Please click this link for the official announcement from AMiAs of the recent transition:
You can also listen to my daily podcast in English and Cantonese through this new site.
**1100 DAYS of prayers now!!!
Please sign up for the new 11th 100 days 24 hours prayer campaign,
I need your prayers!!!
Please click link below.
**NEW link for the 11th 100 days 24 hours prayer campaign(from August 25 to December 03, 2012).
The easiest way is to take one hour slot for the whole week. What you need to do is very simple. Choose one dayThe easiest way is to take one hour slot for the whole week to pray for me, my family and my ministry, remembering the ministry of ACiC(ACiC has two Networks: ACiC, Anglican Coalition in Canada and AI, Asian Initiative). You may use the whole hour in prayer or you can still do you work in your office but use as much time as you can to pray and the other time work prayerfully that hour to pray for our ministry. This campaign is also to teach you that you need somebody to pray for you daily. I have been prayed for hourly the past 1,100 days and I have never experienced this kind of peace and protection before. It's just beyond words can express. If I did not listen and obey to Jesus call 1,100 days ago to start this prayer movement, I think I would be pulled into darkness and discouragement already! I deeply believe that this is a way to draw as many participation as we can in prayers. I encourage you to participate. We need you to join us! Trust in the power of prayers!
Today's Reading: Joel 1
Please read Joel 1 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from this blog. You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf. (You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.)
Please click this link to worship with us -
Purify My Heart
Chinese praise song -
你的寶血 It’s Your Blood
Please click the links below to Joel 1:
Bible Study
Joel, whose name means "The Lord is God," identifies himself as "son of Pethuel". The date of writing of this book are uncertain. Some believe that Joel's ministry occurred after the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple (510-400 B.C.). Others believe Joel's message occurred during the early days of young King Joash (835-83- B.C.), who became king at age seven (2 Kings 11:21) and remained under the authority and guidance of the high priest, Jehoiada, while Joash was still a minor. That situation would account for the fact that Joel frequently mentioned priests but never referred to a king. This seems the more likely time period for Joel's ministry, since it comes before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., and part of Joel's prophecy speaks of future disaster on Judah.
The immediate situation addressed in the book was an invasion of locusts and a severe drought and the looming potential of a foreign military invasion of Judah. There were three elements to his purpose:
1. to summon the people and their leaders to gather for a time of desperately intense prayer and repentance (1: 14; 2:15-16).
2. to challenge the people to repent and to humbly return to the Lord with fasting and prayer for God's mercy (2: 12-17)
3. to record God's prophetic message of encouragement and blessing for those who sincerely repented (2:18-3:21).
This book also contains perhaps the most insightful Old Testament prophecy about the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy spirit on all humankind.
Chapter one tells us about a severe locust plague that had swept over the land, wiping out all vegetation that the people were facing a severe famine. Joel indicated that this crisis was sent by God, and the leaders and people needed to turn to the Lord and cry out for his help. Joel called the people for an intense and extended time of fasting. They needed this time to demonstrate their dependence on God and to repent of all sin in their lives, which could hinder their relationship with him. Because the day of the Lord was coming to them as the approaching judgment from God to discipline his rebellious people and punish ungodly nations. Also, the day of the Lord will come of god's final judgment on all evil at the end of this age which will include the seven-year tribulation and Christ's return to defeat the antichrist and to reign on earth.
The immediate situation addressed in the book was an invasion of locusts and a severe drought and the looming potential of a foreign military invasion of Judah. There were three elements to his purpose:
1. to summon the people and their leaders to gather for a time of desperately intense prayer and repentance (1: 14; 2:15-16).
2. to challenge the people to repent and to humbly return to the Lord with fasting and prayer for God's mercy (2: 12-17)
3. to record God's prophetic message of encouragement and blessing for those who sincerely repented (2:18-3:21).
This book also contains perhaps the most insightful Old Testament prophecy about the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy spirit on all humankind.
Chapter one tells us about a severe locust plague that had swept over the land, wiping out all vegetation that the people were facing a severe famine. Joel indicated that this crisis was sent by God, and the leaders and people needed to turn to the Lord and cry out for his help. Joel called the people for an intense and extended time of fasting. They needed this time to demonstrate their dependence on God and to repent of all sin in their lives, which could hinder their relationship with him. Because the day of the Lord was coming to them as the approaching judgment from God to discipline his rebellious people and punish ungodly nations. Also, the day of the Lord will come of god's final judgment on all evil at the end of this age which will include the seven-year tribulation and Christ's return to defeat the antichrist and to reign on earth.
My Spiritual Journal
What I got from Jesus today is: Holy fast is the key!
What I received from Jesus today is to teach and remind us of the power of fasting. Perhaps the only way to avoid severe judgment from God is what it calls here "holy fast". See how Esther led her people fast and everything was being turned around.
Today should be a good time to remind us the power of fasting and we need to practice a discipline of fasting. Why not try to fast one meal a week first. That's how I have been doing almost every week. Then you can try to fast three days, and then follow the call of your church (if your church encourage fasting) to fast. Richmond Emmanuel Church always calls our people for a 40 days fasting during Lent. Usually Sunday is not a day for fasting.
Quite a number of people asked me how come I can overcome so many crisis and attack for the past 16 years since the Lord called me to plant Richmond Emmanuel Church. My answer is always this, "I fast and pray, then God will do the rest!"
Yes, holy fast is the way! If you believe and do it, you will know what I mean!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to know the power of holy fasting and be able to fast for your Kingdom's sake. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
Please click this link to worship with us - The Potter's Hand
Chinese praise song -
陶造我生命 Mold My Life
Pray for our AMiA bishops:
The Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy, III (Margaret)
The Rt. Rev. Sandy Greene (Gigi)