November 19, 2024

Scandal of Grace

March 29, 2014 by

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Grace, what have You done?
Murdered for me on that Cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in Your blood
Too much to make sense of it all
I know that Your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live

Oh to be like you
To give all I have just to know You
Jesus, there’s no one besides You
Forever the hope in my heart

Death, where is your sting?
Your power is as dead as my sin
The Cross has taught me to live
In mercy, my heart now to sing
The day and it’s trouble shall come
I know that Your strength is enough
The scandal of grace, You died in my place
So my soul will live

And it’s all because of You, Jesus
It’s all because of You, Jesus
It’s all because of Your love
And my soul will live

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~  Songwriters: Joel Houston, Matt Crocker  /  Performed by Hillsong United  ~

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Would you give all you had just to get to know this Savior?  The One Who died for you and me?  This thought just blows me away—that the Son of God was born to save all of God’s people.  He came so that we would have life and life abundant. Just like the song says, it’s all because of Him that we are free, and joyful and can have peace in spite of circumstances.  “Grace, what have You done?”  Let’s see, He’s walked on water, He’s healed the sick, He gave sight to the blind, He raised the dead to life, He carried all of our sins to Calvary and they were nailed to that tree, and He gave us hope for a future.

It’s getting closer to Easter.  As you can see already, sometimes the bunny gets more attention than Jesus Himself.  There are eggs and Easter baskets and marshmallow Peeps in all colors.  But what about the Cross?  It’s our job to spread this message…especially now.  It’s time for us to step out of our comfort zone and be the courageous people He has called us to be.  Ask people what their story is, and then give them yours.  All roads lead to the Savior and to everlasting life. If we don’t—then who will?

This song gets me every time.  It’s all about grace and how we will give anything and everything to be like Him and get to know Him intimately.  I can’t help but raise my hands in praise and worship when this song comes on.  Don’t you just love it?  Aren’t we so blessed to be broken beautifully and poured out so that only He can fill us?  Oh friend, how I want you to know Him.  Take a minute to really listen to the words and let them sink in. The Holy Spirit will speak to your heart, this I do know. “…Scandal of grace, You died in my place so my soul will live!”

He did die and rose again, and we will live forever in eternity.  And while on earth, we will live freely because we have been forgiven,with all sins nailed to the cross. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Let us pray: Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient with us.  Thank You for creating us, knowing that we would sin and turn against You and that we would need a Savior—Who is Your only Son.  You let Him die in our place so that we will live, not only in Heaven, but here on earth we will have abundant life. Oh Lord, we are so unworthy, yet You love us so much. You will not take second place to anything or anyone as You are a jealous God.  May we never put You beside anything either but always put You first.  You are the beginning and the end, and there are no other gods before You.  Thank You for giving us the courage to step out and share You with all who will listen, and to love on all those who are hurting.  May we always be Your hands and feet, and may we always strive to be like You.  For it’s in Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.

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Love Song

March 28, 2014 by

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~  Imagine Jesus singing this to you   ♥  ~

I’ve heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done
I’ve never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of Calvary

Just to be with you, I would do anything
There’s no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I will give everything
I would give My life away

I’ve heard it said that a man would swim the oceans
Just to be with the one he loves
But all of those dreams are an empty emotion
It can never be done
I’ve never swam the deepest oceans
But I walked upon the raging sea

I know that you don’t understand the fullness of My love
How I died upon the Cross for your sins
And I know that you don’t realize how much that I give you
And I promise, I would do it all again
Just to be with you, I’ve done everything
There’s no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away

The love of the Father…a love unlike anything I have ever known in my life. The mystery of a love so unconditional, so filled with grace and mercy that He would walk to Calvary and take on the sacrifice and punishment for my sins.  Me—a sinful woman saved by grace.  It is something I cannot begin to fathom or possibly understand, and yet, it is the love of God.The Scripture says in 1 John 1:5-9 KJV

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I want to walk in the light; don’t you? What does it mean to walk in the light and love of God?

“I must ‘walk in the light as He is in the light…’— not in the light of my own conscience, but in God’s light.  If I will walk there, with nothing held back or hidden, then this amazing truth is revealed to me: ‘. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth [me] from all sin’ so that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke in me.  On the conscious level it produces a keen, sorrowful knowledge of what sin really is.  The love of God working in me causes me to hate, with the Holy Spirit’s hatred for sin, anything that is not in keeping with God’s holiness.  To ‘walk in the light’ means that everything that is of the darkness actually drives me closer to the center of the light.”  – Oswald Chambers

Walking in the love of God and receiving that I have been cleansed of ALL sin and then choosing to walk in the light is how we drive out any darkness in our lives.  What an awesome revelation!

God’s perfect love not only casts out fear as it says in 1 John 4:18.  It also drives out sin and darkness in our lives.  Temptations will always be out there.  It is what we CHOOSE to do with it that makes the difference between walking in the light or in darkness.  I have lived my life both ways and I would not go back to living in darkness for NOTHING!!! Freedom in Jesus is sweet!

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Let me pray with you:  Heavenly Father, I thank You for the revelation that walking in Your perfect love drives out not only fear in our lives, but also sin and darkness.  Thank You for a love like I have never known that saved me from the darkest of places.  I pray that anyone reading this would come to know the unconditional love of the Father and just how very much You love them.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!!!

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The Day of Resurrection

March 27, 2014 by

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The Day of Resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad
The passover of gladness, the passover of God
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky
our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory

Our hearts be pure from evil that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~     words: John of Damascus;     translated by John Mason Neale     ~     traditional melody: Ellacombe; performed by The Gloucester Cathedral Choir

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“While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them,  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered His words….”

Luke 24:4-8

Jesus predicted His death and resurrection to His followers.  Before Jesus was born, He already knew that He would be dying for our sins on the Cross.  It was the only way that sin could be defeated, and we could be reconciled to God.  Someone had to love us enough to give their own blood for ours.  The day of Jesus’ death was filled with grief and sorrow.  His own mother was crying.  His followers were grieving.  Yet, Jesus had forewarned them that this would happen.

Now imagine that third day..imagine walking up to the tomb to pay your respects and mourn. Imagine those feelings. Now imagine the surprise when you see the tomb standing wide open—the stone door moved out of the way. Imagine the angels saying that Jesus has risen. What a shock for those who either had not heard Jesus’ foretelling or didn’t remember it! Jesus had risen from the dead and returned home to His Father.  He was not dead!

The day that the stone was rolled away Jesus defeated death and sin. He made the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross and the greatest miracle was performed on the third day—Jesus rose from the dead.  If we have faith and believe that Jesus died on the Cross for us, rose on the third day (the Resurrection), and accept Him into our hearts as Lord and Savior then we will live eternally with Him and God when time comes to a close.  Christ is not dead!  He is alive!  He never leaves us!

Just as the heavens and earth are joyful over Christ’s defeat of sin so should we.  We should be delighted and overjoyed with the thought that we will live in God’s glory for eternity thanks to the Resurrection of Christ. Yes, that day of His death was sad, but the third day brought great joy. We should remember this during the Easter season and celebrate with joy that we have eternal life through Christ.

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift on the Cross. Without it we would be lost to sin. We would not be able to have a relationship with You. Please be with us as we spread the news about that third day—the Resurrection Day. In Jesus name, Amen.

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(It Will Not Be) Unredeemed

March 26, 2014 by

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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
Oh, He will wipe every tear…will not be, be unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
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
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed

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

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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 bring mankind back into the relationship He designed and wanted.  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 His 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 27:13-14

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

Let’s pray:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His 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 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:3-12).   Amen and Amen!

may I encourage each of you to sing as the Psalmist did,

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
Psalm 107:2

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Amazing Grace

March 25, 2014 by

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Amazing grace, oh, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found was blind, but now I see

When we’ve been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come
‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home

Amazing grace, oh, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see (was blind but now I see)

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Amazing Grace!  How sweet the sound!  Oh, YES, the sound of grace has been so sweet in my life.  I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see….

Grace is the word that God gave me as ‘my word’ for this year 2014.  Grace is something I am so very thankful for in my own life and something that God expects me now to give to others.  What God has so freely given you…you must now pour out onto others.  Let’s explore the meaning of the word grace.

“Grace means to get something that you do not deserve; unmerited favor. Mercy means you do not get a punishment that you do deserve; compassion, forbearance. God is abundant in grace and mercy; we can read about it in the Bible. His greatest act of grace is the gift of salvation that is available for all people through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). When the gift is accepted, eternal life is promised to the recipient. This eternal life is a promise of a home one day in Heaven with God. The promise to the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that one day Jesus the Christ will return to earth to claim His purchased possession (Ephesians 1:12-14; 4:30).  Jesus purchased every sinner with His own blood on the cross at Calvary.”   Read the rest of this article at What Christians Want To Know

I really love how this sums it up: I am not capable of loving anyone, without God’s grace. When I give grace to others, it is not my grace. I’m just passing along grace that God has given me.

We also give grace to others by forgiving them.  Everyone fails sometimes.  The church needs to be a safe place to come back to, even (especially!) when you’ve blown it.  Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person hasn’t hurt you. It means she has hurt you.  But you are choosing to release that hurt, and that person, into the grace of God given through Jesus Christ. After all, your sins have been forgiven. If God’s grace is enough to make forgiveness a reality in my life, it should be enough to make forgiveness a reality in the life of the person who hurt me.

Grace and forgiveness go hand in hand.  We must give the grace to others that we have so freely been given and we must forgive others as God has forgiven us.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
Matthew 6:14 ESV

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Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me.  I thank You that once I was lost and now I am found.  I thank You that I was once blind but now I see.  Please empower us through the Holy Spirit to pour out to others the AMAZING Grace and forgiveness that You have so freely given to us.  In Jesus’ name.  AMEN!!!

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He Is

March 24, 2014 by

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In Genesis, He’s the Breath of life.  In Exodus, the Passover Lamb.  In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest.  Numbers, the fire by night.  Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice.

In Joshua, He is salvation’s choice.  Judges, Law Giver. In Ruth, the Kinsman-Redeemer.  First and Second Samuel, our trusted Prophet. In Kings and Chronicles, He’s Sovereign.

Ezra, True and Faithful Scribe.  Nehemiah, He’s the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives. In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage. In Job, the Timeless Redeemer. In Psalms, He is our Morning Song.

In Proverbs, Wisdom’s cry. Ecclesiastes, the Time and Season. In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream.

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Isaiah, He’s Prince of Peace.  Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet. In Lamentations, the cry for Israel. Ezekiel, He’s the Call from sin. In Daniel, the Stranger in the fire.

In Hosea, He is forever faithful.  In Joel, He’s the Spirit’s Power.  In Amos, the Arms that carry us.  In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior.  In Jonah, He’s the great Missionary.

In Micah, the Promise of peace.  In Nahum, He is our Strength and our Shield.  In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival.  In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage. In Zechariah, our Fountain.

In Malachi, He is the Son of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings.

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah.  In the book of Acts, He is the Fire from heaven. In Romans, He’s the Grace of God. In Corinthians, the Power of love. In Galatians, He is Freedom from the curse of sin.

Ephesians, our glorious Treasure.  Philippians, the Servants’ Heart.  In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity.  Thessalonians, our coming King.  In Timothy, Titus, Philemon, He’s our Mediator and our faithful Pastor.

In Hebrews, the everlasting Covenant.  In James, the One who heals the sick. In First and Second Peter, He is our Shepherd.  In John and in Jude, He is the Lover coming for His bride.  In the Book of Revelation, He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

He is, He is, HE IS! 

The prince of peace, The Son of man, The Lamb of God, The great I AM, He’s the Alpha and Omega, Our God and our Savior, He is Jesus Christ the Lord and when time is no more He is, HE IS!

 

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~ Written by Jeoffrey Benward & Jeff Silvey / Performed by Aaron Jeoffrey ~

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During the first night of our Whiteboard Small Group Study, everyone was asked what their favorite verse was.  Then this brought about speaking about the books of the Holy Bible and being able to repeat them in order.  The person leading the group remembered this song. He said it was his favorite and how it shows how God has/is faithful to all who would and do believe.

What a great song to be able to play for our unbelieving friends.  I pray that it ministers to you as it did to me.

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Cradle Me (Patsy’s Lullaby)

March 23, 2014 by

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Cradle me in midnight mercies
Fill me with Your day starlight
Adorn me with thanksgiving
Strengthen me with might
Guide me with Your holy kindness
Into yet another day
Lead me on to glory, Jesus
In Your everlasting way

Through valleys, through darkest night
You guard me, speed my enemy to flight
Be the lifter of my head in sorrow
Mend my broken heart today
and heal up my tomorrow

Pillow me with Your Presence
Comfort me in Your holy rest
Surround me with your angels’ songs
Sleep safe in Your shelter of my Father’s arms

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~Lyrics by Patsy Clairmont / Melody and Arrangement by Mandisa and Ron Rawls~

Have you listened to this beautiful lullaby yet?  If not…please do; go ahead…we’ll wait right here for you.

So beautiful…so calming…just as a lullaby should do!  A lullaby, by definition, is a song which quiets; and in particular, quiets babies.  This song does just that for me!  And why?  For one, the tune—the melody—is written in such a way that it evokes peaceful feelings.  And the instruments that were chosen to play this peaceful tune…the cello, the piano, violins…all communicate to our sense of hearing in a gentle way.  Along with the instrument of Mandisa’s beautiful voice!  All of a God-inspired design. But mostly I think it is the words that are sung that communicate Truth that calms and settles our minds and hearts.  These are encouraging words, for sure, but not in a compelling or powerful manner. Rather, they encourage in a comforting way that causes one to feel safe and sheltered.

These words bring reminders to me of some of the phrases about sleep and peace that are written in the Book of Psalms.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone
make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Psalm 4:8

By day the Lord commands His steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8

In the Scriptures, we are told time after time, of the ways in which God guards and protects and blesses us. I love the promises given to us in Psalm 91.  Here are just three of them:

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my Refuge—
No evil shall be allowed to befall you (1), no plague come near your tent (2).
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (3).
Psalms 91:9-11

God’s heart is to care for us now…while we still live in this ever-changing world, on this earth that is diminishing and daily being destroyed by the ways of man.  And He accomplishes this in ways that show us how perfectly He will care for us throughout eternity!  He wants us to be assured that He can be trusted to provide all we need…and that we, ourselves, cannot do this successfully on our own.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
for He gives to His beloved <blessings> even in his sleep.
Psalm 127:2

So learn of His promises, fill your heart and mind with the Truth , and meditate on God and His faithfulness to provide. Praise Him and thank Him and bless Him!

Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips
When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
Psalms 63:3-7

Perhaps tonight when you lay your head down, you will remember the words of this beautiful song, and will sing “Pillow me with Your Presence…comfort me in Your holy rest.”  May you “Sleep safe in the shelter of your Father’s arms.”  God bless you and keep you…and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-25).

 

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We Believe

March 22, 2014 by

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In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only One Foundation
We believe, we believe
In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only One Salvation
We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life
We believe in the Crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the Resurrection
And He’s comin’ back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised
In the here and now, let love invade
Let the Church live love, our God will see
We believe, we believe
And the gates of hell will not prevail
For the power of God, has torn the veil
Now we know Your love will never fail
We believe, we believe

He’s comin’ back again
He’s comin’ back again
We believe, we believe

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

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I imagine you can say along with me that there have been times of desperation in your life.  At some time we have all experienced doubt and fear.  Those things happen in this broken generation, and in our weakness and temptations.

BUT GOD—

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
Psalm 73:26

But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth
Psalm 86:15

With God, our Triune God, we find our One Foundation, our One Salvation.

I get chills as I sing this song. It is my statement of faith, because I BELIEVE!  I believe in God the Father, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in His Holy Spirit.  I believe in Jesus’ crucifixion, and in His resurrection.  I believe in New Life through Jesus Christ. I have experienced it!  I believe He’s coming back for every believer (you and me.)

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God
John 1:12,13

Because I believe, I agree that The Church (you and I) need to live love that our God will see.  We need to stand against the gates of hell, because our God has torn the veil, and is The Power and The Love we can depend on to conquer sin and death.  We believers need to show and tell that Good News to those who don’t know God’s love yet.

But God commendeth His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 5:7, 8

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 6:23

Ladies, Jesus is coming back! Do you believe? If not, today is your day to surrender—and take a stand for the One and Only True Foundation and Salvation by which you can be saved, and live eternally with Him.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

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The Only Name (Yours Will Be)

March 21, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Yours will be the only Name that matters to me
The only One Whose favor I seek
The only Name that matters to me

Yours will be the friendship and affection I need
To feel my Father smiling on me
The only Name that matters to me

Yours is the Name, the Name that has saved me
Mercy and grace the power that forgave me
And Your love is all I’ve ever needed

When I wake up in the Land of Glory
And with the saints I will tell my story
There will be one Name that I proclaim

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, just that Name

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

 
~  Performed by Big Daddy Weave / Words and Music by Benji Cowart  ~
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 
Jesus.  The Name that calms storms and heals the sick and raises the dead to living. The blind could see again just by believing in Him.  The woman at the well carried Living Water home with her so she never would thirst again.  And Lazarus, he rose from the dead, just as our Savior would one day.  Jesus.   Doesn’t saying His name just calm you?

His Name is the name that we should seek above all.  Do you know that He experienced everything on earth that we do?  I’m not saying that He sinned, I’m saying that He lived here and walked here and saw the same hurts and sickness that we do.  God sent Him to pave the way for us.  And to experience the same powers that He had.  Of all the things of this world, nothing else matters except our relationship with Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God.  Jesus is the difference between life and death.  He is the difference between Christianity and all other religions. You must accept Him in your heart and have a relationship—a day to day speaking, and loving, relationship with Him.

Do you see His beauty?  Do you feel His presence with you?  As it says in this song, His name saves.  His name forgives and shows mercy and grace.  He so readily loves and so readily befriends all.  He is Jesus, friend of sinners.  He is the “I Am.”  We all will live with our Heavenly Father forever, because of Jesus.  He ate with tax collectors.  His own brother didn’t believe in Him and yet Jesus loved him so.  His own disciple betrayed Him, yet He broke bread with them and gave thanks, knowing that His own Father would have to turn His back on Him.  Don’t you want to love like that?  If so, then let’s do this together.  Let’s start now, preparing our hearts for His coming.  While we are here, let’s love each other.  Let’s get our hands dirty and get in the middle of life with each other.  There are plenty of onlookers but not enough team members!  Let’s ask God to empower us to truly turn it all over to Him and start fresh.

This week was the first week of Spring.  It’s time to do some cleaning up and cleaning out; and it’s time to plant some new seeds.  And when you’re ready to give in or give up, or when life is so hard and you just can’t breathe—just whisper His Name, Jesus. It still calms storms!

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, we praise You for who You are.  We thank You for sending Your Son to walk before us in life and prepare the way for us.  Thank You for Your Word that documents His every move, from birth to death and every miracle in between.  Oh, how we are blessed!!!  Thank You that we can call on You in every situation and You are right there.  Because of Your Son, we are never alone and never will be.  We will forever walk with You and we have been given life abundant, full of joy, full of peace, full of grace, and full of You!  Thank You for the journey…for the wild ride that’s called our life.  Help us to prepare our hearts for Easter and to never take His death for granted.  For it’s in His name we pray, Amen.

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

Alive

March 20, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Who but You could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me
What kind of Love is writing my story ‘til the end with Mercy’s pen
Only You

What kind of King would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave
You, is it You, standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries

Alive, Alive
Look what Mercy’s overcome
Death has lost and Love has won
Alive, Alive
Hallelujah, Risen Lord
The only One I fall before
I am His because He is Alive

Who could speak and send the demons back from where they came with just one name
What other heart would let itself be broken every time until He healed mine
You, only You, could turn my darkness into dawn, running right into your arms

I am His because He is…

Emmanuel, the Promised King
the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us
Healing, breathing in our dust
The Author of all history
The Answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away the stone in front of every grave

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~ Written by Vicci Martinez and Peter Anders Svensson / Performed by Natalie Grant ~

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

What a powerful thought…that God was thinking of you and me!  What kind of Love is writing my story and yours until the end?  The love of the Father is something that I will never completely understand.  The love that loved me unconditionally when I was a sinner.  The same love that loved me out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Do you know the love of the Father?  It is a love like I have never known….

God loves with agápe—the love described in 1 Corinthians 13.  He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the Cross for you so that you might have everlasting life. His love is not based on performance.  Christ loves you so much that while you were yet a sinner, He died for you.

God’s love for you is unconditional and undeserved.  He loves you in spite of your disobedience, your weakness, your sin, and your selfishness.  He loves you enough to provide a way to abundant, eternal life.  From the Cross, Christ cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!”

Because of the Cross and because of Jesus I am no longer led by the old man.  I have been made new.   am a new creation because of Him!

What does it mean to be ALIVE in Christ?

Ephesians 2:1-8 NLT says this :
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.  (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Thank You, Father, that You have turned my darkness into light.  Thank You for Your unconditional love that won my heart.  Thank You, Jesus, that I am Yours because You are ALIVE!!!  In Your  Name, Amen.

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