2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Today's Thought: We have a better alternative from what we are now - to be in heaven with the Lord.


There was a question raise on whether what is better to endure the pain of this world or to enter the eternal joys of heaven. Some would rather to endure the pain of this world than to be in heaven.

We should be thankful for the blessings and the provisions of the Lord, His matchless grace, and all the meaningful relationships He has given us. But let us not think that entering heaven is less desirable and wonderful than enduring this world. We must be eager and anticipate the joy of being with our Lord.

Someday there will be no more death, nor sorry nor crying. It is the most blessed alternative to the pain and struggles that we have here on earth. Let us not make less wonderful than this cursed world of ours.

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Today's Thought: A heart that worships the Lord is full of songs and prayers.

In the Old Testament days, the harp has been part of worship. Harps accompanied choirs and congregations. These instruments sent an aroma of praise pleasing to the Lord. In the ritual, the rising smoke brings the prayers of the saints up to the Lord.

We should be reminded that singing and praying are important part of Christian worship. We may not have the voice of the four tenors or may sing off-key, but we must express our adoration and reverence to the Lord through prayer and song.

In our private worship let us keep a heart full of song for the Lord. Let us also fill our public worship with songs of praise and supplication unto the Lord. Let us meet the Lord early in the morning and lift our hearts in praise and worship of Him at end of the day.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Today's Thought: God will test our faith for us to learn how faithful He is.

There was a man who survived a shipwrecked and reached a small, uninhabited island. He prayed to God for rescue, but help did not come. He just settled with a hut out of driftwood. One day as he was looking for food, he found his hut in flames. He was so angry at what God did. He slept without anything to cover him from elements. The next morning when he woke up, he saw rescuers coming down to him. "How did you know I am here?" he asked. "We saw smoke from in here," they said.

Sometimes, we question the wisdom of the Lord in our lives as if we know more than Him. Sometimes, we think that His love is hatred because of the trials we are facing. We failed to understand that our God is always thinking for our good.

The next time you lose hope and faith in God for Him to be there when you need Him, remember that He will always remain true to what He promised: He will never leave us nor forsake us. Just keep on believing that all things work together for good to them who love Him.

Matthew 21:26

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Today's Thought: Christ is the foundation to build upon if we want security of our lives.

Kansai International Airport in Osaka was built on an artificial island. Engineers knew that in the next fifty years, the airport would settle. To mitigate the problem, they had hydraulic jacks into the structures. However, after six years, the airport has reached its 50-year sinking projection.

Most of us are not going to build an airport, but we are building a life. It is a crucial foundation on what to do with the foundation upon which we build. The Lord uses the example of the building on sand and on rock. There are those who build upon sand and they soon found out that their house is collapsing. Only few would really build their house upon rock to secure everything for the future.

Jesus is the rock. If we want to build anything strong and sturdy, we must build upon Him. We must make Christ the foundation of everything and anything in our lives. He is the completeness of our being and He must remain such in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Today's Thought: Even in times of despair, the Lord gives us a new direction.

Hangar 61 in Colorado at the Stapleton Airport was slowly transformed to become a church. A rusty ship in Philadelphia was emerging to be a hotel or a marine museum. Hotels in their old age were renovated to become apartments. The purpose of these changes is to make a structure useful again when its usefulness already expired.

The Lord is giving people in the Bible new direction for them to reach a certain destination. Moses talked with the burning bush and was driven out of shepherding. Jacob had to wrestle with the angel of the Lord for him to become Israel. Of course, there was Paul who had to be blind to find a meaning and direction of his life. The Lord intervened in the lives of these people for them to have a new direction.

When we are in circumstances that would change our lives, our decisions, and our future, let us remember that our God gives us these circumstances for us to arrive at His expected end. Let us hold on to the promises of God and be ready to live the purpose of our lives.