I BELIEVE

I believe every hardship that we go through is there for a reason greater than we can imagine. Why we have to embrace it is a question with an honourable answer: Because it is a priviledge to touch lives powerfully through the pain we have borne before. How else would we be able to empathize, to understand and feel the seriousness of someone else's burden? We go through trials so that we can be strengthened in our weaknesses, so that we can learn to place our eyes not on our blessings but on the giver of all blessings. We go through trials so that some day we can testify. And as we testify we realise that our calling lies in the weaknesses of our past. The once hurt, have a heart for the broken-hearted, the once sick desire to lend a healing touch, the once homeless yearn to shelter the orphans, the once unloved impart only unconditional love.

Sometimes the manifestation that takes our unbelief to salvation, whether witnessed in our life or the life of another, embeds a calling within us at that very moment. Suddenly, objects of detestation become a burden to our hearts. We can no longer walk away from situations without making a difference. God may take us places we may not want to go, yet He takes us there because He knows the impact we make is irreplacable. He may place us where there is divison over mere preferences, where injustice prevails, where at times we may feel like the victim of it all. Yet the only perfect answer is to get through for if we don't the greater purpose may never be revealed & fruit never borne.

Freedom may be hindered, sacrifice may be demanded, acceptance may feel afar. But the lessons of love that we learn and the difference we make will make us the history maker, the life changer, the tradition breaker, the perfect warrior. We will be in His glory. We will shine.

TO YOU I BELONG - Lyrics

How glorious is your power and grace.

How precious is your sweet embrace

My hope is in You who never fails

You are truely a God who saves

Forever I'll praise you, forever I'll call

Cause to You I belong

How beautiful are your secret ways

So powerful You are, In You I'm amazed

When I fall, I run to you

It's Your grace that leads me through

You are my saviour, You're my all

And to You I belong.

To You I belong

You're my King

I am Yours

To You I belong

You're my Heaven 

You're my Home

Deep calls to Deep

In the roar of Your waterfalls

It's You I seek, Lord

It's You I call.

SALVATION PRAYER

All I wanted was to be loved; all I wanted was to feel like I mattered.
I searched everywhere I thought I would find but only to meet a lot of disappointment, failure and rejection.
In my (seemingly) never-ending search for truth, You revealed yourself to me. I found love, a love that is not of this world but a love in truth.
I’ve grown tired; tired of comparing myself with others, tired of trying to place value in myself through people. But finally I find rest, finally I find value. In you is my value, in you am I worthy, in you alone am I made righteous. I am now that of the highest honor because You now live in me. I now know through the blood of Jesus I am free. You are my God, You are my savior, You are my redeemer. Finally, I am released from the chains that kept me captive for so long.
I confess that without you I am nothing. It’s not about me; it never really ever was but it’s about you and your purpose. Your purposes are far greater than mine. My prayer is that you stripe me of all my pride that I may live solely to do your will and to serve your people. My hearts desire is that you be glorified through my actions and my words.
Lord I want to burn with a passion for your name, for your purpose. Your will be done in my life. I want to fall in love with you. That all I do may exude your glory and your power. I dedicate my life to your cause. Teach me of your ways.
Thank you God, that I am your adopted daughter. Thank you Lord that I now represent the most high God, the God above all things of the heavens and all things of the earth. Thank you Lord that I am your beautiful bride. Thank you Lord that I possess you within me. Thank you Lord for revealing truth to my heart and for your abundant grace.
Bless me with strength and wisdom that I may follow through with my commitment to you and never loose focus off your cross. You Lord God are my everything. And I love you above all else.
AMEN - Anika

MIGHTY HAND

Man cannot change man,

Only the mighty hand of God can compel a heart to change.

IN YOUR PRESENCE

In Your presence I break
I fall apart and I become me
Naked, I stand before Your all knowing presence
The facade I put up before the world
Shrivels and dies before You
My pretenses are exposed
And I am revealed
Flaws and all, for Your eyes to see
Before You, my heart's pains and desires
Are exposed, open to judgement
Yet You love me, with all my imperfections
And I marvel before Your unconditional love
In that moment, Your peace and love
Filters my heart and renews my soul
And deep in my heart
I know that before You
I can lay down all my masks
And trust You to mold this formless clay
Into more than what I can comprehend

-Miriam

THROUGH THE STORM

More often than not, we all question the inevitable storms that we face during the course of our lives. Somehow, we forget what we claim to believe in more than anything: Jesus. Sure, we call on Him and pray the most during these times but we forget what He can do. We forget that our God is bigger than the biggest mountain. We forget that He is the same God who calmed the seas with A word. We forget that He is the Creator and Ruler of all that we see. Most importantly, we forget His promise to be with us through every stormy day, in our highs and lows. So don't lose hope even when circumstances make us think that there can be no other way. When we feel like the walls are closing in around us, let's not forget that our awesome Superman will be there to help us through.

-Miriam-

LET LOVE REIGN

Let Love reign
Let it rule supreme
Through cloudy skies
Our ray of hope
Let it shine

Let Hope grow
Let it stand tall
Bursting forth like a plant
From it's seed
Let it flourish

Let Peace live
Let it comfort our hearts
Like the rain does
The parched lands
Let it be shared

Let Joy sing
Let it break free
Through broken souls
By Grace alone
Let it laugh

Let God in
Let Him take control
Love, Hope, Peace and Joy
Through Him let us find
Let Him keep us all

-Miriam-

FRIENDS

People you can laugh with. Share most of life's best moments with. They're there when the clouds aren't as clear as they should be; when the sun decided to take a day off; when the rain falls and thunder and lightning adorn the sky. They're also there when the flowers come out and the trees are laden with fruit. They're there when you've taken the path with the pits or the one that goes by a stream. They're there when you've got a bad hair day and it looks really bad and when you've got a really bad hair day but it somehow looks in-season. They hold your hand when you're dreading the doctor's room and when you're really excited about that new Topsy-turvy thing at the fir. They laugh it off when you present them a teddy bear on their graduation day and in turn gets you your dream or at least a part of it on yours. They're the ones who'll make the worst situations of your life more bearable by simply putting an arm around your shoulders, stating 'It comes with the package, mate!' and grin. They're the ones who make all those special moments seem extra-special. They're the ones in front of whom you could goof up but still not feel like a fool. They're the ones who'd walk with you in the storm and say things like 'A little rain's always good for the soil. No worries!'. They're the ones who'll always have your back. They'll tell the whole world to back off if they were ever to point their fingers at you. They are home away from home. They are the treasures that God speaks of. They are simply some of God's all-time masterpieces.
They are Friends.

-Miriam-
Dedicated to Anna, Santosh, Michael, Charles, especially to Croydon
but more than anyone else, to my Best Friend - Jesus!

IN HONOUR OF THE SHEPHERD KING

All that we do, we do for You Lord: We live for you; we die for you. And as you call us, we remember that we serve you alone, for the cause of Christ and His glory.

We worship you and serve you for you have founded our dwelling. You raise us up. Even more, we trust in you alone and we look to you as our everything. Someday all will pass away: Titles, strata, position but you Lord will remain forever for it is you who is the founder of our home of love and sanctuary; it was never man. You are the anchor of all things that is and is to come. Your church is your body and you are the shepherd.

Lord our prayer is that our foundation may always be your word, that we may allow ourselves to put our trust in you. For when we focus on you and make you our sole purpose in life, we find that nothing can bring us down nor stray us. We find ourselves looking beyond, beyond us. We find ourselves, rising above.

And as we put our hope in you and surrender our lives to you, we understand that even if injustice prevails, storms arise, tribulations drown us, confusion blinds us and man fails us, we will push forward. Through it all, we will live for you, look to you, be empowered by you.

And as we live for you and your people help us be stewards that you created us to be. When injustice prevails help us react in patience and wisdom. And if that should fail, help us learn to depend on you: To see you work in your power and majesty that we may truly know that you are God. For surely, what man cannot do, you can. Help us surrender the battle to you. Teach us to act with restraint in times of testing for if we succumb to the enemy we only prove that we depended on man and never on you.

We close our physical eyes to injustice seen and pain revealed and open our hearts to you. Thus, we rise above the storm, above evil, above failure and disappointment. We know nothing can stop us from loving you and serving you for we are your warriors. Unrighteousness may come and go but we are here for your tomorrow to bury unrest with your love. We will silently triumph as we follow your ways.

Our desire is to be like you, forever unchanging, set apart, dignified before all men, before good and evil, before unfairness and justice. Raise us to be noble in reaction, distinguished in who we are. Let us be unmovable and unchanging no matter what the season.. Help us be a god light. Help us rise higher and be seen as “Higher” through humility, submission and respect, not just for you, for you are worthy, nor just those who we love, for that is a joy but to those who deserve none. Help us be more like you.

Lord keep the fire burning within our hearts to serve you no matter what the cost. Help us to never loose sight of you and your glory. Lord, we are yours, yours to raise this generation, to spread your love, to give hope, to fight this battle.. this battle that belongs to you our God, the shepherd King.

THE GREAT I AM

His grace exceeds all need

His favour outshines all circumstance

His power surpasses all inability

His name holds no limits

He is the great " I Am "