November 18, 2024

Lemon-y Shrimp Pasta Salad

June 23, 2014 by

Here in the NorthEast we are still waiting for the hot days of summer to arrive (not that I am complaining one tiny little bit!).  But this is surely the season for one dish salads that will be a complete meal.  It could be a pasta salad, like this recipe, or a nice full dinner salad!  Eating lighter meals on hot days certainly seems a more welcome choice…as well as meals that don’t require turning on the oven!

We love pasta salads!  But since we’ve made the choice to eat gluten free, I have found that pasta that holds up well when it is refrigerated and coated with a dressing has been difficult to find.  However, recently I purchased some Ronzoni brand gluten free pasta that is excellent!  (Here is a link AND a coupon!)  It is made with a multi-grain blend of white rice, brown rice, corn, and quinoa—nice texture (both hot AND cold), good taste, and holds up well as leftovers.  If you have eaten gluten free pasta before, you know that these three qualities are NOT always a given!  I have served this pasta to friends and family who couldn’t tell that it was a gluten free product.  Happy me!  Perhaps you might want to give it a try!  Enjoy!

Lemon-y Shrimp Pasta Salad (makes 4-5 generous servings)

2014-06-18 12.05.42

ingredients:
3 lemons, juiced plus 1 more for serving
2 teaspoons honey
1 cup fresh dill, chopped (dried ok, too)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4-1/3 cup mayonnaise (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (I use this lemon-pepper seasoning)
1 box (1#) rotini pasta (I used gluten free)
1 # frozen cooked tiny shrimp, defrosted
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 large seedless cucumber, diced

directions:

  • in a large bowl, whisk together the juice of the lemons, the honey and chopped dill. slowly whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified (or use your blender or food processor). season well with salt and pepper
  • add the shrimp to the vinaigrette, toss to coat well and set aside to marinate
  • cook pasta according to package directions; rinse and cool
  • add the mayonnaise (if using), the cooked pasta, grape tomatoes, and cucumbers to the bowl with the shrimp and toss to combine
  • season well (don’t forget to taste!) with salt and pepper
  • refrigerate ’til ready to serve

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

 

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Praising His Name Together

June 22, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise Your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of Your goodness to me.
Psalm 142:7 NIV

Here is David…once again…on the run for his life from Saul, hiding in a cave, acknowledging the need for his God’s deliverance and protection.  And don’t you just love his motivation?

“…that I may praise Your name, then the righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me.”

Yes, he definitely needed to be rescued from the cave. Yes, he surely needed to be delivered from this situation. Yes, he absolutely was in dire straits fearing for his life. But, even more than rescuing, delivering, and saving, he wanted to praise his Deliverer, his Redeemer, his Savior and tell others about God’s goodness.

And this was always the recurring theme of David’s heart—to praise God!  Even now, thousands of years later, you and I are so often brought to the place of praise through the beautiful, praise-filled words of David’s psalms, yes?  Here are a few of my oh-so-very favorites:

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:5-6

My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts
and of Your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is more than I know.
Psalm 71:15

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
Psalm 40:5

In Psalm 142, we hear of David’s desire to not only praise God for rescuing him but that other’s, also, would praise God for this.  How about me (and you)?  When we cry out to our God for His deliverance in our situations and circumstances, is it only for relief for ourselves? Or is our prayer that out of our being delivered our God would receive honor and glory and majesty and praise…? Oh, for sure, we need God’s deliverance! Daily each of us need God’s provision and protection and blessing. But we should always be sure to tell others about the wonderful and mighty and awesome things that He does as He cares for us.

So, tell us, would you…how has God set you free lately? We would love to praise His name because of His goodness to you!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I Place My Hope

June 22, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The troubles of my heart
They’re tearing me apart
How I need Your saving hand
To grant me a new start
Lonely and afraid
I call upon Your name
Save me from my enemies
And cover all my shame

I will lift my eyes
From this fragile life
For You will rescue me
You are my Prince of Peace
And I lift up my soul
To You who makes things whole
Oh, mercy-love of old
In You I place my hope
I place my hope

So guide me in Your truth
Be my strong refuge
Oh, forgive my doubting heart
And lead me back to You
Help me to believe
Your love is all I need
Even when the storm is strong
You will provide for me

Even in my darkest place
There’s a promise I will claim
Those whose hope is in Your grace
They will never be ashamed

Singer/Songwriter: Ellie Holcomb (with Ben Bannister)
*  ~  *   ~   *  ~  * 
This song gives me such a joyful conviction to sing out my profession of HOPE and TRUST in God’s promises. My favorite part is the bridge where Ellie Holcomb sings “…there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.” I, too, do claim that promise!  How about you?

We have this HOPE…we do rejoice in this HOPE…we are not ashamed by this HOPE.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us,
for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 AMP

Listen to what Paul writes (in verses 1-4) leading us to this promise:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame….

I trust (and pray) that these words inspire and strengthen your hearts (as they do my own)! Truly it is not in our own ability to figure it out but rather to recognize this grace and hope…and believe and trust. Our part is to ‘hold…firm’ and to “stand” and to “grasp and hold fast.” Jesus did the hard part! And God has made His promise and oath!

So when trials come (and we know they do!), and we are suffering (as does happen at times), we only need to grab hold of the sure and steadfast anchor of our soul—our HOPE.

For me, memorizing Scripture is the only sure and reliable way to hold these truths from the Bible in my mind.  ‘Cause I can’t always sit down at the computer, and log into some Bible software, and pull up a verse or two!  Or I don’t always have my Scripture memory book or memorization cards right at my fingertips. But (for better or worse!) I do always have my mind with me…and can reach into this treasure of memorized Scripture passages to be encouraged and made strong.  Here are some additional verses you might memorize (or write down on little cards to carry along with you!).

Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Psalm 119:116

For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,
Hebrews 3:14 RSV

This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
Where Jesus has entered in for us….

Hebrews 6:18-20 AMP

I encourage you, friends, to sing along with Ellie; be strong in your conviction that “...there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.”  Praying for you (myself, too!) that we will remember that we HAVE this HOPE and that we will cling to the anchor of our soul!  God always keeps His promises!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who Is Like The Lord

June 21, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

1 Praise the Lord!  (Hallelujah!)  Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens!

5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!

7 [The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap andthe dung hill,

8 That He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people.

9 He makes the barren woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children.  Praise the Lord!  (Hallelujah!)

Psalm 113

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

You’re all that I ever wanted
You’re all that I ever need
And though I wasn’t looking
You were after me
For Your love for me is eternal
And this I know is true
I could never repay
The debt of love I owe to You

For who is like the Lord my God
Compassionate and full of mercy
Who compares to Your great love
There’s none in all the earth
I will sing of Your love and grace
That covers all my guilt and shame
In all the earth who is like the Lord

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Quinoa-Beef Stuffed Portabellos

June 16, 2014 by

2014-06-10 19.36.12

Remember that delicious and so-good-for-you red quinoa recipe from last week? Well, I was looking around for a use for the rest of it and so…these were going to be stuffed sweet peppers but the portobello caps were SUCH a good price!  (Well, y’know I could not resist!)  I par-cooked the mushroom caps on a grill pan but they would be great done on your outdoor grill too!

We enjoyed these as an entree with steamed broccoli–they were VERY filling!  I figure two caps per person unless you choose to serve these as a side dish.  This recipe fit nicely into our ‘healthy but oh-so-yummy’ point of view!  Enjoy!

Quino-Beef Stuffed Portabellos

ingredients:
4 medium-sized portabello mushroom caps plus 1 extra for chopping
1/2 # ground beef (or turkey, chicken, or lamb)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup kale (or spinach), stems removed and chopped
1-2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (I used havarti)
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2 moons
2 heaping tablespoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
olive oil

directions:

  • preheat oven to 375 (heat grill pan, also, if using)
  • in a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat; add sliced onions and cook for 4-5 minutes
  • using a spoon, scoop out the dark gills of each mushroom cap. (if they have stems, add these along with the 1 extra cap for chopping.)  brush the caps with olive oil & place rounded side down on the heated grill pan (or onto a foil-lined baking sheet)
  • bake for 6-7 minutes; remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly
  • chop up the set-aside mushroom cap (and stems, if any) and add to onions in saute pan; cook over medium heat until mushrooms get brown & fragrant (caramelize them), perhaps another 6-7 minutes
  • once onions and mushrooms are done, pour into a large mixing bowl along with the cooked quinoa
  • (using the same skillet), add ground meat. cook over medium high heat ‘til browned.  lower heat just a bit (don’t want to burn the garlic!) and add chopped garlic and saute for another minute or two stirring constantly
  • stir in red wine and chopped kale (or spinach) and cover pan; simmer ‘til liquid is evaporated
  • add meat and kale to the veggie/quinoa mixture in the large bowl
  • stir in the balsamic and mix the ingredients all together in the bowl. season well w/ salt and pepper
  • place scoops of mixture into mushroom caps (I find my hands worked well!) dividing the stuffing mixture equally amongst the caps. top each mushroom with a few crumbles of cheese
  • bake for about 12-15 minutes, ‘til mushroom caps are tender & filling is slightly browned.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Held In Your Hands

June 15, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Look up, another day before me
Look back, another day is gone
Should my heart begin to worry
Lift my eyes to find again the promise of Your love
Lift my eyes to find again that You will be enough

All our yesterdays and all of our tomorrows
Held in Your hands, held in Your hands
All we know to pray and all we’ve yet to face
Is held in Your hands, is held in Your hands

I know, Jesus, I can trust You
I know in all things You are good
I’m casting every care upon You
You knew my name, my every pain, before this breath was mine
You made a way, You overcame with love that outlives time

All our yesterdays and all of our tomorrows
Held in Your hands, held in Your hands
All we know to pray and all we’ve yet to face
Is held in Your hands, is held in Your hands

These hands that carried the Cross
Carry us now every moment, every hour
These hands that carried the Cross
Carry us now never failing, only good
Never failing, only good

All our yesterdays and all of our tomorrows
Held in Your hands, held in Your hands
All we know to pray and all we’ve yet to face
Is held in Your hands, is held in Your hands

Is held in Your hands, is held in Your hands

Singers/Songwriters: Kevin Huguley, Wesley Willis, Jason Ingram — Rush of Fools

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Take a moment, would you, to listen to this song again. And, while doing so, think of Jesus’ hands…. Think of how they look to you…maybe you picture them in just one way—bleeding and oh-so-very painful as He carried the Cross. Or perhaps you picture a whole vignette of scenes featuring Jesus’ hands ministering over and over and over…. Here are a few instances that I recalled from the Scriptures:

Jesus holding out His hand to the woman caught in adultery (John 8)

This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him.
But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.
Verse 6

Jesus holding out His hand to Peter while walking on the sea (Matthew 14)

Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him,
saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Verse 31

Jesus holding out His hand to the man healed of leprosy (Matthew 8)

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Verse 3

Jesus holding out His hand to heal the ear of the man in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22)

But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.”
And He touched his ear and healed him.…
Verse 51

Jesus holding out His hands to Thomas (John 20)

Then He said to Thomas, Reach out your finger here, and see My hands;
and put out your hand and place [it] in My side.
Do not be faithless and incredulous, but [stop your unbelief and] believe!
Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God!
Verses 27 and 28

Think about it, my friend—Jesus is holding out His hand at this very moment to you (and me, too!)  With the very same degree of compassion and love, He is reaching to you (and me, too!) and is willing and able to support, provide for, guide and protect you (and me, too!)  In what area of your life, do you need for Jesus’ hands to carry you?

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Stand In The Congregation

June 14, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them (publicly) exalt Him also in the congregation of the people
and praise Him in the company of the elders.
Psalms 107:31-32 AMP

I will stand in the congregation
And I will exalt You
I will stand in the congregation
And I will exalt You
Let the children of Your salvation
Lift their praises too
Hallelujah

I will stand in the congregation
And I will praise Your name
I will stand in the congregation
And I will praise Your name
With Your people in every nation
I will shout this praise

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

We will join as a congregation
And we will exalt You
We will join as a congregation
And we will exalt You
We will sing as all creation
Lifts the song anew
Hallelujah

(Stand In The Congregation – Bill Batstone/Maranatha Music)

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I Choose Jesus

June 13, 2014 by

Jesusthewaythetruththelife

I have searched to find the meaning of this life
Something that would fill my empty soul
Some believe a lie, choose darkness over light
But I will stand and let the whole world know

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
The One who first chose me

I stand unashamed trusting in one Name
‘Cause I have seen the Cross and I believe
This choice comes at cost, all other things are lost
No other love could mean so much to me

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
The One who first chose me
I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
For now and eternity

He chose to love me when I felt unlovable
He chose to reach me when I felt unreachable
He carried me out of my fear and doubt
How I want the world to know—I choose Jesus

Singer/Songwriter: Moriah Peters along with Tony Wood, Chuck Butler, Ed Cash

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ * 

Have you searched to find meaning and SOMEthing that would fill the emptiness of your soul?  I have….  Oh, how I yearned to KNOW I was l-o-v-e-d!  Probably for most of the first quarter century of my young life, I attempted to fill that void. But nothing…not accomplishments, not approval, not food, not inappropriate relationships…nothing was able to fill that hole in my heart.  And, assuredly, there is nothing COULD fill that hole in my heart…only Jesus.

perhaps you have heard this quote,
“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person,
and it can never be filled by any created thing.  It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”
(Blaise Pascal)

I think that pretty much describes it well—a ‘God-shaped vacuum in the heart.’  I believe God created man (and woman) with that need.  And I know He perfectly provided for the filling of that vacuum when He made Adam and Eve and gave them the opportunity to have perfect fellowship with Him every moment of every day.  And I trust He would have always supplied their need…but they were deceived.   They chose to think that something else—being equal and alike to God Almighty—was the true answer to their needs.

But the serpent said to the woman,
You shall not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:4-6

And, because they chose the deception of the enemy of their souls, and disobeyed the One Who truly DID love them, they lost that fellowship and perfection connection and the fulfillment that a relationship with their God gave them.

And mankind has suffered under the sin of Adam since.  But God would not allow His plan, His desire to fail.  And He provided so that all of humanity could have that ‘God-shaped vacuum’ filled in the way He has originally planned.

By this the love of God was manifested in us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son
into the world so that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10

Jesus IS the perfect and complete filling of that vacuum!  We do not need to search or attempt to fill the void inside…we need to accept God’s perfect provision making Jesus our Lord and Master and live our lives in obedience to Him.

In this beautiful song, Moriah Peters sings, “He chose to love me when I felt unlovable…He chose to reach me when I felt unreachable…He carried me out of my fear and doubt.”  No longer do I (nor you either!) have to search for something to fulfill the emptiness, the void.  We need to choose Jesus!  He has chosen me (you, too)!

Sing and praise along with me…

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
The One who first chose me
I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
For now and eternity

Filed Under: encouragement Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa

June 9, 2014 by

It is starting to be the season when simpler suppers are more agreeable, wouldn’t you say? No need to heat up the kitchen when preparing this dish. AND, this is equally good served hot from the pan, warm, or even as a cold salad!

This dish, Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa, also fits into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV since it is full of fresh ingredients with less than 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the entire preparation, and a bit of shredded parmesan cheese to finish it off!  This easily serves 3 hungry adults and can be doubled with no trouble at all.

Have you and your family enjoyed quinoa <kEEn-wah> before?  Quinoa is a grain but it is the seed that we eat!  (Good news for the low-carbERs, right?)  And it is jam-packed full of protein.  Usually when I prepare a pot of quinoa, I make enough extra to use for another meal.  To find quinoa in your grocery store, check the natural food section, or perhaps where they sell different rice products.  Our favorite is ‘red’ quinoa.  Quinoa does come in three varieties (white, or ‘golden’, red, and black).  Basically they are the same with shades of differences, basically in texture.  But I have used all three totally interchangeably!  Here are some nutritional facts about quinoa.  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!

2014-06-08 18.45.20

Shrimp and Asparagus Saute over Red Quinoa

ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup water
½ medium sweet onion, sliced into half-moons
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
10-15 grape or cherry tomatoes (I used yellow), sliced in half
1 pound uncooked shrimp peeled and deveined
2 cloves garlic, minced
1+1/2 tablespoons freshly ground lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
shaved Parmesan cheese
lemon wedges (optional)

directions:

  • preheat oven (or toaster oven, as I did) to 400.
  • line a baking sheet pan with foil
  • in a medium saucepan, bring liquids to a boil; stir in quinoa. return to a boil, reduce heat to low; cover with lid and simmer gently ‘til liquids are absorbed (20 minutes or so)
  • in a large saute pan over medium-high flame, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and add sliced onions; saute for 7-8 minutes to soften
  • while onions and quinoa are cooking, place asparagus on the lined baking pan, and season well with 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning. pour 1 teaspoon olive oil evenly over the asparagus and then roll back and forth on the baking sheet to distribute. bake for 10-12 minutes
  • (back to the saute pan!) add the halved tomatoes placing flat side down in pan; heat for 3-4 minutes.2014-06-08 18.36.49
  • stir in the shrimp, minced garlic, lemon pepper seasoning. allow to cook without stirring for 3 minutes or so, ‘til shrimp are starting to turn pink. flip shrimp over and cook for 2 more minutes. pour in the wine, give everything a good thorough stir and let simmer for just 2-3 minutes to reduce the liquids. remove from heat and check for additional seasoning
  • asparagus should be done; remove from oven
  • To plate: scoop some quinoa into an even layer on plate or shallow bowl. spoon shrimp&veggies over top. add stalks of asparagus on top and sprinkle with cheese.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Cielo (Latin for Heaven)

June 8, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m walking through the bright white gates
Breathing in and out Your grace
All around me melodies rise
That echo with a joy inside
So I start to sing

But I can’t sing loud enough
I can’t sing loud enough
When I’m singing for You, My God

With a thunder roll and a brilliant light
Your glory bursts and the heavens shine
Saints and angels stand in awe
Captured by the beauty of it all
So I fall to my knees

But I can’t bow low enough
I can’t bow low enough
At the vision of You, my God

I can’t hold it all inside
I’m reaching for the One
Who brought me out of death and into life

Now I can’t lift my hands high enough
Lift my hands high enough
When I’m reaching for You, my God

 

Singer/Songwriter: Phil Wickham

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I heard this beautiful song—a psalm, really—for the very first time yesterday.  I had the joy of attending the 2014 Recital of The King’s Dancers.  And “Cielo” was the musical script for one of the ballet numbers.  I can truly say that my heart was overwhelmed by this song!

This beautiful, captivating song is written to paint the picture of being in God’s Throne Room.  Phil Wickham shares his heart about this song in the very beginning of this video clip.  Here is what he said: “The song is kind of a story about a man, kind of waking up…his first kind of entrance to the heaven and seeing God and being overwhelmed, in the light, in the love, in the mystery and beauty of the whole place, so I wrote the verses as a story and the chorus is kind of a sing-a-long response.”

And each verse DOES depict such a vivid mind-picture, don’t you think? “Thunder rolling, brilliant glory bursting, walking through bright white gates, breathing God’s grace, hearing joyous melodies rising about…” But what caught me and drew me in was the idea of it not being possible to sing loud enough…or bow low enough…or lift my hands high enough in worshipful response to the absolute Presence of my God!

It reminded me of this passage in the very beginning of the Book of Revelations:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.
And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man,
clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow;
and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace,
and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword;
and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.
And He placed His right hand on me, saying,
“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One;
and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore….

Revelations 1:12-18

The apostle John was given incredible and amazing and awesome and hard-to-fathom revelations. He was shown the most magnificent and truly breathtaking things in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Perhaps, do you think that, had he known this song, he might have been singing, “I can’t bow low enough, I can’t bow low enough at the vision of You, my God!”

Listening to this song, I desire to be real before my God recognizing my desperate need for Him.  I would love to plead with you, friends, to take your music-listening device and go in your ‘closet.’  Play it as loud as you are comfortable with…and worship Your God!  I pray that you won’t be able to sing loud enough or bow low enough or lift your hands high enough!   But DO sing and bow and lift your hands because God is as close as your breath…and He SO desires to receive your worship and praise!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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