Mary, Did You Know

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding... is the Great I Am

-- "Mary, Did You Know" by Lee Rufus Greene III and Alan Lowry

It probably wasn't the best idea to listen to Clay's Christmas CD for the first time while driving. This song... I really don't have the words for it. I only know it was a driving hazard because I couldn't stop crying. I'd never seen things from this end before. Never.

This is the best Christmas CD ever. The best.

Isn't love amazing?

Every morning I have the chance
To rise and give my all
Every afternoon I find
I have only wasted time
In light of Your awe

Isn't love amazing?
I forgot how to speak
Knowing You are near and
I am finally free

Say, won't You say
Say that You love me
With love ever, love, love everlasting
All my devotion put into motion by You

My eyes fear to close
This reckless letting go is hard to bear
On the edge of all I need
Still I cling to what I see
And what have I there?

Bred my own disaster
Who have I to blame?
All I need is waiting
To be fanned to flame

I open up my eyes to see You standing there
I can barely breathe
I can hardly bear all the love that I feel for You inside
I hope You feel it now, somehow

-- "Say, Won't You Say" by Jennifer Knapp

Christlikeness

"Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality... Every time you forget that character is one of God's purposes for your life, you will be frustrated by your circumstances... [I]f you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality."

-- The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren

The Sweetest Name

Jesus, You are the sweetest name of all
Jesus, You always hear me when I call
Jesus, You pick me up each time I fall
You're the sweetest, the sweetest name of all

Jesus, how I love to praise Your name
Jesus, You are the first, the last, the same
Jesus, You died and took away my shame
You're the sweetest, the sweetest name of all

Jesus, You are the soon and coming King
Jesus, we need the love that You can bring
Jesus, we lift our voices up and sing
You're the sweetest, the sweetest name of all

-- "The Sweetest Name of All" by Tommy Coomes

I learnt this song as a child, yet I've only just realised that it really is that simple: my Jesus; what a sweet sound that is... My Jesus loves me -- what else matters?

Reaching for You

I can't believe the way
Your love has got a hold on me
Each morning I wake to find You near
You lift me above my fears
And set my feet on solid ground
All of my days belong to You

And I breathe in Your breath of life that fills my heart
You are my all consuming fire

I stand here before You
In wide-open wonder
Amazed at the glory of You
The power of heaven
Revealing Your purpose in me
As I'm reaching for You

-- "Reaching for You" by Hillsong United

The only thing I need, I already have

Eyes closed in a veil of tears when I hear the sound
Once more You've come to me -- You've calmed me down
You still the raging sea inside of me
My Lord has come for me

So why, why is it so hard for me to see?
Why is it so hard to just believe?
Show me what it means to be free

The only thing I need, I already have
The fullness of Your mercy in my hand
The only One who loves me as I am
The only thing I need, I already have

My heart -- a companion to my wounded soul
Again You comfort me, You take control
You quell the fear that owns too much of me
As it was meant to be

So why, when each and every word becomes a war
When there's nothing I can see worth fighting for
You come into my heart and set me free

-- "The Only Thing I Need" by 4Him

Blessed are the peacemakers

"Don't procrastinate [or] make excuses... Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse. In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurt to fester."

-- The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren

I never liked picking up books just because "everyone was reading it," but this book was lying around at home. I'm halfway through now, and while I may not agree with the book in its entirety, Warren does make some good points, and I can truly say that I have learnt and been blessed much from his book.

It also confirms my suspicions, and explains why, the longer people wait to apologise, the madder I get.

"But"

A quiet place far away in the centre of my heart
Sheltered by the solitude like my Daddy's arms
Seeking and knowing I will find
Resting these weary eyes
Leaving my deepest fears behind
Under the endless sky
I lift my heart up high and...

Father, You breathe, and I hear You whispering
And Your mercy covers me
Father, You breathe, and Your presence fills the air
And I find my solace there

Here is where peace abides with all that I desire
You lay me down in luscious green to rest when I am tired
Saviour, You meet me where I am
Here on this earthen floor
Dying, You gave me life again, emptied of all but love
And that would've been enough but...

Father, You breathe, and I hear You whispering
And Your mercy covers me
Father, You breathe, and Your presence fills the air
And I find my solace there

-- "You Breathe" by Nouveaux

"That would've been enough but..." That word floors me. That even if, for the rest of my life, He never did anything else for me again, what He has already done is enough for me to worship and be thankful for, my whole life. But He chose to give me so much more. He chose to bless me far beyond my wildest imagination, and most of all, to love me in a way that I will never fully grasp.

Lessons

This is written on the first page of my Bible:

"The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD."

-- Proverbs 16:1

I will prepare my heart by being in Your word every day and obeying Your laws. I will prepare my heart by worshiping You and giving thanks in all things. Fill my heart with love, peace, and joy, so that it will flow from my mouth. When I speak, give me words that will bring life and edification. Help me to speak wisely, graciously, and cleanly, and never foolishly, rudely, or insensitively. Give me words that speak of the hope that is within me. May the words I speak bring others into a fuller knowledge of You.

It is adapted from Stormie Omartian's The Power of a Praying Woman, modified to suit my own needs. I remember exactly how I felt the moment I was penning those words: this prayer is what would change me, this is who I want to be, this is how I would live for God's glory. It was a mixture of pride and submission.

Six months on, and I have learnt that: God has changed me, this is still who I endeavour to be, and how I want to live for God's glory. But I have also learnt things about myself that wasn't easy for me to admit: that you don't always remember to turn to the first page of the Bible, even if you've made the commitment to pray the prayer first thing in the morning; other days, you don't even pick up your Bible, and it has nothing to do with forgetfulness.

God continues to teach me new things, and I continue to learn and grow, and pray that I will never stop; I know that He will never stop.

A page is turned...

A page is turned by the wind, to a boy with curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds, and the storybook is told
He finds salvation not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and He let her dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardour, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and He'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the One
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come

-- "A Page is Turned" by Bebo Norman

I heard this song for the first time a couple of years ago, and I refused to listen to it again, because it was not possible to get through it without crying uncontrollably. I felt brave last night, so I put it on. Just guess what happened next.

No love story in this world will ever come close to the love stories that God writes.

Prophet vs Jerk

"There is a very important theological distinction between being a prophet and being a jerk. What burns deeply in the heart of a true prophet is not just anger but love.

"To hold others accountable does not mean that we get to view ourselves as being in charge of their lives."

-- Everybody's Normal Till You get to Know Them by John Ortberg

What kind of love is this?

What kind of love is this
That climbs the hill
That bears the cross
That takes the nails

What kind of love is this
That takes my place
That gives His life
And clears my name

Oh, I want to know
What kind of love this is

What kind of love is this
That gives His Son
That bears the sin
Of everyone

What kind of love is this
That cries alone
That tastes of death
To bring me home

Oh, I want to know
What kind of love this is

It's wonderful
It's glorious
It's full of grace
And full of mercy
Powerful
It's marvelous
That's what this love is
That's what God's love is

What kind of love is this
That fills my soul
That lifts me up
And makes me whole

What kind of love is this
That gives me hope
That dries my tears
And brings me joy

Oh, I want to know
What kind of love this is

Jesus, Jesus
He's full of grace
And full of mercy
Jesus, my Jesus
This is what love is
That's what God's love is

-- "What Kind of Love is This" by Shawn Craig

Creation vs Evolution

Answers in Genesis

Answers to debunk evolution myths. An intriguing sermon by Dr Don Batten. Catch him if you can.

My Praise

Lord, I wish I could praise You with adequate words
But You leave me speechless
And I so long to sing you the song You deserve
But it would be endless

I long to move Your heart
I bring You something new
I tell how great You are
Till my praise to You...

Is like an ocean breeze blowing on Your face
Like a summer sun with its warm embrace
Like a gentle rain plays a symphony
That's what I want my praise to be

Like a fragrant rose in the early spring
Like an eagle soars when it spreads its wings
Whatever, Lord, You may need from me
That's what I want my praise to be to You

Everything I could give, You already possess
Lord, I'm so unworthy
I'm just one of the millions to stand and confess
And yet still You hear me

Your heart is open wide
You long for what I bring
I pray somehow
You'll find this simple offering...

-- "My Praise" by Dan Dean, Dave Clark, and Don Koch

Happy Birthday, Dad

My dad went for an eye check-up today, and the doctor found that he had two holes in his right retina; if he didn't get them fixed, he'd go blind -- and fast -- the doctor said.

The amazing thing is that he never intended to go for any eye check-up, not anywhere in the near future, anyway. He had accompanied a friend to an optician (who is an old friend of his). She (the optician) then reminded him of his cataract in his left eye, and nagged at him to get it checked.

My dad felt prompted to take this piece of advice, and that's how he found out about his damaged retina, and how they were on the brink of coming detached -- my tears welled up at the thought of how close he came to going blind, and they poured when I realised how faithfully God had led my dad, through this miraculous chain of events.

You know what? The eye doctor that my dad consulted today wasn't even the regular doctor who'd treated him for his cataracts. That doctor, at the last check-up, didn't even check his right eye, and probably wouldn't have; she would not have discovered the holes in the retina.

My dad, by the impulse of his spirit, went to the eye doctor that he had only once consulted, a long, long time ago. He still doesn't know why, except that God is good, in ways that we cannot even fathom.

To end off the happy story with one more amazing grace: this doctor had a full schedule, he didn't have to treat my dad today. But he offered -- and for this, I will forever be grateful -- to stay past his consultation hours and perform the laser surgery for my dad.

What was heading towards a lifetime of darkness, God turned around in a matter of hours.

A special blessing on a special day, for an extra special dad.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

Dreams and promises

"Not everyone is going to be happy about the things God has promised you... People who wait on God's promises may be viewed as unrealistic dreamers. And people don't like dreamers. Dreamers make people uncomfortable, perhaps because dreamers expose a lack of vision and a sense of purposelessness that other people may be feeling."

"... as we lose ourselves in pleasing Him our desires change. They are transformed to match His desires for us because we are finally able to rest in the knowledge that He knows what is best for us."

-- How to be Blessed & Highly Favored by Michelle McKinney Hammond

And so it begins (again)...

This blog had been in my mind for a while now, and now seems as good a time as any. The title of this blog comes from Chris Tomlin's song of the same name.

I don't know where this will go, but hang around; we'll see.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

[Edit: I have wrongly credited the words to Tomlin. Isaac Watts was the one who first wrote "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," which Tomlin subsequently adapted and modified. I have since changed the blog description, but the title remains, because I've grown rather partial to it. Heh.]