O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

MY CUP RUNS OVER

 Our lives are like a cup; it comes in all forms of size and shape. Some are larger than others; some are more colourful and better looking than the rest. But at its best, it is only a cupful and no more, when one comes to the end of his/her life. 

Below is an excerpt taken from Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ by J. R. Miller, 1890 that reminds and warns us that what the world can offer us are temporal unlike what the Lord Jesus has graciously offered us which is eternal and totally satisfying. 

“It is just so with all earth's pleasures. It comes in cups not in fountains; and the supply is limited and soon exhausted. It is so especially with sin's pleasures. The prodigal son soon ran out of money and began to be in need. A poet compared the pleasures of sin to a snowflake on the river, "a moment white, then gone forever!" 

“But it is true in a sense also of pure earthly pleasures. Even the sweetness of human love is but a cupful, which will not last forever. The joy which so fills us today, tomorrow is changed to sorrow. Amid the gladness of the marriage altar, there is the knell of the end, in the words "until death do us part." One of every two soulmates must hold the other's hand in farewell at the edge of the valley of the shadow of death and must stand by the other's grave and walk alone for part of the way. The best wine of earthly life and of love will fail. If there were nothing better in this world, how sad it would be!” 

This reminds us of the first marriage feast that Jesus attended. It was a joyous occasion for the couple where guests came to rejoice with them. But during their happy moment, they were told that the wine had run out. It must have been quite embarrassing to them. This incident is a very fitting illustration of the failure of all this world's joys. The wine ran out at a wedding feast. There was not enough of it to last through to the end of the feast. 

At this critical moment, Jesus' mother said to Him: “They have no wine” (John 2:3). “It is here that we see the glory of Christ's gospel. When earth's wine fails, Jesus came, and gave Heaven's wine to supply the lack. How beautiful and how true is the picture: the failing wine and then Jesus comes with power and supplies the need! That was what He did at the wedding feast and is doing continually. He takes lives which have drained their last drop of earthly gladness, and He satisfies them with spiritual good and blessing, so that they need nothing more. 

When human joy fails, Jesus gives new joy, better than the world can offer, and in unfailing abundance! How sad it is for those who have not taken Christ into their lives, and who have nothing but the empty cup when earth's wine runs out!” 

How sombre are these thoughts as we contemplate on the realities of life. Dearly beloved, as we look around us, we see lives of different tale; some are happy and blessed, others are filled with many sorrows and miseries, and yet there are some who seem carefree, but inwardly they are fearful and worrisome. Remember that when there is “no wine”, the Lord brings hope to all who cast their cares on Him (Matthew 11:28). 

In the favourite Psalm 23, God promised to anoint our head with oil; and our cup runneth over (v.5b), yes, in abundance and overflowing. The Lord will bestow upon us blessings upon blessings so much so that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:10) if only we would trust and obey Him. 

God had promised the Israelites in the days of Moses that He would bring them into the promised land which He swore unto their fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them great and goodly cities, which they built not, and houses full of all good things, which they filled not, and wells dug, which they dug not, vineyards and olive trees, which they did not plant; when they shall have eaten and be full (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). In modern times, these would mean that God will supply all our necessities and needs beyond our imaginations, to all who trust in Him. “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10). 

The Lord promised not only to supply all our needs, but to watch over us, to guide us, to protect us, to sustain us, to keep us, to deliver us and all that we could wish for to live a blessed life. His best promise is the gift of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who came to save us sinners from all our sins and to give us eternal life. 

Hope in God is all we need. All the world’s goods and achievements will run out or perish one day. Let us be wise and seek after heavenly treasures that do not fail, do not grow old, do not fade away but are reserved and sealed in heaven for you and me. Pray for God-given faith that we may see with spiritual lens the things God has blessed us with and be thankful. 

We are all familiar with the well-known 80/20 Rule (also known as the Pareto principle or the law of the vital few and trivial many) which states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Spiritually, let us learn to focus on the vital few for our soul rather than be burdened with the trivial many. 

Jesus taught us another rule which I call the 90/10 Rule (we may call it the Paralysis principle, the law of the grateful few and unthankful many). We often take things for granted and are unthankful for what we received as though we deserve it, or others owe it to us. The Lord healed ten (10) lepers and only one (1) returned to thank Him, and Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine (9)?” 

May the Lord help us to be contented and grateful with what we have in life. Thankfulness must not be kept in the heart but expressed in action just like the one Samaritan leper who “was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His (Jesus’) feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:11-19). We should also learn the precious lesson from the story about one who complained of having no shoes until he saw one without feet. 

Be grateful in whatever state we may be, and the Lord will continue to pour down His blessings on us till our cup overflows. Let the overflow be a blessing to those around us and glorify our Father in heaven who is the Giver of all good and perfect gifts (James 1:17). 

Dear friends, if you are experiencing a void in your life, turn to Christ and let Him fill your cup and you will find it a well of water springing up into everlasting life that you will never regret (John 4:14). I conclude with the hymn – Fill My Cup, Lord by R. Blanchard, and may you trust in Jesus who will quench your thirst and feed you till you want no more. Amen. 

1. Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
   For things that could not satisfy.
   And then I heard my Saviour speaking:
   “Draw from My well that never shall run dry.” 

Chorus

Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more -
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. 

2. There are millions in this world who are craving.
   The pleasures earthly things afford;
   But none can match the wondrous treasure
   That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord. 

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

– Elder Chia Ah Lak

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Mar 11

        7.30 pm     ERBL: OT Prophetic Books (Rev Charles Seet)

Tuesday, Mar 12

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Woon Sin Wei)

Wednesday, Mar 13

      10.00 am     SF Meeting

Thursday, Mar 14

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: Bible Geography (Ms Lilian Lee)

Saturday, Mar 16

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

Sunday, Mar 17

  8.00 am     Despise Not the Day of Small Things Zechariah 4:8-10 (Rev Quek Keng Khwang, with Holy Communion)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.30 am Exploring Christianity (Rm 2-1)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Despise Not the Day of Small Things Zechariah 4:8-10 (Rev Quek Keng Khwang)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Life BPC Job Vacancies

1. Estate Management Officer (EMO)

Responsibilities:

EMO plans, oversees and coordinates all property management and preventive maintenance activities associated for the church premises. Coordinates facilities usage for a range of Church activities and Church’s authorized users using the premises. The EMO reports to the Church Operation Manager.

Qualifications:

• Diploma or equivalent
• 5 years’ experience in real estate management and maintenance
• Certification in real estate management and maintenance is an added advantage
• Lifers are preferred 

2. Administrative Executive (AE)

Responsibilities:

The Administrative Executive reports directly to the Administration Manager (AM) to provide administrative support for the Church office and ministries.

Qualifications:

• GCE ‘A’ level or higher
• 3 years’ experience in administrative support
• Skill in Microsoft Office, database and general computing is mandatory
• Lifers are preferred 

Candidates with relevant qualifications and experience may submit your application and CV to the Church Operations Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Choong  or Bro Kelvin  if you are available.

Birth

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs JWee on the birth of a baby girl, E Wee XR, on 5 March 2024.

Infant Baptism on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024.

Parents, please email the church office, with your full names, contact numbers, and your child’s name and date of birth by Today, 10 March 2024.

Batam Mission

The team would like to extend collection of new or used items in good condition (Clothes, English Books and Board Games) from Lifers to support the  student library for newly reopened Pionir School (Suluh Aditya Bangsa Batam). Please drop off your donations in Beulah Centre Rm 2-5, before 24 March 2023. If you have further queries, please contact Matthew.

Door to Door Evangelism 17 Mar 2024 (Next Sunday)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond or Amos

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

Lifers are invited to serve in the Holy Communion elements preparation, clean-up and washing. Those interested may contact Jenny  or Wendy.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying 

Chiang Mai Mission Trip (25-29 June 2024)

Interested Lifers may contact bro Benjamin Heng or Dn Surya for more information and registration.

Seminar: Pornography & Sexual Lusts

Date: 6 April 2024

Time: 2-6.30 pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Register at https://forms.gle/Kf1aZefXGTvU3ojFA

Men’s Ministry

The Life BPC Men’s Ministry would like to invite all to join us for the Christian Heritage Trail Walk which will be held on 30 March 2024 (Saturday) at 8.30am. To register, please contact Bro Ignatius of the Men’s Ministry via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The closing date is 22 March 2024.

Seniors Fellowship Seminar: Bones of Contention: Osteoporosis

Date: 27 April 2024

Time: 4-6 pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Register at https://lifebpc.com/sfseminar

Church Camp 2024

will be held from 10 June to 14 June (Mon to Fri) at Resorts World Awana, Malaysia. 

Speaker: Pastor Tan Soon Yong

Theme: Truth Matters

Registration for Church Camp 2024 is now open. You may go to the church's website at www.lifebpc.com/church-camp-2024 to register online. Availability will be on a first come first served basis. Please do register early! If you require assistance, please contact Josiah Seah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

From our Church camp speaker: 

Truth Matters; but as Pontus Pilate once asked in vexed perplexity, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38). 

God Himself asserts, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9); but do we realise just how sly and cunning our hearts are within us? 

In my short time in Gospel ministry, I have been stunned by how often it is precisely those who know the truth who are living a lie. It seems so illogical, so unreasonable. But Christ warned in another context: for some who consider themselves “children of the kingdom … there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt 8:12). 

It is seldom an intellectual error that leads us into moral wickedness – it is almost always fleshly lust. Proverbs 1:7 plainly says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”. Yet, so many who profess (or even preach) Christ are content to go about their daily lives without the slightest fear of God, but will stubbornly insist that they are rich in knowledge of God. 

To be rooted in truth, one must live in obedience to the truth one already knows. Our Master said, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (Mt 25:29). 

I did not write this to get you to sign up for this year’s church camp. I write to urge you to come to camp broken and contrite, fearfully and prayerfully. And do be in earnest prayer for yourself, for your brethren, and (if you would be so kind) for the speaker.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is back!

Theme: Champions for God
Date: 29 May - 31 May 2024
Lifers needed for the available areas of service: Teaching, Logistics, Craft, Games, F&B and Traffic/Security. To register, visit lifebpc.com/vbs 

Note: Children’s registration (4-12 years old [N2-P6]) will commence mid-March.

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