Genesis 1
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.
6And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."
7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.
8God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-the second day.
9And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.
10God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
11Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
13And there was evening, and there was morning-the third day.
14And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,
15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.
16God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,
18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19And there was evening, and there was morning-the fourth day.
20And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
23And there was evening, and there was morning-the fifth day.
24And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.
25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
Genesis 2
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
Reflection
Today is Singapore National Day celebrating our 57 year of indepence. We need to remember Singapore is created by God. All countries, all the things in the world people, animals, plants, trees, land, sea, sky, rain, river and so many things are all created by God as stated in Genesis 1 & 2. Is not man own strength, capabilities that make a country successful. God can make a country be blessed or cause the country to fall. Do not take for granted the blessings God has given to our nation. We need to seek God how to govern our country, hear His word, instructions to direct our steps. Ministers, government staff, all people in the countries must not be proud when they see success thinking is their own work, capabilities. God is the one who cause people to succeed or fail. Seek God. Put all the credit of our success to His name. All Glory To Him. Whether we are poor or rich, everyone of us are God's creation. His children. We need to seek after Him and pray to Him for creating us and all the blessings He has given us. We need to thank Him and ask Him to continue to watch over us, provide for us, protect our nation. Let's pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
How wonderful to know that you are the one that created us. Our country Singapore was struggling to know what to do after we left Malaysia. It was you who guided our leaders to know what to do. It was you who appointed our former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew 57 years ago to lead us to become a successful country. You are the one who gave wisdom to our leaders, you are the one who open doors for us to reach out to other countries to come and invest in our country. Every step has been planned by you that was written in your book. You are the one who gave people to our country. Why we are staying in Singapore is all because you have make the arrangement for us to be born here. How marvelous you are. How wonderful you are for letting us be born here in Singapore. Also I am thankful that you have created me to be born a few days before our National Day. Every year I get to celebrate with our nation. In fact my mum, my brother and me the 3 of us are all born in August. We get to celebrate with our country together. Also is a reminder of the day I accepted your son Jesus Christ into my life 1 day after National day. This year will be my 8th year as Christian. Thank you for coming into my life on a very special synificant occasion. I still remember the past blessed years of celebrating with Singapore National Day. May you continue to be with us in our lives watching over us, providing over us, protecting us.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Janice Ong
