Name above every name

Jesus
Beautiful Saviour
God of all Majesty
Risen King
Lamb of God
Holy and Righteous
Blessed Redeemer
Bright morning star

All the heavens shout your praise
All creation bows to worship You

How wonderful, how beautiful
Name above every name
Exalted high
How wonderful, how beautiful
Jesus Your name
Name above every name
Jesus

I saw this song on a friend's blog and it made me think of how often I praise the name that is above all names.
Over here where religion is very visible and when I'm in the car looking out to the dark night sky, I see crosses being lighted up all across the city.
But all these is ironic.
Not once nor twice but countless times have I heard people here misusing the name of our Lord, any one of His names.

After a sentence, "Oh XXX!" or just inserting it as an exclamation.
A few of my professors say it all the time during class too.
All these reminds me of the clear commandement that:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your
God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." - Exodus
20: 6-8

But on the other hand, I do not want to judge so quickly and fail to see the plank in my own eye.
Even if I do not misuse His name, do I praise it often?

"Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." - Psalm 96:2

Sing while we still can, exalt while we still can, shout while we still can, sing while we still can...

How wonderful, how beautiful
Name above every name
Exalted high

Shaped for His Purpose

我真惭愧因我知道, 总是保留自己.
虽然也曾受你铸造, 我却反抗又悖逆.
如今全心求你喜悦, 不惜任何代价.
你若欢喜并得荣耀, 我愿背负十字架.

I was just thinking of the lyrics of the Janurary anthem bridge and somehow I thought maybe we are like iron ores.

To produce iron, they slowly burned iron ore with wood in a clay-lined oven. The iron separated from the surrounding rock but never quite melted. Instead, it formed a crusty slag which was removed by hammering. This repeated heating and hammering process mixed oxygen with the iron oxide to produce iron, and removed the carbon from the metal. The result was nearly pure iron, easily shaped with hammers and tongs but too soft to take and keep a good edge. Because the metal was shaped, or wrought, by hammering, it came to be called wrought iron.

Some part of your life is hammered off and you are heated up so that you will be refined and become pure after the process. It is a repeated process, so it will go on and on. So will the suffering and pain. Our hearts soften, becoming more attuned and aligned to Him. Only then do we realize: we are being shaped - shaped for the purpose of glorifying His name.

Here I am, Lord

The dedication ceremony was over in a matter of minutes but I pray earnestly that we will remember our collective promise to God and our responsibility and accountability towards our siblings-in-Christ.

For some among us who may be feeling that the task that you have been called for is too daunting, too huge, or that you are too weak, too inadequate in keeping what you have been entrusted with, or this journey too lonely, too far - this song is for you.

May we find our hope, joy and strength in Christ alone!

O Jesus, I Have Promised
Lyrics by John E. Bode
Music by Arthur H. Mann

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.

O let me feel thee near me:
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee,
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end:
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my friend.

O let me see thy foot-marks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in thy strength alone:
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my friend.