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This song was played as background music in the midst of Kiat and Mich's wedding today... and it tied in well with the exhortation given by Pastor Kay Kiong... that one cannot love fully if he or she has not been fully loved.

Those raised up by loving dads and moms will most probably understand better and learn how to love others as they grow up.

As children, we all needed someone there for us to model upon... those who know no love will not understand how to love, that is, the love that is sacrificial, love that asks for nothing in return.

Investing your life in others used to sound right... but now that I understood that the term usually involves a return (especially in finances, when we talk about ROIs, return of investments), I am challenged not to invest my life, but to give it.

To Him first and foremost.

And as I give to others, it will be out of the abundance of the grace, mercy, love, giving that He's given me.

I was deeply moved by that phrase that's in bold above... because I realised that if it's not for the experiences of His love in my life over the past seven years, I really don't think I will ever understand how it is possible to love others (especially as an introvert), even if there is no reciprocation.

No... it's not that I've not experienced love as a child. I don't come from an exactly well to do family but I know my parents did their best to provide in all aspects. But I must say that nothing compares to what I've experienced the past seven years in my personal journey with God.

It's Him who empowers me... not an airy fairy feeling or what, but when you make it personal and know that what Jesus has done on the cross is for you when you absolutely don't deserve it, you'll perhaps catch a glimpse of it. :)

How deep.... how wide... is the Father's love for us.

And I just found my verse for this year. Or rather, these few years... used to have a year verse in the past (1 Thess 5:16-18, Psalm 27:4), but somehow it didn't really continue on. Yay! :)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16-19

NO GREATER LOVE
By Rachael Lampa

Before I knew Your Name,
You knew my ev’ry breath.
Before I found my way,
You knew my ev’ry step.
Before I knew everything that I need,
You gave it all to me.

No greater love than this…
That You should lay down Your life
For someone such as me;
I’d spend a lifetime wondering why.
The Beauty of Heaven
Is here in my heart
And I know there can be
No greater love than this.

I never understood
How merciful Love could be,
Until I felt His Flame
Light every part of me
And I would give everything that I am
’ Cause I have been saved;
Yes, I have been saved!

No greater love than this…
That You should lay down Your life
For someone such as me;
I’d spend a lifetime wondering why.
The Beauty of Heaven
Is here in my heart
And I know there can be
No greater love.

Oh, oh oh, oh oh, woah...

The Beauty of Heaven
Is here in my heart
And I know there can be
No greater love...
For someone such as me.
No greater love...than this.