Sunday, July 27, 2008
deep of your grace
Verse 1:
You are the Shepherd
Giving what I could not afford
Leaving the many
You sought to find me Lord
Verse 2:
I will remember
You are the reason for my song
Blessed Redeemer
You love me as Your own
Chorus:
In the deep of Your grace
All my sins are washed away
Here I know the power of forgiveness
Here I know the power of Your blood
Bridge:
All I am
will I lay down
All I have
before Your cross Lord
open my eyes
Verse 1:
Saviour of my soul
I worship You as God alone
Greater love has made a way to You
Verse 2:
I could not forget
The moment I in faith confessed
For my sin You died and rose again
PreChorus:
I believe every word You say
Father God with all my heart I sing
Chorus:
Open my eyes
I want to see Your glory, Your glory Lord
I open my ears
I want to be closer, closer to You
Verse 3:
Here I am again
I find my strength in drawing near
You have heard the desperate cry in me
Bridge:
And as I wait on You my God
I'll know the voice of truth
In quietness I am in awe
And as I worship You my Lord
I understand the cross
The sacrifice of God
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
the state of worry
You may have heard lately in the news and all over the media that people are now being more addicted to stuff like alcohol, gambling, drugs and a host of other worldly things. But did you know that you can be "addicted" to worry??
There are people who are very much "addicted" to worrying over their lives, and when they can't find their own stuff to worry about, they'll start worrying about their friends, relatives, family, neighbours etc.
Worry is defined as feeling uneasy, troubled, anxious or distressed. Worry can also mean being plagued by nagging concerns. And even worrying may sometimes be described as tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts!!
In Matt 6:25-27, Jesus warned against this kind of worry. He instructs, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you no much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
It might do us all some good to do some bird-watching once in a while and to take good notice of how well our little feathered friends are being cared for. They don't have a clue where their next meal is coming from or when they'll get it. And yet, I've never seen a sparrow sitting on a tree branch and having a nervous breakdown due to worry?!
I know that we sometimes struggle with low self-image, but surely you can believe that you're way more valuable than a bird right?! haha. And look at how well our Heavenly Father takes good care of them. What's more, God delights in giving His children good things. But we won't be able to receive and enjoy these things if we are so occupied by worry. If we focus on worrying about tomorrow, we can't live and celebrate today.
Here are just 3 counter-weapons that I use personally when I face worry:
1. SPEAK THE WORD. I highly recommend speaking God's Word out loud, when worry encroaches your territory. You might feel like this isn't your personal spiritual style, or you might feel weird reciting or reading a Scripture passage aloud. But try it! After all, the Bible is described as a sword, and during an attack, a sword won't do you any good in its sheath. For example, you might want to encourage yourself by reciting the most famous verse of all (to me at least haha!) 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you."
2. TOSS WORRIES TO GOD The devil will try his very best to hand you lots of worries and stress to make you feel lousy; fortunately, you are under NO obligation to hang on to them! Remember my friends the verse 1 Peter 5:7 in which we cast all our anxieties on God. When you read that, you might have thought of "casting" in the sense of laying something at God's feet (that's what I used to think ;]) That's a nice image haha! But it's not what the Bible means here. IN this case to cast worries means to HURL THEM LIKE FASTBALLS. Don't hang on to worries. Don't even try to say, "Hmmm maybe the next time I go to church or cell, then I'm going to hand these worries off to God." Don't wait guys! Pick them up and fire them God's way. Believe me; He can catch them, and He know what to do with them. And trust me this method works!
3. REST IN GOD. Two artists were asked to paint pictures of peace. One painted a picture of a serene nature scene, with a still lake as its focal point. While the other, painted a tree branch extended over a raging, rushing waterfall. Perched in the branch was a small bird in its nest, resting in the security of its home. The bird seemed to understand that in its nest, it was safe from the danger below. Now you may be wondering which picture represents peace and rest? The second one! Think about it. The first picture is static, stagnant. The second one truly depicts peace, because there can be no peace without opposition. God won't remove all opposition from your life, but He can give you a sense of rest and peace in the midst of life's raging storms. So (whoever is reading this), rest in God's love and His plan for your life. He will meet your needs!
(Heavenly Father, I thank You for providing peace and rest into my life. I pray that You will help me always as I continue to walk with You that You will help me to overcome the fear of worry and deception, and that You will also be able to help me to throw the worries which I have unto Your feet for You said in Your Word that we cast all our anxieties on You for You care and love us so deeply. I thank You Lord for being with me all the time. I love You and I thank You Father. In Jesus Name, AMEN!
P.S: to anyone who is reading this, please leave a comment behind just below this post or just a note so that I will know who have read it. Till then, God bless!
There are people who are very much "addicted" to worrying over their lives, and when they can't find their own stuff to worry about, they'll start worrying about their friends, relatives, family, neighbours etc.
Worry is defined as feeling uneasy, troubled, anxious or distressed. Worry can also mean being plagued by nagging concerns. And even worrying may sometimes be described as tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts!!
In Matt 6:25-27, Jesus warned against this kind of worry. He instructs, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you no much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
It might do us all some good to do some bird-watching once in a while and to take good notice of how well our little feathered friends are being cared for. They don't have a clue where their next meal is coming from or when they'll get it. And yet, I've never seen a sparrow sitting on a tree branch and having a nervous breakdown due to worry?!
I know that we sometimes struggle with low self-image, but surely you can believe that you're way more valuable than a bird right?! haha. And look at how well our Heavenly Father takes good care of them. What's more, God delights in giving His children good things. But we won't be able to receive and enjoy these things if we are so occupied by worry. If we focus on worrying about tomorrow, we can't live and celebrate today.
Here are just 3 counter-weapons that I use personally when I face worry:
1. SPEAK THE WORD. I highly recommend speaking God's Word out loud, when worry encroaches your territory. You might feel like this isn't your personal spiritual style, or you might feel weird reciting or reading a Scripture passage aloud. But try it! After all, the Bible is described as a sword, and during an attack, a sword won't do you any good in its sheath. For example, you might want to encourage yourself by reciting the most famous verse of all (to me at least haha!) 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you."
2. TOSS WORRIES TO GOD The devil will try his very best to hand you lots of worries and stress to make you feel lousy; fortunately, you are under NO obligation to hang on to them! Remember my friends the verse 1 Peter 5:7 in which we cast all our anxieties on God. When you read that, you might have thought of "casting" in the sense of laying something at God's feet (that's what I used to think ;]) That's a nice image haha! But it's not what the Bible means here. IN this case to cast worries means to HURL THEM LIKE FASTBALLS. Don't hang on to worries. Don't even try to say, "Hmmm maybe the next time I go to church or cell, then I'm going to hand these worries off to God." Don't wait guys! Pick them up and fire them God's way. Believe me; He can catch them, and He know what to do with them. And trust me this method works!
3. REST IN GOD. Two artists were asked to paint pictures of peace. One painted a picture of a serene nature scene, with a still lake as its focal point. While the other, painted a tree branch extended over a raging, rushing waterfall. Perched in the branch was a small bird in its nest, resting in the security of its home. The bird seemed to understand that in its nest, it was safe from the danger below. Now you may be wondering which picture represents peace and rest? The second one! Think about it. The first picture is static, stagnant. The second one truly depicts peace, because there can be no peace without opposition. God won't remove all opposition from your life, but He can give you a sense of rest and peace in the midst of life's raging storms. So (whoever is reading this), rest in God's love and His plan for your life. He will meet your needs!
(Heavenly Father, I thank You for providing peace and rest into my life. I pray that You will help me always as I continue to walk with You that You will help me to overcome the fear of worry and deception, and that You will also be able to help me to throw the worries which I have unto Your feet for You said in Your Word that we cast all our anxieties on You for You care and love us so deeply. I thank You Lord for being with me all the time. I love You and I thank You Father. In Jesus Name, AMEN!
P.S: to anyone who is reading this, please leave a comment behind just below this post or just a note so that I will know who have read it. Till then, God bless!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
beautiful
Had a huge amount of time spent with my Lord today, and this is some of the important parts that spoke to me during this AWESOME time! cheers =)
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt 7:2)
THOUGHT:
Jesus is concerned that we must not have a critical spirit toward others, especially about their motives as to why they did something. We can't assume to know another person's heart; only God can. When we are unfairly critical, overly harsh, or unduly judgmental, we need to remember that God will use that same standard on us. I don't know about you, but I need grace. So do those I love. I'm going to try very hard to be as gracious toward others as I'm trusting that God is going to be gracious with me. Amen!
(Abba Father, forgive me for the times that I've been far more critical of others than I should be. Arouse within me a passion to be gracious toward others so that they can see your graciousness shining through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.)
God bless!
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt 7:2)
THOUGHT:
Jesus is concerned that we must not have a critical spirit toward others, especially about their motives as to why they did something. We can't assume to know another person's heart; only God can. When we are unfairly critical, overly harsh, or unduly judgmental, we need to remember that God will use that same standard on us. I don't know about you, but I need grace. So do those I love. I'm going to try very hard to be as gracious toward others as I'm trusting that God is going to be gracious with me. Amen!
(Abba Father, forgive me for the times that I've been far more critical of others than I should be. Arouse within me a passion to be gracious toward others so that they can see your graciousness shining through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.)
God bless!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afficted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace upon him, and BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED!"
-Isaiah 53:1-5
(Father God, I thank You for my being my strong tower and my refuge, someone who I can always look unto for confort and strength. Lord You see the hearts of the people living in this world, Lord many have hurt You and have put Your name to shame, but many too have listened and obeyed Your laws and teachings. Father I pray with my utmost sincerity and gratitude from deep within my heart, Lord please don't pass them by! I believe Lord, You are my Healer, I believe that You are all I need, I believe that You are my portion and I believe that You're more than enough for me. Jesus You are all that I need. I love You Father, and I long to see Your kingdom come on to this world. Keep Your children safe, protect them and heal them from any disease and sickness. For BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED! Amen!)
-Isaiah 53:1-5
(Father God, I thank You for my being my strong tower and my refuge, someone who I can always look unto for confort and strength. Lord You see the hearts of the people living in this world, Lord many have hurt You and have put Your name to shame, but many too have listened and obeyed Your laws and teachings. Father I pray with my utmost sincerity and gratitude from deep within my heart, Lord please don't pass them by! I believe Lord, You are my Healer, I believe that You are all I need, I believe that You are my portion and I believe that You're more than enough for me. Jesus You are all that I need. I love You Father, and I long to see Your kingdom come on to this world. Keep Your children safe, protect them and heal them from any disease and sickness. For BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED! Amen!)
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