Pentecost and the Promised Spirit

As I did my weekend’s reading, I am being reminded of how the LORD said, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days“ (Joel 2:28–29, NIV), seeing how the presence of the Holy Spirit lives permanently in all of God’s people and how this day brought the dawn of the church and the coming of the Holy Spirit, as promised by Joel’s prophecy. And, the Holy Spirit first came to those who proclaimed the story of Jesus on Pentecost, but to all who hear the message, believe, and respond by being baptized, on that day and all the days of conversion to follow (Acts 2:38–39, NIV).

Today, I praise God that you & I live in the age of the Holy Spirit as we see His power released upon our lives and through our churches driven by the Holy Spirit. And, I pray for the Holy Spirit to drive and empower us to be the living witness to pre-believers and trust Him to influence our heart and shape our lives up even as I pondered through my weekend’s reading.

May we be driven and be empowered by the Holy Spirit who influences our heart and shape our life today!

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 & Certificate in HR studies @ Human Capital Singapore (Dec 2021 to June 2022). Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013); as KeyGuard Specialist @(these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch); an Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017); as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, Jeremy is a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Stories for LIFE (Affiliated with Youth Corps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster) that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in the society, as well as being a PwD Advocate – a representing voice of the Disabled Community to the public today. 

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, help us to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to be conformed to the character and compassion of Jesus. Influence our hearts and shape our lives up today.

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 28th May 2023 – Pentecost Sunday)

What Mothers Need

 

As I meditated upon how Solomon said, “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30b, NIV) in my weekend’s reading, I see that mothers need to be praised like all of us. A mother who knows she is valued can handle almost anything. She has the skill and energy to cook, sew, teach, do business, care for her family, help the needy, and deal with difficulties. But if a woman is never praised, she will feel unloved, unskilled, and useless. A mother needs to be thanked, prized, and praised every day.

A God–fearing woman is to be praised by her children, her husband, and “in the city gate” by community leaders. These days many community leaders–politicians, media, educators, bosses–honor glamour more than godliness; That can be discouraging.

But a mother will still be encouraged if her children stand and say, “God bless you, Mom, for being such a blessing to us.” She will smile to hear her husband say, “I love you. Other women might do good things, but you're the best!”

The highest praise any woman can receive is praise from God. What counts most is what God thinks: “The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit ... is of great worth in God's sight” (1 Peter 3:4, NIV).

Mothers, rejoice in the praise that comes from God. Husbands and children, praise God for Mom, and praise Mom in a way that echoes God’s own praise of her.

About the Profile:
Dr. David Feddes is pastor of Family of Faith Church and provost of Christian Leaders Institute, which supports mentor-based ministry training through online courses. David is also adjunct missiologist for Crossroad Bible Institute, which provides biblical distance education to more than 40,000 people in prison. Previously he served as broadcast minister for the Back to God radio program, reaching people in more than fifty countries. David earned his Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, Wendy, have nine children (one in heaven).

Profile Background:
Father, we praise you, Lord, for Godly wives and loving mothers. You have blessed us through them. Bless them through us and make them feel treasured by you.

(Written by Dr. David Feddes, 14th May 2006 – Mother’s Day)