Baby Dedication

Yesterday we had a dedication session at church where parents of newborns come together to pledge our commitment before God and other witnesses that we will dedicate our child to God and bring them up in the fear of the Lord. The most solemn pledge is that we as parents will live in such a way that is a good and godly example for our future generation (eeek ... it's not gonna be easy but  by the grace of God we shall, we shall!)

Parents and newborns all in a row!

Memento from church; first official bible verse for Lucas. AMEN!!!

Building Character

I recently attended a spiritual conference where a pastor said; "God is more interested in our character than in your comfort" My retort? "Well, if you remove my comforts I'll be totally out of character for sure!" I think it's so funny. Just imagine your boss, spouse and best friend when he or she woke up without enough sleep or after an hour's drive in bad traffic jam; how much do you want to bet he or she will be somewhat out of character huh? *wink*

Jokes aside, it's true isn't it? It's soooo true, s**t happens to us sometimes so that they can mold us and shape us. I think if the same irritating thing keeps happening to you over and over, then I suppose it's safe to say you're still not getting the message right? The good thing is, God allows the same s**t to happen repeatedly because he doesn't give up on us. That's something I will bear in mind, difficult as it may be.

I love this quote I picked up on Max Lucado's tweet timeline: "Everything will work out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end"

What is a Missionary?

I wish to share something I picked up today from a testimony given during service.

Just mention the word "missionary" and immediately we conjure up images of uprooting, giving up everything and traveling to distant faraway uncomfortable lands where Christians will be persecuted or arrested or where there is a lack of civilized infrastructure ... but this phrase sums it all; succinctly and correctly...

Every heart with Jesus is a missionary.
Every heart without Jesus is a mission field.

So our charge and mission field is closer and nearer than we can imagine. There is no more excuse. I stand convicted.

Food for thought ... would it be easier to share the love of Christ to complete strangers vis-à-vis to your colleague, relative, best friend etc?

Take My World Apart

These are the lyrics to "World's Apart" by Jars Of Clay … I've been listening to them on loop now, this is a really old album (release 1995) but one of their best albums without a doubt. This song echoes the cry of my heart now, more than ever. So as tribute to this Good Friday + Easter weekend; I dedicate my heart to You my God & King.

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love,
To give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
More deeply than the oceans,
More abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

And I pray,
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

I look beyond the empty cross
Forgetting what my life has cost
And wipe away the crimson stains
And dull the nails that still remains
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
The battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak,
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
The sin and soaked heart and make it yours
Take my world all apart
Take it now, take it now

And serve the ones that I despise
Speak the words I can't deny
Watch the world I used to love
Fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
Forgetting what my life has cost
So wipe away the crimson stains
And dull the nails that still remain
So steal my heart and take the pain
Take the selfish, take the weak
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
Take my world apart,
take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
Take my world apart

Who Am I?

You know it's so strange sometimes when you're just driving around and you're totally bogged down by so many worries and what to do next ... we have a long "to do" list and a full calendar ... we think we're so in control and all is gonna be just great because we say so. And wham bamm God just shuts you up and makes you quiet and listen (cos we seldom give him the time of day to speak to us!) This happened to me in the car and this song was on ... and altho I've heard this song many times, it suddenly came alive to me. And I am humbled and reminded of my source, my ultimate source, without Whom I am nothing. It's so wonderful and fearful to be reminded that I am not my own.

Check out this song, it's brilliant . I love studying song lyrics. I am always enthralled by the beautiful way people string words together to convey exactly how they feel :)

Casting Crowns - Who Am I

(from the self-titled album Casting Crowns)

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Photo of Casting Crowns taken at the 2007 Amerian Music Awards. Courtesy of http://www.castingcrowns.com

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am now going to transfer stuff from my multiply to this site. Do bear with me.

I posted this up on June 07: our pastor shared this poem during his sermon and it really hit the spot so I had to google it and share this with fellow members of the "unashamed" ... hope it will encourage you deeply as it did me.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed by Dr. Bob Moorehead

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,

and my future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living, sight walking,

small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,

chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,

promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience,

lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven,

my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,

my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred,

lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,

hesitate in the presence of adversity,

negotiate at the table of the enemy,

ponder at the pool of popularity,

or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop,

preach until all know,

and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own,

He will have no problem recognizing me.

My banner is clear: I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes ... Romans 1:16 (NIV)

We are often plagued with day to day worries; about work, about money, about whether we'll get to buy that new car, our friends are getting married, our friends just got promoted, maybe we're being demoted even, our bills are piling up and we're worried about your retirement plan... we're worried that we won't look the belle of the ball at the next event, maybe everyone thinks we're not good enough, thin enough, rich enough, smart enough, pretty enough, maybe we're not as popular as everyone else, we're angry and bitter with someone for years, maybe our parents, our bosses, our jobs... these issues are real and the effects are daunting, everyone has been thru these at one point or another ... look up, look further, we're redeemed and the problems you and I face here are merely a fraction of our lifetime in eternity ... our goals are higher and our mission is divine... live in light of eternity... give it all to Him and He will give His all to us... in fact, you know what, He already did!