December 25, 2024

Come Thou Fount

September 21, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, o take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, o take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, o take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above
Seal it for Thy courts above

Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Orchestra
Lyrics by Robert Robinson / Tune: ’Nettleton’ by Asahel Nettleton,
This arrangement by Mack Wilberg

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Recently I have been struggling with a situation. I keep turning it over and over in my mind, unable to see how it can be resolved. One day last week, while pondering this issue once again, God placed this song in my heart. I kept coming back to the phrase “…tune my heart to sing Thy grace…”.

Finally it clicked.  The light bulb went on.  My responsibility is not to resolve this situation.  My responsibility is to fix my heart on God and praise Him.  He will deal with the rest.  Look at the following verses:

Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous
[you upright in right standing with God];
for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].
Psalm 33:1 AMP

The righteous one rejoices in the Lord and takes refuge in Him;
all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.
Psalm 64:10 HCSB

So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him
have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!
so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
Ephesians 1:12 AMP & HCSB

Not once in any of these verses does it say it is up to me to resolve my issues.  Not once!  But it does reiterate over and over again that my purpose is to praise and rejoice in the Lord.  Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  Yet don’t we all struggle with this?  I am prone to wander and to take the burden on myself.  I don’t know about y’all, but I am a “fixer.”  Maybe that stems from being a wife and mother.  But nowhere in the above Scriptures does it say it is my responsibility to fix things. In fact, the following passages indicate that it is not my place to fix anything on my own.

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you;
Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.
Psalm 55:22a AMP & NLT

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day,
even the God Who is our salvation!
Psalm 68:19

Doesn’t that lift your spirits and make your heart smile?  God bears our burdens. He is in control.  All we need to do is fix our wandering hearts on Him and sing His praises.  He will handle the rest.

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Sing this verse with me as we make it our heartfelt prayer:

“O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, o take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above
Seal it for Thy courts above”

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

Remind Me Who I Am

September 14, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

When I lose my way
And I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror all I see
Is who I don’t wanna be
Remind me who I am
In the loneliest places
When I can’t remember what grace is

Tell me, once again who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget Who I am to You, that I belong to You, to You

When my heart is like a stone
And I’m running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can’t receive Your love
Afraid I’ll never be enough
Remind me who I am
If I’m Your beloved
Can You help me believe it

I’m the one You love
I’m the one You love
That will be enough
I’m the one You love

Singer / Songwriter: Jason Gray

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But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it,
and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions,
I obviously need help!
I realize that I don’t have what it takes.
I can will it, but I can’t do it.
I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it;
I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions.
Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it’s predictable.
The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.
I truly delight in God’s commands,
but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight.
Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope.
Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.
He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions
where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind,
but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Romans 7:17-25 MSG

I must admit I am feeling pretty worn and weary.  I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to make the changes I desire in my life. I have lost my ‘want to...’.  Lysa TerKeurst puts it this way:

“It’s not the how to I am missing. It’s the want to…really wanting to make changes and deciding the results of those changes are worth the sacrifice.”

As I was deciding which song to blog about, I was torn between this song and “Thrive” by Casting Crowns. God whispered to my heart “You must know who you are before you can thrive.”

  • How do we so easily forget who we are and Whose we are?
  • Why is it that “…in the mirror all I see is who I don’t wanna be…”?
  • Why do I struggle to do what I know is right and not do what I know is wrong?

I read an article on the story behind this song.  In it Jason Gray says this:

“Most, if not all, of the time I really don’t want to sin, so that I do so seemingly against my own will.  Or as the apostle Paul famously said, “I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway…”
So sin begins to look more like addiction than anything else, as though there is a ravenous hunger deep inside of me that demands to be fed. What is that hunger, I wonder? Genesis Chapter 3 tells us that one of the first consequences of sin entering the world is that the ground would be cursed, that we would eat by the sweat of our brow and the soil would produce weeds and thistles. This carries in it the idea of futility: that our efforts are frustrated, that no matter what we do, we feel it’s never enough–that perhaps we are never enough.”

Oh, how I can relate.  I have been ready to throw in the towel.  I am “afraid I’ll never be enough.”  Why?  Because I have been trying to do it on my own. No matter how much effort I put into it, I am doomed to fail on my own. Only when I realize who God says I am and rely on Him to lead me will I have success.

Who does God say I am?

  • Colossians 3:12 AMP says I am “well-beloved [by God Himself,”
  • 1 John 3:12 NASB tells us “now we are children of God,”
  • Zephaniah 3:17 NIV states “The Lord your God is with you…He will take great delight in you;  He will rejoice over you with singing.”
  • Isaiah 49:16a AMP reminds us “Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands;”

Think about Isaiah 49:16 for a minute.   Can you imagine the pain of having something inscribed (or tattooed) on the palm of your hand?  How much more painful was it for God to sacrifice His only Son for me?  I need to remind myself that God gave up everything for me so I don’t have to do life on my own.

All I need to do is ask God…
If I’m Your beloved, can You help me believe it?

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

Break Every Chain

September 7, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

You’re the all-sufficient Sacrifice
So freely given such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven’s gates swing wide

There’s an army rising up
There’s an army rising up
There’s an army rising up
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

Digital Age
Songwriter: William Andrew Reagan

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

For in that day,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
“I will break the yoke from their necks and snap their chains.
Foreigners will no longer be their masters.
Jeremiah 30:8

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36

As I started off this year, I had two goals in mind:
1.   Let God lead     2.   Take care of my temple, offering it as a living sacrifice

But, a month into this journey, I realize I have allowed earthly chains to bind me.

  • Emotional chains
  • Prideful chains
  • Chains forged by bad habits and neglect

The sad thing is, I wasn’t even aware of the chains.  Not until I started seeking God and delving deeper into His Word.  I am learning that I need to turn to Him more often, especially when trying to conquer unhealthy habits or when I want to go my own way.  Sometimes it just seems so much easier to continue on as is.  Change of any kind is hard.

choosehardgraphic

That’s it.  We all must choose our hard.  For me, if I am going to do hard, I want to do it with Someone who has already conquered hard.

Now I will free you from their control [break his yoke from you]
and tear away your chains [shackles].
Nahum 1:13 EXB

I want to do hard with the One who can free me from the control of temptations and bad habits.  I want to do hard with the only One who can break my chains of bondage and set me free.  For only then, will I be free indeed.  How about you?

Choose your hard.

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

Jesus In Disguise

August 31, 2015 by

Ever get something in your head
It’s nothing you heard
Or something you read

Ever had a cut but you never saw a blade
Brought to your knees
But you never prayed

Jesus in disguise
Jehovah passing by
The burden of a tear
Hanging in your eye
Jesus in disguise
A scar across the sky
You were looking for a king
You would never recognize
Jesus in disguise

Ever feel like you been somewhere before
You hold the key
You know which door

Speak the word your lips have never known
Because your heart
Told you so

So open my eyes wide as I can
Blind as I am, blind as I am

Singer / Songwriter : Brandon Heath

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

{Have you ever had a thought pop into your head that made you go “say WHAT?”  That happened to me as I was taking a walk.  Then I had to literally stop, sit down, and make notes because the thoughts were coming so fast.  I’ve waited two days just to see if this is really what God wanted me to write.  I’m almost certain it is…so here goes.}

What do the following three things have to do with one another?

  • treasure
  • hurtful words
  • the bridge of this song 

Let’s look at them individually then I will put it all together:

Treasure

When treasure is spoken of in the Scriptures it is referring to our time, our talent(s), our motives, and our money.  Matthew 6:21 (HCSB) states “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Luke 6:45 (NASB) says “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”  A quick review of how we spend our time and our days, where we put our talents to use, where our money goes, and why we do those things  should gives us a pretty good idea of what our treasure is (and where our heart is, too.)

Hurtful Words

Words can hurt. Criticism (constructive or otherwise), gossip, even words spoken in truth, hurt.  There is no doubt about that, especially if they are aimed towards us.  But take a look at these Scriptures:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear….
James 1:19 ESV

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15 ESV

Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27 ESV

The bridge of this song 

“So open my eyes wide as I can…Blind as I am, blind as I am…“

“Blind as I am.”  Oh yes, I can be blind, deaf, AND dumb when it comes to some things.  Sometimes it is because I am truly unaware.  BUT…sometimes it is because I choose to be blind.  Galatians 3:1a (KJV) asks “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…”.  What keeps me from recognizing the Truth?  Often it is pride or wanting my own way.

Now, here is how God has put all of this together for me…. Perhaps hurtful words are meant to be seen as red flags—and our pride keeps us from seeing.  When I hear the same type of comments from multiple sources over a period of time, I first need to examine my motives and my behavior instead of assuming they come from someone who is jealous, bitter, etc.  I need to take those comments to God and ask if there is any validity to them.  Perhaps my behavior hasn’t crossed the line yet…but when words hurt we should be warned of what could lie ahead.

Ephesians 5:10 (HCSB) says we need to be “…discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.” So I need to ask some hard questions….

  • Am I doing something to fan the flames?
  • Is there something in my behavior I have missed or am choosing to ignore?
  • Has a relationship crossed the line into unhealthy?
  • Am I putting another relationship before my relationship with God?
  • Has a bad habit become an addiction?
  • Am I following the lead of others instead of His leading?
  • Have I chosen to go my own way instead of His?
  • Am I spending money on trips, or other pleasures, instead of using that money to do His work?

Satan is wily.  He will always have people in place to encourage and support when we stray from Christ’s desires for us.  Satan can whisper “There is nothing wrong with that.  After all, Scripture says, ‘Everything is permissible…’.”  Yet the Scriptures which deal with this issue also include a caveat.  Take a closer look at them:

Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me;
but not all things are helpful (good for me to do,
expedient and profitable when considered with other things).
Everything is lawful for me,
but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (AMP)

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please],
but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome).
All things are legitimate,
but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].
1 Corinthians 10:23 (AMP)

We must always be willing to take a good, hard look at what we are doing and thinking.  And willing to ask these additional hard questions of ourselves:

  • Is it constructive to my character and edifying to my spiritual life?
  • Or have I become a slave to its power?
  • Does my behavior glorify God?
  • Is my life a reflection of Christ?

I don’t want to be blind to my faults…hidden or not.  I want my eyes open as wide as they can be so I am aware of any tricks the enemy might use.

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Lord, please open my eyes.  Do not allow me to be blind to anything that is not pleasing to You.  Help me discern if the words of others are red flags to warn me of the danger my behavior could bring.  Let my life be pleasing to You and bring You glory.  Amen – It Is So!

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

Flawless

August 24, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There’s got to be more
Than going back and forth
From doing right to doing wrong
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are
Come on get in line right behind me
You along with everybody
Thinking there’s worth in what you do

Then like a hero who takes the stage when
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The Cross has made
The Cross has made you flawless

No matter the hurt
Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain
Still the truth is
The Cross has made
The Cross has made you flawless

Could it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did

Take a breath smile and say
Right here right now I’m ok
Because the Cross was enough

MercyMe
Songwriters:  Solomon Olds, Ben Glover, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Barry Graul, Robby Shaffer, Bart Millard, David Arthur Garcia

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I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans 7:19 NLT

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done,
so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:9 NLT

This song touches me in so many ways.  I can so relate to the sentiment in these words:

“There’s got to be more than going back and forth from doing right to doing wrong…“

I really struggle with this!  But, when I do what is right, I have to be careful or pride will kick in and I’ll start thinking “There is worth in what you do.”  I have so many flaws; it seems like an impossible tightrope to walk.

The good news is we don’t have to walk that tightrope at all.

…A man is justified and made upright by faith
independent of and distinctly apart
from good deeds (works of the Law).
Romans 3:28 AMP

Our works are important as they bring honor and glory to God and reflect His Presence in our lives. But they are not what save us. We have no hope of saving ourselves through works.  We are saved by grace—God’s amazing grace.

But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness),
it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done.
Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace [it would be meaningless].
Romans 11:6 AMP

The day we called His name, we were made flawless.  The bumps, the bruises, the scars we had picked up along the way…they are gone. Thanks to the Cross.

“The Cross has made you flawless“
Hallelujah!

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Father God, thank You for this beautiful reminder that You see us as flawless, in spite of the messes we have made.  Remind me I do not have to strive and work for salvation.  All You require is faith.  You have graciously provided our salvation through the Cross.  Thank You for providing me a way to be flawless in Your sight.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen – it is so!

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

Big House

August 17, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I don’t know where you lay your head
Or where you call your home
I don’t know where you eat your meals
Or where you talk on the phone
I don’t know if you got a cook
A butler or a maid
I don’t know if you got a yard
With a hammock in the shade

I don’t know if you got some shelter
Say a place to hide
I don’t know if you live with friends
In whom you can confide
I don’t know if you got a family
Say a mom or dad
I don’t know if you feel love at all
But I bet you wish you had

Come and go with me to my Father’s house
Come and go with me to my Father’s house

It’s a big, big house
With lots and lots a room
A big, big table
With lots and lots of food
A big, big yard
Where we can play football
A big, big house
It’s my Father’s house

All I know is it’s a big ole house
With rooms for everyone
All I know is lots of land
Where we can play and run
All I know is you need love
And I’ve got a family
All I know is you’re all alone
So why not come with me

Audio Adrenaline
Songwriters: Mark Stuart, Barry Blair, Will McGinniss, Bill Herdmann

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

We were up in the mountains camping this weekend when the chorus for this song came to mind.  I had first heard it at a teen camp with one of my girls.  It has been quite a while since I thought about it.  I kept thinking, “This is my Father’s house!”  And it was.  The new growth on the top of the pine trees looked like crosses.  The family in the next campsite had a worship service on Sunday night. It was in Spanish so I didn’t understand a lot of it but His Presence was there, I could feel it.  Too often I make the mistake of thinking “church” is my Father’s only house.  I forget He makes His home with us.  I forget about His heavenly home.

2 Timothy 1:14 (AMP) reminds me that Holy Spirit makes His home in us.

Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth]
which has been entrusted [to you],
by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us.

As I was researching Scriptures for this blog, I found something that astounded me!  Look at the following Scriptures:

…the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him.
Mark 1:10 AMP

But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes
and fills you with power from heaven.
Luke 24:49 NLT

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove
from heaven and resting upon Him.
John 1:32 NLT

…the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
1 Peter 1:12 HCSB

So there are three witnesses in heaven:
the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;
1 John 5:7 AMP

Do you see it?  The Holy Spirit came from Heaven to reside in us!  We carry a piece of Heaven inside of us!  (GASP!)  I had never thought about it that way.

When Audio Adrenaline wrote this song, they wanted to create a song that made Heaven sound fun…not scary or ominous.  “Big House” paints a picture of a large and loving family, spending time together, having lots of fun in the presence of a loving Father.  Since I have a piece of Heaven, I wanted to see how the Scriptures describe Heaven.  Here is what I found:

  • the sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard – Isaiah 65:19
  • death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer – Revelation 21:4
  • no hunger or thirst – Revelations 7:16-17
  • springs of living waters – Revelations 7:16-17
  • there will be rest and relief – 1 Thessalonians 1:7
  • a world filled with God’s righteousness – 2 Peter 3:13
  • a house with many rooms – 2 Chronicles 31:18

There are so many wonderful Scriptures regarding what Heaven will be like…too many to include.  But I love the physical description found in this passage:

The River of the water of Life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the Tree of Life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.  The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.

Revelations 22:1-5

I like the image of the river flowing from the throne.  It reminds me of the streams and waterfalls I saw this weekend.   Sounds like a happy place to me.  And there is a piece of that paradise living inside of me in the form of the Holy Spirit.  So, please, come and go with me to my Father’s house.  We may not be able to visit it physically but we always have part of it with us.

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Father God, thank You for the beautiful Scriptures that show us what Heaven will be like.  I stand amazed, knowing that a piece of Heaven dwells within me.  Thank You for reminding me through the beauty of nature that I am always in Your House.  In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen – it is so!

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Step By Step

August 10, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
Sometimes the night was beautiful
Sometimes the sky was so far away
Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close
You could touch it but your heart would break
Sometimes the morning came too soon
Sometimes the day could be so hot
There was so much work left to do
But so much You’d already done

Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
And I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham
How one star he saw had been lit for me
He was a stranger in this land
And I am that, no less than he
And on this road to righteousness
Sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps
But never beyond Your reach

Rich Mullins
written along with David Strasser

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This was one of the very first ‘contemporary’ Christian songs I ever heard.  I fell in love immediately.  Little did I know how much this song would affect me or that I would continue to carry it with me “all of my days.”

Rich Mullins considered this a prayer song because, as he said,  “Sometimes I find it hard to pray.”  (Don’t we all?)  Rich also talked about trying to impress God with our prayers: “We don’t have to impress Him…He is already knocked out about you…God takes the junk of our lives and makes the greatest art out of it.”

This is the cry of my heart, that “I will seek You in the morning and I will learn to walk in Your ways; and step by step You’ll lead me…and I will follow You all of my days!”  I desperately want Him to take the junk of my life and make something beautiful out of it.

My deepest desire is to seek Him each morning and follow Him…truly step by step.  I pray God will “Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by evil” (Psalm 119:133 NLT).  But, being human, I falter and sometimes I fail.  What a relief to know that I am never beyond His reach.  Psalm 139:7 (HCSB) asks the question, “Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?”  Acts 17:27b (HCSB) provides an answer, “He is not far from each one of us.”  Deuteronomy 4:7 (NASB) ties it all up for us, “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?”

I think this quote from Jerry Bridges gives a great perspective:

“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”

We cannot escape God’s amazing grace.  It is always there for us. We will always have need of it—at our best and at our worst.  That’s why I am so thankful that “Oh God, You are my God….”  Yes, “I will ever praise You!”

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, I am so thankful for Your leadership.  I am grateful You direct my steps.  Teach me to walk closely with You.  Keep my feet on the path You have placed them on that I may follow You all of my days.  In Christ’s name, I ask this, Amen!  It Is SO!

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King Of My Heart

August 3, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’m in a war every minute
I know for sure I’ll never win it
I am David up against Goliath
And it’s a fight for my attention
I’m being pulled every direction
This world tells me trust what I can see
Lord, won’t You help me
Believe what I believe

‘Cause You are
Bigger than any battle I’m facing
You are
Better than anything I’ve been chasing
Savior and Royalty
The only Hope for me
Jesus, You are, You are
The King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart

All by myself I fall to pieces
But You are strong when I am weakest
I feel Your Kingdom come alive in me
My feet are bruised but they’ll follow
Where You lead

Your love is deeper than the ocean
You wash away my brokenness
Your arms are always open
Come and rule in me
Come and be my King

You’re the King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart
You’re the King of my heart, heart

Love & The Outcome
Singer/Songwriters: Jodi King and Chris Rademaker

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

I can so relate to this song!  Distractions. They are everywhere; this world is full of them.  Sometimes I feel like Dory in “Finding Nemo.”  My focus flits from one shiny thing to another.  Then BOOM! …Not only am I in a battle to keep my focus on God but now I am caught up in a battle I never saw coming.  One I have no hope of winning on my own.  Classic David and Goliath.  But I am reminded…

This battle is the Lord’s.
1 Samuel 17:47

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14 HCSB

I love this passage in 2 Chronicles 20, specifically verses 12, 15 & 17 (HCSB & AMP):

…For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us.
We do not know what to do, but we look to You.
…the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,
for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
You shall not need to fight in this battle;  take your positions, stand still,
and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you…
Do not be afraid or discouraged.

I am powerless in these battles.  By myself I fall to pieces.  Yet, all I really need to do is be still because as Deuteronomy 31:8 (HCSB) states:

The Lord is the One who will go before you.
He will be with you;
He will not leave you or forsake you.
Do not be afraid or discouraged.

And 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV) reassures me: “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”  In my weakness, His strength shines:  “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’ ” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (HCSB).

All I really need to do is remember Jesus is:

  • Bigger than any battle I am facing
  • Better than anything I’ve been chasing
  • The only hope for me
  • He is the King of my heart!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Jesus, thank You so much for being the King of my heart!  I rejoice in You.  Thank You for going before me and fighting my battles.  Remind me that I do not have to fight them on my own…I only need to return my focus to You and be still.  In Your precious and Holy name I pray – Amen, IT IS SO!

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One Thing Remains

July 27, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing…remains

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death, In life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love

Jesus Culture
Written by: Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford and Jeremy Riddle

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

And I am convinced that NOTHING can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears
for today nor our worries about tomorrow—
NOT EVEN THE POWERS OF HELL can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—
indeed, NOTHING in all creation
will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Go back and read those two verses again.  And again…and again.  Until it completely sinks in that NOTHING can or EVER will separate us from God’s love. When all else fails—when everyone else abandons you, when sin has defeated you—His love STILL remains!  Is that not the most comforting, reassuring thought ever?!?  No matter how far we have fallen, no matter what our past or present looks like, we can never fall out of the reach of His love.  Neither can our loved ones.  We are all held tightly in His hand and our names are written on His palm.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever!
No one will snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:28 HCSB

Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of)
you on the palm of each of My hands;
Isaiah 49:16a AMP

What hope, what reassurance there is in each of these Scriptures!  Let us hold tightly to them.  Be confident in His great love and remember:

“Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!”

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for such a great love.  Thank You for the hope, the reassurance we find in these Scriptures.  Let us hold tightly to them and always be mindful of them, for NOTHING can separate us from Your love.  In Your Holy name we pray, Amen – It Is SO!!

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Your Grace Finds Me

July 20, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

It’s there in the newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace
It’s there on the mountaintop
There in the everyday and the mundane
There in the sorrow and the dancing
Your great grace
Oh, such grace

From the creation to the Cross
There from the Cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

It’s there on a wedding day
There in the weeping by the graveside
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace
The same for the rich and poor
The same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh, such grace

There in the darkest night of the soul
There in the sweetest songs of victory
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me
Your great grace
Oh, such grace
Your great grace
Oh, such grace

So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

 Matt Redman
written along with Jonas Myrin

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

“And the most beautiful thing about the grace of God is
that it always finds us where we are.”
Matt Redman

I have an acronym that I use to define God’s grace:

  • G – God’s
  • R – riches
  • A – at
  • C – Christ’s
  • E – expense

Most Bible dictionaries define God’s grace as His ‘unmerited favor and undeserved mercy’.  But recently I saw a post about grace that completely captured my attention.  It said that grace is like water—it always flows down to the lowest point.  Wow!  So simple but completely true.  As Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.”  No matter how high we are or how far we fall—from the peak to the pit—God’s grace will always find us.  From creation to eternity, God’s great grace is available to us.  (Doesn’t that just make you smile?)

We all struggle…just with different things at different times.  I have a temper.  I despise confrontations.  I battle with insecurity and my pride is easily wounded.  I have a hard time making friends and a harder time keeping them.  I don’t do relationships well.  I’m sure each of you has a similar laundry list of struggles.  But Hebrews 13:9 NLT reminds us “Your strength comes from God’s grace…”.  And Joshua 1:5 AMP states, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”  That’s why the bridge of this song is my favorite part.

“So I’m breathing in Your grace
And breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be”

When my temper is ready to flare…when harsh, hurtful words are on the tip of my tongue…when I wonder why I am not enough, not good enough—I can breathe in His grace and breathe out His praise.  My focus shifts to Him and I hopefully avoid doing something I truly would have regretted.  Hiding in His favor and mercy, forever I’ll be.

God’s great grace.  His amazing grace rests richly upon each of us.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Abba, thank You so much for the amazing gift of grace that always finds me wherever I am, be it sunlight or shadows.  Thank You for the strength I find in Your grace.  Allow me to see Your grace in everyday life…to notice it, appreciate it and praise You for such great grace.  In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen—so be it.

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