The sing below was written by Ginny Owens, a singer who has been blind since two years old. She recounts in her testimony, how she was constantly rejected by schools when applying for the job of high school choir director because she was blind. But in the midst of all that she found God's path for her life, and found exceeding joy in singing for Him. The song below is a result of that.

I sometimes wonder, do we have too much in our life for our own good? Are we too blessed for our own good? We look at blind people and often we think that they are unfortunate, or unlucky, and we thank God for blessing us. Nothing wrong with that. But I think we should also realise something- blind people, because they cannot see, do not see a lot of the evil and suffering that goes on around us. They do not face a lot of the temptation that we face. They do not see this evil world around us. But in their heart of hearts they can see God, they can feel God, they can know God; and this knowledge of God is not tainted by their desire of the world and its trappings, because they do not see these things. They literally, only have eyes for God. And that, in my opinion, is such a great blessing.

We are blessed, indeed, but have we been distracted from the fact that the greatest blessing, the greatest thing, is to know God and be with Him? That all the gifts He gives us are but a mere shadow of being with Him and knowing Him, and meant to lead us towards, and not away from, Him? That is one of Satan's favourite tactics- to use the gifts to distract us from the Giver, to exalt the gifts above the Giver; and to make things worse, our human nature has no natural desire for God, but lusts exceedingly for earthly gifts. I realise now that I have suffered from this many a time.

It is not easy to look beyond the gifts to the Giver, especially when we have received an abundance of them. But the failure to do so, I have found, will not lead us to greater joy; it may lead us to some degree of temporal happiness, but ultimately it will still leave us wanting more, disappointed, aching. It will lead us frustated and tired. To do so requires pain, effort and struggle, but yet when we have done so we will find that we truly lack nothing and are complete. Because God is able to supply our every need.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:3-4

If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken
And the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why you brought me here
But just because you love me the way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If you want me to

'Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire
If you want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering your love put you through
And I will go through the valley
If you want me to

For a long time God's Word has not spoken to me strongly. But I realise now that it was because I was not even open to listening to Him; I was too preoccupied and blinded with my own way. And I was so tired and frustrated by things that I didn't even have the strength to seek Him; there were times when I really grew tired of living.

But tonight, I opened my Bible once again....

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyong measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer to us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many." 2 Cor. 1: 3-4, 8-11

Amen. Lord, I am so happy to be with You again. :o)

Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, I am free at last.

Thank you dear Lord, for bringing me to this point.

I finally can see clearly now. God spoke to me so strongly and so clearly in the past, telling me to let go, and to trust Him completely. I believed Him, and that brought me through some really tough times. But my feelings began to creep back, and I slowly turned away. Back to my own ways, back to my own desires. I tried to do it my own way, hoping that somehow God would approve and help me. But I realise now how foolish and blinded I was all this while. And now, clearer than ever, after having gone my own way, I finally realise that God truly always offers the best way, the best plan for our life. And I can say this now with all certainty because I have tasted what it is like to go my own way, a way that leads nowhere and brings only more struggle. God has a plan for your life; you can choose to go your own way, but sooner or later you will find that His plan is really the best.

Someone once said that God knows the things we hold closest to our hearts, and He will ever so gently pry our hands open until we release everything and are free in Him. That is so true. God has done it very gently in my life, ever so patiently, but it has hurt terribly nonetheless. But each time He has made the pain easier to bear; He has brought me through in some way. The final step, the final release, is always the most painful, the hardest step to take, the one that will tear your heart to pieces and sap every bit of you. It is so much more tempting to take easier paths! But I know now that it has to be done once and for all. There is no other way. Until we have tasted the deepest sorrows, we will never know the greatest joys. Only when we have broken and smashed our way through the final walls, painfully, dangerously if necessary, can we truly be free in Him. And He promises that we will not do it alone. He is there to guide, to give strength, to heal. He will never leave nor forsake us. Jesus' death was the most terrible possible; but it has given us life. We who must follow Jesus and take up our cross will find that this way is the most painful, yet it is the one that leads to true life.

Lord, I am willing. Please help me. With your help, I shall become myself.