Burning Guitar

Passion in my heart that I can't burn out,

Love so deep it runs into the ground,

Love so real I can find no impurity in this sound,

Playing the chords that bring my spirit closer to You,

Singing the songs of Your majesty,

Somehow these words of mine seem to be too few,

Singing these songs as my love to You I renew,

As I play and get lost in these patterns feeling a strange awe,

The sensations of Your presence seems to cover every flaw,

The melodies that play somewhere in my heart,

Playing in simple strums, rivers of grace flow through every part,

Calling out to Your name until these worlds falls apart,

Singing these songs in a fulfilling desire,

As this guitar is burning in Your fire...

Everyday Warfare

So here's the deal.. Experience changes us.. They transform us into people that we hardly recognize or like. It's like a car accident.. You hurt, you heal, you recover but they never tell you about the repercussions until you get into your car one day and realize you can't turn the key cause your hands are shaking. They never warn you bout the long terms affects that occur within.. the ones that you can't physically see. Experience of various kinds, shapes and sizes confront us bringing pain of different sorts and depth. Yet they teach us, mould us and make us more than we ever were before but more than that, they change us & affect us in a way that we ourselves are not aware of until some day. But don't be ashamed of change even though you find that your unfamiliar with yourself.. for now you are the soldier who has come back home from war, whose face shows strength & courage that speaks of every battle you've fought.

Don't be ashamed of the quiet spirit and hard countenance or the fact that you are now a man of few words. Just know that these are qualities that you can't behold had you never been through warfare.

grace

so check this out...I bought a few packets of tiny balls that were purple, transparent, grey and blue from India. So here's what you do with them - you put them into a bowl for at least an hour, immersed in water. And after a particular period of time is over, they absorb the water and hence they become the size of marbles. So I was so happy that they worked out fine and everything was going good. But after a few days, I noticed that they were reducing again and not surprisingly, the reason was the water had gone dry. They had nothing to draw moisture, or in much more literal terms, they didn't get the 'food' they needed. I left a few out and they shrank back to their original size - slowly but it happened. And as long as I ensured that they got their water, they remained 'healthy and whole'. So all this got me thinking about spiritual food. And naturally, we can relate. Personally, there are days when I'm just too tired to even pick up my Bible and for a long time (a few months back)....I just didn't read it. The changes weren't sudden. It wasn't like I didn't wake up the next morning (obviously, I did). God didn't pelt me with thunder and heap burning coals upon my head. But eventually, my spirit grew weaker - it had to grow so pathetically weak that I barely could make it past an hour (at the most) without life-threatening thoughts entering my head - for me to notice it (my ignorance is quite note-worthy). I realized I had turned into the insignificant person I was before I knew God. I hadn't died - but I wasn't doing anything to help me fulfill my God-given purpose. I was alive - but insignificantly so. And then began the fattening process (again) - it probably (probably - ha!) hasn't gotten very far but I'm on the road. Somewhere along this road I realized that I could've chosen to stay 'just alive'. I could've existed. I could've given up hope; convinced myself that my spirit was a goner; that God had better things to do. The thing with those ball-y thingies was that even when it returned to its original state - when put in water, it could be restored! It would still take an hour or so to return to its previous splendour but it could. That's when I figured that all the time, we are the one's who give up on grace. We shut the door and believe its gone. God's always there. He's the fountain that never runs dry. The person who puts the ball thingies in the water is our will. The ball thingies is our spirit. Let's not give up. Even if its for the silliest thing possible. Just let God give you His grace. He wants to, you know.

unfolds

Am i standing
or am i taking a stand?
am i living
or is my living a lie?
i tell myself there's meaning
a reason to want for tomorrow
that the next sun will set
when the day's made some sense
and if it hasn't
it's better to wait till its done
till the stars are gone
are my excuses
nothing more than
a wanting to live?
or do i really believe
in the 'something' greater?
am i stronger
or is my weakness my strength?
am i drowning
or am i learning to breathe?
can i see clearer
or is everything getting closer?
i let myself get lost
in colours, the wondrous lights
i marvel at the flickering images
like paintings on the ocean bed
have i lost my mind
or am i finding it now?
this new sensation
was it meant to be an alien?
am i moving upstream
or is my vision tilted upside down?
it gets harder to make sense
of life anymore
maybe i wasn't meant to;
in this confusion, the running about
i see that the meaning i chased after
was by me, was in me
the 'something' greater unfolded
as my wisdom burnt to ashes

Indescribable

Like wind brushinng across my face,
I feel in my soul your heavenly grace,
I hear in my ears your sweet harmony,
Playing the notes of my salvation,
My spirit is touched by your love so pure,
Consumed by your spirit, my being lusts for more,
I feel more than a body, more than me when you are near,
Away from this misty world, my world becomes clear,
Your words so complete, more elegant than poetry,
Like an artist showing me colors I never did see,
Painting patterns that leave me in awe,
My existence incomplete, until between my lines did you draw...
-Aneel Samuel

Unshakable

Like a crazy composer who gets a melody in the middle of the night and wakes up from bed to write it down, in the same way I've just gotten up to write this down, on the verge of falling asleep.

I'm not sure if I even write this properly, but I know where this is coming from.

In many ways I feel that I'm like Moses. Moses wasn't a good speaker and stammered, I was the same way, not confident about anything, sometimes I still feel lacking in areas of life. People who develop the habit of stuttering are usually not confident that's why they can't speak properly. Imagine a person who wasn't confident enough to speak up, had enough faith in my Dad that oceans parted.

The transformation that God did in him, from the time he saw the burning bush, when he didn't have enough confidence to go back even when He was told by God, to the time when He had thousands of thousands of people standing behind him and his only place to turn to was God... that must've been indescribable.

Faith enough that oceans may part.

FRIENDSHIP QUOTE

When it comes to friendship, never be diplomatic ..Be brave, speak ur heart & express the truth.. True friends protect..true friends fortify.

WE ARE MORE

We are more than what meets the eye.. we are more than what is seen of us and known..we have depth, power & shimmer.. We are so much more..

Faith

What is faith I often wonder? Is it believing for greater things that are yet to come or believing simply for things that we ought to. When people loose loved ones, their dreams, their lives or their breakthrough, is it a question of their faith or simply the will of God to teach them more than they can perceive? Did Paul suffer 'cause he lacked faith? Did Jesus die cause he didn't believe enough that His father could save Him? Perhaps not. God's will channeled faith. Faith didn't manipulate. Faith is not believing in text book answers and random scripture..Faith is believing in that which God has planned for us even if it isn't prosperity or blessing. Faith is not foolish..it isn't a long shot in the dark. Faith is faith when we believe that we can survive even though we have nothing, when circumstance doesn't change or possibly gets worse. I see faith in those who believe that the world is good even though they have experienced it's worst..I see faith in those who aren't healed, yet bring something good out of their sickness. I see faith in those who see prosperity in the little they get each day instead of whining for not gettin more riches. Faith is believing that all that God has promised us will come alive in fullness not just on earth but even more when we are in Heaven. Faith reflects wisdom even though it's a leap o' da impossible. It operates in truth, in Word, in God! Faith is more than prayin 2 b blessed. It is da substance of things hoped for & the evidence of things not seen yet FAITH is not BLIND...

Christ like

Many of my friends who are not believers, seem to think that being a Christian is the easiest thing in the world. They seem to think that Christians are allowed to do whatever they want. Mostly because the impression given by people who call themselves "Christians".

Sadly many Christians seem to think the same, that since Christ paid for their sins, they can do whatever they want and God will forgive their sins, others unaware of the fact they're even sinning. I wish they could know how much it breaks God's heart even when we say a simple swear word. I wish they could stop for a second and realize that their action is going to cost them ETERNITY.

I was one of those guys who would swear in every sentence that came out of my mouth, not knowing that the speech I'm given is a gift of God, that I could use the same speech to bless others. I'm ashamed to even think that was the life I was living... the number of my sins is difficult for me to even keep count of, but that life is over since my renewal in Christ.

I thank God for being tolerant. He forgives. But He also punishes. And the Word is very clear about that.

We need to live our lives with care and caution making sure we don't fall into pits of temptation. Being a Christian isn't easy as long as we're in flesh, but God also gives strength, I thought I would never be able to break free from sin, but God gave me strength to live a better life. The war is not over however, as long as we're living here there will be forces of temptation.

We need to re-evaluate ourselves and make sure whether we're really living a Christ like life. I wouldn't be the right person to give the best description of what Christ like is, but the description is there, the description is the Jesus Christ Himself.

And I'm still working to be more and more like Him.

Jesus is my Savior.

LOVE

When you love someone, you never have to describe it's kind,' cause that's the freedom that comes for price of true love. You never have to worry about opinion, or being condemned and you never have to fear destroying something that could be misunderstood.. 'Cause if you choose to love the way the Father asks of you to love one another, then u live in truth.. and the truth always powerfully reveals itself for what it really is.. It always defeats everything even every misconceived thought. Love conquers all, even the fear of of it's existence. Just as nothing can separate us from the love Of Christ, similarly nothing can come in the way of LOVE. This is off course if we are careful to acknowledge and live in it's absolute meaning by choosing to act upon it and within it's boundaries. It means that we will not cheapen, or falsify..that we will respect..

So now because we know how to love each person as Love is... we need not feel obliged to describe our kind of affection for different people as love is a self-defined. Though love is one.. the way we love each person is different..and yet in that difference lies the very essence of what love is and of what it is meant to be. We may love each other differently..but at the end of the day.. it all comes down to one word that is so often exploited: LOVE.

When we say we love someone, there is no need to explain on what terms we love them..because when one expresses love, the basis and degree of that love is understood not at the time of declaration (for that belittles that moment) but even before by virtue of relationship.

WORSHIP

The most beautiful thing about our worship is that it cannot be defined or valued by style or kind but only by it's truth and it's spirit.

SELF DEFENCE

We need to protect ourselves everyday..defend ourselves..not deny.. We need to prepare for the storms and winds of life that are ahead to weigh us down and ground ourselves so that we will not be shaken. Experience takes us out cold...and we turn into something else..someone else that we are not that we ourselves begin to think that's who we are. We scream "ACCEPT ME" when that isn't even us. Experience shouldn't take the best of us.. experience should keep us and see us through the same and better than when we began. In us lies beauty.. and essence .. and once we begin our journey we must armour ourselves so that when it's all over..we are still who we are.. and even more..we must not be stolen..we must not give ourselves away.

GRACE

Often there will be no wind and there will be no rain.. but our valleys will be filled with water.

Friends, this is God..this is grace.

IMMOVABLE

People change, seasons change yet we must be constant.. constantly Christ-like...unshakable..immovable..never displaced. Being rooted and always found in God's word allows us to maintain such standards amidst even that which is shallow.. Fixed in He who is unchanging is precisely what doesn't allow us to waver in spite the shift around us. Our song should not be defined by the seasons presented to us but by who we are found in.

TRUTH

They say honesty is the best policy.

I believe truth is.

Honesty is a mere quality of the beholder. It is based on logic and that which is simply rational . It changes from opinion to opinion and sees things for what they are.

Truth; it defeats honesty. For truth is based on that which is beyond facts. It is integral and true to the genuine way that something should be seen. Truth is trustworthy, factual yet faithful.

To be honest one can be upfront yet downright insolent because honesty is drawn solely on rationality and is often inconsiderate of love. It can sometimes entrap us and make us feel less of ourselves and of others. But the truth.. it sets us free..because truth is founded in not just fact but above all founded in love. Truth sees you for not just who you are but who you can be. With truth there is hope. It is universal.. It is eternal.. It defies every lie that honesty can compel us to believe.

Honesty sees a sinner as a wrongdoer but truth sees the sinner as a soul in need of savior. Honesty is oblivious of love. It is often arrogant and demeaning but the truth is grounded in God's perspective. Truth is wisdom and is often more than what the beholder can see.. Truth is more than honest..it is invaluable.

1 KINGS 20:13-14

1 Kings 20:13-16 (The Message)

¹³ Just then a lone prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, "God's word: Have you taken a good look at this mob? Well, look again—I'm turning it over to you this very day. And you'll know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I am God."

¹⁴ Ahab said, "Really? And who is going to make this happen?"

God said, "The young commandos of the regional chiefs."

"And who," said Ahab, "will strike the first blow?"

God said, "You."

1 Kings 20:13-14

* A word for those young hearts who are called to take over the nations for Christ.. A word for those who even lead those young hearts.. This is the call to believe that we are chosen .. that there has been no mistake.. This is.. a God affirmation!

Salvation

In my search for love
I stumbled across the greatest truth
I stopped and stared at it
Trying to comprehend its meaning
But it eluded me, my wisdom failed me
I wondered if I should trust this love
Or walk away like thousands before me did
I knew that once I made this choice
There was no going back
It was my life-altering decision
Time breathed down my neck
And then I felt a little nudge
My soul longing to know it's Creator
My life needing to have a greater purpose
In a moment, I knew I believed
I believed this love
I believed that It loved me
I knew that I desired for It too
I believed that It had been waiting for me
I knew that I've always felt a need for It
And since that moment,
Nothing has ever been the same
The storms still came,
The waves still roared and crashed around me
But that was the difference -
It crashed around me now
I wasn't alone in the storm,
My heart now soared above it
And forever I shall thank the grace that called me
The grace I did not deserve
The grace that saved my soul
The grace that will take me Home

I found this amazing ad when I was browsing through a bunch of 'em for college work....and it blew my mind away!!! Even though it's an ad for a company...I feel that this is how we look to the world - a bunch of crazy ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world. You agree?

BREATHE

Just takin time out to breathe..
Embracing what's come my way..
And surely such experience gives me lots to write about..
so, Much love..Be back soon

No gilded song
Or grand symphony
Could describe Your glory
Which leaves me in awe

No brilliant picture
Or an array of perfect colours
Could equal Your
Breathtaking beauty

Powerless in Your gaze
Held captive by Your voice
I've willingly lost my will
So that I may drown in Your love
You have become my only reason
To anything that's something

No uniquely sculptured word
Or eloquent phrase
Could compare to
The beauty of Your Name

No human mind
Or gregarious thoughts
Could hold against
Your most simple word

I Love You

You are the melody that enchants me
You are the words that captivate me
You are the smell of rain in the damp air
You are the breeze that moves through my hair
You are the dancing stars in the velvet sky
You are the colours in the glorious sunrise
You are the water in the winter rain,
the ocean's crown that kisses my feet
You are the light of the moon
You are the scent of flowers and the woods
You are the cherry blossoms in an orchard
You are the sound of a laughing brook
You are the twinkle in a furry dog's eyes
You are the smile on a baby's face
You are everything that makes me
smile, laugh, blush, feel loved and beautiful.
I'm blessed to be Your priority.
I love You.


Recently, I read in a book that everything we love about creation are God's special love notes to us. These are some of my favourite and every time I see, hear or feel them - I'm just reminded of His passionate love for me. I love that He romances me in such unique ways. I'm blessed to know, even if only in part, of this love that sweeps me off my feet.

True Friends

True friends are rare. They are better than precious jewels and hot chocolate. You find them when you least expect and they are a timed connection in the midst of nothingness. True friends trust you and mean it and when the world says otherwise they would rather believe you over anyone else. They don't just claim to trust, yet fall apart when a rumor about you passes them by but in fact believe and protect you for everything you're worth. To them, your word stands strong above all no matter how convincing the deceivers may be and even if time and circumstance takes them away for a while, they never waver.. They always come around and you'll find yourself at home. True friends don't just appreciate and acknowledge you when you're not around, but live out those words in truth. Understanding comes even with a few words and they can read your eyes even when you compel the sun to shine. True friends know you for who you are even if you've changed they help you become comfortable with that part that you feel you've lost. True friends never ridicule your pain but make sure they take care of you for all you've lacked, protecting you from the derision of others. They never publicize the special things they know about you and guarding what's personal is a treasure. True friends don't mind if you share their favorite song and know when you just need a hug even if the blues have no source and explanation. They correct you in love and don't carelessly let you waste your life away. They never tire standing up for you and wouldn't dare sell you out. True friends just sit around with you for no apparent reason and smile a thousand words when vocabulary can do no justice.

True friends are in spirit with their companion so much so you'll know who they are without having to hear them mentioned by name. They bring out the best in you. They inspire you. They believe in you when you don't believe in yourself. True friends are rare.

WHAT MATTERS

What truly matters in the end is how much we love God. By that I mean, how much we know Him more than how much we know ABOUT him. 'Cause we can keep reading about Christ like we did about written history but what's the point if we can't make His Story ours. It matters that we go to church and discuss the mysteries of faith but what is it worth if we can't intwine our lives with them. What is more? To speak of theology or to give it life. We are that life and the light of His life. Cause we matter to Him. But does He matter to us?

How many times we meet Him isn't enough if we've just sat there without acknowledging His presence. What's the point in giving Him in the silent treatment or walking into the quietness just to abandon our God? What matters is not how much it all amounts to but the quality of it all. What matters is the depth, the truth and the life of our relationship. What matters is more than mere obligation & love. 'Cause He'd rather know how much we care than see us labor in vain for a kingdom that we can't earn. Making Him real in our lives .. making Him a person and loving him just the way we love loved ones and running to him just as we call that special friend is what matters.. What matters is to equal His adoration for us..it is to go beyond just love.. it is to worship.

HONOR

Tough times only help us grow and teach us that God has set a few people apart to be warriors, up front on the battlefield... They teach us that we can't fight the fight without letting go and letting God.. without revealing christ... In fact, we the fortified, learn to humble ourselves before challenging people and situations...and let God shine in His power through our selflessness.. we are dared to let God go before us, learning to lay our words and strengths aside and let faith speak through the spirit that dwells within ...And in this very act of surrender to God we find that we have already won, even before the battle ends..even if they never end. We win because we honor God with our perseverance.. we win because we refuse to give in to self pity and the good life..we win because we have faith and believe.

N.B: What we identify as curses, bad karma & long suffering is actually distinguished privilege for the fearless and set apart to be moulded for greater battles to come

Off limits for the faint at heart!

INTEGRITY THROUGH CHRIST

Respecting a man of good heart & virtue says more bout him than it does about you for he puts effort into building honorable character and lovable charm. But respecting a man of weakness and vice radiates who YOU are: selfless, unchanging, valiant and of matchless stature.

Can we find one, in these days, who is fearless and exceptional enough to fight bad with good and evil with striking dignity? For power lies, not in judgement or vengeance against another but in being who we are truly supposed to be in the face of all individuals, despite their failings, sin and pride that hurt us...Power lies not just in loving the worthy or the pitiful but in simply loving all, with no benefit for oneself. This is integrity. This is to be like Christ.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. Luke 6:31-33

(The Message)

^31-34"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

A million times you'll reach a point in life's journey when you look ahead and the road is thorny and you just want to look for the alternate route or you just want to sit and wait for an easier way to manifest on its own. But the right thing to do is to set out and amazingly you'll find yourself being carried by Christ. Though you can't see him when you're looking over at the thorny path, He's just waiting for you to trust Him to carry you across safely, to take care of you. He's just waiting for you to step out.
______________________________________________________________________

Something God was telling me...wanted to just share it with everybody 'cause you never who might need the extra help. I did and He sent me a friend to remind me how taking the most difficult path is a way of telling God that you trust Him. That you love Him more than you love yourself or anybody else.

...

The sun had almost set, below the golden-red horizon; the violet-blue spreading further into the endless sky. I lay myself down, the grass cooling my back, as the stars reflect in my eyes. The velvet sky was the perfect canvas for these glittering diamonds. I breathe in the smell of perfect beauty. Of every tree, the brook nearby, the apples swinging on their heavy boughs. And I feel my soul marvel at Your creation. A song of worship escapes my lips, clear yet soft, I sing of Your majesty. I tell You of how You simply take my breath away. How I cannot imagine life without You. How my joy is found in Your love. And I notice how every bit of creation sang a song of worship to You - each in their own way. The trees swung gently, moved by the breeze as dancers would to a mellow tune. The grass swayed this way and that, a green sea of beauty and depth. The brook worshiped You in her gentleness; each pebble that she came across, she jumped over and made the sound of laughing silver glass. The stars stood as testament to Your eternal glory, the moon radiating Your magnificence. And I lay in wonder and amazement at how all of creation adored You. I felt small and honoured to know and love the same God that the whole earth worshiped. I continued with my song, the tune reaching past the clouds and entering Your courts, finding its way to Your ear. I can feel You smile, Your eyes reflecting joy. I drift off into a gentle sleep and in my dreams I found myself in the arms of my Father.

The Mirage

When we let go of God and choose to do what we know best, we fail.. What seemed to be the worst only seems far easier than what we find ourselves in now. Perhaps we walk into our own will and not God’s.. Perhaps we run into our own trap... a mirage that we once perceived as the dreams we bargained for. So God cries out not to be deceived.. but its hard to trust the unseen. Hard to comprehend that the best is yet to come. We don’t realize that this isn’t what we are ourselves want.. that it is an illusion.. a lie.. but we refuse to listen. We blind our eyes to what is seen and ignore the quiet voice in our hearts that’s telling us that this is an obstacle from gaining what we really want and that which God wants to give. We push ourselves away from what we ourselves asked and we make God our enemy when all he is doing is protecting us and trying to make our dreams a reality.. our dreams..not His..

We see a little goodness in life and we grab onto it refusing to let God take us to the best. So we fall, we fail and find ourselves in a worse place than our once thought of misery. The past becomes nothing compared to the pain of now. Yet, God walks into the mess we’ve made of our lives and makes something good come out of the pain we have brought upon ourselves. We choose death but he brings us out alive. We choose pain yet he brings us out stronger. Who does that? Who kindly draws victory out of our self inflicted defeat? Who does that so lovingly? We asked for hope and joy.. He wants to give .. Yet we end up in traps of distrust and think God wants to rob our lives away.. when he wants to give us what’s real..the best.. but it takes faith to wait on Him and trust the unfamiliar, the future…and time.. But he doesn’t anger for trying to take us where we want to be.. and for leaving Him half way for a deal we bargained for in the first place.... he doesn’t.. he tries to make the best out of everything.. even if we are broken and bruised.. entangled and full of regret.. He walks with us, carries us and takes us as close as he can to the dreams and hope we always wanted..we always dreamed of.. those ones that we never told anyone about..the fairytales that God can bring alive.

He decides to take us to that good place that we ourselves aspired until we let go of Him.he takes us as close as he can..fighting against our own deceptions .. and blindness..trying so hard to make our dreams come true, trying to take us to our future in the reality of all that we asked for and more.

Everything

Your love for me overwhelms me. The hope You've given to me strengthens me. The strength that You give to me brings me joy. The calm in my heart is from Your peace. Though there may be tears and pain I know that You are faithful and You will remain faithful till the end. Even when the storms in my life rage against me and the waves threaten to drown me; in my times of despair I know that You're holding me and that You'll never let me go. Your grace gives me wings to soar from one day to the next. Your Spirit takes me from glory to glory and I shall no lack for You are my God. Your arms hold me tight and You place my feet firmly on the ground. Even when I can't see You, I know You're there and that if I reached out in faith I could touch You. I long for You, my spirit calls out for You in the dead of the night. I search for Your glorious Presence, to bask in Your breath-taking love. I seek, I chase after Your heart. I live to know You more. I cannot imagine a day - no, a second without You! You are my Lord, the lifter of my head, the Lover of my soul. You are the song that I sing, the breath I take, the words I speak, the thoughts in my head, the love that I feel, the love that I can show.
You are my everything.

LOVE AND COMPASSION

Love and compassion comes from god above,

In return don't we have to send some above?,

The love and compassion he shows us everyday,

In return we forget him like he was another person from yesterday,

he loves us so much that he didnt forget us in life's worst situations,

And shows mercy and saves us from great afllictions,

So what do you think about my god?,

C'mon he's too big to be expressed, cuz he's god!,

He is the one who has decided your future,

He decides about your rapture,

So if you love him praise him,

Whether its bright or its Dim.

Let Go..Let God

Where do I find my solace from the gripping fear of tomorrows, from all uncertainty of today?NOW has come simply through grace and yesterday was a never ending climb to this very moment. They say all will be well, reassuring the present, seeking relief from mere thoughts of simplicity in life. But I fail to comprehend such perception.. I waver even as I hold my head up high. For the eyes of my heart see that tomorrow will continually have new battles even if today's has by far been won.. they never cease..they rise on the brink of the horizon.. 

Perhaps I should be stronger, braver and more alive than ever before but beneath the surface lies a foreboding of not knowing how I will live up to what I've already bound myself to.. how will I finish this race? 

The only hope I know of are ones that I see through the eyes of a dreamer.. of dreams that may never even come to be, gradually channeling thoughts to the glory of eternity..  I draw honor in the fact that I love for a living even though it calls to live in endurance and see courage as I recall having chosen to live in the unfamiliar for the glory of the King. Fighting for breath, I realize I cannot renounce but try to embrace blessings in the land of my suffering.

So I continue to walk this narrow path in loyalty & obedience, pushing the "whys" aside, laying down my rights, finding solace in the truth that I am chosen to fight a great battle for humanity..to endure not as a consequence of sin but as a symbol of favor & ability..

And now I am able to embrace reality like other living martyrs, with faith barely seen, trying to let go..striving to let GOD..

TRUE

Being true to oneself lies in standing by that which does not cost the truth and by that which is not at the expense of pleasing God.  For, value does not lie in taking sides or gratifying man, but in choosing to stand by what is true,  always upholding righteousness, forever embracing justice. 

YOUR WORD

Lost in the sweet serenity of Your voice alive in Your Word, I can’t get by one day not knowing what You have to say. And yearning to hear what you believe I seek deep revelation. A beautiful serenade or just mere conversation would do for that is what sustains a longing soul like mine. And often I wonder why I depend on unsound opinion when it is Your utterance that breathes life. Why do I look to dissuasion when You so Powerfully leave me in reverie with Your compassion & light. A warm embrace of divine inspiration conquers mortal affection and every deep concern of my heart I find endorsed in memoirs aroused by You..Even when futility sounds in human connection, Your word lifts my life force. Undyingly, I know Your word is radiance in this dark tunnel; an indispensable light unto my path.

JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PURPOSE

THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO LIFE THAN THAT WHICH OUR EYES CAN SEE

THE JOURNEY IS NOT OF THE MOMENT
RATHER IT SPANS OVER MILLIONS OF MOMENTS
WE TEND TO LIMIT OUR 'PURPOSE' TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE
WE FORGET THAT GOD, THE CREATOR OF LIFE, SEES OUR LIVES
IN THE MEASURE OF THE YEARS TO COME - NOT IN DAYS OR MONTHS!
IT IS EASY TO FORGET - INCREDIBLY EASY!
WHEN THE WAVES OF LIFE CRASH OVER US WITH SUCH TREMENDOUS FEROCITY
IT IS EASY TO LET GO OF THE 'BIGGER PICTURE'
BUT ALWAYS ASK GOD TO REMIND YOU (NOT THAT HE DOESN'T ANYWAY)
THAT THERE IS SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOU AND ME
THAT WE ARE SO LIMITED IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE
THAT WHAT WE SEE AND KNOW IS SIMPLY A FRACTION
OF SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS BIGGER, SO MUCH BIGGER
THAN WE CAN EVER COMPREHEND
IT IS HARD TO TRUST GOD WHEN THINGS AREN'T ROSY AND BRIGHT
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HE'S THERE GUARDING US, WATCHING OVER US
IT IS SO EASY TO GET SIDE-TRACKED BY WHAT WE THINK
IS OVERWHELMINGLY HUGE!
IT IS HARD TO HOLD ON TO HOPE WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY DARKNESS
BUT THE BEST PART IS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS HOW HARD IT IS
SO HE NEVER LETS GO OF YOU
THE JOURNEY THAT WE'RE ON - LET US TRY NOT TO CONFINE IT
TO THE SIMPLICITY OF OUR MINDS
LET US NOT LIMIT ITS SIGNIFICANCE ACCORDING TO
THE FOOLISHNESS OF OUR HUMAN WISDOM
LET US, RATHER, BELIEVE IN THE JOURNEY TOWARDS SOMETHING
GREATER THAN WHAT WE CAN IMAGINE
A JOURNEY TOWARDS HOPE, PEACE, JOY, STRENGTH, HEALING, LOVE
AND ABOVE ALL - GOD!
LET US ACCEPT AND HOLD ON TO THE FACT THAT OUR LIVES ARE PRICELESS
THIS LIFE OF OURS HAS A MEANING TO IT THAT IS SO DEEP
THAT THE SMALLEST REVELATION OF IT WOULD ENGULF US
IN ABSOLUTE AWE OF THE SUPERNATURAL
LET US UNDERSTAND OUR PURPOSE - WHICH, IN ONE WORD, IS GOD - AND BEGIN
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE PURPOSE

The realization that nothing is in my hands is overwhelming
The realization that everything is in God's hands is comforting.

A PROMISE FOR ISRAEL.

Sometimes I don't know what it's like to go through what you do..but atleast I do know this..it's never easy being caught up in life's biggest mistakes..So to every flood & storm that we get ourselves into besides all else, to God be the glory for he is our hope, restoration & salvation.

Father..please come through for every soul that has truely turned back to You..You are what man can never be..the solution..the purpose..the way..

More than ever..I pray Your Word (Deut. 30)comes alive at a time such as this..thank u for second chances & for unconditional love..deep calls to Deep

Prosperity After Turning to the LORD

.. when you.. return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul..then the LORD your God will restore and have compassion on you and gather you again from..[where] he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land [sin] under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.. The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts.. so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.  The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands. Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands .. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous.. if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

* dedicated to every Israel

"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

1 John 4:7-8, NIV

Word of encouragement - Joshua 1

All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people... Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." - The Message

Thank You

Thank You for Your unconditional love & for each new mercy..Thank you for never giving up on me or on the world..Actually thank you for never giving up at all.. For there is none like You..A God who still delights in those who once turned away. None in the universe who bestows a 1000 second chances...Your compassion is as if you were never  wronged at all even though it is You who we blame first when all has gone wrong. 

You have only loved me and been my life.. You have only restored me & been by my side..You've always encouraged & inspired, carried me through it all.. You carry us all..telling each one of us you love us..loving us..longing to take us from strength to strength.. 

And it breaks my heart to live in the mystery of who truely loves you as you love us..We are unworthy of your love..yet we are loved beyond reason..but You who is all deserving, to YOU no justice is done.. but today as You have unfailingly said to me always ..I say to you with all my heart.. Lord.. I love you.. I believe in you..Thank you for being so strong..for doing it all.. 

Sometimes I wonder if you're alright even though You are God.. I wonder if You ever want to pull the plug on the world or if You ever feel the blues. I wonder how lonely it gets for a God who has to stand by His Word for better or for worse...I wonder how You feel when no one sees the unseen things You do..the unseen beautiful things you do..to make us smile..to fight our battles..to see us reign.. 

Often misunderstood by your own children..you long to fulfill our dreams and desires..you try so hard to take us to where our hearts want to go, but along the way we fall for traps in dreams' clothing..wondering why everything is falling apart..screaming out S.O.S to save us from our own delusions..

So thank you for being such a Champion.. a Winner..a Warrior..a Friend..a Father.. for being so brave..for being our God..for You are life itself and we are nothing without You

.....

A Christian is one who leads by honest example - not false humility or people pleasing actions. A true Christian is one who embraces themselves the way God created them to be. They are a class of people who believe in a purpose and who stand for what God says is right. They are not the ones to be swayed by the world's standards of 'cool' or the church's standards of 'holiness' but rather looks to Christ as their example. They are strong confident individuals who are unafraid to love, unafraid of condemnation because they know that they belong to the Creator of the entire Universe. They are people who stand up for those who God would, they're bold to fight against that what is not right in GOD'S eyes in the way He has asked us to. They are those who are strong, courageous, bold, unafraid and at the same time loving, compassionate, forgiving, embracing, understanding. They are the people who understand that in their weakness God alone gives them strength. They are the people who strive to follow God's heart. They are the people who dream and hold on to their God-given passions to help change the world. They are beautiful people who reach out to people with God's love. They are people who love to love. They are people who are focused on the glorification of God and His undying and ever faithful love. They are the everyday believers we see around us. They are those people who love God and rely on Him entirely and strive to be called His own. And the most beautiful part is that we can be these people and our Spirit calls us to be the light in this world. It calls us to be a source of hope and love to a world that is starving and is hungry for acceptance and affection. Let us step forward in Christ. Let us share the love that we have so undeservingly inherited; love that has made us worthy to be called His children. Remember that God IS love. I ask you all to simply reflect God. Reflect His perfect and pure justice and above all His heart. If you wanna save people and bring them to Christ, i don't think there's a better strategy than love. When Christ showed it didn't it grab your heart and your attention?

?

Do You hear me when, in my brokenness, i cry?
Do You hear me when I scream?
Do You see my heart bleed with each blood thirsty word?
Do You feel my body grow cold with each memory?
Do You see the endless tears each night?
Do You see the distorted and wretched person that I see
when I look into the mirror?
Do You see the agonizing pain underneath my facade?
Do You feel the torment i go through with each shuddering breath?
If You do, will You hold me close?
Will You wipe away my tears?
Will You quieten my fears?
Will You fill my drained heart with renewed love?
Will You heal my shattered hopes and dreams?
Will You help me live?

In You

It is in Your presence
that I find indescribable peace
It is in Your Name
that I find the strength to go on
It is in Your strength
that I find everlasting joy
It is in Your face
that I find the grace to accept
It is in Your promises
that I find the hope for a better tomorrow
It is in Your arms
that I find perfect love

- verse -

If we die with Him
We will also live with Him
If we endure
We will also reign with Him
If we disown Him
He will also disown us
If we are faithless
He will remain faithful
For He cannot disown Himself

- 2 Timothy 2 : 11 - 13

LIGHT OF HIS LOVE

People hurt us and then we suddenly loose our passion for God. We loose sight of Him because we taught we once saw Him in those very people. But it is at these times that we can prove our faithfulness to God. Through these moments of testing do we see our true selves and realize whether we ever put our trust in God or in man. And if only we could press forward to show him how much we care, we’d prove that our love for him was always true.. True because we are still in the race, running for Him, in the light of His love..

SKETCH

sketched by Zulaikha....
a budding travel agent...
young.......and beautiful.....

MEET WITH ME

Come lovely Lord, come meet with me
I am desperate to dwell in your presence
I am so desperate to feel your touch
My heart is longing for you.
Hey you... Lover of my soul, come meet with me.
I want to know what your breathe feels like
I want to know what your touch feels like
I want to know what your presence feels like
So please come. Come here and meet with me
I’m waiting. I’m waiting patiently. Arms wide open. Hungry. Desperate.
Please don’t let me down. Please don’t leave me hanging.
Come you gracious one. Come quickly.
My heart is anxious. My heart is seeking.
I'm overwhelmed by your goodness.
I'm swept off my feet by your love.
I'm so hungry. I'm so hungry to know you more.
I've heard of your magnificent beauty. I've heard of your saving grace.
I just want to know it now. I want to experience it for myself.
So come. For all I truly want is more and more of you.

-Anika

.............

Lord, You see my heart
in all it's brokenness
You alone can see
the depth of my pain
You alone see
how hurt I truly am
You alone can feel my sorrow
Before You I am transparent
Before You all my pretenses fall
Before You I come exactly as I am
Before You I fail to be what I am not
And I am overwhelmed by
Your accepting love
I am grateful for Your enduring mercy
I am in awe of Your grace
that covers me despite my flaws
I am thankful for open arms
I can run into
I cannot understand why You love me
but You do and I love You because You do
I don't see in me the worth for which
You paid such a great price
Because of Your unfailing love
I cannot leave You
For without You I am nothing
But with You - I am everything!
Everything I yearn to be - I can be
For even in my weakness
You stay by my side
And You never let go
In You everything fades away
for only in You do I find perfect love

GOD-CHILD

Another’s letdown, gives us no right to do wrong, no excuse to slack or rebel. It gives us no right to purposely loose focus & abandon our purpose. But it does give us the right to be our best and even better than those who have failed us and failed themselves. It gives us a chance to be an example of beauty and goodness, of greatness and virtue. It gives us a moment to shine and prove all else wrong. It gives us the right to be a God child.

LETTER

Lord..
I just want you to know that i love You & that You are everything to me..

QUOTES

Knowing what is right is nothing. Doing what is right matters. Action is everything.

Block out the loud voices and listen for a whisper.

We have a passion for something greater than us, that's how we stay together.

-BONO U2

BEAUTY OF THE UNKNOWN

God is moulding us, teaching us new things through all situations and circumstance for something greater..a greater time than this..a time that is of obvious, present mystery. His plans are good plans..better than ours..by nature, always the best. So until they unravel, we need to be faithful, ever trusting & believe..we just need to be patient & wait upon His perfect time.

He takes us through these deserts so that WHEN we are indeed blessed with what we need and fulfilled with what we once longed for, hoped & dreamed of, we would have great value & gratitude for things..for people & appreciation for freedom..for love & value for all good to come..He takes us through the wilderness, that we may begin to see beauty in the ordinary & great purpose in small things that once just passed us by ..and this value we would never have if we didn't go through the testing and waiting..the times of lack & pain. Perhaps..we wouldn't treat people the way they ought to be treated, neither recieve blessings with the preciousness they deserve to be received with..nor see things from a deeper perspective..one of gratitude and realisation.

And through this time of nothingness, even little is much..small is great and simplicity is beauty. Now, birds depict freedom & clouds symbolize a heavenly realm, our scars resemble stars & God is absolutely alive. Before the desert, perhaps we wouldn't see through so deep: Birds would just be birds and scars would be awaiting transformation. But now we know that beauty lies in what we make of who we are in the reality of what we do not have yet & that depth lies in what has become of our character & heart: one of great reproach, well set, alive..tried & tested..strengthened & taught to appreciate every little thing that deserves appreciation..preparing us to be in awe of every awaited blessing to come.

All along ,we are being prepared for times of refreshing, joy & fulfillment.. for "our" day. As for me.. as I move towards the beauty of the unknown I hold on to hope, faith & peace to get to where I must..never giving up..always moving forward even if the darkness seems never ending or the valley ever deep..I hold on to His love, preparing my heart to fully appreciate my coming promise..my coming day.. whether in this lifetime or Eternal home.

* For Paul..for Jesus and all those who simply live in the hope of the future.

.......

I feel myself fall
Falling through my pitch black pain
I try to hold on
But my fingers keep slipping
Sliding off the meek gripping,
the niches that infested the dark wall
I scream, I cry
My eyes can barely see
the far off light - a tiny dot in the overwhelming distance
Silence engulfs me
I am now surrounded
The familiar voices, the images in my head
taunting, pointing accusing fingers at me
I drown in my guilt, my shame, my ignorance
I try to breathe but I can't find air
I tear at myself, bleeding and desperate
I strive to cry - an outlet for the pain
My screams for help become louder
But they bounce of the walls of my dark prison
The pain doubles, I'm bent in agony
All the while, still falling deeper
deeper into the darkness, my depression
My cries, slowly, fades into feeble moans
and the niches become lesser and smaller
From within my heart
A new cry emerges, a quiet cry that does not escape my lips
It pulls every atom of my being towards one direction - one last cry for help
A moment of absolute quiet seizes me
it engulfs my ears, dimming the voices in my head
In the next breath, the one I fear to be my very last
My soul bursts forth in its cry to its Creator
to take, to hold, to heal
It screams with the last bit of strength
to the God it knows - the Almighty Father
Air rushes through my lungs
bringing my body back to life
My soul is born again, refreshed
Hope is renewed within me
Love is all I can feel
The voices in my head are drowned out by songs of love
The images are blurry and begin to fade into nothingness
All I can say is a single word
The most precious, the most beautiful Name of them all -
Jesus!

_______________________________________________________

There times in all our lives when we feel like we have no choice but to let go because the pain is unbearable - but i want to remind all of us (including me) that God is faithful - He never breaks His promise! But sometimes, unless we are pushed into a corner, completely abandoned by the world, we won't let Him take over. We need to let Him have full control - it's hard but its not impossible. May God be our absolute and only strength. Love You Father and thank You for some awesome God-people in my life.

- Miriam
Friday, March 13th, '09