The first time I stepped into church. I wasn't even looking for God. I have decided that I didn't believe in Him. I went to church 'cos I was bored. I was looking for the supernatural. What is this thing about praying in an unknown language and seeing 'things'? I was going there a skeptic, a kinda of 'show me the money' attitude.
When Pastor Joshua started preaching, I just took it as listening to any sermon. Then he talked about the prodigal son returning home, and inexplicably, I felt tears in my eyes. And I just knew, He had been waiting all this time. All this time, for me to come home. I gave up on Him and denied Him, wasn't searching for Him. But He waited. Just one glance back from me, and He opened His arms wide and ran to me.
Listening to this song brought the sweet memories back. :)
So here're the lyrics of the beautiful song "When God ran" from Phillips, Craig & Dean.
Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run
CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran
The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run
And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me
BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day
I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again
He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran
Unconditional, unconditional, unconditional love. Unconditional, unconditional acceptance. Your love brings me to my knees. Your unconditional acceptance gives me the courage and strength to live. Because I know, I know, that whatever happens, whatever I do, at the end of the day, at the end of all days and for all time, You are there for me. Knowing this love and acceptance Lord, oh what security! I can joyfully, easily trust in You! Knowing that a sure hope is in You!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Monday, January 16, 2006
Anticipation!
Faith is the substance of faith hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now, hope does not disappoint.
When our hopes are anchored to His promises found in His Word, there is nothing more certain than His Word.
Can we bring ourselves to take God at His Word? The answer for me my friend, is yes, yes and yes!
It is Your goodness that leads me to repentence! How awesome and full You are! El-Shaddai! Surely goodness and mercy and Your lovingkindness shall pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Oh! I fall at Your feet O Lord - in Your presence, I see Your face. Your love and Your goodness overwhelms me. And I rejoice and exalt in Your power and Your love! My God is so big! So strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!
Isaiah 54
"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman," says the Lord
"Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.
Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth..."
Isaiah 60
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you! For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you...
Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you. For in My wrath I struck you, and in My favour I have had compasion on you. Your gates will be open continually; they will not be closed day or night, so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in possession...
Violence will not be heard again in our land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise.
No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everylasting light, and your God for your glory.
Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everylasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.
Then all your people will be righteous;
They will possess the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified,
The smallest one will become a clan,
And the least one a mighty nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."
Now, hope does not disappoint.
When our hopes are anchored to His promises found in His Word, there is nothing more certain than His Word.
Can we bring ourselves to take God at His Word? The answer for me my friend, is yes, yes and yes!
It is Your goodness that leads me to repentence! How awesome and full You are! El-Shaddai! Surely goodness and mercy and Your lovingkindness shall pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Oh! I fall at Your feet O Lord - in Your presence, I see Your face. Your love and Your goodness overwhelms me. And I rejoice and exalt in Your power and Your love! My God is so big! So strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!
Isaiah 54
"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman," says the Lord
"Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.
Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth..."
Isaiah 60
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you! For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you...
Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you. For in My wrath I struck you, and in My favour I have had compasion on you. Your gates will be open continually; they will not be closed day or night, so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in possession...
Violence will not be heard again in our land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise.
No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everylasting light, and your God for your glory.
Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everylasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.
Then all your people will be righteous;
They will possess the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified,
The smallest one will become a clan,
And the least one a mighty nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."
Sunday, January 15, 2006
No one else
Lord, it's only by Your grace
That I can worship in this place
O what a great privilege
To know You, face to face
There is no one else like You
No one else as beautiful as You
No one else can compare to You
All I want is to worship You
That I can worship in this place
O what a great privilege
To know You, face to face
There is no one else like You
No one else as beautiful as You
No one else can compare to You
All I want is to worship You
Monday, January 09, 2006
Helplessly
An excerpt from the song Dwelling Places by Miriam Webster
Thirsty I come after You
Jesus my joy, my reward
Your love's restoring my soul
Now I'm Yours and You are mine
And from my heart a song will rise
I love You, I love You, I love You
I love You, I love You, I love You
I love You, I love You, I love You
And my heart will follow wholly after You
This song and the song in the previous entry titled "Awe" is from one of my favourite worship CDs that a brother got for me for my birthday. It's a testimony itself! :) He was shopping for a gift but didn't know what songs I liked, so he asked Abba and got this!
Anyway, I love this song. It's located in the middle of the CD, so by this time, it's like I'm in the Holy of holies, in His presence. I love this stanza. How many times I become thirsty - it's often those times when we are feeling bored - but then I come to my Jesus, I come to Him because He refreshes me. In His presence, there is fullness of joy. In His presence, there is life!
He restores my soul with a reminder of His awesome love. Wow. Amazing love, how can it be? That You my King would die for me? And sometimes, I get a glimspe of that love and it overwhelms me. I feel like falling to my knees but I have to control myself. In the face of such love, when Jesus willingly became the sacrificial lamb... I see the demonstration of His love for me on the cross. On the cross, there my Lord hangs, for me alone.
These thoughts are rushing through my mind - I can barely comprehend or pause to think. Yet my soul, my spirit, in my heart - there it grips me. And when the chorus comes, it is from that revelation that we sing, "I love You, I love You, I love You.. I love You, I love You, I love You!"
You know the commandment that God gave - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your might."
Something within me cringe. How am I to love, with all my heart, all my soul, all my might? How am I able to? To love God perfectly? And I thought it wasn't a fair commandment. I mean, it's sad isn't it? How can you command someone to love you? Isn't love supposed to be freely given?
You see, I've heard some preachers preach that way, and it scares me 'cos I can't love God like that!
But you know what? As I sang this song, as I turn my focus, not on how much I must love Him, but how much He has loved me. Oh, how much my Jesus loved me! How He chose to go to the cross for me, how He chose to go through the scourging for me! He had a choice you know, to leave and go back - but no, He chose not to. How can we ever comprehend a holy God to carry the sins of the world - sins of rape, murder, incest, torture - of the whole world, of peoples past and present - a God who knew no sin to become sin itself.
I see Him on that cross and the refrain from a beloved song comes to mind.. "I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross.. I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross......
So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me..."
As I saw the cross afreshed, as if it just happened and I see my Jesus, my Saviour hanging on the cross, I saw His love for me. I am moved and tears fill my eyes. Then I sing, "I love You, I love You, I love You!" How easy it is to say it then. 'Cos you see, I'm helpless. Helpless to say otherwise. Helplessly in love. Against all my selfish desires, my ego, my material needs or whatever, to see the cross, to really see and have a revelation of the cross is to be helplessly in love with Him.
How easy it is then, to love such a beautiful Saviour, all wonderful and glorious, clothed in strength and beauty - how easy it is to love Him, how I want to love Him, to give everything of myself to Him who gave everything of Himself to me - oh what a privilege to love Him with all my heart, all my soul, with all my might!
We love, because He first loved us...
Thirsty I come after You
Jesus my joy, my reward
Your love's restoring my soul
Now I'm Yours and You are mine
And from my heart a song will rise
I love You, I love You, I love You
I love You, I love You, I love You
I love You, I love You, I love You
And my heart will follow wholly after You
This song and the song in the previous entry titled "Awe" is from one of my favourite worship CDs that a brother got for me for my birthday. It's a testimony itself! :) He was shopping for a gift but didn't know what songs I liked, so he asked Abba and got this!
Anyway, I love this song. It's located in the middle of the CD, so by this time, it's like I'm in the Holy of holies, in His presence. I love this stanza. How many times I become thirsty - it's often those times when we are feeling bored - but then I come to my Jesus, I come to Him because He refreshes me. In His presence, there is fullness of joy. In His presence, there is life!
He restores my soul with a reminder of His awesome love. Wow. Amazing love, how can it be? That You my King would die for me? And sometimes, I get a glimspe of that love and it overwhelms me. I feel like falling to my knees but I have to control myself. In the face of such love, when Jesus willingly became the sacrificial lamb... I see the demonstration of His love for me on the cross. On the cross, there my Lord hangs, for me alone.
These thoughts are rushing through my mind - I can barely comprehend or pause to think. Yet my soul, my spirit, in my heart - there it grips me. And when the chorus comes, it is from that revelation that we sing, "I love You, I love You, I love You.. I love You, I love You, I love You!"
You know the commandment that God gave - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your might."
Something within me cringe. How am I to love, with all my heart, all my soul, all my might? How am I able to? To love God perfectly? And I thought it wasn't a fair commandment. I mean, it's sad isn't it? How can you command someone to love you? Isn't love supposed to be freely given?
You see, I've heard some preachers preach that way, and it scares me 'cos I can't love God like that!
But you know what? As I sang this song, as I turn my focus, not on how much I must love Him, but how much He has loved me. Oh, how much my Jesus loved me! How He chose to go to the cross for me, how He chose to go through the scourging for me! He had a choice you know, to leave and go back - but no, He chose not to. How can we ever comprehend a holy God to carry the sins of the world - sins of rape, murder, incest, torture - of the whole world, of peoples past and present - a God who knew no sin to become sin itself.
I see Him on that cross and the refrain from a beloved song comes to mind.. "I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross.. I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross......
So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me..."
As I saw the cross afreshed, as if it just happened and I see my Jesus, my Saviour hanging on the cross, I saw His love for me. I am moved and tears fill my eyes. Then I sing, "I love You, I love You, I love You!" How easy it is to say it then. 'Cos you see, I'm helpless. Helpless to say otherwise. Helplessly in love. Against all my selfish desires, my ego, my material needs or whatever, to see the cross, to really see and have a revelation of the cross is to be helplessly in love with Him.
How easy it is then, to love such a beautiful Saviour, all wonderful and glorious, clothed in strength and beauty - how easy it is to love Him, how I want to love Him, to give everything of myself to Him who gave everything of Himself to me - oh what a privilege to love Him with all my heart, all my soul, with all my might!
We love, because He first loved us...
Awe
Often, the magical moments that I experience are in times of worship. Whether it is listening to a worship CD (not praise CD) or during corporate worship in church. It is during worship that I feel the soothing strong presence of God envelope me - and all the dirt, the stress, the worry, the blahness of life just fall away as I linger in His presence. These are the quiet times of worship.
And there are times of quiet intensity too, which brings tears into my eyes. When I behold His glory and His marvellous beauty. And even when I'm in the bus listening to the CD, I see myself standing up, arms outstretched, head tilted up giving Him the glory. And not just giving praise 'cos it's a time of worship - I feel myself, my soul, my spirit within me, as if bursting forth, going forward, stretching to reach Him. It's a consecration of myself, a giving of myself to Him in worship. At intense moments, the longing to be one with Him, or perhaps somehow, the revelation that we are already one somehow resonates within my soul. Such moments when I am devoid of speech, helpless, tears overflowing, unspeakable joy as I behold Him. Jesus.. Jesus, my King, Lord God, my love, my Saviour...
Lingering over those beautiful words in this song, whispering Him.. it becomes an intimate confession between us.
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvellous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depth of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
And there are times of quiet intensity too, which brings tears into my eyes. When I behold His glory and His marvellous beauty. And even when I'm in the bus listening to the CD, I see myself standing up, arms outstretched, head tilted up giving Him the glory. And not just giving praise 'cos it's a time of worship - I feel myself, my soul, my spirit within me, as if bursting forth, going forward, stretching to reach Him. It's a consecration of myself, a giving of myself to Him in worship. At intense moments, the longing to be one with Him, or perhaps somehow, the revelation that we are already one somehow resonates within my soul. Such moments when I am devoid of speech, helpless, tears overflowing, unspeakable joy as I behold Him. Jesus.. Jesus, my King, Lord God, my love, my Saviour...
Lingering over those beautiful words in this song, whispering Him.. it becomes an intimate confession between us.
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvellous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depth of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
Friday, January 06, 2006
Unabashed!
How many of us are able to declare our love unabashfully?
These are one of the times I envy couples. Around Jesus, I'm not shy - there's a wonderful liberty in that.
But don't you feel sometimes, with all the romantic love that He showers on you, that you wish you're able to love someone just like that? Hmm... I wonder how it is like to be in love with a person?
When in love, are we able to say it, boldly love like in the Song of songs? I'm better at writing than saying and expressing words out loud. Don't know whether it is an Asian thing. I wonder how it is to make love with words. Like Shakespeare (modernised of course) - or like the moving lyrics of some songs.
Anyway, got on this topic as I'm listening to some music. Discovered this group called Rascal Flatts. Their music sounds like rock country. This song is titled Where you are.
Written by: James Leblanc & Catt Gravitt
Published by: Fame Publishing Co., Inc.
Lyrics
There you are standing strong
I'm a leaf holding on
You believe like a child
In this fire running wild
Oh I love how you see right to the heart of me
Chorus:
You're a waterfall washing over me
I'm a thirsty man let me drink you in
I am on my way
You're a mountain top
When I reach for you
Your love lifts me up
And all that I want is to be
Where you are
I'm the frozen ground
You're the warm sunlight
Shining down on me
Baby, just in time
I have never been in love like this
Oh, you move my soul every time we kiss
And I love how you heal
I can't believe how alive I feel
Chorus:
You're a waterfall washing over me
I'm a thirsty man let me drink you in
I am on my way
You're a mountain top
When I reach for you
Your love lifts me up
And all that I want is to be
Where you are
Imagine being serenaded like this! I believe Abba has already given me a passionate relationship with him. Wow, the anticipation! :D
These are one of the times I envy couples. Around Jesus, I'm not shy - there's a wonderful liberty in that.
But don't you feel sometimes, with all the romantic love that He showers on you, that you wish you're able to love someone just like that? Hmm... I wonder how it is like to be in love with a person?
When in love, are we able to say it, boldly love like in the Song of songs? I'm better at writing than saying and expressing words out loud. Don't know whether it is an Asian thing. I wonder how it is to make love with words. Like Shakespeare (modernised of course) - or like the moving lyrics of some songs.
Anyway, got on this topic as I'm listening to some music. Discovered this group called Rascal Flatts. Their music sounds like rock country. This song is titled Where you are.
Written by: James Leblanc & Catt Gravitt
Published by: Fame Publishing Co., Inc.
Lyrics
There you are standing strong
I'm a leaf holding on
You believe like a child
In this fire running wild
Oh I love how you see right to the heart of me
Chorus:
You're a waterfall washing over me
I'm a thirsty man let me drink you in
I am on my way
You're a mountain top
When I reach for you
Your love lifts me up
And all that I want is to be
Where you are
I'm the frozen ground
You're the warm sunlight
Shining down on me
Baby, just in time
I have never been in love like this
Oh, you move my soul every time we kiss
And I love how you heal
I can't believe how alive I feel
Chorus:
You're a waterfall washing over me
I'm a thirsty man let me drink you in
I am on my way
You're a mountain top
When I reach for you
Your love lifts me up
And all that I want is to be
Where you are
Imagine being serenaded like this! I believe Abba has already given me a passionate relationship with him. Wow, the anticipation! :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)