Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Heard this in my iPod the other day.. one of the nice secular Christmas songs.. Well, guess the composer intended to reflect on the state of the world, the loss of childlike innocence, and how much people have suffered... Definitely can identify with some of the lyrics, mainly those in the chorus. But at the same time, also know that its not possible anymore... "no more lives torn apart, that wars would never start"? thats like so impossible in the state of the world now.. lives have been torn apart by sin and by other humans ever since the Fall in Genesis...

Yet, there is a glimpse of hope... and for us, this hope is a sure hope.

Our hope: "our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20. When His Kingdom comes, under His rule, no more lives will be torn apart, no more wars will start, He will heal our hearts, and of course, right will always win. Meanwhile, as we share the gospel to more people, we participate in the advancement of His Kingdom's establishment in the hearts of those around us.. :)


Well, really thank God the wednesday paper was ok, the first QM paper that all the questions more or less can do.... Thank God for His grace and thanks everyone for your support and encouragement.... last paper on monday!

Procrastination

Hello everyone... you all may be wondering if the reason i'm writing this post now, the day before my very tough paper, has anything to do with the title... :) well.. er... just came across a few good blog posts, so thought i'll share them... The topic is on procrastination, something many of us face i guess... The author should be familiar to most people - if u all read "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", he's Joshua Harris' mentor C.J. Mahaney...

So here they are... in order of reading..

Are You Busy?

Confessions of a Busy Procrastinator

The Procrastinator Within

Just Do It

Ok... a quote, then back to studying..............

"No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it."

-Alexander MacLaren (1826–1910), Scottish preacher

How Pastor John Piper Approaches God When Feeling Rotten

I just read this on the Desiring God Blog today... good reminder.... (Link)

Pastor John Piper said:

A vague bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance.

This morning I began to pray, and felt unworthy to be talking to the Creator of the universe. It was a vague sense of unworthiness. So I told him so. Now what?

Nothing changed until I began to get specific about my sins. Crummy feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction for sins. Vague feelings of being a bad person are not very helpful. The fog of unworthiness needs to take shape into clear dark pillars of disobedience. Then you can point to them and repent and ask for forgiveness and take aim to blow them up.

So I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind.

Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, 100%. (Matthew 22:37)

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)

Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling—inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)

Cast all your anxieties on him—so you are not being weighed down by it anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)

Only say things that give grace to others—especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)

Redeem the time. Don’t fritter or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)

Set your mind on things that are above. Connect all your thoughts to Christ. (Colossians 3:2)

Do not return evil for evil—like when your wife or daughter says something you don’t like. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice. Always. If sorrowful, keep rejoicing. (Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10)

Give thanks in all circumstances. All. All. All. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

So much for any pretensions to great holiness! I’m undone.

But now it is specific. I look it in the eye. I’m not whining about feeling crummy. I’m apologizing to Christ for not keeping all that he commanded. I’m broken and I’m angry at my sin. I want to kill it, not me. I’m not suicidal. I’m a sin hater and a sin murderer (“Put to death what is earthly in you” Colossians 3:5. “Put to death the deeds of the body” Romans 3:18.)

In this conflict, I hear the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Peace rises. Prayer feels possible and right and powerful again.

In the midst of exam preparations now... Hope this helps u all as well...

New YA Group Blog!

Hello everyone... this is to help publicise the new YA Group Blog!!




My brother's group has set up a blog and the link its at the side under "Truth Bearer Group Blog" and here as well... do visit them and tag! also can add comments for the posts next time...

Ok see you all... ....Exams ending on 1 Dec..... :)