Thanksgiving
BRD REFLECTIONS
(Josephine Loo, Chairperson, Property Management)
READ:
Psalm 75 v1
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.
OBSERVE:
In Psalm 75, we read that God has done many good things for His people. God reminds us that he is the one who will judge uprightly. God reminds us that he is the one who controls everything and all the wicked and arrogant will be punished in the end when judgment day comes.
APPLY:
In this season after Easter, Psalm 75 is a great reminder of thanksgiving. I am thankful not only for God’s wondrous and complete work in his salvation of mankind, but I am also grateful that he is doing it personally for me. His deeds are a constant reminder of His love, mercy and goodness toward us. For from this gratefulness, I feel truly blessed and want to be a channel of blessing to those around me.
In following the current Wesley Discipleship Model which provides a holistic approach using C.O.R.D.S – C for Circumstances of significant moments; O for Obedience to God’s Word; R for Spiritual Relationships and accountability; D for Spiritual Disciplines/ habits; and S for Service — I hope I can become more mindful to observe the circumstances around me and “see” the important and defining instances for doing God’s work. Just as Jesus dying on Good Friday was a significant moment for his disciples, Easter is a reminder to us that our God has risen, now lives and will reign forever. Like the disciples of Jesus, we go on to proclaim God’s love, being obedient to God’s word, developing spiritual relationships with God and the people around us, observing the spiritual discipline of prayer and rejecting evil, and being of service to those in need and are lost.
DO:
Any moment, no matter how insignificant, can become a defining moment, if we heed God’s gentle nudging or calling. Being the impatient person that I am and still a work in progress, I shall will myself to not rush to press the lift door close, or to interject when someone is trying to speak and explain; instead, I will give in to someone who is more in a rush, for example, to enter the restroom or to park the car. Being able to see beyond myself, putting others before myself or giving in to someone who may need more help, this may be how God is training me. May my experiences, words and actions be a reflection of God in me.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your everlasting love exhibited through what your Son Jesus did for us on the cross 2000 years ago. Teach me to discern the good from the bad, and to remember that my words and deeds can have a positive effect on others and also myself. Teach me to lean on your word and apply your standard of love and grace. May your Spirit be around me to guide me and test me. Send your angels to protect and help me. I pray that your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
