Hope will rise!
it’s been a long while since i’ve been here, and also when i’ve listened to the song ‘oceans will part’. the lyrics simply uplift my Spirit.. nothing beats the peace from God, resting in knowing that He is all-powerful, always dwelling upon us, and waiting for us to turn to Him so that He may do His wonderful work in us.. and in all circumstances, hope will rise and His light will shine! =)
If my heart has grown cold
There Your love will unfold
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
When I’m blind to my way
There Your Spirit will pray
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
Oceans will part, nations come
At the whisper of Your call
Hope will rise, glory shine
In my life Your will be done
Present suffering may pass
Lord Your mercy will last
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
And my heart will find praise
I’ll delight in Your way
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
As You open my eyes to the work of Your hand
This is my story…
Hillsong conference was an extremely humbling experience for me.. Over the span of three and a half days, I was brought to a deeper realisation of just how great our God is, a greatness that I’ll never be able to comprehend or define. It was from this touch of greatness that I was shaken, broken, and brought to complete humility before God. This was a major stepping stone for me in my spiritual life as pride had been a personal issue for awhile before leaving for conference; I began small on the journey with a great God, but I guess I lost my focus and some fire along the way. It was by His grace that I was set right before Him, restored and aligned with His vision and purposes once again… I then found myself in a new place of awe and worship, where I was made whole and lacked nothing, when all focus was on the Almighty alone.
I’ve been so blessed! God had been taking me on a journey that seemed obscure to me… but now, it’s beginning to fall beautifully into place. Looking back in December 2006, we had our PLUNGE youth camp in which I was prophesied over – one of the things mentioned was to write songs. I still remember how I could not visualise myself doing all that was said at that time. But I had always held on and believed that God would surely work and mould me to become who I was created to be! Even two and a half years later, before conference, I still believed that God has called me although little or no fruit was seen. I had written some songs already but I never really did anything about them – unprepared, unequipped. I decided to start by attending the ‘songwriting’ sessions at Hillsong which turned out to be really equipping and inspiring. The songwriters there have really humble and pure hearts of worship, and I really admire and look up to them!
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to head to Hillsong, where my life certainly entered a new season! Ever since I came back, new songs have been pouring out from my heart.. And whenever these songs come, my soul just feels so uplifted and blessed! I simply have to set myself down to spend time with God, worshipping, and new songs just come. (There’s more to this.. I was actually wondering why I was writing so many new songs over a short period of time.. And so I checked back my journal entry for details of the prophesy. It was only then that I realised it mentioned that I would write songs ‘as I spend time with God’ and also ‘a humble heart’. It really surprised me.. That just felt so cool, I was and am so overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness!) My first song is currently being circulated around church and I’m really encouraged by all the positive feedback. The best thing is that I know all these must point back to the feet of Jesus. For it is from Him, by Him and through Him, that these songs pour forth. When I sing them, I really don’t feel like I had the ability to craft them. It is purely from His amazing anointing and grace, and I praise God for His overflowing goodness!! Surely, there is no greater satisfaction for my soul than in knowing that I’m being used by a great King despite my weaknesses and unworthiness!
Lastly, I’m in complete awe for how wonderful His timing is. Although it took two and a half years for just ONE portion of the prophesy to come to past, I know deeply in my heart that I would NEVER have been prepared if this happened earlier on in life. I would have been too immature spiritually and would have been quickly swept away by pride. Surely, God has His perfect reasons for keeping things from us, and only giving a glimpse of things one at a time. We just have to keep clinging on to His promises, walking in faithfulness and obedience to a perfect and beautiful God. I believe God has a special and amazing journey for each and every one of us, we just have to keep believing, hoping, trusting, and loving Him – the God that never fails!
anxiety turned into peace.
today, i began to feel the insecurity and anxiety that many are probably feeling over the h1n1 situation in S’pore as it worsens.. i never quite bothered about it but i had no option but to get in touch with the news - to prepare myself as a traveller and understand the risks that i’m going to take. there’s the possibility of getting contaminated in S’pore, on the planes, in Sydney, or from the group we’re travelling with, and in the crowded masses. what’s the chance?
the Hillsong conference would be happening in exactly 2 weeks time and i’m super excited for it. my heart knows that it’s going to be a life-changing experience and i cannot miss out on it! God’s going to be there, we’re going to have a great time of experiencing, learning, equipping, before heading back to our local churches to do the same. i do not fear getting the virus, i just fear not being able to make it to Hillsong. that would just suck.
at that very moment of having the pile of thoughts and worries, i was prompted to simply do qt and pray. guess what? i was convicted that my God knows no boundaries and i have nothing to fear. from my life’s experiences, big or small, God has never failed me. He proved Himself constant, faithful, everlasting, BIGGER than anything… my Creator protects me, and even heals me. the devil may be out to steal and to kill, but God is greater than that and decides what the devil may touch and may not touch. it’s as simple as that!
in God, i find everything i need. comfort and peace in times of turmoil. all we need to do is turn to Him, and His word, and we would find the truth to life. don’t be shaken, don’t let the devil steal the truth away from you.
“If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9-10)
end of year1!
wow, i just realised that i haven’t blogged for more than 2 months. time really flies as one ages. its a phenomenon i always take note of every year.. each year passes by faster than the previous one. oh, talking about that, i just realised we’re in the middle of 2009 already! :x
anyway, i thought it’ll be a good time to reflect upon the first year of university which i have just completed. i must say, life’s really different when it comes to tackling the workload at uni and responsibilities of being 20. but its all a good experience! i’ve really learnt alot and the obstacles in life have definately helped me to grow and mature.
i remember having major problems adjusting to uni life when i entered at the end of last year. my life went totally out of balance due to an overflow of committments and i just lost focus. as much as i desired to be a great achiever, i realised that i was only human after suffering the consequences. thankfully, by God’s grace, my first semester’s results was better than i expected.. and i learnt the importance of having priorities and balancing my time.
my second semester tested for endurance and tenacity. the workload was overwhelming and i didn’t even have time to study as i was working on an endless string of assignments through the 2nd half of the semester. either way, i learnt not to compromise my time with God and kept to my priorities, knowing that He was my everlasting provider. neverfailing, He proved His faithfulness to me once again.. even as i fell really sick with food poisoning on the first day of my 1 week study break before exams (when i was suppose to start studying). many people prayed for me and i was miraculously well very quickly. =)
i wondered what was it all about. then i learnt a few things from the process. 1) only those who go through hardship would appreciate God better. and those who had gone through hardships have potential for great praise! 2) the need to balance between resting and working, ensuring adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. its all about working while trusting God and resting while trusting in Him.
indeed, my semester ended with a blast! results were great, achieving the expectations i had set for myself in the beginning. but i know all that was achieved not by my effort, but by God’s amazing grace and faithfulness to me. and i give all glory to Him! :D
just some faith!
whoohoo!! God’s good!! He makes me jump for joy! :D
we were praying for a miracle.. we were determined to see it happen but it didn’t take too long to lose all hope. maybe we just didn’t have enough faith. as much as we try to buckle up our courage to believe, we become afraid that we’ll be disappointed. what if the miracle does not happen? what will it say about us, our faith, our God…? maybe we should just accept it as it is now (settle for less and be deceived by the devil.)
for our God does not disappoint!! emphasis: the GOD who created heaven and earth, does NOT disappoint His children! at the right time – His time – He will reveal to us His plan (that we failed to see all along). and at that point, we will realise.. it’s such a strong realisation that we simply break down and fall before Him. we realise how small our faith has been… how we so easily underestimate God… and how we’re so easily swayed.
but it’s through such lessons that we begin to see… the goodness and wonders of God that deserves all praise and worship! either way, it’s the witnessing of such greatness that our hearts become full of JOY. we learn, our faith is strengthened. and surely, we’d do better the next time round. because we realise that we live for One who does not fail, never ceasing, always present.
“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”" (Matt 17:20)
faithful One.
Faithful One, so unchanging
Ageless One, You’re my rock of peace
Lord of all, I depend on You
I call out to You, again and again
I call out to You, again and again
You are my rock in times of trouble,
You lift me up when I fall down;
all through the storm,
Your love is the anchor,
my hope is in You alone.
there’s just something about my God.. something intangible but special. at the click of His fingers, walls are broken down and chains are destroyed. He doesn’t hide; we just have to be sensitive enough to find Him. i don’t have to try and be emotional about it, but just a slight movement from Him and my heart softens, tears flow down. the experience of just feeling His presence is worth so much more than a 1000 days in the world. it’s such satisfaction that fills my heart and make life worth living for. with His simple and gentle touch, my spirit is renew
ed and rejuvenated. nothing else in the world could make me feel any better. i’ll never be able to reciprocate such love given to me.. but i know attempting to do so and giving me best shot at it is enough for this life.
thank You, Jesus.
devotions.
if you were starting to get tired of the way you led life, and your perspectives in life.. maybe it’s time to re-focus and re-think. here’s something useful you should read: renewing your mind.
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts”
(Proverbs 4:23 TEV)
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think”
(Romans 12:2 NLT)
beautiful;
hehe, it’s been a really cool week so far. somehow something cool happened each day and i liked it. =) on monday, my group (all girls) was rushing out our project till almost 9pm in school. but we were at a really romantic spot in school.. caught the sun setting, felt the breeze reaching to us, and the mosquitoes too. i liked the former two very much. hees.. God’s creation and beauty simply uplifts me.. x)
on tuesday morning, God inspired me and put a new song to my mouth. it came the moment i started reading psalms 86 and so, i now have a song derived from the entire psalms. its very nice (to me).. it makes me feel happy and free again. :D i’ve been reading the book of psalms and i came across many parts whereby songs of lyrics were taken from.. and i was just wondering when i could ever do the same. whooo!!
today, i drove home from school in the rain. lecture ended early and it was already raining.. but i thoroughly enjoyed the walk in the rain (under my umbrella) to the carpark. so nice! thank God that the last thing i did when i left the house was to put my umbrella into my bag. so anyways, i was listening to christmas carols (cos it was conveniently in the cd player). and i just sang along to joy to the world and in excelsis deo. hah, it was really really nice. the music, the mood, the rain, and all. and its really nice to sing christmas songs even though its not christmas. well, i don’t need it to be december to celebrate with Jesus every day. =) and i thank God for that freedom!
have you ever wondered how the rain collectively falls down from the heavens all at once?
a God of beauty,
creator of heaven and earth,
who paints the sky all day,
and makes His child smile always.
newsfeed.
i decided to take a break from my work for the night. don’t ask me why… :x maybe it’s just the calm before the storm! gah. anyways, i chanced upon some very interesting news articles. you should check them out.
very funny chimpanzees with foresight. my guess is that they will be using this to support their famous concept of evolution whereby just because some creatures have similar attributes, they decide that they must be related in some way or another. yet, can’t they just understand that there must not be a relation to every single thing on earth? but we can’t blame them cos science is about trying to find non-religious explanations to everything under (and/or over) the sun. the thing is, they come up with simple scientific explanations for the complexity of life – a small number of ‘original’ creatures evolved to the diversity that we have today. hmm… i’m amazed how people so easily accept, or even believe, such explanations. heh, just the whole lot of thoughts that run through my mind.
moving on, another adolescent who brings war games into real life. why won’t they just ban arms? that will make the world such a better place to live in… or at least, to some extent. maybe someone can explain to me (in much wisdom and maturity) why they have not yet implemented such a ban. i mean, reading such news evokes sadness, knowing that innocent lives were taken away for no practical reason, and the suffering and sudden loss that family members have to face. yet, i become overwhelmed with anger because they have not done anything to stop such unnecessary acts from happening. it just doesn’t make sense to me!
what’s the world coming to? :(
God endures!
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love form me!” (Psalm 66:20)
what a true declaration this is! i’ve been really encouraged by just how God never gives up on us, His children. even when we give up on ourselves, God’s love still stands, never failing.
something about life’s journey: is that it’s always easier to descend the mountain (in fact, quite effortlessly do so) in comparison to painstakingly climbing up. and being at the pit never feels good at all, although sometimes one’s so tired that it feels better to just lie at the pit and not get up. one could be filled with a sense of failure for not maintaining that journey, and/or just feel so incompetent in God’s sight, and/or desire to just give up on it all.
in contrast to our human limitations and natural instinct to dwell in negativity, God endures through it all – He just never ceases. it’ll be really interesting to note that God is full of edification. even at the point when we feel like crap about ourselves, God and the angels in heaven are cheering us on, to get up and walk on. when we feel weak, He desires to strengthen us; when we are thirsty, He longs to fill us up. this is a God that never rejects or withholds, this is our God! :D
