Thanks for continually enjoying Hidden Melody songs.  I'm very grateful to our brothers and sisters from 🇧🇷 🇵🇭 for this precious collab ❤ Amen. Much grace!

I CHOOSE TO STAY 
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/899

1.
If my pathway seems not clear,
Then be my sight that leads to life.
If, Lord, I have Your presence dear,
Then Lord my future will be bright.
I long to stay, Lord, earnestly!
But mercy’s all that’s keeping me.
 	
Cho:
I choose to stay, remain in life;
Save me from death, turn me to life.
Chase all the shades of night away;
Chase all dark thoughts of sin away.
Since through Your word I gain more life,
Lord, let me come be filled with life.

2
As I go on, there’s a test:
Will I all things, dear Lord, detest?
Will I to “precious” things adhere,
Yet lose Your presence, Lord, so dear?
If I’m by pride, ambition, lost,
Then, Lord, expose me at all cost.
 
3
If foll’wing You is at great price,
What can I give except my life?
Let me become a sacrifice,
To live a self-denying life,
A life that cares for nothing else
But Christ my all, my universe!

I Choose To Stay | NS899

Among all the trees in the garden of Eden, only two are mentioned by name: (1) the tree of life and (2) the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). These two trees represent two principles by which a Christian can live: (1) the principle of life and (2) the principle of good and evil.

Eating the tree of the knowledge of good and evil results in death (Genesis 2:17), and the devil is the source of death (Hebrews 2:14). Christ is the source of life (John 11:25, 14:6); He came that we may have life (John 10:10; Colossians 3:4); and He even presented Himself as a vine (John 15:5)—a low-growing, accessible, fruit-bearing tree!

Today, every Christian is like a miniature “garden of Eden.” According to Romans 8:6, our mind is between two choices—just like Adam and Eve in the garden. If we choose to set our mind on the flesh, the result is death. If we choose to set our mind on our human spirit, where Christ dwells (Romans 8:10, 16), the result is life and peace!

Contacting Christ as life in our human spirit is the way to eat Him as the tree of life (John 6:57; Revelation 2:7). At the end of the Bible, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is gone, but the tree of life is an eternal enjoyment to the believers in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:14).

This song was written for a youth conference in April 2023. Thanks to the “little lilies” in our local youth group for recording with us!

Lyrics and guitar chords: https://melodyoflilies.com/christ-is-the-tree-of-life/
Support this ministry: https://paypal.me/melodyoflilies
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Christ Is the Tree of Life

Capo 1

C Am
1. *I was a stranger in a *barren land,
F
Not knowing the *God of glory planned
G C
To call me out *from the world into this journey. *
Am
By faith He led me to the *promised land
F
Where living water *freshens me
Gsus - Gsus7
And satisfaction’s *in the living *tree…

Chorus 1:
C G
In the church*—here to stay!*
Am
Countless times* I’ve failed but
F
You show* me the way back.
C G
I'm not* of this world!*
Am
You’ve appeared* to me Lord,
F
There's no* turning back.
C - F
I've *seen my destiny*
Em - Am
Is *an eternal city*
Dm Gsus C
Whose *Architect and Buil*der is my God*

2. Though God has brought me to this chosen land,
At times I don't really understand
The sufferings I go through, “Lord is all this for me?”
I am a man under Your sovereign hand.
Your mercy shines and now I see,
Your tenderheartedness to deal with me…

Chorus 2:
In the church, have Your way.
Strip me off of the earthly joys that replace You.
I’m not for this world.
Though the old man decays,
I’m daily renewed
My life on earth must be
To seek a better country
Whose Architect and Builder is my God

3. As I sojourn this temporary land,
Lord strengthen me, so trials I’d withstand,
Not losing sight of the eternity before me.
My future is brighter than what's at hand.
These sorrows, they will fade and flee
As glory fills me for eternity.

Chorus 3:
We’re the church in this age,
Getting ready to meet our Bridegroom that day!
We are not for this world!
We’re preparing for the new heav’n and new earth.
To be His masterpiece,
His bride eternally—
Our destiny’s the New Jerusalem.

Not For This World

(Us)
D A
Beneath this mask—this smile I wear—
Bm F#m
Which tells the world that I’m okay,
G D
That I am strong and nothing in
Em A
My life can drag me down today,
D A
Beneath this mask hides loneliness,
Bm F#m
And questions: what is life all for?
G D
And worries and anxieties
Em A D
Like rain from heaven, pour and pour.

(Christ)
“Why do you struggle on your own?
Just come to Me, pour out and call,
The feeling of your weaknesses
I’m touched with—yet I conquered all.
As Spirit in your spirit I’m
Contactable, available,
I’ll make more home within your heart,
And heal by life your turbid soul.”

(Us)
Beneath this mask—this smile I wear—
I am a child longing for
A home where I feel safe and loved,
A people I can call my own,
Beneath this mask—a cry for help,
I’m drifting on a stormy sea,
I’m tossed about from wave to wave,
With no direction how to be.

(Christ)
“Why do you struggle on your own?
I’ll be your Good Samaritan,
I’ll pour the oil and the wine,
I’ll lead you to your home, the inn,
The household of the faith is where,
Your turbid soul will find true rest,
And I too find My resting place,
My Body, where I’m manifest."

Why Do You Struggle?

THE ACHIEVER 5 V2(1)

2 Peter 1:3-4

A birthday consecration! Lord, make this my prayer throughout the whole year.

1. Dearest Lord, I come;
This is now my pray’r,
Keep me open to You,
May I always love You.

Lord, I love You more today,
So much more than yesterday;
Lord, I need You, Lord, I love You.

2. Now that the choice is mine,
Lord, I still choose You;
’Though the paths be not marked,
I’m still trusting in You.

3. And if the way is hard,
If things don’t go my way,
Keep my heart soft to You,
Keep me open to You.

4. Dearest Lord, I pray,
Lead me everyday;
Don’t let things come between,
Keep my eyes fixed on You.

5. When many years have gone,
And many things have passed,
I will still be for You,
I will still say to You:

Dearest Lord, I Come

If God leads you to walk
A way that you know,
It will not benefit you as much as
If He would lead you to take the way
That you do not know.
This forces you to have
Hundreds and thousands of
Conversations with Him,
Resulting in a journey that is an
Everlasting memorial
Between you and Him.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/291

If God Leads You To Walk A Way

1
A                              D                 A
What will turn our sorrows to joy?
                       E                              A    
Abounding thanks, unceasing praise!
          D                           A
Anxiety succumbs to peace
                                  E                              A      A7
When prayer with thanks does never cease.

Chorus:
                         D
O thank You, Jesus
                             A        
Your care, Your love unchanging
E                                    A                 A7
In everything, we can praise and sing;
                          D
No more complaining,
                       A 
Our joy maintaining through the 
  E                    E7                  A    D  A
One who supplies all our needs!

2
What's the will of God for our days?
Always rejoice, at all times pray;
In everything, our thanksgiving 
To God for bountiful blessings!

3
Turn away, give thanks, yes! Give thanks!
Never obey what feelings say
And as we turn, we'll be released,
For thanking God has set us free!

What will turn our sorrows to joy

(Written by Jacob Freeman)

Oh Lord, Your Name is Sweet! And from it flows
A river full of peace and light and life,
As on it, I cast all my anxious woes. 
I need not think! I only need to call.
In this way, I am less, and You are all. 

It is so rich to call and to receive—
To soak Your Spirit into all my being. 
As I absorb Your riches, I believe
And You are real to me. Oh, but to know
You, dearest Lord, and have a deeper flow!

You are a treasury of endless wealth,
So readily accessible to me!
How great! These riches constitute my health,
My great supply, my strength, my life, my all—
So effortless! I only need to call.

Continually soften all my heart
To cling to You and to receive Your Word.
Lord, make Your home in every inward part,
And, as I call, make deeper every root
That I might grow and bear You richest fruit.

I Only Need To Call (Lyrics by Jacob)

w/ LJ

Who can ever know the feeling deep down in my heart?
Who can really understand my weakness to sustain?
When I have lost hope to carry on by myself,
Your person stands by me to be my hope and life.

Your love so deep moving and sweet
How can I still stubborn be;
No more I struggle and strive,
Trust in Your faith and rest in Your breast.

When I feel the touch of Your hand upon my life,
I sense the flow of life flowing rich and free;
When You wipe away every tear in my eyes,
Sorrow has depart’d, behold a smiling face!

Why Do You Struggle?

Nathanael Cho