You’ll Come (Brooke Fraser/Hillsong Cover)

Just something I stumbled upon this afternoon that lifted my soul. Thought I should share. 🙂

Kari Jobe Preaching: Worship

Really, there’s no one like Jesus~ He draws us just when He knows we need it. Out of nowhere, I ended up chatting with a friend and she just sent me these… And I got reminded once again of all the things I have been neglecting and taking for granted, the most important of which: HIS PRESENCE.

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His eye is on the sparrow — His hand is upon me

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

Sparrow — Audrey Assad

While randomly watching videos on YouTube, I somehow got to watching this video — and I knew, God wanted to talk, I mean, that He’s talking.

Son, I know you know this. You know full well how much I love you, the hope you have in Me, the Joy I give, and all that stuff. However son, do not forget that these things are CONSTANT — no matter how you feel, it does not, will not, and CANNOT change the fact that I love you, I died for you, I saved you, I’m your strength, your deliverance, your perfect friend, your LOVE. It’s time to start singing again my son.

It’s the time the prodigal saint remembers he’s a SAINT. 

The Motions

With so much on my plate, my mind has been giving up on me lately. Thing is, when my mind decides it’s tired, or that it can’t do it — it actually stops working!

It’s crunch time for me as the term is quickly coming to a close; that means papers, papers, and more papers!

If you’d been following my blog, you’d notice that I am God’s needy baby — I am almost — if not totally– totally dependent on God and His provisions. That means, my grades and success in school are all products of His grace.

(Your Grace is ENOUGH; Faithful? You don’t know the half of it!; among others — I promise to sort through my posts to link here ALL the posts about how God has constantly been GRACIOUS about my academic performance. Keep in mind, grace being SOMETHING UNDESERVED.)

So for crunch time, I seek Him.

But for the past few days, I really have not been able to accomplish anything — and I mean ANYTHING!

Then I realized it’s because I’ve been too focused on working that I forgot to spend time and quiet down with God.

And so I did; AND IT WAS GREAT!

Now feeling refreshed, I tried doing school work again, but still to no avail. So I kept praying and praying… still nothing.

Then it hit me:
Am I really seeking Him and drawing near to Him? Or am I just going through the motions of “trying” to seek Him?

God is not pleased with outward forms of worship, lip-service won’t get us anywhere.

God wants His worshippers to worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, He has no interest in people just going through the rituals and stuff.

I’m still quite behind in my paper work, and am still very tired and all crazed up.

But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able!

For without faith it is impossible to please God; those who seek Him must believe that He is and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him!

I will not quit, for my God is able.

So what do I plan to do now?

I’ll keep seeking and plead with God to help me put my heart in the right place.

It won’t be of any use if I were to try and exert myself in my own direction; right now, nothing is more important than drawing closer to Him .

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

How ’bout them SAINTS out there? Are you really seeking? Or are you mindlessly doing the deeds without the heart? Remember, just “going through the motions” won’t get you anywhere– especially not closer to Him.

The Motions — Matthew West

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Satan and his cohorts are tasked to bring us Saints down, and a lot of times they do it by annoying circumstances — circumstances that sometimes even involve people around you, even people from your own church family.

Jesus has only one thing to say about that: But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Sure, this world would be hostile and crazy, but we must not be discouraged nor swayed by it. We are SAINTS, and we’re called to bring forth His glory and share His love.

As Saints, we are SOLDIERS. Soldiers stand up after being shot and go on fighting, for they knows their duties.

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:3)

Take heart Saints! This world will not let loose in its endeavors to bring us down.

Giving up and lying down after being shot is such a tempting option, and is surely an easy one; the Bible has something to say about that:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Why give up when the war is already won?

Personally, God has been such a gracious Father to me, always being there. That being said, He doesn’t always change the CIRCUMSTANCES; a lot of times, He changes me.

“Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.” — Scott Krippayne

(Sometimes He Calms the Storm — Scott Krippayne)

Sure, it’s not always the case that we see His hand, nor do we see Him moving in us — but that doesn’t mean He’s not. This, I believe, is why a community of believers is so important; this is definitely one of reasons why Jesus wants us to be a united church. When we don’t always see how things are, our fellow believers might.

I’m writing this as a reminder for myself, sometimes I just need to put it to writing to get me to remember it in my heart. But I believe God would bring this message to whoever needs it, just as He brings to me writings of different people to remind me of His love.

You were as I, tempted and tried… human.

This line just kept playing in my head for the WHOLE week (in fact, I think it’s been like this for two weeks)!

I don’t remember the whole song, just this line. I just keep singing it in my head:

“You were as I tempted and tried. Human.”

Tonight, He finally told me why.

***

theprodigalsaint: “You were as I, tempted and tried — human.”

God: Oh, so you’re still singing that?

theprodigalsaint: I can’t get it out of my head! 

God: Do you know why?

theprodigalsaint: Well, it’s definitely a reminder that there’s no excuse for my sins — even You, in the form of Jesus, were tempted but remained sinless.

God: Well, I was still God during My time on earth.

theprodigalsaint:  True, but You were also completely man.

God: True. Hey, what song are you gonna present for Easter again?

theprodigalsaint: Huh? Oh, “No Greater Love”

God: You have a solo part right? I made sure you were given that part, what part was it.

theprodigalsaint: It’s — :’)

[No Greater Love is a Cantata by John Piper about the life of Jesus. I was given the part of Jesus being tempted in the desert. It was a duet using the tempter’s words and Jesus’s responses — I was singing Jesus’s responses. ♥]

***

Jesus was fully human and fully God; He too was tempted and tried — EVEN BY SATAN HIMSELF!

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matt. 4:1)

***

theprodigalsaint: Now I get it! But isn’t that what I said? You kept putting this line, not even the whole song, in my head to remind me that I am supposed to follow in Your footsteps — not fall into sin. 

God: Mm-hmm. But that’s not all. What else did you sing about?

theprodigalsaint: Well, I was singing the things You — :’)

***

Jesus, when He was being tempted by Satan, defended Himself — with God’s word.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt. 4:7)

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matt. 4: 10)

He held on to God’s word. He knew what He was to do — obey God ONLY and FULLY.

***

theprodigalsaint: Well, Lord, it’s not that easy. Sure, I want to hold on to Your words too. I also have enough knowledge of Your words to be able to defend against the sins Satan commonly tempts me with. But…

God: But it’s not that easy because ‘I just can’t understand how there are things that you humans crave for so much that it’s become a physical pain?” or that ‘I don’t understand that there are things that you humans are prone too? Your emotions, your flesh’s desires, your socially constructed constraints, etc?’ 

theprodigalsaint: Yes, Lord! Yes! Exactly!

God: Son, why don’t you read the passage again.

***

Jesus had to deal with Satan like most of us. He, was COMPLETELY human after all.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matt. 4:2-3)

***

God: Did you see it?

theprodigalsaint: Yes.

God: So…?

theprodigalsaint: When You were tempted, you were tempted with something categorically similar to everything I’m tempted with … I mean, the circumstances are the same.

God: Mm-hmm, go on?

theprodigalsaint: When I am tempted, it’s SO easy to fall when I’m tired and/or stressed. Emotionally unstable because of physical weariness. It’s hard to focus, to think first before I act, let alone to ponder upon Your word before falling into Satan’s trap.

God: And at that time?

theprodigalsaint: Jesus was hungry and tired — He was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights! And He was tempted with food.

God: But?

theprodigalsaint: But what?

God: You were thinking of  a “but,” what is it?

theprodigalsaint: Well, He was FASTING after all, so that means He was spiritually recharged at that time. He was in communion with You! He was praying and all. He definitely was spiritually ready, and probably even mentally, to take Satan head on!

God: Sure, He was filled by the Spirit at that time. And yes, He was in communion with Me at that time. So what does that tell you?

theprodigalsaint:  … that if I were to spend my days seeking and communing with You CONSTANTLY, I will be able to draw on Your strength too, like how Jesus was spiritually ready to battle Satan, even when He was physically drained.

 God: And?

theprodigalsaint: And that no amount of physical craving or limitation would be able to weaken a Saint empowered by the Spirit — Your Spirit.

God: So now are you convinced that I really understand how you feel? How temptations appeal to your certain ‘perceived’ needs? Jesus was extremely hungry at that time, but He didn’t give in. He was SO tired, stones to bread would’ve been an easy way out of things. 

theprodigalsaint: He knew that there are greater things than just this fleshly body we’re bound in. He knew He had a higher purpose to fulfill: to bring You glory and to overcome sin and death. Turning stones to bread would not accomplish anything, in terms of His mission. That action won’t glorify You. Besides, if He were to do that, He’s be obeying and pleasing Satan — He knew what You want. He had the power in Him, but He knew you won’t allow Him too, why? Because there’s no purpose to it.

God: Sounds familiar?

theprodigalsaint: There are a LOT of things I know You can give me, I know I can do, and I know I can get — But I have to always trust in Your plan and focus on being goal oriented.

God: Goal oriented?

theprodigalsaint: Focused on one goal, and one goal alone, doing only things that please You. 

God: I think I’ve already told you that sometime ago, right?

theprodigalsaint: Yup. It went something like: There really is no such thing as right and wrong — only what pleases and displeases God — You.

God: There’s something else…

theprodigalsaint: hmm?

God: Son, I want you to be like Me. More and more like Me — like Jesus. He held on to My word, never let go. I  kept playing that line in your head to remind you that YOU ARE CAPABLE of doing what I did when I was on earth — be FOCUSED! Son, I don’t want you to just remember My words in times of temptation — I want you to be able to focus on My word in EVERYTHING. You need Me, you know that. And I want to help you too, and this is My way of telling you how. Stick close to Me, walk with Me — ALWAYS. Always means ALWAYS, right?

theprodigalsaint: I haven’t been giving much thought to what You want for everything, have I?

God: Mm-hmm,

theprodigalsaint: And that lead to a very slow but constant drift away from You. Slowly, yet definitely surely, I was making decisions on my own, focusing on things I want. Not that I was focusing on huge decisions, but just things like how to spend my afternoon, where to eat for lunch, what to eat for dinner, how to talk with my friends, how to deal with classmates, how to act on the bus, how to… etcetcetc. The more I got used to mundane things and mundane decisions made everyday — the more callous I became to You. When the time came that I needed to cling to You and let go of what I want and focus on what You want, I was already too used to listening to myself.

God: So what do you plan to do now?

theprodigalsaint: Pray, ask, and focus — I mean, just ask.

God: Ask?

theprodigalsaint: Ask for Your help and Your empowerment — that I may be focused. I cannot do all these on my own, I am too weak. BUT! There is power in You. 🙂

God: *chuckles* I love you, son.

theprodigalsaint: and I couldn’t be happier >:D< Love you too!

***

P.S. Here’s the song, thanks to Google, I finally found out what song it was!

Lead Me to the Cross — Hillsongs

You make all things work together for MY good.

I was casually browsing some comic videos on YouTube, and this appeared on the Suggested Videos panel

In the middle of the video, until the end, they kept repeating:

“You make, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD.” 

It’s a coverage of a concert, so there were a LOT of repeats — which, I could just hear God telling me: “You hear that son?”

Just as I was listening to it, I was reading my friend’s blog: Believing the Unbelievable, with a post titled God’s Plans vs. Mine. I won’t be copying her whole post here, and I won’t be giving much comments either. I believe her words are more than enough encouragement on how much God loves us to have anything LESS THAN PERFECT planned for us.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart; but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”-(Proverbs 19:21)

My plans are no match compared to God’s plans for me. I’m actually excited for what God has in store for me for this season of my life. He’s really a God full of surprises! He just surprised me yesterday that because of what happened,I might have to start my own clothing line already!AMAZING AND INDESCRIBABLE GOD.His right time is always perfect!Praying for it to happen if it is His will!In Jesus Name!:D All I can say is that we should not go before God, because we are nothing without Him in front of us.Don’t let God follow us, we should be the ones following Him.OUR PLANS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT GOD IN OUR HEARTS.

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. [8] The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.-(Psalm 138:2,8)
These words helped me a lot last night!:”>

— Louie Yao

So many things are still swirling around my head right now, some are even trying to cloud over my heart — BUT I refuse to stand down and let them overcome me. I don’t need to worry about tomorrow, my future, what it holds, and how I’m gonna get there — ALL I SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT IS HOW I CAN OBEY HIS EVERY COMMAND. He promised to bring us through, and He promised to be working in us until the day He comes back.

“God just reminded me that HE WILL NEVER EVER ABANDON ME!:) — Louie Yao”

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? … Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:27;34)

Obedience is a constant choice we have to deal with EVERYDAY; we have enough trouble struggling to obey God FULLY today to even start worrying about Tomorrow. God holds my tomorrow; He has new commands for me to follow tomorrow — I just have to take the commands a day at a time, and obey them fully through the power of His Holy Spirit.

I’ll trust Your Heart

Was reading something off Tumblr, and these words jumped at me:

Life is not easy at times and we find ourselves having a difficult time with just running through the motions but that’s okay.

This morning, well afternoon actually, I woke up with a heavy heart. I don’t really understand why, but I knew I was feeling something wrong — either emotionally or spiritually — something was just WRONG.

I tried praying, I tried seeking Him, but that downtrodden feeling of being overwhelmed by an inexplicable sadness and discontent still lingered. I did a very short and quite rushed devotion. He gave me John 16:33, the verse was familiar, so I just browsed through it and went on with my day.

Went to choir practice after, Mandarin Choir practice, still feeling heavy and unattached. We were practicing a cantata for Easter — No Greater Love, in Mandarin of course. Then we practiced some songs to be sung for the next few Sundays, and since Lent is already underway, the songs were mostly about the Cross. I sang mindlessly. My Chinese has become rusty, so I was having a hard time following the lyrics; I focused on the notes, but the way people around me sang just keeps throwing me off. I was distracted to say the least. I saw EVERYTHING that could make me go crazy and act up — all the while missing His love signals.

Got home, had dinner, and defaulted to surfing — that’s when I read a friend’s Tumblr post.

I realized, I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t depressed — I was tired. Tired of the mundane, or at least of the “regular.” It was a constant up and down, a never ending cycle of being in peace and bliss and crashing into sin, disappointment and despair. I don’t think I’m moving forward — I think I’m just going through the motions.

So when I was reading my friend’s post, I just had to show her this video:

It was my go-to song when trying to encourage people who just can’t seem to find purpose in their Christian walk. So obviously, I had to listen to it again. That’s when He made me realize that I am just really tired.

The world is not where we’re supposed to be — we’re SAINTS — citizens of Heaven, consequently, aliens on earth. It’s tiring to live somewhere you’re not at home in, it’s tiring to be waiting on when you can return home, and it’s definitely tiring to be battling all the time and not always winning.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

I took a second look at the verse He gave me this morning, and I noticed the words I skipped over — Peace, Overcome the world.

I realized, all this hoopla of being discouraged and all was just my humanity acting up on the fact that I am still IN WAITING. Nothing much has changed since I posted about Waiting; I still am dealing with waiting. It was crazy of me to just write about it and forget about the things I wrote — things He told me to help me deal with waiting.

I am tired. Yes. I am starting to be discouraged. Definitely. I have no idea where I’m going, and what progress (if any) I’m making. Sure.

BUT!

All these should NEVER be enough reason for me to stop SEEKING and drawing CLOSER to Him. 

Just moments ago, I received a reply from a church mate. I emailed him last night to share with him my post on waiting, after hearing his sharing on how he’s dealing with God and waiting on Him. His reply reads:

Thanks Ivan! Encouraging post, it helps to know someone else is going through the same thing.

Yea just have to be patient. See you at church!

Yes, PATIENCE. Funny how the most fundamental and basic lesson in waiting is the lesson I forgot! Maybe I deliberately did that, I’ve always been afraid of the word — PATIENCE.

God is love, and His love is unfailing. Through His love, we are saved — and by His love, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS. Sure, the world gets me down, I get tired, I feel crazy, BUT, I have to exercise PATIENCE. It’s all part of His plan — a plan focused on LOVE FOR ME.

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)

“So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, TRUST HIS HEART.“

It’s one of THOSE days.

These were the words I saw on Facebook the moment I went online:

it’s those “I want to lock myself in my room” days

It’s by a friend, I don’t think I have the authority to share what she’s going through, but one thing’s for sure — she’s not the only one.

I can’t tell you what she’s dealing with, but I know one thing: it’s one of those things that you just don’t want to face. Locking yourself up in your room sounds really, REALLY tempting.

I’ve had my share of things I don’t want to deal with, not that I can’t, I just don’t THINK I can. God promised us victory in Jesus Christ — victory from everything! By His love, we are more than conquerors. But sometimes things just SEEM to be bigger than us, it’s easy to forget how BIGGER our God is.

It got me thinking, maybe it actually is the right thing to do — TO LOCK YOURSELF UP IN YOUR ROOM.

Our power, our strength, and our victory comes from Jesus Christ. We are useless on our own, only through Him are we capable of great things — only through Him can we win over our sinful nature. So to win this battle, we have to be ON OUR KNEES.  Jesus said:

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

We are SAINTS; when saints lock themselves up in their rooms, it’s to seclude themselves from the world — from all its distractions — and focus on God, on Him alone. In solitude and silence, we focus on Him, seek Him solely. The world is a noisy place, everyone has their own opinion; in moments of anguish, it’s often overwhelming to deal with a lot of voices.

Yes, we should lock ourselves up in our rooms — spend time in solitude praying and communing with God. He won’t leave us nor forsake us, He will always be there. He’s always ready to console, to guide, and to give answers — but it’s hard to listen to Him when we’re distracted by the world.

I’ve had the song “We Are United” on replay on my iPod, and this line always sticks out: “We fight our battles on our knees.” At first, I really liked that — until today. Now? I say “We WIN our battles on our knees.”

Go ahead, go to your room, and pray. He’s just waiting for you to come away and spend time with Him.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God'” Psalms 46:10

Still — Hillsongs United

At The Foot of The Cross – Kathryn Scott

So today’s Ash Wednesday.

Let’s trade our “ashes in for beauty, and wear forgiveness like a crown.”

Christ died so we could have life; He loved us though we were unworthy.

The least we could do is acknowledge His sacrifice and ponder upon the significance of the cross, His blood, and His resurrection in our lives.