When the YMI team received this comic by Jing Teo, we were deeply impressed.
We were so excited about it; we showed it to a few of our colleagues.
Their response? “Woo …. Ah…” “So beautiful.” “Such high quality artwork.” “It tells a poignant story with minimal text.”
So, here’s a sneak preview with the downloadable wallpaper.
The full STARLIGHT STAR BRIGHT will be published online on 1 December 2009. Remember to check it out!
http://ymiblogging.org/2009/11/new-comic-starlight-star-bright/
November 6, 2009
The Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.
READ: Exodus 13:14-16
When your children say to you, “What do you mean by this service?” . . . you shall say, “It is the Passover.” —Exodus 12:26-27
The movie Night at the Museum portrays the humorous experiences of a security guard at a natural history museum. The excitement begins for him when the displays come to life at night.
Inspired by this movie, directors of a real museum created a similar experience. The staff portrayed historic figures such as knights in armor, Victorian ladies, and Egyptian royalty. When children arrived at the museum, they were told that the people in the exhibits had come alive and needed to be led back to their proper place. As the children responded, history came alive for them.
Children need not be bored by history. This is especially true of Bible stories. Take Moses, for example. He escaped death as a child, was educated as a prince, worked miracles, and received the Ten Commandments on tablets. What exciting story elements that teach children about God!
Biblical stories have been shared with children for generations—all the way back to the times of Exodus (ch.12-13) and Deuteronomy (ch.6). Moses described times when children were retold vital stories from Jewish history.
Why not set a time to read Bible stories to the children in your life? Then watch their excitement as biblical history comes alive! — Dennis Fisher
November 6, 2009
The Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs (v.17).
READ: Zephaniah 3:14-17
I t’s Saturday afternoon at Birkenhead Point, a small park on the Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia. Parents play with their toddlers, seagulls fight over fish-and-chip wrappers, and my wife and I sit listening—our ears attuned to the couple.
They are maybe late-40s. She sits quietly, enraptured, gazing into his eyes. He leans casually on his left arm . . . and sings to her.
In his own tongue, without caution or shame, he offers his beloved a sweet love song. In the beauty of that moment I glimpse something divine.
The book of Zephaniah depicts a great and terrible day of the Lord (1:7, 3:8). God may be kind to the “unthankful and wicked” (Luke 6:35-36), but there will come a time when God’s patience will come to an end.
In Zephaniah’s day, God’s people were bowing to the pagan gods Baal and Molech (Zephaniah 1:4-5), whose worship often required prostitution and child sacrifice. Israel had become corrupt and rebellious, her prophets and priests arrogant and profane (3:4). God’s wrathful judgment, declared Zephaniah, was coming—and not just on her but on all the nations of the earth (1:2,18, 3:8).
And yet Zephaniah foresees God bringing something beautiful out of that dark day’s rubble—a people drawn from all nations who wholeheartedly love Him (3:9-13). To this people He will be like a bridegroom who sweeps up His bride, takes her home, delights in her, and sings to her. “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (v.17).
To His creatures, God is Creator and Warrior. But how many of us who love Him see God as beloved Singer—a God of affection with a love song on His lips? —Sheridan Voysey
November 5, 2009
Repentance is the hurt that leads to healing.
READ: Psalm 139:1-10, 23-24
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes. —Psalm 26:2-3
Our dog, Dolly, is a 7-year-old West Highland Terrier. She loves to dig in the dirt, which means she gets very dirty. We bathe her every week or so at home, but occasionally she gets so grimy and tangled that we have to take her to a professional groomer.
She used to hate to go to the groomer because the woman was always in a rush and inclined to be bad-tempered and harsh. Getting Dolly through the door was a struggle. Just the sight of the shop made her want to run away.
Last year we decided to try another groomer and discovered that our dog, though not always overjoyed at the prospect, was less reluctant to go. That’s because the groomer is kind to her even though she must wash Dolly thoroughly, causing discomfort.
When sin and defilement accumulate in our hearts, we need to be cleansed. Like the psalmist David, we must ask God to “examine” and “try” our minds and hearts, and to point out our wicked thoughts, attitudes, and ways (Ps. 139:23-24). Our Lord may cause discomfort, for exposure is often difficult, but we can approach Him without fear.
The Lord’s examination of us, though sometimes painful, is gentle and kind. — David H. Roper
November 5, 2009
He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice (v.18).
READ: Deuteronomy 10:12-22
We’re talking 1.8 million. That’s the record-breaking number of people who swarmed the US Capitol grounds on January 20, 2009, to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama. That number—1.8 million—is also the heart-wrenching number of orphans struggling to survive in Uganda, the small country in East Africa where I live.
Daily, I witness some of Uganda’s parentless children striving to make it to “tomorrow.” Some beg. Some are forced into child labor. Some drop out of school to care for dying relatives. Some are placed in orphan homes. Others, sometimes as young as 5 years old, are trafficked and sexually exploited.
Today, make a difference on behalf of the millions of orphans around the world:
• Pray that those who intend to prey on children will not succeed. Exodus 22:22-23 says, “You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to Me, then I will certainly hear their cry.”
• Pray for God’s people who are seeking justice on behalf of the orphans around the world. Ask God how you can support these little ones. “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people” (Psalm 82:3-4).
• Ask God how you can help the orphans in your city or region. “Leave [a portion of your crops] for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do” (Deuteronomy 24:19).
Remember, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27). —Roxanne Robbins
