Eph320

Monday, January 11, 2010

Nine Months Has Passed

Nine months past. Still counting because the memories remain fresh... Thank God for the words of a song by Chris McClarney & Anthony Skinner, "Your Love Never Fails".

They are a great reminder to me of God's love and faithfulness which sustains me day by day. For sure, pain and heartaches remain together with the onslaught of unhappy thoughts raging in my mind daily but the thought of God's promise of joy, love and mercy in the morning keeps me going on for His sake. Eventually all pain and suffering will give way to everlasting peace and joy in the Lord.

Your Love Never Fails
Author: Chris McClarney & Anthony Skinner

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercy for me everyday
Cause Your Love Never fails

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes with the morning
When the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
And Your love never fails

The chasm was far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails
The wind is strong and the water’s deep
But I’m not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

Monday, December 7, 2009

Eight Months Past & Still Feeling the Loss...

Sometimes I feel that the clock is like fan moving at breakneck speed. It's now 8 months since Juliana somewhat sudden home going. It still feels like we were talking yesterday but she is no longer around... the familiar voice, the physical presence... the moments of sharing...

I have fond memories mixed with times that I recall that fateful final week spent in ICU... the lapsing into a coma and the drifting away... the final hour of departure... it was all too quick to say a goodbye. I will probably keep counting the days and months, perhaps, years. My biggest comfort is that the 3 of us were with her in those final moments and also, one day, we'll all meet again - a day where tears will be no more and there will be great joy in the presence of our Almighty God.

And Lord haste the day when faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul!

Friday, November 6, 2009

In You alone, I find all that I need

Today marks the 7th month since Juliana was taken home to be with the Lord.

Time and again it is God who has held on to me, helping me to focussed on eternity's perspective. While I still have many "whys" each day, it is only in God that I can keep on keeping on. Steve Green's rendition of "In You alone" rings often in my mind and the lyrics provided much assurance!

In You Alone

When I am weak, You carry every burden
When I'm alone, You're just a breath away
When I am restless, You're the one who stills me
And where I fail, You always stay the same

In You alone, I'm lifted up to heaven
In You alone, I soar on borrowed wings
When I reach the end, You are just beginning
In You alone, I find all that I need

When I am lost, You rescue me from danger
And when I fall, You pick me up again
When I resist, You love past my defenses
And though I stray, You're patient to the end

Words by Steve Green
Music by Bernie Herms

© 2005 Birdwing Music (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Steve Green Music
(admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Banahama Tunes (admin. by The Loving Company) / ASCAP

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Sorrow Mixed with Light

Steve Green has always been one of my favourite singers and his album, "Somewhere in Between" has be poignantly relevant, ministering to me in my darkest days.

Let me share one of the lyrics of a song in this album here, the words of which I would fully echo:

Sorrow Mixed With Light

How beautiful and frail
Are all the days we share
How fragile is this breath of life
Like mist on the field
Will vanish in the wind
All we've come to know
Fades before our eyes

And what tomorrow brings
Who of us can say
Beyond this sorrow mixed with light
For somewhere in between
The beauty and the tears
This is where we live our lives

My eyes look to You.
You're the hope of my days
My eyes look to You as I cry out Your name
And I wait for all things to be remade

Not every earthly tear
That falls is wiped away
For some are like refining fire
That turn my heart to You, my one desire

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Six months has passed...

Today marks 6 months since Juliana was promoted to glory with the Lord. How time flies! The continual flashes of memory of that eventful final week of her earthly life now and then reminds me dearly of the pain and suffering she went through. The moments spent in hospital by her side... Her quiet endurance of pain and discomfort... Even that final hour and the final breath... All these remain firmly etched in my mind. Absence does makes the heart grow fonder. I'm looking forward to the day when the heartaches and sorrow will give way to immeasurable joy as we meet again in God's presence.

Till then, I want to continue to trust God for daily strength, wisdom and sustenance to run and complete my "race".

Lord, help me to finish well and to do what you will bid me do for this time and in this life!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Jesus, Lover of my soul

The beautiful and richly comforting words of Charles Wesley's hymn filled my mind this morning. Oh where, but where could I run to, except to Christ's bosom to find refuge and strength!

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Yes, 'tis but for the grace of God which sustains me day by day...