Thursday, April 29, 2021

DAY 77 (2021) - The secret to turn hopelessness into assurance! (Please go to FaceBook(silastyng) to watch my video of this blog)

 



                    This drawing is according to Psalm 77:3-6,11-12



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
3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
      

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 shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:


     “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 and having Jesus as my Lord. 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 gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."


      Bible link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%207&version=NIV

    Today's passage:
   

Psalm 77[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

I cried out to God for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
    at night I stretched out untiring hands,
    and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
    I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[b]
You kept my eyes from closing;
    I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
    the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever?
    Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
    Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13 Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
    you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters saw you, God,
    the waters saw you and writhed;
    the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
    the heavens resounded with thunder;
    your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
    your lightning lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
    your way through the mighty waters,
    though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

     

    Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him. 

    My Listening
    The topic I received from Jesus is The secret to turn hopelessness into assurance!  

The first title I thought I received from Jesus was "The secret to turn hopelessness to hopefulness". But Jesus said, "No, not only hopefulness but assurance!"

Wow! That's a big difference!

The secret is that if you can go over what God has done in your life and to this world and then you will say just like David did, "Wow! O God! Your way is holy! No one like you!"

Then, you are instantly being taken out of the darkness of hopelessness! Right away, faster than instant coffee! 

This may be a good time for you to start writing your spiritual journal like what I have been doing for many, many years. Lots of time when I was in deep sorrow and distress Jesus usually told me to take either one of my many spiritual journal booklets and read a few days. Then I would say, "Wow! I need to count Your blessings more, Lord Jesus! Sorry that I am so lack of faith! Thank you Lord! I got it!"

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us not only know this secret but to start writing our own spiritual journal recording how we experience your great power and love. 
 In Jesus name we pray,
 
Amen.

    
       
      Reflect on these questions:
     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?
      
      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?
    
           Family Corner:
     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 
     

        
Please click this link to worship with us - 
 
You are my hiding place

       To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org

       
    Starting from January 1, 2021, I started to lead you to read one Psalm everyday for 150 days that you can experience a powerful experience to use Psalm to pray and sing praises to the Lord. If you watch my daily morning prayer "Time with Abba, Singing and Praising" video, I am going to sing with you one song to praise the Lord!
    
    Praise the Lord that after a few months of preparation for this new series with a good friend, Alice Cheung, you can see a brand new look in my daily blog. Alice who is now the Vice Principal of Diocesan Girls' School (https://www.dgs.edu.hk/) is going to draw a painting each day to highlight the key message of that day's Psalm. You can see the photos below of Alice, one pictures was taken in Hong Kong of Michelle and me, and Alice and her husband Johnson. The other picture is with her Doctor of Education gown standing besides the Alumni Wall of DGS and with her name and the year 1984, the year she graduated in that school. She had been a principal of a high school for seven years and worked as a Vice Principal two years ago. 




第 77 天(2021年) - 將無望變成確據的秘訣! (大家可到FaceBook (silastyng)看此博客的錄影 )

 

安靜

1.  停下來. 靜一靜

2.  等候主. 深呼吸經歷主之平安, 感受主的臨在, 呼出你的憂慮


讚美及感恩
1.  思想最近使你開心歡笑的時刻
2.  為那些時刻及有關的人感恩

知罪,認罪,悔改 (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method 轉位靈修法) http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html)

1. 求聖靈光照,使你知罪,願意認罪悔改 
     "親愛的聖靈, 求你光照我心靈的深處, 使我看見我的罪, 我和主耶穌的阻隔, 
        求你幫助, 奉主耶穌基督名求。阿們。"

2. 透過聖靈的工作, 安靜一刻, 省察自己, 之後祈禱:
     「親愛的主耶穌,感謝你為我的罪釘死在十字架上,我願意在你面前承認我的罪(凡聖靈光照到的,請逐一說出),求你用你的寶血赦免我的罪,我願意打開心門讓你作我的救主,求你救贖我,我願意一生跟隨你讓你作我生命的主,求你帶領我。聖靈,求你充滿我,使我得著恩賜及力量去侍奉主、見證主,奉主耶穌基督名求,阿們。」



今日的經文:
 ( 亞 薩 的 詩 , 照 耶 杜 頓 的 作 法 , 交 與 伶 長 。 ) 我 要 向 神 發 聲 呼 求 ; 我 向 神 發 聲 , 他 必 留 心 聽 我 。

我 在 患 難 之 日 尋 求 主 ; 我 在 夜 間 不 住 地 舉 手 禱 告 ; 我 的 心 不 肯 受 安 慰 。

我 想 念 神 , 就 煩 燥 不 安 ; 我 沉 吟 悲 傷 , 心 便 發 昏 。 ( 細 拉 )

你 叫 我 不 能 閉 眼 ; 我 煩 亂 不 安 , 甚 至 不 能 說 話 。

我 追 想 古 時 之 日 , 上 古 之 年 。

我 想 起 我 夜 間 的 歌 曲 , 捫 心 自 問 ; 我 心 裡 也 仔 細 省 察 。

難 道 主 要 永 遠 丟 棄 我 , 不 再 施 恩 麼 ?

難 道 他 的 慈 愛 永 遠 窮 盡 , 他 的 應 許 世 世 廢 棄 麼 ?

難 道 神 忘 記 開 恩 , 因 發 怒 就 止 住 他 的 慈 悲 麼 ? ( 細 拉 )

10 我 便 說 : 這 是 我 的 懦 弱 , 但 我 要 追 念 至 高 者 顯 出 右 手 之 年 代 。

11 我 要 提 說 耶 和 華 所 行 的 ; 我 要 記 念 你 古 時 的 奇 事 。

12 我 也 要 思 想 你 的 經 營 , 默 念 你 的 作 為 。

13 神 啊 , 你 的 作 為 是 潔 淨 的 ; 有 何 神 大 如 神 呢 ?

14 你 是 行 奇 事 的 神 ; 你 曾 在 列 邦 中 彰 顯 你 的 能 力 。

15 你 曾 用 你 的 膀 臂 贖 了 你 的 民 , 就 是 雅 各 和 約 瑟 的 子 孫 。 ( 細 拉 )

16 神 啊 , 諸 水 見 你 , 一 見 就 都 驚 惶 ; 深 淵 也 都 戰 抖 。

17 雲 中 倒 出 水 來 ; 天 空 發 出 響 聲 ; 你 的 箭 也 飛 行 四 方 。

18 你 的 雷 聲 在 旋 風 中 ; 電 光 照 亮 世 界 ; 大 地 戰 抖 震 動 。

19 你 的 道 在 海 中 ; 你 的 路 在 大 水 中 ; 你 的 腳 蹤 無 人 知 道 。

20 你 曾 藉 摩 西 和 亞 倫 的 手 引 導 你 的 百 姓 , 好 像 羊 群 一 般 。


現在讓你有一個安靜的時刻,給聖靈一個空間,讓主耶穌可以藉着剛才讀過的經文,親自對你説話。

 我的聆聽
 我從主耶穌領受主題是: 將無望變成確據的秘訣!

 今早我起初想到的主題是 "將無望變成有望的秘訣!",但主耶穌對我説: '這是不夠的,是 "將無望變成確據的秘訣!"'

嘩! 這是一個很大的分別啊! 感謝主!


這秘訣就是當你在重重困難,苦無出路,感到神好像遙不可及時,祇要你能數算你以往經歷神的恩典,整個世界的歷史如何在神的引領下至今,你會有如大衞在這詩篇一樣由起初的哀歌(1至9節),轉向反思,數算神恩 (10至12節),最後變成一首喜樂的歌曲 (13至20節)。

這様,你會如大衞一樣的驚嘆:
   
    神 啊 , 你 的 作 為 是 潔 淨 的 ; 有 何 神 大 如 神 呢 ?


請大家繼續為陳慶麟先生向主呼求,他因新冠肺炎,仍然在ICU,情況仍然危急。也請大家為Jim Kelly 弟兄祈禱, 使他能在困苦中經歷神的同在,能康服及適應沒有了半個胃的生活調節。

    
    親愛的主耶穌,  
    求你幫助我們能在困苦時懂得數算你的恩典,使我們不論在晴天雨天都能歌頌讚美你,奉主耶穌基督名求。阿們。
         
   省察問題
 1. 今日的信息對你有何啓發?  主耶穌現在對你説甚麽話?

 2. 下一步是什麼行動?
   
     家庭角落
找機會與家人一起分享今日的領受。



讚美
Chinese praise song - 
我要向山舉目(詩篇121篇) I lift up my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121)



由2021年1月1日開始,我帶領大家每日讀一篇詩篇,用150天去為大家帶來一個藉詩篇唱詩歌頌寶貴的靈修親親爸父經歷。

    更感恩的是我和認識了超過三十多年的好朋友鄭張淑儀博士合作每日一詩篇,150日 "親親爸父,唱詩歌頌"的新嘗試。

    張博士Alice 現在是香港拔萃女書院 (DGS)的副校長,她會每天晝一幅表達那天詩篇精要的畫,而我則如以往一様寫此博客的內容。大家可以見到下面張博士和丈夫鄭昭明弟兄,我太太和我最近在香港的合照,及她穿着博士袍在1984年畢業的母挍香港拔萃女書院的畢業生牆有她名字Alice S Y CHEUNG Class of 1984前面影的相。 





Wednesday, April 28, 2021

DAY 76 (2021) - How great Thou art! (Please go to FaceBook(silastyng) to watch my video of this blog)

 



                       This drawing is according to Psalm 76:7-9



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
3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
      

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 shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:


     “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 and having Jesus as my Lord. 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 gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."


      Bible link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%207&version=NIV

    Today's passage:
   

Psalm 76[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

God is renowned in Judah;
    in Israel his name is great.
His tent is in Salem,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.[b]

You are radiant with light,
    more majestic than mountains rich with game.
The valiant lie plundered,
    they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors
    can lift his hands.
At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
    both horse and chariot lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.
    Who can stand before you when you are angry?
From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared and was quiet—
when you, God, rose up to judge,
    to save all the afflicted of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.[c]

11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
    let all the neighboring lands
    bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
    he is feared by the kings of the earth.

     

    Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him. 

    My Listening
    The topic I received from Jesus isHow great Thou art!

Today Jesus leads me to think of the hymn How great Thou Art.
"He breaks the spirit of rulers" (v. 12) No matter how much pride someone or even a king is, when God's time comes He has His power to break that kind of pride.

Do you know how great God is?
If you know, how could that affect your life?

"How Great Thou Art" is one of my most favorite hymns. I think today's Psalm and this hymn can lift us out of the fear of COVID-19. Many people fear of catching COVID, having a permanent damage on the lung or even die. That's a reality! No matter you are Christians or not. Not matter you are a pastor or a layman, you might catch COVID or even die. That's a reality!

But, there is a more important reality that we can learn from today's Psalm and the hymn that if God allows that to happen to our lives, are we prepared for that sufferings and are we prepare to die with the presence of God.

We are human, we are going to complete our short journey on earth. No matter it could be a heart attack, cancer, COVID or any sickness to take our lives, are we ready to sing the third verse of How Great Thou Art:

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then shall I bow, in humble adoration. And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art." 

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,
"How great Thou art! How great Thous art!"

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee,
"How great Thou art! How great Thous art!"

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to experience how great you are and that we won't be take over by any kind of fear.
 In Jesus name we pray,
 
Amen.

    
       
      Reflect on these questions:
     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?
      
      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?
    
           Family Corner:
     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 
     

        
Please click this link to worship with us - 
 
You are my hiding place

       To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org

       
    Starting from January 1, 2021, I started to lead you to read one Psalm everyday for 150 days that you can experience a powerful experience to use Psalm to pray and sing praises to the Lord. If you watch my daily morning prayer "Time with Abba, Singing and Praising" video, I am going to sing with you one song to praise the Lord!
    
    Praise the Lord that after a few months of preparation for this new series with a good friend, Alice Cheung, you can see a brand new look in my daily blog. Alice who is now the Vice Principal of Diocesan Girls' School (https://www.dgs.edu.hk/) is going to draw a painting each day to highlight the key message of that day's Psalm. You can see the photos below of Alice, one pictures was taken in Hong Kong of Michelle and me, and Alice and her husband Johnson. The other picture is with her Doctor of Education gown standing besides the Alumni Wall of DGS and with her name and the year 1984, the year she graduated in that school. She had been a principal of a high school for seven years and worked as a Vice Principal two years ago. 




神在2025年給你一個新的開始!

English version of Time with Abba, Praying Listening blog and video. Renew daily at 12am Pacific Time(Vancouver, Canada): Welcome to Sandy a...