Wednesday Reflection, September 23, 2020

He will swallow up death forever. Isaiah 25:8

Victory in Death

Greetings friends, what troubling times we are living in. Many among us and the world over are longing to die, others don’t want to die meanwhile some will tell you that they’d rather die than endure or accept certain things.

This way of thinking ought not to be so for the believer. In Isaiah 25, the chapter opens with the prophet exalting, praising and declaring that all the Lord has said is righteous and true. This was his response to God’s final judgement of the world.

Imagine that, instead of becoming preoccupied with worry Isaiah began to offer praise and worship. Each time he recalled another blessing, another victory, another promise from God he praised evenmore.

He spoke about the Lord destroying cities and strangers who attempted to destroy His people by speaking ill of them. Then he mentions the preparations God has made for those who serve Him. Promises of feasts and no worry or pain. Somewhere where there will be no drama or heartache and definitely no defamation of character.

In today’s watchword, “He will swallow up death forever” Isaiah 25:8 stands as a reminder, a promise, blessed assurance to every believer that God’s plans and purpose for us His children must not be taken lightly. His promises still stand and in His time and in His dwelling place, we shall experience the fullfillment of the promise in the resurrection of believers.

Since this promise was given to them that seek and knock, we must not wait for the gifts of God to fall from heaven into idle hands; we must plough the earth, cultivate the garden, pasture the flocks. -John Amos Comenius

Until next week, continue to hold fast to God’s unwavering promises.

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Tuesday Reflection – September 22, 2020
How Long, O Lord?

One of the most frequent questions being asked these days is ‘how long’ or ‘how much longer?’ How much longer will we have to endure this virus and the effects? How much longer until we can go back to church? How long will we have to do school from home for I am already tired of it? How long until there is a vaccine? How long until I can work again? How long until we go back to being normal? The question of how long is timeless and often used. Not only is it a quest for information but the response has the potential to settle the mind. In today’s Watchword it is David who asks the ‘how long’ question of God. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? Psalm 13: 1

There’s no certainty as to what was happening in David’s life at the writing of this Psalm, but we note that he was feeling neglected and abandoned by God. It somehow felt as if God had withdrawn from him and was no longer keeping his promise and covenant. David felt as if the lovingkindness of God which we read of in Psalm 63 was no longer there. This feeling of abandonment by God that David was experiencing was not a good one and he needed to have the assurance from God that it would not be forever. He knew that he could not make it for much longer, could not survive, without God’s presence. Thus he pleads with God, how long, O Lord? Four times he asks this question in the Psalm. How long will you forget me? How long will you stay away from me? How long will I be led by a sorrowful heart? How long will my enemies have the upper hand? This, friends is the cry of a lonely suffering soul. In Revelations 6: 10, following the opening of the fifth seal, John saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar of heaven. Their cry is the same question of pain and anguish. How long O Lord? How long until this comes to an end? How long will evil continue to overpower us? How long until you establish your holy kingdom and reign? When the soul is in anguish, it longs for the establishment of the rule of God for when God takes full control, evil will be destroyed.

Since the beginning of 2020, many of us have silently breathed the question: How long, O Lord? Others have tearfully questioned, how many more, how long, O Lord? Still others have screamed, how long, O Lord, how long? Dear friends, God always has an answer for our how long questions. You see in our timing we want God to act in the here and now but it suits us to remember that God does not see as we do nor does he act according to our desires. In 2 Peter 3: 9 we are reminded that: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.We need to realize that God has a plan and He is working it out for our good. David concludes the Psalm with such a realization. He decides to wait and to trust God. ‘But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.’ In David’s despair he remembered God’s mercy and it gave him peace for the present as well as hope for the future. My prayer for us today is that even as we lament, we will remember the goodness and mercies of God and be assured that He has not forgotten nor abandoned us. He is in the midst of our storm and he gently guides our vessel to safety. Amen.

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – September 21, 2020

When God Seems Silent

I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Psalm 88:8-9

One of the most difficult seasons we can endure as believers is when we feel God is silent, especially when we are in the midst of challenging situations. When it seems everything is going wrong and help seems to be nowhere in sight, it leaves us feeling forgotten, dejected and rejected. Our major frustrations from these seasons come not from simply being in this pit, but thinking that God’s silence means his absence. 

The author of this Psalm identifies with this situation and writes about been through this heartbreaking situation. Psalm 88 appears to be one of the saddest and most dismal chapters in the Bible. The writer expresses feelings of being overwhelmed, cut off, forgotten, grieved, rejected, terrified, despaired and imprisoned. Worst of all, he is crying out to God wondering where God is in all his suffering. The Psalmist ends saying, “darkness is my closest friend” (vs. 18).

However, as Christina Patterson points us, the hope this Psalm offers is not in its ending, but in its beginning. In verse 1 he says, “Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” Before he lays out a long list of everything that is going wrong, the Psalmist acknowledges that there is hope for salvation in the Lord, even when God appears silent. We learn that just because God is silent does not mean he is absent, and it certainly does not mean he is not working behind the scenes on our behalf. We must not be deceived by the darkness in our life, it is never greater than where our help comes from. Even when we feel we are in the darkest of places, the writer of Psalm 88 assures that God is there with us.

Four times in this Psalm the writer calls out to God. There was clearly no one else worth reaching out to. The writer must have grabbed a hold of God’s precious promises and desperately clung to them. He knew of God’s endless love and his promise to never leave us nor forsake us. We learn that God is right in the darkness with us and he even walks through the valley of the shadow of death with us (Psalm 23:4). We may not always feel or hear God, but we can always believe his promise is greater than our darkness.

Amazingly, this dark season pushed the Psalmist closer to God. He was not calling out to another person or thing for help. He called out to the one he knew could save. This Psalm reminds us that our dark seasons do not serve to show us that God is absent, but how desperately we need his presence. The Psalmist felt his life was near death so he cries out to the very One who raises the dead. He does not look for salvation from people or things, but from the giver of salvation and the fountain of abundant and eternal life.  Our dark seasons have a purpose. Sometimes the purpose is for us to rely less on self and more on God. I believe this is a sobering lesson to learn in the midst of Covid-19. There is purpose in our pain and hope in our dark season to push us to the light.

Patterson reminds us that sometimes God empties us so he can fill us back up. Sometimes he is silent so we can learn to listen. Sometimes God allows darkness so we can see that he is the true light of our lives.

 Jermaine Gibson 

Friday Reflection
September 11, 2020
Pray!

Today, as we reflect on this passage of scripture, may our souls be blessed and our hearts encouraged:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord , and listen to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears”
Psalms 39:12 (A)
https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.39.12.AMP

Background: The psalmist was in a place of deep affliction and as such had to make an appeal to the Lord for help. Hear him in verse 10 of the same chapter. “Remove Your plague from me; I am wasting away because of the conflict and opposition of Your hand”.

Application: Let us go through the text line by line that we may understand what the psalmist is saying.

1. Hear my prayer, O Lord
   What prayer you might ask? The prayer was prayed that He (God) would remove the affliction from him ( the psalmist) that laid so hard and heavy upon him. He was becoming weary and weak. Sometimes we too are afflicted and we must PRAY. We cannot reach out to the Lord in any other way. Prayer is our road way.
2. And listen to my cry
   This shows the distress he was in, and the forceful expression of his strong feelings with which he put up his petition to the Lord. Listen! he exclaimed… Sometimes we pray but we are not forceful in expressing our distress to God in our time of need. We ought to be; drastic times calls for drastic measures.
3. Do not be silent at my tears
   The psalmist tears were plenty. They were shed for at least two reasons. Firstly, through the forcefulness of the affliction, and secondly, in his fervent prayers to God. Do you cry long river of tears when you are going through hardship? Do you cry long rivers of tears when you are seeking God for help in these hard times? My answer is yes and I am sure some of you have had similar experiences.
   Tears are a language that God understands.

Prayer
Dear loving God, bold I approach your throne this morning. You are a God of deliverance and a God of peace. I petition your throne of grace this morning and I bring my own afflictions as well as others. Especially that of Covid 19 and all its effects.God we cry unto you, for you are our ROCK and defense. Hear our prayers Lord, listen to our cry and do not be silent to our tears. Amen.

BLESSINGS: Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Thursday Reflection September 10, 2020

The sign of God’s Covenant

God said, “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

Good day friends!

I pray that you are keeping safe during this time of the Pandemic in Jamaica. Remember to do the essentials as we protect ourselves as best as possible.

Have you ever looked in the sky and seen a rainbow? It’s quite beautiful isn’t it? This rainbow was established hundreds of thousands of years ago. It was established during the time of Noah in Genesis chapter 9. God destroyed the world during the days of Noah, because of the sins of the world. God did this through a flood. Only Noah, his immediate family and two of every kind of animal were saved on the ark. The floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days before it gradually began to recede. Noah lived in the ark for approximately one year before the earth was dry. Upon God’s command he left the ark. Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord. It is during this period that God makes a covenant with Noah.

Chapter 9 confirms the covenant made by God. The Lord gave Noah instructions how to live. It is at this time the Lord confirmed his covenant with Noah and the earth. God promised not to destroy all earth with floodwaters again. He then gave a sign in the form of a rainbow as a reminder of his covenant. Friends, there are a few points I want to highlight from this text and I encourage you to read the text especially from verse 8-13. The first point is:

1. God initiates Covenant (vs. 9)

Hear the Lord in verse 9 of this text, “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you.” Noah didn’t initiate the Covenant, it is the Lord who looked down and created this covenant. God did this, because of his love for us. It might seem ironic that I would say that after He just destroyed the earth with flood, but we must remember God did so because of the sins of the people. Even though He did this God still love his creation, which is why He made the Covenant, so that He would not wipe out creation again with flood because of our sins.

2. God’s covenant is for the earth (vs13)

Even though the Lord was speaking to the lone surviving family, God was also making a covenant with the entire earth. It’s interesting how God’s covenant with one person spur over to incorporate others. God’s covenant with Abraham of a chosen nation spur over to the entire world. God’s covenant with David to establish his throne forever has impacted us for now we are royalty, because of Jesus. So God’s covenant is not only for us, but for the benefit of others as well.

3. God gives a reminder of his covenant (vs 13)

The covenant is a reminder that God will not destroy the world again with floodwaters. The rainbow in the sky that is seen primarily after it rains is a reminder that God is keeping his covenant. It makes me wonder what other signs God is giving to remind us of his various covenants, promises, agreements that He made with us. The Lord promise never to leave us nor forsake us. What are the signs that God is keeping this covenant? Oh yea, God led us to a scripture of encouragement when we were down… Oh and He came through for us when we had absolutely nothing… Let’s not forget He protected us from the snare of the devil… When everything was going wrong He gave us peace. Friends, the point I am making is that there are many signs and evidences around us that God is keeping His covenant with us. Let us open our eyes to them.

Until next week look for the signs of God’s covenant

Shalom
Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, September 9, 2020

God Redeems the Captive

Good day friends, today’s reflection is transporting us to the past, back to the period of the Babylonian exile. In particular, Isaiah 47. Babylon is puffed up with pride yet the prophet opens the chapter telling us of a city stripped of all its glory and likened to an embarrassed woman.

Babylon had captured Judah and Jerusalem and subjected them to great humiliation. The Lord God speaks through the prophet, telling them that the same treatment the captor meted out to the captives would be returned to them. It is explained that contrary to the Babylonian thought that they had captured Judah and Jerusalem, they were only able to do so because the Lord allowed it. Brothers and sisters, there must be no comfort or security in arrogance and self righteousness.

Babylon was so puffed up with pride, they forgot that the people they held captive belonged to the Most High God. They were a wicked people who thought that the more they dwelled or entertained wickedness the more powerful they would become. In today’s watchword, Isaiah 47:13-14, the Lord continues to challenge the babylonian stargazers and sorcerers, “let those stand up and save you, who gazed at the stars and at each new moon predict what shall befall you. See, they are like stubble, the fire consumes them.”

My friends, there are many of us who have or are even now are being held captive by a number of issues, thoughts and concerns. Some of us represent the great, beautiful and powerful city of Babylon in our own lives. Others may be likened to Judah and Jerusalem. Chosen, and set apart yet unwilling to flee or deny our sinful nature. We have fallen prey to a myriad of things and people all because of sin.

2 Timothy 2:19 reminds each of us, ‘nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “the Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Until next week, I borrow the words of N. Macleod, “some will love you, some will hate you, some will flatter, some will slight; turn from these and look above you: Trust in God and do the right.”

Amen

Tuesday Reflection – September 08, 2020
The Abundance of God’s Goodness and Mercy

I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not hear the expressions or phrases: ‘If God was like us!’ and ‘Thank God that He doesn’t treat us as we deserve’. Today’s watchword is a reminder of those saying and may well reflect the origin of the thought. ‘You shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or corrupt deeds. Ezekiel 20: 44

In Ezekiel’s vision of chapter 20, God points out to the prophet, His case against Israel. God was not happy with the apostacy of Israel. They had turned away from God to idols, and they were constantly comparing themselves to other nations. As God’s people they knew that they should not worship any idols for God was a jealous God visiting the iniquities of the parents upon the children. Ex 20: 5. They knew that child sacrifices were hated by God. They knew that any act of sacrifice or indeed any act of worship to God from an unrepentant and sinful heart was despised by God yet they continued in their sinful state with their false hope in other gods. 

God’s response to this double standard by His people was promised judgment. They would face the harshness of God’s judgement and it would be executed right in front of the very nations they were seeking to be like. Note however that God’s judgement was not with the aim of destroying Israel, but in order that they might be restored to their covenant relationship with God. It was God’s intention to use this judgment on them to remind them who they were, to remind them of their special place in God’s heart, to turn them away from idolatry and back to God. That dear friends is the abundance of the goodness and mercy of God. 

Today God continues to reach out to us in similar ways, causing us to endure hardships, to undergo trials and tribulations, all with the aim of restoring us to Himself. The doctrinal text from Luke 6: 35 reminds us that God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Imagine then God favor to the righteous. If God was like us, He would punish us as we deserve, causing us to suffer for our sins and for those of our fore parents. Fortunately for us that is not God. In fact God does not want us to be lost and will do everything to save us, even when we do not deserve it. God declared in Eze 18: 20 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! God is willing to pardon and restore us if we are willing to accept our sinful state, repent of our failures, and seek his forgiveness. In this way He calls us to live according to the new covenant we have received through the blood of Christ. This, dear friends, is the abundance of the goodness and mercies of God. 

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – September 07, 2020
Our Amazing God!

Great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of mortals, rewarding all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings. Jeremiah 32:19

Whenever I read Jeremiah 32, I can’t help but marvel over again at the mysteriously awesomeness of God. Isn’t it amazing what God tells us to do in the midst of life’s challenges. Jeremiah learnt this firsthand for after the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem, he was thrown in prison. King Zedekiah didn’t like that Jeremiah told people that the Babylonians would succeed in conquering the city that Zedekiah and others tried so hard to defend. Zedekiah also could not deal with Jeremiah’s assertion that he would also be captured. It was this message of defeat that landed Jeremiah behind bars.

In the midst of this reality, God told Jeremiah that his cousin Hanamel would visit him in prison and ask him to buy a field in their hometown of Anathoth on the basis of the right of redemption – that the land was to remain in the family, and must therefore be offered to Jeremiah before anyone else. Note that Jeremiah was to purchase this land that was already under Babylonian control, thus utterly worthless. Though it didn’t make sense, Jeremiah did as the Lord instructed for he was convinced that it was the word of the Lord. When God’s instruction is followed by the open door, we need not hesitate.

With Baruch being told to preserve and hide the title deed and details of the transaction so that they could be read later and God’s declaration that houses, fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land, this was God’s promise, and the purpose for an otherwise foolish property purchase. The property purchase from prison is an expression of confident trust in God’s promise that the land would be possessed again. God would restore his people.

Jeremiah doesn’t understand it all so he prays to God. Today’s Watchword is part of this prayer. Jeremiah recognizes and praises the great power of God, confessing the truth that there is nothing too hard for God to do. He declares, ‘Great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of mortals, rewarding all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings.’ Jeremiah affirms the greatness and might of God, as well as his infinite knowledge, his justice and judgment.

Such is our Jehovah God! This God is faithful and true and does wonders in our lives. He is with us along life’s treacherous journey and promises to take us safely to a victorious end. Paul reminds us through his challenge to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:10) “We have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.”

Jermaine Gibson 

Friday Reflection
September 4, 2020

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you;
Numbers 6:22‭-‬24 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/num.6.22-24.NIV

Good morning Friends,
Happy Friday! 🌞

This is the day that the Lord as made let us rejoice and be glad in it.. Today’s reflection is one that will be short and to the point. It is high times in our country, Jamaica, and we need all the encouragement we can possibly get from the word of God.

Yesterday Jamaicans went to polls in the face of the Covid 19 pandemic. We are expecting that the numbers will increase in the next 14 days as some persons did not follow the protocols issued by the Health Ministry.

It is frighten to think that the death toll in our small island has passed the 20 mark. Today I am encouraging you to keep safe and remain watchful and prayerful.

As the Lord instructed Moses in Numbers chapter six, to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel. So has he instructed me to pronounce a blessing on you, your family and the entire Jamaican family:
“The Lord bless you and keep you”
It might seem like few words, but believe friends this verrrrrrrrry short group of words are most likely to be what will take us through this pandemic!.

If the Lord blesses us then we will never lack! And if he keeps us we will never go weary!

One love friend! Go with God and have a blessed weekend!

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, September 2, 2020

All of Creation has a duty

Greetings friends, in today’s reflection we will look at a call to worship and it’s significance to all of creation. From the very Genesis God created all things on the earth for His pleasure and that pleasure is generated from the praise of all he created. Genesis 1:318

It would be remiss of anyone to think himself more highly than he ought, likewise, if one neglects to give honor where it is due; then therein lies a grave error for whilst the created reflects the creator it must never be thought that what is created is superior or even more amplified than its maker.

In today’s watchword, Psalm 148:3,5 “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! For he commanded, and they were created.” The psalmist calls for worship, reverence, for honor to be given to Jehovah. In the entire chapter of Psalm 148 all of creation is called upon to give praise to the creator. Nothing and no one is left out.

The sun, moon and stars and all majestic wonders yet none of them can compare to the awesomeness of their creator -God. Brothers and sisters, daily we face tests and trials or probably experience very good periods of peace and quiet but how much of our days, how much of our time is dedicated or set aside for praise?

We set aside time to meet with friends and communicate with loved ones near and far; yet much of the time we ought to spend simply offering praise and just giving thanks to God gets taken up by the things of the world that seemingly consume all our time, energy and effort.

Where ever you find yourself today, just begin to praise the Lord, open your mouth, lift your hands, stomp your feet! Whatever it is that you do, however it is that you are led to praise, may the Lord inhabit your praise and may the flame never be put out.

Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and we’re created.

Until next week, keep praising the Lord!

Amen

Kerone Lamoth