Thursday, May 30, 2013

Already All I Need-again!



This song again...but in a different context! God's been teaching me what kind of person I am, which just makes me more amazed at how incredible God is. I'm a very broken person; it turns out that not having consistent friends has damaged, more than I estimated, my trust in people, which greatly hinders fellowshipping with others. I had too high of expectations for my bros/sis, disregarding the fact that they're humans who are prone to failing at showing God's unconditional love, which only God is capable of at all times (Because occasionally, God transfers His unconditional love through us). To protect myself, I'd convinced me that this friendship thing, this bro/sisterhood thing isn't possible for me (but possible for others). I ran to God for His solace and comfort. And all I have been realizing for the past months over and over again is ow reliable God is, how warm, how faithful He is to me--His embrace/love is so deep and wide, no sin can ever be too dirty for Him to accept. And He's assured me that He will/can love to the ends of the earth. But lately, God has been telling me, "get out of my arms! Time for you to move on...grow up." Nothing we receive is given simply for our own sake; it's ultimately given for His sake. God's been pouring into me for the past months, nurturing me and stuff...and it's time to start using this newly established emotional/identity security as 1) a support for others, and 2) confidently proclaim His glory. And I know that I'll get hurt again stepping outside of His protection, but He'll heal me again; it's a spiral of healing, I'll keep getting hurt and healed, but things get better with each time because He's promised that He makes all things work together for our good. Life's troubles are like a chariot charging at you; you can either ride it (endure the troubles with hope that Christ has secured) or get run over by it (complain, mope, etc.) I've been so sheltered I don't handle making mistakes so well, teehee...but by God's grace, I'm learning, and also by His grace, He'll help me handle mistakes better. Sooooo, dear bros/sis, please keep me accountable for this lesson I've learned!

This song played two roles for me: first time it helped me find sufficiency in who I am in Him; now it's helping me find sufficiency in His power to carry out His mission to take over the world. First time the song acted as a consoler, this time as a motivator.

May you be blessed by this song as I have been.

And here's what the writer says about the song:

It was "suggested that I write a song about the sufficiency of Christ by saying it as plainly as, 'He’s already all we need'.  So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done… What a concept to come into worship knowing who we are approaching…the absolute fullness of God, pleased to dwell in this Jesus whom we worship.  He’s already broken the chains…already seated us with Him…already invited us ‘into the glorious’."

Asking where You are, Lord
Wondering where You’ve been. 
Is like standing in a hurricane, trying to find the wind. 
And hoping for Your mercy to meet me where I am. 

Is forgetting that Your thoughts for me, outnumber the sand. 
You filled the sun with morning light. 
You bid the moon to lead the night. 
You clothe the lilies bright and beautiful. 

You’re already all I need. 
Already everything that I could hope for. 
You’re already all I need. 
You’ve already set me free. 
Already making me. More like You. 
You’re already all I need. 
Jesus, You’re already all I need. 

Walking through this life without Your freedom in my heart.
Is like holding onto shackles that You have torn apart. 
So remind me of Your promises.
And all that You have done. 
In this world I will have trouble. 
That You have overcome. 
And every gift that I receive. 
You determine just for me. 
But nothing I desire compares with You. 

In Your fullness. You’re my all in all. 
In Your healing. I’m forever made whole. 
In Your freedom. Your love overflows.
 And carries me. You carry me. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher)



Last night, God gave me the privilege of witnessing the return of a prodigal son/daughter. I witnessed my roommate's return to God. (And it is with her permission that I share my side of the story to you.) My account will not do the wonder (I don't really know how to name what happened...event is just not accurate) justice, especially because I didn't experience it firsthand, but what happened was just so darn amazing.

I went to bed at 2 (so this is well late into the night when the enemy is most comfortable), and fifteen minutes after lying down, my roommate who sleeps in the bunk above me starts groaning. She usually has bad dreams, but she never moans so I got up to ask if she was okay. But her groaning got louder as I approached her. It scared me and I jumped off screaming because it was THAT scary! My other roommate (we live in a triple) screamed too--and she's not the screaming type. I was trembling for a good five minutes. My roommate, she wanted to go to back to sleep, but instead, was convicted to pray and had us pray with her.

In her dream, she was on a website inviting (hehe) her to go to God, but as she was climbing to God, we (me and my other roommate) pushed her down. She was so frightened. And as we prayed with her, she revealed to us a sin she committed and confessed not feeling guilty about the sin. She felt she was drifting away from God and was too ashamed to go to God anymore. We prayed for God to deliver her from Satan's hand and we prayed for her to truly surrender her life to God. In her prayer, she kept saying sorry to God. As she kept saying sorry and asking God to take her back, she very naturally bowed down. After the prayer, she told us that she was completely at rest and not only that, she kept saying over and over and over again, "Thank You, God." Neither one, two, three, four, five, or six thank yous was enough to convey accurately how grateful she was, to convey how utterly underserving of His redemption she was. And afterwards she kept saying, "can you guys believe it, God invited me!" And after some more prayer she repeated, "God is so real and so good! I got to tell everyone what happened."

Through this crazy night, God showed us (me and my other roommate) what TRUE repentance looks like, what TRUE humility, TRUE peace, TRUE confidence in the power of Jesus' blood to wash away sins,  TRUE assurance in being His child, TRUE excitement for the commission He's given us looks like. Gosh, witness God doing so much work in so little time, and seeing God's harvest being sown is such an incredible sight.

Point: satan is real, God is real, God > enemy is truth, and God's saving grace is real.

Connection to this song: After the incident, we turned on pandora and this song played. It was very relevant. I think it expresses very well the kind of attitude we should have when God's touched us with the Gospel.

Anyways, may you be blessed with this blessing God's given us.




  • Lord I come, I confess
  • Bowing here I find my rest
  • Without you, I fall apart
  • You’re the one that guides my heart
  • Lord I need you, oh I need you.
  • Every hour that I need you
  • My one defense My righteousness
  • Oh God how I need you.
  • Sin runs deep,
  • Your grace is more
  • The creases found
  • Is where you are
  • Where you are, Lord I am free
  • Holiness is Christ in me
  • Where you are, Lord I am free
  • Holiness is Christ in me
  • Lord I need you, oh I need you
  • Every hour I need you
  • My one defence, My righteousness
  • Oh God how I need you.
  • Teach my song to rise to you
  • When temptation comes my way
  • When I cannot stand ill fall on you
  • Jesus your my hope and stay
  • Yes when I cannot stand ill fall on you
  • Jesus you’re my hope and stay
  • Lord I need you, oh I need you.
  • Every hour I need you.
  • My one defence, My righteousness
  • Oh God how I need you.
  • Your my one defense, My righteousness,
  • Oh God how I need you
  • My one defense, My righteousness, Oh God how I need you.