Fill My Cup Lord

Created by Carole Weaver

'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.' Psalms 23:5 (NKJV)

Ever so often we need times of refreshing. In the hot noonday sun of Samaria a Jesus Christ sat by the well. By and by a Samaritan woman came to fetch water and to refresh herself of thirst. Jesus Christ engaged her in conversation of thirst and much quenching water. Jesus requested this Samaritan for a drink, which surprised her because Jews would have nothing to do with Samaritans. 

As she delivered water to Him, Jesus told her that He will give her living water and after drinking she will never thirst again.

"Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I will give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling stream within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:13-14. (NLT) 

Like this woman, we are at times physically and spiritually dehydrated. Those of us who have gone for long route marches, know what it is to feel thirsty. We long for the water bottle decanter of ice cold water. That is physical thirst and in a way it indicates to us what it feels like to be profoundly deprived. 

But there is also a spiritual deprivation and a profound craving, a spiritual thirst. That spiritual thirst, only God can satisfy. 

'As the deer longs for streams of living water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.' Psalm 42:1-2a (NLT)

'When the poor and the needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.' Isaiah 41:17-18 (NLT)

This is the living water that Jesus said He will give that Samaritan woman, the living water that will quench us until we will never thirst again. 

 

 'Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10 (NLT)

That living water will satisfy us in two ways. Firstly, it will be our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins and the restoration of a broken relationship between God and us. We will have streams of living water deep within us.

'Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart." John 7:37b-38 (NLT)

After the miracle of the loaves and fishes, feeding five thousand, Jesus said to believe in Him and He will give us the bread of life and living water. Jesus is our enduring satiation from hunger and thirst.

'Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 (NLT)

Secondly, the living water will be our spiritual refreshment. In this earthly life, we will face trying and difficult times. In times like these, we can be physically and spiritually drained, sapped of our energy and there can be no inspiration for living. Sometimes we feel as though we are an empty tank, depleted of vitality.

Spiritual refreshment is the restoration of strength, vigour and liveliness. It is a relief after suffering and grieving. We need the living water to refresh us! 

'I will pour out water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.' Isaiah 44:3-4

Our strength will be renewed,

'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 

An unknown writer (Ref 1) wrote this poem, 'Fill My Cup Lord.'

When I am tired and weary

And I have lost my zeal,

Fill my cup Lord;

For I long to do Thy will.

When I get discouraged,

And my spirit needs to be renewed

Fill my cup Lord

So my soul may be rescued

When I am tempted by

Satan and one of his schemes,

Fill my cup Lord

So that I may see Your light as it brightly beams.

When sickness and sorrow

Comes my way,

Fill my cup Lord

For I know you're in control and they'll not forever stay.

Now, when I've resisted any

Temptations to do wrong,

You've filled my cup Lord!

For you abide in me and I in you; You've made me strong.

Like the woman at the well

I was seeking

For things that could not satisfy

And then I heard my Savior speaking

"Draw from My well that never shall run dry"

Fill my cup, Lord

I lift it up, Lord

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul

Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

There are millions in this world

Who are craving

The pleasures, earthly things of gold

But none can match the wondrous treasure

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord

Fill my cup, Lord

I lift it up, Lord

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul

Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

Here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole 

So my brother if the things that this world gives you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray— 

Fill my cup, Lord

I lift it up, Lord

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul

Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

Here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole 

'Fill My Cup, Lord,' fill it to the brim and overflowing. May my cup 'runneth' over.  

Lionel

Ref 1 https://slife.org/fill-my-cup-lord/

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

 

'I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.' Job 19:25

Satan had struck Job down. God gave His permission in a challenge by Satan to test the veracity of Job's faithfulness. The devil claimed that Job's faith will falter and in the end Job would turn away from his faith. At the height of this testing; suffering and in the poorest of health, his skin was covered with sores, Job agonised and his laments are recorded in Job Chapter 19.

'My breath is repulsive to my wife.' Job 19:17a (NLT)

 'I have been reduced to skin and bones.' Job 19:20a (NLT)

But Job's faith never faltered. He remained steadfast in the most adverse of circumstances. Sitting on a dung heap, Job could still declare,

'But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. But after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!' Job 19:25-26

Not only is this one of the greatest testimony of faith, it is also a prophecy, a prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ and the eventual victory over Satan; over sin and death; over suffering and deprivations. 

This poignant song of victory 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' is composed by Handel in the cantata 'Messiah.' 

I know that my redeemer liveth
And that he shall stand
At the latter day, upon the earth
I know that my redeemer liveth
And that he shall stand
At the latter day, upon the earth
Upon the earth

I know that my redeemer liveth
And he shall stand
Stand at the latter day, upon the earth
Upon the earth

And though worms destroy this body
Yet in my flesh shall I see God
Yet in my flesh shall I see God

I know that my redeemer liveth
And though worms destroy this body
Yet in my flesh shall I see God
Yet in my flesh shall I see God
Shall I see God

I know that my redeemer liveth
For now is Christ risen from the dead
The first fruits of them that sleep
Of them that sleep
The first fruits of them that sleep
For now is Christ risen
For now is Christ risen from the dead
The first fruits of them that sleep

Until that day when Christ shall come again, Satan remains a pernicious influence on this earth. Have you ever wondered, when things go so right in the church and in your ministry and life and then suddenly serious obstacles and challenges begin to appear? The devil is in the thick of things. The Apostle Peter warned,

'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' 1 Peter 1:8

This reality struck home recently for several families in our church. We are looking forward to going back to our newly constructed church premises. After several years of being in the doldrums of reduced church attendances during the Covid and post-Covid pandemic and worshipping in temporary premises, we are looking forward to returning to worship in a beautiful church sanctuary with new facilities. We are hoping to become an attractive community to the Koon Seng and Joo Chiat neighbourhoods and then suddenly so many of our faithful and serving members are struck down by cancer. Makes us wonder whether Satan is up to his tricks again.

But like Job, we will not buckle under. Like Job even in the midst of difficulties and sufferings, we will stand firm in our faith. St Peter spurs us on with these words,

'Resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.' 1 Peter 1:9

'And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.' 1 Peter 1:10

We live in a different era from Job. We have Christ who takes our burden. He said,

'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' Matthew 11:28- 29

We live in Anno Domini, the year of the Lord. Christ has come once and He lives in our midst and Christ shall come again. 'He Lives.'

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart

In all the world around me I see His loving care

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast

The day of His appearing will come at last

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find

None other is so loving, so good and kind

Lionel

My God Has Conquered The Grave

'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting' 1 Cor 15: 54b-55 

Most human beings are gripped by the fear of death. Yet it is life's only certainty. The glib and witty American author, Mark Twain said, "This life is a losing proposition; nobody gets out of it alive." Death is the hallmark, the sure proof of  our mortality. So why fear?

• We fear the Pain of Death. We have watched some friends dying in pain, experiencing them suffer severe symptoms. Instinctively, we wish it not on ourselves. 

• We fear the Loss of Death. Some of us are so attached to the riches and wealth of materialism, that we cannot bear to lose them. We have become so acquainted to this world, our style of living, the worldly pleasures and comforts; we cannot part from them.

• We fear the Separation of Death. Oftentimes we are not ready to leave family and friends. Husbands and wives fear being separated from one another. Children are not ready to leave parents and parents are not ready to let go, hoping to see their children and grandchildren grow.

• We fear the Penalty of Death. Perhaps our greatest fear is of the divine judgement that many believe will follow. We are not ready, we are guilty of our sins. We may not have been reconciled with God our maker and so we hesitate, even resist, to be plunged into the unknown and face God.

Timothy Keller died on the 19 May 2023 after several years of fighting cancers, first the thyroid and later the pancreas. He has had much thought about the death and dying as a Pastor who sat at the bedside counselling many who faced imminent death. He has to live with his own personal experiences and fears facing death. 

Keller wrote, "While people have many reactions to being in the presence of death, there two opposite mistakes we can make: One is to despair too much; the other is to shrug it off and not learn what we should from it. Neither will be of much benefit to you, so we must do what the Bible tells us to do in the face of death: We should grieve, yet we should have hope; we should wake up from our denial and discover a source of peace that will never leave us; and finally we should laugh and sing."

Keller preached a sermon on boldness in the face of death and recounted what (Ref 1) he learned after opening up his fears as he was rolled into the operating theatre. In that moment he realised the sheer magnitude of God's glory beyond the world of pain and suffering and cancer and death.

"One of the few times I needed courage, God was very happy to give it to me, and it was very nice. When I was going under, being wheeled in for my only cancer surgery — I had thyroid cancer years ago — I do remember (it was so nice) I suddenly had this sense that the world is wonderful and the universe is this big ball of the glory of God, and we’re just trapped in this little tiny speck of darkness. And even that’s going to be taken away eventually. Therefore, no matter what happens now, whatever happens with the surgery, I’m going to be all right. My family is going to be all right. The world is going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right. It was very nice to have a moment of courage."  

 

As the Lord had comforted Timothy Keller, He will guide all who are suffering cancers and severe diseases; He holds us in the palm of His Hand.

'He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' 2 Tim 2:9-10

There are three promises in the verse above. Death has lost its sting. Why?

• Salvation. Sin has no power over us. Christians have been reconciled with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

'We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sin' Romans 3:22-25 (NLT)

• Grace. Grace is a gift from God which we do not merit nor deserve. 

'But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved.)' Ephesians 2:4-5

'God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9 

• Immortality. The assurance and evidence for the immortality of our bodies and souls is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like him, after dying we will be resurrected. Despite our frail frames and broken bodies, death is just but a transition to immortality.

'For our dying bodies will be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:53-55

 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23

 Tim Keller wrote, 

'When I got my cancer diagnosis, I had to look not only at my professed beliefs, which align with historical Protestant orthodoxy, but also at my actual understanding of God. Had it been shaped by my culture? Had I been slipping unconsciously into the supposition that God lived for me rather than I for him, that life should go well for me, that I knew better than God does how things should go? The answer was yes—to some degree. I found that to embrace God’s greatness, to say “Thy will be done,” was painful at first and then, perhaps counterintuitively, profoundly liberating.' 

Realising these three promises will give us courage to face death. It will be liberating. Our Lord is 'Mighty to Save'

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

With all my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

And now I surrender

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God (my God) is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine Your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King, Jesus

Shine Your light and let the whole world see

We're singing for the glory of the risen King

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

In facing death, Timothy Keller wrote, “Real courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the presence of joy.”

Lionel

Ref 1: Growing My Faith in the Face of Death Timothy Keller 7 Mar 2021 

I Waited For The Lord

'Deep in my heart I say, "The Lord is all I need, I can depend on Him!" The Lord is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys Him. It is good to wait patiently for the Lord to save us.' Lamentations 3:24-26 (CEV)

What if God seems not to answer the deepest requests and prayers of our heart? This week we received the news that despite 6 rounds of chemotherapy followed by a chemical ablation of the bone marrow by chemotherapy and a autologous (own cells) stem cell transplant, the T cell lymphoma persists. Pat is now faced with another round of chemotherapy and an allogenic (donor) stem cell transplant. After 8 months of treatment and prayer petition, Pat is back to square one. She needs to soldier on.

During the treatment, many people from around the world prayed for Pat to be cured of her lymphoma. But this time, it is not to be. Our prayers were not answered by God in the affirmative, in the way we wanted. Such is the will of the Lord. As we submit ourselves to His will, we do not lose hope nor faith and we continue to pray for complete recovery.

What do we do now? We wait on the Lord God, Master of the Universe, Creator of heaven and earth.

  

'I waited for the Lord' is one of the movement in the Symphony Lobesang (Hymn of Praise) composed by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in 1840. This movement which lasts about 5 mins is scored around just two sentences from Psalms 40:1

I waited for the Lord, He inclined unto me,

He heard my complaint.

O blest are they that hope and trust in Him 

If you had the patience to listen to this song to its completion, you would probably have learnt patience just as the Lord has been teaching Pat and I, to wait on Him patiently with persistent prayer. And in that persistency, at times with travails, God has not been absent with us, we have the distinct impression that 'He inclined towards us.'

What lessons did and will we learn?

• God encourages. Everyday, through our Bible reading or through words and prayers of friends and family, God encourages us. One example is

'For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the Lord, who has mercy on you.' Isaiah 54:10 (NLT)  

• God's purposes will prevail.  We learn while waiting on God and praying that this phrase 'Man proposes, God disposes' is a reality. We pray for specific answers and God will answer according to His purpose  

'Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that will prevail' Proverbs 19:21

• God's plan will work. We think and live in the terms of our temporal perspectives but God's time frame is eternal and everlasting. He already has a plan for us and this plan is set for eternity. We are learning at times of seemingly unanswered prayer, the big picture of God's plan for us.

'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.' Ephesians 2:10

• God's presence soothes. Everyday while we live with uncertainty, God is present with us and that helps to soothe all anxieties. 

'Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.' Psalm 23:4

So what happens next? Do we resign to our fates? No, until God's will and purposes is fully revealed, we will keeping on praying and keep on hoping. That is the attitude and direction that Jesus said we could take.

'Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.' Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

Pat will soldier on physically, together we soldier on spiritually along with many friends and family. In that persistent prayer as Jesus advocated, we refresh, renew our relationship with God. A new dawn will appear after the darkest night. 'We are not Alone'

I'm not alone, while walking on life's pathway,

I have a friend who walks along with me;

I'm not alone altho' I'm often lonely,

My Lord divine is by me constantly.

So when the storm and trial assail me,

And earthly friendships fail me,

I'll sing and smile o'er ev'ry mile

Till I reach my heavenly home;

And, so, I, journey on o'er hill and valley

I'm not alone: my Savior walks with me.

Pat and Lionel