A Life of Love

It's the life that each and every Christian ought to be living, right?  The two greatest commandments = Love God and love your neighbour.  Why?  How?  What's this look like?  It's so hard!  I'm tired of trying!  Perhaps there are other questions/frustrations as well.

I have been seriously challenged these last couple of weeks through my readings and through life in general.  Why do I do what I do?  Especially when things don't seem to be working out...can't I just can it?  Throw in the shovel? 

Simple answer = Christ. 

He didn't give up.  Even when the whole world turned against Him, He persevered.  He walked the road to Calvary.  Why?  Because of love.  Because His Father loves.  Because His Father loves you and I.  Because of His Father's love, Christ walked a path few today choose to follow whole-heartedly.  However, there are those who still do.  Will I/you be one of those?  Am I/Are you prepared to love so much so as to lose my/your life for the sake of love?

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God helping me, in the big things and, particularly, in the small, I will live a life of love.  The following is a poem I wrote on Sunday morning, May 15, 2011.  May you be blessed and challenged by it.

A Life of Love



Through all the trials and pain,

Bearing my sin and shame,

God showed His love.

He gave His only Son

So that I might learn

How to love.

To love as Christ loves the Church;

To lay my own will down;

To give of all that is within me

For the sake of a Heavenly crown.

To forfeit my own desires

For those of my Father above;

To live the life of a bondservant -

A life of servitude with love.

Some take it for granted -

Expecting nothing less

Than to be loved.

But, it's a two-way street,

For He first loved us,

And He wants our love.

For us to love Him so much more

Than we love ourselves;

To have a love found deep within us -

A love which Christ's love, in us, compels.

Compels us to give all we have -

In patience, in joy, in suff'ring.

Though others may not respond in love,

Our love we give - an offering.

Not for the sake of pride

But because of the cross -

That's why we love.

Our debt was paid that day.

Our sins were washed away.

No greater love!

There was nothing left undone;

No stone was left unturned.

His pursuit for perfect communion -

A long-term goal for which He had yearned.

His love now reigning within us,

Comes with a command from above:

No matter whatever, wherever -

We are to live a life of love.

© Stephen Khu

15-05-2011

At The Cross

For the first time in a while, I have been attending a church that partakes of communion each Sunday morning.  At the same time, I have been having this sense of drawing closer to Christ and have been continually awed by the work that was accomplished both on the cross and in the days following.  On Sunday afternoon, pretty much as soon as I returned from church, I grabbed my Bible and a notebook and headed to the Hudson Room at college, where I sat down and chilled with the piano.  After doing some warm-ups and playing through a couple of other songs, I decided to put my head down and try cranking out another song.  I began by praying that God would lead my thoughts.  As I prayed, I had this growing amazement and awe welling up within me as my mind continued to turn to the cross, and I really felt God leading me to write something to match.  The name of the song that was written that afternoon I have entitled "At The Cross" and the lyrics have been posted here for God's glory and for your encouragement.

At The Cross

Selflessly, You gave at the cross -

A sacrifice to save the lost.

You chose Your Father's will,

And gave it all for us.

Selflessly, You died upon that cross.

There on that day

They heard You say,

"Father, forgive them.

They know not what they do."

The whole earth shook,

And it trembled

As the Father turned

His face away.

Oh, the price He chose to pay.

Thankfully, it did not finish there -

On the third day the tomb was found bare.

He is risen from the grave;

Death has lost its sting.

Jesus Christ is alive - He's here today!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Holy is the Lord Almighty!

Worthy is the Lamb

To receive

All the glory,

And the honour

And the power forevermore.

© Stephen Khu 2011

Completely Surrendered

This morning's message at church was about living in fellowship with other people and, rather than being selfish, handing over to an unlimited God my limited supply of time, patience, etc., allowing Him to use me for His glory wherever I am, whatever I am doing.  As I pondered over the message, the words "completely surrendered" came to mind.  In order to follow in the footsteps of Christ, I need to be completely surrendered to God.  Regardless of how much or how little I am able to give, if I surrender all of my thoughts, wants, abilities, etc. to God, then He is able to use me to my full potential.  From all these thoughts, came this song, which I have called "Completely Surrendered."

Completely Surrendered

V1

Created to live in unity

Not created to be alone

Created to live what we believe

Not created with hearts of stone

Pre-Chorus

Let the words of Truth sink deep

Transforming our lives anew

We give up our own desires

To bring glory back to You

Chorus 1

Completely surrendered

Here we stand

Make us a beacon

Of light in this land

Shedding light for all to see

Your power, love and majesty

V2

What little we have we give to You

All Your purposes to fulfill

Take this offering we bring You now

Lord, in us Your Spirit instill

 Chorus 2

Completely surrendered

All for You

Show us

What You'd have us do

Here we stand forever Yours

Completely surrendered to You

No Other Name

So, now that I'm settling into a different routine at college, I find that my Sunday afternoons are extremely relaxing and I end up with quite a bit of time on my hands.  To fill the time productively, I have decided to spend time writing songs...praying that with God's inspiration I might be able to churn out a song each week/time I sit down to do so.  Two Sundays ago I sat down on the front verandah intent on writing something.  I had so many thoughts running through my mind.  Where to start?  After spending a few minutes not getting anywhere, I bowed my head in prayer and asked God for guidance.  The Scripture passage I had been meditating on was the passage I have chosen to preach on when it is my turn to preach during Preaching class - Philippians 2:5-11.  The last few verses caught my attention and formed the basis for what came next - "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2:9-11  The proceeding song is entitled "No Other Name."

No Other Name

V1:

Holy God, Anointed One

Humbly we bow our knees

Our tongues confess

You are risen, Lord

The Christ, Who sets us free

No other name can go before

Prepare the way

Make rich the poor

No other name is there at all

By which kingdoms rise

And kingdoms fall

Chorus:

Yours is the Name above all names

Who can compare to Your greatness

The Name that heals

The Name that saves

No other name but Jesus

V2:

Immanuel – God with us

The Alpha and Omega

The Prince of Peace

El Shaddai

The one and only Saviour

No other name can move the mountains

Dry up the sea

Or calm the storm

No other name can forgive sinners

Raise the dead

And replace the norm

New Song - Turn Back

On Wednesday night after the cricket, Channel 9 did a special broadcast/update on cyclone Yasi.  During the broadcast, they showed some live interviews with people huddled in the evacuation centers up north.  One of the interviews involved a young woman in tears who, when asked what she expected to find after Yasi had blown over, said she would probably lose her house and all of her “stuff,” and she continued to burst into more tears.  This scene, in particular, brought to my attention just how much people get attached to their “stuff” and that, when they lose their “stuff”, it’s like their whole world’s caved in.  When I headed back to my room, my heart felt so heavy for those whose lives revolve around their “stuff,” and that’s where this song came from.  It starts off as a prayer/a plea to God and then finishes off with a plea to the people.  A lot of those who have been affected by the floods or by cyclone Yasi now have to start from scratch and rebuild their lives.  In a spiritual sense, they have the same opportunity to do that with Christ…if only they will turn back to Him. 

Turn Back

V1:

They think they’re rich

And yet they’re poor.

They think they’re healthy

Yet they’re sore.

They don’t understand -

To life there’s so much more.

V2:

The life they had -

That life, it’s gone.

A new day’s come;

Time to move on.

A fresh start awaits.

Behold the glory of God’s Son.

C:

Father, turn them back to You.

Father, turn them back to You.

A fresh start awaits.

Behold the glory of Your Son.

V3:

The heavens rage;

The depths cry out.

Oh Father,

Please remove their doubt.

Father, turn their hearts;

Show them what You’re all about.

V4:

Your only Son

You sent to die -

To pardon sin and sanctify.

We can’t save ourselves

No matter how much we try.

B1:

Should they turn

They will find refuge.

Should they turn

They will find rest.

No pow’r on earth

Can ever conquer

When You are made

Lord of their life.

B2:

So come now

Turn and find refuge.

Come now

Turn and find rest.

No pow’r on earth

Can ever conquer

When Christ is made

Lord of your life.

C2:

We are turning back to You.

We are turning back to You.

A fresh start awaits.

Behold the glory of Your Son.

C3:

Father turn us back to You.

We are turning back to You.

A fresh start awaits.

Behold the glory of Your Son.

©Stephen Khu

02-02-2011