Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Future In His Hands?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
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?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Coming Home: An Invitation to Prayer
"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
Sunday, September 14, 2008
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.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Where are your two lines?
"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."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Short and Sweet
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.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Psalms 34:1-9 The Message
Heart?
"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?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
тяυє woяѕн1p
"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