Can I Stay Here Forever?

"Through forgotten convictions, Misplaced affections, I'm losing the sound of Your voice. I've been chasing after emptiness, Trying to tidy up this mess. I swear I've been down this road before. I want to get back to where it all began, When I would long for only You. Like a child I'll take You at Your word. As these mountains of doubt, they fade away. I'm longing to trust and love You more. So for me this is beautiful. A brand new thought, and a brand new world. Can I stay here forever here with You? I've lost sight of what first drew me, To the love that pursued me. The joy that inspired my song. The friendship that was all I knew. The arms that I would fall into, Seem miles and years from where I am today. I got to get back to where it all began, When I would wait for only You. Can I stay here forever, Here with you? Surrounded by Your mercy, Clothed in Your truth. Always, I'll stay, Always here with You. Can I be here forever, Here with You?Can I know what it's like, To deeply love You?Always, Lord, let me stay. Always, here with You."

Rock Bottom:

When I came home from dido my mom was laow gun ngo. Last night, she grounded me until after Christmas. But the thing is today, just like.. an hour ago, she was laow gun ngo, but she showed how much she cared for me. She was telling me to forget marks, forget trying hard at school, just rest and feel better. I was crying and she was telling me not to cry and that my health is more important to her. She told me she doesnt want my head to explode, and all she sees right now is a vicious cycle. One of sleeping late , working too hard, sleeping even later, being tired, being sick, getting sicker, working harder, sleeping even later, getting even more headaches, getting even sickerr and not sleeping at all on repeat.She was saying how only i can find the solution to that problem.The doctor gave me her advice, my mom gave me hers, but only i can solve the problem. And thats exactly what Jon said to me,and thats what kwong said.I came upstairs crying,and I came into my room,and its like a total mess from doing project, from like... frantically looking for stuff.Sitting in this mess, I basically turned on my computer and started blasting starfield songs.Just reflecting on the lyrics of every song I'm listening to, I realize that all along I've had this desire to block myself out from the world. And the song so small by carrie underwood, I saw the lyrics on gretchen's xanga and its like exactly what i'm feeling x 102304923403249823023952.Cause its like:

"I know its hard on a rainy day, you wanna shut the world out and just be left alone. but dont run out on your faith. Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing is just a grain of sand, and what you've been out there searching for forever is in your hands. Its so easy to get lost inside a problem that seems so big at the time, it's like a river that's so wide, it swallows you whole. While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change, and worrying about all the wrong things. Time's flying by, moving so fast, you better make it count cause you can't get it back"

And like, I know I've been drowning myself. And the sad thing is, I told my mom I dont know whats happening anymore. And its true though, I look at myself right now and the first thing that honestly came into my head, the first thought, was "How did things end up like this?" Just a month ago, God was all I clung to. And my eyes were so clear, I was so convicted to live my life for Him. But when I'm so strong about my feelings, I run on emotion and then satan comes and knocks me down and shows me i cant run on emotion alone. I need more faith, more trust, and I need to completely rely on Him. Its like this song by Starfield, which says: "I want You to be, everything to me". I need to be so much stronger then I think I am. Things just came so fast... finding out about my mom's situation at work, work being so stressful, school being so stressful, and i'm so worried about wanting to do good in my future. I'm getting 95/96 in french, and 97 in accounting, but I dont even find any feeling of accomplishment in that. And I say I've been trying so hard to like, do good at school but truthfully I try... but its like my mom says: "Whats the point of preparing well? if by the end you cant even go to school cause your head is bursting?" My life right now, is soo unbalanced like... things are flying everywhere. But as I'm listening to these songs and listening to the lyrics, I cant help but cry, and keep crying. I know how strong how happy and how at peace I can be when God is the center. I smile, I laugh and I live easier when I have God. And I'm questioning myself, wondering why I'm so far from God now. Its like, I've been convincing myself that I'm so close to God and that He's the only thing I'm hanging to. But thats so far from the truth. I expect God to make things right, without trying myself. That's not called relying on God, that;s just called testing Him, taking HIm for granted. Without listening to him, without listening to what He wants me to do, and without caring and loving my relationship with Him, how can I expect my life to become any better? Cause I pray and pray and pray, and ask God to take me back on the path I was on before. And He's answered me so many times, through Jon, through Kwong, through other brothers and sisters, through everyone... But I've been so blind, and just closed all that out. People say that theres the wide path of the world, or the narrow path of God. They say that the narrow path is a harder path to take. I've been unknowingly, or rather... I pretend not to know, but I've been walking on the wider path lately. Thing is, for me, it's not easy at all. I know for a fact my life is reliant on God, He's like the air I breathe. I've been trying to walk in a space where theres no air for me,and I'm suffocating. Tonight, it's like God is shoving air into my lungs. I'm opening my eyes and it's like the song "Come home running". Why would I stray from Him? I don't know, but its like I'm always straying from Him. Truthfully, this time worse then others. Now I realize, it's like I'm once again at rock bottom. But God's merciful and I know that I'm so far right now from what He wants of me. Just sitting here, I'm crying cause I realize that the "narrow path", as people call it...its the only path I know howt to walk on. This "wide path" is so hard to walk on when I have no air to breathe. God has taken my hand and brought me back to His path, and now I'm breathing again. Air seems so much more precious and I'm not taking it for granted. I'm thinking everytime I take a breath, that it's God. This is making me realize just how how far I've become from God, and how much I've fallen. I've been through this before, and I know that I'll go through times like this in the future.But I really need to try to lessen those times from 1000 to 100, from 100 to 10 and 10 to 1. Till I can rely on God with faith that moves mountains.

Unashamed Love

"You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day. To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place. Worthy, Worthy. I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours. I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth. Worthy, You are worthy. Of a child-like faith, and of my honest praise, and of my unashamed love. Of a holy life, and of my sacrifice, and of my unashamed love."

I've been listening to this song for a few days now and trying hard to grasp the meaning. But it feels like I can't. The songs says I'm called by God to "Lay aside the worries of my day". Yet I worry about everything, from school, to extra cirricular stuff, to work, to parents, to family and friends, to uni apps, to relationships, to accountablility, to my spiritual walk, to anything and everything. To the point I'm so stressed out that I'm physically ill. According to my doctor, I'm now suffering from Chronic Stress. Meaning constant stress, even though I really shouldn't have anything to stress about. And the Chronic Stress has the side effect of Chronic tension headaches. They're headaches that don't go away, even with sleep. It's due to some muscle in my head not resting enough and cramping up. Only thing that helps is medicine, lots of it. And it really sucks, because it's my worrying that got me to this stage. To the point where I have headaches 3,4,5 days in a row without end. It sucks. But listening to this song, it reminds me to just, find some time to rest in His presense, in His peace. But its becoming so hard. The headaches make it harder to concentrate, and I hate doing devos half heartedly. Thats the worst part. I would rather not do them, then just "kaow kaow kei kei" do them. Which means past two days, I haven't really done devos... Just listened to this song again and again. I really need to pray hard, and try hard to relax. Because if I carry on like this, I don't want it affecting my spiritual life... So if you read this, please pray for me. I want to be able to worship and pray and meditate on God's word wholeheartedly without a headache in the way. Thanks <3

Future In His Hands?

Okay, so this is an off topic post... But now I think I'm going to be switching into two sciences next semester o_O. I know, sudden "not pure business" anymore... and it's honestly probably going to kill me hahaha. But the thing is...I've been reflecting a lot and thinking a lot about what I'm blessed with and my future as well, and now my perspective has sort of changed a lot. I wanted to do business mainly because it's honestly pretty easy, not that hard, always in high demand, and basically a relatively stable area of study to go into. But then along came these past few days of super challenging my perspective on life, and now gg to me. Hahaha. I realized like... I am, honestly speaking, gifted academically...like in maths, sciences, english, everything just most of the time comes easily. I didn't really try much, well like at all, but it's only because God blessed me academically wise. After much thinking, I sort of realized that sure, business is in demand. Sure business is pretty stable. Sure it'll be professional and respected, but only on a worldly level. My question to myself is: Would going into business help me achieve a 360 lifestyle of serving Him right? Or is there something else I can do that would better serve as a tool for me to have a 360 lifestyle of worship to Him. After all, that's basically my goal for this year. To start understanding what 360 lifestyle of worship to Him really is. And like... to keep my options open is to give me the chance to apply for most things. If I take two sciences, I'll ideally have: English, French, Calc, Adv. Functions, Accounting, Economics, Physics and Chemistry as my 8 courses. That basically means I'm well off in terms of prerequisites to a LOT of different programs. If God suddenly puts it in my heart to do or be a certain thing, then I really want to be ready to respond. It's gunna stress me more, but I really don't know. It'll be really stressful but I think its a step of faith? To like.. open up my future, to put it into His hands 100%. Cause business is just my lazy way out... but laziness is a sin. God's will is something so valuable right? And like.. opening my options to be ready for when He tells me what to do is what's on my mind right now. I want to be ready to respond to His will for me. But the question is if I'm ready to step out of my comfortable laziness, and really start working hard for my future. I think it's really time I grow up in my laziness, to set things straight and start being more serious. Even though I'm gr.11, with one more year to go. One year isn't going to be that long. And when time flies by, next thing I know, I'll be facing a lot more than just not doing homework or extra history classes. I'll be facing the paths of my future, and I've decided that it's up to Him.

Jesus, Take the Wheel - Carrie Underwood

Made me cry <3

People Need the Lord.

"Everyday they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes. Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where? On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.Laughter hides their silent cries, only Jesus hears.People need the Lord, people need the Lord.At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.People need the Lord, people need the Lord.When will we realize, people need the Lord?We are called to take His light. To a world where wrong seems right. What could be too great a cost, for sharing life with one who's lost?Through His love our hearts can feel, all the grief they bear.They must hear the Words of Life, only we can share.People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord.When will we realize that we must give our lives, for people need the Lord.People need the Lord."

We've sang this song a billion times before, but recently (past 3 days), I've been reflecting a LOT on it's meaning. As I read and digested every word and read and re-read the lines, I realized the truth behind the song is so sad. Recently, I've been noticing a lot about the world around me. After reading Jon's essay on his trip to Vietnam, I couldn't help but think over and over again how broken our world is around us. In economics, we watched the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. Just seeing how inhumane some of the actions were made me do a double take. Here are doctors who actually care more about the patient being able to pay fees then genuinely wanting to save them. One very young girl passed away because her mother's company wouldn't insure her unless she was at the company owned hospital. Lives for the sake of money. I found myself doing a re-examination on the situation, and it left me with a question. Many call the homeless, or people with disabilites, or people who are impoverished, as "unfortunate". But in reality

WHO ARE THE UNFORTUNATE ONES?

I remember hearing Bern's message from last year. Just a short missions moment on his trip with DOXA to the DR. How there was a man, without that much money and far from what we describe as "fortunate". Yet he sat calmly under a tree on his plastic chair reading God's word, the Bible, and being at peace. And then there are doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women all bustling about with grumpy faces and irritated attitudes. These people who we regard as "well off" or "extremely fortunate" with their hundred-thousand dollar homes and nice luxury cars. But when it comes down to it, everyday people pass you by. People living in pain and fear and only Jesus can hear their silent cries. We have to bring His light to the world where wrong seems right. There are so many people out there who have never heard HIS TRUTH. People who walk around broken and without direction because they haven't heard the beautiful love relationship we can have with Christ, the one we should SHARE with them and TELL THEM ALL ABOUT.

And it's sad, cause of the fact that IT'S SO TRUE. People walk on, and on the outside they laugh. But on the inside, they bottle things up and turn their backs to God. We have to understand that it's fact that people need the Lord. It's simply fact. We can't live without Him. Why? Because He's the air we breathe. He's the bread of life. He's our living water. He's the one who gave us all we are and all we have. Without Him, we can't survive and we can't live on. Because it's not for the world to judge who is "fortunate" or "unfortunate". It's not for us to say "He has a million dollar home and five luxury cars, therefore he's fortunate". Or for us to say "That man lives in rags on the street, and goes to the soup kitchen, therefore he's unfortunate". God does not judge. But what we do know, is that.. for those of us who know Him as our Lord and know of His beautiful and everlasting love and saving grace, WE ARE FORTUNATE. To know and have the oppertunity to feel the love that fixes broken dreams, pain, fear, emptiness, lost direction, and gives us the strength to move on.

"He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~ Isaiah 40:29-31

So everyday, let us live reminded that.. it's not... our grades, our future careers, our money, our houses, our posessesions or anything else worldy, that makes us fortunate. It's not a matter of whether we have food, shelter, clothes, or water. Because God is the source of all good things. He gives us power to go through anything and through His power, we can be what he wants us to be. So let us remember it's not by worldly standards which tell us whether we're fortunate or not. It's simply a matter of : Do you know God?

Hosanna

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity

"Food for Thought"
What healing? What's clean? Why aren't my eyes open? What's yet left to see? How can we possibly love as God has loved us? What breaks God's heart? Would it break ours too? Everything? Will I be able to give up everything for His will?

This much I do know is true. "As I go from nothing to Eternity".
Nothing to eternity. Can I live out that calling?

Coming Home: An Invitation to Prayer

Just taking a small break from the worship devos to update on the book Bern let me borrow. It's called "Prayer". Haha, big surprise. I've only read 3 pages, but it's enough for me to chew on. I think this book is giving me a good impression already. I'll impart a small concept that the book as given me. A picture I like very much.

"He invites us into the living room of His heart, where we can put on old slippers and share freely. He invites us into the kitchen of his friendship, where chatter and batter mix in good fun. He invites us into the dining room of his strength, where we can feast to our heart's delight. He invites us into the study of his wisdom, where we can learn and grown and stretchn... and ask all the questions we want. He inivites us into the workshop of his creativity, where we can be co-laborer with him, working together to determine the outcomes of event.s He invites us into the bedroom of his rest, where new peace is found..."
- Page 2, "Prayer" by Richard J. Foster

'True, whole prayer is nothing but love.' - St. Augustine

I Am Yours - LLY

You are the source of my comfort.
You are the one who lights my way
The pain and suffering I've been through,
Is nothing compared to what you felt that day.

On the cross, on the cross,
You paid the sinner's cost.
And now I come, before you.
And I've lost my way.
Please God, show me the truth.

Come live in me, come set me free,
I love you Lord, I treasure thee.
So take my life, for what you will.
In your presense, my soul is still.
And this I know, I am yours.

You are the one I depend on.
You are the one to whom I pray.
The love and grace that you've shown me,
Has caused my heart to say.

On the cross, on the cross,
You paid the sinner's cost.
And now I come, before you.
And I've lost my way.
Please God, show me the truth.

Come live in me, come set me free.
I love you Lord, I treasure thee.
So take my life, for what you will.
In your presense, my soul still.
I am yours.

Come live in me, come set me free.
I love you Lord, I treasure thee.
So take my life, and use it for,
your kingdom and your will.
I'll wait for whats in store.
Cause I am yours.

I am just a Shipwreck

"I built a fortress, With a hundred thousand faces. I'll keep it safe, With a hundred thousand more. But these masks are wearing thin, As You draw me in. I spent my time, On the empty and the fleeting. I spent my life, On much less than I'd dreamed. But I'm reaching out to You, To make me new. Cause I am just a beggar here at Your door, I am just a shipwreck here on Your shore. I come empty handed ,Ready to see. Your life in me changing who I've been,To who I need to be. You tell me my story, As You sift between the pages. I feel redemption, In the space between each turn. Could You take me in Your arms, And tell it just once more? Could You take me in Your arms, And tell it just once more? Cause I am just a beggar here at Your door, I am just a shipwreck here on Your shore. I come empty handed ,Ready to see. Your life in me changing who I've been,To who I need to be ."
~ Starfield

I love how God sends His angels to us.
I love how God sends His people to us.
I love how God sends His messengers to us.
Yet He's right beside us all the time.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

My ability to hate myself has always surprised me. My capacity to let go is that of zero. I love how... many people come to me and tell me "You're so wise" "You're so understanding" "Thanks for the mental beating" "Thanks for helping me get back on track." And yet, it's like.. the beauty in the broken, because deep down inside, I'm the one whose broken. The past few years have left wounds which arent yet healed. I thought they were scars by now, but I guess not. Within the past year, there has been a burden on my heart, regarding a certain past friend of mine. I wish I could let go. I wish I could forgive.

"If he sins against you seven times in one day, and says that he is sorry each time, forgive him."
~Luke 17:4

Tonight has been so frustrating but eye opening. Thank you, I love you. Thank you for reminding me to make myself right with God. Thank you for caring enough and loving me enough to stay with me and talk with me into the late hours of the night. Thanks for showing me God's love. Thanks for being a blessing. Thank you for guiding me and opening up my eyes. Thank you for reminding me of God's will for me. Thanks for reminding me of everything God has given to me. Thanks for making me more than what I would be on my own.Thank You God, for sending me an angel on my path.

I love you <3.

Where are your two lines?

TRUE WORSH1P

"Praise the LORD!Praise God in His temple; praise Him in His mighty heaven. Praise Him for His strength; Praise Him for His greatness. Praise Him with trumpet blasts; Praise Him with harps and lyres. Praise Him with tambourines and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes. Priase Him with loud cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"
~ Psalms 150 (NCV)

The 1 in the worsh1p.
I want it to be true worsh1p, not just half hearted, only during the time I have free. Worship is a lifestyle . It's not simply about taking time out when you can spare it. It's about always worshipping. 24/7. Bern once said, theres a concept of starting a prayer in the morning and not saying amen, so that everything you say is like a Prayer to God. I think that concept can be applied to worship too.

So I'm taking things one step further.
Sleep earlier.
Wake up earlier.
Start the day off with a song and a prayer.
To worship God at the beginning of the day, and ending of the day.
To keep on remembering... God is the one who was, and is, and is to come.

"LORD I ask of You this day, come and make me whole, make me whole again.With heart renewed and worship true, Christ my Saviour my king, this I promise you."

A COVENANT WITH CHRIST:

WITH THIS DAY, I'LL STRIVE TO WORSHIP YOU,

DAY AND NIGHT, WITHOUT IF'S, BUTS OR MIGHTS.

I'LL WORSHIP AS A LIFESTYLE, LIVING OUT YOUR LIGHT

IN THIS DARK DARK WORLD. WORSHIP AND PRAYER WILL BE

THE CORE OF WHAT I HOPE IS A LIFE THAT BECOMES HOLY AND PLEASING

TO YOU.

Signed,

Abbie Lok Yan Lam

September 13, 2008

" I'm on a mission. Not a mission to go far far away. Not a mission to help other people. Not a mission to do great things. Simply a mission to strive for a genuine heart of worship. I can't help others unless I can help myself. So I'll come before You, bring You more than a song. With arms high, feeling Your consuming fire wash over me. And with Eagle's wings, I'll fly. And with that, I'll raise Your banner high.

"Lord I love You, and I wish to bring You praise"

I pray that I may be able to live out this prayer through my life, my actions and my heart.

So I come to you, with a Heart of Worship"

~ Abbie Lam

Short and Sweet

Count the days,

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.

Food for Thought: How do you make a heart of worship for yourself?

Secular Music fast for 40 days.

Psalms 34:1-9 The Message

"I bless God every chance I get;

my lungs expand with His praise.

I live and breathe God;

if tings aren't going well, hear this and be happy;

Join me in spreading the news;

together let's get the word out.

God met me more than halfway,

He freed me from my anxious fears.

Look at Him; give Him your warmest smile.

Never hide your feelings from Him.

When I was desperate, I called out,

and God got me out of a tight spot.

God's angel sets up a circle

of protection around us while we pray.

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is.

Blessed are you who run to him.

Worship God if you want the best;

Worship opens doors to all His goodness."

Psalms 34:19

Food for thought: If each one of us were to read that out. Line by line. Honestly speaking, how many times will we have lied?

Heart?

Heart. Heart of Worship.
"I bring you more than a song, I bring you more than a song, more than a song."
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
John 4:23-24

He's looking into our hearts. It's not about how the way things appear. I can be weak and poor, but as long as every single breath is longing to bring Him praise, as long as I simply come.

Worship is not just Friday or Sunday.
Worship is not just piano or guitar or voice.
Worship is not just a phase.
Worship isn't a lukewarm thing.
Worship is not just words.

It's day by day.
It's constant praise.
It's what you bring.
It's more than a song.
It doesn't fade. It doesn't end.
Worship is a lifestyle.
Worship comes not from the mouth. It comes from the heart.

So let this be my prayer: Though I'm weak and poor, All I have is Yours, Every single breath.

Tonights question: Is my heart, a heart of worship?

Week 1: Heart of Worship

Heart of Worship
- Michael W. Smith
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itselfIs not what
You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus

тяυє woяѕн1p

Okay, first post : ) There are many things I want to get out of this year, but a main goal is really to acquire more accountability both with those around me as well as with myself. I really hope this year I'll learn to grow and become more pro-active in terms of chasing after Christ. With this blog, and this accountability, hopefully the devos I start will drive me to become an addict more and more. A Christ addict. One who lives, breaths and strives for Christ. I hope that no matter how "busy" I say I am, no matter how "tired" I am from work, no matter how "hectic" my schedule is, I won't fall short and still make time for devotion.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
- Psalms 1:2

Now comes for the name. Why true worsh1p? Well, true worship is to one only, truth from the heart. True worship, is not spelt with I, but it's spelt with One, as in the One and only Lord God our father. Which is why the name is not true worhship, but true worsh1p. True worship is not lukewarm, for the LORD detests the lukewarm. But instead burning and passionate and true. So in order to live out true worsh1p, I must learn to understand the words which I sing. Because I know,

He's my king, my best friend, my rock and my redeemer, the lover of my soul, the one who reigns, the beautiful one, the king of glory, king of majesty, the one who is, and is to come. He's my Saviour and the one I live for. So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandomned.

It wasn't worship and praise and song that saved my life. It was Him alone. He is and always will be the living water to my life. The fountain in which I delight. The one who saved my life. Which is why I am Yours.

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
- Psalms 63:1