禱告 by 讚美之泉 from 單單只為你

Christian Chinese songs really touch my heart and what a way to start the year (Jan. 1 being a Sunday) to spend time in the Lord's house. Usually, we tend to be overly and eagerly happy because it is New Year. I am one of those who was expecting big song numbers and happy songs, but instead the worship leader chose this to be the first song. At that moment, I wasn't sure if it fit the theme, but looking back, I think it was perfect.

New year. New challenges and problems. New trials. New beginnings and blessings. New endings (at least for me). Everything is unpredictable. Only God knows and He wants us to daily commune with him through prayers and supplications.

I really like the verse because it depicts the attitude of how we should come before our Lord... with humbleness, humility and reverence. I know we can't see God, but He still deserves utmost respect. I also love the promise of God being with us despite the tears flowing out and that His grace is sufficient for our needs. He supplies His daily grace to us when we come to Him.

Here's the Chinese and English lyrics: (both for singing)

禱告，因為我渺小；(I pray, for I am nothing)
禱告，因為我知道我需要 (I pray, for I clearly know I need)
明暸，你心意對我重要。(To seek Your will as it's shown to me)
禱告，已假裝不了；(I pray, for I am searching)
禱告，因為你的愛我需要；(I pray, for Your love is what I need)
你關懷，我走過的你都明白。(On my knees, through the valleys, You walk with me)

有些事我只想要對你說，(Some things I only wanna let You know)
因你比任何人都愛我；('Cause no one loves me like You, my Lord)
痛苦從眼中流下，(Though tears of pain may fall out)
我知道你為我擦。(You're with me I have no doubt)
在早晨我也要來對你說，(As day breaks, Lord I wanna cry to You)
主耶穌今天我為你活；('Cause you so love me, You'll pull me through)
所需要的力量你天天賜給我，(The strength that I need I receive every morning)
你恩典夠我用。(Your grace is all I need)

Here's the mp3 version:



Here's the Youtube version:

Pray to God this start of the year... why pray everyday. Remember, God doesn't need our prayers, it is us who need it more badly.

復興聖潔 from 讚美之泉 展開清晨的翅膀

It's been awhile since I posted a Chinese song... so here we go.

A beautiful orchestration, a serene and calming feeling, meaningful lyrics... these are the things that I get when I listen to Stream of Praise's (讚美之泉) Revive Holiness (復興聖潔) from the album Wings of Dawn (展開清晨的翅膀). It is so befitting to actually review this song now as I am feeling a kind of slump these days. I feel tired and lazy and just worn out... I guess by both work and service alike.Sometimes you get a "down" feeling especially after you've reached a "high" point. Maybe because you've felt proud of your achievement or you've felt that you're never going down the same path as those you're reaching out to. God says to offer daily your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable which is your true and proper worship.

This song reminded me that maybe what I need is not only physical rest but also a spiritual revival. he calls us to be holy people, set apart for His work. But then again, only when we are right with God can our service to Him be pleasing to Him. Join me in asking God for forgiveness, for a revival in holiness so that we might become noble instruments fit for His use.

Here are the lyrics:


主, 求你復興我 (Lord, set my heart ablaze)
心中的聖潔 (Revive holiness)
為我造清潔的心 (Grant me a clean heart)
使我重新有正直的靈 (Restore a right spirit within)


主, 求你復興我 (Lord, set my heart ablaze)
心中的聖潔 (Revive holiness)
將我分別為聖 (Set me apart for you)
作你尊貴榮耀器皿 (To be noble instrument)


我將身體獻上當做活祭 (I offer You a living sacrifice)
一生作你聖潔的器皿 (May my life be holy in Your eyes)
我將生命獻上為你而活 (I offer up my everything to You)
為你呼吸  (Only to You)
我將身體   獻上當做活祭 (I offer You a living sacrifice)
一生作你聖潔的器皿 (May my life be holy in Your eyes)
一生傳揚基督的聖名 (Proclaiming Your name on high)

Here is the mp3 version:

Here is the Youtube version:

I hope you have a revival in you today!

煉淨我 by 讚美之泉 from 不要放棄 •滿有能力

I'm trying out a new song again for this month's praise and worship. It's a quiet down song that I'll do after a short prayer to continue the mood of reflection time. It's called 煉淨我 (Cleanse Me). I seem to have taken a liking to Christian Chinese Songs although sometimes it takes time to learn and at times difficult to master. But for this song, I'm glad of it's simplicity and honesty. I also plan this song to also be the prelude as an introduction and to set the mood for worship service. I'm thinking an instrumental would be very phenomenal as an invitation to come and worship the Lord.

What I like about song the most is when it got to the part of "My dreams and pride I lay them down before Your throne... I surrender my all." It's just so wonderful and reassuring to know that we have a God who welcomes us, who listens to our prayers, who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent that is why we can trust Him and surrender our all to Him! It also reminded me that I can only serve him if I take out all pride in me and serve humbly and faithfully.

Here are the lyrics:

煉淨我 使我更像祢 (Cleanse me, Lord, to be more like You)
吸引我 使我更愛祢 (Draw me close, Lord, closer to You)
所有夢想 (My dreams and pride)
和驕傲都放在祢腳前 (I lay them all down before Your throne)
我要完全順服 (I surrender my all)

獻上生命 完全為祢用 (I give my life, Lord, come and use me)
放下自己 願祢得榮耀 (Humble myself, all for Your glory)
全心跟隨 活出祢呼召 (I follow you each step of the way)
父神 我只願為祢活 (My Lord, my life is in Your hand)

Here's the mp3 version:

Here's the Youtube live version:

Here's the other version (with just the lyrics):

I hope you can use this song also as a quiet time song for your devotions!

  

真實的悔改 from 讚美之泉 不要放棄 • 滿有能力

Another song from SOP (Stream of Praise) album 14 不要放棄 • 滿有能力 (Do Not Give Up • I Am Strengthened In Him) that is all about turning back to God. It is interesting that they use the word "turn" here. Sometimes, people use the word turn connoting a 360 degrees turn... meaning there is no change in life [a 360 degrees turn return the person to its original position]. What the song is saying here is a 180 degrees turn in life... meaning a total turn towards the opposite direction.

I am reminded of a song that I used to sing when I was in high school. The title is "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus". The verse 3 goes "The world behind me, the cross before me...No turning back, no turning back." It goes to show there are two sides and no neutral ground. You can't serve two Masters, either you are for Christ or against Christ.

Anyway, back to the song... I find it more apt for new believers to sing this, but this is also applicable to old believers because we are in the process of sanctification each and every day. So we still sin but we try, with God's help, to sin less. I hope and pray that God will use this song as a quiet time song when coming before our God.

Here are the lyrics:

主祢已救贖我們 (Lord, you have bought me with Your)
招聚我們為祢爭戰 (Precious blood and renewed my heart)
主我們同心尋求 (And you invite me to Your)
祢的國度祢的公義 (Kingdom and to Your righteousness)
求祢赦免我們 得罪了祢 (Lord, I come to repent all of my sins)
從今天起我們要 (I want to walk in Your ways)
順服祢旨意 (Let me live again)

主我們真實的悔改 (Today, I turn my life to You)
回轉到祢面前 (To Your holy calling)
求祢赦免我們的罪 (O Lord, cleanse my spirit, my soul)
潔淨我們的心 (Restore my heart again)
主再次賜下祢恩典 (Today, I live in Your mercy)
再次賜下憐憫 (In Your loving kindness)
求祢塑造我們生命 (Refine me, and make my life new)
為祢而活 一生討祢喜悅 (To follow You. And live only for You)

Here is the mp3 version:



Here is the Youtube version:

Lord, I turn my life to You... from sin turn 180 degrees to You!

  

恩典之路 by 讚美之泉 from 不要放棄 •滿有能力

Yes... another Christian Chinese song post and I must say I'm loving these songs that I'm discovering. The first time I heard this song was from our Rev. Wu's Praise and Worship last year. I must say it has been well accepted in our Church. I'll be singing it this week at our church so I just wanted to share it with you before that day.

恩典之路 translated as "Path of Grace" is one of the songs in Stream of Praise 14th Mandarin Album entitled "Do Not Give Up • I Am Strengthened in Him". There are a lot of good songs in this album so hopefully I will be able to share it with you some other time.

The path of grace... what does it mean? Some people define grace through the acronym GRACE or "God's riches at Christ's expense". Some define it as God's unmerited favor. And while these are all true, I find Strong's explanation more clarifying. He explains it as "the divine influence upon the heart and it's reflection in life." When God's grace is working in one's life it will be obvious. (taken from God Glorified) These definitions of grace only show that from start to end, every step we take, is only by God's grace.

We experience many graces in our life... grace of God's leading us like a shepherd through life's hills and valleys, grace of being chosen to be saved, grace of his blessings and promises, and so much more!

Here are the lyrics to the song: (By the way, you can use this English translation for singing)

Verse
祢是我的主 (Lord, you are my guide)
引我走正義路  (The shepherd of my life)
高山或低谷 (Through the hills and valleys)
都是祢在保護 (You're always by my side)
萬人中唯獨 (Calling me by name)
祢愛我認識我  (You've chosen me with love)
永遠不變的應許 (Blessing me abundantly) 
這一生都是祝福 (Your promise will never change)


Chorus
一步又一步 (Every step we take)
這是恩典之路 (You lead us with Your grace)
祢愛 祢手 (Your love, Your hand)
將我緊緊抓住  (Will hold us close to You)
一步又一步 (Every step we take)
這是盼望之路 (You lead us with Your grace)
祢愛 祢手 (Your love, Your hand)
牽引我走這人生路 (Will lead us through the path of grace)


Here's the mp3 version of the song:



Here's the Youtube version:

Here's the live version in Youtube from Goodtv show 音樂河:

May you take each day as an opportunity to experience His grace!