While listening to a song by watermark called "Captivated us". There was a phrase in the chorus that caught my attention. "..devastate us with your presence..." was the phrase that triggered off a string of thoughts that led to a small discovery of my own.
The song was so beautiful that I was just enjoying the song as it is until I realized the use of words that made the song such a pleasing song to listen to. At first thought, the word 'devastate' doesn't seem like the word you would associate with anything pleasant, let alone the presence of God. However, the word seem to be so aptly used in the song, illustrating the irony of Godly devastation being a blessing to us, that His presence would ruin us until only He can satisfy us.
Then I realized that the reason I love the hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" has to do with the similar use of words."...Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown". Again the use of words like love and sorrow, thorns and crowns, such beautiful marriage of words. So I tried to think of other examples and another song by Ben Glover came to mind, the chorus reads: "Burglar of my soul, defeat me, O robber of my poison heart, Break into this callused core, Make me a victim of a thief, who's stolen by mercy." Now that is interesting song writing, using words like robbing and stealing and yet have no negative connotation to it.
There are also many instances where people write about the scars and wounds of the Lord Jesus and use them to describe beauty. Even in Matthew 11:30 it is written "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." What we would usually consider as a burden is something heavy and hard to bear, but when it comes to the burden of the Lord it is light. All these words that are usually known to have negative implications seem to have a positive effect to it when it is used to describe the things of God.
I guess that is how it is with God isn't it? If at anytime we are found in a unpleasant situation, put God into the picture and everything makes sense and even the most painful of times can be healed by the promises and presence of God. It is also interesting to note that given the option to choose words to associated with God, why would many people choose words that would not connote what they literally mean? Is it merely for the sake of the art of poetry? Maybe. Still I would like to think that even if we try finding the best word to describe God in all His glory, nothing would come close; and sometimes in our futile attempts to do so, we may find that what seems to be the furthest from anything related to God may be the only words which are close enough to achieve the expression we hoped for.
with baskets full
I remember a preacher once preached about the preparation for public worship where he gave a simple analogy between the feast of the first fruits and our preparation for worship. In many ways, our preparation for the Lord's supper is similar to the gathering of the harvest of first fruits. Over the course of the week, our preparation can be seen as a each individual having their own baskets, and they were to be used for the gathering of fruits, gathering of thoughts and expereinces that we want to present to the Lord as acceptable in His eyes. When the week passes and we come to present our baskets to the Lord, our baskets should be overflowing with offerings to Him.
Even though our baskets may not neccessarily be full or overflowing, I would like to think that at least many of us are still able to offer up something in our baskets . However, I sometimes wonder that our baskets may not be as full as we may think it is. I dare not generalise my thoughts on this, but I think more often than not, we come to the Lord's presence with nothing in our baskets, let alone the thought of not having the basket full or to consider it being filled with the wrong things.
The reason that I have such thoughts is mainly due to personal experiences and (what could be inaccurate) observations; and it is not because we did not fill it up throughout the week, but because we are not capable of doing so. Instead of using the baskets to gather offerings to the Lord, we come with empty baskets expecting the Lord's supper to be a time for our baskets to be refilled, a spiritual recharge if you may. And throughout the course of the week, instead of filling our baskets, we are draining our baskets to cope with our weekly routine, just to find that our baskets are empty by the end of the week.
I know it is sad to have such conclusions, and like I said what I have concluded may not be entirely true. However speaking for myself, I find that there are times where I am ashamed to say instead of offering to the Lord, I require of the Lord to provide that weekly boost of spiritual need. I am not saying that we don't get a 'spritual boost' when we gather to remember the Lord, of course we do. It is normal to be all fired up spiritually on a sunday morning. However, it is absolutely imperative that we realise our priestly exercise is not to receive, but to offer up that which is worthy and pleasing to the Lord.
So the ever important question remains: how are we filling our baskets today? Are we just starting to put things in it? or are we filling it right to its top? or are we expecting something to be filled in it instead? The answer is clear, but the motivation to that answer should be even clearer...that it pleases the Lord that we are faithful and come with baskets full!
Even though our baskets may not neccessarily be full or overflowing, I would like to think that at least many of us are still able to offer up something in our baskets . However, I sometimes wonder that our baskets may not be as full as we may think it is. I dare not generalise my thoughts on this, but I think more often than not, we come to the Lord's presence with nothing in our baskets, let alone the thought of not having the basket full or to consider it being filled with the wrong things.
The reason that I have such thoughts is mainly due to personal experiences and (what could be inaccurate) observations; and it is not because we did not fill it up throughout the week, but because we are not capable of doing so. Instead of using the baskets to gather offerings to the Lord, we come with empty baskets expecting the Lord's supper to be a time for our baskets to be refilled, a spiritual recharge if you may. And throughout the course of the week, instead of filling our baskets, we are draining our baskets to cope with our weekly routine, just to find that our baskets are empty by the end of the week.
I know it is sad to have such conclusions, and like I said what I have concluded may not be entirely true. However speaking for myself, I find that there are times where I am ashamed to say instead of offering to the Lord, I require of the Lord to provide that weekly boost of spiritual need. I am not saying that we don't get a 'spritual boost' when we gather to remember the Lord, of course we do. It is normal to be all fired up spiritually on a sunday morning. However, it is absolutely imperative that we realise our priestly exercise is not to receive, but to offer up that which is worthy and pleasing to the Lord.
So the ever important question remains: how are we filling our baskets today? Are we just starting to put things in it? or are we filling it right to its top? or are we expecting something to be filled in it instead? The answer is clear, but the motivation to that answer should be even clearer...that it pleases the Lord that we are faithful and come with baskets full!
my heart, Your home?
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
A home for You, Lord.
A home for You, Lord.
Let everything I do open up,
A door for You to come through,
And that my heart would be a place where
You want to be.
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
You are my portion, filling up everything.
You are the fortune that's causing my heart to sing.
That it's amazing, that You could make Yourself at home with me.
Come and make my heart,
Come and make it Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
-Watermark-
Yes, the title for this post is actually the title for this song. The question mark however is my way of drawing attention to the absurdity of my heart being a home for the Lord. Even Solomon's temple in all its glory was not anywhere close to being sufficient to house the presence of God; for me to consider that my heart could ever be a place for the Lord to live in is just insane...well maybe not insane, but definitely beyond human comprehension. Why would God in His holiness and greatness come to make my sinful heart His home? Am I worthy of such? Definitely not! I guess that is why angels wonder at the mystery of the grace and love that God has shown to us. Amazing grace, abundant love, divine intervention, only Christ Jesus could bridge the gap to form something as beautiful as this.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
A home for You, Lord.
A home for You, Lord.
Let everything I do open up,
A door for You to come through,
And that my heart would be a place where
You want to be.
Come and make my heart Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
You are my portion, filling up everything.
You are the fortune that's causing my heart to sing.
That it's amazing, that You could make Yourself at home with me.
Come and make my heart,
Come and make it Your home.
Come and be everything I am and all I know.
Search me through and through 'till my heart becomes a home for You.
-Watermark-
Yes, the title for this post is actually the title for this song. The question mark however is my way of drawing attention to the absurdity of my heart being a home for the Lord. Even Solomon's temple in all its glory was not anywhere close to being sufficient to house the presence of God; for me to consider that my heart could ever be a place for the Lord to live in is just insane...well maybe not insane, but definitely beyond human comprehension. Why would God in His holiness and greatness come to make my sinful heart His home? Am I worthy of such? Definitely not! I guess that is why angels wonder at the mystery of the grace and love that God has shown to us. Amazing grace, abundant love, divine intervention, only Christ Jesus could bridge the gap to form something as beautiful as this.
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