More to This Life!

I've written this poem some time in the past. Yet the message it sends out is still very fresh. I find it more and more applicable to me now than back then when I am just starting to work. I know that I don't know what will happen in the future, but I trust in God's providence and guidance that He will be there for me.

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In my little space on earth, I try to live my best.
Yet many times I’ve failed and just went on like the rest.
I’ve worked and toiled and burned my brow so that I’d fit in.
But still I can’t attain that sense of peace from within.

I’ve done a lot of mistakes that I’d like to forget.
I tell you - thinking of these only makes me upset.
Somehow I knew that living this life should be better.
Like I should live my life for a purpose much greater.

But just like what happened at the road to Damascus,
Something is stirring inside of me that made me muse
About life, about love, about God and other things –
Something more to this life and what it hopes to bring.

Shades of Life (part 1)

This is the first part of a two part poem. This is the negative shade of life where we see all kinds of negativity in life. The poem is further stretched and deepened by the use of same-sounding words (either the start or end of the word). It gives a heavy feeling to it. Yet in all these circumstances, we see how God is still in control. He has placed each one of us wherever we are because He has a purpose. May we find our purpose and make Him happy also.

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There are times when life seems so uncertain
And you feel like you’re so down and dreary.
You think you carry all the world’s burden
That it leaves you very tired and teary.

There are times when life seems just so unfair
That you sink and sulk in agony’s pain –
The pain inside you grows into despair
That it’s too hard to constrain and contain.

There are times when you feel like just shouting
Because of the world’s bad systems and schemes.
All these have left you timid and doubting
Of the kind of person who dares and dreams.

There are times when you only sit and wait
For blessings and bonuses to come by.
You think others will put things on your plate
Just because you heave a loud sigh or cry.

There are times when you feel so discouraged
By how the corrupt and crooked prosper.
Thinking how you worked hard makes you enraged
Not just outward, but inner and deeper.

There are times when you are tempted to say
“No one cares or cries with my sufferings.”
You feel you are so lonely and betrayed
By your once friends - cold and carefree beings!

But in all these things let us not forget
That life itself is God’s blessing to us.
Let us not live our lives full of regret
Instead keep on saying, “In Him we trust.”

Yes, in the light of God’s purpose we see
That life has different circumstances.
From bondage of sin, He has set us free –
A life to live for Him – another chance!

The Redeemed!

There are two versions of this: the original and the one that we rendered during the P&W night. As a background, I actually thought of the words during one night as I was thinking on a cheer that is connected to the song "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)". God truly inspired me and I hope He is glorified. Only by His grace are we redeemed. So we must share this and declare to all nations we are redeemed by God!

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The original version: (rhyming)
Redeemed, Redeemed, God sent His Son.
Redeemed, Redeemed, my chains are gone!
Redeemed, Redeemed, purchased by God.
Redeemed, Redeemed, bought by His blood!
Redeemed, Redeemed, took my disgrace.
Redeemed, Redeemed, saved by His grace!
Redeemed, Redeemed, we are redeemed!
Redeemed, Redeemed, forever redeemed!

The rendition version: (has a flow)
Redeemed, Redeemed, God sent His Son.
Redeemed, Redeemed, bought by His blood!
Redeemed, Redeemed, my chains are gone!
Redeemed, Redeemed, saved by His grace!
Redeemed, Redeemed, we are redeemed!
Redeemed, Redeemed, forever redeemed!

There's actually a third version which is an improvement of the first two. It started out as a challenge to present salvation in your own way. And being the poetic me, I took upon it as a signal for me to write again. Hope it helps you!

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The long version: (more rhymes)
Redeemed, Redeemed, God sent His Son to our world to save.
Redeemed, Redeemed, my chains are gone; I'm no more a slave.
Redeemed, Redeemed, He took my disgrace and died on the cross.
Redeemed, Redeemed, I'm saved by his grace; his death not a loss.
Redeemed, Redeemed, only if you believe can you be redeemed!
Redeemed, Redeemed, if Christ you receive, you'll forever be redeemed!

Live as God’s Heirs

Many times I have wondered what I was doing…
I was afraid I was just a person wand’ring -
Someone in this world who forever was wond’ring…
“Will I keep on sleeping or wake up from dreaming?”

I have asked other people this question again.
“Who can tell me the answers? How? What? Where? And when?”
No one knows this; not even the wisest of men.
And I am again stumped – not even moved since then.

Often I have looked at other things as comfort.
And most of the time, these comfort things fall short.
Now, I’m starting to ask if these are just some sort
Of things that I’ll eventually have to abort.

In my desperation, I searched for some answers –
Answers that can light up all my worries and cares.
In an old book, I found the answer to my prayers,
“Live your lives to glorify Him; Live as God’s heirs.”

Days in a Prayer

Although we pray in our own little ways, I guess it is still good to pray for something different for each day. This is a prayer that I would pray during the week depending on what I am facing. Find your place to play and pray sincerely. Ok Ü
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Lord, today is a Monday.
I would like to thank you for the bright morning days.
Thank You for giving me a chance to see the sun’s rays.

Lord, today is a Tuesday.
And I would like You to know how much I’d like to say,
“Thank You for guiding me and not leading me astray.”

Lord, today is a Wednesday.
It’s the middle of the week; You still beside me stayed
Even during times when my heart doubted or was swayed.

Lord, today is a Thursday.
Protect my family from harm and keep them safe, I pray.
Give me opportunities to shine for You, if I may.

Lord, today is a Friday.
Even though troubles and trials may come to delay,
Your Word and comforting presence drives them all away.

Lord, today is a Saturday.
Help me to be a great person who fully obeys,
Who regularly walks and trusts in You in all ways.

Lord, today is a Sunday.
Thank You for your new mercies that I’m still living okay.
Mold me, craft me and use me just like a Potter’s clay.

May I Live

This song is very personal as it seeks to evaluate a person's life. At the start of the song, the person is acknowledging that He can only live because God allows it and that he'll try to live for Him. At the end, he's saying that hopefully, all his actions, thoughts, words - life - brought God the glory and pleased Him. (Only what is done for Christ will last!)

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Verse 1:
Another day is here; another day brand new.
So I praise You for the work that I’ll do.
Another day is dawning; another day to live.
Whatever You choose to give me I’ll gladly receive.

Chorus:
And may I live my life according to Your will;
And may my thoughts be pleasing Lord to You,
And may my words reflect the beauty of Your presence;
May my actions bring glory to You.

Verse 2:
Another day is through; another day is gone.
And I thank You Lord for what You have done.
Another day is over; another day has passed.
Only what is done for Christ will truly last.

Ending:
O have I lived my life according to Your will?
And are my thoughts all pleasing Lord to You?
And do my words reflect the beauty of Your presence?
Did my actions bring glory to You?
Do my words bring glory to You?
Are my thoughts all pleasing to You, O Lord?
Is my life bringing glory to You?

Because You Came

This song focuses on how we can only come before God because He first came to us. When God came to us, we realize that we are nothing, speechless. The only thing we can do is to use our live as an offering of praise and testimony of God's goodness and love.

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Verse 1:
The day You came to me – my life filled with hope
For You came into a dark world that was empty and lost.
The day You came to earth showed how much You really cared
For You sent Your only Son to die for me.

Chorus:
I come to worship You, to lift Your name, I want to worship You.
I come to praise You and magnify Your most holy name.
Lord Jesus Christ You sought and found me first.
I want to thank You because You came.

Verse 2:
I come before You, Lord, stripped of all my masks.
As I stand before You with nothing but my God-given life.
I come before You, Lord, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
And I want to live my life for You alone.

Chorus:
I come to worship You, to lift Your name, I want to worship You.
I come to praise You and magnify Your most holy name.
Lord Jesus Christ You sought and found me first.
I want to thank You because You came.

Bridge:
Words cannot express how truly grateful I am,
How such a God would love me as His own.
Today I come to You and confess all of my sins,
For this is only what I can do.

Chorus:
I come to worship You, to lift Your name, I want to worship You.
I come to praise You and magnify Your most holy name.
Lord Jesus Christ You sought and found me first.
I want to thank You because You came, (You came, You came);
Because You came, (You came, You came);
Because You came.