May 4, 2025

The Maker

February 1, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I see You in the sunrise
I see You in the rain
I see You in the laughter
I feel You through the pain

Everything that You have made is beautiful
Oh, my God, I can’t believe my eyes
But in all of this to think that You would think of me
Makes my heart come alive

Your love is like a mighty fire deep inside my bones
I feel like I could climb a thousand mountains all at once
And I never have to wonder if somebody cares for me
I love the Maker
And the Maker loves me

I see You, You are creation
I see the grandness of Your majesty
The universe is singing all Your glory
I can’t believe You live inside of me

Everything that You have made is beautiful
Oh, my God, I can’t believe my eyes
But in all of this to think that You would think of me
Makes my heart come alive

More than just some words upon a page
You’ve shown me in a million ways
But there is one that stands above them all
Hands of Creation on a cross

Singer / Songwriter: Christ August

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

And God said,”…Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:3) and there was light.  A beautiful sun that rises, and shines and brings such joy.  Whether it is a cold, brisk day with snow falling down or a warm, humid day with white fluffy clouds.  Can’t you see God in the sunlight?  I picture Him just beaming down at us, loving on us with His smile.  Those are the happy days.  Then there are the rainy ones, too.  Where nothing goes as planned, tears may fall like rain, and we may just be sad.  God is there, too.  He is everywhere.  He is our Creator, our Maker.

His art fills this earth.  After He had to send Adam and Eve out of the perfect garden that He had created for them and the first sin tainted the earth, He could have left it dark and dreary because isn’t that what was deserved?  We sin and disappoint yet He created all this beautiful art for us to enjoy.  He paints the sky pretty colors as the sun begins to set each night and wakes us with a gorgeous sunrise for all the world to see.  At night, He placed little white stars for us to enjoy on a black background and all this was because of you!  He had you in mind the entire time that He was making this world.

It’s easy sometimes to tell someone else that God loves them.  Right?  But do you ever say to yourself, “God really does love me“?  Say it now.  Are you smiling…yes?  I am, just thinking about it. “I love the  Maker and the Maker loves me.”

As you continue to listen to this song, I encourage you to close your eyes,  shut the world out, and just be with God.  Just think about how much He loves being with you and how He can’t wait until your feet hit the floor, just so He can spend time with you. Let this encourage you, my friend.

And don’ t keep this to yourself! It’s too good. This world needs lights like you to spread this hope to them!  Who can you reach today?  I leave you with His Words.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3

God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day,
and the lesser light to govern the night: He made the stars also.
Genesis 1:16

He is the Maker of Heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- He remains faithful forever.
Psalm 146:6

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, You are awesome and loving and so precious.  You are worthy of praise and worship.  You created all of this world with the sound of Your voice.  And You were thinking of us all the time. You had each one of our names on Your hand.  Thank You for the beauty of this world that we get to enjoy.  For the sweet sounds of birds and waves and wind and the warmth of the sun—we praise You.  For all You do is perfect.  And when we are down and feeling low, all we have to do is look up to the heavens and see that all of this was for us…the sun and stars and moon and trees and flowers.  All to show us that You are love.  Thank You for the Cross, the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be with You forever.  We love You…in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalm 100

January 29, 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

Singer / Songwriter: Chris Tomlin 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.  Tell 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 what…His love endures forever.
Whether we choose to believe it (or not) nothing changes…His love endures forever.

And so, with believers throughout the centuries, 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
    Psalm 106:1
    Psalm 107:1
    Psalm 118:1, 6, 29
    Psalm 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!

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In The Stillness

January 28, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Here in the stillness my heart is at rest
Alone in the silence, that’s where I hear You best
In the rush of the river, like a song in the breeze
It’s here in the stillness You speak to me

When I’m lost in Your Presence the world disappears
Taking all of my troubles…my burdens, my fears
Oh how gently You hold me, You are all that I see
It’s here in the stillness You speak to me

I will be still, I will stand in awe
Oh, just to know You are my God
You are my God

Yes it’s here in the stillness You speak to me
You speak to me
Oh speak to me

Singer/Songwriter – Ali Matthews

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

One of the absolute joys of the privilege we have to be in a relationship with our heavenly Father is our ‘quiet time’ with Him.  Not only is it such a joy but it is necessary to dwell in His presence…to choose to have a dedicated, purposeful, intentional, devoted quiet time.  Of course there are many different components that make up this time with God, such as:

  • reading the Scriptures
  • meditating and considering those words
  • singing our praises
  • thankfulness
  • intercession
  • personal prayer

But I do believe that there is one essential aspect—stillness—which presents itself in two very needful ways:

actual physical-absence-of-distracting-noise quiet
(and, perhaps even more necessary,)
a quiet, still, peaceful heart

Our Lord recognized His need for quiet and time alone to pray to His Father.  If He, in His perfect sinless life, needed quiet time to be still and alone seeking the Father then we surely do also…and even more so! His example speaks clearly to us.

And in the morning, long before daylight,
He got up and went out to a deserted place,
and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35

…and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities.
But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 5:15, 16

(Perhaps, when our Lord was alone, he sang words similar to those in that beautiful song we just listened to….)

There is also another type of stillness—a quiet, still, peaceful heart.  Isn’t this something that each of us yearns for?  Truly I believe it can only be found as we seek Him.  There is a incomparable quietness that we are promised as we trust in our Lord.

Be still and rest in the Lord;
wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;
fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way,
because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord
shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:7-9

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.
Psalms 46:10 and 11

And. as Jesus Himself said to us,

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden
and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.
[I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
Matthew 11:28

In closing, consider these verses in which the psalmist speaks about his quiet time with his God.  As we intentionally pursue having quiet time alone with our God may we ‘pour out our heart before Him; God is a Refuge for us!’

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him..
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty Rock, my Refuge is God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him;
God is a Refuge for us. Selah
excerpts from Psalm 62

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

May I suggest, before you run along and jump into your ‘to-do’ list, that we each stop for a few minutes and be still and quiet before the throne of God…worshipping and giving Him our praise for the joy and privilege of these times of stillness and quiet alone with Him!  Oh, how He loves us so!

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Mighty Wind

January 27, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvLike the rushing of a mighty wind
Like the rushing of a mighty wind
Come and fill our hearts again
Just like the rushing of a mighty wind

Like a river that has overflowed
Like a river that has overflowed
Come and fill our hearts
Like a river that has overflowed

Let it overflow
Let it overflow
Let it overflow
Let it overflow
Let it overflow

And let the people come from miles around
As you send your Spirit down
Just to revive your church, to revive the church again
Come in like the rushing of a mighty wind
Oh like the rushing

Like the rushing of a mighty wind
(how many of you want revival)
Like the rushing of a mighty wind
(of a mighty wind, Lord come and fill)
Come and fill our hearts again
(fill our hearts again)
like the rushing of a mighty wind
(just like the rushing of a mighty wind)

Do it today, Lord
Like a mighty wind

Singer/Songwriter Andrae Crouch

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Have you ever entered into worship and felt the power of the Holy Spirit?  I have—and it is magnificent!  The emotions…the overwhelming feeling of joy!  It comes at you like a mighty wind, it brings you to tears of joy.

Of course, most peoples’ first response to someone crying is to comfort them.  But when it is the Holy Spirit speaking to you, you do not need comforting.  Let the tears fall and rejoice in the Lord our God!  My prayer is that you will experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit with joy and expectation.

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Break Every Chain

January 26, 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

Songwriter : William Andrew Reagan ~~ Performed by Digital Age

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

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 and offer it as a living sacrifice

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.  Nahum 1:13 (EXB) tells us,

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

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.

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Broken Together

January 25, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

What do you think about when you look at me
I know we’re not the fairytale you dreamed we’d be
You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand
And we dove into a mystery

How I wish we could go back to simpler times
Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light
Now on this hallowed ground we’ve drawn the battle lines
Will we make it through the night

It’s going to take much more than promises this time
Only God can change our minds

Maybe you and I we’re never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I’ll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we’ll last forever is broken together

How it must have been so lonely by my side
We were building kingdoms, chasing dreams and left love behind
I’m praying God will help our broken hearts align
And we won’t give up the fight

Mark Hall and Bernie Herms along with Casting Crowns

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This song could be about a marriage that two went into with great but unrealistic expectations; and they realize that it really wasn’t what they expected.  And yes, it is a mystery because no one can see the real road ahead.  If you grew up in the times when our moms watched their “stories,” (television soap operas) you would really have a totally different idea of marriage, of sunset walks, and dancing around the room before you go to bed.  However, the real picture may actually look like the wife walking out the door and taking a walk by herself because she cannot remember what she saw or what she was thinking that day she said “I do.”

But God is the inventor of marriage.  He knows that we are human and imperfect, as well as that two are better than one…no matter how hard the road.  Because one falls down and then the other picks them up.  We have someone that always has our best interest at heart.  And we have each other to lean on and laugh with and seek His will together.

What if we listened to this song and thought about our relationship with God? WE are His bride and He is our groom. We say ‘yes’ to this relationship and He lifts the veil between us and we are one.

Sometimes the walk is easy, fun, and exciting—full of good moments.  Other times are really hard, walking in a valley just waiting and waiting to finally see the mountaintop. But all along, He never leaves us.  Just like in a marriage, when the hard times come—we don’t walk out or call it quits.  We keep seeking Him and we still love Him and, like a husband, He always wants what is best for us.

When you are listening today, what are you thinking of, who comes to mind? Basically, we are broken and together we can all be broken together. God can and will heal what is broken and He can fulfill each one of us just by walking with us. And oh! how He loves us!  So today, if this hit home to you, I pray that God’s grace will wash over you like rain and that if you’re married and things aren’t what you thought, hold on and seek the One that can make all things new..and praise Him for all the miracles and blessings He has given you. And if God is your groom, take His hand and walk through life together.  Joy will be yours!

As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:5

Your Maker is your husband; the Lord of host is His name.
Isaiah 54:5

I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me
in righteousness, in justice, in steadfast love.
Hosea 2:19-20

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, You are our forever, today, and yesterday.  You have no beginning and no end.  Thank You for Your steadfast love and for rejoicing over us as a groom does over his bride.  Lord, You are our Groom and You are with us always.  Yes, we are broken but still you never leave us. And in marriage, You give us grace and mercy to live out our vows. You enable us to walk with this person and to have a good life together.  We love you so much!  We look forward to what is to come!!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Give Us Faith To Be Strong

January 22, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where You lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we’re torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there’s much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we’re torn

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it’s hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we’re torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong

 Singer / Songwriter: Andrew Peterson

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This song is a prayer—an acknowledgment of our great need for God in all things.  As in every area of our lives, we need the help, the provision, the supply that only God can give.

It is true that we need to have faith; no doubt.  Jesus spoke often to His apostles and the other disciples about faith.  Over on the Seeking Him daily devotional blog, we are in the midst of a series looking at some of  Jesus’ words on FAITH.  This week the bloggers are focusing on the account (click here) from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5 where we hear about the woman with a long-term bleeding disease who is healed simply by touching Jesus’ garments.  It is an incredible record!  Listen…

She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment,  for she kept saying,  ‘If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.’  And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source,  and [suddenly] she felt in her body that she was healed of her [distressing] ailment.

verses 27-29

There is a pivotal point here: she believed—she had faith—that if she could just get close enough to simply touch Jesus’ clothing, she would be healed.  Remember she “kept saying, ‘If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.’”  And so she took the action necessary.  Having faith requires action.  As I think about this scenario, it seems to me there were a number of strong deterrents standing in her way.

  • The crowd
    Verse 24 tells us, “…a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him”
  • Her own physical frailty
    Verses 25 and 26 say she “…had been subject to bleeding for twelve years…had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and …instead of getting better she grew worse”
  • The social stigma of a woman touching a strange man in public
    Verse 33 relates, “But the woman…though alarmed and frightened and trembling, fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.”

In spite of these things she believed “…the reports she had heard about Jesus…”.  Put yourself, sisters, in her sandals…would you (would I?) have had the courage, the fortitude, the faith to do what she did?  I do believe we could…we would.   I do believe we do.

Throughout our lives, we find ourselves experiencing similar circumstances and hard times. Right now, today, I know some of you are living through difficult, demanding, hard situations. Whether they are health-related (like this woman), or difficulties in relationships, or financial problems, or a myriad of other troubles…we need to have faith that God will take care of whatever might be our need.  Our faith is based on our knowledge of His promises in His Word.

…So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Verse 6

We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.  According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…”
2 Peter 2:1-4

May we keep all these things in mind as we have faith in the Almighty God Who provides—Jehovah-Jireh.

  • When we feel weak, may we ask for ‘strength to be faithful.’
  • When we are weary, may we ask for ‘grace to go on.’
  • When we are anxious, may we ask for ‘peace when we’re torn.’
  • When we can’t see the way out or through or around or beyond, may we ask for ‘hearts to find hope.’
  • When we feel we have nothing left, may we ask for ‘faith to be strong.’

We must always remember that there is no need we will ever have that He is not already aware of.  He is the Eternal God our Provider—Jehovah-Jireh!

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

O Lord, we recognize that we need Your help in everything.  As the beautiful lyrics of this song sing out, we also ask You, Father, please give us faith to be strong…give us strength to be faithful…give us grace to go on…give us peace when we’re torn…give us hearts to find hope.  We thank You, now in advance, for each of these things because we have already been given a measure of faith by Your grace and mercy.  We have faith placing our confidence and trust in You, El Shaddai.  And we pray all these things in Jesus’ precious and powerful Name.  Amen.

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Joy

January 21, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You’ve turned it all around
Where I was hurting, now I’m rejoicing
In Your love I’m found and I have joy

You took away my pain
You turned my mourning into dancing
I can smile again ‘cause I have joy

Let the celebration begin
Make a joyful noise unto Him
Come on everybody
Let’s give Him praise for He is good

You have given me a joy that won’t stop
And will never leave
So I will praise You with gladness
For You are good

You’ve turned my sadness into gladness
You’ve turned my sorrow into joy
Now I’m singing and I’m dancing
And I will shout for joy

Songwriter: Joth Hunt  ~ Performed by PlanetShakers

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into His Presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God!  It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him; bless His name!
For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

‘Make a joyful noise!’  Oh, you don’t have to tell me twice!  (And sometimes it is just that—a joyful noise.)  Do we not just love to sing our praises to the Lord God?!?  We have so many, many reasons to praise Him, to thank Him, to bless His Holy Name.

Here in Psalm 100, verse 5 offers three extremely compelling reasons to praise Him:

He is good

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for  those who trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7

This we know…in fact, isn’t there a praise chorus that we love to sing: ‘God is good ALL the time!  And ALL the time, God is good!’

His love endures forever

Give thanks to the God of Heaven for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalms 136:26

Twenty-six (yes, 26!) times in Psalm 136, this praise is exclaimed!  (Here’s a link to read the whole psalm.)  Throughout the entire history of mankind—from Adam & Eve and all the way along through the Scriptures—we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love.  AND He has made promise after promise to His children (us! you and me!) that His love will endure for eternity!

He is faithful to all generations

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

What a promise of hope He has made—His covenant of love to those who love Him and obey!  Our God always brings His promises to pass!  What a faithful God!

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear Lord,
We love to make a joyful noise, Lord, singing Your praises!  You are the Almighty God Who deserves all the praise there is to give!  Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your goodness, and Your love!  HalleluJAH!  Amen.

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I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever

January 19, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the Healer set me free

I’m happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when Your love came down

I could sing
I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever

Oh I feel like dancing
It’s foolishness I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy like we’re dancing now

I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever

 

Singer /Songwriter: Martin Smith along with Delirious 

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

As for me, I will tell about Him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 75:9 HCSB

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
Psalm 89:1a NLT

“…For we must, in every thing, in every state, give thanks; thus we must glorify the Lord in the fire. We think, when we are in trouble, that we get ease by complaining; but we do get more—we get joy, by praising.”

– Matthew Henry

It is so easy to complain, isn’t it?  We feel things aren’t going our way or things should be different or things should be better.  I agree with Matthew Henry…we do get more when we praise God than when we complain. When we choose praise, we stop being a Debbie Downer and our joy is suddenly bubbling to the top.

When I feel the urge to complain, I need to look back at what God has done and trust Him for today. Look at Psalm 52:9 (HCSB) “I will praise You forever for what You have done. In the presence of Your faithful people, I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.”  As we look back over what God has done for us, we should feel like dancing.  Psalm 68:4(AMP) tells us to “Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him Who rides through the deserts—His name is the Lord—be in high spirits and glory before Him!”  We are to be in high spirits before our Lord!  And 2 Chronicles 20:21b (HCSB) gives us this reason (as if we need one!)

Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever.

God is good.  His faithful love does endure forever.  We have much to be thankful for so let’s nix the complaints.  Instead, let’s dance and sing of His love forever.

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Abba, thank You so much for You faithful, never-ending love that endures forever, regardless of what we have done or will do.  Let us sing praises to You and be in high spirits before You so that we may bring You glory.  In Your Holy name I ask this – Amen, so be it!

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Pass It On

January 17, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up to its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You spread your love to everyone
You want to pass it on

What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing,
The flowers start their blooming
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring
You want to pass it on

I wish for you my friend,
This happiness that I’ve found
You can come join in,
It matters not where you’re bound
I’ll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The joy of friends has come to me
I want to pass it on

Composed by Kurt Kaiser ~ Sung by Evie Tournquist (Karlsson)

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As I start this new year of 2015, I must force myself to take a few moments to review what my past year has been, and to reflect on what I want in my new year.  It’s very easy for me to just keep running from December 31, 2014 right into January 1, 2015 without even thinking about it.

This past year I have grown more in love with Jesus.  There have been good times when the flame of His love has burned brightly for all to see.  And then there were the tough times when it seemed to be only a spark hidden in the ashes.  It could only be seen when I looked closely and stirred the ashes around.  In the hardest of times…in the darkest of moments…I’ve known deep in my heart that He was still with me and my family and my friends.  I just needed to stir the ashes to find the spark and get the fire going again.

That’s how it is with God’s love.  His love is always with us through all that we go through.  It may seem that our circumstances (ashes) have suffocated it but, thank God, that is impossible.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity,
or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
(As the Scriptures say, “For Your sake we are killed every day;
we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us.
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 8:35-39 NLT

In this new year with this wonderful promise, I pray that the light of God’s love will shine through me and that the warmth from the flame of His love will touch the hearts of others.  I want to pass on ‘this happiness that I’ve found’ in Christ to those around me—friend and stranger alike.  Is this your desire and prayer for 2015?

With great love, I pray this over my grandchildren…and now I pray this over each of you:

…I pray to our Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to Him in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!  Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

If you have the light of Christ’s love in you—pass it on in 2015.

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