Have you heard this song? 'So Close' by hillsong. I went jogging earlier and had a chat with God. My heart was filled with so much joy and peace. Joy of knowing that i am satisfied by Him. The joy of knowing that God loves me so much, joy of knowing that God brought me through my saddest moments. That song just came to my mind as i prayed. "So close, i believe, You're holding me now in Your hands i belong. You never let me go." God didnt let me go when i felt trapped in the darkest valley, He never let me go when i thought i wouldnt be joyful again. He never me go and held me so close. Praise God!
These are the lyrics of the song:
I'm so secure
You're here with me.
You stay the same
Your love remains
here in my heart.
(Chorus)
So close I believe
You're holding me now,
in Your hands I belong.
You'll never let me go;
So close I believe
You're holding me now
in Your hands I belong,
You'll never let me go.
You gave Your life
and Your endless love.
You set me free
& show the way
now I am found
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
All along You were beside me
even when I couldn't tell
and through the years
You showed me more of You
more of You
(Chorus)
April 22, 2008
March 26, 2008
He will not let your foot slip
Who would have thought that a mighty king who had the power to defeat massive legions, break through impeccable strongholds and defeat nine foot giants would lament like a little child. A helpless little child. Hard to imagine that, isnt it? God reminded me that even the strongest man, the greatest king, would need God, more than anything. Sometimes i lament like David and God seem to remain silent in the midst of pain and distress...it felt like He wasn't with me.
Psalm 77
" I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When i was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."
Instead of rebuking the audacious accusations in my heart that He doesnt seem to care, God brought me back to the familiar passage in romans 8. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." These verses were flashed boldly on the screen before the start of the order of worship on Sunday. You know, sometimes, like the parable of the prodigal son, God runs to us like a loving Father with opened arms. I felt like the prodigal child...a child that's totally helpless and overwhelmed. But God did not despise my brokeness. He ran to me and said, "I love you. And nothing will ever separate you from My love."
Psalm 77
" I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When i was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."
Instead of rebuking the audacious accusations in my heart that He doesnt seem to care, God brought me back to the familiar passage in romans 8. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." These verses were flashed boldly on the screen before the start of the order of worship on Sunday. You know, sometimes, like the parable of the prodigal son, God runs to us like a loving Father with opened arms. I felt like the prodigal child...a child that's totally helpless and overwhelmed. But God did not despise my brokeness. He ran to me and said, "I love you. And nothing will ever separate you from My love."
March 16, 2008
Psalm 121
It has been a long time since i pop by the garden...Strangely, there was a nudging urge to head down when i got home. God showed me another miracle... The torrents over the past weeks did not destroy my rose plant...Instead, He made another one bloom. Just like what is written in Psalm 121, "The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going. Both now and forevermore." The Lord watches over everything that He has created...He drove me to tears once again because of the reassurance that He is watching over me. Now and forevermore.
March 9, 2008
Who am i?
"Who am i, that the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am i, that the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wondering heart.
Not because of who I am. But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.
Who am I? That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I? That the voice that calm the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.
Not because of who I am. But because what of youve done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours.
Not because of who I am. But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
You told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
'Cuz I am yours. I am yours."
~Casting Crowns: Who am i~
We shared the songs that touched our hearts deeply, during cg. SaSa shared this song...You know, God really hears us when we're calling and He catches us when we're falling... Just when i was crying out to God, a friend sent a message that says "keep smiling in the joy of the Lord!"
Who am i?! That the Creator God would chose to love me so dearly and so deeply! Who am i?! That the King of kings would care to pick me up! Who am i?! That the Great Lord would care to hold my every moment! I'm overwhelmed...overwhelmed by God's incomprehensible love.
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am i, that the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wondering heart.
Not because of who I am. But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.
Who am I? That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I? That the voice that calm the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.
Not because of who I am. But because what of youve done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours.
Not because of who I am. But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading, Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
You told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
'Cuz I am yours. I am yours."
~Casting Crowns: Who am i~
We shared the songs that touched our hearts deeply, during cg. SaSa shared this song...You know, God really hears us when we're calling and He catches us when we're falling... Just when i was crying out to God, a friend sent a message that says "keep smiling in the joy of the Lord!"
Who am i?! That the Creator God would chose to love me so dearly and so deeply! Who am i?! That the King of kings would care to pick me up! Who am i?! That the Great Lord would care to hold my every moment! I'm overwhelmed...overwhelmed by God's incomprehensible love.
February 25, 2008
Food for thought
Just read this:
That was the problem of the Christians in Ephesus- they had left their first love.They did all the right things, but out of duty, not love. If you've just been going through motions spititually, dont be surprised when God allows pain in your life. Pain is the fuel of passion- it energizes us with an intensity to change that we dont normally possess. C.S Lewis said pain is God's megaphone. It is God's way of arousing us from spiritual lethargy. Your problems are not punishment; they are wake up calls from a loving God. God is not mad at you, He is mad about you and will do whatever it takes to bring you back into fellowship with Him. God told the captives in babylon, "When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, i'll make sure you wont be disappointed."
That was the problem of the Christians in Ephesus- they had left their first love.They did all the right things, but out of duty, not love. If you've just been going through motions spititually, dont be surprised when God allows pain in your life. Pain is the fuel of passion- it energizes us with an intensity to change that we dont normally possess. C.S Lewis said pain is God's megaphone. It is God's way of arousing us from spiritual lethargy. Your problems are not punishment; they are wake up calls from a loving God. God is not mad at you, He is mad about you and will do whatever it takes to bring you back into fellowship with Him. God told the captives in babylon, "When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, i'll make sure you wont be disappointed."
21st bday
This birthday isnt one with loud parties or deafening music but it is one that makes me cry and smile all at once! I am so loved by my cg! If you're reading this, thank you sooooo much for everything!!!!! The greatest gift that God gave me this 21st year is the assurance of His love :) everyday. On saturday, i watched 'passion of christ' over breakfast with my dad and i couldnt stop crying. It was as if God was saying, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) I did that just for you. I love you." Yesterday the pastor shared that sometimes, we do not know what we really want. He wasnt pointing to trivia wants but he was talking about the deepest and greatest need of our hearts. Sometimes, we chase after the things that we thought we want yet feel empty and dissatisfied when we have those things but Jesus wants us to know the truth. Even if it takes alot of pain to speak the truth, He will because He loves us and want to set us free-the way God intended things to be... This is a birthday that i run straight to God, telling Him that i need Him more than anything and i never want to leave those arms again!
February 18, 2008
Unconditional covenant
Have you ever realised that the covenant that God made with Abraham was unconditional?! God committed Himself to do certain things for Abraham and the nation that would come from Him. Failure or unbelief on Abraham's or Israel's part would not set aside this covenant. This simple truth really hit me because I was reminded of God's faithfulness and unconditional love! Sometimes we doubt God and ask questions like, 'Will You really bring me through this?', 'Can i really trust You without knowing how things will work out, where You are leading me or even why things happened the way they did.' Yet God patiently deals with our stubborness and tenderly reassures us of His love all the time :) God is so amazing! He is the God who created the universe, the God who holds everything in His hands, the God who parts the sea, and He is a God who delights in every detail of our lives!
February 17, 2008
Holydays (pics 7)
Another heart-shaped coral
The yellow bird that stays upside down
This sign has grammatical errors
Holydays (pics 4)
The infinity pool
The place where i spent most afternoons
My parents were strolling on the beach (the two stick-like people in the background)
February 16, 2008
Holydays
Just got back from a trip with my family from Bintan. Had holydays instead of a holiday! :) That place is gorgeous. When I look at the clear blue sea, pristine beaches, towering trees, mighty waves, flocks of birds, uncountable stars, feel the soft white sand beneath my feet, i'm reminded of God's wonder and glory. He is the God who parts the sea, the God who makes mountains tremble, who sets the stars in their place and know them all by name, the God who creates the earth and sustains it, the God who is so wonderful! How awesome is our God! Just like the lyrics from the the song, Magnificent.
"Who compares to You? You who set the stars in their place. You who calm the raging seas that came crashing over me. Who compares to You? You who bring the morning light. The hope of all the earth is rest assure in Your great love."
I spent most of the day lying on a hammock and reading psalms and "The Purpose Driven Life". Felt so overwhelmed that tears kept flowing from my eyes. I was overwhelmed by God's love and by the true meaning of 'the heart of worship'. The heart of worship is surrender. Rick Warren penned this beautifully.
He wrote, " Abraham followed God's leading without knowing where it would take him. Hannah waited for God's perfect timing without knowing when. Mary expected a miracle without knowing how. Joesph trusted God's purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did. Each of these people were fully surrendered to God."
These words remind me that He is with me ALL the time and He knows EXACTLY what I'm going through and He LOVES me so much and all He wants me to do is just to TRUST HIM. There are times when i still grieve, times when i doubt but God has never leave nor forsake me through it all. How great is our God! I pray that He will be my everything, and I'll live to worship HIM all my life!
Psalms 37:5 "Depend on the Lord; trust Him and He will take care of you." (NCV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)