Reflections

  Deliverance and a new future Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 30: 1 - 10 Jeremiah 30: 3 The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land, I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.” DEVOTION Are we currently in a plateau of life? Tired and not sure what is next. No light ahead in the tunnel. No hopeful voice to be heard. Everything seems monotonous with no change in sight. Most, if not all, of us have been through this valley and it is not pleasant. We pray, fast, keep positive thoughts but nothing seems to make a difference. Perhaps sin has carried us too far. Maybe there is a place that is beyond God’s reach and an end to His grace. Anxious thoughts… Disturbing thoughts grip all of us.  Israel might have had similar thoughts. A group of people who had been chosen by God… Who witnessed God’s extraordinary providence through the ten plagues, parting of the red sea, heavenly rain of ma...

  Hope of renewal in hardships Bible Reading:   Psalms 126 Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. DEVOTION Tears can represent a wide range of emotions and experiences like sadness, grief, joy, relief, and compassion. In spiritual context tears can be seen as a manifestation of God’s grace, allowing individuals to connect with the divine God and find solace in difficult times. In our personal life, tears are often associated with prayer, repentance, deliverance and spiritual growth.  Psalm 126 is one of the 15 songs of Ascend (Psalms 120-134). The Israelites sang as they ascended to Jerusalem annually for three festivals: the festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest and the Festival of Shelters (Deut.16:16). They were captive under the Babylonian rule for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11). Psalm 126 reflects upon the past, present and future of the Israelites when they returned from the bondage of slavery and sin due to disobedience a...