Born For This

Lesson # 1: The Blue Man

2012-01-27T03:23:00.002+08:00

Hello lovely peole, I am so sorry I haven’t written in awhile…I have no excuse, I have, well I was busy, then I became free and reallylazy,haha, but mostly because I wanted to write something really special andmeaningful, not just another blog entry.

Since time is on my side, I decided to do this new thing called ‘Reading’ andnot just Facebook Statuses or Archie Comics, but real stories bookswith..stories in them..It has really been a while for me,haha

Anyway, I heard rave reviews from friends about this author Mitch Albom, anddecided to give his books a try. I started with ‘The Five People You Meet inHeaven’, and honestly…It Blew Me Away…

Now I know a lot of people say great things about a lot of things, sometimestoo much to a point that nothing seems so great anymore. But really, this isn’tone of them. I was a non-reading post-reader and this book was my first in awhile..But the second I opened it, I could not put it down (except when theclock was screaming 4am or 5am), yet, the story would play through my mindthroughout my day and, it all just kinda became real to me…

Let me explain why,
Now I know most of you barely know me, and why on earth should you take my wordas truth, but if you hate spoilers, please, read, the, book, now! But if youdon’t go on ahead and read my post =)

The story’s basically about this man, Eddie and his life(well more like death). He dies, and before he reaches ‘heaven’, he needed tomeet 5 people whom all had a lesson to teach him about his life. Five verycrucial and significant lessons.

Lesson # 1 by The Blue Man

First line that hit me was when the blue man said that in ‘heaven’(not actually heaven, just a made up version of it), when you first arrive, youcan’t talk. He smiled and said,

1.) “It helps you listen”

They go on talking and then he says something that really was revelational,

2.) “Strangers,” the Blue Man said, “are just family you have yet to come to know.”

And finally ends it with

3.) “No life is a waste,” the Blue Man said. “The only time wewaste is the time we spend thinking we are alone”

My Point of View:

1.) I really felt like lately God has been speaking to meabout the importance of listening to people. I remember these tweets thatreally spoke to me

"Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you introuble." - Frank Tyger

''The first duty of love is to listen.''Nicky Gumble

And it’s so true. Sometimes, listening isall we need to do. I do believe there needs to be a time to talk and respond,but the power of truly listening and processing and just putting thought andheart into what someone else tells you is so much more worth it than justreacting to words.

All must be done in balance obviously, but, just listening every once in awhile, to everything (tone, body language, gestures, language, etc…) and you’llreally know the person a lot more =)

2.) Sigh, I think God really gave me a heart to be friendlyand family to people. When I read that line about strangers being family..Itwas bizarre, because it’s like I have had those thoughts before, but neverphrased in that sentence,haha (feeling slightly plagiarized!)

I am a big family gal. I love the thought of gatheringtogether and just feasting, talking, joking, hang out, sharing…And it’s strangecause I’m an only child and now it’s just my mom and I at home. All the peopleI do dos with are ‘strangers’, well they were. Now, I could *never* imaginelife without them. And it’s not like with friends, the people in my life whom Iam very close to are my family. I would die for them, give my kidneys, loan allmy money, do *anything* out of love, because, that’s exactly it, I love them somuch… =_)

I think it’s important to never underestimate a relationship& to just puthope in it, to see new people as family yet to happen =)

3.) My almost whole teenage life I grew up crying everynight to the thought that no one really wanted me and that I was going to die alonely old person.

My biological parents gave me up (never tried to raise me) and, my father chosealcohol over me and eventually died because of it…Now it’s just me& my momand as much as I try not to, the thought of “What if she dies tomorrow?” alwaysplays through my head.

God has been good to me, in that He fills me up with so muchreassurance and love that even though I don’t have specific answers, I can sleepthrough the night knowing “I’m okay, God Loves Me”.

We need to remember that God Is Enough. And that obsessing over ‘what ifs’ arereally not worth it. He made us, this life was meant to be us& Him. When wedie, we go back to Him. People come, but people go, and that’s a definite. Whator more like Who stays, is God =) Never live life missing out on that. It’sjust such a shame and pity and a huge huge loss. It’s just not life withoutGod. And you wouldn’t know it unless you know Him. He, is, SO Wonderful…

Yes, there are 4 other people, I know,hahah..I’ll get tothem later on. Just hope you’ve learnt something from this entry =)

This Blew My Mind (and Heart) Awayy...

2011-10-21T16:09:00.003+08:00

I'll let the video speak for itself... =)

Hope it'll bless you..Remind you of the Greatness of our God =)

Glimpses of Heaven...

2011-10-21T02:18:00.000+08:00

Obviously not reall, haha..Print screened the visualizer off Itunes..Still pretty amazingg thoughh..Gets your imagination goingg.. =) #heavenisreal

Your Love...

2011-10-18T21:23:00.000+08:00

This one's for you and me

2011-10-13T01:54:00.001+08:00

Haha, I know I've been on a high uploading songs lately, but with this one, I just had to...It grabbed my attention so strongly, that in my tiredness and busyness, I told myself "I will not be able to sleep if I upload this now!!"

This song 'Lighters' is actually *really* beautiful (I know I've been using that adjective a lot lately, but I'm honestly at a loss for words right noww,haha..just bare with me pleasee!) Though the song's muddled with Eminem's rapping and all (completely destroys the song!), I absolutely love the chorus! Speaks to me so much! And it's definitely an anthem I relate to with my friends and family =)

Feel like when Jesus comes back for His own, this would be one of those songs playing in the background...and when we hear it and sing it to one another and ourselves, a sense of hope& accomplishment would arise within us...

Just Picture: Us looking up to our King and hearing Him say "Well Done Good and Faithful Servants =)"

Black Bird

2011-10-11T19:52:00.001+08:00

This song is too sweet..haha

Not a song that speaks to me personally, but I do see images of a lot of people in my life who silently cry for a song like this to be sung to them..Though seemingly sad at the first glance/impression, the song promises a lot of hope, and a sudden but slow strength starts to arise within you...Something a lot of people secretly want (and need) in their lives..

My prayer with this song is to hear it as if God were singing it to you...Reminding you of your potential and purpose...Smiling warmly, nodding His head approvingly and releasing you to fulfil your calling..

Enjoy, Be Blessed =)

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

See The Way

2011-10-06T23:30:00.004+08:00

This song never fails to make me cry& smile &..sighh...God is so amazing..and beautiful..and incrediblee =) Haha..
I'm in loveeeeeeeee =) <3

See the way
He holds the stars in His hands
See the way He holds my heart

Just one word of Your mind were the heavens made
Just one breathe of Your lips the foundation were there
When just one dream in Your thought
You have wanted me
Just one pulse of Your heart
Your were wound in me

Yeah
For God is a Lover
Looking for a lover so He fashioned me
God is a Lover
Looking for a lover so
He formed my heart
God is a Lover
Looking for a lover so He fashioned me
God is a Lover
Looking for a lover...

Just one pulse of Your heart
I am in love...

There's nothing like You& I =)

And I Thank You...

2011-10-03T01:20:00.003+08:00

There are so many things in this life that I really want...

But because I don't have these things-because I haven't [yet] received them (or when I see others having what I want), I feellike I don’t deserve it…

I hate that I feel the way I do; it makes me feel small…Like I can’t dream orhope

But then I look at God…with Him all it takes is one look and He knowseverything…And it doesn’t end there…To Him, He understands how and why I feelthe way I do…He understands it better than I myself do…And it’s not silly or irrationalto Him…He always tells me “If it matters to you, then it matters to Me”

As for me feeling undeserving…He does His best each and every day to changethat….I can’t begin to describe how much gratitude and love flows through me whenmy Father tells me I deserve all I want…That He wants to give me *everything*…Hewants me to know I’m worthy of His blessings =)

I don’t know where or who I’d be without Him. To me, it’s such a scary thought ...I’m in *SO* deep with Him…I can never go back…And I would *never* want to! He’s all I have and I’m so so glad…

“Love Came Down And Rescued Me, And I Thank You, I Thank You. I Once Was BlindBut Now I See, I See You, Yes I See You…”

My Heroes :)

2011-09-28T04:42:00.002+08:00

Sandra Chin (I've actually met her before&she's the best,haha)

Kenneth Chin (when he speaks, you will laugh and cry yourself off the chair)

Philip Mantofa (such a cool and amazing man of God :) )

Bobbie Houston (my spiritual momma :) love her..really can't wait to meet her :) )

Priscilla Shirer (she preached a killer message at Hillsong Conference '11!)

Banning Liebscher (Jesus Culture changed me forever)

Kim Walker (haha! love her! she's just *too* amazingg..I know we could be best buds!)

Darlene Zschech (another momma of mine :) )

Judah Smith (this is my spiritual daddy! love him! :) he's my favourite leader by far! cannot wait to meet him! )

Debbie Prescott (she reminded me that I am valued and worth it :) )

Sam Evans (she invites His presence like none other!)

Brian Houston (my other spiritual daddy! :) )

I havehonestly had the most profound privilege of being able to be influenced by suchawesome men&women of God in the last year or so.It's like I know God is wrapping all these people up in a pretty little box and going "Here Anne, I know you'll love this one!" and true enoughh,haha!...He knows me too well =) Hard thing though is not being able to meet these people face to face and really pour my gratitude and heart out to them! It's not that I'm fans of these people, I just really like them cause they've change me and my relationship with God...and when a person does that to you, you kinda wanna say 'Thank You!' Haha...After experiencing three conferences throughout 2011, (Acts Church Conference 2011, Hillsong Conference 2011, Kingdom Women's Conference), I come home so moved and changed and inspired, but sometimes a little sad too, cause a part of me wishes that I could meet and bond with these awesome people...

Then this one night I had a conversation with God =)

Here's sorta what happened:

Me: ...But God, I *really* wanted to give her a hug and speak to her and tell her how when she talked about that bit it *really* moved me to tears...I like *really* want to see her one day and tell her all these things...Can you make it happen pleaseeee??

God: Haha! You really like them don't you??

Me: Yesss!! They're like *so* cool!!! =D

God: Okayhh!! Haha, yeah they are pretty cool =)

Me: So when?!?!

God: Oh, about meeting them?? You'll meet them all for sure one day!

Me: Really!? No!!? When?!?!

God: Haha! When you come Home =) They'll all be here =) I'll introduce you to them =)

Me (teary eyed): Oh, hehe, okay..Cool =)

Home =) I have Home (Heaven) to go to and meet *all* my heroes =) How cool is that??
So whenever I wished I knew someone 'famous', personally, I just think of Home and I feel all better =) Teehee =D

Hello Hurricane

2011-06-21T00:03:00.013+08:00

When I first heard this song, I instantly smiled. There’s just something empowering and assuring about the lyrics and the melody that makes you feel and think that “Everything’s gonna be okay =)”

I know that in every circumstance and season in my life, God has always come through. The good, the bad, the ugly, He’s always been there. And that has built my confidence in Him, to know that however big the storms may be, I can still smile and know I’ve already got the victory =)

"I've been watching the skies
They've been turning blood red
Not a doubt in my mind anymore
There's a storm up ahead

Hello hurricane, you're not enough
Hello hurricane, you can't silence my love
I've got doors and windows boarded up
All your dead end fury is not enough
You can't silence my love, my love

Everything I have I count as loss
Everything I have is stripped away
Before I started building I counted up these costs
There's nothing left for you to take away

I'm a fighter fighting for control
I'm a fighter fighting for my soul
Everything inside of me surrenders
You can't silence my love
You can't silence my love, yeah

Yeah, I said hello hurricane"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqxpDZfKHJ4

welcome to the aftermath

2011-05-21T02:46:00.022+08:00

Soul Cravings

2011-05-16T01:38:00.012+08:00

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been really challenged and changed by the writings of Erwin McManus in Soul Cravings. Here are a couple of quotes from his book that inspire me to dream and live a purposeful life:

We humans are most alive when we passionately pursue our dreams, live with purpose, and have a sense of destiny.

Bottom line: we cannot live the life of our dreams without an irrational sense of destiny.
And all of us have dreams.
More than that all of us need dreams.
Some of us sadly are just sleeping through them.

All of us long to become something more than we are. We are driven to achieve, moved to accomplish, fueled by ambition.

All of us long for our lives to count in some way. We all have an internal need to achieve some kind of success or to somehow find significance. Pursuing the future we desire energizes and inspires us.

Every one of us longs to create even when we don't know exactly what. All of us, at the very least, want to create a better life, a better future, a better us.

A part of growing up seems to be acquiescing to mediocrity. It's death to our souls. When we stop dreaming, we start dying.

There is a destiny that awaits us all. It calls us, and if we ignore it, we are soon haunted by it.

Without dreams we have nothing to pull us forward.

Not only is ambition a good thing; it's a God thing.

When there is no future there is no HOPE.

The maddening reality is that each and every one of us has been created with a soul craving to become-- to become something-- something better, something different, something special, something unique, something admired, something valued, something more than we are.

This is from me:
Here’s the thing, you are given one life, this one chance here on earth to do all that God has call you to do. Don’t waste it. Don’t live a life of regret, but take joy in your day to day living. Do all that you must for your King. “God has given you everything that you need, to do what He has called you to do, and only you can do it” Joel Houston.

Tyra's Essay

2011-04-29T18:34:00.009+08:00

I was watching Friday Night Lights (a show I lovee so much!) and this was Tyra’s monologue; her college application essay:

“Two years ago, I was afraid of wanting anything. I figured wanting would lead to trying and trying would lead to failure. But now I find I can't stop wanting.I want to fly somewhere on first class. I want to travel to Europe on a business trip. I want to get invited to the White House. I want to learn about the world. I want to surprise myself. I want to be important. I want to be the best person I can be. I want to define myself instead of having others define me. I want to win and have people be happy for me. I want to lose and get over it. I want to not be afraid of the unknown. I want to grow up and be generous and big hearted, the way people have been with me. I want an interesting and surprising life. It's not that I think I'm going to get all these things, I just want the possibility of getting them. College represents possibility. The possibility that things are going to change. I can't wait.”

Here’s my version:

“Years ago, I was afraid of wanting anything. I figured wanting would lead to trying and trying would lead to failure and failure would lead to disappointment. But now I find I can't stop wanting. I want to travel the world; visit and experience every culture possible. I want to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I want to teach and be taught by young child about faith, hope and love. I want to meet the famous people I’ve admired and tell them how amazing they are to me. I want to see myself as the beautiful child God has made me to be-to never second guess myself. I want to surprise myself. I want to be the best person I can be. I want to define myself instead of having others define me. I want to grow and have people be happy for me. I want to not be afraid of the unknown. I want to be generous and big hearted, the way people have been with me. I want an interesting and surprising life. It's not that I think I'm going to get all these things, I just want the possibility of getting them. And God represents possibility. The possibility that things are going to change. I can't wait."

Something changed in me when I saw this and when I found my own version of it. I hope hopelessly now, and I don’t feel silly about it. I love that God listens to me, and that’s all I really want; someOne to listen to me =)

One Thing Remains

2011-03-21T02:58:00.002+08:00

As I sang to You, You hushed everything else and said

“Listen to my daughter as she sings to me”

My prayers are lifted up to You Lord. Be it this country that I was born in, the city I grew up in, the institute I study in, the church I serve in, the family I live with; whether it be me, I place it all into Your loving hands, believing and knowing, You will work all things good in accordance to Your will.

I trust You Lord. And to some that may not be enough, but it’s more than enough for me.
All I have is Your trust Lord, and I hold on to it so tightly.
May I never forget how precious I am to You.

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains

Your love never fails
it never gives up
it never runs out on me

On and one and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death and in life
I'm confident and covered by the power
of your great love
My debt is paid
there's nothing that can separate my heart
from your great love

Wish

2011-02-03T22:34:00.004+08:00

This may seem a little ignorant, but I was honestly unaware about this phenomenon. Had I known or be informed about at the time, who knows what would have happened. But yeah, news came to me late, and I’m living the shock now =P

Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys is a Christian; like a proper gospel singing, Jesus loving Christian…Who knew?! Haha, maybe that isn’t news to you, but I grew up with the ‘Boys’, loved them, wanted to marry all of them (well maybe not all), and to find out that one of them was a Jesus follower all along…It’s mind blowing (literally)...I am so pleasantly and genuinely surprised and inspired =)

Anyway, this one song that’s on Brian’s album ‘Welcome Home’ always puts a smile on my face. It’s like the thoughts in my head were interpreted and then this song was birthed, amazingg. It’s pretty self explanatory, and it’s really how I feel about the past and future sometimes. Hope you enjoy it =)

For just a moment
I wish I could have been there
To see Your first step, hear Your very first word
Tell me, did You ever fall and scrape Your knee?
Did You know Your wounds would one day heal the world?

For just one moment
I wish I could have seen You growing
Learning the ways of a carpenter's son
Just a little boy gazing at the stars
Did You remember creating every one?
If you passed by, would I have seen a child or a King?
Would I have known?

I wish I could have been there
My only wish is to see You, face to face
Wish I could have been there
Just to see You, Jesus, face to face

For just a moment
I wish I could have been there
When You left Your footprints upon the waves
To walk along beside You and never look away
Just Your whisper and the wind and sea obey
To see You feed the people
To feel Your healing in Your touch

To hear you pray in the garden alone
Laying down Your will with each tear
To see You walk that lonely road
Willing to die for me
And in that moment
I know I should have been there
You took my cross and gave Your life
And you live again, oh
And You live again!

Someday I'll be there, I'm gonna be there
I'll see Your face, Your mercy, Your grace
Someday, someday
I'm going to see You, Jesus
Face to face

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmacF-VZrqk

Awakenings

2011-01-26T01:01:00.005+08:00

If you don’t already know, I’m a Psychology Major at HELP University (Msia, KL). I’ve just started my new semester and I’m taking this subject called Psychology of Film-it is the most awesome subject ever! Haha, so for this entryI shall fill ya’ll in on how God mind blowing-ly got me to see this one movie in His way.

The movie’s called Awakenings (1990; starring Robert De Niro & Robin Williams-he was serious in this movie). Not many people have heard of it, much less seen it, which is quite sad cause the movie is so so good… So good! If you haven’t seen it, I don’t intend on spoiling it for you but I’m gonna anyway =P If you are interested in watching it and hate spoilers, then you don’t have to read this (you can read it after you watch the movie =P )

Here I go:

It’s basically about this up tight psychiatrist who's put in charge of several seemingly catatonic (deficit of motor activity that can render patient motionless; mute and rigid, and initiate no social behaviors) patients. As he runs a diagnosis on them he finds out that they respond to certain stimuli (when he throws a ball at them, they catch it) and this compels him to look for a way to help them recover from their disorder. He finds a drug that works wonders on them, and all the patients are awakened from their ‘sleep’ and are given a second chance to really live their lives. But as it turns out, the drugs didn’t last and slowly but surely they all depleted back to their original state of catatonia.

That is the whole movie in short =( I know it sounds horrible, cause of the sad ending…but what was a revelation to me was seeing how the catatonic patients wake up and live their lives again. It made me think about the people around us, the people who don’t know Jesus, who may have known Jesus once but have fallen backwards, or the people who do know about Jesus, but not personally. They to me, are like the people in catatonia, basically asleep, not living life the way God has intended them to, not knowing what *living* is really like. Yet, God(like the psychiatrist) still sees hope in them, and believes that they will be revived someday, only difference is He’s the only ‘drug’ that will work on them and that will never fail. To think that once these people get a ‘shot’ of Jesus in their lives, how set free, how alive, how awakened they will feel, it really makes me smile, and makes me want to try harder for them. In the movie, when those patients woke up, they never wanted to fall back into catatonia ever again, cause being awake felt so so much better, and I know once people experience God, really truly, honestly..they’ll never want to go back again.

What’s on my heart is basically, don’t give up on them. Don’t brush them aside thinking there’s no hope for them, or that they are too much for you…Cause He hasn’t given up on them. Keep trying, believe in that day where their eyes will be opened and for them to really *see* God for who He is =)

And if you think you are that person that is 'asleep' and in need of an awakening, God's so ready to revive you. Of all the people whom will never fail, never dissapoint, never hurt...God's perfect, and I know that may seem unlikely, but He is. He's exactly what we're looking and who we need. We're not living till we have Him, till we know Him, trust me on that. It's never too late, give Him a chance =)

That’s just my prayer for all of us. Thanks for taking the time to read my long story. Hope ya’ll have been blessed =)

Here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURflBxeTyI
(quality’s bad but it gives a gist to the movie)

p/s: At the Golden Globes this year Robert De Niro was awarder 'Life Time Achievement' (or something like that) for his work over the many years, and he said the best movie he has made out of all was Awakenings. That day was the day I watch the movie, for the very first time..Didn't think it was coincidence.

pp/s: The nurse in the trailer is the voice of Marge Simpson =P

Perfect Picture

2011-01-15T01:36:00.004+08:00

I fell in love with this picture! Every child's gift to God-It's the perfect picture of how I offer my heart to Him =)

It truly may not be much, but it's all I have..And I know He honours it, and He loves that I'm giving all I have to Him =)

Gratitude:2010; Hope:2011

2011-01-08T02:58:00.005+08:00

I was in the car on the night of the 31st (2010), and I was basically thanking God for the year He has given me, and all that I've been blessed with. As my prayer grew, and as I thought through the last 365 days, I was so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude; He has really blessed me, really. I've gotten more than I deserve and, I mean how can that not move you to tears??!

It's frustrating how words cannot express the feelings bursting inside of you. All I know is that all I have thus far, the person I'm becoming, the people that surround me; it's all thanks to God. He orchestrated this amazing life of mine and I'm just the privileged child living it! I still pinch myself all the time, and I've yet to fully take in the reality I'm in and know that God's always going to play a part in surprising me pleasantly (without fail)

There's this one song, by Jesus Culture (amazing worship team!) that summed all my heart hears and feels when I look upon God, especially in relation to 2011. He got great things in store, massive things, and I am so very, very excited =) Can't Wait...

Come away with me, come away with me,

It's never too late, it's not too late,

It's not too late for you

I have a plan for you, I have a plan for you

It's gonna be wild,

It's gonna be great,

It's gonna be full of me

Open up your heart, and let me in

Just The Way You Are

2010-12-17T01:09:00.007+08:00

I fell in love with this song, not just cos it's a sweet song..but I had a revelation of who the author(in my head) and singer was:

Just The Way You Are

Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are(yeah)

Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are
The way you are, the way you are
Girl you're amazing, just the way you are

Someone once told me that a 'Revelation' is aligning our thoughts with what God is thinking, and I know I definitely got that when I heard this song. Though it was sung and probably written by Bruno Mars, to me, it was sung by God Himself =)

I know it may seem silly and a little wrong (seeing as how this is supposed to be a romantic song), but imagine this song being sung from one best friend to another?? Or from a father to her daughter?? It just touched me, and it always does =)

I may, or may not have have my future husband sing this song to me; regardless, anything pales in comparison to Him singing to me =)

He really, really loves me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwPds6U-fU

Pillow Talk-Judah Smith

2010-07-27T01:38:00.004+08:00

During the recent Hillsong Conference (2010), Judah was invited to speak for one of the sessions. It was a shame that I wasn't able to make it, but I did get a hold of the DVD and watched it here at home. I dont know what it was, whether I was just caught in the moment or whether Judah's speaking just has an effect on me, but I was balling my eyes out. His message spoke to me so intensly, I just...felt moved to write it. And that's (evidently) exactly what I'm doing.

His message basically highlights what happened when Jesus and his disciples were caught in the storm on the way to the other side, and the significance of the scripture. Judah mentions a couple of points:

1.) Even with Jesus, we still have our storms

2.) Sometimes during the storm, we need to get wet

3.) The storm wants our 'awe'-dont give it our 'awe'

4.) We're all at different stages with our walk with God

5.) Jesus slept soundly during the storm

Each point needs elaboration, but if I were to do tht I might write a textbook more than just a blog entry. But what did catch my attention most was the part where Judah mentions how in all 3 books of the New Testament, this particular verse is describe with a slight twist...

Matthew 8:24-27
Jesus Calms the Storm
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Mark 4: 35-41
Jesus Calms the Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Luke 8: 22-25
Jesus Calms the Storm
One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

Why this caught me was that, we're all at different stages with God. And sometimes it's when we're caught in a storm that our faith, our walk, our relationship is truly put to the test. The 3 disciples mentioned above, Matthew, Peter & Luke were at different levels of their faith. Matthew at the time may have had faith, but it was probably small and little, thus in the storm that little was begin put to the test, whereas Peter possibly had none, thus causing him to take what Jesus had said question that missing faith. And Luke probably lost his faith in the midst of the storm, ths causing to hear Jesus' reponse as a question to his lost faith.

I was blown away by this string, this painting of a more detailed picture; making it more real to us. We're all facing our storms and struggles, and no one's storm is bigger than another. But the true test is our faith-who do we turn to, what would we do, how much do we really trust God?? I dont believe it's bad in any way, to stumble and fall when a wave hits you, doubt even God would expect us to be on our feet when our boat is shaking heavily. But it's what we do once we've been hit that counts.

A good friend of mine once said, "If He brings us to it, He'll bring us through it"...Dont doubt, just trust. Even Jesus fell asleep in the midst of a storm. He's always in control, always...

This Is Our God-In Every Season

2010-07-18T01:52:00.007+08:00

“I knew it was gonna be incredible, if God was allowed to be simply God” Joel Houston

“I don’t always feel like it. Sometimes I don’t feel like singing to God, but I know that my circumstance and this season doesn’t change that God is still God. It doesn’t change what God has called me to be-what He’s called me to do. He’s still bigger than everything that I’m facing. I was singing, and I believed everything that I was singing. And I still don’t know why, a part of me was still so broken, but I knew that I needed to just keep singing, and that it was all gonna be okay. Even when you’re singing things that you may not necessarily understand, I think when you say things that are true of God , declare the promises of God, which is-though the triumph isn’t here, it’s gonna come eventually. It takes over the things in you that are shattered and it puts the focus back on Him. If I could sing, I could sing my way to freedom. “ Jill Mccloghry

“I never knew that side of my God, until I couldn’t breathe another breath without Him” Darlene Zschech

“I feel so strongly that, when you’re in the desert or the fire, all you’ve got is the promise of God…”

With everything, with everything

We Will Shout Forth Your Glory

Cuadros

2010-07-14T20:57:00.010+08:00

Absolutely

2010-07-14T04:23:00.003+08:00

Lover of my soul
I want to tell you
Only you have all of me
I cannot contain my adoration
I'm in love so desperately

No one is as lovely as you are
There is no one else who has my heart

Jesus you have me completely
Every breath I breathe
I am absolutely in love
Jesus I am yours forever
All of me surrenders
I am absolutely in love with you

Down upon my knees
I'm lost in worship
Humbled by your majesty
What is there to say
But how I love you
Thank you for forgiving me

All I am is yours

Only yours

-Starfield-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZH06hW6psA

Love Is Waiting

2010-05-05T02:59:00.003+08:00

In the autumn on the ground,
between the traffic and the ordinary sounds
I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through
I watch as lovers pass me by
Walking stories - whos and hows and whys
Musing lazily on love
Pondering you
I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell
When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well

I'll be waiting for you baby
I'll be holding back the darkest night
Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right
Love is waiting

It's my caution not the cold
there's no other hand that i would rather hold
the climate changes, I'm singing for the strangers about you
don't keep time, slow the pace
Honey hold on if you can
the bets are getting surer now that you're my man

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name
I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again
and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start,
neither should I rush my way into your heart

-Brooke Fraser-

For most people a song like this would be about that special someone in their life, even for Brooke, this song was about her then fiancee. I sigh when I read the lyrics; they look and sound so beautiful, so gentle and so promising. Makes you wish that it was your story to tell. I often dream about my man; what he'd be like, how our lives would evolve together--it's nice to think about that part of my future. But he's just a fiction of my imagination. Goodness knows if I'd ever find him (or if he even exists). I've watched wayy to many movies and series and read wayy to many books, to know how wonderful and painful a relationship can be. A part of me wants it so badly, and another part of me knows what I'd be giving up for it. My biggest fear is losing God as my no.1 priority. Relationships can get sticky and though, and some where along the line, people get too caught up in themselves, they forget about purpose and meaning. So, though I sigh when I listen to songs like this, I somehow end up smiling because I know this is my story to tell. The only man in my life now is God, and that in itself is great. And of all the relationships you can be in, God's the only guy that will never let you down or dissapoint you. He'll never bore you, nor will He betray you. He'll never scold you, nor will He ever leave you. He's the best; He's perfect. What more could you ask for? Love's been waiting for me all along =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyVqxyiX_wQ

It's a love story

2010-04-15T01:06:00.002+08:00

I once met a guy named Marc

I pursued him with my love, and pursued him with my love, until I felt my love captured his heart

So I asked him to be my boyfriend

and he said no

I was unrelenting and ask him again, pursuing him with my love, and I pursued him with my love

He still rejected me

I continued trying-I did not send my mother, nor did I send a friend. For in issues of love, you must go yourself.

This is the story of God: He pursued you with His love and pursues you with His love, and you have perhaps not said yes. And even if you reject His love, He pursues you ever still. It was not enough to send an angel or a prophet or any other, for in issues of love, you must go yourself. And so God has come.

In my story, I try pursuing the guy with all that I have, yet he still is un-captured by me and he rejects me so cruelly, I never see him again.

This however is the story of Jesus-God had walked among us and He pursues us with His love.
Though we reject Him many a time, find excuses to delay Him and compromise Him in so many ways, His love for us never ceases.

And He is here, even now, still pursuing you with His love.

Dear God

2010-04-04T22:39:00.003+08:00

Dear God,

I sit here, in this moment, completely in awe of You. I look at You and my heart questions, how is it possible, none of it makes sense. Yet You still love… Moment after moment I’m amazed at how You love, at Your faithfulness to us. I cannot begin to comprehend it. You just love; You make things so simple for us to understand; all we need to do is love. There’s no complication to it. It’s so simple, so precise, so pure.

Yet we complicate things. We add the unnecessary, and remove the necessary. We get caught up in the chaos, we lose perspective and focus-we lose intention. In the end, some of us end up lost, end up confused and end up losing it-losing the love.

Through it all, You still stay the same. Your love for us never changes, Your plan for us never changes. Your faith in us is steadfast. You chose to see the hope in us, and you cheer us on each step of the way. Who else could possibly love us like this? Who else could possible care for us like this? Who else could possibly stick around through thick and thin; not judging, not complaining, but loving all the way through.

There’s no one else but You. Though I get scared at times, You tell me it’s ok. You look at me with this expression of pride and love, giving me so much confidence to push through. I feel so assured when I turn to You. You’re the best thing in my life. I’m so secured in You. I picture your hand holding mine, and I know I’m going to be fine-The Lord my God is here and He’s going to pull me through. I’m good, I’m safe and I’m loved-I lack nothing.

Thank You.

Passion

2010-03-24T03:09:00.005+08:00

God effortlessly created the world around us,
But He didn’t stop there,
In His own likeness He made mankind
He made us
He made me
He made you
God Almighty crafting something beautiful,
Someone beautiful
Someone unique
Someone like you
Rare
Miraculous
Unprecedented
You
Breathed
To life
By the God Of the universe

But being made by God
and for His glory
Was not enough for us
In time our hearts bent away from His
And we walked away
We walked our way
Thinking something or someone else was better
Like fools we abandoned the God of all creation

But rebellion was bittersweet
And soon death came
Everything was torn
And battered
And bruised
And broken
And all our wells ran dry
We were without hope
And without God
With no way
Back to Him

But God is rich in mercy
And His love for us
Would not fail
God had a plan
An unthinkable plan

He would send His
One and Only son
In human flesh
The innocent for the guilty
A divine exchange
Beyond comprehension
The son of God would be offered in our place
to be torn
and battered
and bruised
and broken

Until death came
He breathed his final breath and freedom rang
Chains were broken
Death was finished
And in the end
His love was greater
Than the grave
And Life for us was born

Hallelujah

God’s love is
Higher than the mountain of our mess
It runs deeper than
The stains that mar us
For He was pierced for
Our Transgressions
Crushed for our iniquities
The punishment that
Brought us peace
Was on Him
By His wounds
We Are Healed

It is Grace
It is God
He is Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BR04rz6zKA&feature=related

Smile

2009-12-15T14:37:00.007+08:00

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

Anne Frank

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
John Keats

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

George Sand

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves

Helen Keller

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

Helen Keller

Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.

Mark Twain

If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator

W. Beran Wolfe

Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Loaves-Tom Holladay

2009-12-12T22:32:00.007+08:00

Have you ever asked yourself, Why doesn’t God make our lives easier? Why doesn’t He just
give us all the time that we need while we live in this world? Why doesn’t He just give us all the money we need while we live in this world? Why doesn’t He just give us all the resources we can possibly need?

I think you probably know the answer. I know it for myself at least.

If I had all the time, all the money, all the resources I needed in this world

I would have never looked to God and trusted Him.

Never.

I’d just have trusted in myself the rest of my life.

Jesus loves impossible situations.

He’s God!

Impossible circumstances do not bother Him.

He doesn’t discard what we have and do something better. He uses what we give Him to do something greater. That’s what I love. It’s not like the boy comes up and says, .Here, Jesus, five loaves and two fish. And He goes, “That’s nice, that’s cute,” And throws them over into the trash. “Now watch what I, Jesus Christ, can do!”
No. He takes the loaves and He takes the fish and He uses what the boy gave Him to meet everybody’s need. It’s incredible. That’s what God does. He uses what we give Him to meet the needs.

Anytime you face a problem or a challenge and you feel small next to the problem, there’s no way you’ll lead in that circumstance. The world has a lot of problems and challenges that are tall. And if we don’t lead in that circumstance, nobody’s going to lead.

So you don’t measure the problem or challenge according to your own abilities.

Sometimes often the answers to the most important and biggest questions of life are not
figured out logically.

They’re discovered relationally.

The reason God allows impossible circumstances in our lives is to remind us of the fact that He is there.

We can turn to Him.

Little in the hands of Jesus becomes much.

The Only Exception

2009-12-09T01:32:00.012+08:00

When I was younger

I saw my daddy cry

And curse at the wind

He broke his own heart

And I watched

As he tried to reassemble it

And my momma swore that

She would never let herself forget

And that was the day

that I promised I'd never sing of love

If it does not exist

But darling,

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

Maybe I know, somewhere

Deep in my soul

That love never lasts

And we've got to find other ways

To make it alone

Keep a straight face

And I've always lived like this

Keeping a comfortable,

distance

And up until now

I had sworn to myself

that I'm Content

with loneliness

Because none of it

was ever worth the risk

Well,

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

You, are, the only exception

I've got a tight grip on reality

But I can't

Let go of what's in front of me here

...

Ohh---You, are, the only exception

And I'm on my way to believing

Oh, And I'm on my way to believing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXewWr8V6Vg

Selah II (random)

2009-12-07T03:21:00.005+08:00

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

Alan Cohen

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.

Marian Wright Edelman

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.

Soren Kierkegaard

You see things; and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams

Jesse Jackson

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

Tony Robbins

Our obedience is love
Joel Houston

"Love;
it will not betray you,
dismay
or
enslave you...
it will set you free..
be more like the man you were made to be"

The Question God Is Asking Us

2009-11-25T03:12:00.006+08:00

I’m not asking you how much you know about Me.

I want to ask you “Do you really know Me.

Do you really want Me?”

Living for Nothing and Living for Something

2009-11-25T02:09:00.007+08:00

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy”

George Bernard Shaw

“One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world”

Hannah Senesh

“Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose”

Helen Keller

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose”

Robert Byrne

“Where am I? Who am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing called the world? How did I come into the world? Why was I not consulted? And If I am compelled to take part in it, Where is the director? I want to see him”

Soren Kierkegaard

“As a teenager, I often wondered how the ending will be like. What does the end look like? It’s not an image that we can comprehend because we’ve been waking up every day with a today—there has never been an end for us. So what is it like? And in the midst of those thoughts, I wonder, ‘What have I done to deserve “the end”?’ We all do come to a point where we reflect our achievements, our whole life, and wonder has there been really anything accomplished?? I believe purpose has been planted in all of us; a sense to make something of ourselves; beyond the surviving and living, there’s something else within us there always wants to go further, to try harder for more. Only difference is between the wanting and the doing.

There is a difference between living for nothing and living for something.

Some of us chose not to live out that in built gene of purpose, and decide to focus on the surviving and living. My story is that, I was dead until I recognized the part of me that wanted to fulfil purpose. And until I chose it, and till now am totally committed to it.

What is my purpose?

Jesus Christ.

And ever since that day of recognition and realization, my life has never been the same. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my story, my life.

It’s time to question yours”

Annemarie

“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for”

Paul Coelho

Romans 8:27-29

(New Living Translation)

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Revelation

2009-10-25T23:28:00.003+08:00

I always go into this state of deep thought every night before I sleep. It’s just a habit that I can’t seem to get rid of (psychologically this has been proven to affect your dream out comes-you tend to dream about what you think about before you sleep, which thus explains my out-of-this-world dreams). I can’t even remember where my thoughts started off this one night, but it led on to what you’re about to read after this paragraph. As the thoughts came, I started typing it out on my phone, I didn’t reread it, or think about it, I just typed what was on my mind. I do however remember thinking, “I wonder what will happen in the end..?”

It’s really ‘philosophical-ish’; deep in that sense. And I may sound so crazy, but, really, if you were in my shoes, living my life, you’d know exactly what I meant.

"Because when I look at You, I see hope, I see light, I see a future. That even though the world is falling apart and everything can go so wrong…I know I can still smile; because I see You and when I do, all my fears, questions, confusion, everything is swept away. I’m assured that at the end of this, everything I’ve been through will still matter and that who and what I live for still counts for something…I look at You and I just Know..I just Know things I can’t even calculate, can’t even comprehend—things that are so illogical…Yet, there’s this voice, this light inside of me that keeps me warm and away from the confusion…I’m so at peace…It’s such a strange thing to experience, but I know it’s all wonderful and worth it…Because through it all, I’m still smiling-always smiling, always happy…Never failing to see a reason to wake up every morning-a reason to live-He gives me a reason, a reason to do all that I do… "

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New Living Translation)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

You Hold Me Now

2009-08-27T23:44:00.006+08:00

On that day when I see

All that You have for me

When I see You face to face

There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away

In the light of Your embrace

Where Your love is all I need

And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold

In Your presence healed and whole

Let the songs of heaven

Rise to You alone

No weeping

no hurt or pain

No suffering

You hold me now

No darkness

no sick or lame

No hiding

You hold me now

In this life I will stand

Through my joy and my pain

Knowing there's a greater day

There's a hope that never fails

Where Your Name is lifted high

And forever praises rise

For the glory of Your Name

I'm believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease

All creation lives in peace

Let the songs of heavenRise to You alone

For eternity

All my heart will give

All the glory to Your Name

Your Kingdom come,

Your will be done,

Here on earth,

as it is,

in Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GH-AkJDkNE

How He Loves Us

2009-08-21T01:01:00.006+08:00

I was thinking the other day, about God and me-our relationship, and just shook my head in awe as I thought about how He loves me. It’s incredible really.

I don’t think I could ever come to a point of really understanding or comprehending how much He actually cares about me-it’s massive. All my life, the one thing that has always struck me; left me speechless; is when one cares and loves another unconditionally. I see it— through a father and his child, or a husband and his wife and think to myself “How I wish I had that...” But, when I stop and think about all the times God has been there for me, I smile, cause I know I have it already; I have that security and that source of love.

I sometimes try to convince myself that I love God just as much as His loves me, just to make it seem fair. But, it’s stupid really. His love for us, is... there’s no word in the English (or in any language for that matter) that can come close to describing it. It’s huge. And it never changes, from the moment we were born, to the second we die, He will always love us the same. Isn’t that just crazy (in an amazing way)??

I still shake my head thinking about it because when I try to reason with something like that, I get lost; it has no sense to it, no logic; yet, it’s real, it’s truth. Everything about how He feels for us is genuine, authentic and personal. There’s not a second of our lives that He does not take note of, He really loves us.

There are a lot of things that have gone old for me; things that I’m used to or that I’ve gotten familiar with. But every time the thought of how He loves, strikes me, I’m in a whole new place. It’s a revelation to me every time, I can’t explain it, it’s just different. I’m in love again every single time.
There’s really nothing like Him.

Psalm 36:5-6 (The Message)

God's love is meteoric,

His loyalty astronomic,

His purpose titanic,

His verdicts oceanic.

Yet in His largeness,

nothing gets lost

The Solution

2009-08-19T22:58:00.003+08:00

"God this is our prayer Father,

that we will be a people Lord

that will make the tough choices in life.

Lord that we wouldn’t be afraid

or intimidated by the world,

but that we will rise up as Your church

across the earth;

God a people dedicated

to being your hands,

to being your feet,

to running this race for the least of these.

For the lost

for the broken

for the hurting God,

we pray for them now

and commit our lives Jesus

to seeing Your Kingdom established on this earth.

Father, I pray

we wouldn’t just leave it in this place,

but that we will take this,

take what you’ve done in our hearts

and We Will Run into this world God.

We push down

the four walls of our church buildings

to see Your name lifted higher.

Your glory God,

Your glory.

In Jesus name we praise you and we thank you.

And all of God’s people say,

Amen."

Joel Houston

Isaiah 58:6-9 (NKJV)
“ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that You break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and

He will say,

‘Here I am.’

No Reason To Hide

2009-08-18T03:01:00.004+08:00

We've got nothing to lose,

we've got no reason to hide.

We've got the answer inside of us

Its time we took the disguises off

We'll see Your glory revealed,

and See Your Name Lifted High

Theres nobody else for us

Jesus You are the only One!

You're Alive

and

We Are FREE!!

You are everything, everything we need!

Theres not a minute to waste not a second to lose

Theres a city that waits for us

it's time we took all the lamp shades off

We'll see Your glory revealed

And see your name lifted high

There is nobody else for us

Jesus You are the only one!

You're alive and we are free

You are everything, everything we need!

Love has spoken and we believe,

you are everything everything we need.

Nothing compares to You,

Nothing could ever seperate us now

Your love is ours

Nothing can seperate us

Nothing can come between us

Nothing can seperate us now

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xtUsJOHsA8&feature=related)

Matthew 5:14-17 (NIV)
"You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The Driving Exam

2009-08-17T23:54:00.007+08:00

It has been the hardest thing I have yet endured this year-my driving exam. This was something that literally kept me up at night for a whole year! I never liked driving; never liked associating myself behind the wheel moving the machine; everything about it just scared me and I knew before I tried that I’d be a hopeless driver.

When the time came, when I was pushed and forced by everyone I knew I had to get this problem sorted out, I felt like I had to face death.

So finally the day came and all I remember is how sick I felt and how bad I wanted to get it over with. My first try, I failed the one part I was dreading-a.k.a ‘the slope’. Even though I passed what most people would fail-the road-I still wasn’t happy because I had to return to that place again to pass the obstacle course.

So a while later, I came back and this time I was actually confident. I got through the tough parts but at the very end, on my three point turn, apparently I backed up too far and my bumper went over the white line. So the guy stopped me, asked me to step out, sign this paper, and apparently, I had failed, again. I had never felt *so* angry in my life. A second time? Seriously?? I really wanted to blow up something. I started telling myself, “That’s it. I’m never driving again...” What was worse was having to go back and tell those who knew that I had failed, again. All I wanted to do at that point was just sit at a corner and cry.

I set a date to make another go at it. I didn’t think much of it during the days in between-wasn’t bothered to be bothered by it. Finally when Sunday came and I had my practice round, I was a mess. I kept making mistakes over again, and this time, I actually hit a pole, something I had never done, ever! I remember tearing up in the car with my instructor in it, feeling like the world’s worst driver. I couldn’t sleep at all on Sunday. It was when I woke up and that I realized I actually did manage to sleep. I called an Uncle of mine. It was nice talking to him because he made me laugh; I really needed that;

laughter always helps me in moments of intensity.

Long story short, I finally made it. I got through everything and now I have that stupid piece of plastic that allows me to drive freely on the road.

One important thing, even though it was so hard for me, God had me taken care of at all times. It’s scary sometimes, going through something that you have no control over and feeling so helpless. I think I forget that easily; we get so caught up in the moment sometimes, we forget what’s most important; in this case, I really had nothing to worry about. It’s simple, He’s like a father to us, and whatever a father can do for his child, he will. And the other thing, never give up. As corny and cheesy as it sounds, it’s so true. We fall ever so often real easy. And people make the mistake by choosing to stay down instead of getting up.

We have to really start giving God the credit that He deserves, believing that the little(or big)things that we have no control over can be taken care of by Him.

This is my story.

This is my faith.

I have nothing else in this world, not unless it’s Him. God got me through this and I’m eternally grateful for that. No words can express it, I’m just so damn happy.

BE STRONG IN THE GRACE

I Think We Have An Emergency

2009-07-31T22:13:00.005+08:00

I think we have an emergency

If you thought I'd leave then you were wrong

Because I won't stop holding on

So are you listening?

So are you watching me?

If you thought I'd leave then you were wrong

Because I won't stop holding on

This is an emergency

So are you listening?

And I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it

Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...

So you give up every chance you get
Just to feel new again
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency

And you do your best to show me love
But you don't know what love is
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?

Well I can't pretend that I don't see this
It's really not your fault
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it

(The scars they will not fade away)
And no one cares to talk about it
To talk about it
Cause' I've seen love die way too many times
When it deserved to be alive
I've seen you cry way too many times
When you deserved to be alive
Alive...
(Alive...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcmtcbohuxg&feature=PlayList&p=D04C71064ED06957&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

Make Me

2009-07-30T03:00:00.005+08:00

When Jesus calls us into covenant, He’s not calling us just to give us stuff; There’s Something Deeper-an underline purpose at hand

I love listening to podcasts; especially ones from Judah Smith; he’s truly a phenomenal man of God and (as corny as this sounds) he changes so much inside of me each time I listen to him. Really, the talent that God has placed in him is incredible, I’m so happy that he’s using it all for His glory-teaches me and inspires me to live out my life wholly and completely for God.
Anyway, there was this one message that truly captured me-titled, ‘Make Me’. I caught a lot from the message, so here are a couple of points. I really don’t want to butcher it by planting in my own words, so I’m leaving it in point form. Read it, Understand it. Digest it, and Act On It.

Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen."Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus Is Here To Shape Us

Before God has any aspirations of giving us anything, He has a preordained plan to shape us

If you don’t want to be made, then don’t follow

When Jesus said the word 'Will'--> no discussion, no debate—either you follow and get made, or you stay behind...

Luke 15: 11-20
1Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 1The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'So he got up and went to his father.

We will never be able to do what God is asking us to do as long as you have the ‘give me’ attitude["Father give me my share of the estate"]

We should be saying, "I’m not here for what you can just give me, I’m Here For What You Can Make Me,”

The context of discipleship is not ‘give me’, it’s ‘make me’

Discipleship is not the choice of the leader, it’s the choice of the follower

Give Me--> Add Make Me--> Abide

This is not a democracy, this is a dictatorship called the Kingdom of God

God will Give You once you say-“Make Me”

Many a time God does not give us a burden because we don’t have the attitude to carry it

I think sometimes people just don’t like being slapped on the face, cause it hurts. But, most times, a slap on the face is the one thing we’re all missing in our lives. I learnt a lot from this message, and I hope you did too.

Compelled

2009-07-23T17:55:00.005+08:00

Matthew 25:35-40 (The Message)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth:

Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored,

that was me--
you did it to me.'

One random day on the streets on Calcutta, a well-to-do business man noticed an elderly lady sitting by the road side mending the wounds of a leper. He went up to her and told her, “I wouldn’t do what you are doing now for a million dollars”. “Neither would I,” she replied. “I am only doing this for 5 words-‘You Did It for Me’”. This woman was Mother Teresa.

2 Corinthians 5 (NIV)
If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind,it is for you.

For Christ's love compels us,

because we are convinced

that one died for all, and therefore all died.

And he died for all,
that those who live should no longer live for themselves

but for him who died for them and was raised again.

"We are all pencils in the hand of God"

Mother Teresa

My Stupid Question

2009-07-20T23:34:00.024+08:00

Why did they have to be so damn talented?? Why did God have to just build them up to be such phenomenal men and women?? Seriously! And what’s worse is that, I relate to them so much; I love their music, their worship, the songs, everything...It kills me sometimes that I’m not with them.

The raw talent that they possess is just ridiculous, and their heart for God inspires me beyond anything. What I love most is how united they all are. They illustrate the meaning of ‘family’ so well, it’s just sick...haha.
I love them so much it frustrates me.

Sometimes as I’m lying on my bed praying for the lost, broken and hurting to be saved, I quickly sneak in my own request which is to end up down under at that church, haha!

Some one save me...

What actually matters is that these people exemplify the grace and power of God undoubtly.
They’re amazing people, (even though I have no idea who they are) from their worship I believe they are remarkable people.
And they teach me, each and every time I hear or see them, to chase after the heart of God, and do whatever it takes it to please God.
They’ve such a heart for the people of this world and have posses such a focus for the vision and purpose of God.
I thank God that I have had the profound privilege of knowing about them and obtaining any piece of material that involves them. They push and pull me through every time things are difficult in my life, and turn my perspective back to the things that truly matters.
I love them, from the bottom of my heart, I do. And, I really thank God for making such incredible people.

They’ve made such a mark in this world and in my life.

Think About It

2009-07-20T18:30:00.003+08:00

It's your love, it's your love

It's your love that has

saved me

It's your blood, it's your blood

It's your blood that has

claimed me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q8iWOTDpJg&feature=related

(click me,please)

I'm captured every time I hear these words, because it's so beautiful;and so true.

It's captures me every time I think about it. I'm litreally brought to tears because This Is My Cry to God.

So speechless&expression-less sometimes, when I have so much stirred up inside of me but have no way to communicate it, I just say those words and everything that is within me is let out.

Just think about it.

The definition of each line

Really let it sink into you.

Something will happen, inside of you

I promise...

The Reminder

2009-07-12T17:32:00.002+08:00

Acts 20:22-24 (The Message)

22-24"But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.
28"Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.

Isaiah 58:6-9 (New King James Version)

6 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house

the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

Psalm 30:11-12 (The Message)

You did it: you changed wild lament

into whirling dance;

You ripped off my black mourning band

and decked me with wildflowers.

I'm about to burst with song;

I can't keep quiet about you.

God, my God,

I can't thank you enough.

Let The Flames Begin

2009-07-09T02:34:00.006+08:00

What a shame we all became,

such fragile broken things,

A memory remains,

Just a tiny spark,

I give it all my oxygen,

to let the flames begin,

So let the flames begin,

Ohhhh Glory

Ohh Glory!

This is, how we'll dance when,when they try to take us down,

This is what we'll be ohh glory.

Somewhere weakness is our strength,

And i'll die searching for it,

I can't let myself regret, such selfishness

My pain I know the trouble caused, no matter how long,

I believe that there's hope, buried beneath it all, and,

hiding beneath it all and,growing beneath it all and...

This is, how we'll dance when,
They try to take us down, This is how we'll sing out

This is how we'll stand when, when they burn our houses down,

This is what we'll be

Oh Glory!

Reaching as I sink down into life.

This is, how we dance when,when they try to take us down,

This is how we'll sing out.

This is, how we'll stand when,when they burn our houses down,

This is what we'll be Oh Glory!

Oh Father, Oh Father

Well I am ready, wont You let it begin

Cause I Am Here Now,

I want to dance,

In the Mighty Palm of Your Hand

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJc4zUUewCY&feature=related)

Resonable

2009-07-07T22:21:00.004+08:00

Dear God,

It is only reasonable.
I’m here because You set the bar. You set the mark, the standard, and I’m only living by it.

I care so deeply about You. I love You beyond anything I could have ever imagined and the burden You have birthed in my heart is nothing short of immense.

You compel me like no one else. You move me, touch me, inspire me, and motivate me like none other. I really feel so unlike the person I assume myself to be when I’m around You, even when I just think about You.

What You’ve done for me, is just beyond comparison. I can never come remotely close to giving You back what You gave me. But, I will say with every second of my life on gravity, that I’m grateful; though that may not do much, I’ll still say it; Thank You. And, again with every other second of breath I have, I live it For You. Because it is only logical; only reasonable; and You Deserve It.

“I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service,”

Romans 12:11

Selah

2009-07-07T03:17:00.000+08:00

Alan Cohen
“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”

Austin Dacey
"Guts are important. Your guts are what digest things. But it is your brains that tell you which things to swallow and which not to swallow"

Brian Houston
"The Kingdom of God is SO MUCH bigger than yours or my little worlds! Thank God He includes us! B."

Bono
"My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them."

"The less you know, the more you believe. "

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater."

"It's not knowing the answers that really matters, it's knowing the right questions to ask."

"History, like God, is watching what we do."

"Make mistakes, there's nothing wrong with trying."

"Why blame others for the problem you see? Stop, get up, and fix it. Take accountability. Lead. Please, you are needed!"

"If you're scared, you're going to find every reason to not do what you know you need to do. With faith, you just do it."

Joel Houston

“To whom 'much' is given... 'much' is required...... how 'much' do you really want it?”

“Nobody laughs at God in a hospital. No-one laughs at God in a war. No-one laughs at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor”

“Value people the same way Jesus valued us”

“Take the focus off of ourselves and start paying attention to humanity-the king the beggar, the famous the faceless-everyone”

One Year Ago (Hillsong Conference 2008)

2009-07-07T00:54:00.000+08:00

My Heart

2009-07-07T00:07:00.000+08:00

I am finding out that maybe

I was wrong

That I've fallen down and

I can't do this alone

Stay with me, this is what I need, please?

Sing us a song and we'll sing it back to you

We could sing our own but what would it be without you?

I am nothing now and it's been so long

Since I've heard the sound, the sound of my only hope

This time I will be listening.

Sing us a song and we'll sing it back to you

We could sing our own but what would it be without you?

This heart, it beats, beats for only you

My heart is yours

This heart, it beats, beats for only you

My heart is yours(My heart, it beats for you)

This heart, it beats, beats for only you(It beats, beats for only you)

My heart is yours (My heart is yours)

This heart, it beats, beats for only you (Please don't go now, please don't fade away)

My heart, my heart is yours (Please don't go now, please don't fade away)

My heart is...

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTt1Jffj9UU&feature=related)

The Everyday Life

2009-07-06T19:13:00.000+08:00

In everything I do, I trust that God is always there to take care of me, I am NOT alone.

If I call, He will answer.

I am held at the palm of His hands, and His will for me is to be fulfilled, not by myself, but through Him, I am Never alone.

God is not man that He should lie.

Often we are tired; tired because there’s so much to do, so much to accomplish in our everyday lives, and tired because it never seems to end, it’s just ongoing. But, with our everyday lives, God has called us to build our relationship with Him, to have it expand, and as we learn from infant to adult how to develop, we learn so much more of the world we live in and its inhabitants by clinging on to God. This was never a solo walk that we are supposed to endure, God created us so that we could know Him, before we spend forever with Him. How are you to live with someone you’ve never known (worse reject him)?? This is my time, our time, to know The Wonder that created you and me, put us here on gravity and gave us life, so that we can experience so much and live to claim loud and proud that the only reason we live and breathe is God.

“So here is what I want to do, God helping you:Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him,”
Romans 12:1

Going Astray

2009-07-06T19:06:00.000+08:00

Human beings are the strangest creatures; ever so often when we are in the midst of something, in the midst of a task, it is so easy and common for us to lose perspective and to just get caught up in the doing of the task.

We forget the ‘why’ of it. Not only does this fuel the obscurity and complexity of what we do, we lose our way in the middle of it, we lose purpose and intention.

It’s ‘strange’ because that shouldn’t be that way, we weren’t made to get confused and lost. God created us to always have a road, a path to follow through which is led by Him and Him alone.

If we diverge in why we do what we do; the work of God; we’re going to pave a whole new road and that is not the road leading to the heart of God. Our sole purpose here on earth, is to chase after the heart of God; His will; His purpose; what He wants.

So always keep check. Recall and remember what we do, why we do it and always keep check at the intention of our hearts. If things go astray, call upon God to guide us back, His star always shines for us to be guided. Don’t lose focus, God never leaves us, nor forsake us.

You Are What Starts The Difference

2009-07-06T19:02:00.000+08:00

No matter who you are no matter what you’ve got going on in your life, always remember that God has placed a calling and purpose for you, you were born, made, designed and called to

Make A Difference.

That weighs something, it carries importance because you are the influence, and you are what starts the difference.

Matthew 5:13-16
“13You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.
14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men that they may see your [

z]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and [aa]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

Do Not ignore what God has called you to do
Don’t walk away, or delay it...if it’s a Now job, do it NOW!
He poured out everything He had for you, so He could spend eternity with you, Dont let it go to waste, (leave it in vain)...
Take what you have in your hands, lift it up to Him, and start this wonderful relationship with Him, today, this very second...