Read this quote in "Life" today and laughed. The observation is right though the attitude is not.
'Forgiveness itself is a hostile move that says "You don't matter enough for me to go whack you."' American Legal scholar, William Ian Millder
Holding a grudge just means that person has 'power' over thee, 'cos he's able to stir one's emotions. Forgiveness really says, you don't matter. I'm a bigger person than you are and nothing you do to me is able to shake me.
But it's difficult to be a bigger person. 'Cos there's this thing called emotion and somewhere within ourselves, we demand justice for the wrong that others have done unto us.
That's why in the bible, it says, "Forgive others, as God for Christ's sake, has forgiven you."
Knowing how much we have sinned and how much we have forgiven through the death of God's son, we are are able to forgive others for the transgressions against us.
That's why the ability to truely forgive, is first, according to the verse, having that revelation that we are forgiven.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
When You tell me that you love me
I like this song and was reminded of it when I heard it on American Idol today. Found the lyrics meaningful :) (changed some parts of the lyrics)
I wanna call the stars
Down from the sky
I wanna live a day
That never dies
I wanna change the world
Only for You
All the impossible
I wanna do
I wanna hold You close
Under the rain
I wanna kiss Your smile
And feel the pain
I know what’s beautiful
Looking at You
In a world of lies
You are the truth
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
I wanna make You see
Just what I was
Show You the loneliness
And what it does
You walked into my life
To stop my tears
Everything’s easy now
I have You here
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
In a world without You
I would always hunger
All I need is Your love to make me stronger
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
You love me
When You tell me that You love me
I wanna call the stars
Down from the sky
I wanna live a day
That never dies
I wanna change the world
Only for You
All the impossible
I wanna do
I wanna hold You close
Under the rain
I wanna kiss Your smile
And feel the pain
I know what’s beautiful
Looking at You
In a world of lies
You are the truth
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
I wanna make You see
Just what I was
Show You the loneliness
And what it does
You walked into my life
To stop my tears
Everything’s easy now
I have You here
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
In a world without You
I would always hunger
All I need is Your love to make me stronger
And baby
Everytime You touch me
I become a hero
You make me safe
No matter where You are
And bring me
Everything I ask for
Nothing is above You
I’m shining like a candle in the dark
When You tell me that You love me
You love me
When You tell me that You love me
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Live life because I am a blessing everywhere I go!
I was flipping through an old notebook and found some notes that ministered to me today. It was from a YAM (Young Adults' Ministry) meeting dated 26 June 2004. Read slowly, digest and meditate and be blessed!
Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Greatness is a mark in my life
Psalm 139
We are fearfully and wonderfully made
= reverently made, an art piece.
We are all breathed into being by God
Therefore, everyone of us has a cry of greatness in our life.
Creation is not enough, we have to move into redemption.
You are an evangelist in the workplace. (not in the preaching sense)
The world will want to come and see how you attained your success (light of the world).
Greatness is my inheritance
It's through grace (unmerited favour) but it does not mean it's a license to do what we want - I am the blessed. It is the blessing of God
Use money to make friends (not use friends to make money)
God has designed Christians to be a blessing to be successful.
Get up knowing that I am a blessing! Get up with fire in the belly! Begin with that vision that I am a blessing!
Discipline is a by-product of vision
Lord, prove your Word through me, as an instrument.
I am blessed to be a blessing.
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Hebrews 6:13-16
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Hebrews 6:17-20
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hope, an anchor for our souls (emotion)
Do not build the blessing of God on our own faith but build it on the 2 immutable things, the Word and promise of God.
Genesis 22: offering of Isaac
v5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad[a] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
v8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Abraham had an inner vision that God will provide himself a lamb.
When we believe, we rest in what God has done. God has blessed and nobody and nothing can reverse it.
Jesus is the author and finisher of faith. He completes our broken faith.
Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Greatness is a mark in my life
Psalm 139
We are fearfully and wonderfully made
= reverently made, an art piece.
We are all breathed into being by God
Therefore, everyone of us has a cry of greatness in our life.
Creation is not enough, we have to move into redemption.
You are an evangelist in the workplace. (not in the preaching sense)
The world will want to come and see how you attained your success (light of the world).
Greatness is my inheritance
It's through grace (unmerited favour) but it does not mean it's a license to do what we want - I am the blessed. It is the blessing of God
Use money to make friends (not use friends to make money)
God has designed Christians to be a blessing to be successful.
Get up knowing that I am a blessing! Get up with fire in the belly! Begin with that vision that I am a blessing!
Discipline is a by-product of vision
Lord, prove your Word through me, as an instrument.
I am blessed to be a blessing.
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Hebrews 6:13-16
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Hebrews 6:17-20
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hope, an anchor for our souls (emotion)
Do not build the blessing of God on our own faith but build it on the 2 immutable things, the Word and promise of God.
Genesis 22: offering of Isaac
v5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad[a] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
v8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Abraham had an inner vision that God will provide himself a lamb.
When we believe, we rest in what God has done. God has blessed and nobody and nothing can reverse it.
Jesus is the author and finisher of faith. He completes our broken faith.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Security
A song from Hillsong
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure
all of my days are,
held in Your hands,
crafted into Your perfect plans
You gently call me
into Your presence
guiding me by,
Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
to live all my days
through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your Holy calling
set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Teach me Lord, I pray
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure
all of my days are,
held in Your hands,
crafted into Your perfect plans
You gently call me
into Your presence
guiding me by,
Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
to live all my days
through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your Holy calling
set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Teach me Lord, I pray
Thursday, January 26, 2006
When God ran
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!
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!
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
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
A Letter
My dearest Jesus,
Just wanna let you know how precious You are to me. I don't think I say it often enough. And sometimes I forget. Thank you for Your grace this season, for showing me more of Yourself, and re-affirming me in so many ways.
I look back and realise that many times You were there with me, faithfully guarding my heart, even as I was unawares. Sometimes, I sought You not knowing You were there already. I am so grateful to You Lord. Thank you for that confidence You've given me, to continually desire to rest in Your presence. Thank you for the gifts you have already given, in love and even anticipation!
O Jesus! How much You love me! You love me so much that You gave. You desired me and came for me. Had a wonderful time with You last Sunday service. I never get tired of hearing You say how much You love me.
And in many ways Lord, I still fall. But there is such security because You are not there to condemn me. You just love me. It's so tempting to look to myself and see how unworthy I am, how undeserving of Your death I am. And I know these thoughts are lies. I remind myself (I suppose that's why You tell me to gird my mind, and bring every thought into the obedience of Christ) that it is not what I do. It is who I am. I am born-again. Washed by Your blood. Declared the righteousness OF GOD in Christ Jesus.
Daily, I pray Jesus, to know You more and more. Give me more revelation of Your worth, Your deity, Your insurpassable love for me. I'm learning to just look to You more and more. And to behold Your glory and beauty. I know You are doing a good work in me, transforming me from glory to glory, even as I behold the face of my beloved.
You are faithful my Jesus. And You love me passionately. Do you know how reassured I am that I know these truths? It is through Your grace that You have rooted me in these. Thank you for Pastor Prince Lord. For bringing me to NCC and giving me a Pastor who is courageous to preach the gospel in all its glory! Surely You have restored the years the locusts have eaten, and restored it all the more! You have given me the spirit of faith and revelation! You have taught me, in all things, to look to You and not circumstances.
Even now, You're still teaching me, loving me into the revelation of Your shalom that You have given me. Giving me a daily revelation of my identity and power in You. You have given me boldness and love, authority and power on earth as in heaven. I will be bold to declare Your name, to wield the power of the victory purchased for me at the cross. I'll never want to let Your death for me be in vain by being cowed by what I see. Set Your reality in my heart. Set eternity in my heart. Let everything I experience be filtered through Your cross Lord. Show me more of Yourself in the Word, in my life.
Until I am lost in Your love, till I am found in Your presence, worshipping before Your throne. Found by Your glory, entering into Your flow. How precious this moment, Lord I want You to know.
It's You, You who have won my heart
Taken me into Your arms
Comforted me like a friend...
Your love, surrounded me from the start
I'll never want to be apart
From You ever again.
Your beloved :)
Just wanna let you know how precious You are to me. I don't think I say it often enough. And sometimes I forget. Thank you for Your grace this season, for showing me more of Yourself, and re-affirming me in so many ways.
I look back and realise that many times You were there with me, faithfully guarding my heart, even as I was unawares. Sometimes, I sought You not knowing You were there already. I am so grateful to You Lord. Thank you for that confidence You've given me, to continually desire to rest in Your presence. Thank you for the gifts you have already given, in love and even anticipation!
O Jesus! How much You love me! You love me so much that You gave. You desired me and came for me. Had a wonderful time with You last Sunday service. I never get tired of hearing You say how much You love me.
And in many ways Lord, I still fall. But there is such security because You are not there to condemn me. You just love me. It's so tempting to look to myself and see how unworthy I am, how undeserving of Your death I am. And I know these thoughts are lies. I remind myself (I suppose that's why You tell me to gird my mind, and bring every thought into the obedience of Christ) that it is not what I do. It is who I am. I am born-again. Washed by Your blood. Declared the righteousness OF GOD in Christ Jesus.
Daily, I pray Jesus, to know You more and more. Give me more revelation of Your worth, Your deity, Your insurpassable love for me. I'm learning to just look to You more and more. And to behold Your glory and beauty. I know You are doing a good work in me, transforming me from glory to glory, even as I behold the face of my beloved.
You are faithful my Jesus. And You love me passionately. Do you know how reassured I am that I know these truths? It is through Your grace that You have rooted me in these. Thank you for Pastor Prince Lord. For bringing me to NCC and giving me a Pastor who is courageous to preach the gospel in all its glory! Surely You have restored the years the locusts have eaten, and restored it all the more! You have given me the spirit of faith and revelation! You have taught me, in all things, to look to You and not circumstances.
Even now, You're still teaching me, loving me into the revelation of Your shalom that You have given me. Giving me a daily revelation of my identity and power in You. You have given me boldness and love, authority and power on earth as in heaven. I will be bold to declare Your name, to wield the power of the victory purchased for me at the cross. I'll never want to let Your death for me be in vain by being cowed by what I see. Set Your reality in my heart. Set eternity in my heart. Let everything I experience be filtered through Your cross Lord. Show me more of Yourself in the Word, in my life.
Until I am lost in Your love, till I am found in Your presence, worshipping before Your throne. Found by Your glory, entering into Your flow. How precious this moment, Lord I want You to know.
It's You, You who have won my heart
Taken me into Your arms
Comforted me like a friend...
Your love, surrounded me from the start
I'll never want to be apart
From You ever again.
Your beloved :)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Blessed Hokkien Christmas!
For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son
Let's celebrate and cheer and make merry and sing! To remember the birth of our Messiah!
Merry Christmas!
that He gave His only begotten Son
Let's celebrate and cheer and make merry and sing! To remember the birth of our Messiah!
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 17, 2005
The Passover
"It was Jehovah's feast, an expression of His own peculiar joy in the great event of which it was a shadow, and His redeemed people were gathered around Him to share that joy in His presence. What a wonderful thought is this! Jehovah keeping a feast in anticipation of the death of Christ! This passes our finite thought: we cannot comprehend it. What that death in all its fullness was to Him, no saint or angel can ever know. There were communications between Golgotha and the highest heaven, unknown and unknowable to man. That dying Sufferer was Jehovah's only son. That obedient, submissive Victim was the Lamb of God. That melted, tender heart, was the only heart on earth that ever and always beat true to God. Even in the hour of His darkest, deepest woe, He trusted in His God. 'He became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross,' and that in a world where disobedience to God had reigned supreme. That perfect obedience unto death; that complete surrender; that unswerving devotion, was a 'sweet savour' unto God. The Cross was a feast to Jehovah. It gave Him back more than sin had robbed Him of. Yes, blessed be God, there was that in the death of God's perfect, spotless Lamb which satisfied all His desires, and brought eternal salvation to all His people."
excerpt from "Feast of Jehovah - Foreshadows of Chrst in the calendar of Israel" by John Ritchie
A hymn for thought....
"To Calvary, Lord, in spirit now
Our joyful souls repair,
To dwell upon Thy dying love,
And taste its sweetness there."
and another...
"No longer far from Him, but now
By precious blood made nigh;
Accepted in the Well-Beloved,
Near to God's heart we lie."
excerpt from "Feast of Jehovah - Foreshadows of Chrst in the calendar of Israel" by John Ritchie
A hymn for thought....
"To Calvary, Lord, in spirit now
Our joyful souls repair,
To dwell upon Thy dying love,
And taste its sweetness there."
and another...
"No longer far from Him, but now
By precious blood made nigh;
Accepted in the Well-Beloved,
Near to God's heart we lie."
Sunday, November 27, 2005
A Twist of Fate
Today, I went to watch "A Twist of Fate" by the SRT. Excellent show! It's a murder mystery musical. There were many comic moments, laced with tragic elements. The sets was beautiful. It was a Peranakan house set on a rotating stage. Wished they had did a DVD of the show for posterity purposes. :) Bravo!
And I love Dick Lee's music. Bought the music album during the interval. These are two of the songs that was sung. The first is called "Who am I". But I've extracted certain parts of the lyrics - which changes somewhat the content and context of the song - but there's a point why I extracted it this way. Think you'll understand when you read it. It's a cry of the heart...before.. remember? How blessed and loved we are now! His!
Music by Dick Lee; Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Who am I
So many years without a word
Only rumours I pretend I haven't heard
I can't go on living in the dark
When I write my name
There's a question mark that's asking..
Who am I?
I'm asking from the heart
What does it really change?
Nothing will fall apart
Yet to live this lie
Means that I can't move on
How can I turn the page
Until all my doubts have gone?
The second song is called "Everytime you look into my eyes" I'm putting it down here simply because it's romantic. Sigh... yar, you can tell.. I'm a romantic.. :) This song is a duet. I have highlighted the phrases I liked.
Everytime you look into my eyes
He:
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
A mirror of the heart that never lies
They sparkle in the way you do
And show the warmth I feel for you
It's clear
When you are near
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
The feelings that I have
and can't disguise
The tears of joy are there to show
All you ever need to know
Everytime you look into my eyes
Her:
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
The way in which my foolish heart replies
The secrets that we hide away
A fleeting glance can still betray
It's true
When I'm with you
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
Far brighter than the stars in all the skies
I feel I can forget the past
Start to live my life at last
Everytime you look into my eyes
Both:
Doesn't it seem strange
How situations change
Far away from home and farther from my mind
Suddenly standing there in front of me
Is more than I had every dreamed I'd find
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
So wide awake for now they realise
That even when I'm on my own
I won't feel that I'm alone again
On the darkest day the sun will rise
Everytime you look into my eyes
Suddenly standing there in front of me
Is more than I had ever dreamed I'd find
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
So wide awake for now they realise
That even when I'm on my own
I won't feel that I'm alone again
On the darkest day the sun will rise
Everytime you look into my eyes
And I love Dick Lee's music. Bought the music album during the interval. These are two of the songs that was sung. The first is called "Who am I". But I've extracted certain parts of the lyrics - which changes somewhat the content and context of the song - but there's a point why I extracted it this way. Think you'll understand when you read it. It's a cry of the heart...before.. remember? How blessed and loved we are now! His!
Music by Dick Lee; Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Who am I
So many years without a word
Only rumours I pretend I haven't heard
I can't go on living in the dark
When I write my name
There's a question mark that's asking..
Who am I?
I'm asking from the heart
What does it really change?
Nothing will fall apart
Yet to live this lie
Means that I can't move on
How can I turn the page
Until all my doubts have gone?
The second song is called "Everytime you look into my eyes" I'm putting it down here simply because it's romantic. Sigh... yar, you can tell.. I'm a romantic.. :) This song is a duet. I have highlighted the phrases I liked.
Everytime you look into my eyes
He:
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
A mirror of the heart that never lies
They sparkle in the way you do
And show the warmth I feel for you
It's clear
When you are near
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
The feelings that I have
and can't disguise
The tears of joy are there to show
All you ever need to know
Everytime you look into my eyes
Her:
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
The way in which my foolish heart replies
The secrets that we hide away
A fleeting glance can still betray
It's true
When I'm with you
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
Far brighter than the stars in all the skies
I feel I can forget the past
Start to live my life at last
Everytime you look into my eyes
Both:
Doesn't it seem strange
How situations change
Far away from home and farther from my mind
Suddenly standing there in front of me
Is more than I had every dreamed I'd find
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
So wide awake for now they realise
That even when I'm on my own
I won't feel that I'm alone again
On the darkest day the sun will rise
Everytime you look into my eyes
Suddenly standing there in front of me
Is more than I had ever dreamed I'd find
You'll see the love reflected in my eyes
So wide awake for now they realise
That even when I'm on my own
I won't feel that I'm alone again
On the darkest day the sun will rise
Everytime you look into my eyes
Friday, November 18, 2005
MTV dedication
Hmm.. I like science, but I definitely like the arts too. :) I like to express myself through music - personalisation.
Even personalisation of somewhat secular music can make holy spirit sense. :D I love it when I'm able to read the music in such a way that it ministers to me. And why not? Every good thing is from above. And God loves music!
So anyway, I'm preparing for a performance at my teacher's.. it's a small gathering of about 20. If you're interested to hmm.. hear me sing, let me know :D It's on the evening of the 3rd of December.
I'm singing "Just the way you are". And have been rehearsing it in my mind. I see it like a mini-MTV. You'll know what's running through my mind when I sing this song. :)
(You'll have to have heard the song before to make any sense of what's coming up next. I'm singing a shortened version of the song.)
Opening scene: A girl (it's me when I personalised it) is sitting on a window seat, looking rather forlornly out. It is night outside. The window is one of those old arched windows, framed with curtains of a sheer white, gently moving to a soft breeze. The room is rather bare and dark, though there is a shimmering of moonlight at the back.
From the corner, we see a shadow of a man (JC), looking at her. Music starts.
JC: Don't go changing, to try to please me,
You never let me down before (He starts walking towards her. She's determined to look out of the window, and not look at Him. He continues..)
Don't imagine, you're too familiar (He goes down on one knee and looks at her)
and I don't see you anymore.
as He continues, He takes both her hands in His. She's still not looking at Him
JC: I wouldn't leave you, in times of trouble,
we never could have come this far (She finally looks at Him)
I took the good times, (He looks into her eyes calmly) I'll take the bad times (a tear rolls down her cheek 'cos she knows what the next line is)
I love you just the way you are.
She finally looks at Him and speaks to Him, almost urgently, a little desperately
Girl: I need to know that You will always be
That same old Someone, that I knew
There's a hint of a sad laugh as He answers her, holds her hands a little tighter
JC: What would it take till you believe in Me?
The way that I believe in you.
There's a little silence. She's comforted that despite everything, He believes in her. She wants to reassure Him...
Girl: I said I love You (but at the back of her mind, she wonders whether she can really... He reads her mind and reassures her instead.. that it is not her love, but His love that sustains them. He continues for her with a smile)
JC: and that's forever (she is relieved that He knew what she was trying to say, thankful for His reassurance, that it is with a lighter heart that she continues...
Girl: and this I promised from the heart ('I love You' she quietly reiterates from her heart)
He looks into her eyes
JC: I couldn't love you...
she looks into His and continues for Him
Girl: ... any better
Together: (because it's an intimate two-way relationship) I love you/You just the way you/You are....
My Beloved is mine, and I am His.. (Song of Solomon)
Even personalisation of somewhat secular music can make holy spirit sense. :D I love it when I'm able to read the music in such a way that it ministers to me. And why not? Every good thing is from above. And God loves music!
So anyway, I'm preparing for a performance at my teacher's.. it's a small gathering of about 20. If you're interested to hmm.. hear me sing, let me know :D It's on the evening of the 3rd of December.
I'm singing "Just the way you are". And have been rehearsing it in my mind. I see it like a mini-MTV. You'll know what's running through my mind when I sing this song. :)
(You'll have to have heard the song before to make any sense of what's coming up next. I'm singing a shortened version of the song.)
Opening scene: A girl (it's me when I personalised it) is sitting on a window seat, looking rather forlornly out. It is night outside. The window is one of those old arched windows, framed with curtains of a sheer white, gently moving to a soft breeze. The room is rather bare and dark, though there is a shimmering of moonlight at the back.
From the corner, we see a shadow of a man (JC), looking at her. Music starts.
JC: Don't go changing, to try to please me,
You never let me down before (He starts walking towards her. She's determined to look out of the window, and not look at Him. He continues..)
Don't imagine, you're too familiar (He goes down on one knee and looks at her)
and I don't see you anymore.
as He continues, He takes both her hands in His. She's still not looking at Him
JC: I wouldn't leave you, in times of trouble,
we never could have come this far (She finally looks at Him)
I took the good times, (He looks into her eyes calmly) I'll take the bad times (a tear rolls down her cheek 'cos she knows what the next line is)
I love you just the way you are.
She finally looks at Him and speaks to Him, almost urgently, a little desperately
Girl: I need to know that You will always be
That same old Someone, that I knew
There's a hint of a sad laugh as He answers her, holds her hands a little tighter
JC: What would it take till you believe in Me?
The way that I believe in you.
There's a little silence. She's comforted that despite everything, He believes in her. She wants to reassure Him...
Girl: I said I love You (but at the back of her mind, she wonders whether she can really... He reads her mind and reassures her instead.. that it is not her love, but His love that sustains them. He continues for her with a smile)
JC: and that's forever (she is relieved that He knew what she was trying to say, thankful for His reassurance, that it is with a lighter heart that she continues...
Girl: and this I promised from the heart ('I love You' she quietly reiterates from her heart)
He looks into her eyes
JC: I couldn't love you...
she looks into His and continues for Him
Girl: ... any better
Together: (because it's an intimate two-way relationship) I love you/You just the way you/You are....
My Beloved is mine, and I am His.. (Song of Solomon)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
A baby's hug
A sister sent this story to me. Hope it ministers to you as it did me. :)
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the highchair tray.
His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.
"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door.
"Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position.
Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck.
The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain.
I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I am a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "...unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:3)
"You can tell the true character of a man by the way he treats someone who can do absolutely nothing for him"
Footnote: It is so true, we are all guilty of judging others by their appearance at times, I know I would have reacted like the lady in the story. Lord, please forgive us for our shortcoming!
Thank you Lord for Romans 8:1....Amen!
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the highchair tray.
His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.
"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door.
"Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position.
Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck.
The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain.
I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I am a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "...unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:3)
"You can tell the true character of a man by the way he treats someone who can do absolutely nothing for him"
Footnote: It is so true, we are all guilty of judging others by their appearance at times, I know I would have reacted like the lady in the story. Lord, please forgive us for our shortcoming!
Thank you Lord for Romans 8:1....Amen!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Someone
Today: 12 Nov 2005, Oasis meeting
Topic: Finding a life partner
Hmm... a reminder
Nowadays, I feel that the messages confirm my 'life lessons'. I'm a little bemused. God usually teaches me something and then that particular lesson will be preached.
But I'm determined to chew on it - though it's tempting to say I know all this. Because it's really head knowledge I suppose. And the reason Abba is speaking to me through the Pastor Chin is that He wants me to know it in my heart.
I choose to believe that in EVERY sermon that I go to, because He loves me so much, He will always give Pastor a word for me, regardless of what is preached.
I took down notes (habit :)) But the two important things I took away from the meeting today was:-
1. Being the one for Him first
Last time I listened to this message by Pastor Prince, I was paying more attention to the qualities to look for in a life partner.
This time, I believe that He wants to set in me, to give me a picture of how He already sees me - His sakal and chayil woman
to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper
to be prudent, be circumspect
to look at or upon, have insight
to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent
to have insight, have comprehension
insight, comprehension
to cause to consider, give insight, teach
to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely
to prosper, have success
to cause to prosper
chayil {khah'-yil}
strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
a) strength
b) ability, efficiency
c) wealth
d) force, army
2. Quoting what Pastor Chin said at the end of the meeting... "When your sight is on Jesus, you'll find love"
It's not about know more, studying more about Him then He will give you someone.
It's about an intimate relationship with Him alone.
Tonight, I went a concert. Enjoyed the Yellow River Extravaganza! by the Singapore Chinese Orchestral. For moi, I like to enjoy certain things alone but at the same time, it gets too quiet. Yet if one goes with friends, then one is not alone...
So tonight, as I settled into my seat waiting for the music to start, I had mixed feelings. And I remembered, hey, call Jesus along. It'll be like a date!
It's practising the consciousness of His presence.
There were many thoughts running through my mind - too long to go into detail.
Was recalling what Pastor Chin shared about not being too 'idealistic', searching for the 'perfect' one. Personally, I'm not the kind who says my life partner must be this, must be that and all. At the end of the day, the only 2 things that's a must is the hesad love and faithfulness with money. But I also don't believe in giving people 'a chance' where there is no chemistry in the first place - so is that being too 'idealistic'?
Anyway, I don't think Pastor meant what I thought. One thing stuck to me though - what Pastor Prince shared, never settle.
So at that point of time in the hall, and I was so enjoying the music - I just felt so comfortable and satisfied and suddenly so aware and clear that He is indeed my all. And suddenly, feeling that looking for a life partner is such a non-issue, like it was so strange to even consider the issue 'cos do I need that someone since He is already my all in all?
I guess this moment was an example of "when your sight is on Jesus" :D When the prospect of having a boyfriend or life partner seem like such a unnecessary messy hassle! haha.. Had such moments before.. they come and go. They go 'cos we are earthern vessels, and sometimes we go back to the flesh and our worries and insecurities. But at other times, when I'm just rejoicing in His love, these "things of the world, grow stranger dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
Topic: Finding a life partner
Hmm... a reminder
Nowadays, I feel that the messages confirm my 'life lessons'. I'm a little bemused. God usually teaches me something and then that particular lesson will be preached.
But I'm determined to chew on it - though it's tempting to say I know all this. Because it's really head knowledge I suppose. And the reason Abba is speaking to me through the Pastor Chin is that He wants me to know it in my heart.
I choose to believe that in EVERY sermon that I go to, because He loves me so much, He will always give Pastor a word for me, regardless of what is preached.
I took down notes (habit :)) But the two important things I took away from the meeting today was:-
1. Being the one for Him first
Last time I listened to this message by Pastor Prince, I was paying more attention to the qualities to look for in a life partner.
This time, I believe that He wants to set in me, to give me a picture of how He already sees me - His sakal and chayil woman
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent (sakal) wife is from the LORD.(Prov 19:14)sakal {saw-kal'} [07919]
to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper
to be prudent, be circumspect
to look at or upon, have insight
to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent
to have insight, have comprehension
insight, comprehension
to cause to consider, give insight, teach
to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely
to prosper, have success
to cause to prosper
An excellent (chayil) wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4)
chayil {khah'-yil}
strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
a) strength
b) ability, efficiency
c) wealth
d) force, army
2. Quoting what Pastor Chin said at the end of the meeting... "When your sight is on Jesus, you'll find love"
It's not about know more, studying more about Him then He will give you someone.
It's about an intimate relationship with Him alone.
Tonight, I went a concert. Enjoyed the Yellow River Extravaganza! by the Singapore Chinese Orchestral. For moi, I like to enjoy certain things alone but at the same time, it gets too quiet. Yet if one goes with friends, then one is not alone...
So tonight, as I settled into my seat waiting for the music to start, I had mixed feelings. And I remembered, hey, call Jesus along. It'll be like a date!
It's practising the consciousness of His presence.
There were many thoughts running through my mind - too long to go into detail.
Was recalling what Pastor Chin shared about not being too 'idealistic', searching for the 'perfect' one. Personally, I'm not the kind who says my life partner must be this, must be that and all. At the end of the day, the only 2 things that's a must is the hesad love and faithfulness with money. But I also don't believe in giving people 'a chance' where there is no chemistry in the first place - so is that being too 'idealistic'?
Anyway, I don't think Pastor meant what I thought. One thing stuck to me though - what Pastor Prince shared, never settle.
So at that point of time in the hall, and I was so enjoying the music - I just felt so comfortable and satisfied and suddenly so aware and clear that He is indeed my all. And suddenly, feeling that looking for a life partner is such a non-issue, like it was so strange to even consider the issue 'cos do I need that someone since He is already my all in all?
I guess this moment was an example of "when your sight is on Jesus" :D When the prospect of having a boyfriend or life partner seem like such a unnecessary messy hassle! haha.. Had such moments before.. they come and go. They go 'cos we are earthern vessels, and sometimes we go back to the flesh and our worries and insecurities. But at other times, when I'm just rejoicing in His love, these "things of the world, grow stranger dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
At Your feet
Down, at Your feet O Lord
is the most high place
At Your feet O Lord
I see Your face
I see Your face
There is no higher calling
No greater honour
than to come, and bow before Your throne
I'm amazed at Your glory
embraced by Your mercy
O Lord, I live to worship You!
is the most high place
At Your feet O Lord
I see Your face
I see Your face
There is no higher calling
No greater honour
than to come, and bow before Your throne
I'm amazed at Your glory
embraced by Your mercy
O Lord, I live to worship You!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Reality shows
I've a new hobby in watching reality shows...
Anyway, the two that I'm really keen on at the moment is Project Runway and The Apprentice 3.
Well, The Apprentice has already finished its run in the States, its on its last two episodes here in Singapore. Haven't been following it that closely except in the last 3 weeks. But I remembered when I casually watched it - I think it was when there were about 8-10 contestants in the amusement park episode, I was already impressed with Kendra. From the get-go, it was clear to me she was a marketing whiz.
Anyway, have been really inspired by her. Here's her website and this is an interesting article for "The Apprentice 3" fans.
Project Runway just aired last Monday over channel 5. I love fashion and Project Runway is not only about designing them - but I think it's fascinating to have an insight on the process of design. Well, after episode 1, there's a intriguing designer called Austin Scarlett. Was really impressed with his creativity since for the first challenge ("Innovation"), the designers could only use materials bought from a supermarket to design their clothes. And to use the fresh lush corn husks was a great idea! He just set up his website, so you can check it out here (Don't agree with his lifestyle but I'm not here to judge..)
Anyway, the two that I'm really keen on at the moment is Project Runway and The Apprentice 3.
Well, The Apprentice has already finished its run in the States, its on its last two episodes here in Singapore. Haven't been following it that closely except in the last 3 weeks. But I remembered when I casually watched it - I think it was when there were about 8-10 contestants in the amusement park episode, I was already impressed with Kendra. From the get-go, it was clear to me she was a marketing whiz.
Anyway, have been really inspired by her. Here's her website and this is an interesting article for "The Apprentice 3" fans.
Project Runway just aired last Monday over channel 5. I love fashion and Project Runway is not only about designing them - but I think it's fascinating to have an insight on the process of design. Well, after episode 1, there's a intriguing designer called Austin Scarlett. Was really impressed with his creativity since for the first challenge ("Innovation"), the designers could only use materials bought from a supermarket to design their clothes. And to use the fresh lush corn husks was a great idea! He just set up his website, so you can check it out here (Don't agree with his lifestyle but I'm not here to judge..)
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Conceiving a miracle (Sunday service)
Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a childwhen she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
strength=dunamis
Sarah received a miracle child
Genesis 18:1-15
Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”
a little water - the water of the word
to wash your feet - using the Word to wash off the dustiness in our walk with life
rest under the tree - rest under the tree of calvary - rest under the sure promises bought by Jesus' work on the cross
morsel of bread - man does not live by bread alone, but every Word of Christ - Jesus is the true bread of life - eating of the finished work
refresh your hearts - rest, shalom peace in my heart
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”
1 Peter 3:3-6
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Even God is taken by the inner charm of a woman - how wonderful it is to have the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, precious in His sight. Good reminder that what is pleasing and beautiful to Him is not only outward, but the hidden person of the heart.
I have seen beautiful ladies, and their beauty is from an inner glow, contentment and joy in the Lord. It supercedes the physical.
What is 'doing good'? (if we want to be daughters of Sarah, able to conceive a miracle, let's 'do good'? How? Read in context..
"as Sarah obeyed Abraham" - refer to Genesis.. an inner attitude (called Him Lord within herself) but more importantly,
looking at genesis, she said "shall I have pleasure" rather than "shall I have a baby"?
It was a response that God loved.. it's not about having the baby (the product) but God loves us so much, and what He is pleased with regarding Sarah, is her pleasure (the process)
Don't forget the fun and the pleasure in your Lord. Rejoicing in the Lord keeps me. The result/product is a by-product.
"When you enjoy your husband, there is seed conceived"
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Psalm 127:1-3
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
bread of sorrows = painful labour
"For so He gives His beloved sleep" - I agree with Pastor that it can be read both ways.
Firstly, He gives His beloved sleep.
Secondly, He gives His beloved in his sleep - reading in context, I'm more inclined to read it as the latter.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a childwhen she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
strength=dunamis
Sarah received a miracle child
Genesis 18:1-15
Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”
a little water - the water of the word
to wash your feet - using the Word to wash off the dustiness in our walk with life
rest under the tree - rest under the tree of calvary - rest under the sure promises bought by Jesus' work on the cross
morsel of bread - man does not live by bread alone, but every Word of Christ - Jesus is the true bread of life - eating of the finished work
refresh your hearts - rest, shalom peace in my heart
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”
1 Peter 3:3-6
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Even God is taken by the inner charm of a woman - how wonderful it is to have the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, precious in His sight. Good reminder that what is pleasing and beautiful to Him is not only outward, but the hidden person of the heart.
I have seen beautiful ladies, and their beauty is from an inner glow, contentment and joy in the Lord. It supercedes the physical.
What is 'doing good'? (if we want to be daughters of Sarah, able to conceive a miracle, let's 'do good'? How? Read in context..
"as Sarah obeyed Abraham" - refer to Genesis.. an inner attitude (called Him Lord within herself) but more importantly,
looking at genesis, she said "shall I have pleasure" rather than "shall I have a baby"?
It was a response that God loved.. it's not about having the baby (the product) but God loves us so much, and what He is pleased with regarding Sarah, is her pleasure (the process)
Don't forget the fun and the pleasure in your Lord. Rejoicing in the Lord keeps me. The result/product is a by-product.
"When you enjoy your husband, there is seed conceived"
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Psalm 127:1-3
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
bread of sorrows = painful labour
"For so He gives His beloved sleep" - I agree with Pastor that it can be read both ways.
Firstly, He gives His beloved sleep.
Secondly, He gives His beloved in his sleep - reading in context, I'm more inclined to read it as the latter.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
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