I Can See The Hand!

Here's a fraction of our God-given creativity. We were asked to use our clumsy hands to mold a mound of clay. I'm so glad God is perfect, has very very sound aesthetics and delicate, loving hands.

Okay, I kinda promised I won't reveal who made what. So if you want to self-declare or comment on these artifacts, there's the TAGBOARD!

And remember what the point of the activity was?

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:"Go down to
the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to
the potter's house, and I saw him workng at the wheel. But the pot he was
shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into
another pot, shaping it as it seemed best to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me:"O house of Israel, can I not
do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of
the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

(Jeremiah 18:1-6, NIV)

Can you see the potter's hand shaping your life?

Made for Perfection

Humans are on a search their entire lives.

A search for this thing called Love.

Oh love.

Whatever that word means and encompasses. But the stark truth of it is that no matter what hills we climb or how many valleys we wander through, we just cannot seem to find that ONE. At the end of the search, we reluctantly concede defeat and admit that yes, there is just no perfect love. Imperfect people attempting to love other imperfect people produces imperfection: friction, hurt, regret, disappointment, sadness, guilt etc.

Augustine in his (brutally honest) confessions said "Thou hath made us for thyself; Our heart is made restless until it repose in thee"

No wonder.
Our hearts were made for P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N. To receive perfection and embrace perfection, for all its beauty and awesomeness. And by now we all know that no one meets that standard but God Himself.
No wonder.
Our hearts just get more restless as we keep searching to satisfy that longing by expecting so much more than what other fellow beings can give.

Was just thinking if we can't even love a perfect person with our heart, soul and mind, whats more an imperfect one?

To those who are searching, hurting, waiting, take heart for we have a perfect love exemplified for us way before we existed and we were planned for it. Embrace it :)

God is love. 1John4:16

Lord, In The Strength Of Grace

Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Music: So Heng (2007)

Lord, in the strength of grace,
With a glad heart and free,
Myself, my residue of days,
I consecrate to Thee.

Thy ransomed servant, I
Restore to Thee Thy own,
And from this moment, live or die
To serve my God alone.


在恩典的大能中
译词：苏恒、蔡以昕

主啊 在恩典的大能中
获释放的我带着欣喜的心
把自己和我仅存的岁月
分别为圣归祢

祢的仆人 被赎的我
将属祢的归还
而从此刻起 生或死
都单为事奉我主

I’m completely humbled. What transpired over the entire weekend, was definitely of divine power. Just when I thought I had understood the lyrics of this song perfectly, He put us to the test and made us see what it means to restore to Him what belongs to Him, what it means to serve Him alone, what it means to serve in the strength of His grace.

We were asked for a perfect, unblemished lamb for sacrifice and we had none to offer. Many a times, our best just isn’t THE best. We despair, we grieve, we hesitate to put it on the altar. What would God do with such an offering? Why would He want it? Torsten gave me timely reminder: remember the widow with the 2 copper coins. It wasn’t a lot in terms of quantity but it was her all. All that she possessed, she placed it in that offering box and offered it up to God. Can you imagine the courage she had to put the 2 coins into the box? Can you even fathom the reverence she had for God?

Then it hit me: everything I have isn’t mine. But when asked for our all, we cling on to some things like our life depends on it. It reminds me of Abraham. He had a son, Isaac. Isaac was a promise from God, a blessed possession for Abraham. A son, coming so late in Abraham’s life, Abraham must have love Isaac a lot. Then one fine day, God dropped the bomb on Abraham: he was to offer Isaac up as a burnt sacrifice.

Why did God do that? Perhaps God knew Abraham loved Isaac more than he loved Him. Isaac was something that stood between God and Abraham, and unless Abraham learnt to part with his beloved possession, he cannot love God above everything else. Our love for one another may exceed that of our love for God. What are the “Isaacs” in our life today? Academic results? Family? Some sister or brother-in-Christ? Dominant 7th?

“Restore to Thee Thy own”: are you ready to give them all up and return to God what really belongs to Him?

Frankly, when faced with the choices, I only saw my accountability to men: how not to let people down, how one’s efforts must somehow be proportionate to the outcome. When none of the choices can please both God and men at the same time, what do we do? “To serve my God alone” means to pit oneself against the world’s charms. Yes, surely you’ll let some people down. Our deepest concerns will show us who we serve, our Master: so is it going to be men, or God?

In making my final decision, I have let a few people down, seen the “Isaac” of my life and my inability and unworthiness to serve if not for His strong, unwavering grace. The anthem was no longer just a song but a part of my life.

I thank God for the painful experience for I have seen His power and sovereignty through it all!

100th!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm the first! I'm the first! Yeh yeh yeh :)

I get the honour to publish the 100th post!

Okay sorry for the nuisance.

Dom7th-ers can you believe we made it to the 100th post?! Wow, 100 ways in which God has led us and touched us to share with one and all. Not just through our voice but through words! Amazing!
I was just looking through the older postings and aww man, its so, so heart twisting... From the very 1st when Aiping first started this blog and then the period leading up to the concert where there were silly, sad, encouraging, heartwarming sharings coming from everyone to now where its peace and quiet...

Time really flies. But one thing remains, our dear Heavenly Father was there to witness every step of the way.

To many more 100ths to come!

Oh, and to all those who visit this place often, reveal thyself so we know who you are *Ahem Mag ahem* Haha kidding... Thank you for reading and growing with us :)

Alrightoes! tomorrow I shall talk about something serious. Serious stuff.

Goodnight :)

Hey Brothers and Sisters!

Yepp haven't written in a long while.

Recently my friend lent me a CD by Stuart Townend of In Christ Alone, How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Beautiful Saviour fame.
I'm falling in love with his compositions. Rich in meaning and powerful in theology.
This entire week this song has been ringing in my head, called See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn). Woah really must sing it for Easter someday man... I found a rendition on youtube, and discovered there is this channel on BBC called Songs of Praise that features programmes worship in a national day-like setting singing nice hymns and praise songs, with full orchestras. So grand really nice! Go see it for yourself! (Especially good for exam-laden tots!~)

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

See God's Salvation Plan
Wrought in love
borne in pain
paid in sacrifice
Fulfilled in Christ the Man
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead!

And we are raised with Him
Death is dead
love has won
Christ has conquered!
And we shall reign with Him
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead!

Another one, a wonderful rendition, not Townend's composition, of Be Thou My Vision. People we've gotta learn to sing like that man... haha! Girls match the fullness yah?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idu2_uV4QB0&feature=related

And Great is Thy Faithfulness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0oxobAZGfE&feature=related

Guys drop your jaws and sing like that guy man...

ok Cheers and continue training for Praise and Glory of our God who gives us the reason to Sing!