Taste the Lord and see He is good

It is hard to see God's goodness when everything in your life is down and falling apart, but for those who trust and persevere, they will taste the Lord and know He is good.

For awhile we suffer, but God works for the good of everything.



Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8


Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12


And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

This means tremendous joy to you, even though at present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident--it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold, and gold, as you know, even though it is ultimately perishable, must be purified by fire.
1 Pet 1:6-7

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,"
Acts 14:22 (extracted)

Proverbs 9:8-9

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Philippians 2:3 (KJV)

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

God upholds us with His right hand

When we're overwhelmed with our troubles, it only takes us to be willing to offer up our hand unto Him, to lift our eyes to Him and reach out our hand crying out to Him "save us!", and He will stoop down from above with His mighty hand to save us, to carry us out of the miry depths. He will uphold us with his right hand and cleanse us from our sins, make us whole, make us new. He is our ever present pillar of hope, our source of strength and our deliverer. He alone is Lord, our God.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13

Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.
Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.

Psalm 69:14-15

A light at the end

When the world gets dark (around you), there's always a glimmer of light at the end.

 Hold unto that light, and you won't get lost in your way.

Being kind to everyone, without showing favourtism

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
2 Timothy 2:24

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
James 2:8-9

Martin Luther’s Definition of Faith

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. ``Faith is not enough,''they say, ``You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.'' They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ``I believe.'' That is what they think true faith is. But, because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this `faith,' either.

Instead, faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do


["An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans," Luther's German Bible of 1522, translated by Robert E. Smith from Dr. Martin Luther's Vermischte Deutsche Schriften, Johann K. Irmischer, ed. (Erlangen: Heyder and Zimmer, 1854), 63:124-125].

Amos 3:3

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies--make straight your way before me. Psalm 5:8

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

Our life belong to The Lord

God is the one who gave each man life and a soul. The man was born unto this world but instead of seeking Him, they went along their ways and forget their maker. He tries to control his life and with his own means he strive all his life towards his goals and desires.

We should remember that God is the one who give us a life, and that we owe our everything to Him. We should allow Him to take His rightful place as the one in control of our life, surrendering our all to Him and let Him lead us in His will for us in this world whom He has placed us in and give Him thanks for everyday of our life for His goodness and grace.

Let us live a God-centred life instead of a self-seeking life.

Ask< Seek< Knock

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. NLT Matthew 7:7

Ask with confidence and humility.

Seek with care and application.

Knock with earnestness and perseverance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Psalm 32:8,10

God is near

When i read the bible, God is mentioned in the ancient times of how He formed the earth and also revelaed Himself unto the prophets and did many miracles and wonders. Christ then came 2000 years ago to bring salvation to mankind. it ends with revelations of how God will judge the world and the people. It seems God is not that visible and real to men these days... Science took over and men cringe and shun away from God. But what we have now is the Bible which is widely available to most men on earth. Unlike the past where it is hard for someone to read God's words (it is only printed and available to the rich or to the priests and not available to the common people) it is made so accessible to men these days. Why do such big miracles cease to happen these days (other than reports here and there of miracles of the dead rising and the lame walk but im talking abt huge miracles such as the parting of the red sea or fire came down from heaven)? why arent there a prophet in this times rising against ungodliness and is a champion of God performing His wonders? Is it because different time calls for different approach? Has God become more silent and is doing His work in a more hush hush way?

There was war last time and people are warring against one another. The world now calls for peace and is now busy earning money and becoming prosperous instead of bloodshed and control of territory. I forgot whats my point... but anyway, i was thinking God is showing Himself in obvious signs and wonders in the past but has now (i think) use another approach. Its not a coincidence that there are many people turning to God and conversion rate is at a much higher rate (in this end times). People who come to accept God into their lives WILL experience Him and know He is real. Its like God is doing this so that he will make the unbelieving ponder about Him but has shown Himself real and faithful to those who took the step of faith and allow Him into their lives. The world hides Him and shuns away from Him trying to cover Him, but He is the Truth and the Light. He is Lord Almighty. it is written that the world will go on this way.. its the signs of birth pain and it groans for the day itself to happen where God will be revealed in all His glory.

Until then, lets continue doing the good work and not give up, for we know that if we persevere, He who is faithful will come and deliver us and He will not delay.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright--but the righteous will live by his faith-- Habakkuk 2:3-4

Author of my life

God is the Author of my life. May His will be done, not mine, amen.

Learning to surrender my all to God. My life belong to His and my salvation is in Him alone.

Seeking God

I now realise that it is important to seek God in everything before doing them especially for important things in your life. Without God's guidance and blessing and juz doing it by ur own strength, wisdom, and understanding may result in a catastrophe. But how do u make it a habit to always go to the Father before venturing forth? Now thats one way i have to grow in..

Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I remember...

i remember Pastor Jeff said this before..

u say to urself "i cant i cant i cant"

the fact is you really cannot.

But in Him you can.

learning to Rely on God, to Trust in Him always, not letting my Faith waiver and He will see me through...

Stop, Pray, Listen, Obey.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

God intercedes for us

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Romans 8:34

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:25

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7&version=NIV

God delights in our weakness

God delights in using the weak to shame the strong and the proud. The weaker we are, the more we need to depend on God for He is able and will deliver us.

¹⁷Christ did not send me to baptize people, but he sent me to tell the good news. I must not tell it with the clever words of this world. That would not show what the death of Christ on a cross truly means.

¹⁸When people who are turning away from God hear about the cross, they say, `That is foolish!' But for us who are being saved, the cross is the power God uses to save us.

¹⁹God says in the holy writings, `I will fool the wise people. I will bring to nothing the understanding of the clever people.'

²⁰Where are your wise people, the men who know books, the men who like to talk about the things of this world? God has shown that the clever things of this world are nothing.

²¹God is wise. But the people of the world were not wise enough to know God. So he chose to save people who believe the good news that we tell them, even though the good news may seem to be foolish.

²²The Jews say, `We must see a sign.' Those who are not Jews say, `We want something we can understand.'

²³But we tell people about Christ who died on a cross. The leaders of the Jews do not like this, and those who are not Jews laugh at it.

²⁴But some have been called by God. They are chosen, both Jews and other people. Christ is God's power to save them. This shows how wise he is.

²⁵When God seems foolish, he is more wise than men. When God seems weak, he is stronger than men.

²⁶My brothers, remember what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were wise by the way people look at it. Not many of you had power. Not many of you came from a family with a big name.

²⁷But God chose things that look foolish to the people of the world. He has used those foolish things to put the wise people to shame. God chose the weak things to put to shame the strong people.

²⁸And God chose the small things, things that people despise. Yes, he chose even the things which seem to be nothing. He did this to destroy the big things.

²⁹He did this so that people would not be proud before God.

³⁰You are God's children through Christ Jesus. Christ came from God and made us wise. He put us right with God. He made us holy. He set us free from our wrong ways.

³¹Just as the holy writings say, `No one should be proud of anything but of the Lord.'

1 Cor 1:17-31

“God does not need your strength: he has more than enough of power of his own. He asks your weakness: he has none of that himself, and he is longing, therefore, to take your weakness, and use it as the instrument in his own mighty hand. Will you not yield your weakness to him, and receive his strength?” – C.H. Spurgeon

“The farmer does not sift his wheat because he dislikes it, but just the opposite; he sifts it because it is precious. And thou, child of God, thy trials and changes, and constant catastrophes, and afflictions, are no proofs of want of affection on the part of the Most High, but the very contrary.” – C.H. Spurgeon

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Unity and Diversity in the Body

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

1 John 4:7-21

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ 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 them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

God's sacrifice so that we may live

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 3:16

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Happy Good Friday my dear brothers and sisters! May we remember our Lord's sacrifice on the cross for our sins and not take lightly of his death. Live a victorious life!

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be”

Marcel Pagnol quotes (French Writer, Producer and Film Director, 1895-1974)

for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Tobit 6:17b KJV with apocrypha (extracted)

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 18:22

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.

Psalm 128:3-4

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.

Proverbs 12:4a

The 12 works of our guardian angel by St. Bonaventure

I came across this while searching on St Bonaventure on my previous post and was intrigued to it. Indeed when i read it i cant help but find it true. I do not want to go over debating the fact whether a guardian angel is assigned to us but i believe in these verse:

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways Psalm 91:13

(i have posted on this verse before and some argued it only refers to on Jesus but it was pointed out that this applies to all of God's people whom He loves)

and:

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:7

we can argue over whether a single angel was assigned to each one of us anot but i do believe our Lord does send forth His angels to us, be it for protection, guidance or prophetic message and warnings. I do also seem to realise that these are the works of the Holy Spirit as well.

http://www.franciscan-archive.org/misc/angel.pdf

St Bonaventure highlighting the futile effort of only human effort and not God's graces and support. Nothing can be gained supernaturally unless humility, devotion and repentance are practiced. Pray attentively as you think about Bonaventure's quote about our inadequacies

reading without repentance,

knowledge without devotion,

research without the impulse of wonder,

prudence without the ability to surrender to joy,

action divorced from religion,

learning sundered from love,

intelligence without humility,

study unsustained by divine grace,

thought without the wisdom inspired of God.

- St. Bonaventure

During this period there were many reforms and renewals being encouraged by the church and Bonaventure attempted to pacify both the right and the left. He governed his Order for seventeen years and has been justly called its second founder. He also wrote about his Seraphic Founder's life, St Francis of Assisi.

This cordial and warm gentleman attended significant church councils, preached at sessions and gave his all to the church whenever the Holy Father requested his assistance. In fact, he died attending one of these sessions.

For more:

http://www.doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com/BO.html

Proverbs 12:16

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. ... A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.