Dear Our Daily Bread Ministries,
I’ve been reading Our Daily Journey since 2014. I have been encouraged each day as I spend my quiet time reading God’s words. I thank God for His timely messages and reminder of who He is.
The article on 20th March 2016 “Beautiful Captivity” ended by challenging the readers to think of a situation that we desperately wanted to escape and how this situation might glorify God. At first I laughed, how can the skin allergy I’ve been battling with for weeks be a blessing to others? As I thought about these questions for days, I realised how faithful and loving God is, even though He allows me to suffer for the time being.
This led me to share my testimony on Facebook, which can be found at the end of this letter.
Thank you to everyone involved in Our Daily Journey ministry. May God continue to use each one of you to be a blessing to the people around you.
In His love,
Annalisa Liew
___________________________________________________________________
Wow can’t believe I’ve been at uni for 1 month! A lot has happened. In-class tests has started and I’ve just started working on my 3 assignments. On top of that, I’ve been battling with a health issue since O-Day. No doubt stress was one of the factors.
An article by Francis Frangipane titled Cease Striving and Know reminds me to "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Ps. 46:10).
Key points that personally stood out for me:
“You see, fear is a magnifying lens that exaggerates whatever it looks at. The devil is a master illusionist who uses fear to take our eyes off the Lord. The result is that our stress level increases, and anxiety brings death into our world. Indeed, the more we talk about what's wrong, the less we see what is right and good in our world. Be quiet. Wait upon the Lord and compose your soul. Don't let your unbelieving words deplete your spirit; for the more you talk, the more peace you lose. Keep your soul focused upon Christ, the Lord. Those who believe enter His rest, and from the place of rest, we can hear His voice.”
“If you know who God truly is, anxiety will fade into trust. Therefore, cease worrying! God cares for you. Those who trust Him have peace that surpasses all understanding. Talk to the Lord and then quietly listen. As you do, your spirit will soar, and your heart expand and ascend into His presence.”
“It has been truly said, "Fear is the darkroom where Satan develops our negatives." Therefore, renounce fear. Divorce anxiety. Beloved, the Lord is good. Trust Him with your battle. Yes, it's time to cease striving and know that He is God.”
Also this song “Still, My Soul Be Still” by Keith & Kristyn Getty has given me comfort and a timely reminder to Trust God, Wait upon the Lord and to just REST in God alone.
I really thank God for His strength and peace as I go through this season in life.
For those of you who are going through some hard times at the moment, remember, “Leave all your worries with Jesus because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.
Hope all of you have a blessed Easter, enjoying the well-deserved break from the busyness of life and be renewed, refreshed and find peace this season.
P.S. (For those of you who are keen to read the whole article you can check out the link: http://francisfrangipanemessages.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/cease-striving-and-know.html)
How has the resurrection changed your story?
Imagine if God had given us a theological textbook instead of relatable stories on how people interact with God. Today on “Discover the Word,” we begin a study called, “The Impact of the Resurrection.” The resurrection of Jesus changed the stories of so many people we read about in Scripture, including the apostle Paul. Join the study today on “Discover the Word”!
Open My Eyes
Days have a way of blending into each other. The repetition of life dulls our senses until our world can become gray. But like refreshing rain, God gives us splashes of joy to color our world and to help us see with new eyes.
5 Myths about Heaven
All of us want to go to heaven don’t we? But let’s be honest: not everything about heaven seems that enticing, does it? For example, if all we do in heaven is sing to the Lord—sure, it’s a good thing—won’t it get a bit boring, especially for those of us who aren’t that great at singing?
Surprised!
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian artist, was known for his fiery temperament and unconventional technique. He used ordinary working people as models for his saints and was able to make viewers of his paintings feel they were a part of the scene. The Supper at Emmaus shows an innkeeper standing while Jesus and two of His followers are seated at a table when they recognize Him as the risen Lord (Luke 24:31). One disciple is pushing himself to a standing position while the other’s arms are outstretched and his hands open in astonishment.
Luke, who records these events in his…
Poem: Third Day
A thousand years our eyes may see;
Still none lived like Him of Galilee.
Centuries cannot compare
To the seconds of His single tear.
Easter Start
One detail in the Easter story has always intrigued me. Why did Jesus keep the scars from His crucifixion? Presumably He could have had any resurrected body He wanted, and yet He chose one identifiable mainly by scars that could be seen and touched. Why?
I believe the story of Easter would be incomplete without those scars on the hands, the feet, and the side of Jesus (John 20:27). Human beings dream of pearly straight teeth and wrinkle-free skin and ideal body shapes. We dream of an unnatural state: the perfect body. But for Jesus, being confined in a skeleton and…
Never Forsaken
Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” With that in mind, I read an online article describing “The Top 8 Deadliest Prisons in the World.” In one of these prisons every prisoner is held in solitary confinement.
We are intended to live and relate in relationships and community, not in isolation. This is what makes solitary confinement such a harsh punishment.
Isolation is the agony Christ suffered when His eternal relationship with the Father was broken on the cross. We hear this in His cry captured in Matthew 27:46: “About three…
The motive behind Jesus laying down his life
Why we do something is as important as how we do something. That’s because motive matters. Today on “Discover the Word,” we talk about Jesus’s motive for laying down His life on the cross. Hebrews 12 tells us that it was “for the joy that was set before Him.” But what was that joy? It’s all wrapped up in the words “It is finished.” Listen to the Good Friday edition of “Discover the Word.”
Three-Word Obituary
Before Stig Kernell died, he told the local funeral home that he didn’t want a traditional obituary. Instead, the Swedish man instructed them to publish only three words noting his passing: “I am dead.” When Mr. Kernell died at age 92, that’s exactly what appeared. The audacity and simplicity of his unusual death notice captured the attention of newspapers around the world. In a strange twist, the international curiosity about the man with the three-word obituary caused more attention to his death than he intended.
When Jesus was crucified, the Lord’s obituary could have read, “He is dead.” But after 3…
The perfect sacrifice completed on the cross
Jesus’s death on the cross appeared to be a failed rescue mission. Yet, His final words, “It is finished,” meant the perfect sacrifice had been completed once and for all. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will explore the ancient Jewish context of sacrifice. It will give you a deeper understanding of Christ’s atonement for your own sins. That’s today on “Discover the Word”!
3 Reasons Why Christians Need to be Hearing the Gospel—Again
“Good morning! This is the gospel, it’s free,” the middle-aged man said brightly as he extended a tract titled “If Only” to the lady walking ahead of me. When she shook her head, he turned to me and offered the same tract.
The Olive Press
If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. The olives were placed in this trough, and then the wheel, also made from heavy stone, was rolled over the olives to extract the oil.
On the night before His death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. There, in the garden called Gethsemane, He…
Looking Deeper
Looking Deeper
The Looking Deeper series offers great Bible teaching for Christians. Whether you are a new Christian or a mature believer, we have a range of short Bible studies on many crucial topics and questions. These booklets are quick and easy to read, offering accessible and engaging introductions and explanations about tough subjects. They are great for personal study or to…
