At The Beginning

As the Scriptures said, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, KJV). Everything has a beginning – our lives, our families, our work, our relationships, our’ years. All we see around us had a beginning somewhere, and that includes the earth and the heavens. God made all this long ago. A new year begins with new possibilities, new challenges, and new experiences awaiting us. And, God says, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3, KJV) and how God formed the universe out of void in darkness till light came into being. God planted seeds in the garden. God sends the sun and the rain. He created the seeds on the ground. The apostle Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6, KJV), truly, we thank God, for people who grow fruits on the ground today. We are stewards who would take care of this garden. As God created the heavens and the earth, so God also creates each new–year;

If we know God personally through Jesus Christ, we can look at each new–year and even each new day as another opportunity to start over again with hope and God's guidance.

With this perspective, we can face whatever comes into our lives with confidence and hope in the promise that God is with us all the way. 

From God’s perspective, each day is an opportunity.

How will we face this year? Will we look at it with fear and trembling, or will we approach it with excitement and eagerness?

Profile Background:
(Written by Roger E. Brannon, – (Florida, U.S.A) from the Upper Room Ministries, except the unrecalled date/year of published time)

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Father, we make a choice to serve the Lord. We pray for God to help us see ourselves in His image + bear the image of God in our lives.

Nation Builder’s Day

On this 56th National Day, as I meditated upon how the apostle Timothy said, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV), I pray for Singapore to never descend into chaos like some countries where elections are a sham, marred by deception, division, and distrust and for us to be God–fearing and vote responsibly as Christians. Truly, I thank God for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when he appointed a Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in response to GE2020 results that showed a clear desire for a diversity of voices in Parliament (The Straits Times, July 28, 2020) as featured inside the 40 Days (2021) devotional text. I pray for mutual respect, truth, and wisdom to prevail over all un–righteousness and un–godliness. And, I pray for a stronger representation of minorities stepping up as they take ownership of nation– building, with vision, passion, and a deep sense of duty and for aspiring leaders learn to first lay down their lives and humbly serve from the ground up.

I pray for our next Prime Minister to be a person of integrity – to be proven, humble, selfless, mature, courageous, discerning, and wise, leading Singapore forward through unchartered waters and for Singapore’s leadership renewal and succession process to be a model worthy of emulation by the rest of the world and for our Government to remain corruption–free, for “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34, NKJV) and for our Ministers to attain the highest standards in their character – keeping all their actions above board. I pray for them to continually review and improve social policies to foster equal opportunity for all, making sure no one falls through the cracks, and no one is left behind that our Government will remain ever vigilant as they keep on moving, adjusting existing policies and designing new solutions that empower Singapore to thrive in these changing times.

I pray for our Ministers, ambassadors, and diplomats to enjoy favour on the international stage as they sharply discern any hidden motives and agenda behind the words and actions of superpowers that court us and for our foreign investors to continue to have confidence in Singapore as a great place to do business because of our political stability and consistent policies. I pray for God to stir the heart of our Government to increase practical assistance to nations in crisis, sharing best practices, and helping less fortunate neighbours succeed in their own nation–building efforts and for us to passionately cooperate with their nation–building efforts.

I pray for young Christian couples to choose to be fruitful and multiply as commanded by our Creator (Genesis 1:28b, ESV) and for corporations to heed the call and support the initiative with family– friendly policies at home. May we pay attention to our ageing parents and honour them as commanded in the Word (Exodus 20:12, ESV), and to prepare them mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually for their golden years, so that they can flourish in old age, for us to be good neighbours and look out for seniors in our blocks, especially the elderly poor who live alone.

Let’s pray for the Singapore Church to honour God by supporting this nation–building priority!

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 9th August 2021 – National Day)

Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, we pray for Singapore’s political stability and for the vigilant efforts of our government to curb external and internal threats to our racial and religious harmony. We thank you for your protection, preservation and blessings over our nation despite of many challenges and uncertainties brought on by the global pandemic, as Singapore celebrates her 56th birthday today on 9th August.

Jesus, give our government leaders who work tirelessly to upgrade our healthcare capabilities, social and economic systems, to counter the negative impact of COVID–19. Give them wisdom + far–sightedness, courage and strength to make good decisions for the future of Singapore, as we continue to prosper under God’s mighty hand and so fulfill our calling to be the Antioch of Asia.

The Cabinet:
Mdm Halimah Yacob
President
 

Mr Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister

Mr Teo Chee Hean
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security

 
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for  Social Policies

Mr Heng Swee Keat
Deputy Prime Minister

Dr Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Defence

Mr K. Shanmugam
Minister for Home Affairs & Minister for Law
 

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Education

Mr Ong Ye Kung
Minister for Health

Mr Desmond Lee
Minister for National Development

Ms Grace Fu
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

Mr Gan Kim Yong
Minister for Trade & Industry

Mr S. Iswaran
Minister for Transport

Mr. Masagos Zulkifli
Minister for Social and Family Development
2nd Minister for Health

Mr Lawrence Wong
Minister for Finance

Mrs Josephine Teo
Minister for Communications and Information
2nd Minister for Home Affairs

Mr Edwin Tong
Minister for Culture, Community & Youth
2nd Minister for Law

Dr Tan See Leng
Minister for Manpower
2nd Minister for Trade & Industry

Ms Indranee Rajah
Minister, PMO
2nd Minister for Finance
2nd Minister for National Development

Dr Maliki Osman
Minister, PMO
2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs
2nd Minister for Education