Caution in Taking Advice

Sirach 37:7-15

Anyone can give advice, but some people do so only in their own interest. Be careful when somebody offers you advice. Find out first what his interest in the matter is, because you can be sure that he is thinking primarily of himself. Why should he come out on top instead of you? He will assure you that things look good, and then stand back to watch what happens to you.
Don't ask advice of anyone who doesn't trust you, and don't give advice to anyone who is jealous of you.

Don't ask

a woman for advice about a rival of hers,

a coward  about war,

a merchant about a bargain,

a buyer about selling,

a stingy person about gratitude,

a cruel person about kindness,

a lazy person about work,

a casual worker about finishing a job,

a lazy slave about a difficult task.

Pay no attention to any advice they may give.

Instead, rely on someone who is religious and known to keep the Lord's commands, someone who is sympathetic with you, who will be sorry to see you fail.

And trust your own judgment; no one's advice is more reliable. Sometimes your own intuition can tell you more than seven watchmen on a high tower.

Above all, pray to the Most High that he will show you the right thing to do.

Kind and Cruel Words

Sirach 15:4

Kind words bring Life,

but

Cruel words crash your Spirit.

Self interest

Proverbs 18:1

People who do not get along with others

 are interested only in themselves;

they will disagree with what everyone else knows is right.

The Love of God

Psalms 103:1-5, 19-22

Praise the Lord, my soul!

All my being, praise his holy name!

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and do not forget how kind he is.

He forgives all my sins

and heals all my diseases.

He keeps me from the grave

and blesses me with love and mercy.

He fills my life with good things,

so that I stay young and strong

like an eagle.

The Lord placed his throne in heaven;
he is king over all.

Praise the Lord, you strong and mighty angels,
who obey his commands,
who listen to what he says.
Praise the Lord, all you heavenly powers,
you servants of his, who do his will!
Praise the Lord, all his creatures
in all the places he rules.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Advice

Sirach 15: 22

Get all the advice you can,

and you will Succeed;

without it

you will Fail.

Someone who can help you in time of trouble.

Proverbs 27:10

Do not forget your friends

or

your father's friends.

If you are in trouble,

don't ask your brother for help;

a nearby neighbor can help you more

than a brother who is far away.

Forget the past

Isaiah 43:18-19

But the Lord says,

"Do not cling to events of the past

or dwell on what happened long ago.

Watch for new thing I am going to do.

It is happening already

you can see it now!

I will make a road through the wilderness

and give you streams of water there."

Hearing and Doing

James 1:22-27

Do not deceive yourselves by just Listening to his Word;

instead, put it into Practice.

Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is

like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is.

He takes a good look at himself and

then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like.

But whoever looks closely into the perfect law that sets people free,

who keeps on paying attention to it

and does not simply listen and then forget it,

but puts it into practise

that person will be blessed by God in what in does.

Does anyone think he is religious?
If he does not control his tongue,

his religion is worthless and he deceives himself.

what God the Father considers

to be pure and genuine religion is this;

to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and

to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

The Wedding in Cana

John 2:2-11

Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus's mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine had given out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They are out of win."
"You must not tell me what to do," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."
Jesus' mother then told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold between twenty and thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill these jars with water." They filled them to the brim, and then he told them, "Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast." They took him the water, which now had turned into wine, and he tasted it. He did not know where this wine had come from (but, of course, the servants who had drawn out the water knew); so he called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone else serves the best wine first, and after the guests have drunk a lot, he serves the ordinary wine. But you have kept the best wine until now!"
Jesus performed this first miracle in Cana in Galilee; there he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals, He's waiting and watching;
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, "O sinner, come home!"

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me.
Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon;
Pardon for you and for me.

Why God took a person away.

It's normal that we cannot accept the fact that our love ones left us. Similarily, after my late mother departured, I kept asking myself WHY? A few days after her departure my sister read from the Holy Bible and told us that God does not want her mind and soul to be corrupted as she was living in this sinful world. Eleven months later, this is what I read to confirm what she told us about early departure of our dearest late mom.
Praise the Lord for he so loved our late mother and saved her soul.

The Wisdom of Solomon (4:10-15)
The Example of Enoch
Once there was a man named Enoch who pleased God, and God loved him. While Enoch was still living among sinners, God took him away, so that evil and falsehood could not corrupt his mind and soul. (We all know that people can be so fascinated by evil that they cannot recognize what is good even when they are looking right at it. Innocent people can be so corrupted with desire that they can think of nothing but what they want.)
This man Enoch achieved in a few years time a perfection that other people could never attain in a complete life-time.
The Lord was pleased with Enoch's life and quickly took him out of this wicked world. People were aware of his departure but didn't understand.
They never seemed to learn the lesson that God is kind and merciful to his own people; he protects those whom he has chosen.

This World is not my home

This is the song my dearest late mother loved very much.


This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Death

Sirach 41:1-4

Death! The very thought of it is bitter to someone who is prosperous, living peacefully with his possessions, free of worries, and still able to enjoy his food.

Death! Its sentence is welcome to someone living in poverty, with failing health, very old, burdened with worries, blind, and without hope.

Do not be afraid of death's decree. Remember that it came to those before you and will come to those after you.

The Lord has decreed it for every living creature.

Honor your Father

Sirach 7:27-28

Honor your father with all your heart,

and never forget

how your mother suffered when you were born.

Remember that you owe your life to them.

How can you ever repay them for

all they have done for you?

Know more and hurt more

Ecclesiastes 1:18

The Wiser you are,

the more Worries you have;

the more you Know,

the more it Hurts.

Kindness and Charity

Sirach 18: 15-18

Son, when you help someone,

don't reprimand him at the same time.

When you  make a gift,

don't say anything that hurts.

Your words count for more than

what you give.

Even dew gives some relief

during a spell of hot weather.

Yes, kind words are more effective

than the best of gifts,

and if you are really concerned,

you will give both.

It is stupid to be unkind and insulting.

No one's eyes are going to sparkle at

a gift that you resent giving.

Husband with Good Wife

Sirach 26:1-4

The husband of a good wife is a fortunate man;

he will live twice as long because of her.

A fine wife is a joy to her husband,

and he can live out his years in peace.

A good wife is among the precious blessings given

to those who fear the Lord.

Whether such men are rich or poor,

they will be happy and always look cheerful.

A man with an Evil Spirit

Luke 4:33-37, Mark 1:21-28
In the synagogue was a man who had the spirit of an evil demon in him; he screamed out in a loud voice, "Ah! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are; you are God's holy messenger!"
Jesus ordered the spirit, "Be quiet and come out of the man!" The demon threw the man down in front of them and went out of him without doing him any harm.
The people were all amazed and said to one another, "What kind of words are these? With authority and power this man gives orders to the evil spirits, and they come out!"
And the report about Jesus spread everywhere in that region.

God is Love

1 John 4:7-12

Dear friends, let us love one another,

because love comes from God.

Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God,

for God is Love.

And God showed his love for us

by sending his only Son into the world,

so that we might have life through him.

This is what love is;

it is not that we have loved God,

but that he loved us

and sent his Son

to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.

Dear friends, if this is how God loved us,

then we should love one another.

No one has ever seen God,

but if we love one another,

God lives in union with us,

and his love is made perfect in us.

He is Exalted / Great is the Lord

He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
And I will praise Him
He is exalted
Forever exalted
And I will praise His Name

He is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and earth
Rejoice in His holy Name
He is exalted the King is exalted on high

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her.
When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, "Don't cry." Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped.
Jesus said, "Young man! Get up, I tell  you!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They all were filled with fear and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said. "God has come to save his people!" This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.

True Friendship

Proverbs 24:26

An honest answer

is a sign of

True Friendship

Test that you experienced

1 Corinthians 10:13

Every test that you have experienced

is the kind that normally comes to people.

But God keeps his promise,

and he will not allow you to be tested

beyond your power to remain firm;

at the time you are put to test;

he will give you strength to endure it,

and so provide you with a way out.

God's Love

Isaiah 54:7-8

"For one brief moment I left you;

with deep love

I will take you back.

I turned away angry for only a moment,

but I will show you

my love forever."

So says the Lord who saves you.

主耶稣的爱

夜深人静，窗外雷雨交加，

脑海深处在考虑明天是否要去教堂？

真没用! 怎么会那么想.

你也会那么想吗？

人类对主耶稣的爱是如此淡薄的吗?

已完全清醒而难以入睡,

静静地思考到底谁给我的爱最多?

原来只有主耶稣的爱是永恒不變的。

人的爱都是带有条件，有限的，
更经不起时间考验而消失..

感谢主的教导.

清晨雨终于停了，还是去教堂感谢及赞美主吧!

Unfaithful Wife.

Proverbs 30:20

This is how an unfaithful wife acts;

she commits adultery,

takes a bath,

and says,

"But I haven't done anything wrong!"

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

Luke 9:37-43, Matthew 17:14-20, Mark 9:14-29

The next day Jesus and the three disciples went down from the hill, and a large crowd met Jesus. A man shouted from the crowd, "Teacher! I beg you, look at my son-my only son! A spirit attacks him with a sudden shout and throws him into a fit, so that he foams at the mouth; it keeps on hurting him and will hardly let him go! I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."
Jesus answered, "How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?" Then he said to the man, "Bring your son here."
As the boy was coming, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a fit. Jesus gave a command to the evil spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God.

Laughter and Sorrow

Proverbs 14:13

Laughter may hide Sadness.

When Happiness is gone,

Sorrow is always there.

Bad Wife

Sirach 26:7-9

A bad wife is like a yoke that doesn't fit.

Trying to control her is like holding a scorpion.

A drunken woman is an infuriating sight;

she can't conceal her shameless behaviour.

You can tell an unfaithful wife

by the bold and flirting look in her eyes.

The Capable Wife

Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-29

How hard it is to find a capable wife!

She is worth far more than jewels!

Her husband puts his confidence in her,

and he will never be poor.

As long as she lives,

she does him good and never harm.

She speaks with a gentle wisdom.

Her children show their appreciation,

and her husband praises her.

He says,

"Many women are good wives,

but you are the best of them all."

Women

Sirach 25: 13-15

No Wound

                    is as serious as wounded love.

No Troubles

                    are as serious as the troubles that women cause.

No Sufferings

                    are worse than the sufferings caused by people who hate you.

No Revenge

                    is worse than revenge taken by an enemy.

No Poison

                    is deadlier than the poison of a snake,

No Anger

                    is deadlier than the anger of a woman.

Nagging Wife

Proverbs 27:15-16

A nagging wife

is like water going

drip-drip-drip

on a rainy day.

How can you keep her quiet?

Have you ever tried to stop the wind

or ever tried to hold a handful of oil?

Testing and Tempting

James 1:12

Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials,

because when he succeeds in passing such a test,

he will receive as his reward the life which

God has promised to those who love him.

If a person is tempted by such trials,

he must not say,

"This temptation comes from God."

For God cannot be tempted by evil,

and he himself tempts no one.

But a person is tempted when he is drawn away

and trapped by his own evil desire.

Then his evil desire conceives and gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.

We are here to praise you

We are here to praise You
Lift our hearts and sing
We are here to give You
The best that we can bring

And it is our love
Rising from our hearts
Everything within us cries
I love You Lord

Jesus Heals an Official's Son

John 4:46-53
Then Jesus went back to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. A government official was there whose son was sick in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to go to Capernaum and heal his son, who was about to die.
Jesus said to him, "None of you will ever believe unless you see miracles and wonders."
"Sir," replied the official, "come with me before my child dies."
Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live!"
The man believe Jesus' words and went. On his way home, his servants met him with the news, "Your boy is going to live!"
He asked them what time it was when his son got better, and they answered, "It was one o'clock yesterday afternoon when the fever left him." Then the father remembered that it was at that very hour when Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." So he and all his family believed.

The Lord's Plan for His People

Isaiah 48: 17-19

"I am the Lord your God,

the one who wants to teach

you for your own good

and direct you in the way

you should go."

"If only you had listened to my commands!

Then blessings would have flowed for you

like a stream that never goes dry.

Victory would have come to you

like the waves that roll on the shore.

Your descendants would be as

numerous as grains of sand,

and I would have made sure

they were never destroyed."

Friends and Brothers

Proverbs 17:17

Friends always show their love.

What are brothers for if not to share trouble?

The Healing at the Pool

John 5:1-9
After this, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a religious festival. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches; in Hebrew it is called Bethzatha. A large crowd of sick people were lying on the porches-the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been sick for such a long time; so he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
The sick man answered, "Sir, I don't have anyone here to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first."
Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk." Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking.

God's Promise of Help and Healing

Isaiah  57: 14-19

The Lord says, "Let my people return to me.

Remove every obstacle from their path!

Build the road and make it ready!"

"I am the high and holy God, who lives forever.

I live in a high and holy place,

but I also live with people who are humble and repentant.,

so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

I gave my people life,

and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever.

I was angry with them because of their sin and greed,

and so I punished them and abandoned them.

But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way."

"I have seen how they acted,

but I will heal them.

I will lead them and help them,

and I will comfort those who mourn.

I offer peace to all, both near and far!

I will heal my people."

Majesty

Word of courage

Isaiah 35:3-6

Give strength to hands that are tired,

and to knees that tremble with weakness,

Tell everyone who is discouraged,

"Be strong and don't be afraid!

God is coming to your rescue,

coming to punish your enemies."

The blind will be able to see,

and the deaf will hear.

The lame will leap and dance,

and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.

Fathers and Daughters

Sirach 42: 9-10

Although he will not let his daughter know it,

a father will lie awake at night worrying about her.

If she is young,

he worries that she might not get married.

If she is already married,

he worries about her happiness.

If she is a virgin,

he worries that she might be seduced and become pregnant while living in his house.

If she is married,

he worries that she might be unfaithful, or she might not be able to have children.

Jesus Heals Ten Men

How many times when we are in trouble, or when we are sick, we will humbly ask Jesus to help us. After we resolve our problem or when we are healed, we totally forget about him just like the other 9 men.
Dear Jesus, help me to remember that you are the only one who always help me and may I remember to sing praises to you all the time.

Luke 17:11-19
As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. They stood at a distance and shouted, "Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!"
Jesus saw them and said to them, "Go and let the priests examine you."

On the way they were made clean.
When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself to the ground at Jesus' feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan.

Jesus spoke up, "There were ten men who were healed, where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?"

And Jesus said to him, "Get up and go, your faith has made you well."