- Rick Warren
Thursday 24 October 2013
Tuesday 22 October 2013
Amazing Grace
This was one of the hymns I have been singing recently
"Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway" - Nicky Gumbel
My hope secures in His Word.
"Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway" - Nicky Gumbel
I prayed that when I finish my journey, God opened up my eyes: "Was blind, but NOW I see."378. Amazing Grace
Text: John Newton; st 6 anon.
Music: 19th cent. USA melody; harm. by Edwin O. Excell
Tune: ---, Meter: CM
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.
His grace lets me overcome my fears, I learn to appreciate His grace even more.
3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
I walked on this journey only because of His Grace I'd reached this point, I had no plan of turning back. I just deeply prayed that by the very same grace of His, He will lead me HOME.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
This one promise I never let go: The Lord has promised good to me! (Jer 29:11). My hope secures in His Word.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
My flesh and heart will fail me, but I know I will be living a life of joy and peace because I'm walking God's will.6. When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.
A Journey of Obedience and Faithfulness
I have been writing this draft since last month,
There are some reasons that I posted this just now :D
A vision!
This time, I was inspired to picture myself as a kid, doing all my activities normally...
Until one day, He told me, "Hey, I got a surprise for you."
"What surprise? No, it's okay, I'm perfectly fine with everything, I can't even thank You enough for it."
"Just follow Me."
And He put a blindfold on me, even if I said that I was okay and wouldn't ask for more.
He held my hands and led my way, He knew the direction, while I was still wondering where I would be brought to.
This turned out to be a pretty long journey to walk, some might take days, months, years for some people.
For me, months...
During the beginning of the journey, the one thing called obedience was very easy to do. I was excited, having high hopes, I didn't feel tired of walking and everything was just beautiful at the beginning.
Days after days had passed and I started to wonder,
"Hey God, why haven't we reached our destination yet? Why don't I feel that we are getting any closer to the place You've told me?"
"Be patient..."
A simple sentence that has a really deep meaning behind it
(3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. - Psalm 37:3-4)
Steps after steps, I began to fall down sometimes, I felt the obstacles here and there, an uncomfortable atmosphere around me, and hear that people had stopped going on this direction. But, I couldn't see anything at all, I did not know what was happening.
I asked and kept asking "Is it the correct path? Can we just quit this journey and go back home?"
You know, I just found out that keep asking to "go back" indicates that you are being discouraged. I was, I really was.
He said, "Keep on walking"
(5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. - Psalm 37:5-7)
I honestly admitted that I wanted to question His answers, I was starting to lose heart and faint, I hated this situation, but I didn't let my hands go of His.
I kept on walking...
Many times I felt too tired to hold on
Many times I was overwhelmed with fears
Many times I doubted that I would ever reach there
and many times, I was brought down on my knees in prayers, only to take a break, and ask for His joy and peace to fill my heart.
I felt like walking through a deep valley.
(4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4)
Then I reached a point where I bumped into a wall, a really high wall, many people kept saying that it was the end of the journey.
You know what, to quit was my biggest prayer before I walked on this journey because I simply didn't want to meet a dead end. I was sort of 'being led' to continue this journey, and here I was, in front of a high wall.
My hopes were shattered, I couldn't even think of any good endings of this journey.
I wanted to express my vexation, I wanted to defend myself, yea I was sort of being angry. But He told me to calm myself down.
(2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. - Psalm 39:2)
Still, weirdly He asked me to humble myself even more and stop thinking about those things. "Be still, be quiet and trust in me. It is not over yet, let's start walking again."
So, I left my anger and anxiety behind, I forsook and forgot about it. Nothing good's gonna come out by keeping it.
(9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. - Psalm 39:9)
Nevertheless, my heart cried out to Him, "God, what do You want me to do? Continuing this walk? I've accepted the fact that I might have met a dead end. My only prayer is to be strong in moving on, that's ALL I need. Isn't this the dead end? EVERYONES's already gone back and been telling us to do the same, isn't it stupid to go on? I am being avoided and forgotten anyway."
(9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. - Psalm 31:9-12)
"No, you know it is not over yet."
Then I brought myself to start walking again.
Every single day I woke up, I always prayed for more strength, courage, patience and gentleness.
I was tempted to figure out everything and strategize an "after-journey" plan, but I got frustrated even more, that was too much for me right now so I left everything to His mighty hands.
I just know one thing for sure, I know the voice of my Sheperd!
My part is to walk obediently and joyfully, knowing that He is with me and He has something for me.
"I'm done fighting, I'm finally letting go"
and I still walked on the road He had showed me, with my eyes focused solely on Him.
(1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23: 1-3)
1st of October, He said to me: "You know, one day you will be thankful for what you are doing right now."
I, being freed from my own thoughts, was finally able to say: "Hey G! Whatever Your will, whatever the result is, I will still love You, I've fallen for You since a long time ago. You're the One who always stands beside me even when I'm all alone. I love You and I trust in You."
Well, Christ is enough and that's what matters most :)
(22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. - Psalm 31:22)
How do I know that God is with me?
Because:
the fears I felt,
the tears I shed at nights,
the doubts I had,
the failures I faced,
and even the rejection I got are all real,
certainly His peace and love that fill my life abundantly.
(13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; - Isaiah 66:13a)
Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe ~ Bonhoeffer
I learn how to walk really obediently, although without understanding the reason why I should keep on walking.
I'm just doing what I've been told.
Maybe, I learn to really BELIEVE.
I love God more than my self-esteem, dreams, hopes, feelings or even myself.
Trust me, I wouldn't want and wouldn't be able to lower myself to this extent without Him.
This is literally my everything, my life as a burnt offering.
(1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. - Psalm 77:1-3)
There are some reasons that I posted this just now :D
A vision!
This time, I was inspired to picture myself as a kid, doing all my activities normally...
Until one day, He told me, "Hey, I got a surprise for you."
"What surprise? No, it's okay, I'm perfectly fine with everything, I can't even thank You enough for it."
"Just follow Me."
And He put a blindfold on me, even if I said that I was okay and wouldn't ask for more.
He held my hands and led my way, He knew the direction, while I was still wondering where I would be brought to.
This turned out to be a pretty long journey to walk, some might take days, months, years for some people.
For me, months...
During the beginning of the journey, the one thing called obedience was very easy to do. I was excited, having high hopes, I didn't feel tired of walking and everything was just beautiful at the beginning.
Days after days had passed and I started to wonder,
"Hey God, why haven't we reached our destination yet? Why don't I feel that we are getting any closer to the place You've told me?"
"Be patient..."
A simple sentence that has a really deep meaning behind it
(3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. - Psalm 37:3-4)
Steps after steps, I began to fall down sometimes, I felt the obstacles here and there, an uncomfortable atmosphere around me, and hear that people had stopped going on this direction. But, I couldn't see anything at all, I did not know what was happening.
I asked and kept asking "Is it the correct path? Can we just quit this journey and go back home?"
You know, I just found out that keep asking to "go back" indicates that you are being discouraged. I was, I really was.
He said, "Keep on walking"
(5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. - Psalm 37:5-7)
I honestly admitted that I wanted to question His answers, I was starting to lose heart and faint, I hated this situation, but I didn't let my hands go of His.
I kept on walking...
Many times I felt too tired to hold on
Many times I was overwhelmed with fears
Many times I doubted that I would ever reach there
and many times, I was brought down on my knees in prayers, only to take a break, and ask for His joy and peace to fill my heart.
I felt like walking through a deep valley.
(4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4)
Then I reached a point where I bumped into a wall, a really high wall, many people kept saying that it was the end of the journey.
You know what, to quit was my biggest prayer before I walked on this journey because I simply didn't want to meet a dead end. I was sort of 'being led' to continue this journey, and here I was, in front of a high wall.
My hopes were shattered, I couldn't even think of any good endings of this journey.
I wanted to express my vexation, I wanted to defend myself, yea I was sort of being angry. But He told me to calm myself down.
(8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. -Psalm 37:8)
I wanted to speak up upon 'unfairness' I experienced, because I just felt like a dumb.(2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. - Psalm 39:2)
Still, weirdly He asked me to humble myself even more and stop thinking about those things. "Be still, be quiet and trust in me. It is not over yet, let's start walking again."
So, I left my anger and anxiety behind, I forsook and forgot about it. Nothing good's gonna come out by keeping it.
(9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. - Psalm 39:9)
Nevertheless, my heart cried out to Him, "God, what do You want me to do? Continuing this walk? I've accepted the fact that I might have met a dead end. My only prayer is to be strong in moving on, that's ALL I need. Isn't this the dead end? EVERYONES's already gone back and been telling us to do the same, isn't it stupid to go on? I am being avoided and forgotten anyway."
(9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. - Psalm 31:9-12)
"No, you know it is not over yet."
Then I brought myself to start walking again.
Every single day I woke up, I always prayed for more strength, courage, patience and gentleness.
I was tempted to figure out everything and strategize an "after-journey" plan, but I got frustrated even more, that was too much for me right now so I left everything to His mighty hands.
I just know one thing for sure, I know the voice of my Sheperd!
My part is to walk obediently and joyfully, knowing that He is with me and He has something for me.
"I'm done fighting, I'm finally letting go"
and I still walked on the road He had showed me, with my eyes focused solely on Him.
(1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23: 1-3)
1st of October, He said to me: "You know, one day you will be thankful for what you are doing right now."
I, being freed from my own thoughts, was finally able to say: "Hey G! Whatever Your will, whatever the result is, I will still love You, I've fallen for You since a long time ago. You're the One who always stands beside me even when I'm all alone. I love You and I trust in You."
Well, Christ is enough and that's what matters most :)
(22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. - Psalm 31:22)
How do I know that God is with me?
Because:
the fears I felt,
the tears I shed at nights,
the doubts I had,
the failures I faced,
and even the rejection I got are all real,
certainly His peace and love that fill my life abundantly.
(13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; - Isaiah 66:13a)
Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe ~ Bonhoeffer
I learn how to walk really obediently, although without understanding the reason why I should keep on walking.
I'm just doing what I've been told.
Maybe, I learn to really BELIEVE.
I love God more than my self-esteem, dreams, hopes, feelings or even myself.
Trust me, I wouldn't want and wouldn't be able to lower myself to this extent without Him.
This is literally my everything, my life as a burnt offering.
(1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. - Psalm 77:1-3)
I have many stuffs to work on, I'm still praying everyday only to ask for strength to continue walking.
My situation was somehow described by this song, HELP ME FIND IT - Sidewalk Prophets
A powerful song!
As I said at Youth Service, I can't promise you anything, I just trust that GOD IS FAITHFUL
and now I'm learning furthermore to rest in the faithfulness of God.
I'm learning to stop doubting+worrying and wait for Him, because He's never failed before.
(114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. - Psalm 119:114)
(114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. - Psalm 119:114)
Last thing, a really clear picture of this vision of mine is that:
When the time has come and I've reached the end of my journey, He takes off my blindfold and lets me see what's there waiting for me. I'm simply brought down on my knees again, and in awe I say: "Thank You, Father. I'm really thankful for THIS (whatever it is)."
When the time has come and I've reached the end of my journey, He takes off my blindfold and lets me see what's there waiting for me. I'm simply brought down on my knees again, and in awe I say: "Thank You, Father. I'm really thankful for THIS (whatever it is)."
I wanted to know about it, but I had stopped asking Him, for I know that obedience is much better than understanding. It's not that He does not have intention to reply my questions, but it's just not the time yet.
I've made sure that I did not ask Him to 'break me and use me for His purpose', I'm weak, instead of feeling 'that' tough to pray for such prayer.
Yet, I'm joyful because in every turn of the road, He's there, waiting for me and encouraging me all the time.
I do everything, remain faithful, and press on forward based on conviction I received, that's all I know.
(This is my comfort in my affliction: for your word has quickened me. - Psalm 119:50)
I've made sure that I did not ask Him to 'break me and use me for His purpose', I'm weak, instead of feeling 'that' tough to pray for such prayer.
Yet, I'm joyful because in every turn of the road, He's there, waiting for me and encouraging me all the time.
I do everything, remain faithful, and press on forward based on conviction I received, that's all I know.
(This is my comfort in my affliction: for your word has quickened me. - Psalm 119:50)
And in the end, I will be grateful because I finish this race just like how He wants me to.
You may not understand today or tomorrow, but eventually God will reveal why you went through everything you did. - Jarrid Wilson
Faithfulness involves character, discipline & determination. It makes choices from a base of conviction, not convenience! - Brian Houston
So, turn your eyes upon Jesus and stay faithful, friends... Stay faithful :)
You may not understand today or tomorrow, but eventually God will reveal why you went through everything you did. - Jarrid Wilson
Faithfulness involves character, discipline & determination. It makes choices from a base of conviction, not convenience! - Brian Houston
So, turn your eyes upon Jesus and stay faithful, friends... Stay faithful :)
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say: "It is well, it is well with my soul"
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