April 27, 2024

A King Like This

December 22, 2015 by

phssChristmasgraphic2014

A King like this, majesty
Laying in a manger
A King like this
Unto us is born a Savior
The Light, the Light has come
A King like this, the highest
Name and the song of heaven
A King like this born of
Flesh into our suffering
The Light, the Light has come

He is Christ, the Lord
He is Christ, our Savior
I bow my heart before no other name
I bow my heart before no other King

A King like this, a saving
Love that would not forsake us
Betrayed by a kiss and led
To the cross for our forgiveness
The Light, the Light has come

He is Christ, the Lord
He is Christ, our Savior
I bow my heart before no other name
I bow my heart before no other King

We lift up our eyes,
the Light has come
We lift up our eyes,
the Light has come
We lift up our eyes,
the Light has come
We lift up our eyes
lift up our eyes
lift up your eyes

He is Christ, the Lord
He is Christ, our Savior
I bow my heart before no other name
I bow my heart before no other King

A King like this, a throne of grace
That will stand forever
The angels sing glory, glory, hallelujah
The Light, the Light has come
The Light, the Light has come

Chris Tomlin

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★   *

How many heirs to a throne, a king-to-be, have you heard of who were born in some lowly, stinky, dingy place? Personally, I can only think of one–Jesus.
By prophecy and lineage, Jesus was born a king.

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:5-6

“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!…
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.
He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David.
And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1:26-33

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah,
a descendant of David and of Abraham…
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David,
fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile,
and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
Matthew 1:1, 16-17

But why a stable? When a gem is found in the dirt and mud of a mine, it really stands out as something different than the ordinary rocks surrounding it. When a beautiful, delicate flower is found in the weeds, it makes one stop and take notice. When a precious, beautiful baby is born in a less than appealing place (such as a stable), everyone stares in amazement.  I believe God wanted the contrast so the people would notice, and He still wants that today.

Jesus was the little baby born in that dingy stable, so that the shepherds would stop and take notice.

Jesus was the little child who had a major star shining over His head so that the wise men could find Him and worship Him.

Jesus is The Light of the world so we will stop and take notice in our otherwise dark world.

Jesus is our Savior Who died an agonizing death on the cross so that we would bow before Him to receive our salvation.

Jesus is The King sitting on Heaven’s Throne that we might lift up our eyes in worship to Him, our Lord and Savior, for all eternity.

A King like this, a saving
Love that would not forsake us

A King like this, a throne of grace
That will stand forever

The Light has come!

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.
Its rider was named Faithful and True,
for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
On His robe at His thigh was written this title:
King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Revelation 19:11-16

There is no better day than today to stop and take notice of The King whose throne was once a manger in a dingy stable, but Who now sits on The Throne of Grace in Heaven.  Join with me as ‘I bow my heart before no other name, I bow my heart before no other King,’ only Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Lift up your eyes, The Light has come! Let us sing with the angels,

“Glory, glory, Hallelujah, The Light, The Light has come!”

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

Forever

November 9, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand
and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Forever

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

His love endures forever
His love endures forever
His love endures forever
Forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Yeah
Forever you are faithful
Forever you are strong
Forever you are with us
Forever
And ever
Yeah

Chris Tomlin
Written by Lamont Herbert Dozier, Brian Holland and Freddie Gorman

*   ~   ♥   ~    ✞    ~   ♥   ~   *

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalms 118:1-2 HCSB

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:29 HCSB

Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1 HCSB

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1 HCSB

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love is eternal.
Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 HCSB

Repetition emphasizes that which is important.  It makes a point obvious. My first thought was to write on the three obvious points that both this song and these scriptures make…

1) God is good. That’s who He is, it is a part of His character, His nature
2) His faithful loves endures forever
3) we are to give thanks to the Lord for the previous two reasons

But I kept getting hung up on forever.  Dictionary.com defines forever as: without ever ending, eternally; continually, always; an endless period of time.  ‘Limitless’ is another definition that comes to mind.  There is nothing on earth that can be described or defined this way. Yet multiple times forever is used in regards to God:

His throne is forever – Psalm 45:6
His love and mercy endures forever – Psalm 136:26
His reign is forever – Psalm 146:10
All God does lasts forever – Ecclesiastes 3:14
He destroys death forever – Isaiah 25:8
He is steadfast forever and His dominion is forever – Daniel 6:26

And these are just a few I found in the Old Testament. Very few things in this world are constant.  And there isn’t much we can depend or rely on. People and things will always let us down.  But God’s love is limitless. His mercy is bottomless, His dominion is boundless and His reign is endless. God is steadfast, faithful and enduring. When the world crashes down around us, He remains with us. Forever. Forever God is faithful.  So let’s sing praise:

Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever

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

The Table

September 27, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will feast at the table of the Lord
I will feast at the table of the Lord
I won’t hunger anymore
At His table

Come all you weary, come and find
His yoke is easy, His burden light
He is able, He will restore
At the table of the Lord

There is peace at the table of the Lord
There is peace at the table of the Lord
I won’t worry anymore
At His table

There is healing at the table of the Lord
There is healing at the table of the Lord
I won’t suffer anymore
At His table

I know He has a place for me
Oh, what joy will fill my heart
With the saints around the Mercy Seat of God

I’m invited to the table of the Lord
I’m invited to the table of the Lord
He says, “Come just as you are”
To His table

Chris Tomlin
written along with Ed Cash and Wayne Jolley
*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *
If I asked you what you need most from the Lord today…what would it be?  As you listen to the song above, and all the ways that He shows up, how do you want Him to show up today in your life?

First, we are invited to feast at His table. There is always plenty of everything. Wouldn’t you love to sit at the table with Jesus? (I would!!!)  There would be plenty of love and peace and joy. You could pass a plate of goodness, and faithfulness, and gentleness, too.  Instead of strife, there would be so much coming together. You would be forever satisfied and never hunger again. Because HE is enough.

He beckons all that are tired and weary to come and sit and rest awhile.

Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Maybe you need peace today. Perhaps you have spent the last few days, maybe weeks, just worrying over every detail of your life.  You haven’t slept past 4 am and you are in need of some peace.  Jesus is the Giver of peace.  Just knowing Him and that He died for you is enough to have peace.  You will live forever with the King! {Just breathe that in for a minute.}

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

Do you need healing today?  Jesus says that anything we ask in His name, it is ours.  So today, claim the healing that He longs to give you. Let Him repair the hurts that have left scars.  Let Him totally renew your heart.  He is inviting you to His table today. Only you and Him know what you need there.  I pray that you find whatever it is that you’re longing for.  There is one thing I do know—all can be found in Him!

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:19-20

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let us pray:  Oh Lord, we are so honored to be invited to the table that You have prepared just for us, Your children.  Thank You for loving us so much and for meeting our every need, sometimes before we even know that we need it.  Thank You for the people that You put in our lives, to do life with.  Oh God, we love You so much and we praise You for Who You are!  Thank You for healing and for rest and for the living water which only You can give!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

 

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

How Can I Keep From Singing Your Praise

August 5, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You’ll see me through
And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again
I can sing ’cause You pick me up
Sing ’cause You’re there
I can sing ’cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I’ll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

 Chris Tomlin
written along with Ed Cash and Matt Redman

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

My whole being shall be satisfied…and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
Psalms 63:5

To the end that my tongue and my heart
and everything glorious within me
may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30:12

Take a moment, please, and think back to last night as you laid your weary head down on your pillow…. Did your thoughts turn to praising the Almighty with joyful lips?  Did you remember the blessings and mercies and grace that He had given to you throughout the day?  Did you meditate and consider how very much He had helped you and guided you?  Did you recognize that He had protected you…and did you rejoice?  (I ask these same questions of myself!)

I think, for most of us, we DO thank God for the day that has just past.  But…then perhaps we get distracted thinking about all that has occurred during the day.  We remember conversations—good AND not-so-good.  We think about unfinished tasks and projects.  We add to the ‘to-do’ list we carry around in our heads.  Maybe we even start worrying over the next day that hasn’t even begun yet.  But there is a better idea!  Try thinking these things:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

So take another moment, please, and think about yesterday again….  Was there truth?  Were things right?  Can you remember something lovely that happened?  Did a friend do something you admired?  Did God’s blessings cause your heart to sing His praises?  I venture to say that yes…YES!…there were true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and PRAISEworthy things!!!  Thinking about these kind of things will cause us to praise our great God with joyful lips.  Remembering  the grace and mercy that He gave to us will give us much to meditate upon.  Dwelling upon the goodness of our God will lift our heart and we will rejoice!

Tonight, as you again lay your beautiful head down, sing and speak praises to Your Father!  Instead of worry and concern, allow all the truth, the right and lovely, the pure and admirable, the excellent, the PRAISEworthy things to fill your heart and mind.  Give praise to the One Who supplied your needs, Who protected you, Who led you and guided you.  Rest, my friend, in the comfort and blessing of His presence…and I am sure you will wake up in the morning, saying as the Psalmist did:

But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power;
yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning;
for You have been to me a defense and a refuge in the day of my distress.
Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower,
the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love.
Psalms 59:17 and 18

And, perhaps, singing the sweet words of this song…

‘How can I keep from singing Your praise?  How can I ever say enough?  How amazing is Your love?  How can I keep from shouting Your name?  I know I am loved by the King…and it makes my heart want to sing!’

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Almighty God, You are Holy, You are Faithful, You are Sovereign, You are Love!  Please help us through Your Holy Spirit to remember to think on the true, the right, the lovely, the pure, the admirable, the excellent, the praiseworthy things…and to praise You, Lord!  We do sing out our praises…in Jesus’ precious name.  Amen.

 

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

Psalm 100

July 23, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Enter in through the gates
Enter in here with praise
Come before Him, come bring your song
We are His people, He is our God

For the Lord is good, and His love endures
His love endures
For the Lord is good, and His love endures
His love endures
Forevermore His faithfulness, it has no end
For the Lord is good, and His love endures
His love endures

Enter in to His courts
Enter in with grateful hearts
Come before Him, come bring your song
We are His people, He is our God

Raise your voice, shout for joy all the earth
We sing a new song now
We sing a new song now

It’s Your love
His love endures
His love endures

Forevermore His faithfulness, it has no end
For the Lord is good, and His love endures
His love endures

 Chris Tomlin
written along with Jason Ingram

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

As the last notes of this anthem play, my heart resounds the joyous statement of this song: His love endures!  (How about you?)

Are we not so very thankful that His love endures?  Without the enduring, faithful, steadfast, unconditional love of our God…where would we be?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

His love which endures forever has made a way for us to have ‘forever’—eternal life—with Him!

And y’know what?  It has absolutely nothing to do with anything we have done or ever could do!  We have trust and confidence in our God because He always brings His Word to pass!  He is the only One Who does not change.  And so, yes, His love endures forever!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights
with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17

God is not man, that He should lie,
or a son of man, that He should change his mind.
Has he said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19

For I the Lord do not change….
Malachi 3:6

  • Whenever you might be tempted to despair, consider this thought: His love endures forever.
  • When you want to give up, remind yourself: His love endures forever.
  • When you think you have had all you can possibly take…lift your head, and shout to the heavens: His love endures forever!

Say it to yourself.  Repeat it.  Sing it.  Memorize it.  Write it down on a sticky note and place it where you—and your loved ones!—will see it (on the bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your vehicle, on the refrigerator, in a lunchbox): His love endures forever.  Encourage your husband: His loves endures forever.  Teach your children: His love endures forever.  Remind your sweet friends: His love endures forever.

  • No matter the troubles that come your way…His love endures forever.
  • No matter how you feel about those troubles…His love endures forever.
  • No matter whether we choose to believe it (or not)…His love endures forever.
  • No matter what…His love endures forever.

Believers throughout the centuries have sung these words; may we echo their praises.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His love endures forever.”

David, the Levites, and the Israelites  (1 Chronicles 16:34, 41)
Solomon, the musicians, and the singers  (2 Chronicles 5:13; 7:3; 20:21)
The Levites and the re-builders of the Temple  (Ezra 3:11)
David and the other psalmists (Psalm 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 6, 29; 136 <twenty-six times!>)
Jeremiah and the children of Israel  (Jeremiah 33:11)

May I encourage you to think back on the many, many, many ways you have experienced God’s enduring love and ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.’

And remember…no matter what:
He loves you today, tomorrow, and always.
His love endures forever!

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

Forever

July 5, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God.
He is the faithful God Who keeps His covenant
for a thousand generations
and lavishes His unfailing love
on those who love Him and obey His commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand
and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever, forever

Harvest Church
written by Chris Tomlin

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

Whom Shall I Fear

June 9, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvYou hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield
Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear

And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I’m holding on to Your promises

You are faithful
You are faithful

Chris Tomlin
and written along with Ed Cash and Scott McTyeire Cash

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,  my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
Psalms 27:1-3

Sometimes life gets tough and we feel that God has abandoned us.  The only thing that can bring us down is believing the lies that Satan would tell us.  The lies are subtle.  They sound so true… ‘You are not pretty’; ‘You are not loved’; ‘You have no friends’…the list can go on and on.  But we have a Redeemer.  We have a Restorer.  We have hope of a better life.  We just have to have faith and believe.

God’s love is enough to surround each of us.  Find a time to spend time in His Word.  Whatever is your best time…whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening.  It could be your lunchtime.  It could be during breaktime.  Make time to enter into the Presence of God.  He will repay you for your efforts.  You will be blessed in new ways.

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

Our God (Is Greater)

April 27, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You, none like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You, none like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against

Chris Tomlin
written along with Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him]
and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist],
because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 AMP

I was writing a devotional blog on 1 John 4:4 and this song got stuck in my head.  Such a great reminder that we have nothing to fear.  Our God IS greater than the enemy and anything he can throw at us.  The Scriptures repeat this over and over again:

Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods,
because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.
Exodus 18:11 HCSB

David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.
2 Samuel 5:10/1 Chronicles 11:9 NASB

And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
2 Chronicles 2:5 NKJV

Be strong and courageous.
Be not afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him,
for there is Another with us greater than [all those] with him.
2 Chronicles 32:7 AMP

Look, God is greater than we can understand.
Job 36:26 NLT

Greater than the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is majestic.
Psalm 93:4 HCSB

For I know that Yahweh is great; our Lord is greater than all gods.
Psalm 135:5 HCSB

On and on it goes—our God is Greater.

  • Greater than any human being.
  • Greater than all of our enemies.
  • Greater than any obstacles or circumstances in our life.
  • Greater than any of our mistakes, our failures, our flaws.

To quote MercyMe:

“There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the Cross already won the war
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world.”

Our God is greater, stronger, higher than anyone or anything else.  Period.  His power is beyond our understanding.  Since God is for us, who or what could ever stop us?  Since God is with us, then what could ever stand against us?

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Thank You, Lord!  You are greater than any other and Your power far exceeds anything we could imagine. Thank You for lifting us out of the ashes and shining Your light on us.  In Your precious name I pray, Amen – It is so!

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

God’s Great Dance Floor

April 6, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m coming back to the start
Where You found me
I’m coming back to Your heart
Now I surrender
Take me
This is all I can bring

I’m coming back to the start
Our God is freedom
And here we feel Your heart
Your heartbeat for us
Take me
This is all I can bring

You’ll never stop loving us
No matter how far we run
You’ll never give up on us
All of heaven shouts: let the future begin
Let the future begin

Take me
This is all I can bring

I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God’s great dance floor

Chris Tomlin
written along with Martin Smith and Nick Herbert

*  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Last week I kept thinking about starting over and getting back to basics.  I have been trying so many different things to make changes in my life that I lost my focus.  I was doing lots of things…but none of them well.

First of all, in one of my secular FaceBook fitness groups, a girl posted she was wiping out all her accomplishments and starting over.  Then something similar happened in a Christian group.  (This song was mentioned multiple times.) Finally, for the last several days I have had this verse stuck in my head:

“I’m coming back to the start
Where You found me
I’m coming back to Your heart
Now I surrender
Take me
This is all I can bring”

Ok, I may be slow at times, but even I could tell God was trying to make a point with all of this—I need to go back to the start.  So I reread all the material from when I started my current fitness journey and decided to begin again.  To start applying the basics in diet and exercise, and stop trying all the crazy new things or current fads.  But that line from the song kept playing over and over in my head. “I’m going back to the start….”  Then I realized I needed to go back to the start in my relationship with God…back to the foot of the Cross.

I was searching for anything that could help me regain control of my health and wellness but I was looking at worldly solutions.  At the same time I was seeking to deepen my relationship with God by doing multiple studies; and, again, doing none of them well.  I felt tired, weary of the struggle.  Nothing was working.  I was wearing myself out, physically and mentally.  Finally, I realized I needed to surrender.  Thank goodness God never gives up on us.

This song is such a celebration of God’s grace.  We come alive because of the grace He extends to us. Ephesians 2:1 & 5 (NKJV) state:

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…
…even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…

Christ wants us to feel alive in Him.  Not tired, not weary, not defeated—ALIVE.  We have something to celebrate.  If I am struggling, I need to stop and ask myself  “Am I living in Christ?”  If I am, then, (as Philippians 4:13 tells us), I can do all things because Christ is my Strength.  2nd Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) reminds us “…for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.”

I know this to be true, yet I so easily forget and go back to striving on my own. So, I am going back to the start because God IS my freedom.  I want to feel alive and the only way I can do that  is through God’s {great dance floor of} grace.  Let the future begin!n

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

At The Cross (Love Ran Red)

February 18, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There’s a place where mercy reigns and never dies,
There’s a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I’ve ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down

At the Cross
At the Cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of You
I’m in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You, Jesus

There’s a place where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love I’ve ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down

Here my Hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You save my life
Here I bow down
Here I bow down

Written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jonas Myrin, Matt Armstrong, Matt Redman

  *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

The center stage of our Christian faith is the Cross.  There our Savior, Jesus Christ, allowed Himself to be hanged on that torturous cross to bleed, suffocate, and die.  Why would anyone do such a thing? Because,

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Sin and shame imprison everyone.  They bind us in chains that cannot be broken—but for God.  God in His mercy (His compassion) and grace (unmerited favor) loved(s) us, His creation, so much that He chose to make the perfect sacrifice for all people through the crucifixion of His Son, Jesus.  Jesus’ blood was more powerful than any sin or shame that we have ever endured or will ever endure.  Jesus shed His blood for each of us.  His blood dripping from that Cross was His love running red, flowing down into the very depths of our soul to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Here are just a few Scriptures that make it clear that we in our sins are powerless, but that the blood from God’s perfect sacrifice, Jesus His Son, is powerful enough to wash our ugly sins as white as snow.

All of us also lived among them (children of disobedience) at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:3-5

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous.
He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
For God presented Jesus as the Sacrifice for sin.
People are made right with God
when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood.
Romans 3:22-25

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
Isaiah 1:18

The Royal blood of Jesus is more powerful than all our sins.  His “love ran red and my (our) sin washed white.”  There at the Cross sin is powerless.  There at the Cross is where love, forgiveness, hope, and peace are found.  When we personally accept Jesus’ great sacrificial love for ourselves, we are made right with God.  From that point on we can have a personal relationship with Him.  His Holy Spirit will dwell with us.  And we can be assured that we will spend eternity with God.

If you have not yet accepted God’s love for you, please take the time today to do this.  God gave His Son.  Jesus gave His blood.  What are you willing to give for such love?  I pray that you give Him your all.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

  *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear Jesus, thank You so much for allowing Yourself to be the Sacrifice, once and for all, to save us from our sins and shame.  We bow before You on holy ground with our arms open wide, because here at the Cross Your blood (love) ran red so our sins could be washed white. You have saved us.  Herein is our Hope.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!  In Jesus’ Name we praise and worship our God of Love.  Amen, It is so!

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page »