Blessed by friends

We have been richly blessed by our many friends local and overseas. Here at The Salvation Army Peacehaven Changi,  we are well supported by the staff and nurses of the Nursing Home.

There is a difference between being friendly and being a friend. We meet many friendly people in Singapore, but not all can be considered true friends.

Last Sunday afternoon we were blessed by the visit of one of the cell groups of William Booth Corps.  The pastors - Majors Beth and Mark Brooks, delightful people brought a number of folk in the Corps van and Earnest and Janice with their two children came in their car. We still keep in touch with our many friends in the other Corps (churches).

The haze was quite bad the PSI  reading was above 100 in the unhealthy range so we were confined indoors, otherwise we could have gone to the poolside and the children could have some fun in the pool. Never mind, we had a great time of fellowship. We were members of the William Booth Corps till our transfer to Changi nine months ago.

A grateful heart

Everyday is a bonus from God to me. Everyday I get up thanking God for yet another day. Despite the haze that seem to blanket our country - 'the little red dot', we keep reasonably well.

I find myself reciting one of the George Herbert's poems I learnt in school - that's ages ago.

"Thou hast given so much to me,
Give me one more - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me;
As if Thy blessing had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."

Ruling Party PAP elected

The majority of Singaporeans made their choice of Government in the elections held last Friday 11th September 2015. The PAP will continue ruling Singapore until the next election when we go the next polls. Out of the 89 seats the ruling party now control 83 - more than two thirds majority. A big responsibility rests upon them. They need our loyal support and prayers.

Singaporeans have made their choice. Now the nation must work together to move the country forward. We are glad the opposition have graciously accepted the decision of the majority of the people.

Let me share with you a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.

"O God give us grace to walk humbly,
and save us from pretension
and every arrogant folly.

You have made us, and not we ourselves.

Help us to remember the limits
of our power and wisdom,
but, help us also
to do our duty within the limits of our own power and wisdom. Amen.

Election Day

My wife and I went at 9.00 a.m to cast our votes. It is our duty as loyal citizens to vote for the party we reckon will do the best for the nation.

We thank God daily for our leaders. They are by no means perfect, but they are doing their best for Singapore. God bless the nation of Singapore.

It is a public holiday today. Except for the haze, it is so peaceful all around us. When we arrived at the polling station we were met by very polite ushers. As senior citizens we went through the priority line. The whole process of voting took up only about five minutes.

Majulah Singapura!

Golden Series Worshop

I attended the first session of "The Golden Series Workshop" arranged by the Health Promotion Board. It was held at the Tampines Polyclinic.  Good to be reminded that we need to take care of our health. I received some very useful tips.

I thank God that at my age of 83, I keep reasonably well. God has been good to me.

And much more important I need to take care of my spiritual health. This is Saturday evening and tomorrow we shall join our brothers and sisters in worship at church.

Of course, I need to look after my own physical and spiritual health by my own daily devotions.

Begin the day with God

Did you have a good start this morning? How do we commence the day?

I assure you there is the perfect way to begin the day. Begin the day with God.
"My voice You shall hear in the morning O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You. And I will look up." Psalm 5: 3 (NKJV)

Before you talk with others, talk with God. It is important to keep our relationship with God right.
                                               
                                                “In the Morning” by Ralph  Cushing

I met God in the morning

When my day was at its best,

And His presence came like sunrise

Like a glory in my breast.

 

All day long the Presence lingered;

All day long He stayed with me.

And we sailed with perfect calmness

O’er a very troubled sea.

 

Other ships were blown and battered,

Other ships were sore distressed;

But the winds that seemed to drive them

Brought to us a peace and rest.

 

Then I thought of other mornings

With a keen remorse of mind,

When I, too, had loosed the moorings

With the Presence left behind.

 

So I think I know the secret,

Learned from many a troubled way.

You must seek God in the morning

If you want Him through the day.

Jesus in the midst

We normally join our brothers and sisters on a Thursday morning for prayers at The Salvation Army Headquarters, Bishan. We are part of the world wide Salvation Army prayer chain.

Every Monday morning we join the Peacehaven Nursing Home Staff for breakfast followed by prayer meeting. Staff attendance is voluntary. Although we are not part of the staff, we are welcomed to participate. It's always a joy and privilege to join our brothers and sisters in Christ for prayer fellowship.

We always sense the presence of our Lord right in our midst. We are reminded of the promise given by our Lord which says,  "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

After the eventful days following Good Friday and the Resurrection a  group of ten nervous and fearful disciples gathered behind closed doors. There was no record of what they were discussing, but I guess they might be recalling the days prior to and after the crucifixion. Perhaps they were wondering what would happen next.

Suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst.

Events happening in our region and all over the world give us concern, but let us have faith for God is still on the throne and nothing can shake it. He is our Creator of the universe and our Sovereign God is in absolute control.

I've been pondering over the phrase -  Jesus in the midst. Read John 20: 19-23 When we meet for Prayer and Christian Fellowship, our Lord is in the midst.

1 JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR PROBLEMS

Problems confront us every day. Problems bring perplexities. It is comforting to know that right in the midst of our problems and perplexities our Lord is present in our midst. We are not alone.

Notice, He breathed upon them. The breath of God at Creation meant physical life, and the breath of Jesus Christ in the new creation meant spiritual life. We believers have received the baptism of the Spirit at the point of conversion and the daily infilling of the Spirit when we seek His presence. Life has its problems and perplexities, but thank God He is in our midst to share our problems.

2 JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR PAIN

There are issues in life that bring us pain. For example, a dear friend of relative is suddenly taken ill or had a serious accident. Or we hear of someone we know killed in a bomb blast while on holiday in the foreign land. Or we might hear of a church member who has decided to give up his faith in God.

We share the hurts and pain of others. Our hearts are burdened with grief. We meet in prayer and suddenly our Lord appears - we know He is our midst to share our pains.

3 JESUS IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR PRAYERS

My wife and I have our own private devotions in the morning. We also have our prayers together before we end the day. When visitors come to visit us, we end the visit with prayer. God answers prayer.

Sometimes we get the answer to our prayer immediately, at other times the answer is delayed. God has His reasons for delayed answers. There have been occasions when in His wisdom He has chosen to deny our requests. However, it is comforting to know He is in our midst to answer our prayers. God knows our needs and He wants the best for us.

Our Lord bids us pray. He has given us the promise. "Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be open unto you." Luke 11: 9

Let us seek every opportunity to pray be it personal or corporate.