a lesson in love- without condition.

im singing for my Lord, everywhere i go. singing of His wondrous love that the world may know- how He saved a wretch like me, by His death on calvary im singing for my Lord everywhere i go! (:

come what may. (:

if we are the body.

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is
carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

Jesus is the way.

casting crowns is my new favorite band haha (: when i heard the lyrics of this song, it really struck me and reminded me of the reason i live and the reason why He put me here. we are His hands, His feet, His voice. and it kinda reminded me of ginny's 'land of the gray'. the world we live in was meant to be so beautiful, but it's not. its not because of our sin, our selfishness and self-centredness. why arent His arms reaching? why arent His hands healing? why is His love not showing? but there is a way- Jesus is the way.

i was just thinking last night about the kind of world we live in. everything happens so fast and [as grace said in devotions :] the only constant is change. and i thought about what pastor told us on sunday about the persecution of some of our churches in either burma or india, and i was just thinking about how veryvery blessed i am, we all are, to be in wonderful, safe singapore where we can worship Him and never fear proclaiming our faith. but even with the liberty to do that, how many of us actually do? been thinking/meditating on romans8:31-39 and eph4:4-6. on romans, the very precious truths and thoughts i gathered were:

1. if God is for us, NO ONE can be against us.
2. no one can condemn, cos God ALONE justifies.
3. He gave His Son so freely, what more anything else?
4. NOTHING can ever separate us from the love of God. nothing.

and on pt3, t chen kee added special insight from pastor mark haha that its not just what He gives us, its the GIVER, that really matters. remembering lyrics of a hymn 'once the gift i wanted, now the Giver own.' :]

then i thought about the immense amount of work i have to complete and i thought and i've decided that chem is NOTHING compared to what others are going through. i need to learn to count my blessings and since im stuck with chem, physics, econs, math and GP, im gonna do it good cos He placed me here for a reason. so anw, although the storms of life scare me, and the waves scream "you'll never win!", the voice of truth tells a different story, the voice of truth says "do not be afraid. this if for My Glory."

and out of all the voices calling to me, i choose to listen to the voice of truth. :]

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 wandering 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 vapour in the wind.
still You hear me when im calling,
Lord You catch me when im falling.
You told me who i am-
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 calmed the sea,Mbr>Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me,

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 vapour in the wind.
still You hear me when im calling,
Lord You catch me when im falling.
You told me who i am-
i am Yours.

I am Yours,
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours,
I am Yours.

its really been quite a bad week. i just cant really seem to focus on my studies and the moment i sit down i feel like getting up and doing something else, which is BAD. and i keep getting discouraged everytime i look at the silly subjects i have to study and i think boy oh boy am i gonna have a hard time understanding all that. and today was one really, really, REALLY bad day. i just couldnt get anything into my head the entire afternoon cos i still dont feel that well and i just ended up tired and upset, feeling really stupid and about to bury my head in my pillow and scream. but as i sat there in my room, in moments of brokenness and inadequacies i remembered what i should do, what i should've done the first moment doubt set in, and i prayed. afterwhich i sat down and started reading 1corinthians- until it came to the section of the first chapter that says [very, VERY aptly]

"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty." -1cor1:27

haha and since i was feeling supremely stupid for not understanding what the paradox of thrift was, i was veryvery comforted by that verse haha (: no but seriously, if He can work through me when im broken and alone, if He can reach people better when all my strength is gone and only His is present, then perfect submission, all is at rest- i in my Savior, am happy and blest. (:

1corinthians1:26-31 its a new week and new challenges lie ahead. as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

i am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow. a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapour in the wind. still You hear me when im calling, Lord You catch me when im falling. You told me who i am- i am Yours.

Amen! (: