November 17, 2024

Amazing Love (You Are My King)

March 16, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, to honor You

You are my King
You are my King
Jesus, You are my King
You are my King

 Newsboys
written by Billy James Foote

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This song personifies Easter to me.  I love the parallels given in this song—forgiven/forsaken, accepted/condemned, alive/died.  All these gifts and blessings are mine because of Jesus’ sacrifice.  A sacrifice He willingly chose to make.

He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men,
a Man of sorrows and pains,
and acquainted with grief and sickness;
and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised,
and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
Isaiah 53:3 AMP

I can’t even find words for this!  How is it possible Christ would choose to be treated in this manner?  Amazing love indeed!  Mark 15:34 (AMP) gives us a glimpse of what Christ experienced:

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
—which means, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me
[deserting Me and leaving Me helpless and abandoned]?

Jesus was left helpless and abandoned on the Cross so we might be forgiven.  God turned His back on His only Son in order to redeem us.  Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT): “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”  We may be persecuted, but we will never be forsaken; struck down, but never destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Because of Christ’s selfless sacrifice, we are accepted and protected by God Himself!

And not only are we accepted, but Romans 8:1 tells us “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus…”.  Christ was condemned in our place so that we could share His robe of righteousness.  We will never be condemned by God.  It is that robe of righteousness that allows us to stand before God, holy, pure, unblemished and unstained.

Isaiah 61:10 (AMP) talks about why we should feel joy in honoring Him.

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness….

The opportunity for salvation exists only because of Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice.  THAT is amazing love.  It is our choice to honor Him with our lives.  We should be honored to call Him our King.

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Lord, I cannot even begin to put into words what I feel when I think of all You chose to suffer just so I could be forgiven and accepted.  ‘Thank You’ will never be enough to express the depth of my gratitude.  It is my joy to honor You in all I do.  In Your name I pray, Amen – so be it!

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More Than You Think I Am

March 15, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You always think I’m somewhere on a mountaintop
But never think behind bars
You’d be amazed the places that I go
To be with you, where you are

So forget what you’ve heard
What you think that you know
There’s a lot about Me
That’s never been told

I’m more than you dream
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on My heart
Be still and trust My plan
I’m more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Rumor has it there’s a gavel in My hand
I’m only here to condemn
But let Me tell you secrets you have never known
I think of you as My best friend

So much has been said
Even done in My name
But I’m showing you now
Who I really am

Let me open your eyes to see
The heart of Me, differently 
Come closer than you’ve ever been
Let Me in like never before
Bring Me every broken part
The wounds and scars of who you are
Hide in Me and you will see

More than you think I am
More than you think I am
I’m more than you think I am

Singer/Songwriter: Danny Gokey along with Bernie Herms, Tim Nichols

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My God is loving and forgiving and full of grace and mercy.  He is thrilled when I succeed and cheers me on…even when I slip.  There is no condemnation from Him.  When I think of Him, I don’t see a gavel.  I see a Father Who was willing to send His one and only Son to die so that we might live. Every day was planned before we were born and all He wants for us is a life full of abundance.

God is with you.  Everywhere you go, He goes before you and walks beside You.  He is not somewhere that He cannot be reached (though it may feel that way when we have moved a little far away from Him).  And He will go to any lengths to be with you.  Wherever you go, He will go.  He is in prisons everywhere and in detention centers.  He is in hospitals here and overseas.  He is with those little children digging through trash piles.  He wraps His arms around the homeless sleeping on the cold streets.  He is everywhere.

He is waiting for you to let Him in.  And He wants all parts of your life. Oh, how much He can do in your life…if you just let Him.  He can take away pain and sorrow and give you grace and love and comfort . Don’t you see that the Creator of this world dances over you with singing and dancing.  He is the Lover of your soul and the Guardian of your heart.

I pray as you listen to this song, that you will let Him speak to you and tell you all that He is.  Just be still…know that He truly is God and He is able to do everything you need. And if you need to rededicate your life to Him today, all you have to do is tell Him.

What is He to you? I leave you with His own words:

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in His love He will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

He says, “Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

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Dear God, You are Holy and awesome and full of wonder.  Your Presence is everywhere and there is no where we can go that You will not follow.  Oh Lord, thank You for loving instead of condemning. Thank You for grace instead of a gavel.  And thank You for loving us enough to pay the ultimate sacrifice.  You are God and there is no other like You.  For those today that are far away, keep them wrapped in Your arms until they come back to You.  Help us to continue to spread Your hope to all who are hurting.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Steadfast Love Of The Lord

March 12, 2015 by

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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness

Kathy Troccoli
written by Edith McNeill

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But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23

During my quiet time the other morning, I was reading along in a Bible study lesson from the She Reads Truth community. (Here’s a link so you can read it yourself).  The devotional writer was relating how she ‘missed’ the first part of verse 21—‘but this I call to mind.’ And I realized that I, too, just hurry by those few words as I focus on the promises given in the rest of this passage. (How about you?)

As I went about my day I kept hearing this over and over in my mind as I sang and hummed it. So simple and such a beautiful melody! I love, in this recording, the solemn, somber tone of the cello as the musician plays along with the piano. And, of course, Kathy Troccoli’s beautiful voice.  But what I love the most is that by hearing it over and over, the words—the Scripture—has sunk into my memory and now I can truly ‘…call to mind, and therefore I have hope…’. Memorizing verses from God’s Word is such an important thing to do. Here’s why I say that….

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NASB

Those two phrases ‘but this I call to mind’ and ‘Your Word I have treasured in my heart’ are each relating to really knowing the Scriptures.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:21-26

Almighty God even described Himself as having ‘steadfast love.’  When God met with Moses, and gave him the Ten Commandments, the first thing He did was make Himself known to Moses.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…..
Exodus 34:5–7

Isn’t it AWEsome that what Almighty God told Moses about Himself was that He is

  • merciful
  • gracious
  • slow to anger
  • abounding in steadfast love
  • faithful
  • keeps steadfast love
  • forgiving

…and twice (‘and this I call to mind’) He mentions that His love is steadfast!!!

Throughout the entire history of mankind—from Adam & Eve and all the way along through the Scriptures—we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love. So, in our pursuit of calling to mind the never-ceasing, steadfast love of the Lord, we would need to remember some examples of His steadfast love. The psalmist spoke of God’s steadfast love many, many, many times. Undoubtedly, he had this truth ‘hid in his heart’ and often would ‘call this to mind.’

Psalm 107 (ESV) is a great starting point (you can go here to read it, if you like). Here the psalmist relates quite a number of times how God’s steadfast love has redeemed and saved and protected His children. And he reminds them (and us!) to ‘give thanks to the LORD’ for His steadfast love. The final verse wraps it up:

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
verse 43

Throughout the Bible, God’s people tell of their praise and thanks for His steadfast love. Here is a list of just a few passages.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:5 and 6

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They feast on the abundance of Your house,
and You give them drink from the river of Your delights.
For with You is the Fountain of life;
in Your Light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5, 7-9

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that He has granted them according to His compassion,
according to the abundance of His steadfast love.
Isaiah 63:7

O Lord God, turn not away the face of [me] Your anointed one;
[earnestly] remember Your good deeds, mercy, and steadfast love for David Your servant…
2 Chronicles 6:42

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 32:10

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He Knows My Name

March 11, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

He counts the stars one and all
He knows how much sand is on the shore
He sees every sparrow that falls
He made the mountain and the seas
He’s in control of everything
Of all creatures great and small

He knows my name
Every step that I take, every move that I make, every tear that I cry
And He knows my name
When I’m overwhelmed by the pain and can’t see the light of day
I know I’ll be just fine ‘cause He knows my name

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring
I can’t tell you what’s in store
I don’t know a lot of things
I don’t have all the answers to the questions of life
But I know in Whom I have believed

He knew who I was when He carried the cross
He knew that I would fail Him but He took the loss

~  Written by Annie and Kelly McRae / Sung by The McRaes  ~

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This passage seems to have been my almost constant confession this past week or so…listen.

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us {me!} from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38 and 39

Oh, and how I endeavor to cling to these promises!  I want to say, as Paul did, that ‘I am persuaded…’ though, I must admit that I do falter in my persuasion.  And times do come when my little heart doesn’t sing out quite as bravely. But here’s what I do know….

…Nevertheless I am not ashamed:
for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I have committed
unto Him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

And I remember and am encouraged as I read through the Scriptures and see the strong evidence of God’s provision in the lives of His people; for example, His man Job. Job went through much but he knew his life was in the Almighty’s sovereign and powerful hand.  And so, he could say of God…

But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what He wants to do, that He does.
For He performs [that which He has] planned for me,
and of many such matters He is mindful.
Job 23:13 and 14

I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

See, myself…well, I get weary; and I am not strong at times. But my God…He is able! He is faithful! He keeps His promises! And so I trust His Word(s). Therefore when I remember He has said, “I formed you and made you,” “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” “My grace is sufficient for you…” I am encouraged!

One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 139. It is such a beautiful prayer of praise of Almighty God! Throughout this psalm, David acknowledges God’s providence, His sovereignty, His foreknowledge, His provision, His protection, His wisdom, and truly, His love.

Here are excerpts from this psalm…may I suggest you read these verses aloud, allowing Your eyes and ears and mind to take them in. Consider them, my friend; dwell on them.  And may your heart be reminded and strongly encouraged as you remember that God Almighty, your heavenly Father, truly KNOWS you.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You. 

❥ He knows your every step, every move, every tear, all your ways.

❥ He knows you, inside and out, before and behind, sitting down and rising up.

❥ He knows your frame, your thoughts, your words, all your ways, all your days.

❥ He knows y.o.u., my friend…He knows your name!

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10,000 Reasons

March 10, 2015 by
psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
 
The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
 
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before, o my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
 
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find
 
And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forevermore, forevermore
 
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

Singer/ Songwriter: Matt Redman

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Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless His Holy Name!
Psalm 103:1

This song makes me forget all my troubles and focus on what is most important—worshipping our Lord God with every fiber of my being.  And lifting Him up in every area of my life.

As you begin your day and as you go through your day, stop and worship God. Praise Him for whatever you are going through. Have the confidence for Him to show up and show off. I have done this recently. I was doubting myself and doubting God. But I decided to praise God and tell Him whatever happened, I would trust it to turn out for my best. God is so awesome. He shows us who He is. All we have to do is trust Him… He will love us no matter what we have done.

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Father, thank You for caring enough to be there for us when we do not deserve it.  Thank You for second, third, even 100 chances.  Thank You for Your grace and for sending the Helper to be our conscience.   Help us to always heed the prompting of our Friend.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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I Am

March 9, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place where we can’t’ find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace

Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go
Never leave my side

I am
Holding on to You
I am
Holding on to You
In the middle of the storm
I am holding on
I am

Love like this
Oh, my God, to find
I am overwhelmed
With a joy divine
Love like this sets our hearts on fire

This is my resurrection song
This is my Hallelujah come
This is why it’s to You I run

Songwriters: David Crowder and Ed Cash
The Crowder Band

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The name of God when it’s revealed seems to be a very big moment in history.  He says “I AM.”  That evokes the idea of His presence, of being in His name.  For me that is one of the greatest hopes of the Christian faith.  No matter where you are in life, you live and breathe in the very presence of God and He has given access to Himself.  The Creator of the universe has given access to us and that’s gorgeous.  So many times I forget about that and I need to be realigned to that reality.

–  David Crowder
(click here for the story behind the song)

Life is full of storms…unplanned changes…unexpected detours.  Some storms are bigger than others.  But how we get through those storms depends on what we are holding onto and, more importantly, Who is holding onto us.

Listening to David Crowder talk about this song, I had a light bulb moment.  I Am is the ‘Great I AM’.  He is holding onto us!  He holds us more tightly than we could ever hold on to Him.  He never lets go of us.  Isaiah 40:13 (NLT) tells us “He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.”  Isaiah 41:13 (HCSB) states “For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.”  I AM holds us close to His heart.  I AM takes our right hand like a Father and leads us through the storm.  He never leaves our side.

This is what I need to remember as I deal with the curves life is throwing me right now.  Just thinking about I AM holding onto me gives me chills and makes me smile at the same time.  He is my ‘resurrection song’.  He is my ‘hallelujah come’.  That’s why it’s to Him I run because

“There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place where we can’t find peace
There’s no end to amazing grace”
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O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

March 8, 2015 by

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Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace

My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name

So come on and sing out
Let our anthem grow loud
There is one great love—Jesus

Jesus, the Name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears
‘Tis life and health and peace

He breaks the power of canceled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me

He speaks and listening to His voice
New life the dead receive
The mournful broken hearts rejoice
The humble poor believe

Glory to God and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above
The church in earth and Heav’n

There are so few words
That never grow old
There are so few words
That never grow old
Jesus, Jesus

Hymn written by Charles Wesley/ Chorus by David Crowder
Performed by the David Crowder Band

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I heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands.
Revelation 5:11

Years ago, John and Charles Wesley tried to start a ministry in America where they were in school at the time. It failed and they went back to England.They realized that they were missing the joy that all the other Jesus followers had around them. And they remembered that they had never asked Jesus to come into their hearts so they did just that. On the 11th anniversary of their new relationship with Jesus, Charles wrote this hymn. It has been sung in thousands of churches worldwide and was remade into a contemporary Christian song by the Crowder band.

For me it takes me back to a time when I was a child, standing in front of the pew, holding my own hymnbook and singing with all my heart.  I just knew if I sang loud enough that God could hear me.  I remember thinking that at least 1,000 people were in that sanctuary singing His praises. Chills went over my arms as I sang for Him and about Him.

I still love singing my great Redeemer’s praise and, yes, it never gets old.  He still sets captives free and breaks the power of sin.  His blood still cleanses the dirtiest sins and hearts rejoice as He is King.  He loves to hear us sing to Him and about Him.  And I am sure He has heard this very song sung in many languages.  So today is His Day—the Sabbath.  You may be singing this very song with a hymnal or maybe it is up on screens for all to see.  You may be worshipping with hands up in the air or maybe in quiet reverence. You see…that part doesn’t really matter to Him.  He just loves to hear His children’s voices in unison, singing to one God as one body.   He hears all and smiles.

Have a great Sunday!  Rejoice and sing His praises all day long!

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Dear Lord, we do want to sing Your praises all day long and we are so grateful that we are free to do so.  This hymn is so beautiful and we are reminded of all You have done to set us free.  And for all those today that are still in bondage, we pray for freedom and forgiveness. You are worthy to be praised!  As long as we have breath, we will continue to praise You.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Unredeemed

March 5, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The cruelest word, the coldest heart
The deepest wound, the endless dark
The lonely ache, the burning tears
The bitter nights, the wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart but we know these are

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall but the Cross says these are all

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed

Songwriters: Chad Robert Cates / Tony W. Wood/ Brian David Petak
Performed by Selah

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“We live in the shadow of the fall BUT the Cross says these are all places where grace is soon to be so amazing!”  This—where grace is soon to be—is where I want to live…to stay…to abide.  You, too?

At the Cross, mankind was clearly shown the depth of God’s heart—His love for us. Almighty God has purposed from the beginning of time to have a relationship with the people He created.  Perhaps it appeared that because of the Fall that was not going to continue. But God’s purposes will not be thwarted.  His plans will come to pass.  It is in and through Christ’s accomplishments on the Cross that we have received much grace!

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold
from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-19

That’s us (you and me)—not redeemed with perishable things…but with Jesus’ blood as He gave His life on the Cross!  Jesus’ death on the Cross, and all that God planned to bring to pass at the Cross, is all about His grace and love!  Through Jesus’ broken body and His shed blood, He redeemed us unto Himself – making us forever free, justified, forgiven, alive, purchased, and redeemed!

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—
for it is written,“Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree”—
that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles,
that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:13 and 14

He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
to the praise of His glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace.
Ephesians 1:5-7

We are now, and will be for all eternity, God’s children—all to His praise and glory! And we have a glorious life to live now…in spite of every situation and circumstance that tries to break us and cause us to focus on the hard, sad, evil things that do occur at times. But God—we have His promises to cling to!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

…Fear not, for I have redeemed you…I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Even everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory,
whom I have formed, whom I have made.
Isaiah 43:1, 7

The love of God—shown to us through the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord—is all we need to help us to focus on the Truth and set our minds to believe all that God has promised.  In doing so, we can remain faith-filled knowing He is faithful!

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage
and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
Psalms 27:13 and 14

And so, in spite of cruel words, cold hearts, deep wounds, endless dark, lonely aches, burning tears, bitter nights, and wasted years, we press on…we seek God…we choose to remain faithful to Him because “it may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored but you never know the miracle the Father has in store; just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed!”

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be anguish nor grief nor pain any more,
for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new.
Revelations 21:4

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I Will Seek Your Face

March 4, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord
I will seek Your face, O Lord

Lord, how awesome is Your presence
Who can stand in Your light
Those who by Your grace and mercy
Are made holy in Your sight

I will dwell in Your presence
All the days of my life
There to gaze upon Your glory
And to worship only You

Written by Noel and Tricia Richards
Performed by Brentwood Studio Musicians

 * ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I was reading a book, and the author put forth the following question…it’s a biggie…ready?

“…is there anything that draws you away
from your relationship with God,
or distracts you from serving Him?”

“Anything…?”  I don’t like to admit it…to you or even to myself, honestly.  But ‘yes’ is my answer.  How about you?  Please take a few moments, right now, and consider this question.  Perhaps ask God to reveal the truth to you.

As we consider that we allow circumstances and situations to distract us from the One Who we should be seeking, I am sure your heart is saddened as mine is.  Actually, way more than sad!  My heart is sorrowful.  But, rather than just be depressed, my next thought should be (is!) “What am I going to do about that!?!”  Our heavenly Father doesn’t want us remaining in our sorrowful state of mind…He wants us to mourn our sin (of course), to repent, and CHANGE. And then to live our lives to His honor and glory!

Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love….
Joel 2:12 and 13

As we each experience daily, there is much to distract us from focusing on our relationship with our God. From the moment our eyes open each morning, it can be a struggle to maintain the right perspective—God first.  But we CAN rise above this challenge and choose where our hearts and minds go.  For me the impetus must be seeking Him above, before, and instead of anything else.  He comes first—before anything else.  And so I need to  intentionally and purposefully seek Him.

We have the joy and the privilege of having direct access to His throne of grace! At any time during the day (or night!) we can seek our heavenly Father—and enjoy quiet time alone with Him.  David wrote about his ‘quiet time’ in the following verse.  Does God hear us expressing our hearts to Him in the same way?

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord;
In the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You
And watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].
Psalm 5:3

Now, of course, that time you spend alone with Your Lord—your quiet, devotional time—is certainly not the only time to pray! Actually, I think, being intentional…seeking Him first and foremost…prepares our hearts for the rest of our day to be filled with continual little prayers and petitions directed to our God.

Be encouraged! I am sure that you already seek Him throughout your day….  How often do we go along through our day accomplishing the normal even mundane tasks talking with our Father?  Or driving (yet again) to school to pickup your children; isn’t that a great time to pray?  Or waiting for them at dance/soccer/baseball practice or music lessons/cub scout meeting/awana time/_______ (you fill in the blank); yet another small amount of time that can be eked out of your day to pray and seek Him.

Paul wrote a number of times in his letters to the Christian believers about the importance of praying.  Listen to this encouragement:

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season)
in the Spirit,with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.
To that end keep alert and watch
with strong purpose and perseverance,
interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Ephesians 6:18

Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18

So we see by seeking God first and foremost, by being intentional to have a ‘quiet time’ early in our day, and seeking Him in our prayers and petitions, we will be better prepared to “pray at all times, and, keep alert and watch, and, pray without ceasing.”  We will be continually seeking Him throughout each day—thus carrying out His will!

Here is a great example of seeking Him:

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life],
Being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2

Those are some very intentional words (earnest, unwearied, steadfast, alert, intent) used in that verse, yes?  Other versions use similar words: devote, persevere, continue….

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests),
with thanksgiving,
continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that peace]
which transcends all understanding
shall garrison and mount guard
over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 and 7

Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord! As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come
and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12 and 13

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Beauty For Ashes

March 3, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs hangs heavy o’er your head
Know that tomorrow brings wholeness and healing
God knows your need, just believe what He said

When what you’ve done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings wholeness and healing
God knows your need just believe what He said

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound I’ve been set free
I’ve been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

Written by Randy Scruggs, John Thompson
Performed by Crystal Lewis, Ron Kenoly

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
    Because the Lord has anointed Me
To bring good news to the poor;
    He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
    And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor,
    And the day of vengeance of our God;
    To comfort all who mourn;
To grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    The garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
That they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV

What a beautiful song, based on the Word of God.  Jesus came into this world to save us, not to condemn us. He came to deliver us from man made rules, our shortcomings and the self inflicted guilt and shame.

God sent His Son to live among us. To be seen, heard, and to teach about His Father’s great love and compassion for us. We are created to have a close friendship with God. God wants to be our everything. He wants to be the first one we think about running to with good news and bad…not the third or fourth person.

God will take care of those who would cause us harm, those who speak or think ill of us. God wants to bless us. But we have to be smart enough to surround ourselves with those who believe as we do—those who study God’s Word and do what He directs us to do.

God will give us the courage to embrace the role we were designed to live. He will give us the courage and the knowledge to speak when we need to, to be silent when necessary, and to reach out for help. God is in control.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for Your words. Thank You for the prophets, thank You for Your people. Without them we would not have a Bible, we would not have a Savior who came down from His throne in heaven to be with us on earth. Thank You for loving us enough to be included as one of Your children. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen!!!

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