Psalm 146: A Grand Hallelujah

by Priscilla

Psalm 146 (NIV) 


I don’t know about you, but I have recently, more than ever, been reading our newspapers in utter despair! Despair over laws that are being pushed through, despair for ridiculous policies that are being implemented and then over in my home country - India – despair over the relentless waves of corruption that are destroying the country from within!

Reading the news is not a great way to start the day for sure.

How pleased I am then to read a Psalm like 146 that reminds us it is seriously not worth our time or effort to put our “trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save,” (vs 3) because when they die, that’s the end of the line for them. Their plans come to nothing from that day on (vs 4).

How much better it is then to put our hope in God who:

1. Is all powerful (He is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in it – vs 6)
   
2. Is our protector (He upholds the cause of the oppressed – vs 7)
   
3. Is our provider (Gives food to the hungry – vs 7)
4. Is our deliverer (sets the prisoners free – vs 7)
5. Is our healer (gives sight to the blind – vs 8)
6. Is our encourager (Lifts up those who are bowed down – vs 8)
7. Looks out for those on the fringe (The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow – vs 9)
8. Loves righteousness and hates wickedness (vs 8/9) 

Someone recently tweeted a quote by Rick Warrren, that said: "If God was small enough for you to completely understand Him, He wouldn’t be big enough for you to completely trust Him."

I definitely want to be subject of this King who I can trust! It is such a joy to read His newspaper (The Bible) everyday – where His words are like a soothing balm to the soul, they bring joy and vigour for the day!

There is a reason this Psalm is called The Grand Hallelujah because after reading all that God does for us – what can we not do but shout out a big, grand Hallelujah to our all-powerful, wonder-working King!

Psalm 140: Why it's good to be cavemen?

by Priscilla

Psalm 140 (NIV)

Imagine the scene: It’s a dark and misty night. A black, snarling creature is relentlessly pursuing you through dark woods. You can almost feel his evil breath on your back as you run as fast you can, tripping over twigs and roots. And then it begins to thunder as rain starts pelting down fast. You are still running but ever so often the beast catches a glimpse of you in the lightening flashes. Now, even your meagre cover of darkness has been blown. And just as you think your heart can take it no more and feels like it will burst open through your chest, you spot a small cave by the side. In you run, crouch, sit still and barely breathe. Seconds that seem like forever pass and suddenly you hear the rapid crunch of broken sticks and leaves as beast hurtles past the cave. You can breathe again. For the rest of this torrid night, you are now safe. When dawn breaks and mists lift - the world will be different place.

David had many experiences similar to this - where he was pursued like “a partridge in the mountains” (I Sam 26:20) by Saul and his heavily armed men. And while on the run, David and his men would find shelter in a cave and stay there till the trouble had passed.

Psalm 140 is David’s cry to God from one of his cave escapes.

Some times God is gracious to provide us with a cave sanctuary for us to hide when everything seems to go kaput at the same time.

In this cave we can catch our breath – cry out to God for help as David does in this Psalm.

Vs 1:
Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,

Vs 4:

Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    protect me from the violent,

A cave of refuge is also a place to plan your next move in safety knowing your surety in God.

A cave experience can be one as mundane as a crazy day at home where by 6pm, all you need to do is retreat for 15 mins into a quiet place, cry out to God for help and with a deep breath plan what you are going to do next in the midst of the chaos.

Or a cave experience could be more challenging where perhaps you desire to make some key life decisions but are being pursued relentlessly by the business of life coming at you from all sides. Eagerly look for the cave opportunity that God provides – a quiet weekend away perhaps to seek Him and His calling. Cherish that time away. You never know how that could affect your life.

David’s cave experiences were the making of Him. I pray that ours would be just that. 

Psalm 134: Why should we pray?

by Priscilla

Psalm 134 (NIV)

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord. (vs 1)


Growing up, I went to lot of church camps. They were great days and were often a highlight of my year. And why wouldn’t they be – four days of great teaching, excellent worship, living together as a community, hanging out with my friends, bonfire night – it was great. There were normally five or six buses that took people back home after the camp and each bus would be filled with the roaring sound of campers singing, laughing and generally making a joyful noise unto God.

This psalm was a bit like that. We have been blogging through ‘The songs of the Ascents’ – as the Psalms from 120 to 134 were called.
The songs of the Ascents were sung as people made the journey from their villages and tribes towards Jerusalem for various Jewish festivals and most importantly to worship Yahweh at the Temple.

Psalm 134 was usually sung as people were leaving to go back home. (Bit like my fellow campers back home). As the Jews would leave very, very early in the morning they would see the priests and singers continuing their worship of God through the night. And this song was to encourage them and pray God’s blessing over His faithful servants.

King David loved the presence of God – in his life, in his kingdom and over his city. He arranged that Temple choirs would praise the Lord day and night throughout the year, every year in the Temple (1 Chron 9:33, Ps 113:3).
Not surprisingly King David’s reign was one where Israel saw most peace and prosperity in the land.

24-7 prayer and worship is powerful. Currently in Bournemouth, the churches have got together to pray for the town this week. We can see God breakthrough powerfully, we can see revival, we can see salvation, we can see healing, we can experience God’s blessing – when we pray.

If you are able to, why not book a one-hour slot this week to pray for this town to watch God unfold His magnificent and gracious plan for this town and nation.

Psalm 128: Looking for happily ever after?

by Priscilla

Psalm 128 (NIV)

A friend once mentioned to me how their child was in the minority in her class, because she was one of few whose parents were still together and happily married.

These are unhappy times in our nation when we see Satan striking at the very heart of what holds Society together – the Family.

No matter what the government does to assuage the lie that broken families are alright – like: a) not needing a father’s name on a birth certificate and b) making it easier to get a quick divorce – the truth lies in the stories of people who have grown up in divorced homes. A person’s experience never lies.

In the midst of that, this Psalm is one of hope for family as God intended it!

Vs 1-4
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
You will eat the fruit of your labour;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.

A friend tweeted a quote from Tim Keller today, which said, “No marriage I know more than a few weeks old could be described as a fairy tale come true.”

The truth is that marriage is hard work. It certainly is no fairy tale. Yet if both parties ‘walk in obedience to God’, (vs 1) we stand fighting chance to have a happily ever after.

Let’s pray today for our marriages, for our children’s marriages or if we are single – for our future marriages – that God would always reign at the centre of them and that we can claim the peace and prosperity that has been offered to us in this Psalm.

Psalm 122: How to prepare for a feast

by Priscilla

Psalm 122 (NIV)

I love being invited to people’s homes because it usually involves good company, lots of laughter and food! Nom nom! In our Indian culture visiting someone involves avoiding food all day – because you know there will be massive meal laid out involving a variety of dishes. In our English culture, people are just as generous with elaborate meals involving numerous courses.

Whatever it is – going to someone’s for a meal is a good occasion. We all look forward to it.

Similarly the psalmist here reminds us with great rejoicing of the invitation we have to go the house of the Lord (vs 1) where a big feast awaits us.

Sunday are like that. What a privilege it is in this country to be able to freely and openly walk into our place of worship and feast at a smorgasbord of Truth.
To sing corporately in the Spirit, to be comforted, be ministered to, get prayed for, be challenged and spurred on – I don’t know about you – but Sunday mornings are a highlight in my week.

However to truly enjoy an evening out with friends I have to get sorted beforehand – I need to make sure I have a baby-sitter organised, an outfit ironed and ready, make sure our child requiring the baby-sitter is fed, bathed and asleep before we leave etc… If I do not plan these things in, I will definitely not be having an enjoyable evening.

How much do we prepare ourselves mentally before a Sunday morning? I know clearly the mornings when I have prepared my heart and mind for God to speak to me are far, far better than the Sundays I have been running ragged trying to get to church on time.

This psalm is called the song of ascents and was used by pilgrims travelling together to Jerusalem for one of the religious feasts. (Ex 23:14-19). When preparing themselves for the festivals, the Israelites undertook many rituals to ensure they were purified to take part in the festivities.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

We no longer need to perform rituals or sacrifice animals before we can enter church because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Let’s not take the throne of Grace for granted but give God the honour by getting ready in our hearts and preparing for Him our offering of worship.

Psalm 119: 49-72: Why does God allow us to suffer some times?

by Priscilla

Psalm 119: 49-72 (NIV)

A friend who visited me last week used a phrase I am going to shamelessly pilfer. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials, she said, welcome the fire.

Trials are not easy by any standard. They are painful, stressful and usually full of anxiety.

In the midst of it though, it helps to ask these questions:

1. Are you trying to say something to me, God?
2. What do you want me to learn?

The Psalmist knows now the reason for his affliction. He says in verses 67 & 68:

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I obey your word.
You are good, and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees. 

He recounts the blessing of his suffering in verse 71:

It was good for me to be afflicted
    so that I might learn your decrees.

John Piper once said in a preach, “The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction.”

A refiner’s fire melts down gold or silver, burns up all the impurities and leaves the precious metal intact.

God takes us through a fire – burns up sin and other impurities in our life while leaving us intact, pure and holy for Him.

In the intense heat of a trial it if difficult to know how we will react. If you find yourself today facing trials – whether old or new – ask God about the journey He is taking your on. There will be purpose behind it. Welcome His fire.

Psalm 115: What does it mean to trust in God?

By Priscilla
Psalm 115 (NIV) 

O house of Israel, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield. (vs 9-11)

‘In God alone we trust’ is a big declaration of faith. And this last weekend, never have I been tested in this. On Friday one of my closest friends suddenly fell very, very ill. As we kept getting reports on what the doctors were saying, it was so easy to Google the medical terms and terrify ourselves silly with what we had just read. It was shockingly easy for fear to replace trust. Fear is the opposite of trust. And I had to remind myself, like the Israelites in this Psalm – that I worship a God with a proven track record of pure, unadulterated faithfulness.

That:
No weapon forged against you (my friend) will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. (Isa 54:17)

I’ve had a lot of learning to do this weekend. I’ve learnt that to trust in God, does not mean giving up and hoping for the best outcome. Trusting in God is a big verb – a big action verb that has involved praying incessantly, speaking in tongues, reading and re-reading scriptures that bring hope and life. I will admit, it has been easier to get sucked into that whirlpool of worry but by choosing to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith I find myself suddenly standing on terra firma.

Trusting in God does not mean being frightened of the big, scary medicalness but facing it, not just looking at it in the eye but looking beyond to the one who is far, far greater than we can ever imagine.

A battle is continuing to be waged for my friend’s life – but I stand on the assurance that God is fully in control.

Psalm 103: How the mama bear in me helps me glimpse the Father God in Heaven

By Priscilla

Psalm 103 (NIV)

My boy turns two next month. This whole motherhood thing has been one giant ride. To be honest, I am quite surprised at how much I enjoy it. You know all those documentaries we’ve watched on National Geographic – where the cameraman won’t go near a mama bear because she’s got her cubs nearby – I recently realised I’m a complete natural at channelling my inner mama bear. Every walk to the shops or trip in the car with Hudson I am overtly careful, watching out for potential hazards or risks. I couldn’t bear for any hurt or harm to come my son.

If this is me - the mum of just one, small child, senses sharpened and armoury out - how, and I mean, HOW much more must our Father in Heaven look out for us then?

I cannot even begin to fathom how great His love and care is for me. This psalm gives us a fantastic insight into how vast God’s compassion is towards us.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbour his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

When we catch a small glimpse of His great love and compassion for us, our hearts can do nothing but bubble forth with praise – all my inmost being, praise His holy name (vs 1).

When we don’t feel like praise in our quiet times, on Sunday mornings or before Friday morning prayer this is great psalm to meditate upon. Forget not all His benefits, He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion. (vs 2-4)

Finding it difficult to think of things to praise God for? This psalm has a list, just in case we were lacking in inspiration.

Psalm 97: Pure hatred

By Priscilla

Psalm 97 (NIV)


Back in the day when I was studying journalism – we got set various writing assignments every week. They usually required a good deal of legwork, persuasion and interviewing skills. One Monday however, we were asked to submit a 500-word piece on one thing that we hate. Boy! Was that the easiest assignment I ever wrote? In my head, it was more the case of – now which of the many things that gets me fuming am I going to willingly vent on paper?

The emotion of anger and hatred are strong emotions. Why would a peace-loving God give us such powerful, negative emotions? Strong emotions stir in us strong actions. For example: A man full of rage might be stirred to take it out on his wife, however, an angry man might also use that anger to protect his wife or children from someone.

Vs 10 is helpful in this regard: “Let those who love the Lord, hate evil.”

You cannot love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, without developing a deep and passionate, hatred for sin.

When we do that, Psalm 97 (The Message) goes on to say:

• He keeps safe those who love Him. 
• He snatches them from the grip of the wicked. 
• Light is planted in the souls of God's people, 
• Joy is planted in good heart-soil. 

It is not wrong to hate when what we hate is wrong. We must direct our hatred to the things that God despises.

The Bible tells us again and again that our God who is pure, holy, blameless, and righteous – absolutely hates sin. If our goal is, ‘to be holy and He is holy,’ (Lev 11: 44) then we need to cultivate a heart and body that abhors sin in any form in our lives. Root it out, deal with it. God does not despise a broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17)

Love God. Hate sin.

Psalm 91: Who you gonna call?

By Priscilla

Psalm 91 (NIV)


Thanks to a wonderful sub-culture called Hollywood – we all now know that in an emergency in America, we need to dial 911 and sirens blazing help will soon be at hand.

Psalm 91:1 is one of those sort of verses.
The promises listed in this psalm offer tremendous protection and hope. Promises such as:

• Being saved from a fowler’s snare 
• Finding refuge under in His wings 
• His faithfulness being our shield and rampart 
• Not having to fear the arrow of the day nor the terror of the night 

And they go on…the psalm is full of encouraging words.


HOWEVER everything hinges on the first verse of the psalm, which make the promises quite conditional. It is almost like for the police to arrive in America someone needs to dial 911. For God to be present in our lives, we need to dial in Psalm 91:1.

Vs 1: (ESV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

The protection and comfort are for ‘He who dwells’ and ‘abides’. These aren’t words that are common parlance these days but we know that dwelling does not imply a mere a visit – it is more of a staying situation - in the shelter or secret place as the NIV calls it.

By believing in our heart that Jesus is Lord and coming under His leadership – we are also under His blanket of protection.

As a growing disciple of Jesus Christ, our focus should be to come to a dwelling place of complete dependency and true intimacy with God.

A great way to develop that is to get into a routine of reading the Bible; Meditating on a verse or two that speaks to you, really chewing over it, perhaps getting a commentary out or looking up a study Bible to understand it a bit more; Praying, asking God to speak to you through the verses; Singing out to God in worship.

These private encounters with God are all instrumental in sharpening our public lives.
Dwelling in the secret place of God is a lifetime pursuit. It completely defines us.

Lord, I pray that amidst life’s crazy schedules I will carve out a time with you that will be the bedrock of my being. Help me God to cultivate a lifestyle that seeks a deep intimacy with You and Your ways. May my encounters with you define me completely. Amen.

Psalm 85: Don’t look back in anger

By Priscilla 

Psalm 85 (NIV) 


For a short while at school we had this weird end-of-year tradition. It involved writing terribly cheesy ditties in each other’s schoolbooks. Apart from the ‘Roses are red, violets are blue’ variety of poems that invariably surfaced, this was another one that would do the rounds:


Friendship is like chinaware
So delicate and rare
Once broken can be mended
But the cracks are always there.


For an 11-year-old, it was a pretty ominous poem to read – beware of hits and bumps in any relationship because you are NEVER going to recover from it.

I am so thankful that over the years since becoming a Christian God has shown me the power behind a Godly restoration.
It is one that says, “Behold I am a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has come.”

None of this cracks and mending business - the old has well and truly GONE! We have been made brand NEW!

And this is applicable to anything – a new life in Christ, a marriage that has seen better days, a friendship that has gone pear-shaped, a sibling relationship that has soured – anything!

However Godly restoration requires willingness on our part too:


a) Knowing the truth that God forgives and that we need to forgive too.
(Vs 2 & 3)

You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.

b) God’s wrath is not permanent, and so ours should not be also
(Vs 4-6) 

Restore us again, God our Saviour,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?

c) Restoration requires a genuine, heartfelt repentance on our part (vs 7) 

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

d) Staying close to God and His Word will keep us from pitfalls (vs 8)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.

e) Help is always at hand – whether through His word or Godly counsel (vs 9)

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 83: How to pray with boldness and purpose

By Priscilla

Psalm 83 (NIV) 


There is no motivation like a calamity or crisis to get us on our knees. And this Psalm is a bit like that. Its writer, Asaph looks at Israel’s enemies who are surrounding them, baying for their blood and he calls out to God in desperation.

As God’s people we do have situations when we face attack in our lives and the church as a whole – whether that is serious illnesses or outright persecution this psalm extols us to pray to God with boldness and purpose.

Asaph is bold in asking for the destruction of God’s enemies. He remembers past victories of God over His enemies and knows God is powerful to do it again.

He goes on to pray that the enemies of God would become – tumbleweed, chaff, be consumed by fire, be terrified by a storm. Pretty brutal stuff.

But what really impresses me with Asaph’s prayer of purpose in verse 16:

Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.

He asks all those things, not only that they might be stopped in their wickedness but that they turn and repent and seek God.

We don’t pray hell, fire and brimstone on enemies – much as sometimes our emotions want us to – we pray ultimately that they meet with God powerfully.

We have great opportunities as a church, to corporately intercede for things that are going on in our lives, in our church, in the nation.

The worship team gathers to pray at 7am on Friday mornings at the church office. The next singers’ workshop on 15th May is going to focus on how can use worship and intercession effectively. And then there is Citygate’s Engine Room our monthly prayer meeting, which is great evening of worship, finding out what God is doing in our church and storming the heavens together seeking for breakthrough and direction for our church.

These are all great opportunities to put this psalm into action – to pray with great boldness and God-given purpose.

Psalm 73: Should have gone to specsavers

By Priscilla

Psalm 73 (NIV)


The recent Specsavers ad campaign is one of the funniest of British television right now. Their story lines usually involve some hapless visually-challenged individual doing the wrong thing like the farmer shearing his collie instead of his sheep or the father cheering for the wrong boy instead of his son on sports day.

The psalmist’s lament in the first part of this psalm (vs 4-11) is like a man before he’s gone to specsavers. He’s viewing everything around him with a flawed perception. It gives him a wrong understanding of what is good and what is bad. He knows people around him are wicked and yet envies their prosperity. He is not moved by the grief of their sinfulness but is instead overcome by greed.

It is like as Christians some times, we might look at the lifestyle of those around us who are not Christian – and their apparent loose lifestyle might cause us to secretly envy it. Like multiple sexual relationships before marriage, or dating non-Christians or viewing pornography. Doing any of the above, breaks God’s laws and His heart.

Being a Christian however means we get given God-tinted glasses to view the world as He sees it. This revelation once understood will keep us from ‘slippery ground that cast us down to ruin’. (vs 18) Some times we forget and remove our glasses.

When the psalmist sees through spiritual eyes that apparent prosperity of the wicked does not bring happiness but is despised by God as mere fantasies, he is freed from the oppression.

Let’s go to God’s specsavers today. A visit there will enhance our eyes to reiterate the psalmist’s prayer and view life and people in terms of eternity.

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. 

(vs 23-26)

Psalm 69: In every high and stormy gale

By Priscilla

Psalm 69 (NIV)


Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched. (Vs 1-3)


In the last few days I’ve found myself in a situation like the one mentioned above when it just seems like one bit of bad news after the next and the next and the next. It is almost relentless in volley and ferociousness.

The only thing I can cling on to in times likes these is God’s word. I thank God for it. There are countless verses to hold on to, to help us through difficult times. He has said, He will never leave not forsake us (Matt 28:20). He is capable to providing peace and comfort in the worst of situations in life. And has a proven track record for it.

He will hold you through the slimy pit of despair and set your feet on a rock. (Psalm 40:2)

Trusting God in difficult times forces us to seek His guidance. It takes faith and courage to trust Him through uncharted waters.

I find this verse particularly comforting during times of trial:


but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)


Peter did a couple of great posts last month on praying through difficult times.
He’s put in them some great tools for prayer in tough situations.

Another thing I found that gives me great strength are verses that I had memorised in Sunday School, probably for the shallow motivation of a prize, come back to my mind at just the right time to bring me tremendous comfort.


Focusing our mind away from the problems and difficulties at hand is very hard. They can be so consuming, so stressful, so depressing but the Bible says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing the word of God. Our hope gets strengthened by the word of God. Hope comes from reading His great promises. He will NEVER fail us.


Lord, we pray that in the midst of calamity and difficulty, we will turn to you for our source of comfort and peace. Knowing that you would help us ride the storm and set our feet on firm ground gives us great assurance. We trust in your plan for our lives, God and believe that you work all things together for our good. Amen.

Psalm 67: What will worship in heaven be like?

By Priscilla

Psalm 67 (NIV)


I was once on a local train in Mumbai, minding my own business, looking out of the window, when I noticed this girl sitting opposite me who had got on a couple of stops earlier. I looked at her face and I just knew in my heart she was a Christian. There was just something that connected. We got chatting later and there was such joy and delight when I found out that I was right. She was visiting the city for a few months and was looking for a church to go to and hadn’t been able to find one. By the time we reached our final destination, we had become firm friends and she came back home with me for a cup of tea that day. I love God moments like that where He, in His grace, connects you with His people from around the world in the oddest of situations.

As a Christian it doesn’t matter where in the world you find yourself but if you locate a group of fellow believers, you’ve just introduced yourself to family.

This verse reminds us of God’s international family.

May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy.
At Citygate, we are represented by about 30 different nationalities and cultures. We might find conversation hard with someone from another country, particularly if English is not their first language, but when we worship we are unified together in our love and adoration for Jesus. We may be miles from home but when we sing, we lift our voices out to the God and bring glory to His name (Ps 86:9)

This is a mere foretaste of heaven, of glory divine.

I don’t know whether heavenly worship is led by a 5-piece band or a 13-piece stringed Indian orchestra, but I do know what it says in Revelation 7:9-10:

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

Let’s get ready to sing songs in many languages, in different styles and cultures. It enhances our worship to God, it welcomes the foreigner and brings unity in the church. Let’s warm up for heaven.

Psalm 55: What to do when friends cause you pain

By Priscilla

Psalm 55 (NIV) 

I am a sucker for good thrillers. I like films in which we are left to guess the identity of the murderer or spy till the very last scene. Where we are left shocked and open-mouthed at the revelation of the baddie. Where we can’t believe that the hero’s close friend is the one that sold him on. “NOOOOOO,” I usually want to shout at the screen.

David is reeling in a similar fashion, in this Psalm. While for me it was a two-hour mild indulgent – for David it is his close friend who wants to pursue him with an army and kill him. When David finds this out, he can’t believe it in a scene reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “Et tu, Brutus?”

David’s lament is mired in far more anguish:

“It's you! We grew up together! You! My best friend! Those long hours of leisure as we walkedarm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.” (vs 13, MSG)

He refers to betrayal again in Psalm 41:9

“Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.”

This Passion Week, let’s also remember the bitter betrayal that Jesus received at the hands of Judas - one of His closest friends. If Jesus had a cell phone then, Judas would have been on his speed dial or most-frequently dialled numbers. Judas was THAT close to Jesus and yet he allowed greed and love for money to take firm root in his heart and using a brotherly affection betrayed Jesus to his enemies. (Matthew 26 & 27)

We can often respond to betrayal by harbouring bitterness, by trying to exact revenge, speaking ill of them and possibly even closing our hearts to any form of relationship with them.

But how did David and Jesus respond to a painful betrayal?
They both cried out to God in distress and God protected their honour and integrity.

David calls out to God to save him and He does (vs 18,19).
The man who betrays David then later kills himself. God’s justice works itself out.

Jesus allows Judas to betray him so that the scriptures could be fulfilled. Jesus took on Judas’ bitter betrayal along with everyone’s sins on earth and once and for all dealt with them on cross.
Judas, filled with remorse for what he had done, hanged himself.

Let’s today mediate on the verse that David concludes with this Psalm with and allow our response to back-stabbing, slander and betrayal be the same as David’s and Jesus’.

Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken. (vs 22) 

Psalm 49: Finally! An investment with good returns

By Priscilla

Psalm 49 (NIV)

If you’ve ever read an account by someone who has had to face their mortality, the underlying conclusion is usually one of changed priorities. You will often read statements like, “I don’t care about how money I earn, it’s only my family that matters,” or “A career, promotion, bigger house, bigger car seem so irrelevant when you’ve been told you’ve got six months to live.”

Whatever rocky journey those survivors have come through, they have emerged with a profound revelation that life is fragile and NOTHING material that we strive for in this earth we can take with us to the life beyond.

That is exactly what this wise psalmist is writing about. (vs 17)

I read an awful statistic once that said by 9am every day the average western, urban consumer has consciously or subconsciously absorbed 250 brands or segments of advertising! That is lot of aspirational, out-of-reach products that are streaming their way into our brains.

And is it only the shock of a near-death experience that re-wires the coding in our brains to think – ‘Hang on! I might have got my priorities mixed up somewhere?’

That is definitely not to say working hard or owning nice things is bad but look at it as if your house, car or job were a trust fund from God. If He were to ask you to give either or all of those things up, would you turn away with your heart full of sorrow or would you gladly give it up and say, ‘What’s next, Lord? Where do you want me to go?’

However, if it is God’s will for you to have that great job/car/house/family/talent – how are you using it to glory of God? Are you using it to invest into God’s Kingdom, thereby laying up for yourselves ‘treasures in heaven’? (Matt 6:19-20)

Like the psalmist says, there is no price we can ever pay to escape death (vs 8) and as Hebrews 9:27 says, ‘It is appointed for man to die once.’

Death is inevitable, but how we invest our time on earth is up to us.
We can live it to please ourselves or we can live it to bring praise to Jesus.
After all, God is eternal. He will live forever.
An investment into His bank will always pay fantastic dividends and will never lead us into a recession.
Let’s seek His Kingdom always and live our lives fully to the glory of God! Amen.

Psalm 43: Battle for a clear mind

By Priscilla

Psalm 43 (NIV) 


When we were growing up, my dad once got us a tropical fish tank. It brought us a lot of amusement – from trips to the grotty fish market to staying up well into the night waiting for a fat guppy to give birth. It was mildly entertaining – by and large.

This fish tank had a filter that kept the water fresh and clean. Occasionally the filter would stop working and literally overnight the water would get so murky we wouldn’t be able to see the fish anymore.

On the odd days I am moping about the house feeling gloomy for whatever reason – my mind feels like that dirty fish tank whose filter has just gone kaput.

And believe me, the last thing I ‘feel’ like doing is picking up my Bible and singing praises to God! However when I ‘choose’ to finally read my Bible – each verse hits the spot like a soothing balm and speaks right into my situation.

Like the Psalmist who has been feeling incredibly oppressed and downcast laments and then cries out in verses 2-4:


Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
Send me your light and your faithful care, 
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

The truth in God’s word is the Light that this Psalmist is asking for. It is only truth from God that is powerful enough to shine through the murky depths of a gloomy soul.

When the water in our old fish tank got cloudy, one of us would have to remove the filter, unscrew its various components and wash and rinse the bits inside really well. THAT was not a job we liked doing! There were these awful black, smelly bits and other unmentionables that would appear and we would have to rinse and rinse it through till the original colour of the sponge inside the filter emerged. It was a vile job. But once the filter was cleaned out and put back, the water would return to being bright, clean and sparkly again.

Sometimes, the filter in our minds can get cloudy – prognosis of an illness is not great, work is stressful and over-demanding of us, we don’t feel we are good enough to do anything or any other thoughts if let loose can take us to some very dark places.

But when we clean the filter of our mind under the ever-running tap of God’s word (reading it, studying it, meditating on it) our minds are transformed to be bright, clean and sparkly again. Getting rid of stuff that has clogged up our minds can be a pretty gross job – but we will be all the better for it - trust God!

His word in Romans 12:2 says, Our lives will be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

If His Word says it – then it’s true. Let's believe it.

Psalm 37: 20 Reasons Not to Give a Bribe

By Priscilla
Psalm 37 (NIV)


Friends in my home country in India often lament about the corruptness of public officials they come in contact with. Whether it is getting a house or vehicle registered, voter’s card, moving furniture from one state to another – there seems to always be some official or paper pusher who wants their palm greased. And in the determination not to succumb to the pressure of giving a bribe – the work is delayed, a file goes ‘missing’, the only person available to sign the final document is, err…away and will be back in ‘two weeks’. This and lots of other excuses routinely cropped. And everyday as they wait patiently at reception, hoping that surely their file will be signed today. They watch as other people stroll in, get their paperwork signed and walk out smiling. It’s tempting when they know that they are only a few hundred rupees away from sauntering out of that office - registration signed and completed.

But this psalm is one of amazing hope to those of us who find ourselves surrounded by people who look like they are batting one six after another and never get out despite all their LBWs.

Psalm 37 clearly promises that if we follow God wholeheartedly then:

• We will dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (vs 3) 
• God will give us the desires of our heart (vs 4) 
• Our righteousness reward will shine like the dawn (vs 6) 
• Our vindication like the noonday sun (vs 6) 
• We will inherit the land (vs 9, 11, 29, 34) 
• We will enjoy peace and prosperity (vs 11) 
• In famine, we will enjoy plenty (vs 18) 
• Though we may stumble, we won’t fall. God will uphold us (vs 24) 
• We will not be forsaken, nor will our children go hungry (vs 25) 
• Their children will be a blessing (vs 26) 
• God will not forsake those who are faithful (vs 28) 
• God will not leave us to the power of the wicked (vs 33) 
• God will be our stronghold in times of trouble (vs 39) 
• God will deliver us from the wicked (vs 40) 

I’m not quite sure what half of the above mean, i.e. our righteousness reward will shine like the dawn (vs 6) but it sounds pretty awesome! More so everything else.


As for the wicked, this psalm tell us that:

• Like the grass, they will wither and die (vs 2) 
• Those who are evil will be destroyed (vs 9 & 28) 
• Their swords will pierce their own hearts (vs 15) 
• They will go up in smoke (vs 20) 
• Their children will perish (vs 28) 
• There is no future for the wicked (vs 38) 

When we read it together like that – it’s a sure motivation to run as far away from doing evil as possible.

Let’s run instead towards our Holy God. By staying close to Him and allowing our lives to be moulded by His Word, let us persevere in doing what is right. It may take longer to get our paperwork sorted but in doing that we know that we are pleasing God and building into the earthly and eternal rewards that He has promised.

Psalm 31: Thank God it's no longer Friday

By Priscilla

Psalm 31 (NIV)


Ever had one of those weeks when it gets to Thursday and you think surely this week can’t get any worse and then along comes Friday - and there’s yet ANOTHER crisis/death/illness staring at you in your face.

And your cry, like David’s is, ‘How much more, Lord? I can’t take this anymore.’ (vs 9-13)

It almost feels like being holed up in a cardboard box and relentlessly pounded and battered with one shock after the other.

In those times of intense suffering and weakness, it can feel much easier to slide into a void of depression, loneliness and anxiety. But in this psalm we read a famous phrase that is used here first, before we hear it from Jesus on that first Good Friday – ‘Into your hands, I commit my spirit.’ (vs 5).

Jesus had just been through the worst possible traumatic experience of His life. Firstly a close friend betrayed Him, then in the face of clear and present danger – He was deserted by all His friends. He faced a court trial on his OWN, a room that was filled with jeering enemies. And not one person came forward to say – ‘Yes, Jesus healed me’, ‘Yes, Jesus delivered me’. Of all the multitudes He healed, fed, restored – not one came to help Him in His time of need. He was then sentenced to death through what has been citied as one of the world’s most horrific methods of execution – crucifixion. And after the horrific beating, when He finally hung there on the cross – stripped of all His strength and dignity and in the final face of death, He said to the Father, ‘Into Your hands, I commit my spirit.’

Jesus had just had one of those weeks too.

And then came Sunday! And what a Sunday that was!

Psalm 31:2 says, ‘Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.’

See, God DOES come to our rescue. Like in the previous psalm (30), from where the song takes this line, ‘There may be pain the night, but joy comes with the morning.’

There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus went through Black Friday to get to Bright Sunday.

That is the beauty of the gospel – there is ALWAYS hope for those who remain faithful to Him. Because He remains faithful to us despite every sling of mud life throws to our face.

23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

Let’s not lose hope in the face of trial but preserve with godliness and look to God to keep going and not give up.