Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

For the musical tone and sound, check out here.

That’s just the first stanza of this song. Sometimes in the rat race of the survival of the fittest, I find comfort in the hymms and lyrics of old Christian favorites. There are people and even fellow bloggers who run each other down as they compete for attention and more so for the money of paid blogging. Competition is also common in corporate working life where the best stays and the weaker ones leave. Since the fall of Adam, the ground is cursed and the first Man had to work and labor to bring back food after being kicked out from the Garden of Paradise. Since then, whatever we do, we have to sweat it out and work hard for our keep. This is the nature of fallen Man. But with the favor of God for the child of our Heavenly Father, this may not be so. He os she stands on favor ground and no longer on cursed ground.

3. He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but one who keeps company with harlots squanders his substance.

11. A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

17. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

23. A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

25. The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.

In the Book of Proverbs, many times we have been reminded to remain humble and not to let pride get in the way. As stated in verse 23, A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. As they say, pride goes before a fall. The above are some of the selected good verses for today’ reading from Proverbs written by King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived.

6. Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways.

14. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord always; but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

20. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

24. He who robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is the companion of a man who destroys.

25. A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

In verse 14, it says blessed is the man who fears the Lord. In this context, the word fear means giving reverential honor to the Lord. As I honor the Lord and his word, I will not fall into calamity or disaster. More importantly, I need to keep my pride in check and to remain humble if possible. Prosperity comes to those who are humble and not deceitful and it comes from God the Father. Our heavenly Father has established tithing as a way to be prosperous.

About the Cat and Dog Theology, it is actually a book written by 2 persons and the premise of this book actually refers to 2 types of Christians – the Cat Christians and the Dog Christians. For those of you who keep cats as pets, you will notice that the cat is your owner and will come to you when it needs food from you. However, dogs are absolutely the reverse. The moment you come back from work, you pet dog is ready sitting, waiting for you while wagging its tail non-stop and looking up at you with its adorable eyes. We should be like Dog Christians, ever ready to serve the church in terms of our time, or finance depending on our individual talents. We ought to have right referential honor to Jesus and God the Father.

Proverbs 25:17-18

17. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

And another one here in verses 21 – 22.

21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22. for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

And finally the last verse

28. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

In another version, it says that a patient man is greater than a warrior who builds a city. We need to control our temper for it is written a patient man with self-control is greater than a warrior who builds a city.

When Israel was outnumbered and enemies were coming from the north, south, east and west to fight them by the dozens of thousands, God Most High told the Jews to bring musical instruments as their weapons. So when the day of war came, the Israelites gathered on a hill and started praising God and playing their musical instruments. When the different camps of enemies saw this, they got confused who the enemy is and instead fought amongst themselves and killed each other! They thought the Jews who were playing the musical instruments and praising God were in their team and fought their own compatriots instead! This is so funny! God is really mighty. His ways are not our ways, His thought are not our thoughts. We just need to humbly obey and be victorious.

12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
14. And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

It is written to apply kindness, humbleness of mind and meekness in our daily lives as we mingle with people, our families, colleagues and even fellow bloggers. The non-Christians will perceive this as weakness, but God knows better and tells us to forgive our enemies so that you don’s carry the hurt and fester into a disease later on. Many illnesses are borne due to unforgiveness and bitterness in the heart. But when you forgive and forget, you move on and don’t harbor bitterness anymore. This is good for you and ensures healthy longevity.

Here are the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit listed one right after the other in a bullet point format:

Now here is the specific verse from Scripture where these 9 fruits are being given to us by the Lord:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

Let us meditate on God’s word and apply the fruits of the holy spirit in our lives not only during Christmas in the spirit of giving, magnanimity and forgiveness. And let us not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of the mind each day by reading the Bible faithfully. I read my Bible each morning as I wake up for my spiritual food or taking bread from heaven, do you?

Elvis Presley had everything he wanted – money, fame, a beautiful wife, a kid, big house, nice car, etc. Yet he was feeling empty inside. When he approached his pastor, he was crying and shared this with his pastor. Fast forward to another famous personality many years later, Leslie Cheung, a Hong Kong actor and musician who suffered from clinical depression also followed suit. Known affectionately as “Gorgor,” Leslie Cheung, 46, committed suicide on April 1, 2003 by jumping from the 24th floor of Central Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

And you read in the newspapers of people committing suicide even though they have everything that we desire, the fame and money that we envy. It is very true as written in the first book of the New Testament of Matthew in chapter 4, verse 4 which says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Do you place God first in your lives or do you put temporal tangible things and unreliable human relationships first in your lives? Let God the Heavenly Father be the master of your lives and He will guide you to health, wealth and prosperity.

Another verse from Proverbs 22 that speaks out to me today is verse 24 which says “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25. lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” When I was working in Singapore, I used to be hot tempered and having pride. That’s because I was in close association with someone I know who easily gives in to anger and extremely jealous. Inadvertently, I learnt of her ways and got myself ensnared and could not get along with people. I also think too highly of myself. When I realized my mistake, I decided not to be closely associated with this person as it was to my disadvantage than a blessing from past experiences.

When I tithe to church, God has led me to know the right people at the right time and doing the right things without me knowing it initially and later on to realize about the benefit. Even my boss is a converted Christian and we go to the same church. Everything falls in place smoothly for me. I don’t have to struggle hard or persevere hard, yet the blessings are more. If you like to know more about tithing, check out this site by New Creation Church which is where I got my spiritual food from. Note that I don’t get any referral commission from here but this is the MOST ANNOINTED CHURCH that I have ever attended!

I spend my mornings reading God’s Word, the Bible. My routine is reading a chapter of Proverbs each day that commensurate with the day of the month, a chapter of Psalms 91 for protection, Colossians 3:12 to be gentle and to forgive and Psalms chapter 1 on blessings. I don’t consider this a drudgery but sometime that comes naturally to me.

Proverbs 20

1. Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2. The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
3. [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
5. Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7. The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
8. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10. Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the Lord.
11. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.
12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14. [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
16. Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17. Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18. [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19. He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21. An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23. Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance [is] not good.
24. Man’s goings [are] of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25. [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27. The spirit of man [is] the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29. The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Proverbs 19

1. Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2. Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.
3. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.
6. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [to him].
8. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.
10. Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.
12. The king’s wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass.
13. A foolish son [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
14. House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the Lord.
15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21. [There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
22. The desire of a man [is] his kindness: and a poor man [is] better than a liar.
23. The fear of the Lord [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24. A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge. 26. He that wasteth [his] father, [and] chaseth away [his] mother, [is] a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.
28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29. Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

1. Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3. The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
4. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6. Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8. A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11. An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14. The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the Lord.
16. Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21. He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22. A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23. A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24. Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26. Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.