God knows me

https://odb.org/2024/12/03/god-knows-me Psalm 139: 1 You have searched me, Lord, and you knowg me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you,Continue reading “God knows me”

Esau and Jacob

https://odb.org/2024/10/28/getting-rid-of-baggage The forgiveness by Esau of the cunning but changed Jacob is one of the highlights of the book of Genesis and serves as an example of what God expects from us as His children when it comes to our own forgiveness of others. Jacob committed two major “transgressions” against Esau. The first is buyingContinue reading “Esau and Jacob”

The 10 spies

https://odb.org/2024/10/03/saying-yes In Numbers 13 and 14, we will find the account of the 12 spies who were sent to Canaan, the Promised Land, to investigate and give an account of what they saw and their assessment of the land. The spies were no ordinary people as each represented a tribe of the Israelites who hadContinue reading “The 10 spies”

At the pleasure

https://odb.org/2024/07/01/serving-at-the-pleasure To those of us who have studied law or are involved in law enforcement, we are acquinted with the phrase “at the pleasure of,” and it is usually used in the context of detention. Thus, if a minor is convicted of a penal crime, he can’t be imprisoned but will be detained at theContinue reading “At the pleasure”

Death and the grave

https://odb.org/2024/06/11/shebnas-grave I know of people who placed less priority on the grave because if we are in the faith, we have the assurance of resurrection one day. Where our earthen body is placed after death and whether we are buried or cremated are less important as our resurrected body is not dependent on the locationContinue reading “Death and the grave”

The good old times

https://odb.org/2024/05/20/longing-for-the-past Sometimes, we like to reminisce and dwell in our past memories. I think not so much in our past successes but more to the nostalgic era where time was not moving as fast as the present. Times when we were younger and still discovering the world. Our early working days, feeling our way inContinue reading “The good old times”

Blooming deserts

https://odb.org/2024/05/09/blooming-deserts I recall that in my religious pilgrimage trip to Israel, more than 10 years ago, there was a remarkable contrast when we travelled from Egypt into the Holy Land. Egypt was perhaps like Malaysia 30 years back, but Israel was a thoroughly modern state equivalent to any Western city. But more amazingly, it wasContinue reading “Blooming deserts”

The past as an example

https://odb.org/2024/01/16/learning-from-mistakes-2 Paul used the mistakes of ancient Israelites to remind the Corinthians not to make the same mistakes (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). Likewise, we should look at our past mistakes and experiences as a guide and warning to us not to repeat them again. If not, there could be dire consequences. As an example, IContinue reading “The past as an example”

Vanity of vanities

https://odb.org/2024/01/02/the-son-also-rises Life, as we know, it is, in a way, meaningless. We are born, and our parents raise us up. We go to school, then later to university (some straight into the workforce after school). We learn about life in school and mix with our friends. Celebrate birthdays. Go through things we fear, like seeingContinue reading “Vanity of vanities”

Forgetting what’s behind

https://odb.org/2023/12/20/forgettable Isaiah 43:25 speaks of God forgetting the sins of Israel and Judah. He remembers them no more. In verses 18 and 19, He urges them to forget the former things, not to dwell in the past. Instead, see that the LORD is doing a new thing amongst them. As humans and even believers, weContinue reading “Forgetting what’s behind”