Wonderful Merciful Saviour

There aren't many songs (to my knowledge at least) which focus on man's state of helplessness and the grace & work of God. Too many are written on a works-based, music-focused theology.

I echo the words of Geoff Bullock when he says, "Worship has nothing at all to do with what we have done and everything to do with what God has done... worship is an identification with brokeness, and a realisation that our strength comes not from what we have done but only from what God has done for us, and so we live our lives in response." (taken from 'the BRIEFING', Apr 29, 1999)

Therefore, I welcome songs which look at who God is and strip it down to look at who we actually are. "Wonderful Merciful Saviour" is one of those songs and I was reminded of it this morning.

Wonderful Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and friend
Who would have thought that a lamb could
Rescue the souls of men
Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way

~Chorus~
You are the one that we praise
You are the one we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

Wonderful, merciful, saviour, precious, redeemer, friend, lamb, rescuer, counsellor, comforter, keeper, hope, almighty, infinite, father, faithful... these are the adjectives that are used to describe and glorify our God Almighty in this song. Is this list exhaustive? I certainly hope not!

Question is, do we take the time to praise God for who He is and not only for what He has done? To marvel and glorify His attributes? I think that when we do, we'll realise that our finite and limited languages aren't enough to describe our King and Lord.

And as we do that, we'll realise that there is only one response and posture that seems befitting... on our knees, falling before Him. Understanding and accepting our brokeness, realising the darkness of sin, the frailty of our mortality and the inability of our actions to appease our just God.

For we worship a Wonderful, Merciful Saviour.


P.S. I have the song for those who want it... and this post is duplicated on my personal blog as well: ao310.blogspot

Images from camp II

Bing Jun and his.... Tongkat Ali??!!

Scones + apple pie + crepe + cake = happy Gerald ;)

The 'think tank'

Brudders...

Images from camp

A game of Sabotuer

3 guys and... trees??

Tea from Boh

Who needs to go to the Butterfly farm when we have 2 already?

Aww... don't they look sweet?

Reflections from Church Camp 06

What motivates our service to God? If you had asked me this question before the camp, I would have simply given you a standard textbook answer without needing to think much about it. We serve because we love God and want to do things for Him and to edify His people. We serve because He has commanded us to (1 Peter 4:10). However, when trials come, can we really say that we serve God solely because we love Him, and not just because it makes us feel good about ourselves?

Before setting off for this camp, I was looking forward to having a good rest in a cool climate in a hotel, with no worries about school work and other stuff. I was looking forward to an experience like all the other church camps I attended, where I had the chance to hang out with friends and worship the Lord together. However, this was not what God had intended for me.

Preparations for the camp started with the logistical concerns of what AVA and music equipment we had to bring for the camp. On the Sunday we were supposed to set off for the camp, Adrian, James, Tze Yee, Bingjun, and I got ready all the equipment that needed to be brought up the coach. It was then that James warned me that we could possibly be the only guitarists for the camp. I thought, "That can't be too bad, it'll most probably be like a usual Sunday service. I can handle that." When we arrived at the camp, we busied ourselves with setting up the AVA equipment needed for the welcome service. The first evening when the campers were having some free time to rest from the long trip, we had a worship practice for the Praise & Worship (P&W) session that night. This was followed by a mad rush to bring an amplifier down to the eating area as the hotel sound system had been moved somewhere else. After the first P&W and theme talk, the campers went back to their rooms to rest. Not so for the Young Adults. We stayed on to practise for the next P&W the following morning. This crazy schedule went on for the next few days, and I was beginning to see the tiredness and the stress in a few of the YAs' faces, me included. All these things, coupled with the knowledge that there WERE other campers who had the ability to worship lead or play the guitar but refused to do so when approached, caused me to feel very down. At that time, I thought to myself: How can there be people who, upon seeing a need and having the ability to help, choose not to help at all? Why isn't anyone 'coming to our rescue'? Doesn't anyone care if the YA are overworked? Did the YA come to the camp just to be slaves at the beck and call of the entire church? My human reaction cried at the injustice of it all, of people happily enjoying their camp and their free time, while the YA slogged everyday to provide them with every little service.

By the third day, I was really drained. The continuous barrage of duties had finally worn me down, and I had to ask myself: Am I really serving God cheerfully all this while or have I been looking for recognition in my service? If my focus is to please God, why am I resentful against people whom I see as 'not sharing the load'? Is there a limit to my loving God, such that I can tell Him 'Ok God, I can only play the guitar for You once every 2 days, and no more'?

On that day, God showed me my sin and, being the merciful God that He is, brought me affirmation and encouragement through Sam and Pauline. An excerpt of the note from Pauline reads: May the Lord surprise you if you take time to reflect back on the journey God has put you through. Indeed, after reading the note as well as receiving prayer and encouragement from Sam, I saw it all in a new light. Even though the load is heavy, we all play a part in supporting one another, regardless of our talents. I realised that those YA were not on duty for some P&W sessions still hung around during the practice, and their presence was a big encouragement. Little things like offering to flip pages for the musicians, or volunteering to type out the powerpoint slides or playing the tambourine may seem insignificant to man, but these YA still chose to do it. From then on, as they say, it was all uphill.

The next day, our camp speaker, Dr Danny, spoke about service. Once again, I was reminded by God through 1 Peter 4:11b - If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength that God provides, so that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

As the bus crossed the causeway into Singapore just now, I thought to myself: camp over..time to rest. This time, however, I no longer feel bitterness. I just want to thank God for the opportunity to serve Him with what He has given me, and also for the web of encouragement he has surrounded me with.

I urge all of us to join me in doing 2 things from now on:
1. To examine our motives and to pray for God's strength and support each time before we serve.
2. To continue to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)