Thoughts from Edmund Ho, pastor of Toronto Emmanuel Church

為2017年即將來到，為著從歲首到年終都看顧我們的神而感謝、在這特別的日子中數算主恩。祈求神在新一年讓我們對祂有更深的認識和殷勤的事奉！ 記念接受洗禮的嚴偉華弟兄，願主保護和引領他，在教父母和聖靈的引導中，往下扎根、向上結果。 記念各地陷於恐怖主義和政局動盪的人民。為各國元首、官員，和爭取和平公義的人禱告，求主引導他們。在至高之處榮耀歸與神，在地上，平安和喜樂歸與世人。 為下星期正式開始的2017年「寒冬送暖」行動禱告：恩主，感謝祢感動眾弟兄姊妹，讓我們在嚴寒之時，也能關心幫助城市中有需要的人。願主使用我們微小的服侍，將溫飽和基督的愛帶給別人。 為身體欠安和正在康復中的禱告；為所有獨居者、為接受癌症治療的主內弟兄姊妹和朋友，為於護理院休養的兄姊：願主醫治各人，照料他們的家人，賜眾人來自祢身心和靈的平安。 為「葡萄園」和「葡萄園社區中心」禱告。願主顧念各職員和住客身心靈的健康和平安。為葡萄園第二期的推廣和展銷工作。願聖靈帶領，願主使用我們──成為更多人認識耶穌基督的祝福。

Bishop Silas Discipler 123

Silence
1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html)

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

     My Listening
               The assignment from the Lord to me today is  "Facing of turning around, right way or evil way".
        This morning I was in awe when I spent two hours of Time with Abba. All four passages turns out to be a golden chains to give me a very deep meaning and a sweet voice of God to me and His immense and powerful presence with me. 
     1. Proverbs 11:20-21
         The word "perverse" hit me so hard that I go to the dictionary to look at what "perverse" really means. It's from the Latin word "perverse" means "turned around, contrary to what is right and good."
           What I received from Jesus is that God detest those who turn away their faces from the Lord, who walk the way against His Way and who think and talk in an opposite and negative way to the good and positive way of the Lord.
            Then it says that those wicked will not go unpunished!
     2. Numbers 30:1-31:54
         Wow! The passage here explains clearly how God punished those who are wicked. Then I searched the related passages in the Bible about how the Israelites had sexual sins caused by Balak and Balaamas in Numbers 25:1-18, Joshua 13:22, 2 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 2:1-25, 2 For. 11:3, 1 For. 10:1-33 and then John 14:1-31. Jesus is the Way and those who walk against the Way, turned around from God's face will be severely punished!
     3. Luke 4:1-2, 13-14
         That's how Satan tempted the Israelites and that's how Satan tempted Jesus and that's how Satan tempted you and me! We fail the test then the consequence is beyond what we can imagine, may be like those in today's passage in Numbers. If we pass the test, then we will be "in th power of the Holy Spirit".
     4. Psalm 41:4-9
         If we pass all those tests and we are in God. God's face looking at us each day and we do not turn around. Wow! His face will shine upon us and He even will sustains us on our sickbed and restores us from our bed of illness!
     Is that wonderful to have a daily time with Abba that His Word refresh and strengthen us. The Holy Spirit fills us and empower us each day to do His Kingdom ministry glorifying His Holy Name.   

      Dear Lord Jesus,
      Help us to be willing to come before your face and let your face to shine upon us. Amen.

      Reflect on these questions:

    1. How do you feel about my experience today? Does it help you to have a closer relationship with God?
2. Are you walking the right and good way recently?
|     3. What have you got from Jesus today?

        Let us praise the Lord: