It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure

2 Samuel 22:33 - It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

2 Samuel 22 is a psalm of thanksgiving that King David composed after God delivered him from his enemies and established him as king over Israel.  It is very similar to Psalm 18.  The psalm celebrates God's faithfulness and power, and it reflects David's deep gratitude and awe for what God had done for him.  David sings jubilant praises who has delivered him from all his enemies, including King Saul.

David's trust and dependence on God are evident in this song.  David recognizes that without God, he would not have been able to achieve the victories he had experienced.  In verse 33, David declares that it was God who gave him the strength to overcome his enemies and establish his kingdom.  He acknowledges that he could not have achieved victory on his own and that it was only through God's help that he was able to succeed.

This verse is a powerful reminder that our strength and security come from God.  It is a call to trust in God's power and provision, and to recognize that apart from Him, we are powerless and vulnerable.  By acknowledging God's role in our lives and giving Him the glory, we can find strength and security in His love and care for us.  May we rely on Him completely and trust in His guidance as we journey through life.

Do not forget the Lord

Deuteronomy 8:18 - But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. [NIV]

Moses was speaking to the Israelites and preparing them to enter the promised land.  He reminds them of all what God has miraculously done in bringing them out of Egyptian slavery and during their wilderness wanderings over the last forty years.  Moses gave the people a warning to not forget God.  There will come a day when they have success and wealth, and they are supposed to remember God on that day.  They are not supposed to think that they have done it all on their own.

The Israelites who were once incapable of doing anything to sustain themselves would soon think that their own power and the strength of their hand and not the limitless power of the covenant keeping God had made them prosperous.  For this reason, Moses reminded the people that every gift comes from God.  He exhorted them to remember the Lord Almighty is the One who is giving the ability to make wealth.  Israel’s wealth (wisdom, power, imagination, material resources, skills, and strength) was a direct blessing from God.

God gives us the ability to be a success story for Him when, in all that we do, we do it for Him.  We need to continually remember and acknowledge that it is God who has given us the ability to create wealth and do everything that we have done and are doing.  And not forgetting that it is God who brought us where we are today and given us everything that we have today.  Let us remember the Lord our God today and always.

Treasure of Wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-15 - Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. [NIV]

The book of Proverbs serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking guidance and insight into living a wise, virtuous, and God-centered life.  The teachings found in Proverbs remain relevant not only in biblical times but also in contemporary society, rendering it a timeless source of wisdom and inspiration for people of all ages.  Proverbs 3 encourages us to trust in God, seek wisdom, and live in obedience to His ways.

In today's verses, King Solomon extols the value of wisdom and understanding, portraying them as highly desirable and invaluable qualities.  The pursuit of wisdom is far from passive; it represents an intentional choice to seek understanding, knowledge, and discernment. Metaphors such as silver, gold, and rubies are employed to illustrate the immense value of wisdom.  Just as silver, gold, and rubies are highly prized for their material wealth, wisdom is even more valuable.  It cannot be quantified in monetary terms, but its benefits far exceed material wealth.
The pursuit of wisdom serves as an acknowledgment that the deepest longings of our hearts cannot be satisfied by the world's offerings.  While we may chase after fame, pleasure, or material possessions, true contentment and fulfillment can solely be found in a heart that prioritizes wisdom above all else.  It serves as the key that unlocks the door to a life of purpose, meaning, and lasting joy.  May we treasure wisdom above all else, recognizing its eternal value and its capacity to lead us to a life that brings honor and glory to our Heavenly Father.

Appraising Your Life

Remember him — before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 (NIV)

IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE you took stock of where you are going, hasn’t it?  And how about an evaluation of the kids?  Or your marriage?  Or your own future?  You know what I mean: trimming off the fat of lazy thinking and taking a lean, hard look at your remaining years.

As I write, I’m now in my eighties.  If Christ doesn’t return (and I don’t die in the meantime), I figure I’ll keep going until I’m at least one hundred!  How old are you?  How many years lie between now and when you turn sixty-five or seventy years of age?  It’s about time you came to terms with your future, isn’t it?

If that doesn’t grab you, consider your family in the next decade.  Cynthia and I feel it was only last week when our home resembled a cross between Grand Central Station, the Indianapolis 500, and the San Diego Zoo!  That was long ago.  We now find ourselves with ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  It’s amazing how quickly all that happened.  As the old newsreel used to say, “Time marches on.”

Consider Solomon’s wise counsel:

Remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken.  Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.  For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
ECCLESIASTES 12:6-7

For what are you asking the Lord on behalf of your children and grandchildren?  I challenge you to stop long enough to make an honest appraisal of your life.  By the way, don’t just think about it . . . get alone and write down your thoughts, your dreams, your aspirations.  Refuse to let tonight’s television programs or some insignificant activity interrupt this necessary discipline.  If you put it off, you may lose the urgency you’re feeling right now.

{From Good Morning, Lord . . . Can We Talk? A Year of Scriptural Meditations by Charles Swindoll}

To Worship God

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. ISAIAH 49:13

To worthily worship God as He desires to be worshiped, I must have absolute confidence in Him.  I cannot sit down with any person and enjoy fellowship if I have reason to fear he is out to get me or trick me or deceive me or cheat me.  My fellowship with Him must be based upon respect and confidence.  I have to trust him before I can have fellowship with him; and so when I go to God, I have to raise my affections and confidence to God.  In the presence of God, I must come without doubt and nervousness, without worry and fear that God will cheat me, deceive me or let me break down or do something wrong.  I need to be so convinced about God to the point that I can go into the presence of God in absolute confidence and say, “Let God be true and every man a liar.”

“With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
CHARLES WESLEY (1707–1788)

[From My Daily Pursuit: Devotions for Every Day By A. W. Tozer]

Consequences of sin

Isaiah 59:6 - Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make.  Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.

In Isaiah 59:6, the prophet paints a vivid picture of the consequences of sin and the futility of human attempts to find righteousness and peace.  This verse serves as a part of a larger passage (Isaiah 59:1-15) where Isaiah highlights the people's separation from God due to their sins.  He describes a people whose efforts to cover themselves and find security are as feeble as cobwebs.  Despite their best intentions, their actions are tainted by evil deeds, and violence permeates their lives.

This verse serves as a reminder that all humanity, regardless of our best efforts, falls short of God's perfect standard.  No matter how hard we try to construct a facade of righteousness or find fulfillment in worldly pursuits, our attempts will always fall short.  Amid this bleak reality, there is hope. Isaiah 59:1 assures us that God's hand is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.  Despite our sinful state, God extends His mercy and grace to us.  He sees our desperate need and offers a solution that transcends our feeble attempts at self-justification.

The ultimate answer to our sinfulness and brokenness is found in Jesus Christ.  Through His perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and victorious resurrection, He offers forgiveness, redemption, and a restored relationship with God.  Jesus' sacrifice provides the covering we desperately need, far surpassing any cobwebs of self-righteousness or human effort.  As we recognize the futility of our own works and the destructive nature of sin, we are invited to embrace the redemption and salvation offered through faith in Christ.

Seow Bak (Roast Pork)

Crispy Pork Belly, just like you get from the Chinese BBQ meat shop!

1. Pricking lots of holes in the skin = puffy crackling with bubbles.  This is what makes all the difference, yielding that beautiful bubbly crackling that is so unique to Chinese pork belly.

2. Roast covered in rock salt = crispy crackling.  Salt draws moisture to the surface, helping to guarantee you’ll get crispy crackling every single time.  And yes, it works whether you do the pricking or not.

The pork belly is first roasted with the salt crust, then the salt crust is removed.  At this stage, the skin is rubbery and looks thoroughly unappetising.
All it takes to transform the ugly ducking into a crispy golden swan is to stick it under the grill/broiler for 25 minutes.  Watch in amazement as it starts to puff and crackle and becomes so crispy!!!

Pork Belly Marinade
The pork flesh is infused with subtle flavour by marinating it in classic Chinese flavours – Chinese cooking wine (or dry sherry or even Mirin), five spice powder, salt and white pepper.

Loving God: Daily Reflections For Intimacy With God.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. —1 John 4:16

No one can come face-to-face with what God is like and ever be the same. Seeing the truth about His personality touches the depths of our emotions, which leads us to spiritual wholeness and maturity.

BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE RENEWS OUR MINDS, STRENGTHENS US, AND TRANSFORMS US.

God is a Person

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. LAMENTATIONS 3:22–23

When I was a small boy, I thought of God as an old man with a long white beard.  After all, hadn’t Michelangelo painted Him that way?

Later, as I read the Bible, and after I had accepted Christ as my Savior, I realized that God is a spirit, yet He has the attributes of a person:  He thinks; He speaks; He communicates; He loves; He becomes angry; He grieves.

Because God is a person, He feels that which we feel.  After all, we are made in His image, so it is to be expected that we would be able to communicate our deepest feelings and emotions to God.

God communicates with us in two ways.  First, He communicates with us through His written Word, the Bible.  It tells us who God is, who we are, and why we need a Savior so that we might have that relationship with God which sin has broken.

Second, God communicates with us through His Son.  Jesus said that no man can come to the Father except through Him.  We have that access to Jesus, and thus to God, through salvation.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He never changes.

Our Father and our God, sometimes I can’t express my deepest emotions. But I know that Jesus can express my very heart to You and that You understand.  Thank You, Father, for Your great compassion and faithful love.  In the name of Christ, amen.

[From  UNTO THE HILLS  A Daily Devotional by BILLY GRAHAM]

God's Goodness

Psalms 34:18  "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”[NIV]  The Good News: Though you may feel defeated, God is closer than you realize.  He is always with you and can heal your heart.

The heart of a Psalmist is familiar with suffering and consistent in hope. This pattern emerges time and time again. The writer expresses an honest struggle, makes a request, and ends with a choice to trust in God.  Some Psalms focus on lament, which means to grieve the loss of something or someone.  Some focus on praise.  But many combine the two, even when several verses reveal the pain of suffering.

The power of God’s love has a way of enhancing our ability to believe.  When we experience a deeper connection to love, the tank of our ability to believe gets filled and empowered.  On the other hand, our ability to believe can feel like it is getting shipwrecked with our hearts are struggling with disconnect to love.

When you see someone struggling to believe, you will often find someone who carries a broken heart and the absence of the power of love in their life.  Disappointment has taken over.  Weariness has gotten the upper hand.  Life has a way of beating the belief out of you.

That is why the healing power of love is needed in our lives every day.  We need it to heal and recover from all the experiences we are going through.  When love has not been imbedded in someone’s heart, it can be so easily to lose hope and struggle to believe.

Many believers are trying to help their belief with a “I think I can” kind of approach.  They try and try harder, but struggle to make progress, because there is a love issue missing in their heart.

When you love someone in a way that it impacts their heart, it can literally bring their belief system back to life.  That’s what love does.  It revives hope, renews your perspective, gives you meaning and purpose.

For many of us in our journey, we just need the experience of being loved back to life.