Another hymn that I came across during prayer meeting that caught my attention yet again. A familiar hymn by Elizabeth C. Clephane:
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wildreness,
A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat
And the burden of the day.
O safe and happy shelter!
O refuge tried and sweet!
O trysting-place, where Heaven's love
And Heaven's justice meet!
As to the pilgrim patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Saviour's Cross to me
A ladder up to heaven.
Upon the Cross of Jesus,
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears
Two wonders I confess,
The wonder of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.
I take the Cross of Jesus
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
T know no gain nor loss:
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the Cross.
Believers Hymn Book, Hymn 23
"Two wonders I confess,The wonder of His glorious love, and my own worthlessness". The thing that intrigued me was that out of the two wonders mentioned one I undertsood, the other ... just made me think! I understood why God's love is considered a wonder, because it just is, who can comprehend the love that God has for us? Its vastness is beyond the spheres of our human cranium. If we could, we would have a very different definition of love in our dictionaries.
However, the wonder of my own worthlesssness? hmmmm... let me see, it isn't exactly a wonder is it? How hard is it to grasp the idea that we are mere human beings full of flaws and weaknesses? Then again, maybe it is. If we really think about it, we humans do have the tendency to want to think that we are better than we actually are, as though we have something to prove. I know some people may think that the whole issue of having a low self esteem is bad and what not, so it is for our own good to think positive. I agree to a certain degree that we can't always be pessimistic; however there is a need for us to realise the fact that before the God who created us, we have nothing to prove, the only thing we can prove is how sinful we are and how much we are in need of a saviour. I guess that is why most people would rather shut out the fact that God even exist, because if they accept that, it also means accepting the fact that we humans are not as good as we think.
I suppose that is why in Matthew 9:13 the Lord Jesus says :" ...For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." and in his first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...". I take comfort that Christ came to save sinners and not 'good people', because I know that by admitting my worthlessness, it isn't so bad after all; on the contrary, it is a beginning of a new life with the one who created me and to discover the wonders of His glorious love.
seasons:part 2
Funny how time flies as I can still remember the last time I posted about winter being just around the corner and how the tree beside my room is withering. It was as though few weeks ago I was thinking of the winter holidays and just now I am looking at the tree beside my room and I see signs of life. Little buds appearing as though waiting to blossom after a cold winter season.
Signs like these tells me spring is already here; a new beginning for all life created on earth, and by all life I mean literally "all life", even us human beings who do not need to lose their hair through winter (thank God for that) to show signs of withering to start all over again in spring. A fresh start in life doesn't always need to be at the beginning of the year does it? It would be nice if we could have the opportunity to start anew as many times as possible. Besides, the truth is, we need it.
That is why I find it such a beautiful coincidence (or shall I say divinely designed) that after Easter comes a season where what was seemingly dead in the winter start to show signs of new life. It was as though the story of Easter was to prepare us for the new season, the season of new beginnings. The fact that Christ rose again three days after His death, changed the course of life forever. Suddenly, all of us are given a chance to have a new life, Christ through His death and ressurection gave us that life. He made what was dead spritually in us bud and grow.
Psalm 19:7 says: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. When was the last time you heard God's testimony? Maybe you heard it when you were reading the bible or a devotional book. What about his art? Have you seen His testimony through His artwork? If not, maybe its time to look out your window, have a stroll through a nearby park, and see what God has to offer through His masterpiece. If I may quote Max Lucado:"...there is a certain understanding of God on the cross that comes only with witnessing His daily testimony...To really understand and believe in the miracle on the cross, we'd do well to witness God's miracles everyday."
Signs like these tells me spring is already here; a new beginning for all life created on earth, and by all life I mean literally "all life", even us human beings who do not need to lose their hair through winter (thank God for that) to show signs of withering to start all over again in spring. A fresh start in life doesn't always need to be at the beginning of the year does it? It would be nice if we could have the opportunity to start anew as many times as possible. Besides, the truth is, we need it.
That is why I find it such a beautiful coincidence (or shall I say divinely designed) that after Easter comes a season where what was seemingly dead in the winter start to show signs of new life. It was as though the story of Easter was to prepare us for the new season, the season of new beginnings. The fact that Christ rose again three days after His death, changed the course of life forever. Suddenly, all of us are given a chance to have a new life, Christ through His death and ressurection gave us that life. He made what was dead spritually in us bud and grow.
Psalm 19:7 says: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. When was the last time you heard God's testimony? Maybe you heard it when you were reading the bible or a devotional book. What about his art? Have you seen His testimony through His artwork? If not, maybe its time to look out your window, have a stroll through a nearby park, and see what God has to offer through His masterpiece. If I may quote Max Lucado:"...there is a certain understanding of God on the cross that comes only with witnessing His daily testimony...To really understand and believe in the miracle on the cross, we'd do well to witness God's miracles everyday."
key factor: Christ Jesus
A thought was shared from a hymn last sunday, and there was something about the simplicity of it that hit the point spot on. No fancy descriptions or any witty twists, just simple facts that bring out the beauty of who Jesus is as it is.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,
Anywhere He leads me in this world below,
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade,
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.
Anywhere! anywhere!
Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus
I can safely go.
Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone,
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hands may lead me over drearest ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.
Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep,
When the darkling shadows round about me creep;
Knowing I shall waken never more to roam,
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.
Hymn 423 of Redemption songs
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,
Anywhere He leads me in this world below,
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade,
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.
Anywhere! anywhere!
Fear I cannot know.
Anywhere with Jesus
I can safely go.
Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone,
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hands may lead me over drearest ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.
Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep,
When the darkling shadows round about me creep;
Knowing I shall waken never more to roam,
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.
Hymn 423 of Redemption songs
something to be grasped
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped (NIV) - Phil 2:5-6
Everytime I read Philippians 2:5-6, I always wonder why that phrase had to be there. The word "grasp" seems to be calling out to me. Does it mean that we should understand it? Probably. However, it seems trivial to mention it when it is obvious to understand what you are reading. So like always the dictionary comes in handy. Although the appropriate explanation in this context should be 'taking hold of something intellectually' or 'to comprehend', I find that the other definitions tend to give a clearer picture.
Grasp - To take hold of or seize firmly with or as if with the hand.
With emphasis on key words like 'take hold', 'firmly' and disregarding the use of the hand. I realize how sad it is that nowadays people no longer grasp things. We may know alot of things, but how much of the things that we know, do we really grasp? With the burst of information in these modern times, everyone is literally stuffing their heads with knowledge. Outwardly it seems as if people are getting smarter with all the knowledge that they have, but inwardly it is hollow, because there is no taking hold of the things we know and grasping the meaning of it all.
Especially when it comes to the things of God, where head knowledge is useless without the practical application of it. It is as though God knew that one day people would be tirelessly slaving through loads and loads of information and knowledge that He had to put that little phrase in that verse to remind us that there is something to be grasped. Something that requires more than a mere understanding, but to really take it in and let it to have an effect on us. Christ Jesus, the risen and glorified one who by His very nature being God did not consider equality with God. What a contrast it is when we consider us humans, being in very nature a creation of God, always wanting to be the god of our own little universe that we created for ourselves. How different life would be if only we could recognized the sovereignty of God our creator and the supremacy of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. If only we understood... if only we grasped...
A friend once said: There is a thin line between knowledge and wisdom... but it is that thin line that makes all the difference!
Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped (NIV) - Phil 2:5-6
Everytime I read Philippians 2:5-6, I always wonder why that phrase had to be there. The word "grasp" seems to be calling out to me. Does it mean that we should understand it? Probably. However, it seems trivial to mention it when it is obvious to understand what you are reading. So like always the dictionary comes in handy. Although the appropriate explanation in this context should be 'taking hold of something intellectually' or 'to comprehend', I find that the other definitions tend to give a clearer picture.
Grasp - To take hold of or seize firmly with or as if with the hand.
With emphasis on key words like 'take hold', 'firmly' and disregarding the use of the hand. I realize how sad it is that nowadays people no longer grasp things. We may know alot of things, but how much of the things that we know, do we really grasp? With the burst of information in these modern times, everyone is literally stuffing their heads with knowledge. Outwardly it seems as if people are getting smarter with all the knowledge that they have, but inwardly it is hollow, because there is no taking hold of the things we know and grasping the meaning of it all.
Especially when it comes to the things of God, where head knowledge is useless without the practical application of it. It is as though God knew that one day people would be tirelessly slaving through loads and loads of information and knowledge that He had to put that little phrase in that verse to remind us that there is something to be grasped. Something that requires more than a mere understanding, but to really take it in and let it to have an effect on us. Christ Jesus, the risen and glorified one who by His very nature being God did not consider equality with God. What a contrast it is when we consider us humans, being in very nature a creation of God, always wanting to be the god of our own little universe that we created for ourselves. How different life would be if only we could recognized the sovereignty of God our creator and the supremacy of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. If only we understood... if only we grasped...
A friend once said: There is a thin line between knowledge and wisdom... but it is that thin line that makes all the difference!
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