"Music & Poetry;Emotions Unleashed"

Music & Poetry are some of the creative mediums that are used by individuals who wants to express themselves in such a way that they can freely unleash their emotions.

This is my compilation of the most memorable moments of my life that made me realized of my true purpose in life.I dedicate this to the man who had helped me realized my potentials as a person,as a unique individual.The friendship & memories that we had shared will be with me until the last day of my life.A person that i had shared my life ,even my most intimate secrets.No one knows me well as he knows me,i call him my bestfriend.

With your words

Submitted by ArnaudGretzen
Category: Love Poems

"You are a beautiful woman."
"I love your face."
"I love your mind."
"I love your soul."
"You are an angel.

"Words you had spoken,are they really meant?
Words that every women are longing to hear.
Words that made me fell in love

with you head over heels.
Are those words are just food for the ears?
Or those words are for real?
Do you really meant what you had said?
Or just for flattery & amusement?

I'm sorry,i'm just a simple girl
who need someone who will love me.
I'm sorry,my mistake was loving you so much.

I'm sorry,i used my heart instead of my mind,
I'm so sorry because i think i'm a kind of girl
who will love you purely & blindly,
This is me,just loving you unconditionally.

Mandy Moore - i wanna be with you - I Love You-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Z1tH62VPk

Am I a GHOST?

Submitted by ArnaudGretzen
Category: Love Poems

Here I am, breathing...........
Here I am, living but somehow i feel i don't exist.

Living a day without you by my side is....so lifeless.

Spending an hour without knowing that
you are here is so senseless.

Everyday without you is like living
in a world of emptiness.

Even i tried so hard ,
to let you know that here i am.

Loving you with all my heart,
it seems you would'nt see.

To the extent i make fool out of myself
just to let you feel how special you are to me.
I don't care what other people would say or think of me....
Just hoping that somehow you could notice me,
appreciate me...
Here i am , that i exist.

Cascada - Love U Promised
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_A-213kiQg

Promised

Submitted by ArnaudGretzen
Category: Love Poems

Remember you had told me.............

"I am a man,I won't talk or go out with other women
because of you

I am a man sometimes i miss to have sex,
buti will resist for you.

"Words all women are longing to hear........
Words that i have been holding on until now...

Words that is giving me strength when times
i'm losing hope.......Words that is keeping me alive until this day.
Words that had made me lived again.

Cascada-everytime we touch(slow)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izZ2PtjfflA

Everything is fine?

Submitted by ArnaudGretzen
Category: Love Poems

You know that i love you...
You had let me feel that you felt the same for me.
We shared happy moments that i would cherish forever.

Why sudden changed....what had happened.......?
Had you lost interest on me?
had you fallen out of love?

Had you found someone else?
What have i done,why sudden changed?

When i ask you?
All you would say is everything is fine!

I'm trying to believe you
but my heart tells me that there is something wrong,
just pretending that all is alright.

But deep inside you are tearing me apart.

I felt i was dying every minute
not knowing your true feelings for me,
scared that one morning you are gone.

Never going back!!!!!!!

Leona Lewis - The best you never had (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e06DRDiWbdQ

Boyce Avenue - Apologize (piano acoustic)on iTunes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DOasai3_Vo

Boyce Avenue - No Air (piano acoustic)on iTunes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guWHD4a1wOM

"True Intentions"

Hi!!!i was very lucky to find someone like you bec.we almost think the same.When we first met,remember i told you that i think you would be any girl's dream but i think you are not the one i want to be w/...........my reason is...ok,you looked good,have a nice car ,have a nice job............but first i think you are a womanizer.....so how could i be happy?w/ the material things alone?i'm not that type of person,i'll much be happier if my husband will just love me,respect & trust me....i think that will bring me true hapiness,material things must be just secondary.You said you want an honest person i think we are looking for the same trait......first i just want to be your friend but as we know each other i had seen something special in you.The traits that i've been looking for in a guy.......you are so refined.......your sweetness..........physically i'm attracted to you...................Then i start to like you in all aspects.....that is why i asked your true intentions,maybe i'm just misunderstanding your kindness.....to have false pretenses.........i want to know what are you up to,bec. if you will just want me for companion then dropped me after you're through,i think i don't deserve you even if you would be the richest man on earth,bec. i think i deserve better i could give more than money could buy.We will just lived once why not make the best of it!!It is how you look at it.Life is not just money....i'm not telling that this is not important.All people need it.......me i want to have a comfortable life.....all people wanted that.But some can be so greedy in expense of their happiness at the end not knowing they are left empty.In my age i already experienced all the hatred,sorrow & emptiness.........thati s what have made me a stronger person.....................my principles is still intact even a lot has changed still looking to have better future.That is what i'm going to strive for to have a happy family..........be a good wife i'll be there emotionally,spiritually,physically for my husband & we will be helping each other to give a better future for our kids.

THAT IS ALL I WANTED!!!not longing only for my own hapiness but i want
my love ones.........to be part of that fullfiling life,i can't do that alone
i'll be needing your help.If we face the trials together i'm sure will survive.

Leona Lewis - Whatever It Takes (lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_9PQA8RVG0
Leona Lewis - Take A Bow (lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ztc7UW_B8
Leona Lewis Angel With Lyrics!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwaFjgsdn80

You Are a Chanel Woman!

Be A Chanel Woman

Strong, intelligent, creative, multi-tasker, independent, lovable, businesswoman, mom, sister, wife, girlfriend. This is the woman of the 21st century and she is unlike any other woman in history. As we strive to have it all and keep our lives balanced, there comes a point when we must admit that we have accomplished more than we ever dreamed of and that we deserve to spoil ourselves! The women of the world need to stop running around for one second and put themselves in front of everyone else. We realize how hard it is to do this, especially since our biggest fear is that everyone around us will fall apart if we stop to take care of ourselves. Trust us, everything will be fine!

The best way to pamper yourself is to make some fabulous purchases that will add some excitement to your look! You know you get that sense of accomplishment when you find that perfect piece AND it's on sale! In order to make the most of your time, it's important to start thinking like a Chanel woman! What is a Chanel woman? Well, we can see how Coco lived her life, she was spontaneous, feminine, classy and she introduced a suit that would encourage women to rise above men and to take charge of their lives. Really, the most important characteristic of a Chanel woman is that she is authentic.

Now that you have realized that you are a Chanel woman, it is time to add an authentic Chanel handbag to your wardrobe! Some of you are probably thinking "I can't afford an authentic Chanel bag!" Others might be thinking "Where do I buy an authentic Chanel handbag?" Well ladies, get ready to squeal with joy because not only have we found some great options for you online, but they are all on sale! We agree with you that it is not easy to find good deals on many designer bags and that they definitely are pricey. But don't forget, today is your day to pamper yourself and you deserve this!

Since we consider an authentic Chanel handbag an investment, we make sure that we do our research when we are online. A lot of vendors are developing replicas and knockoffs that have absolutely no value. Sometimes it's easy to spot one (i.e. the Chanel handbag is offered for $50.00) and other times online stores do a good job of conning us. The best advice we can give you us to remember that a Chanel woman is authentic and therefore all of her bags must be authentic too.

Check out the beautiful bags we have found for you and you will see that they all guarantee authenticity!

Release your inner Chanel woman with these authentic Chanel bags!

"Do Seductive Attire Is Appropriate To Wear At Work?"

Sexy clothes at work, pros and cons

What should you wear at work? Even if there's no dress code or it says you can wear casual style, it's still a big question what you can wear and what you should avoid. Even though these days we propagate free mind and the right to be individual, you know there are certain limits in office clothing that you shouldn't cross. If you represent a serious company, your clothing should be appropriate. What about sexual dress at work? If you want to express your femininity (or manliness of course) in your style, should you stop or should you go?ShopNBC

Sexy clothes attract an attention. Aren't they made for this? If you walk in your workplace in miniskirt and bold décolleté blouse, you will definitely be in the center of attention. Most of people like to hear compliments and revealing cleavage can surely bring you praises but sometimes you can put yourself in ambiguous position by dressing up provocatively. However you should know your rights: no matter how you dress, it's not a reason for sexual harassment. It's important to take care of your appearance, especially if you need to communicate with customers a lot. While you are at work, you should represent the ideas of your working place, not your own standpoint.

However we are not machines and we want to be individual. No company forbids sexual clothes as long as your appearance doesn't disturb your co-workers and customers.ShopNBC You can express your sexuality without wearing provocative clothing. Subtle accessories and outfit that highlights advantages of your figure can gain you more compliments than unfastened shirt or spike heels. As long as you keep you style balanced between too much and too boring, you will be successful.Of course you shouldn't be judged by you dress style, but it's not how it works in the real world. According to several surveys, if people don't dress properly for job, others assume that they don't take their responsibilities seriously. These results might be a little overstated, but there is other common opinion among office workers. If one dresses too provocatively, it can be a sign that he or she is looking for someone to date. And this behavior is often considered improper for business environment.aswechange Even though a girl or boy who dresses and acts sexy is often considered to be promoted easily, the real life shows that it's the other way around. If you don't look like you are professional, people won't take you as a professional. You might be the most beautiful person on your floor, however you won't get promotion if you don't dress and act seriously.

After all, it's up to you. You can feel sexual and comfortable without looking sloppy. And you can feel professional dressed in too tight costume. Just think for a second what message your style sends to others and do you want it to be this way. Let's admit it; business environment is not suitable for lacy blouse and bright colors; however there are plenty of jobs that don't take dress code too seriously. If you are a bartender, an office suit might look boring. But if your office clothes looks like you have just left a night club, it looks unprofessional.

"Differences Between Men & Women"

Understanding The Difference
Between Men And Women

As the goal of equality between men and women now grows closer we are also losing our awareness of important differences. In some circles of society, politically correct thinking is obliterating important discussion as well as our awareness of the similarities and differences between men and women.

By: Michael G. Conner, Psy.D, Clinical, Medical & Family Psychology
E-mail: Conner@OregonCounseling.OrgPhone: 541 388-5660

[ This paper is collection of research conclusions and observations which I have witnessed over the past 5 year that I have attempted to put into a written form that might be helpful, but more importantly stimulate discussions. The real purposes is to increase the awareness between men and women, and to help them set aside issues that are not personal but are merely manifestations of nature. To my way of thinking, it is important to honor and rejoice in both our nature and our individuality.]

For centuries, the differences between men and women were socially defined and distorted through a lens of sexism in which men assumed superiority over women and maintained it through domination. As the goal of equality between men and women now grows closer we are also losing our awareness of important differences. In some circles of society, politically correct thinking is obliterating important discussion as well as our awareness of the similarities and differences between men and women. The vision of equality between the sexes has narrowed the possibilities for discovery of what truly exists within a man and within a woman. The world is less interesting when everything is same.

It is my position that men and women are equal but different. When I say equal, I mean that men and women have a right to equal opportunity and protection under the law. The fact that people in this country are assured these rights does not negate my observation that men and women are at least as different psychologically as they are physically.

None of us would argue the fact that men and women are physically different. The physical differences are rather obvious and most of these can be seen and easily measured. Weight, shape, size and anatomy are not political opinions but rather tangible and easily measured. The physical differences between men and women provide functional advantages and have survival value.

Men usually have greater upper body strength, build muscle easily, have thicker skin, bruise less easily and have a lower threshold of awareness of injuries to their extremities. Men are essentially built for physical confrontation and the use of force. Their joints are well suited for throwing objects.

A man’s skull is almost always thicker and stronger than a women’s. The stereotype that men are more "thick-headed" than women is not far fetched. A man’s "thick headedness", and other anatomical differences have been associated with a uniquely male attraction to high speed activities and reckless behavior that usually involve collisions with other males or automobiles. Men invented the game "chicken", not women. Men, and a number of other male species of animal seem to charge and crash into each other a great deal in their spare time.

Women on the other hand have four times as many brain cells (neurons) connecting the right and left side of their brain. This latter finding provides physical evidence that supports the observation that men rely easily and more heavily on their left brain to solve one problem one step at a time. Women have more efficient access to both sides of their brain and therefore greater use of their right brain. Women can focus on more than one problem at one time and frequently prefer to solve problems through multiple activities at a time. Nearly every parent has observed how young girls find the conversations of young boys "boring". Young boys express confusion and would rather play sports than participate actively in a conversation between 5 girls who are discussing as many as three subjects at once!

The psychological differences between man and women are less obvious. They can be difficult to describe. Yet these differences can profoundly influence how we form and maintain relationships that can range from work and friendships to marriage and parenting.

Recognizing, understanding, discussing as well as acting skillfully in light of the differences between men and women can be difficult. Our failure to recognize and appreciate these differences can become a life long source of disappointment, frustration, tension and eventually our downfall in a relationship. Not only can these differences destroy a promising relationship, but most people will grudgingly accept or learn to live with the consequences. Eventually they find some compromise or way to cope. Few people ever work past these difficulties. People tend to accept what they don’t understand when they feel powerless to change it.

Relationships between men and women are not impossible or necessarily difficult. Problems simply arise when we expect or assume the opposite sex should think, feel or act the way we do. It’s not that men and women live in completely different realities. Rather, our lack of knowledge and mutual experience gives rise to our difficulties.

Despite great strides in this country toward equality, modern society hasn’t made relationships between men and women any easier. Today’s society has taught us and has imposed on us the expectation that men and women should live together continuously, in communion, and in harmony. These expectations are not only unrealistic but ultimately they leave people feeling unloved, inadequate, cynical, apathetic or ashamed.

The challenge facing men and women is to become aware of their identities, to accept their differences, and to live their lives fully and as skillfully as possible. To do this we must first understand in what ways we are different. We must avoid trying to change others to suit our needs. The following illustrates some important differences between men and women. These differences are not absolute. They describe how men and women are in most situations most of the time.

Problems

Men and women approach problems with similar goals but with different considerations. While men and women can solve problems equally well, their approach and their process are often quit different. For most women, sharing and discussing a problem presents an opportunity to explore, deepen or strengthen the relationship with the person they are talking with. Woman are usually more concerned about how problems are solved than merely solving the problem itself. For women, solving a problem can profoundly impact whether they feel closer and less alone or whether they feel distant and less connected. The process of solving a problem can strengthen or weaken a relationship. Most men are less concerned and do not feel the same as women when solving a problem.

Men approach problems in a very different manner than women. For most men, solving a problem presents an opportunity to demonstrate their competence, their strength of resolve, and their commitment to a relationship. How the problem is solved is not nearly as important as solving it effectively and in the best possible manner. Men have a tendency to dominate and to assume authority in a problem solving process. They set aside their feelings provided the dominance hierarchy was agreed upon in advance and respected. They are often distracted and do not attend well to the quality of the relationship while solving problems.

Some of the more important differences can be illustrated by observing groups of young teenage boys and groups of young teenage girls when they attempt to find their way out of a maze. A group of boys generally establish a hierarchy or chain of command with a leader who emerges on his own or through demonstrations of ability and power. Boys explore the maze using scouts while remaining in distant proximity to each other. Groups of girls tend to explore the maze together as a group without establishing a clear or dominant leader. Relationships tends to be co-equal. Girls tend to elicit discussion and employ "collective intelligence" to the task of discovering a way out. Girls tend to work their way through the maze as a group. Boys tend to search and explore using structured links and a chain of command.

Thinking

While men and women can reach similar conclusions and make similar decisions, the process they use can be quit different and in some cases can lead to entirely different outcomes. In general, men and women consider and process information differently.

Women tend to be intuitive global thinkers. They consider multiple sources of information within a process that can be described as simultaneous, global in perspective and will view elements in the task in terms of their interconnectedness. Women come to understand and consider problems all at once. They take a broad or "collective" perspective, and they view elements in a task as interconnected and interdependent. Women are prone to become overwhelmed with complexities that "exist", or may exist, and may have difficulty separating their personal experience from problems.

Men tend to focus on one problem at a time or a limited number of problems at a time. They have an enhanced ability to separate themselves from problems and minimize the complexity that may exist. Men come to understand and consider problems one piece at a time. They take a linear or sequential perspective, and view elements in a task as less interconnected and more independent. Men are prone to minimize and fail to appreciate subtleties that can be crucial to successful solutions. A male may work through a problem repeatedly, talking about the same thing over and over, rather than trying to address the the problem all at once.

While there are differences in the ways that men and women think, it must be emphasized that they can and do solve problems in a similar manner. There are no absolutes, only tendencies.

Memory

Women have an enhanced ability to recall memories that have strong emotional components. They can also recall events or experiences that have similar emotions in common. Women are very adept at recalling information, events or experiences in which there is a common emotional theme. Men tend to recall events using strategies that rely on reconstructing the experience in terms of elements, tasks or activities that took place. Profound experiences that are associated with competition or physical activities are more easily recalled. There appears to be a structural and chemical basis for observed memory differences. For instance, the hypocampus, the area in the brain primarily responsible for memory, reacts differently to testosterone in men and it reacts differently to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in women. Women tend to remember or be reminded of different "emotional memories" and content to some extent as part of their menstrual cycle.

Sensitivity

There is evidence to suggest that a great deal of the sensitivity that exists within men and women has a physiological basis. It has been observed that is many cases, women have an enhanced physical alarm response to danger or threat. Their autonomic and sympathetic systems have a lower threshold of arousal and greater reactivity than men. In both men and women, higher levels of testosterone directly affect the aggressive response and behavior centers of the brain. Increasing estrogen and progesterone in men has a "feminizing" effect. Sexually aggressive males become less focused on sexual aggressive behavior and content when they are given female hormones. On the other hand, changing estrogen and progesterone levels in women during menstrual cycles can produce a "flood" of memories as well as strong emotions. Increasing or high levels of testosterone can produce an emotional insensitivity, empathic block and increased indifference to the distress others.

At the heart of sensitivity is our capacity to form, appreciate and maintain relationships that are rewarding. Even here there are important differences. For men, what demonstrates a solid relationship is quit different from that of most women. Men feel closer and validated through shared activities. Such activities include sports, competition, outdoor activities or sexual activities that are decidedly active and physical. While both men and women can appreciate and engage in these activities they often have preferential differences. Women, on the other hand, feel closer and validated through communication, dialogue and intimate sharing of experience, emotional content and personal perspectives. Many men tend to find such sharing and involvement uncomfortable, if not, overwhelming.

The Task Of Relationship Facing Men and Women

The task that faces men and women is to learn to accept their differences, avoid taking their differences as personal attempts to frustrate each other, and to compromise whenever possible. The idea that one gender can think and feel like the other if they truly loved each is rather absurd. Sure, a man or women could act in consideration of the other’s needs, but this would not necessarily be rewarding and honest. Holding the benefit of another above our own is rewarding. But from time to time, and more often for most of us, it is important to be our self and to be accepted, and not to be the source of distress and disappointment in the lives of people we love.

The Role Of Counseling and Therapy

Counseling and therapy can help a couple understand and appreciate each other, and even benefit from their differences. Understanding these differences intellectually is not enough. A counselor or therapist can help point out these differences, as they surface, and guide a couple to a greater level of relationship. Understanding that differences are not intentional and that misunderstandings are merely the result of expectations that are not realistic can make a huge difference in a relationship. The differences that can be sensed between a man and women can deepen their relationship. More importantly, when men seek to understand and appreciate that which is feminine, they come to a deeper understanding of their self. And when a women seeks to understand that which is masculine in men, they come to appreciate and understand more about their own masculinity.

About Differences In Relationships

It’s the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it’s the little differences that make them interesting.

"How Differences Can Help Your Relationship"

Have you ever wondered why you are in a relationship with someone who is so different from you?

Most people when they get into relationships have an unspoken andeven unconscious agenda that they want to make the other person justlike them. The thought is--"Everything would be okay if you're justlike me, if you like what I like and if you do things the way I likethem to be done."It may seem obvious--but we have to say it anyway--no two peoplealike. No matter how similar you think you are when you get into arelationship and how well matched, you are two radically different people.

What we have seen over and over--and we're sure you have too--opposites do attract.Many people come into relationship with someone who may appear to bethe same but sooner or later they discover just how different theyare and they end up being irritated about it.The truth is that we all come into relationships to grow and if weare with someone who is very different from us, we have the choice asto how we react to those differences.

We can either come from aplace of fear, righteousness and judgment or from a place of love andgrowth.What we have discovered is when differences come up, instead ofmaking that person wrong, you have to embrace the differences betweenthe two of you and use them to create a better relationship.Sound impossible? It isn't and here's why.

The two of us have very similar interests and values when it comes to learning about love, relationships and spirituality. At the very core of us, there is a strong "glue" that holds us together. We are also very different people with very different ways of looking at life. This fact often makes being married business partners a challenge!Through the years, we have learned and are still learning how to usethese differences as growth opportunities.

Here are some tips that we've discovered as we've worked with these differences daily to create powerfully together instead of being atodds and critical of one another:

1. Open to possibilities

When you are closed to the ways of other people and only focus on how you've always done things, there's no growth. Begin by opening tohearing that someone else may have a different way of doing somethingand a different opinion. Being open means breathing, sitting, facingone another in an open way and making eye contact. Be open tochanging a viewpoint, a way of doing something or even a value if it no longer serves you. It doesn't mean giving up being who you are but it means expanding who you are. Shift into an attitude of wonder.

2. Let go of needing to be right

All of us like to be right but when there are differences, we suggest you put that "rightness" aside. When we have hung onto being right, it's been helpful for us to go back to the thought--"Will this attitude move me closer to what I want or further away." Since what we want is a closer connection, we usually can let go of being right pretty quickly.

3. Listen without judging

This is a hard one but really necessary. Take turns talking and don't interrupt each other. Listen to each other and make an attemptto use "yes and" instead of "but" whenever possible. When you bothfeel heard, you will come up with a better solution to yourdifferences than you could have if you had stayed in your "rightness."

4. Ask "What Can I learn from you?"

This is truly the secret that we've found to dealing with our differences. Ask yourself "What can I learn from you that will helpme to grow?" and then listen to what comes up inside you.Shifting your attitude from blame to an openness to learning hastransformed our relationship and we know it can yours too.This week, whenever you are "hit" with someone's differences, changethe way you normally look at those situations. Shift from annoyance,anger or judgment to openness, wonder and love. We think you'll seea positive change in your relationships and life.

"Unbroken Vow"

UnBroken Love

She loves him, there's nothing she can do
He needs her, thats all that he knew
so they kept it together
When anyone else wouldve been through

She believed him when she knew it was lies
He cheated but he realized
but they kept it together
After all the tears they cried

She doesnt care she knows what they say
He shows her he loves her in his own way
and they keep it together
When no one else would stay

She swears they are soulmates
He vows she shouldnt wait
yet they keep it together
Never thinking its too late

She will show no fear
He thinks of the years
while they keep it together
For a love so dear

"The Warrior Is A Child"

http://videokeman.com/gary-valenciano/the-warrior-is-a-child-gary-valenciano/

The Warrior Is A Child - Gary Valenciano

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing
I’m strong beyond my years
But they don’t see inside of me
I’m hiding all the tears

Chorus:

They don’t know that I come running home when

I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while(Look up for His smile)
‘Coz deep inside this armorThe warrior is a child(Aahhh)

Unafraid because

His arrow is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I’m amazingI never face retreat, oh no
But they don’t see the enemiesThat lay me at His feet

Chorus:

They don’t know that I come running home when

I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while(Look up for His smile)
‘Coz deep inside this armorThe warrior is a child(Aahhh)
They don’t know that I come running home when

I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while(Look up for His smile)
‘Coz deep inside this armorThe warrior is a child(Aahhh)

The Warrior Is A Child - Gary V.

"In God We Trust , In God We Live"

The Living and Consistent God
But before we come to his saving activity, there are two basic truths about him to consider, which Scripture emphasizes throughout. The first is that he is a living and sovereign God; the second that he is consistent, always the same, "the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (Jas. 1:17).



Again and again the one, living and true God is contrasted with the dead idols of heathendom. Prophets and psalmists hold heathen idols up to ridicule. Isaiah describes the scene in one of the temples when Babylon was captured. He pictures the chief Babylonian deities being snatched ignominiously from their pedestals, carried out on men’s shoulders and loaded on to carts outside. Fancy gods being carried by men and becoming "burdens on weary beasts"! And when the laughter subsides, the voice of God is heard. He is no idol needing to be carried about by men, for it is he who carries his people:

Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you. (Isa. 46:3-4)
Not only the idols’ inability to save aroused the prophets’ scorn, but their total lifelessness:
Their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats. (Ps. 115:4-7)
In contrast to them, "our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him" (Ps. 115:3). He is the living God, who sees and hears and speaks and acts.
This living God is sovereign, a great king over all the earth. He is king of nature, and king of the nations also.
As king of nature he sustains the universe he has made and all its creatures. Even the ferocious elements are under his control. "The sea is his, for he made it" (Ps. 95:5), and the "stormy winds" fulfill his command (Ps. 148:8). Psalm 29 gives a dramatic description of a thunderstorm, in which "the voice of the LORD" breaks the cedars of Lebanon. The lightning flashes. The wilderness is shaken. The forests are stripped bare. The rain causes floods. As havoc spreads, one would expect apprehension and alarm to spread with it. But the psalmist remains quietly confident that God is in control:
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever. (Ps. 29:10)

Psalm 104 is an early study in ecology. In it the psalmist marvels (Ps. 104:17-18) at the way storks make their homes in fir trees, while "the high mountains belong to the wild goats" and "the crags are a refuge for the coneys" (that is, the rock badger, or hyrax). The psalm goes on to describe how God feeds all animals:
These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things. (Ps. 104:27-28)

Entirely in keeping with this Old Testament insistence that God is the Lord of nature is the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, that God rules the animate and inanimate worlds. On the one hand, he feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field; on the other, "he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matt. 5:45; 6:26-30).

The King of nature is also King of nations. As Daniel said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes" (Dan. 4:32). We saw in an earlier chapter how the little countries of Israel and Judah often seemed no more than pawns on an international chessboard. The great power blocs of the day were the empires of Egypt and Mesopotamia. As they confronted each other on the battlefield, and the tide of war ebbed and flowed, it was Israel and Judah and the small neighboring states which got caught in between. Yet Israel continually uttered the splendid shout of faith:
The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble! (Ps. 99:1)

No power on earth, whether alone or in coalition with others, could triumph over God’s people without God’s permission. Do the nations scheme and plot, and set themselves against the Lord and against his anointed?
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them. (Ps. 2:4)

The apostles of Jesus in New Testament days had the same conviction. When Peter and John were forbidden to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus, they called their friends to prayer. They lifted their voices together to God as the "sovereign Lord," the creator of the universe. Then they recited the first two verses of Psalm 2 (from which I have just quoted) and applied them to Herod and Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the rulers of Israel. These had conspired together in Jerusalem against Jesus. To do what? "What your power and will had decided beforehand should happen" (Acts 4:18, 23-28).

More than that. The prophets taught that the mighty soldier-emperors of the day, some of whom were cruel and ruthless men, were still instruments in the hand of the Lord. Shalmaneser of Assyria was the rod of his anger, the staff of his fury, with which to punish Samaria (Isa. 10:5-6), Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon his "servant" through whom he would destroy Jerusalem (Jer. 25:9; 27:6) and Cyrus of Persia his "anointed" to free his people from their captivity (Isa. 45:1-4; cf. 44:28).

If the God of the Bible is the living and the sovereign God, he is also always self-consistent. His sovereign power is never arbitrarily used. On the contrary, his activity is always consistent with his nature. One of the most important statements about God in Scripture is that "he cannot disown himself" (2 Tim. 2:13). Does it come as a surprise that it is said God "cannot" do something? Can he not do anything? Is he not omnipotent? Yes, he can do anything he pleases to do, anything which is consistent with his nature to do. But his omnipotence does not mean that he can do absolutely anything whatsoever; for he limits it by his own self-consistency.
God’s love and wrath, together with his works of salvation and of judgment, are sometimes set over against each other as supposedly incompatible. We have already mentioned how some people imagine the God of the Old Testament to be a God of anger and the God of the New Testament to be a God of mercy. But this is a false antithesis. The Old Testament also reveals him as a God of mercy, while the New Testament also reveals him as a God of judgment. Indeed the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments alike, presents him as a God of love and wrath simultaneously. The biblical authors are not embarrassed by this, as many moderns seem to be. Thus, the apostle John can tell his readers how "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son"; and at the end of the same chapter declare that on him who does not obey the Son the wrath of God remains (John 3:16, 36). Similarly, the apostle Paul can describe his readers as "like the rest...by nature objects of wrath" and in the very next verse write that God is "rich in mercy" and has loved us with a great love (Eph. 2:3-4).

The only explanation the Bible gives of the loving and wrathful activity of God, of his deeds of salvation and of judgment, is simply that he is like that. That is the kind of God he is, and this is why he acts that way. "God is love," and therefore he loves the world and has given his Son for us (1 John 4:8-9). But also "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29; cf. Deut. 4:24). His nature of perfect holiness can never compromise with evil but, as it were, "devours" it. Always he sets himself implacably against it.

One of the ways in which Scripture dares to express this truth of God’s self-consistency is to say that he must and will "satisfy himself." That is to say, he is always perfectly himself and acts in a way that is true to himself. In every situation he expresses himself as he is, in mercy and in judgment.

Having now drawn attention to the biblical revelation of God as both living and sovereign on the one hand, and self-consistent on the other, there can be no doubt that the principal way in which the living God has expressed himself is in "grace." No one can understand the message of Scripture who does not know the meaning of grace. The God of the Bible is "the God of all grace" (1 Pet. 5:10). Grace is love, but love of a special sort. It is love which stoops and sacrifices and serves, love which is kind to the unkind, and generous to the ungrateful and undeserving. Grace is God’s free and unmerited favor, loving the unlovable, seeking the fugitive, rescuing the hopeless, and lifting the beggar from the dunghill to make him sit among princes (Ps. 113:7-8).
It is grace which led God to establish his covenant with a particular people. God’s grace is covenant grace. True, it is also shown to everybody without distinction. This is called his "common grace," by which he gives to all men indiscriminately such blessings as reason and conscience, love and beauty, life and food, marriage and children, work and leisure, ordered government and many other gifts besides. Yet God’s entering into a special covenant with a special people may be described as his characteristic act of grace. For in it he took the initiative to pick a people for himself and to pledge himself to be their God. He did not choose Israel because they were greater or better than other peoples. The reason for his choice lay in him, not in them. As Moses explained it,
The LORD...set his affection on you...because the LORD loved you. (Deut. 7:7-8)
Covenant" is a legal term, and signifies any binding undertaking. When used in Scripture to describe what God has done, however, it is not to be thought of as an agreement between two equal parties, a kind of mutual contract. It is more like a "testament" or will in which the testator has sole and entire discretion in the disposal of his own estate. Indeed, the English words "covenant" and "testament" can be used interchangeably, which is why the two halves of the Bible are known as the Old and New "Testaments." The Greek word diatheke can mean either, and twice in the Epistles there is a play on the two meanings of the word, in order to make it plain that God’s covenant is like a "last will and testament" in that he has freely made certain promises (Gal. 3:15-18; Heb. 9:15-18). His covenant promises are not unconditional, since his people are required to obey his commands and this is their part of the covenant, but God himself lays down the commands as well as the promises. So even at Sinai God’s covenant remains a covenant of grace.

It is important to grasp, then, that the covenant of God is the same throughout, from Abraham to Christ, so that those who are Christ’s by faith are thereby Abraham’s children and heirs of the promises God made him (Gal. 3:29). The law which was given at Sinai did not annul the covenant of grace. On the contrary, the covenant of grace was confirmed and renewed at Sinai. What the law did was to emphasis and expand the requirement of obedience. It is only when the law is considered in isolation from the covenant of grace that it is contrasted with the gospel. Then the law is seen to condemn the sinner for his disobedience, while the gospel offers him life by grace.
We are now in a position to think about what may be described as three stages in the outworking of God’s covenant, expressed in the three words "redemption," "adoption" and "glorification."