Help me to love Lord, teach me Your ways,
Help me to love Lord, every single day,
Teach me to love Lord, to love like You do,
Teach me a love Lord, that ever rings true,
Work through my heart Lord, a heart that desires,
For someone to love, to care and hold,
Open my eyes Lord, light up that fire,
To reach out in love, the needy ones to behold,
This is my heart Lord, I offer to you,
My love for today, that went unused,
I offer it to You Lord, to do as You please,
And pray for more Lord, come the morning breeze.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The One Thing
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple." -Psalm 27:4
Recently, I've been led once more on a road of rediscovery. Rediscovering the love of God for me, His never failing faithfulness, and His never ending grace, that after ignoring Him for so long and pursuing after life's empty promises, He is always there waiting with His open arms when I eventually turn back to Him broken and weary. It's been amazing, the love that God has shown.
And yet recently I find myself distracted again, by something. I am all too aware of what that means. When I find that something that catches my eye, I wind up making that a priority, the thing that I want most in my life. Afraid of going down the same path again all too soon, and desperate for something, anything to help, I just cried out "Oh God you know how I feel and what I long for now, help me please."
And He replies with that verse. ONE thing I ask of the Lord, THIS is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. How amazing the Father's love for us, that He may answer (just in the next moment when I decided to listen to a sermon online)like that, so immediately, so accurately. A reminder of what my ONE thing should be, and that's Him, and ONLY Him.
It is difficult, to really surrender the hearts desires to God, especially since pursuing our desires is something I truly believe in (refer to previous post). Its simple to just give up on a desire, it is difficult to ALTER your desires to desire what GOD desires for YOU, and I struggle with it daily. Everyday its a battle, over the desires of my heart VS. the desires of God. And everyday the battle is long, drawn-out, tiring.
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death..." -Philippians 3:10.
Such a simple prayer, such a hard prayer. To truly know Him, seek His face above all else, and know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
P.S.: Another reminder from God barely 10minutes after the posting of this entry about what I read in my devotional today. "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing," -John 15:5. When we acknowledge we cannot do it, and come to the Lord in helplessness, His strength and grace is made perfect in our weakness. Just the perfect answer to my last worry about how difficult it is! Praise the Lord!
Recently, I've been led once more on a road of rediscovery. Rediscovering the love of God for me, His never failing faithfulness, and His never ending grace, that after ignoring Him for so long and pursuing after life's empty promises, He is always there waiting with His open arms when I eventually turn back to Him broken and weary. It's been amazing, the love that God has shown.
And yet recently I find myself distracted again, by something. I am all too aware of what that means. When I find that something that catches my eye, I wind up making that a priority, the thing that I want most in my life. Afraid of going down the same path again all too soon, and desperate for something, anything to help, I just cried out "Oh God you know how I feel and what I long for now, help me please."
And He replies with that verse. ONE thing I ask of the Lord, THIS is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. How amazing the Father's love for us, that He may answer (just in the next moment when I decided to listen to a sermon online)like that, so immediately, so accurately. A reminder of what my ONE thing should be, and that's Him, and ONLY Him.
It is difficult, to really surrender the hearts desires to God, especially since pursuing our desires is something I truly believe in (refer to previous post). Its simple to just give up on a desire, it is difficult to ALTER your desires to desire what GOD desires for YOU, and I struggle with it daily. Everyday its a battle, over the desires of my heart VS. the desires of God. And everyday the battle is long, drawn-out, tiring.
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death..." -Philippians 3:10.
Such a simple prayer, such a hard prayer. To truly know Him, seek His face above all else, and know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
P.S.: Another reminder from God barely 10minutes after the posting of this entry about what I read in my devotional today. "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing," -John 15:5. When we acknowledge we cannot do it, and come to the Lord in helplessness, His strength and grace is made perfect in our weakness. Just the perfect answer to my last worry about how difficult it is! Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Dangers of Desire
Sometimes I wonder, what is it about desire that makes people cringe? Everyone has their desires, their deep-seated heart longings, yet we frown on those who pursue their desire with reckless abandon, or upon those who voice them out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning the actions of those who go to extreme ends to satisfy their desire, indeed some of the world's most evil deeds were carried out simply because an individual decided to pursue his desire at all costs. Desires can be a dangerous thing if pursued recklessly, or when one pursues a reckless desire. But what of the everyday desires of the ordinary people? Of the heart?
Most of the time, to mention a desire would draw comments and expressions of disapproval, or in the case of children, a wry smile and a shake of the head, in condescension of the naivete of the child. Yet deep down in us, we all have our hidden desires which we long to see fulfilled, accomplished, pursued.
When I was a child I was brought up by my parents with one of life's biggest lessons drilled into my head, that I can't have everything I want in life, that the cookie in that jar is not mine to have, and I should stop whining or griping about it. I agree wholeheartedly with my parent's teaching, that you can't have all that you want in life. Sometimes the jar in the cookie is not yours, and you just have to accept that.
But that should never come in the way of pursuing it. The cookie in the jar may never be yours then, but you will grow up one day, and have the ability to get that cookie. By then, most people have become so accustomed to the idea of not getting what they want, that they don't get what they want, even if they can.
One of the greatest losses in life is the lacking of desire, or of giving it up before even pursuing it.
One of the truth about desires is simple, yet contradictory. Something seems more desirable when we cannot have it, and once you have it, all its seemingly magical qualities are gone, and the item loses its luster. A thing seems the most desirable when we pursue it. Yet once again, it is the journey that seems to bring meaning, and the possession of the object of desire falls secondary. Some people spend their whole lives desiring something, yet die without ever achieving it. While some see it as a waste, I see it as a life full of meaning, that they died having tried to achieve what they wanted.
Unfortunately, in our attempt to keep society in order, and to make sure the economic machine that is life runs smoothly, we are told to never pursue what we want, because if everybody did what they truly wanted to do, the world would be in chaos, and anarchy and mayhem would follow. In the end, we wind up stuck in a world where we work for money to buy the things and follow the paths we want, but spend it instead on things and paths we never wanted.
As is the case with everything human, there is a dark side to every construct, and desires are no different. The dangers of desire are clear; it can lead a man down a path of insanity. There is a term in Islam called the Zahir, which basically means something that enraptures the heart and mind of a man that he is compelled to pursue it, to go after it. It becomes his obsession, his life. This is when desires become dangerous, when we become so lost in our desires that we lose sight of who we are, or where we are headed.
Yet the irony of it all is that desires are precisely the things that give us direction. Whether a desire for material things, or a desire for the immaterial (God, heaven, a relationship), it all compels us to move in a direction.
Desires are unavoidable, and compels us as humans to move, to feel, to be alive. A life without desires would not be a life without worries or lacking, but a life void of meaning, life, love.
Yes, desires are dangerous. They can drive a man to insanity, they can ruin the whole functioning mechanic that is life.
Yet, desires are important. And one should never live without chasing one's desires because of fear, fear of failure, fear of never obtaining our desire, or the fear that, having achieved the object of our desire, to find that it was never as great as we thought it would be. After all, it is the journey that matters, the longing and compelling of desire that pulls us along its path to its goal. That gives us life, that gives us meaning.
Embrace the everyday desires of the heart. Pursue it, live it.
*I understand that some desires are best not left pursued, and by writing this I am in no way saying we should pursue every desire of our hearts. But to live a life where we choose to not pursue something whole and good simply because we are afraid, would be a massive waste. May we never live in regret because of that.*
*The author's views are purely his own, and open to debate. Please do not take every word without careful thinking on your part.*
Most of the time, to mention a desire would draw comments and expressions of disapproval, or in the case of children, a wry smile and a shake of the head, in condescension of the naivete of the child. Yet deep down in us, we all have our hidden desires which we long to see fulfilled, accomplished, pursued.
When I was a child I was brought up by my parents with one of life's biggest lessons drilled into my head, that I can't have everything I want in life, that the cookie in that jar is not mine to have, and I should stop whining or griping about it. I agree wholeheartedly with my parent's teaching, that you can't have all that you want in life. Sometimes the jar in the cookie is not yours, and you just have to accept that.
But that should never come in the way of pursuing it. The cookie in the jar may never be yours then, but you will grow up one day, and have the ability to get that cookie. By then, most people have become so accustomed to the idea of not getting what they want, that they don't get what they want, even if they can.
One of the greatest losses in life is the lacking of desire, or of giving it up before even pursuing it.
One of the truth about desires is simple, yet contradictory. Something seems more desirable when we cannot have it, and once you have it, all its seemingly magical qualities are gone, and the item loses its luster. A thing seems the most desirable when we pursue it. Yet once again, it is the journey that seems to bring meaning, and the possession of the object of desire falls secondary. Some people spend their whole lives desiring something, yet die without ever achieving it. While some see it as a waste, I see it as a life full of meaning, that they died having tried to achieve what they wanted.
Unfortunately, in our attempt to keep society in order, and to make sure the economic machine that is life runs smoothly, we are told to never pursue what we want, because if everybody did what they truly wanted to do, the world would be in chaos, and anarchy and mayhem would follow. In the end, we wind up stuck in a world where we work for money to buy the things and follow the paths we want, but spend it instead on things and paths we never wanted.
As is the case with everything human, there is a dark side to every construct, and desires are no different. The dangers of desire are clear; it can lead a man down a path of insanity. There is a term in Islam called the Zahir, which basically means something that enraptures the heart and mind of a man that he is compelled to pursue it, to go after it. It becomes his obsession, his life. This is when desires become dangerous, when we become so lost in our desires that we lose sight of who we are, or where we are headed.
Yet the irony of it all is that desires are precisely the things that give us direction. Whether a desire for material things, or a desire for the immaterial (God, heaven, a relationship), it all compels us to move in a direction.
Desires are unavoidable, and compels us as humans to move, to feel, to be alive. A life without desires would not be a life without worries or lacking, but a life void of meaning, life, love.
Yes, desires are dangerous. They can drive a man to insanity, they can ruin the whole functioning mechanic that is life.
Yet, desires are important. And one should never live without chasing one's desires because of fear, fear of failure, fear of never obtaining our desire, or the fear that, having achieved the object of our desire, to find that it was never as great as we thought it would be. After all, it is the journey that matters, the longing and compelling of desire that pulls us along its path to its goal. That gives us life, that gives us meaning.
Embrace the everyday desires of the heart. Pursue it, live it.
*I understand that some desires are best not left pursued, and by writing this I am in no way saying we should pursue every desire of our hearts. But to live a life where we choose to not pursue something whole and good simply because we are afraid, would be a massive waste. May we never live in regret because of that.*
*The author's views are purely his own, and open to debate. Please do not take every word without careful thinking on your part.*
Friday, November 18, 2011
Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Take every moment that comes your way,
Be it pleasant or a cloud of gray,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Even when the path of life leads you astray,
Walk on in courage, forge the way,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Live it to the fullest like an actor in a play,
Embrace the joy of giving, or life's painful flay,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Lest you end it in dismay,
Treasure every moment like its your last day,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Take every moment that comes your way,
Be it pleasant or a cloud of gray,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Even when the path of life leads you astray,
Walk on in courage, forge the way,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Live it to the fullest like an actor in a play,
Embrace the joy of giving, or life's painful flay,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Carpe Diem, seize the day,
Lest you end it in dismay,
Treasure every moment like its your last day,
Carpe Diem, seize the day.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
When You Were There
Life was a challenge, every single day,
Every step I took, down every other way,
I journeyed down paths, at times turning back,
To try another one, while trying to keep track,
Of all the things I have been through, and all the things I've yet to do,
Of every thing I said, and every promise made,
At times it seemed I bit off more than I could chew,
As opportunities before me evaporated like the morning dew,
I ran to try and grasp them all,
In my rush, only to slip and fall,
Yet there always seemed a strength in me,
A voice that said "Just try again,"
When the darkness of life was all I could see,
You encouraged me though my will was faint,
The thought of you galvanizes my heart,
Heping me push through my distraught,
Because I know that if I pull through,
I'd be someone who is worthy of you,
When life's troubles grasp at me,
When the arms of anguish snap at my heels,
I'll shake off the shackles and break free,
I'll scale that hill, and there you'll be,
Waiting as ever, waiting for me,
And though the clouds of rain and storm,
Obscure your countenance, albeit never for long,
I'll step forth in faith, and push on in hope,
Through the darkest of nights, to the morning dawn,
I'll carry my burdens, my issues I'll bear,
I'll stand defiant, because of you, I dare,
I took on the world without a worry or a care,
When I knew in my heart that you were there.
Every step I took, down every other way,
I journeyed down paths, at times turning back,
To try another one, while trying to keep track,
Of all the things I have been through, and all the things I've yet to do,
Of every thing I said, and every promise made,
At times it seemed I bit off more than I could chew,
As opportunities before me evaporated like the morning dew,
I ran to try and grasp them all,
In my rush, only to slip and fall,
Yet there always seemed a strength in me,
A voice that said "Just try again,"
When the darkness of life was all I could see,
You encouraged me though my will was faint,
The thought of you galvanizes my heart,
Heping me push through my distraught,
Because I know that if I pull through,
I'd be someone who is worthy of you,
When life's troubles grasp at me,
When the arms of anguish snap at my heels,
I'll shake off the shackles and break free,
I'll scale that hill, and there you'll be,
Waiting as ever, waiting for me,
And though the clouds of rain and storm,
Obscure your countenance, albeit never for long,
I'll step forth in faith, and push on in hope,
Through the darkest of nights, to the morning dawn,
I'll carry my burdens, my issues I'll bear,
I'll stand defiant, because of you, I dare,
I took on the world without a worry or a care,
When I knew in my heart that you were there.
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