Job 6 - 9 (5th Jan)

It is easier to stand through the test of faith under normal circumstances but it is not easy if God were to take everything away from us including our health and yet still staying faithful and praising our Father in heaven. Worse still, when your friends start to accuse you or say things about you that you didn't do while you are going through the trial period. Hoping to have words of comfort from people around, but all Job got was discouragement and distrust of his friends.

Remember this, in all things, all circumstances, whether good or bad, give thanks to God always.

Job 6 & 7

After the not so encouraging words from Eliphaz, Job replied him in chapter 6 & 7. Sometimes I rather people keep their mouths shut then to say for the sake of saying and made you more discouraged and confused.

So, ask God for wisdom before you bring a word to someone that needs encouragement.

Job 8

After Job explained to his friend in chapter 6 & 7, another friend of Job's friend, Bildad, interrupted Job and started commenting about Job's way. Started with the first sentence in verse 2, it sounded like Bildad just didn't believe in Job's explainations. Bildad also brought God into the picture and worst of all, something that I really don't want to hear and never want to hear, Bildad said that because your children sinned against God, He destroyed them. (I think Bildad better keep quiet so we can read less 1 chapter. :p).

Job 9 & 10

Job replied his friends by praising God and proclaiming His power and wonderful name of God. Many of you asked me about dinosaurs. the word 'Rahab' in chapter 9:13, according to my concordance, is a sea monster, a monster of the deep (Job 7:12). Yes, dinosaurs did exist and then extinct.

When you feel down, remember that God is there. When you are faithless. He is faithful. His love and faithfulness endures forever.

Job 1 - 5 (4th Jan)

Dear Family,
Why is there a sudden change of chapter? We are now in the book of Job. The reason I've put it this way is because I'm bringing you to read the bible chronologically. Which means, after the flood and followed by the Towel of Babel, then came Job. In fact Job was the first bible book written.The author is unknown. Some suggested that Moses wrote it. Time line 2000 - 1800 BC.

Job 1
Job was blameless and upright; feared God and shunned evil (v1, 8, Job 2:3). Job went through his first test. God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job except his life. With all taken away, Job still praised the Name of the Lord (v21).

Job 2
Job went through a second test where God allowed Satan to afflict Job with painful sores on his whole body. He was challenged by his wife to curse God but he didn't. He said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (v10)"
Many times in our life, when we face trouble, we will start to ask God why this happened and why must it be like that. Indirectly, we blame God subtly without us knowing. The battle is very intense. We need to be on guard and alert at all time. Each time when we face trouble, remember, we have the victory in Christ Jesus who always lead us in triumph.

Job 3
After 3 of Job's friend came and accompanied him in silence for 7 days and 7 nights(Job 2:11-13), Job finally spoke. He cursed the day of his birth but yet, He did not curse the Lord.

Job 4 & 5
A response from Job's friend, Eliphaz. If I were to be Job, I will be confused by his friend. One moment, it was encouraging (v4 & 6)and standing with me through the dark moments, and the next moment, started grumbling and being sarcastic.

Genesis 8 - 11 (3rd Jan)

The recent downpour in Singapore for about 2 to 3 days has already caused some places to have knee-height and some waist-height flood. It was worst in Malaysia when we went up to Muar. Can you imagine what will happen if it starts raining heavily for 40 days and nights consistently? We may end up in Star Cruise.

Genesis 8
For about a year, Noah and his family spent their time in the ark with the animals waiting for the water to subside and ground to be dried up (Gen 7:6, Gen 8:3-16). This ark must be very big to be able to store up enough food for all the animals and humans for a year.
After Noah came out, he built an altar to the Lord with burnt offering of clean animals and birds. Sure the BBQ smelled good and it was a pleasing aroma to God (v20). Then God said that never again will He curse the ground or destroy the living creatures He has done (v21).

Genesis 9
God blessed Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply (v1). It is God’s will for us to be fruitful and multiply. Right from the start in Gen 1:28, God commanded Adam too. Sure the BBQ smelled good, God allowed men to eat meat (v3). No wonder, if men were to eat meat before that, the ark will only be humans and dogs.
Then God established His Covenant with men that never again will all life be cut off by flood and never again will earth be destroyed by flood (no Star Cruise liao). Each time you see a rainbow, remember God’s Covenant to all of us because of His faithfulness and love for us.

Genesis 10
Forming of the nations of Noah’s sons.

Genesis 11 - Tower of Babel
During that time, everyone only spoke in one language. They wanted to build a tower that will reach the heaven and their purpose was to make a name for themselves. Also they will not be scattered to other parts of the earth. They can stay ‘under one roof with Moses’ in future. Singapore flats are getting taller and more. But we people aren’t speaking the same kind of language or rather, not having the same goals and purposes.

God said, “If as one people speaking the same language they begun to do this (their goal and purpose), then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them (v6).” So God came down to confuse their language and scattered them all over the earth (v7 & 8). Those that spoke Mandarin, God placed them in China, those that spoke Malay, they were placed around us. Those spoke Tamil, they were placed in India. The list goes on including those spoke in Singlish.

Can you imagine if everyone loves one another and love our neighbors with common purposes and goals for God, there will be peace on earth.

Genesis 4 - 7 (2nd Jan)

Hi family,

Hope the first day reading was good for you and hopefully my brief summary helps you to understand a little more.

Question time: What was the first thing Eve did when Adam came back from the field?

Answer: Count his ribs.

Oh yah, there weren't any mentioned of any creation of cars. But there was a car mentioned in Gen 3:23, 24. - "When God drove them out of the garden."

Ok, back to today's summary.

God bless.

"The lame will walk"

Gen 4 – 7, 2nd Jan 2007

Genesis 4 - Cain & Abel
Adam and Eve's first son, Cain, followed by Abel. After the Lord God drove both Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, no longer could they enjoy the full provision they used to have. They had to struggle for themselves and their family. Cain became a farmer, while Abel was a shepherd. It was not mentioned why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice, but both Cain and Abel knew what God expected. Only Abel obeyed.

Throughout history, Abel is remembered for his obedience and faith (Heb 11:4) and he is called “righteous” (Matth 23:35). Perhaps Cain’s attitude was improper, or perhaps his offering was not up to God’s standards. Prov 21:27 says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable – how much more so when brought with evil content!" After Cain’s sacrifice was rejected by God, God gave him the chance to try again (v6 & 7a). God is indeed gracious, always wanting to give us a second chance.

Dear family, the next time God prompts you or if someone suggests you are wrong, take an honest look at yourself and choose God’s way instead of Cain’s - which lead to the murder of his own brother, Abel - first tragedy mentioned in the bible. Cain was severely punished for this murder. God’s punishment is meant to correct us and restore our fellowship with Him. When you’re corrected, don’t resent it. Instead, renew your fellowship with God. The Lord God yearns to have our continuous fellowship with Him.

Genesis 5 - Genealogies of Adam
The bible contains several lists of ancestors, called genealogies. Genealogies were included to confirm the bible’s promise that the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be born into the line of Abraham. Genealogies also point out an interesting characteristic of God. People are important to Him as individuals, not just as races or nations. Therefore God refers to people by name, mentioning their life span and descendants.

For example, Enoch (v21-24). He walked with God. He was the second person mentioned in the hall of faith after Abel (Heb 11:4 & 5). He did not experience death and was commended as one who pleased God.

Dear family, continue to walk with God and please Him only. May your name be in the book of faith.

Genesis 6 - Noah
Sin became very evident among the people. The people’s sin grieved God. Our sins break God’s heart as much as sin did in Noah’s day. Because of sin, the lifespan of a man gets shorter (v3). God wanted to destroy all mankind on earth because He was grieved (v6 & 7). Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of God - his faithfulness and obedience to God (v8 & 9). So God commanded Noah to build an ark to save his family from the flood that God will send to destroy mankind.

Genesis 7 - The rain & the flood

Noah and his family entered the ark. Pairs of every animal joined Noah in the ark; seven pairs were taken of those animals used for sacrifice - the “clean” animals. Scholars have estimated that almost 45, 000 animals could have fit into the ark. Also many people used to say that it was flooded for 40days & 40 nights. But it was not. It rained for forty days and night (v4 & 12). The flood came in and every living thing on the face of earth was wiped out. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days (v24). Everything on the face of the earth were destroyed.

Hmm... ever wonder how Noah tamed all the animals to enter the ark? (Dinosaurs cannot enter) Well, read Genesis 1:26.

God bless

Genesis 1-3 (1st Jan)

Dear livingstones family,

Happy Blessed New Year! We are in the Year of Victory! Let's Go Deep into the Word of God this year by reading through the Bible. As much as possible, I'll blog the summary of the chapters we are reading. So enjoy reading and understand His word. Pray and ask the Lord to give you wisdom to His Word.

May the Lord bless you and enlarge your territory. May His hands be upon you and deliver you from evil one.

God bless and with lots of love,

Livingstones Papa & Mama

____________________________

Genesis means 'Beginnings' or 'origin' and it is written by Moses.

Genesis 1 - The Creation (recognise the Power of God's Word. He spoke! Everything fell in place. Cool right? Our GOD is cool!)

In the beginning - The heavens and the earth.

1st day - Light (light & darkness)

2nd day - Sky (sky & water)

3rd day - Land with vegetation (land & sea)

4th day - Sun, moon & stars (day, night, seasons, days & years)

5th day - Fish & birds (thank God, I can go fishing)

6th day - Animals, man & woman (we are supposed to be vegetarians!!! Lions too!! - v29, 30)

7th day - God rested (God made it holy - Gen 2:3)

Genesis 2 - The lonely man and the making of the woman

v16, God commanded the Adam, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

v17 onwards is the making of the woman. (Notice that in Gen 1:26, God created man & woman. So Gen 2 is the account of what happened from the beginning to the 6th day.)

"WO!! man" I thank God for my beautiful wife. Adam has made the right choice. Hey guys, you should all thank God for Adam.

Ladies, you are God's wonderful masterpiece. We men were made from dust (v7). You ladies were made from His wonderful creation, the man's ribs, and He fashioned it into His masterpiece, the beautiful ladies. Ladies, we guys appreciate you (v18).

Thank you especially to my wife 'Fei', she's a wonderful wife and a super mother. Thank you for Janna, my beautiful daughter, she is the joy of my heart.

Of course, all my spiritual daughters too, I really thank God for you. You are all a blessing to me.

Guys, don't be jealous. I really appreciate all of you too, from the bottom of my heart.

Genesis 3 - The fall of man

People always asked, if God is so good, why will He let sin comes into the world, why He let this happened to me or why that? All I can say is, "Nevermind, I forgive you Adam. Now I'll just want to walk right with God."

Guys, don't blame the women for the fall of man. We are at fault. Notice in v2 & 3, the command that Eve told the serpent wasn't the same as the command God given to Adam in Gen 2:16. People blame Eve because she changed or added in or some say she lied about the command. She added 'touch it' (v 3). Also notice, there was another word she added, 'fruit'.

Why I say, don't blame the ladies is because, v6b 'she also gave some to her husband,who was with her, and he ate it.' So my conclusion is this, 'some' men are actually not good communicators.

Why? God commanded Adam before He created Eve (Gen 2:15-22).

So it is a responsibility for Adam to communicate to Eve. He certainly didn't communicate clearly. Probably he said this to Eve, "Don't go near that tree hor. The fruit cannot be eaten. Just don't go near, k? God says one."

Next, not only 'some' men are not good communicators, they like to keep quiet and just don't bother much about what's going on. As i say, 'some' men only. Please don't throw stone at me.

Satan's weapon of temptation is to cause us to fall. He tempted us with (1 John 2:16)

1. Lust of the flesh - Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food (v6)

2. Lust of the eye - It was pleasing to Eve's eyes (v6)

3. Pride of life - Eve desired to gain wisdom (v6), so she would know the knowledge of good and evil.

Because of the fall, we are separated from God. But God still shows mercy and love to Adam and Eve by clothing them. This is the beginning of God's redemptive plan. Now we can reach our Father in heaven through Jesus Christ.

God, I want to thank You for Your love for all mankind that You are willing to sacrifice Your one and only Son to die for our sins.

Hey, I'm a dad and I will not sacrifice my son, Joash for you. It will really pain me if I need to or have to. Like sending him to war to protect the rest of the citizens in the country.

Talking about pain, in v16, God said that He will greatly increase the pain of childbearing for the women.

I really feel sorry for that. I experienced the pain when Fei Fei gave birth to both Joash and Janna. Ha, how can I experienced the pain? Well, she was feeling so painful that she squeezed my arm and pulled my sleeve. At the end, she transmitted the pain to my arm and the sleeve of my shirt- lengthened.

Anyway, to my wife, dear, thank you for bearing with the pain. I love you.

Guys, we will never be able to understand this pain.

God bless

Ps Lawrence Tan