The Bottle and the Sand

Hello All,

I’ve recently started putting tunes into words. This is one of the first songs I’ve written and if you are interested, you could listen to it here.

‘Broken’ and ‘shattered’ are common words used to describe events and relationships that have gone wrong.

Living in a world suffering from the effects of humanity’s rejection of a loving God, we are often relieved during the rare times when things do turn out right. In a world where everything has gone wrong, we find it hard to recognise what’s right.

The Bottle and the Sand

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling

Broken

It's now all broken

Shattered

It's now all shattered

It's now in pieces

The bottle and the sand

Broken

This heart is broken

Shattered

This heart is shattered

Its unspoken shame

Secrets and disgrace

Broken

This life is broken

Shattered

This life is shattered

It's used and wasted

The bottle and the sand

Yet I see God's loving hands

Working in this vessel

His loving hands are holding

The bottle and the sand

I see the nail-pierced hands

I see the hands of grief

I see the curse He bore

For you and me

I see the hands of love

I see the hands of hope

I see life He's won

For you and me

Jesus

You make the broken whole

Though pain is all I see

The bottle and the sand

Points for Reflection:

[4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

[5] And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also, he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’

(Revelation 21:4-5 ESV)

·       Are you disheartened at life’s brokenness? Are you suffering from the pain of broken dreams and relationships?

·       The brokenness in life finds its comfort in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ. He chose to enter a world of brokenness to bring hope and life to all who trust in Him.

·       Have you found comfort in the loving, suffering Saviour who now sits enthroned in the heavens?

·       Come to him with your brokenness and find comfort in His embrace.

I Can’t Pray Now

Hello All,

Are there times in your life when you cannot find the words to express your feelings?

Are you at a loss for words?

I Can’t Pray Now

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling

I can't pray now, but I can cry

I can't pray now, but I can weep

Tears trickle from a cloudless sky

Tears water wounds that run too deep

I can't pray now, but I can sob

I can't pray now, but I can wail

Tears trickle, then gush like a mob

Tears utter deep groans when words fail

I can't pray now, but I can rest

I can rest now in God's strong arms

Tears run dry in these endless tests

But Jesus will shield me from harm

Points for Reflection:

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

(Romans 8:26-27 ESV)

·       When we can’t find the words to pray, God’s Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

·       That does not give us the excuse not to pray, but it brings comfort to know that God still hears our wordless cries.

·       When the hole you are in is too deep, or the waters too high, do not be afraid to cry out to God. He sees our tears and comforts us.

·       ‘Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused.’ – Charles Spurgeon

The Dark of the Night

Hello All,

Does your cry for help seem to go unanswered? Do you see no light in the darkness of your night?

There are distressing thoughts that keep us awake at night. We lie awake in our beds wondering if they will ever go away.

The Dark of the Night

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling

I lie awake in the dark of the night

I'm so afraid; my heart is filled with fear

My heart is racing with all of its might

Abba Father, please let me know You're here

My world is now a dark, unfeeling pit

I'm lost and trapped; I can't find my way out

So in this dark, unfeeling pit I sit

I cry out for help in a desperate shout

My loud, desperate cry echoes from the walls

I cannot see the light, God, please help me

Listen to me; answer my earnest call

To my murky waters, bring clarity

Points for Reflection:

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

(Psalms 42:11 ESV)

·       Have you ever tried talking to yourself? Have you tried motivating yourself about your ability to face a challenge (i.e. ‘You can do it!’)?

·       Like the psalmist, have you tried asking yourself, ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?’ What would your reply be?

·       There are many hurdles and heartaches that can throw us off balance and we cannot seem to get up. We are too wounded to continue fighting the battles of this tumultuous life. Our souls are downcast and in turmoil.

·       Yet the psalmist does not end with that question but reminds himself of the hope he has in God, his salvation.

·       Jesus faced the darkness of God’s judgment as He hung on the cross in agony. He bore the pain that we deserved for our sins. Instead of darkness, we have received the Light of our salvation.

·       God may or may not save us from our trials. But He will walk with us in the darkest of nights.

Chasm of Fear

Hello All,

The dark chasm of fear runs deep. It traps and threatens to consume us. We are helpless and lack the control we think we need to feel secured.

Uncertainties abound in the unknown. We try our best to secure our future, which is a wise thing to do. However, those measures of security are never enough. It is impossible to cover the loopholes of fears and uncertainties with our meager resources.

What are your fears and uncertainties? Do you feel paralysed by them? Do they threaten to consume you?

Chasm of Fear

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling

Dear God, help me in this chasm of fear

It's so dark and shadows lurk around me

The waters are so murky and unclear

The path before me, I just cannot see

Dear God, help me in this chasm of fear

I don't want to linger here anymore

It's painful, your refining fire sears

Me, an earthen vessel; I'm weak and sore

Dear God, help me in this chasm of fear

Shed light and illuminate this dark pit

I'm frightened, Lord, I cannot feel You near

So in this dark, unfeeling pit, I sit

Points for Reflection:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

(Psalms 121:1-2 ESV)

·       Where are you looking to for help? Are you looking to God, the Maker of the universe? He is all-knowing and we can commit our fears and uncertainties to Him. We may not get an answer to the fears that are besetting us, but we can find comfort in His love and grace.

·       The fears of this life are only temporary. But the fear of what happens after death is for eternity.

·       The Good News is that Jesus Christ has dealt with that fear and has saved us from the chasm of eternal death and torment. He died in our place and took on God’s judgment upon Himself to save us. Instead of death and judgment, those who trust in Him have received life and hope. Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ?

·       Jesus is the Light that illuminates the darkness of our sinful soul and the chasm of our fears. Come to the Light and abide in Him.