A New Song.

Psalm 40:2-4 says,

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.

——

This morning, I woke up feeling like crap. I felt really horrible because of a mixture of circumstances from the previous evening. You’ll know what I’m talking about if I shared with you.

Anyway, I decided to try out Ps. Ronald’s 10-min prayer plan thing on the bus. About halfway through, this chorus came to mind:

I stand here in this place, see the glory on Your face
I’m taken by the wonder of Your name
I’m desperate for Your touch; never needed it so much
All I want is You

Two things that ministered to me about this song. The first is this: Jesus’ name is so wonderful, so powerful. We pray in Jesus’ name, but sometimes we fail to recognise the power of this statement, as was what Pastor mentioned yesterday. Praying in Jesus’ name takes away hurt, pain, sin, sadness, and the list goes on.

The second thing is that I am so thirsty for more of God, but yet I only receive a trickle. As I pondered on why I am so starved of more, it came upon me that I serve two masters: God and my emotions. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, there is a verse saying no one can serve two masters. However, these passages were referring to serving God & money, but I should think that it would apply to other things; being overcome by my emotions, rather than leaning on God’s sovereign strength, is tantamount to being a slave to my emotions.

I prayed that God would help me overcome this tendency to succumb to my emotions, instead of trusting God to make all things right. A verse that I quoted for a friend in a turbulent period of her life came to my own mind:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I claimed this verse for my circumstances, that through this tough time, God would have a bigger, better plan for me, to prosper me and not to harm me; He knows best.

In closing, this other segment of a song was ringing in my head:

You put a new song in my mouth
Of praise to You
And the world will see and fear Your name
You put a new song in my mouth
Of praise to You
And the world will see and fear Your name

 

Worthy, worthy is the Lord
Worthy, worthy is the Lord
Worthy, worthy is the Lord
Most High

Dance with Joy?

We sing this very often:

Oh I feel like dancing
It’s foolishness I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy, like we’re dancing now.

Just this evening I was wondering about the Scriptural background of this particular bridge, and the closest thing I could find was 2 Sam 6, regarding David dancing undignified before the Lord.

I quote from verse 16:

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

(Note: the entire section that follows was written all of a sudden. I felt a sudden burden for this matter, and it must be raised now, here.)

Notice how Michal despised David for his act, that was not even meant for man, but for God. How often do we look at someone jumping or singing loudly during service, and laugh or joke or think that that person is making a fool of himself? Don’t even try to deny it; I noticed it first-hand last Sunday.

To the people who did what you did: who are you to muse, joke, and take lightly these acts of worship, that are offered not to please Man, but to please God? I hope you have a ready explanation, not to me, but to God. I believe God is gracious, but your actions are, in the sense, foolish, on two counts:

Instead of participating in worship, you chose to laugh, talk, and whisper about another fellow brother in Christ, who was giving his all in worship.

Notice the magnitude of the punishment upon Michal; she bore no children to the day of her death. I urge you, brothers, if you do read this, to at once repent of what you did, and this Sunday, not care about whoever is around you, and worship.

Who says worship is easy? If it was easy, it wouldn’t be worship; it would be a convenience.

Glorify & Bless Your Name.

What does worship mean to you?

I was reading Gen 22 awhile ago; it is the first time in the whole Bible that the word “Worship” is mentioned.

So what does worship mean to you?

The Oxford American Dictionary defines it as follows:

worship |ˈwər sh əp| noun The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity : the worship of God.

Dictionary meanings aside, what does worship mean to me? I was pondering on what Joey said on Sunday, about leaving all our worries behind, and just giving it all to God, regardless of circumstances, whether there be sickness or health, in bad times or good times, or even in impending death. Look at Abraham in Genesis 22. Despite having the knowledge of the coming events, and the act of having to sacrifice his son, “his only son, whom he loves“, he still chose to worship.

The song “All The Earth” by Parachute Band is playing. If there was one catchphrase, and get this, it sums up what Abraham chose to do, in the midst of overwhelming circumstances:

“Lord, I will glorify and bless Your Holy Name”.

So powerful.

All the Earth will declare
That Your love is everywhere
The fields will exalt, seas resound
Hear the trees’ joyful cry
Praising You, and so will I
A new song I’ll sing
Lord, I will glorify and bless Your Holy Name

(All The Earth - Parachute Band)

PS: I seem to have an affinity with Genesis 22 (recall Rhema Video Incident?), and post-scripts.

Begin.

“Your gift of Grace and unconditional love
Is where my song, it all begins…”

God’s love is truly unconditional. Not only that, it’s also everlasting, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can take His love away from me.

It says in Romans 8:38-39,

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am reassured, I find refuge, and I find peace in the Lord. Truly, how great is Your love, oh Lord.

Begin – 24/7.
You were there, in my darkest hour
I was down but You picked me up
I was lost, stuck in a daze
But You showed up and cleared the haze

Now I see a brand new day
And this is what I have to say

Your gift of Grace and unconditional love
Is where my song, it all begins
I cannot understand; I cannot comprehend
But this is where my song, it all begins

Bad news rush in, coming one by one
I was drowning but You pulled me out
I was bruised, broken inside
But You showed up, and gave me a ride

Now I see a brand new day
And this is what I have to say

Your gift of Grace and unconditional love
Is where my song, it all begins
I cannot understand; I cannot comprehend
But this is where my song, it all begins.

PS: Song trivia: Did you know that this song is a local composition?
PPS: My “tagboard” is so dead it would beat a rotten log at a staring competition.

Writing Best.

I don’t know if anyone will concur, but I believe I write best when I’m sad.

Capturing Memories.

Some of you know that I’m no longer going for the outing on Thursday. This is a result of a decision of someone in authority, someone whose decisions I respect. I write this post, not in hopes of swaying or changing your decision, but more to try and let off what I feel, how I feel.

No doubt I feel absolutely disappointed, and I fear that this change of plans may ruin plans of a good friend. To you, my best pal, I’m really sorry. I really applaud all the effort you put in.

I believe that such events do not happen often. As such, some form of capturing memories should be adopted, to ensure the longevity of the memories taken away from this outing. But, if your instruction is to be followed, then I’m afraid this is no longer possible. If you so deem that photography at this event is unnecessary, then so be it; remember that my objective is not to sway or change your decision. I respect it, regardless of how it may hurt or disturb me.

I do feel a little sad, for all the photo opportunities that will not be.
I feel sad for all the happy moments that will be lived once, and in that instant, be done with, never to be brought back ever again. Remembered, vaguely perhaps, but never with the same clarity.
I feel sad because I know it could be different.

Nevertheless, authority is, and should be respected. Decisions made by authority should be respected. Don’t get me wrong; I do not condone or encourage blind following. The involved member of authority has explained his/her stand, and I understand and respect it.

Goodnight. This is one moment, whose emotions: feelings of disappoinment and grief, I wish to forget.

It’s the eve of my birthday, but I feel strangely cheerless and melancholic.

T minus five.

T minus five days.

Oh, you might wanna have a look here. Hint hint. (:

70-200.

She has captivated me, caught my attention, made me go gah-gah.

Her name is 70-200.

Oh so swift, the speed at which she moves.
Oh so slender and tall, her white elegant body.
Oh so crystal clear, her glass and crystal adornments.

Haha.

The First Of March.

Hello again. I need to update. I know I do, and I feel I do, so here it is: the update.

1) Another wordpressor in R-Age.
Yes, another wordpressor has joined the ranks of numerous wordpressors in R-Age. Liangzhi has moved (hopefully for good) from Blogger to Multiply, back to Blogger again, and finally to where he is now. Happy WordPressing from Aussie! Hopefully your blog won’t be as dead as Daniel’s. ):

2) I have yet to find a proper job.
I may sound fussy but I’m really hoping to do something in the Media field. Photography is possible, but unlikely. Maybe I doubt my average skills, and the ability to please my possible clients. Videography, more certain, but jobs are few and far between (at least, Robin hasn’t called me).

I really don’t know, but I’m hoping maybe a photography shop might take me in and let me work there. At least I’d be quite happy selling what I love. Haha.

3) Many people are falling sick. ):
First Amanda, then Jan, then Sam. Hmm…

Take care, my friends. Eat more fruit and drink more water. I have prayed, and will continue to pray. (:

4) My birthday is coming soon.
Sooner than I thought too!

This birthday, I’m hoping to
i) Spend quality time with friends and family.
ii) Have a good meal with friends.

Let’s all be a little unrealistic. I’m also hoping for an iPod and UM1s. I’ve lived without music on-the-go for about three weeks now. This means more irritating noises during travel, more irritating, loud-mouthed people on trains and buses, and making it a lot harder to ‘revise’ for CAMY and E-gig. Oh, the things we take for granted.

5) We went to Amanda’s
Keith and I paid a visit to Amanda the past Tuesday. She was unwell, and so, was staying home. Having nothing to do that afternoon, we made our way down to the easterly Siglap Rd and visited her for a few hours.

It was pretty fun. I know we brightened up your dreary sickly afternoon, didn’t we? (Haha, ohso thick-skinned and shameless.) (: Photos are up on my Flickr too. Get well soon, Amanda! (: