Bring Along the Key of Gratitude for a Happy New Year!

Read on, mate, to find your key to happiness.

The following extract is a message from Carolyn Savelle of Jerry Savelle Ministry International (JSMI) to partners of JSMI as found in JSMI Australia blog for your edification:- 

"One powerful way to shift from sorrow to joy is through appreciating the good things God has already placed in your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude is a key that unlocks the door to happiness. 

When you choose to thank God for what you have, even in challenging times, you will start to see just how blessed you truly are. You may not always feel like there’s something to be thankful for, but I encourage you to look again – there’s always a blessing waiting to be noticed.

I remember a family that came to our church many years ago that were believing for a new car. When Jerry asked to see the car they were currently driving, he was taken aback. The car was filled with trash, fast food wrappers, and was in complete disarray. Jerry told them, “If you’re truly believing for a new car, start by taking care of the one you have.”

Friend, if you want more joy in your life, start by loving and caring for what you have right now. Psalm 84:12 says, “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” One definition I’ve seen for the word blessed is blissfully happy or content. 

Maybe you aren’t driving the car you want, living in the house of your dreams, or wearing the clothes you desire, but when you choose to trust God, express gratitude for what you do have, and declare, “I choose to live a happy life,” you set yourself up for God’s blessings to overflow.

One of the greatest blessings God has given us is our family. I treasure the moments I’ve spent with my late husband, children, and grandchildren. We used to take vacations all together, packed into the car with grandkids on my lap, and I remember telling Jerry, “I’m the happiest anybody could ever be.” Though my grandchildren have outgrown sitting on Grandma’s lap, I thank God for great-grandchildren now! 

These moments are precious gifts from God, and He desires that your family be filled with love and happiness too.

I want to remind you that there is an enemy out there trying to disrupt your joy, especially within your family. Since the beginning of time, satan has tried to tear families apart- turning brother against brother and children against parents. 

But God’s plan is different. He created us to live in love, to reflect His image (Genesis 1:26), and to enjoy our families, growing in happiness together.

When you love and appreciate the people God has placed in your life, He will bless you with even more joy and abundance. Matthew 25:29 tells us, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.” 

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “…I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” You have the power to choose – to choose gratitude, to choose love, to choose life. 

As you make choices that honor God and put your trust in Him, you will find true joy, and God will work on your behalf.

I encourage you to take a moment today and ask yourself, “What do I have to be happy about?” Write down everything you can think of, big or small, and praise God for it. I promise, as you do, joy will begin to fill your heart, and God will bless you beyond measure. 

I have learned that hope and expectation live alongside joy. When you choose to be grateful, you start to expect good things. Your focus begins to shift from fear to faith. 

You can reject negative thoughts dwelling on the hurts of the past and you can choose to appreciate the good things God has given you. As you do, faith and expectation will begin to rise inside of your spirit. 

As I look to move into a new year, I’m grateful that God has shown His goodness to me despite the circumstances. God is faithful!" 

Click here for free resources from JSMI Australia to build your faith in Christ Jesus and also to find out more about JSMI.

Have You Thought About God?

In his sermon "What about God?", Pastor Kevin Koh of Cornerstone Community Church touched on the three stages of Christian maturity:

1. What about me?

2. What about others?

3. What about God?

As Christians we have to be careful that we do not remain stuck at serving only oneself and other people. Like King David we need to think about God (building Him a great temple was David's desire to offer unto the LORD).

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

In knowing God's heart, let us work out our response in love and offer Him a gift or service that would be well-pleasing unto Him.

Click here for What about God?.

Click here for Who Invented Candy Canes?

YouVersion Bible App

It used to be that we have to bring a physical Bible around with us and we do our Quiet Time with a physical devotional guidebook. 

Thanks to the God-given ingenuity bestowed upon people, we can now access the Bible and devotional materials with ease on our mobile phones, tablets and computers.

YouVerson Bible App, which is brought to us by Life Church, is a great App for you to try out, if not already done so. It is my go-to Bible App as it is user-friendly and enriching. I like the wide-range of Christian leaders and teachers who come on board to share and this has widened my sphere of resources for solid Christian teaching and preaching and see how others are serving the LORD to the praise and glory of His name.

Screenshot of YouVersion

The stated mission of YouVersion as gleaned from its website is as follows:-

"We wholeheartedly believe a daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives.

That’s why YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.

Our mission is to encourage and challenge people to seek intimacy with God every day.

Our hope is that each person in our community is on an active journey to become who God made them to be, abiding in Him, and drawing closer every day."

Click here to download and explore YouVersion.

Click here to find out more about Life Church.

 

The Authority of God's Voice

Earlier this week, I listened to the following sermon by Rev. Bonnie Chavda. In it she shared how the voice of God sustained her impossible pregnancy for her to deliver a miracle baby.

Click here for The Voice of the LORD| Rev. Bonnie Chavda | Cornerstone Community Church | CSCC Sermon

Just this evening (21/09/2024) at City Harvest Church, Pastor Kong Hee shared on how Pastor Christine had a miracle baby because her husband prayed audibly to the baby in her womb (around the age of 2 and a half years old, the baby recounted hearing her dad's voice while still in her mother's womb).

These timely messages remind me that God's voice and the voice of the believers have authority over circumstances much like in Genesis when God spoke the world into existence.

All the promises of God to us are "Yes" and "Amen". Who are we then to question or doubt what God has said concerning His words?

If we can have faith for our salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, surely we can take God at His Word on all other areas of our lives that require His deliverance and empowerment to overcome.

What words have your inner person heard from God through the preaching of His Word? Believe in Him and claim these words over your situations audibly; make your faith concessions with utterances of His words to you by the Holy Spirit.

What dreams or miracles do you need to see come to pass? Speak the word of God to your mountains of challenges and difficulties, and let God do only what He can do while you trust Him and lean on Him in alignment to His Word.

Remember how the people marveled at Jesus because He spoke with such authority? His words are life and spirit.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

"But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” " Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Truly, God's Word is life-giving with spiritual authority. Let us study the Word of God and speak forth the Word of God as little Christs and ambassadors for Christ with authority by the Holy Spirit for His Kingdom sake and for the glory of His Name. Amen.

With the Word of God, we will experience spiritual prosperity and more abundant life. The following painting and wordings are by Santi Teo for your meditation.

"Spiritual Prosperity" by Santi Teo

"Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV)

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers

Meditate on the word of God day and night is a crucial part as a Child of God. It is not a law of instruction, but a reflection of our love for God.

His word is like nutrition; it refreshes our soul, mind and strengthens us in our difficulties. It is likened to a tree planted by streams of water and never dries up. It doesn't fear the heat when it comes, bears fruit in its season and whatever it does, it shall prosper.

Let's connect with the vine that provides everything you need.

Santi Teo

AZ Division

City Harvest Church"

Jehovah Shammah (The LORD is There)

"The distance around the city shall be 18,000 (4 x 4,500) cubits; and the name of the city from that day [and ever after] shall be, ‘The Lord is There.’” (Ezekiel 48:35; AMP)

Gratefulness by Kylie Koh 

The following article is adapted from Rev Dr Kong Hee's preaching at City Harvest Church on 24 August 2024 regarding JEHOVAH SHAMMAH (The LORD is There), which is yet another name for YHWH.

God is there wherever you are and every moment of each day. God's Presence is tangible towards your entire day. Turn your thoughts towards God in simple conversations with Him all day long such as: "Thank you, Jesus, for another day. Please help me with the meetings for the day." and "Help me to be kind and patient. Let me be a blessing as I interact."

Gleaning from "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, Pastor Kong shared on the following practical actions we can emulate to experience the Presence of God:

1. Put God in your thoughts all day long

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3; NKJV)

When we are conscious of God, a special grace comes upon us as God's omnipresence transcends into manifested Presence. Our hearts will follow who we cherish. The more we know Him, the more we love Him.

2. Converse with God while you work

 

"pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV)

Talk to God continually... "Father, I love you. Jesus, help me. Holy Spirit, give me wisdom."

Don't put any limits to what you speak with God. Have a humble and loving heart. Give thanks in all circumstances. Be in constant communion and fellowship with God. Sweet communion of inner joy and strength.

3. Transform ordinary moments into tiny holy encounters with God

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17; NKJV)

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men," (Colossians 3:23; NKJV)

Brother Lawrence suffered a serious injury to his leg in the French Army. He worked in the kitchen of a monastery for 50 years. While rugged in appearance, he was full of the love, joy and the gentleness of Jesus. He spoke with such wisdom and many came to seek him for spiritual guidance. All of Brother Lawrence's actions is out of love as an act of worship unto the LORD.

Click here for Wikipedia's coverage of Brother Lawrence.

Click here and fast forward to 1:01:17 for Pastor Kong Hee's sermon on Jehovah Shammah (Part 1).

Click here and fast forward to 50:15 for Pastor Kong Hee's sermon on Jehovah Shammah (Part 2).

God is there all around and within us notwithstanding
the vastness of our planet. 

Walking with God

What does it mean to walk with God? As Christians, we say that this is what we do each day.

For the Biblical insights on walking with God, the following sermon by Pastor Jeremy Choy will enlighten us and help us deepen our daily walk with God.

Click here for Jeremy Choy: Walking With God.

Vertical and Horizontal Righteousness

The following article is adapted from Rev Dr Kong Hee's preaching on Jehovah Tsidkenu (The LORD Our Righteousness) on 3 August 2024 at City Harvest Church.

With righteousness we have the ability to stand in God's Presence without any sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV)"

The effects of righteousness are as follows:

1.    Righteousness restores your standing with God.

"The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Isaiah 32:17 (NKJV)" 

2.    Righteousness restores your communion with God.

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. John 16:27 (NASB)"

3.    Righteousness restores your confidence in life.

"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 (NASB)"

How does God make us righteous? 

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)" 

"He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)"

Vertical righteousness Corum Deo (in the presence of God) is passive, positional, imputed and justifying.

Horizontal righteousness Corum Mundo (in the presence of others) is active, actual, imparted and conforming. 

Righteousness is a gift made possible through Jesus Christ. "For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (AMP)"

The Greek word for "receive" in the above verse is lambano which means actively take it, be intentional about it!

Righteousness is the key to God's power. As we internalise once and for all that vertical righteousness has been imputed upon us, keep receiving God's grace every day and appropriate His righteousness every day in Christlikeness we receive an abundance of God's grace "so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 (NKJV)"

Click here for Kong Hee: Jehovah Tsidkenu and fast forward to 40:45 for the sermon.