SONG I LIKE - 22 (YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY)

LYRICS:



The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind

Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me
How You love me

It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway

See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes, You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me

You love me, yes You love me
How You love me
How You love me
How You love me

JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR PROTECTION IN THIS INSECURE WORLD

“Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; He will shield it and deliver it, He will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” – Isaiah 31:5

Few days back I stood at a lonely bus stop with my wife around 9 pm. We have planned to board a bus at 10:30 pm for an overnight travel to a particular city to attend my friend’s wedding. Our home was nearly 16km away from the main bus stand and so we waited at the bus stop for the local bus.

It was dark everywhere and there was no light in the bus stop. There came a guy with reddish eyes and he asked me about the number of a bus to reach a particular place. I answered him but he never moved. He stood very close to me and that made my wife to fear. She was holding a bag with one hand and with other hand she was holding my shirt tightly. She was holding onto me as if a child holds on to his/her father at the fearful moment.

Soon some guys who were drunken also came to that stop. Seeing those guys my wife stood very close to me, because my presence was her only comfort. Actually she believed that I will protect her but inside my heart I thought what will I do if someone attack us. I had no answer for that question and I stood there helpless. I understood that I can’t protect myself or my wife at any situation. By God’s grace we traveled safely that night. 

Few months back a girl was sexually assaulted by a group of people in the capital city of India when she was returning home with her boy friend after watching a movie. On that night she might have thought that her boy friend was her protection. But her belief failed and she died.

Few days back a girl who was a photo journalist went to a lonely place in Mumbai to take photograph of a building. She went there at 6 pm with a guy. She might have also thought that he will be her protection in that lonely place. But few other guys attacked them and they sexually assaulted that girl.

We know that the world we live is become insecure. When I stood at the bus stop alone with my wife with drunken people around me, I had a question in my mind: Who will protect us in this insecure situation?

Holy Spirit spoke me to and said, “Jesus Christ alone can protect you from all evil.” Though there were several drunkards around us I felt God’s presence comforting and guiding us at that moment. He is the one who protected us on that night.

My dear young friends, you might feel insecure in the place you study or in your work place or in your family life. You might fear that someone will do harm to you and take away all the blessings of your life. Do not fear. 

Bible says in Psalms 121:3-4, “He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber...He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Jesus Christ is watching over you. He will neither slumber nor sleep. He will shield you, deliver you and rescue you. 

You might be a young guy or a young girl. Whoever you might be you need protection of God. No other person except Jesus Christ can save and protect you. Daily morning surrender yourself, your family members, and your belongings into the mighty hands of God and ask for His protection. God's hands is the only secure place in this insecure world. So just cling onto God’s hands. He will save you.

Jesus Christ will be your shield and He will protect you. No evil can harm you or overpower you.

GOD'S PERFECT GIFT - 3 (IYYADURAI - MY FRIEND AND MY SOULMATE)

“...You have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.” – II Samuel 1:26

Once I had completed my tenth standard I had a desire to study higher secondary course. But my parents thought that I won’t pass in mathematics if I join higher secondary and so they had admitted me in a government polytechnic college to pursue diploma course

.

It was in the month of August 1999, the course was started. I went early and sat in last bench of the class because I love to sit in last benches. Other students who had joined were also entering the class and I was observing everyone. At that time I saw a guy who seems to be innocent entering the class. He was looking at each bench wondering where to sit. 

As he was about to sit in the front bench I felt to call him and so I just called him and asked him to sit with me. He accepted my call and sat near me. I simply enquired about him and he also spoke to me for the sake of speaking. We never thought on that day that we will become best friends later.

Especially I never thought that I will get a good friend but always I had a desire to have a friend with whom I can share everything. God knows my inner thoughts and He gave me that guy as my best friend. 

Iyyadurai - God given true friend

His name is Iyyadurai. Actually he was born, brought up and studied in a village. Till that day I have never seen an innocent guy like him. Usually in the diploma college we studied, seniors rag juniors. 

To get escape from their disturbance I had found an exit way in which usually no one goes. After few days I used to take him also through that way so that he also won’t be caught in the hands of the seniors. At first he was reluctant but later he understood my concern towards him and he came along with me. From that day our relationship grew stronger with love and care.

In the beginning days of our college he took leave after which he came back to the college. That day he joined me on the way back home. He was sitting silent in the bus and I asked him the reason but he never told me anything. I insisted him to tell and finally when he was about to get down from the bus he told me that his mother died and he left.

The bus was moving and I sat there with a great shock. My heart filled with sorrow and I told my mom about him. My mom asked me to call him home some day. As days went by he considered my mom as his own mother and she also loves him. My family members liked him a lot and soon our relationship grew stronger. 

By now fourteen years passed. We have entered the fifteenth year of our friendship because of God’s grace and today is his wedding. He is getting married today and I am mindful of the sacrifice and help he did to me. 

In the past fourteen years of our friendship, because of God’s grace we never had any misunderstanding or any fight even once. The reason is, he is so loving and patient. When our relationship grew stronger I was a lean guy. People around me used to say that I was looking like a stick. But he was well built and a stronger man. There were times simply I used to beat him hard but he never beat me because he knows that I was very weak that if he beat me I will not get up for some days. He was so patient like that.

When we were studying diploma my mom used to give some money to spend but it won’t be enough to buy anything. Whenever I feel hungry he was the one who spent so much for me. Even today if I needed something he will never hesitate to buy it for me.

I still remember a day when someone gifted him a digital pocket diary. He loved it a lot and came running to show me. I saw his face and it was filled with great joy because of that gift. On those days a digital gadget was a rare thing and so he was explaining about that to me with happiness. Somewhere in my heart I also liked it and I know my parents could not afford some money to buy that. As he was about to leave I told him that I liked it a lot and I asked him to give it to me. He never expected that. He loved that gift so much and so he stood silent. I thought he will not give but he put that in my pocket and went to his home. My joy was more important to him than his own.

Years passed but his love towards me remain the same. He has done so many sacrifices for my joy. He used to take me in his cycle to tuition centre which was in a long distance. He will be sweating all the way but he had never asked me to ride because he knows that I am weak. He always prioritized my interest rather than his own and loved me purely. 

After our diploma course I passed in the government entrance exam but he failed. I joined a government college to study UG engineering degree and he went to work in a private company. Though we went in different ways Jesus Christ never allowed any separation in our lives. In the next year he cleared the entrance and joined the same college in my junior batch. 

Though he was not a Christian, he never interfered in my religious belief and whenever I said about Christ he believed and prayed sincerely. Hearing his prayers Jesus Christ has blessed him a lot. 

Few years back on a particular day I got sick and thought I won't survive. I called him through phone as he worked in a place which was 400KM away from my work place. That day is still in my mind. As I told him the matter he cried loudly in the office itself because he was one among those who could not see me suffer in pain. After that I kept the phone. There was no one around me to take me to hospital.

He called his friend immediately who resides nearby and asked him to take me to the hospital. His friend came running and took me to the hospital. Not only that, as my parents stood helpless not knowing what to do he hired a taxi and came along with my family members on that same day night to see me. 

Even today my mom talks about the way he helped me and my family members on that sorrowful day. I don’t know how I would have reacted if he was in that situation but yet I can tell that God saved me on that day through him. 

Jesus Christ gave him as a friend to me and He led us thus far without any misunderstanding and fights. He also tells that Jesus Christ is the sole reason for our friendship. 

I have not done much help to him. I can’t say that I love him truly and purely. But his love towards me is greater than the love of any women. He stood with me and comforted me when I failed and he shouted with joy when I succeeded. Not even a single day he threatened or blackmailed me. All that he did was just loving me.  I know for sure that he was in my life only because of Jesus Christ. He is God’s perfect gift in my life and I really thank Jesus Christ for him and his friendship.

As he is getting married today, I pray for God’s peace, grace and blessing to rest upon his life forever. My only desire is that he should live happily with his wife and they should live together in God’s presence for so many years. 

Right from my parents to my wife Jesus Christ blessed me with the best always and my friend Iyyadurai is one among those best blessings given by God to me.

Thank you Jesus for the friend You gave me in this world who loved me truly. 

BICYCLE TO CHEVROLET CAR: A JOURNEY FILLED WITH GOD'S GRACE AND BLESSING

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6

When I was a growing infant, my father brought a new cycle for our home. The moment I saw that I felt the whole world was ours! I never allowed anyone to touch that cycle. As I was so young I could not ride it. But my dad had put a stand for me and I tried my best to pedal it with my little legs. That night my heart was overflowing with joy and I could not sleep because of that joy. 

We had two cycles in our house and that is our wealth. My school will be over in the afternoon itself and then my father used to take me for long rides in the cycle. Those were the precious days of my life. We had played hand tennis by using that cycle as net. During those days I had a desire to become a driver, so I used to sit in front of the cycle wheel and rotate it imagining as though I’m driving a bus.  

Later when I entered my teen age, I got a cycle which was used by my brothers. Even though it was not new, I always felt proud about it.

When I was studying diploma course, I used to go to tuition classes which was nearly 10 Km away from my home. I usually go in the early morning and most of the people will be riding cycles. 

There were times when I’ve seen young girls riding cycle and purposefully I used to ring the cycle bell so hard which will make them look at me. Then immediately I would ride fast and overtake them. Being so young I thought these kinds of thing would give a superman image about me in the heart of girls. I really thought that I was a superman because of my cycle. 

But my pride will go off when someone in the motorbike overtakes me and vanishes so quickly from my sight. Then I thought if we get a bike it will be so good. I never prayed for it but usually think in my heart that it will be good if the God gives one.

God heard the prayers of our family members and he gave us a Bajaj M-80 scooter. It was not a costly scooter but generally owned by those who have a small scale groceries store. Once we bought it my parents gave off the cycles to someone else. On that particular day I felt so bad, but soon that sorrow went away as we had our own bike.

When I joined a government college to study UG engineering degree, I found that many rich people were studying along with me in my class. Few people would come to college in cars during special occasions and many students had costly bikes. But during those special occasions I used to ride my father’s scooter to college. There were some people who looked at me in a funny way but I never ever felt sad about it.

I have seen my father riding cycle in the hot sun, sweating to earn money for us. And then when I saw my father going in a scooter, I really felt happy and thanked God for it. 

We were thankful and prayed to God to bless us in the right time. By the time I finished my PG degree, my brothers already had their own bike. God started to bless us in His time. Soon after I finished my PG degree I got a job and then God gave me also a bike which I still have with me.

Whenever I saw that bike I thanked God for the blessing which He gave me. There were times when I felt I was so unworthy for His blessings. So I thanked Him for giving me a bike. Years passed and the previous year I got married. 

Before marriage I always had a desire to take my mom and dad at least once in my own car before they die. 

God saw my desire and soon after one month of my marriage He enabled me to buy a car which was used by one of our relative. Though I was not the first owner of that car, I felt happy because I strongly know that Jesus Christ gave me the car. 

Jesus Christ Himself gave me that car and through His golden hands of Grace He is protecting us till this day. Now as I ride that car to my workplace or somewhere else I feel very humbled and not proud as I felt once when I had my cycle. 

God took me through some paths in which He taught me so many things. If Jesus Christ would have given me a car when I was so young, surely by this time my heart would have been filled with pride. But now, every day when I see the car which God has given me, I feel very humble for I know that only through His grace I was blessed. I feel so happy that I am the first in my family to take my dad and mom along with me in my car. My grandma and they were so happy about it. 

Do you know what was the reason for this journey filled with God’s blessings? Am I so humble, so grateful, so holy, so prayerful and so faithful that God has blessed me? No! Not at all! Today my life is filled with God’s blessing only because Jesus Christ is so gracious. His Golden Hands of Grace has led me thus far and will lead me in the coming days also. I thank God for His grace that He is pouring out upon my life.

My dear young friends, today you might lack some blessing in your life, but don’t lose heart. God knows what you need and when to satisfy that need. Just stay on God’s hands. He will give you His blessing in His time. Surely you will receive God’s blessing, but you have to wait for His time. If God can bless an unworthy guy like me to this extent, He will surely bless you also.

Your life will not end in poverty. The poor economic situation that you are facing will never overpower you. Today you might be a little one but when God’s time comes, you will become a thousand. 

That is what He promised us in Isaiah 60:22, “A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”

Jesus Christ will surely fulfil His promise in your life. He will surely bless you and raise you.

LIKED THIS A LOT - TAKEN FROM THE WEB

INSPIRATIONS FROM NICK VUJICIC - TAKEN FROM THE BOOK TITLED "LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS"

 

NICK VUJICIC

#Inspiration 1

“I have a choice. You have a choice. We can choose to dwell on disappointments and shortcomings... to be bitter, angry or sad. Or when faced with hard times and hurtful people, we can choose to learn from the experience and move forward, taking responsibility for our own happiness.”

#Inspiration 2

“Only God knows how our lives will unfold. Hope is His gift to us, a window to look through. We cannot know the future He has planned for us. Trust in Him, keep hope in your heart, and even when faced with the worst, do whatever you can to prepare yourself for the best.”

#Inspiration 3

“I talk about FAITH as an acronym: Full Assurance In The Heart. I may not be able to produce evidence for all that I believe in, but I feel fully assured in my heart that I am much closer to the truth by living with faith than I would be by living in despair.”

#Inspiration 4

“Instead of dwelling on your imperfections, your failings, or your mistakes, focus on your blessings and the contribution you can make, whether it’s a talent, knowledge, wisdom, creativity, hard work, or a nurturing soul.”

#Inspiration 5

“You and I may have absolutely no control over what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. If we choose the right attitude, we can rise above whatever challenges we face... Optimism is empowering-it gives you control over your emotions. Pessimism weakens your will and allows your moods to control your actions.”

#Inspiration 6

“So many people are handicapped by fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, fear of making a commitment, even fear of success. It’s inevitable that fears will come knocking on your door. You don’t have to let them in.”

#Inspiration 7

“Losing doesn’t make you a loser any more than striking out makes a great baseball player a benchwarmer. As long as you stay in the game and keep swinging, you can still be a slugger.”

#Inspiration 8

“There are two major types of change that tend to challenge us and disrupt our day-to-day lives. The first happens to us. The second happens within us. We can’t control the first, but we can and should control the second.”

#Inspiration 9

“The art to reading people, relating to them, engaging with them and stepping into their shoes, knowing whom to trust and how to be trustworthy, is critical to your success and happiness. Few people succeed without the ability to build relationships based on mutual understanding and trust. We all need not just someone to love but also friends, mentors, role models and supporters who buy into our dreams and help us achieve them.”

#Inspiration 10

“To pursue your dreams you have to take action. Move it or lose it. Act or be acted upon. If you don’t have what you want, consider creating what you want. God will light the path. Your chance of a lifetime, the door to your dreams is open. Your path to a purpose may present itself at any moment. Be ready for it. Do all you need to do. Learn all you need to know. If no one comes knocking, beat down a few doors. One day you will step into the life you desire.”

#Inspiration 11

“You can’t be a winner unless you are willing to face defeat.”

#Inspiration 12

“The more I dwelled on my own challenges, the worse I felt, but when I changed my focus to serving the needs of someone else, it lifted my spirits and helped me understand that no one suffers alone.”