My dear readers,

1. New Year’s Blessings

                                                             God bless thy year
                                                            Thy coming in, thy going out,
                                                            Thy rest, thy travelling about,
                                                            The rough, the smooth,
                                                            The bright, the drear;
                                                            God bless thy year!

                                                                                                – Prayers collected from "Scouter’s 5 Cutouts" The Leader magazine

2. "Serve the Lord with gladness" Psalm 100:2

Daily Remembrancer, November 9 Evening

"COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING." It is a joy to serve the Lord. Our God is infinitely happy, and He loves to see His creatures happy too. He provided every thing necessary to make them happy at first, but sin destroyed much of God's fair creation. He would have us happy now, happy in His service. Therefore He has provided for our happiness in the everlasting gospel. Jesus says, "Believe with all your heart that I died on Calvary’s cross for your sins and I will give you a free pardon; I will confer on you a perfect righteousness. I will purify your hearts, supply all your needs for victorious service, admit you into my presence for holy fellowship, keep you by my power, give you grace while you live and glory when you die." Is not this enough to make you glad and to induce you to "Serve the Lord with gladness?" Brethren, in God's service we should be cheerful; we must realize our adoption, and serve Him as dear children fully persuaded of the Father's love. Let us serve Him out of love. Let us serve Him in the world, in our homes, and in the church; and let our gladness be clearly seen in our conduct, even a message which reads, "I serve my Lord with gladness and I would not be otherwise employed."

                                                                                            Lord, disperse my sin and sadness,
                                                                                            Speak salvation to my heart ;
                                                                                           Then I'll serve with joy and gladness,
                                                                                           Then I’ll show how good Thou art.

3. "A living sacrifice" Romans 12:1

Daily Remembrancer, August 24 MORNING

"YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN." The word of God has clear instructions for Christian conduct. A Christian is likened to an animal of sacrifice. When an animal was set apart for sacrifice to God, it was considered sacred, and was carefully preserved, for God must have the best. Similarly, the Christian is devoted to God, for holy use, body and soul. It is not to be defiled by any sort of uncleanness and sin such as fornication, intoxication, filthiness, and worldly practices. He belongs to the Lord, being bought with the blood of Jesus; his body is to be consecrated as the temple of the Holy Ghost, set apart for the habitation of our thrice Holy God. Therefore, the believer should not be united by marriage to an unbeliever; this is sacrilege, for his vessel belongs to God and is holy; it is rebellion, for it is plainly and positively forbidden; it is sinning wilfully and provoking the eyes of divine holiness. Neither should a believer join hands with idolaters and enemies of the gospel. It is offering insult to the God of love. Believer, present your body daily to God, washed and cleansed from defilement by obedience to His word. This is our reasonable return of gratitude to God for buying us back to Himself, by our Saviour’s sacrifice at Calvary.

                                                                                         Lord, it is but just and right
                                                                                        That I should be wholly Thine;
                                                                                        Only in Thy will delight,
                                                                                        Make Thy blessed service mine;
                                                                                        Now my sacrifice receive,
                                                                                        Give me grace for Thee to live.

4. "Brethren, the time is short" 1 Corinthians 7:29

Daily Remembrancer, November 20 MORNING

"SO TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, THAT WE MAY APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM." Enjoyments and sufferings are short-lived, for they are bounded by time, and are confined to the present world. Then our opportunities to glorify our God below must also be short; therefore we ought to seize them and improve them with all our might. Then the triumphing of the wicked is short and the contradiction of sinners against us will soon be ended; let us therefore be patient, prayerful, and diligent, for our redemption draweth nigh. The time is short; then we shall soon see our Lord, enjoy the company of our sanctified brethren, and be for ever with the Lord. The time is short, but eternity is long; let us therefore be laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt; and let us be daily preparing for our last remove. The time is short, it flies away, our dying day will soon be here; it remains therefore, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and "they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they possessed not." (cf. 1Cor. 7:30) Behold, the Lord is at hand, the time is short.

                                                                                   O may my soul maintain her ground,
                                                                                   From faith to faith go on!
                                                                                   At the last day in Christ be found,
                                                                                  To join the circles that surround
                                                                                   His everlasting throne.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor