choose the way of truth. (-fon-)

I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.

--- Psalm 119:30

TOTD, April 28

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. ²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

³Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' ⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

--- Luke 15:1-7

If you think that you’re lost in your sins, never too late to repent because heaven will rejoice if one sinner repent! God’s mercy is enough for each of us. (-fon-)

TOTD, April 27

He Will Never Leave You

Dear Fonny,

No matter how lonely life gets, you’ll never be alone. That’s a total and complete impossibility. Because I will never leave or abandon you, Fonny. You hear me?

God

PS. I’m sticking around no matter what happens, Fonny. Live with it.

(Bo Sanchez--- God Whispers Club).

It’s good to be assured that we’re never alone… God will always be there for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us… Do not be afraid! He is with us. (-fon-)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

--- Deuteronomy 31:8

TOTD, April 24-26

I Trust in You

GRACIOUS LORD, strength of the weak and ever-present help in time of need: grant me the grace to trust you in all things and to find you present in every circumstance, for my heart will never find perfect peace or full contentment until it rests in you. Amen.

- Paul Wesley Chilcote
A Life-Shaping Prayer: 52 Meditations in the Wesleyan Spirit

( Upper Room Website)

In every circumstance, let’s put our trust in the Lord. In every condition or problems, let’s say: “ You are my God, I trust in You.” (-fon-)

But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."

--- Psalm 31:14

He Is the Good Shepherd

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him.

He’s the good shepherd, there’s no question about it. The only question that I have: “ Have we been a good sheep, each and everyone of us?” (-fon-)

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep

--- John 10:14-15

He Guides Us in Righteousness

Whenever we’re in doubt, it’s always good to know that if we cling to Him, He’ll guide us in the path of righteousness. (-fon-)

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

--- Psalm 23:3

TOTD, April 23

Every Knee Will Bow

There’s none like Him. The One who has been amazingly be there for us. The One who is the same, yesterday-today-tomorrow and forever.

It’s really glad to know that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to Him. (-fon-)

It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' "

--- Romans 14:11

TOTD, April 22

Devotion to the Lord

Begin your devotional time by quieting yourself. Take a few deep breaths and become still. Some people light a candle or say a simple prayer such as, "O God, open my heart to hear your message to me in the words I read."( How to Have a Daily Devotional Time by Mary Lou Redding--- Upper Room Website).

As a mother, I found it more difficult to spend a quiet time for me to pray to the Lord. But as I need it so much in order to get a good relationship with God, I try to find my own time when I can spend some devotion to the Lord. We need this quiet time, when only God and we, face to face, and talk to each other.

Try to find your own time to do this devotion. You’re busy? Yes, I think everyone is busy too. But hopefully, in your busiest time ever, you still have the time to share with the Lord our God. He deserves it:) (-fon-)

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

--- 1 Corinthians 7:35

TOTD, April 20

The Art of Forgiveness

Dear Fonny, Refuse to be bitter. It's a poison that you don't want even a single drop in your life. If someone has betrayed you, pity them and wish them the best. You move on. Your Encourager,God. P.S. Forgiveness is one of the greatest things I've ever invented, Fonny. Use it often. (Bo Sanchez, God Whispers Club).

Well, you can change it with your name and receive His Blessings too:)

What I’ve learned is that we need to forgive, not because of the person who has hurt us so deeply, but merely because hatred is like a poison in our life. We want to be free from it.

Practically, it’s not easy. Forgiveness needs a lot of effort, time to process, and a change of heart. Maybe today, we still have the same hatred for the same person. What we need is just trying hard to forgive. Try our best and we’ll finally find that we’re heading to the right path by refusing the bitterness called hatred. (-fon-)

If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

--- Luke 17:4

TOTD, April 17-19

Faithful in Small Things

In the chapter of the bible when Jesus fed five thousand people, the writer of the book expressed that there’s a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish and asked how far will they go among so many?

We’re reminded that we need to put every faith in all the small things that we have at this moment. And keep on believing, while we’re faithful with the small ones, we’ll be ready when the bigger comes along the way in His time.

Start from the smallest. Even the tiniest effort with faith and love, will somehow make a difference. (-fon-)

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

--- John 6:8-9

Believing Him

Why we need to believe in Him?

Jesus said that He is the bread of life. For those who come to Him will never go hungry and will never be thirsty.

This world is lack of love. The world is in hunger. Not only physical hunger, but also spiritual hunger. The only way to be fulfilled is drawing near to the bread of life. Let’s get nearer to Him. (-fon-)

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

--- John 6:35

No Other Rock Besides You

…WE NEED SOME SOLID PLACE to stand, against which to lean, to which to return. Builders create pillars, foundations, and buttresses. For believers, when other supports give out, Christ remains the rock, solid, on which to stand. From whence to dare.

- Martin E. Marty
Hope: It’s More Than Wishful Thinking

( The Upper Room Website)

It’s not easy to find a solid rock in this chaotic world. And we’re just so lucky to find Him, the most solid Rock ever in our life. (-fon-)

"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

--- 1 Samuel 2:2

TOTD, April 16

Save In His Hands

Read this slowly, the quotation from the Upper room website stunned me. Again, with the beauty of His love, He has touched my heart again. Hopefully this love can be felt by each of us today.

TAKE A LONG LOOK AT THE CROSS. This is the one place where you and I can actually get a glimpse into God’s heart. The crucified, bleeding hands of Jesus remind us that no matter who we are or what we have done we are loved with a love that will never let us go. These are hands we can trust and into which we can surrender our lives with confidence.

- Trevor Hudson
One Day at a Time: Discovering the Freedom of 12-Step Sprituality

With You, Lord…

I won’t be afraid, because I know I can trust in You. I can surrender my life into your mighty hands. Thank YOU! (-fon-)

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.

--- Psalm 138:7

TOTD, April 15

Endure and Reign in Him

If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. If our own old self died by the time we met Him and accept Him as our Savior, we will then begin a new life in Him. If we endure all the hardships and problems with His guidance, we will also reign with Him. So, don’t be scared of the problems because we know as long as we fight till the end, we’ll accept the crown of life. (-fon-)

Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.

--- 2 Timothy 2: 11-12

TOTD, April 14

He is the Lord

He’s the Lord, not us.

Let Him do what is good in His eyes.

Too many times we want Him to follow our wants, our wishes. And we begin to forget who the Lord is.

He’s the Lord, not me.

Let’s try to surrender ourselves in Him. More and more each day. (-fon-)

So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."

--- 1 Samuel 3:18

TOTD, April 13

Do Not Delay

If we are facing huge problems, this might be our prayer. Like the Psalmist in Psalm 70, we’ll call His Name to help us:

Yet I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay.

--- Psalm 70:5

Yes, the Lord is our help and deliverer, there’s no doubt about it.

But, what about when it comes to pray when we’re happy? What about remembering Him and stay thankful to Him when we’re successful. So, if today is your wonderful day, do not delay to praise Him too! In all things we give Him thanks. In good times, in bad times…

Do not delay to do good deeds in this life, do not delay to make Him proud because you’re His wonderful children. Do not delay! (-fon-)

TOTD, April 10-12

Live for Righteousness

Before committing any serious and intentional sins, we need to remember that He himself bore our sins so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed. (-fon-)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

--- 1 Peter 2:24

Don’t Be Anxious

Let me tell you why you become anxious. Because you isolate your problem. The reason why you don’t understand is because you’re not holding the big picture. Who is holding it?

God is holding the top of the jigsaw box.

God is holding the big picture. It’s a beautiful picture. He’s busy making the jigsaw puzzle of your life look glorious. He’s busy making all the separate, seemingly disjointed, seemingly senseless pieces work together for your good.

( Bo Sanchez)

I cried when I read Bro Bo’s blog today. It’s so true. No need to worry because He is holding the top of the jigsaw box, He’s holding the big picture, He’s in control. (-fon-)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

--- Philippians 4:6

He Come for the Sinners

If you think that you’re a sinner, well you’re not alone and that’s why He comes to save us. To save this world and all the sinners. (-fon-)

¹⁵While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

¹⁷On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

--- Mark 2:15-17

TOTD, April 09

If the World Hates You…

It feels good when someone likes us, someone loves us: giving praise and good compliments on us.

But, what if others hate us? Dislike us? Spreading untrue rumours about us?

We might feel pain, we might feel hurt.

But this is the time to do some introspection, looking deep inside ourselves: have we done anything wrong? Have we hurt others too? If we don’t do such things but the world still hates us, maybe we need to remember this:

Jesus reminds us that if the world hates you, remember that it hated Him first. He had the experience before. He knows exactly how it felt, after being praised so high and then being crucified. At least we take part in his suffering through the cross that we’re facing in our life.

If the world hates you while you haven’t done anything wrong: be patient, remember His sufferings, and finally the truth will come out. (-fon-)

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

--- John 15:18

TOTD, April 08

Christ Lives in Me

As we’ve been crucified with Christ, we’re no longer live, but He lives in us.

That’s a really powerful verse from Galatians. The old we is no longer alive inside us because we’ve already living a new life with Christ in us. Let’s welcome a brand new beginning in each day of our life. Let’s live to the fullest with His guidance. Amen. (-fon-)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

--- Galatians 2:20

TOTD, April 07

Do You Know what is LOVE?

A strong reminder from this verse:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

--- 1 John 3:16

As true love was shown from what Jesus did: laid down His life for us. We ought to do it too. Try to put into action: the real love-the true love. (-fon-)

TOTD, April 06

The Glory of Christ

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.

Hmmm, I found this so true. Even the believers might get distracted sometimes. The bible is really relevant when it says about this. The god could be the pornography, money, fame, etc.

So, believers…

It’s time to focus on the light of the gospel so that we could share the glory of Christ to this world. Of course we need to be in the light first, then we could share it.

Let’s live a glorious life in Him. (-fon-)

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

--- 2 Corinthians 4:4

TOTD, April 04-05

Live for Him

He died for us. Don’t you think this is the right time to live for Him and no longer for ourselves? (-fon-)

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

--- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Live a New Life

Christ is risen from the dead. Let’s live a new life! Reduce and if possible eliminate all the bad things and begin with a new chapter of life in Him. (-fon-)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

--- Romans 6:4

TOTD, April 02-03

He Endured the Cross

Jesus was crucified. He endured the cross, even though He didn’t deserve it. How about us? Can we endure our cross and less complaining about it? (-fon-)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

--- Hebrews 12:2

Boast in the Cross of Jesus

Let’s be reminded during these days that no need to be boastful. If there’s one thing that we could possibly do that: boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. So that His death won’t be in vain. (-fon-)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^a]"> the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

--- Galatians 6:14