Everything To Me
-Avalon

I grew up in Sunday school
I memorized the Golden Rule
And how Jesus came to set the sinner free
I know the story inside out
I can tell you all about
The path that led Him up to Calvary
But ask me why He loves me
And I don't know what to say
But I'll never be the same
Because He changed my life when He became...

CHORUS:
Everything to me
He's more than a story
More than words on a page of history
He's the air that I breathe
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet
He's everything, everything to me

We're living in uncertain times
And more and more I find that I'm aware
Of just how fragile life can be
I want to tell the world I found
A love that turned my life around
They need to know that they can taste and see
Now every day I'm praying
Just to give my heart away
I want to live for Jesus
So that someone else might see that He is...

BRIDGE:
And looking back over my life at the end
I'll go to meet You saying You've been

Listened to this song for many times yesterday. The two verses are just so real to me. I grew up in a Christian family, in church, being forced to read the bible everyday when i was young and memorising proverbs verses BECAUSE my mum said it's important and beneficial. Doing everything because it's a MUST, really knowing the story of Jesus' sacrifice and singing so many songs of God sending His Son for us and Jesus' sufferings, without clearly understanding what everything actually meant was my younger days.

However, God is always faithful. He had everything planned and i had my encounter with Him. A true encounter with Him that cannot be explained or described by the songs i sing or the verses that i memorised. It was and IS still so personal. So amazing and dear to me. Like in the second verse, I truly want to tell the world that I've found a love that turned my life around. AND I really really want to live for Jesus so that someone else might see that He is EVERYTHING TO ME. That He is more than a story, more than words on a page of history. And that He has become the air that I breathe, the water I thirst for and the ground beneath my feet.

Then the bridge which says, "And looking back over my life at the end, I'll go to meet You saying You've been everything to me." I want to say that to God when i meet Him next time. Really. But many atimes, I do fall, I do sin, I do get lazy and tired. Everyday as I pray, I pray for mercy.. Mercy on me, God. Preserve my life, so I may make right with You and make You everything in my life and that I can joyfully join You and fellow angels in Heaven giving You all the praise and glory. Our God is a gracious God. So far, He has never forsaken me anytime. Be it happy or depressing or disappointing incidents. I am grateful that I am serving a faithful and loving God who is not far away or made by man.

Truly, sincerely and with all my heart, I WANT to make him...

EVERYTHING TO ME...

I Am Nothing
-Ginny Owens

I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You glory, and win souls for You.
I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find in favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.

I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead the Choir and Bible Study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on Earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these words, will not matter in the end-

CHORUS:
Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won't You make it clear to me,
If I do not love, I am nothing.

BRIDGE:
If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?

Sent to Earth from Heaven,
Humble Servant, Holy King,
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I'd deny You, crucify You, but nothing could stop You from
living for me, dying for me, so that I would know-

CHORUS:
Songs will fade to silence,
Stories will cease,
The dust will settle covering these selfless deeds.
But Your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing.

Indeed, I am nothing. I can fake everyone by smiling, joking, mingling with everyone. I can even be on duty on stage singing but my heart wasn't with God. I can easily raise my hands and worship God to portray a spiritual Christian image but what for? Self-glorification? self-satisfaction? What for?

Truly, I am nothing unless I REALLY love God and my brothers. "This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also" -1 John 4:21 It is a commandment and if I'm not able to do it, I'm sinning..

I'm learning to slowly let go of the hurts, bitterness and pains cos if these persist, I'd only be further and further away from God and that seriously is freaking me out.

In nearly every church, there will be a porcupine people or two, with sharp quills of criticism or sarcasm or arrogance. We want to avoid them, but God places us in communities of believers for fellowship. He commands us to love one another- including the porcupine types. And I do admit that I have quills too.. And so what am I to judge or even continue to dwell in the state of low-lying cos of others?

I'm glad that God is faithful enough to not just leave me to die on my own... He never did leave me alone for a millisecond even when my heart was no longer putting Him as the top priority.. He sent different ones to be there and most importantly, reminded me that I CAN ask from Him the gift of love and forgiveness. I realised so vividly that God nv once failed me when I cry out to Him. It is a promise that He'll be there for us. As we desire Him, we will encounter Him. It is a truth, a promise, an assurance which stands forever. Putting an act in our daily lives is tiring, but when you sincerely do it for God and eventually naturally, it is once again a refreshing and joyful experience every time. I want to try harder for God. For loving each other is the way we show the world that we love God..

Some people can be difficult to love and so we do not even try to care,
But God says, "Love them just as I've loved you. You'll bring Me glory as My love you share."