My love for you will last forever.

Jeremiah 31:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

What does it mean for God to love us with an everlasting love? My dear friend, Jack Winter, once told me that being loved with an everlasting love meant that there was never a time in all eternity when I wasn't loved. I was loved before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6), I was loved when I was knit together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), and I was loved on the day I was born (Psalm 71:6).

Jesus carried this revelation of His Father's eternal love deep within His being. There was absolutely no question that He knew that His Father had always loved Him. In John 17:24, in His High Priestly prayer to His Father, He makes a very important declaration...

Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (WEB) This was the most important thing on Jesus' radar. That He was loved by the Father with an everlasting love. 

The reality is that we have all been loved as much as Jesus has been loved by the Father (John 17:23), even from the very foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). I believe the more that we become aware of how much love our Father lavishes on us (1 John 3:1), the more we will become convinced that nothing in all creation will ever separate us from that amazing love (Romans 8:38-39).

The truth is that our Father not only loves you, He IS loving you right now. It is my prayer that today, we all might be more aware of the intense, eternal, immeasurable love that God loves us with yesterday, today and forever! 

I am the Lord your God who heals all your diseases.

Exodus 15:26 New International Version (NIV)

26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

This promise takes place at the waters of Marah, where the Israelites came looking to find fresh water to quench their thirst. Instead of finding a place to drink, they found bitter water which caused them to rise up and complain against Moses. In response to Moses' prayer, the Lord showed him a tree to throw into the water. As soon as the tree went into the water, the water became sweet and drinkable. 

It is right after this encounter that God makes today's promise to the Israelites. He tells them that if they will only listen to Him and obey His direction, that they will not suffer the diseases that the Egyptians suffered. Our Heavenly Father goes on to declare a promise that is as relevant today as it was back then... "For I am the LORD that healeth thee". (KJV)

Whatever your affliction, whatever your sickness, God can take the bitterness of your experience and make the bitter waters sweet by one single tree, which I believe represents the cross of Christ. The Bible says that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we are healed. This is a promise that we can count on...for our God is a God that heals us!

Announcement

Young Adults Retreat 
Date: 26-28 Oct (3D2N)
Venue: Templar Park Rainforest Retreat
Cost: RM300 (Early bird) RM400 (After 1 Sept)
Age: 18-35 years old

Penang Open Day 
Date: 12th Oct 2019 (Sat)
Time: 9am - 1pm
Venue: Penang Children's Home
Details: Once again, your help is needed to sell the coupons, your support and assistance is greatly appreciated. Please look for Lt. Daniel for the coupons. Thank you.

I will not abandon My own inheritance.

Psalm 94:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 For the Lord will not reject his people;
    he will never forsake his inheritance.

My natural children are my children for life. No matter what they do, they are still my kids. While parents aren't always happy with the decisions their children make, that does not change the fact that they are still part of the family. Today's promise is a good reminder that the Lord will never reject us because He has made us His own inheritance. The NLT Bible calls us His 'special possession'.

Sometimes when we relate to God, it is as if we are picking the petals off of a flower, all the while saying "He loves me, He loves me not". Many times our reasoning behind such a concept is that our acceptance to Him is based on what we do and not who we are. 

I praise God that His love for me is not based on my performance but on the once and for all finished work of Jesus Christ. When I received Christ into my life, I became part of the Father's amazing family! I am part of a family that My Heavenly Dad has promised to never abandon. 

My prayer today is that we would all rest in the amazing truth that we are safe and secure in our Father's love for us. He will not abandon or forsake us...EVER!  Simply because He has chosen to make us part of His amazing family.

2019, July 28 - Capt Andrew and Fiona (Farewell Sunday Service)

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I am a father to the fatherless and I defend the cause of widows.

Psalm 68:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.

It is such a comfort to know that God promises to be a father to the fatherless. In this fatherless generation that we live in, there has never been a greater need for a Father's love than right now. With almost 50% of homes in many western countries ending up in divorce, there is a cry today that is echoed by Jesus' disciples in John 14:8 to... "Show us the Father and it will be enough!"

God not only promises to be a father to the literal fatherless, but also for every person who feels an empty void in their heart for the love that can only come from God Himself. No matter how great our earthly dads are or were, even the best of their love cannot compare to the immense love that flows from the Father to us through His Holy Spirit. 

In the same way that fatherless children need fathers, widows need a husband. Divorcees, singles, etc. all need a protecting love. The NKJV, NLT, NIV Bible versions all translate the above WEB Bible to say that God is a defender of widows. The ESV Bible says that God is their protector. In Isaiah 62:5, God promises to rejoice over Israel just like a bridegroom rejoices over His bride. 

So whatever love we need, God is the ultimate source of it. 1 John 4:16 tells us that God is love. Whether we need a father, a mother, a friend or a husband, the love of God promises to fill every love deficit in our heart. May we all be comforted in knowing this today. 

2019, July 27, Capt Andrew and Fiona Farewell Dinner

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All of mankind can find protection in the shadow of My wings.

Psalm 36:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Both the NIV and the NLT versions of the Bible call God's lovingkindness His unfailing love in this passage of Scripture. It is comforting to be reminded that all humanity is welcome to take refuge in the shadow of Papa's wings. Day or night, His wings are spread open wide enough, so that every person on this planet can find protection in the secret place of the Most High.

Whether we take God up on His offer of shelter is more of the question at hand. We are free to respond to His love or reject it. No matter how we respond to Him, His promise stands forever. His love is steadfast and unfailing. We can find refuge in His wings if we just choose to believe that this is the truth. 

The tragedy is that so many people go through their entire lives without ever knowing this powerful promise. An even greater tragedy is when those of us who know this promise somehow forget that this can be a tangible reality that we can live in for the rest of our lives.

My encouragement today is for you to quiet yourself and ask Papa God to show you what it looks like for you to take refuge under the shadow of His wings. He is waiting for you to respond to His invitation. This is a promise that we can trust in because our Heavenly Dad keeps all His promises!

I will save you in the midst of your troubles.

Psalm 138:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.

I took the photo for this promise at the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada. I chose this particular photo because it represents an overwhelming sense of being surrounded by an unstoppable, never-ending power. I imagine being in the center of this torrent of water while I am engulfed by the power of the rushing water around me. 

In this promise, the psalmist declares that though he walks in the midst of trouble, God's right hand will reach out and save him from his enemies. God is mighty to save us and will quiet us with His love (Zephaniah 3:17). We can rest in this. No matter what your circumstances are, no matter how insurmountable the odds, God promises to save you in the very midst of your troubles!

My encouragement today is for you to lean into your Heavenly Father's comforting breast, feel His big strong arms wrap around you just like the rushing waters of Niagara Falls and watch Him come to your rescue. That is what fathers do. They protect their children in the midst of their troubles. God really is the best Dad ever and He will reach out with His mighty right hand and save you in the midst of every circumstance. 

My perfect love will banish fear from your heart.

1 John 4:18 New International Version (NIV)

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

According to the Strong's Concordance, the Greek word for 'perfect' is complete. Imagine a love that is complete in every way. The love of a father, the love of a mother, the love of a friend, the love of a brother, the love of a spouse, etc. Whatever love we need, the true source is found in the completeness of God's love.

In this passage, the word for love used here is the Greek word 'agape', which often describes the love that comes from God. In 1 John 4:16, God Himself is described as the complete expression of love and then two verses later the Apostle John says that God's perfect love will violently throw out all fear from our hearts. 

The root of worry is fear. The root of insecurity is fear. Fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the present, fear of lack, etc.  There are many things in this world that cause us to be afraid but God continually is telling His kids "Do not fear!" 

Fear cannot co-habit with love. When love comes, fear is banished forever! God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God! Today, allow the perfect, complete love that flows from the heart of Almighty God to fill your heart to overflowing and fear will have no option but to flee in response. 

Do not be sad for My joy is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In this passage of Scripture, Israel had assembled to listen to the Word of the Lord. It sounds like it was a very intense time and people were weeping in such a solemn assembly. No doubt they might have been surprised when they heard the Lord's encouragement for them not to be sad, but to rely on the joy of the Lord to find their true strength.

According to Strong's Concordance, the word strength here in the Hebrew means a fortified place, a fort, a rock, a strong hold. Just think of it...the joy of the Lord is your personal fortress! Whenever you are faced with sadness, run into the strong hold of the Lord's joy and that is where you will find your strength. 

God is filled with joy! Joy is listed in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is described as righteousness, peace and joy. Jesus said that He came that our joy might be full. In His presence is fullness of joy! 

The joy of the Lord is our unshakeable strong hold in the midst of a world that is continually being shaken. No matter what comes your way in life, take refuge in Papa God's joy over you today. It is a safe place where you can live forever! 

I will shepherd My inheritance and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

In this Bible verse, David is crying out for God to save His people, bless His inheritance, feed them and lift them up forever. In the NIV and NLT versions, he cries out for God to be their shepherd and carry them forever. We know that David was a man after God's own heart. 

As a boy, David learned a thing or two about the heart of a shepherd. In this Scripture passage, David is acknowledging that God is the ultimate Shepherd who has promised to feed His people and carry them in His arms forever! 

In Isaiah 40:11, there is an amazing picture of God as a loving shepherd...  11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (NIV) 

In Psalm 23, David takes time to describe the many benefits of being shepherded by the living God.  Whatever challenges you are facing in your life today, be comforted in knowing that God has promised to shepherd you, bless you, feed you and carry you forever! 

I will meet your every need through My eternal riches in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:19 New International Version (NIV)

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Our God and Father has promised to meet our every need according to the vast riches in the glorious storehouse of heaven that is in Jesus Christ. In an orphan world system that makes people feel all alone and responsible to claw and scratch for everything they get, this is really good news!

Our God knows what we need before we need it and He delights to provide for us what we need...when we need it. Whether a felt need or a spiritual one, our Heavenly Dad is a Father who provides for His kids. In this particular passage, Paul is writing to the Philippians and is thanking them for the gift that they sent to help further the work of the kingdom.

Paul is encouraging them that as they have been obedient to share what they have, God will continue to pour in heaven's resources when they need it. While we may not have an ample bank account stored up on earth, we can rest in the fact that we have access to the true eternal riches that are stored up in heaven for us through the glorious riches in our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ.

Announcement

Young Adults Retreat 
Date: 26-28 Oct (3D2N)
Venue: Templar Park Rainforest Retreat
Cost: RM300 (Early bird) RM400 (After 1 Sept)
Age: 18-35 years old

Penang Open Day 
Date: 12th Oct 2019 (sat)
Time: 9am - 1pm
Venue: Penang Children's Home
Details: Once again, your help is needed to sell the coupons, your support and assistance is greatly appreciated. Please look for Capt. Fiona for the coupons. Thank you.

Farewell Dinner for Capt Andrew & Fiona
Date: 27th July 2019 (Sat)
Time: 7pm
Venue: Penang Corps Community Hall
Theme: Dinner in White (Try to wear white attire)
Cost: RM25 (please contact Sis. Jasinta)
Gift: Small token collection for the gift (please contact Sis Casey/Jasinta)

I have put My law within you and have written it on your heart.

Jeremiah 31:33 New International Version (NIV)

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
    and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.

In this promise, the Lord tells Israel that a day is coming where He will place His very law in their inward parts and write it on their hearts. No longer will they struggle to walk in God's plan and purpose for them because His plan and purpose will be inside of them.

When Jesus died and was buried and rose from the dead, He brought in a completely new covenant where He exchanged our life for His life. Everything that Jesus had, became ours. The law of our God has now been written on our hearts because our old life has died and our new life is hid with Christ in God. 

Because of Jesus, His God has become our God, and we have become His people. What a glorious promise and the fulfillment of the new covenant that God spoke of in Jeremiah's day. We are not separate from God and His ways. He lives in us and through us by the power of His Holy Spirit. We can rest in this amazing truth. He has written His law on our hearts!

I have poured My love into your heart by My Spirit.

Romans 5:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The photo of today's promise was taken at Niagara Falls. Since I have the luxury of living within 15 miles of this great natural wonder, it is easy for me to go there anytime I like. The volumes of water that pass over both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls are absolutely astounding. Day and night, the water continues to pour over the edge of this escarpment crashing down on the rocks below. It simply never ends.

That is why I chose this photo to illustrate the promise that God continues to pour His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit which He has given us. His love for us is a rushing river of His goodness towards us that never ends. While this truth is more real than everything else around us, it is easy to struggle to actually comprehend the greatness of God's love for us. I often feel that words fail to adequately describe His love.

That is why we need the help of the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that we would be rooted and grounded in love and that we would have power to grasp how big and wide and high and deep is His love for us in Jesus Christ. Just as we could never count how many gallons of water are rushing over Niagara Falls every second, we cannot measure the love that God is pouring into our hearts by any natural means. 

The only way we can hope to fathom the eternal, everlasting, never ending love that God has for us is by the Holy Spirit which He has given us. Today, why don't you ask God to give you power to grasp the vastness of His love for you? For it is through His very own Spirit that He actually pours His love into our hearts 24 hours a day, just like the raging waters of Niagara Falls.

I forgive sins and I love to show mercy.

Micah 7:18 New International Version (NIV)

18 Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.

There is no one like our God and Father. He is the kindest, most loving, most forgiving Father ever. In today's promise, the KJV Bible says the He delighteth in mercy. This means that God actually loves to show mercy. He actually enjoys being merciful to us on every occasion. 

Some images of God that we see in our society today is that of an angry old man in the sky, pointing his bony finger towards humanity in judgment. We also see Jesus in his high priestly role crying out to His Father to not pour out His wrath on the human race. 

This image of God couldn't be any farther from the truth. It was God's idea to send His own Son to the earth because of His great love (John 3:16). It was God's idea to adopt us into His family before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). Our God and Father loves to forgive our sins and show us mercy at every occasion. 

May every wrong image that we have of God be consumed in the fire of His love today. May His mercy go deep into our own hearts so that we might become merciful even as our Heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). 

Jesus is not ashamed to be called your big brother.

Hebrews 2:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holyare of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[a]

My brother is 3 1/2 years older than me. When we were growing up, he blazed the trail ahead of me in most everything in life... School, our parents, work, friends, even girls. Though we did go through many of the things that other siblings go through, my brother was always there to help guide me through life.

Throughout my school years, it was comforting to know that my big brother was always there to protect me from bullies and to help me transition from one grade to another. It is really great having a big brother!

In Romans 8, the Bible says that Jesus is the first born among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). In today's promise, the writer of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, is not ashamed to call us His family. What an amazing truth! Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah... is our big brother!

He has gone before us in every way. The Bible says that He suffered every temptation common to man yet without sin. He is a faithful High Priest who understands all of our struggles. He took upon Himself our sin and He has shared His vast inheritance with us. ...And He is not ashamed to be called our big brother!

My encouragement today is to take some time to reflect on the fact that God's eternal plan was to bring you into His everlasting family so that He could be your Father and Jesus could be your big brother. What an amazing salvation we have in the Triune God... Father, Son & Holy Spirit! Hallelujah!

I give good gifts to My children when they ask.

Matthew 7:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

In this part of The Sermon On The Mount, Jesus is encouraging His listeners to not be afraid to ask God for what they need. In the preceding verses, Jesus encourages people to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. The promise that He makes is that those who ask will receive, those who seek will find, and those who knock will have the door opened to them. 

In this particular promise, Jesus relates the hearts of earthly fathers to the heart of His heavenly Father. Even though they are sinful, earthly fathers still know how to give good gifts to their kids. If that is the case, HOW MUCH MORE will the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48) in heaven give good gifts to those who ask?

I remember a time back in January 2001, when I felt the Lord encourage me to ask Him for His blessing on my life and the work of my hands. At the time, I was working on our fathersloveletter.com website which had a steady flow of 3,000 visits per day. After hearing His encouragement to ask Him to bless us, I felt bold enough to ask God to increase the daily visits from 3,000 visits per day to 10,000 visits! 

I thought that was a pretty big step of faith considering that it represented more than a 300% increase. Within one week, our web traffic increased to 10,000 visits per day. Within another week, it had skyrocketed to 30,000 visits per day which was three times what I could even dare to ask for!

I am learning more and more every day that God wants to really be a Father to me (2 Corinthians 6:18) in every area of my life. More than anything else, He wants my heart and He wants me to know that I am His child. A child who has complete unrestricted access to my Dad night and day. I know it pleases His heart most when I seek His face and not just His hand. I know that He loves it when I love Him for Him and not for what He gives me.

However, Jesus still encourages us to ask our Dad for what we need, for He already knows what we need even before we ask! May you find the courage today to go boldly into your heavenly Father's throne room and ask Him for what you need, for He is a giver of every good and perfect gift that flows from heaven (James 1:17).

My love for you will last forever.

Jeremiah 31:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

What does it mean for God to love us with an everlasting love? My dear friend, Jack Winter, once told me that being loved with an everlasting love meant that there was never a time in all eternity when I wasn't loved. I was loved before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6), I was loved when I was knit together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), and I was loved on the day I was born (Psalm 71:6).

Jesus carried this revelation of His Father's eternal love deep within His being. There was absolutely no question that He knew that His Father had always loved Him. In John 17:24, in His High Priestly prayer to His Father, He makes a very important declaration...

Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (WEB) This was the most important thing on Jesus' radar. That He was loved by the Father with an everlasting love. 

The reality is that we have all been loved as much as Jesus has been loved by the Father (John 17:23), even from the very foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). I believe the more that we become aware of how much love our Father lavishes on us (1 John 3:1), the more we will become convinced that nothing in all creation will ever separate us from that amazing love (Romans 8:38-39).

The truth is that our Father not only loves you, He IS loving you right now. It is my prayer that today, we all might be more aware of the intense, eternal, immeasurable love that God loves us with yesterday, today and forever!