May 2, 2026

Give Me Oil for My Lamp

January 16, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvI have two daughters, ages 5 and 2.  Last year I bought them the “Wee Sing:Bible Songs” CD, so we could have something fun to listen to in the car.  It’s got all the greatest hits you remember from Sunday School, no matter how old you are – “Jesus Loves Me”, “Deep and Wide”, and my 2 year-old’s favorite, “Zaccheus.”  The good news is, they LOVE it.  They love to sing to each and every song (all 63 of them), and ask me questions about the lyrics that lead to more conversations about God and Jesus.  The bad news is, they LOOOOOVE it.  As soon as I buckle them into their carseats, they ask, “Mom, can we have Bible songs?!”  About once a week, I have to tell them that Mommy needs a break, and they whine for a minute before enjoying the classical music station.

These songs don’t just stay in the car, though.  They get sung in the bathtub, or when it’s time to clean up toys.  I find myself whistling one or another every day.  They’re short, easy to learn, and catchy as all get out!  The one I’d like to explore today is…

Give Me Oil for My Lamp

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning,
Give me oil for my lamp, I pray (Hallelujah!)
Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning,
Keep me burning ‘til the break of day
Sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna to the King!

Not only did this song help me explain the miracle of Chanukah to my girls (who, of course, have no real idea of what a lamp is and how important it was to keep enough oil for it!), but it refers directly and indirectly to dozens of scripture.  The first that came to mind was Matthew 25, the parable of the bridesmaids.  Here Jesus tells us to be prepared for His return, and not be caught unaware.  We need to keep oil in our lamps, to keep our light shining in the world and be faithful to Him!  We are warned that the Groom can return any day, any hour, and we need to prepare our hearts and our lives for Jesus.

It also makes me think of the promise God gives us in Isaiah 40:28-31:

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go.
God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime
stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.

This means God knows what we need, and He won’t forget us.  He will give us the energy we need to keep going, and all we have to do is ask.  Hallelujah!

I guess today the song might be, “Give me charge to my batteries,” but I like singing it how it is.  I also like that my 2 year-old is still working on the lyrics, and belts out with enthusiasm, “Sing Mozanna to the King of Kings!” 🙂

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Please pray this with me:  Lord of Heaven and Earth, today we ask for oil for our lamps.  Sustain us, energize us, and fill us up with Your Spirit.  Give us strength and faith to run the race to the end.  May all we do today bring You glory and praise.  In the powerful and wonderful name of Jesus, Amen.

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Overcomer

January 15, 2014 by


psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Staring at a stop sign, watching people drive by, T Mac on the radio
Got so much on your mind, nothing’s really going right, looking for a ray of hope
Whatever it is you may be going through
I know he’s not gonna let it get the best of you

You’re an overcomer
Stay in the fight ’til the final round
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it’s hopeless
That’s when He reminds you
That you’re an overcomer
You’re an overcomer

Everybody’s been down, hit the bottom, hit the ground. Ooh, you’re not alone
Just take a breath, don’t forget, hang on to His promises, He wants you to know

The same man, the great I am, the One Who overcame death is living inside of you
So just hold tight, fix your eyes on the One Who holds your life
There’s nothing He can’t do…He’s telling you

~  Performed by Mandisa; Written by Christopher Stevens and David Garcia  ~

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“I am an Overcomer!”  Let’s think about that and say that together….

I AM AN OVERCOMER!!!!!

This is who God says I am! We all can get weighed down by the pressures in life. I know there are days when I feel like I am in the boxing ring and things (aka—life) is coming at me and how quickly I forget who I am when I get weary!!! It’s in those moments that God so sweetly reminds me just exactly who I am.

In Romans 8:37, He says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” I am more than a conqueror because Jesus lives in me and because of Him I have the Victory!!!  He also tells us in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

There is peace and there is hope in ALL things and in EVERY situation if we so choose to take our eyes off our circumstances and get our eyes back on Him. The only way to be defeated is to give up. Make a choice this day to look the giant in the face, get back up, and walk in the confidence that your Father is working in that situation and is using it for good.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting,
God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter.
He does our praying in and for us,
making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition,
and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure
that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Romans 8:28 (MSG)

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Heavenly Father, I thank You for these truths and I pray for each and every person who is reading this, and for myself included, that when things around us are swirling out of control that we would choose to take our eyes off the circumstances and CHOOSE to get our eyes back on You, walking in the peace and confidence of knowing that You are faithful in ALL things and in EVERY circumstance! In Jesus’ name. Amen!!!

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Redeemed

January 13, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

  ~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me
“Son, stop fighting a fight that’s already been won”

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain
Now I’m not who I used to be
I am redeemed… I’m redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper “Child, lift up your head”
I remember, oh God, You’re not done with me yet

I don’t have to be the old man inside of me ’cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I’ve got a new name, a new life I’m not the same
And a hope that will carry me home

‘Cause I am redeemed
Thank God redeemed

~ Performed by Big Daddy Weave ~
~ Songwriters: Benji Cowart and Michael David Weaver ~

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The first time I heard this song was when they were in concert.  Mike Weaver’s testimony of what he had just been through—not suceeding in his weight loss journey and the death of a family member—really touched my heart. But as time went along, and I would hear the song at other times, the words would begin to minister to me. Telling me that no matter what, by the Blood of Jesus I have been redeemed and made whole. I do not have to stay in the pit of self-pity, self-loathing, and whatever other negative emotions the evil one chooses to send my way.
It is our job to keep those destructive thoughts and feelings out of our hearts and minds. The ‘old man’ or old ways should be dead and we will need to be able to rebuke those thoughts as they enter. We are to take those thoughts captive and throw them back at the one who does not want us to feel the perfect love of God! We are to stand firm, stomp our feet, and tell him to flee! For we have been ransomed and wash clean. How I love that thought! How I have needed to write this as well. I have to let the old sinful nature die and not want to bring it back, ever!
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Thank You, Father, that we have indeed been redeemed. Thank You for those who have the gift of songwriting as You gave so freely to David. Let our hearts continue to sing praises to You as we offer our human voices to sing along with Your choir in heaven.  Thank You!  In Jesus’ name, amen.
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You Are

January 10, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

  ~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

When I can’t find the words to say how much it hurts
You are the healing in my heart
When all that I can see are broken memories
You are the light that’s in the dark

You are the song, You are the song I’m singing
You are the air, You are the air I breathe in
You are the hope, You are the hope I’m needin’…You are

And when my circumstance leaves me with empty hands
You’re the Provider of my needs
When all my dirtiness has left me helpless
You are the rain that washes me

If I had no voice, if I had no tongue—I would dance for You like the rising sun
And when that day comes and I see Your face
I will shout Your endless, glorious praise

 

~  written and performed by Colton Dixon  ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is my Healer, my Hope…the rain that washes me. He is the song that I am singing. What about you, dear sister? Is HE your everything? Even in the rain, is He your hope?

I love this song. Because even when I am hurting, and my circumstances are difficult, and the dirtiness of my past has left me helpess…He IS and WAS my Hope, My Healer from the pain.

Even in the most difficult of circumstances He is the song I am singing. God showed me this verse in one of the most difficult of circumstances in my life.

And be not grieved and depressed,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
Nehemiah 8:10 AMP

You see, my son was going through a sleep disorder at the time that caused him to have seizures while he was sleeping. We walked through this for about 7 months before he was completely healed from it. That was one of the most difficult walks I have had thus far with God. But joy was possible because it was found in Him. I watched God use that situation with my son for Good over and over again. If I was focused on my circumstances, I would slowly feel my joy being drained from me as well as my strength. But when I focused on God—my joy in Him began to return and the peace that surpasses all understanding began to wash over me! And He would remind me that I was ok. It was then that I would regain my strength.

I got to thinking about this verse, “…the joy of the Lord is my strength and stronghold…” How do I find joy in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances? The answer is found IN THE LORD! Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is a feeling and is dependent on circumstances.  Joy is only found in the Lord and is NOT dependent on my circumstances. So even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances, I hang onto my joy because if I let my joy be stolen… there goes my strength. And in Romans 8:28 God reminds us that He causes “all things to work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are called according to His purpose.”  So be encouraged, dear sister, that even in the hardest of situations joy and peace in the Lord is possible…but it is ONLY found in HIM!!!

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Heavenly Father, I pray this day for each and every one of my sisters  that may be struggling to find the joy in You in their difficult circumstances. I pray that they would get their eyes focused back on You and that they would be encouraged that You will use it for their good and for Your glory; in Jesus’ name. Amen!!

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Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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In Christ Alone

January 9, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 ~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my Light, my Strength, my Song;
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my all in all—here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on that Cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—this is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand;
‘Til He returns or calls me home—here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

 

~  In Christ Alone; words and music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend  ~

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The words of a song can be so stirring!  Particularly, I have found hymns to have this effect on me.  A choir director once told me that hymns are songs that “are soaked in doctrinal truth.”  One definition of hymns says that they are “… songs that help teach faith.”  What we sing through this type of song can profoundly affect how we think and feel.  And each of us have our own favorite hymns and choruses…they come to mean so much to our hearts!  This song, In Christ Alone, is considered a modern-day hymn. It contains such foundational truth.

For example, the very first three words of this song, “In Christ alone…” You could say them in other ways, too—‘only Jesus…’ ‘Jesus is everything to me…’ ‘You, Lord, JUST You…’

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
And He is the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
so that in everything He might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:15-18

In and through Jesus we have been given so very much! He truly is our ‘Light… (John 8:12), our Strength… (Psalms 28:7 and 8), our Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5 and 6)!’

I just love to sing these next lines of this song; they are so beautiful!

What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.”

Through Jesus, also, we have love (Romans 8:38 and 39), peace (Philippians 4:7), comfort (Psalm 46:10), and joy (John 15:11)! He IS our ‘all in all.’

And when all things shall be subdued unto him,
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him
that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:28

In Jesus our hope, our trust, our constant assurance is in the right place—on the solid foundation of who we are in Christ.  In my own life I must need continual reminding  to not let my feelings get in the way or my circumstances be allowed to dictate my actions. But, as we (I!) stand firmly on the unchangeable truths of the gospel of Christ, our (my!)faith is being continuously built.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us….
Hebrews 6:19 and 20

How about you? Do the words of this beautiful hymn evoke a response in your heart when you hear them?  (I would so LOVE to ‘hear’ your answer in the comments below.)

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Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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Let My Love Be The Proof

January 8, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

~  Listen while you read, please!  ~

If I sing but don’t have love, I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise
If I speak with the silver tongue and convince a crowd but don’t have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say
   So let my life be the proof of Your love
   So let my love look like You and what Your made of
   How You lived, how You died…Love is sacrifice
   So let my life be the proof—the proof of Your love
If I give to a needy soul but don’t have love then who is poor
It seems all the poverty is found in
When it’s all said and done, when we sing our final song
Only love remains…only love remains

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I can speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy
But don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rust gate
If I speak God’s word with power, revealing all of His mysteries
And making everything as plain as day
And if I have faith to say to a mountain jump and it jumps
But I don’t love, I’m nothing
If I give all I earn to the poor
Or even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr
But I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere
So, no matter what I say, no matter what I believe, no matter what I do
I’m bankrupt without love

“Oh, yes, Father—let my life be the proof of Your love!”  That is SO the DESIRE of my heart. But what do we do with those ‘hard to love’ people? You know the ones I am talking about…the sandpaper people—the ones that rub you the wrong way. Or what about the ones who are unkind, or speak harsh words, or do hurtful things? What about those people?!? Jesus says in Matthew 23:39 that we are to love our neighbor as ourself.  He didn’t say only the nice people or the ones who treat you with kindness. Loving someone who is nice to you is easy, and it doesn’t take much effort. But choosing to love the unloveable and the hard-to-love people…that is where you and I can make a difference in the lives of others…to the undeserving.

I don’t know about you but there was a time before Jesus saved me that I wasn’t so lovely. In fact, I was hard to love! But Jesus loved me anyway. That is also why He said (in John 15:5) “Apart from Me, you can do nothing….” Today God reminds me (and I encourage you!) to go out there and be willing to show the love of the Father to someone who needs it most. There is someone out there that needs to be introduced to a love like none other—the unconditional love of the Father. And to someone to love them right where they are at.

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Heavenly Father, I pray for each and everyone of us, as we go throughout our days, that we would choose to show Your love everywhere we go. That the love that we show others would not be based on how someone treats us but rather that we would choose to love them as You have loved us—with unconditional love. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!! (Signed a former pit dweller saved by Grace.)

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Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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He Keeps Me Singing

January 7, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I grew up singing hymns and choruses. Today I love and sing the contemporary worship and praise songs of the day. But often as I worship, my mind goes back to those old hymns that tell such wonderful stories, and teach such wonderful Biblical truths.  This is one of those songs:

 ~ He Keeps Me Singing (There’s Within My Heart a Melody) ~

Luther B. Bridges, 1884-1948

There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still, In all of life’s ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumbering chords again.
Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting ’neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face that is why I shout and sing.
Though sometimes He leads through waters deep, trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see His footprints all the way.
Soon He’s coming back to welcome me far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown, I shall reign with Him on high.

Luther Bridges wrote this song shortly after the tragic death of his wife and three sons in a house fire. How could he write such a beautiful song after such a tragedy!? He shared that the Lord spoke to him through The Word.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul.
Lamentations 3:24

They that dwell in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

As Luther wrote he remembered all that Jesus did for us.

Jesus suffered for us:
He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities…
We all, like sheep, have gone astray…
and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5,6

He remembered God’s promises:
I will never leave you or forsake you.
Hebrews 13:5

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
Isaiah 43:2

He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4

In My Father’s house are many rooms…
I am going there to prepare a place for you…
I will come back and take you to be with Me.
John 14:1-4

My peace I give you.
John 14:27

All these promises and many more are wrapped up in one word…one Name—JESUS. That’s how Luther Bridges could move on from the tragic loss of his family; he said the Name of Jesus. He lived and breathed the Name of Jesus. Sisters, when you and I go through the trials of life, we must remember the sufferings Jesus went through for each of us, and we must remember His promises for us. Then we can say, we can sing, we can breathe the Name of JESUS, and walk through those trials.

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Oh Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, the sweetest Name I know. It fills my every longing, and keeps me singing as I go!  I pray, Lord, that this will be the song each of my sisters can sing from the depth of their heart.  In the sweetest Name of Jesus, Amen.

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Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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Make My Life a Prayer To You

January 6, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to
No empty words and no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise

I want to shine the light You gave through Your son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair, it comforts me to know You’re really there

Well I want to thank You now for being patient with me
Oh it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what You say
Oh you’re coming again…coming to take me away

I want to die and let You give Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me, the love that set me free

I want to tell the world out there You’re not some fable or fairy tale
That I’ve made up inside my head You’re God the Son and You’ve risen from the dead

~  written by Keith and Melody Green; performed by Keith Green ~

♥  _________________________________ ♥

This week, over on our Seeking Him Daily Devotional blog, the writers are sharing with us thoughts focusing on Jeremiah 29:13.

You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.

This verse always reminds me of seeking my God during my ‘quiet time.’

David wrote about his ‘quiet time’ in the following verse.  Does the Lord hear you expressing your heart to Him in the same way?  I believe that as we are intentional and seek Him that, yes, this is how God sees us.

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

Here  is a great example of God’s design for our prayer life:

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

Those are some very intentional words <earnest, unwearied, steadfast> used at the beginning of that verse, yes?  Other versions use similar words: devote, persevere, continue….  This reminds me so much of David’s heart—he was earnest, devoted, steadfast  in his pursuit of being in God’s presence.

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

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

How often do we go along through our day, accomplishing the normal even mundane tasks, fellowshipping and talking with our Heavenly Father?  Or driving (yet again) to school to pickup your children; isn’t that a great time to pray?  Or waiting for them at dance/soccer/baseball practice or music lessons/cub scout meeting/awana time/_______ (you fill in the blank); yet another small amount of time that can be eked out of our day to pray and seek Him.  Paul wrote a number of times in his letters to the Christian believers about the importance of praying.  He used terms such as, “pray at all times,” “keep alert and watch,” “pray with ceasing.”  Listen to this encouragement to make our lives a life of prayer:

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

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

So I think that we see by seeking God first and foremost, by being intentional in our quiet time in our  prayers and petitions, we will be better prepared to “pray at all times, and, keep alert and watch, and, pray without ceasing.”  We will have a ‘life’ of prayerfulness.  We will be continually seeking Him throughout each day thus carrying out His will (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

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Interested in joining us for our next Online Bible Study that starts on January 13, 2014?   Click HERE for more details!

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As Long as I’m Alive I’ll Glorify His holy Name

January 5, 2014 by

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Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Praise His holy Name!  As long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no bird gonna flap it’s feathers…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no tree gonna wave its branches…as long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His holy Name

Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place…as long as I’m alive, I’ll glorify His holy Name

~  performed by Hillsong Kids; written by LaMarquis Jefferson~

Is this your declaration too?  Do you make sure that you are the one praising God and thanking Him for the grace and mercy He showers upon your life?

Jesus made it clear and simple. Luke chapter 19 contains this record of Jesus’ ascent and entry into Jerusalem. This occurs during the week prior to His betrayal, arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion, and ultimately, His death. During this time, His disciples were openly recognizing Him as King and praising God for the miracles which Jesus had done.

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices
for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:36-40

As Jesus traveled along, making His way into Jerusalem, this continued…praising and shouting out…to the point that the Jewish leaders told Him to hush His disciples. But Jesus, knowing that no matter what, God was going to be praised, responded that even if His disciples were to be quiet, “…the stones will cry out!” God will be praised!

Throughout the Book of Psalms, the writers of the psalms spoke the same truth. They knew that praise was intrinsically built in to all nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.
There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.
Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world.
Psalms 19:1-4

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above.
Praise Him, all his angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars.
Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away.”
Psalms 148:1-6

Job knew, too. He spoke these words.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10

He clearly let it be known that the animals, the birds, the fish along with the plants and trees know about their Creator…AND…declare it, too! So, we have no excuse! Let your praise be loud…and let it be long! Don’t hide it…don’t avoid the many, many, many opportunities that you have to teach and tell about all God has done! And, for God’s glory, don’t let the rocks and the birds, and the trees speak for you!  As long as you are alive…glorify His holy Name!

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

I Am New (I Am NOT Who I Was)

January 3, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

 

Now I won’t deny the worst you could say about me
But I’m not defined by mistakes that I’ve made because God says of me

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new

Who I thought I was and who I thought I had to be
I had to give them both up ‘cause neither were willing to ever believe

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new, I am new

Too long have I lived in the shadows of shame believing that there was no way I could change
But the One who is making everything new doesn’t see me the way that I do
He doesn’t see me the way that I do

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
I am chosen and holy and I’m dearly loved…I am new, I am new

I am not who I was, I’m being remade…I am new
Dead to the old man, I’m coming alive…I am new, I am new, I am new

Forgiven, beloved, hidden in Christ, made in the image of the Giver of Life
Righteous and holy, reborn and remade, accepted and worthy,
This is our new name…this is who we are now

~ Jason Gray, Joel Hanson ~

 

I dedicate this song to you, my sister…yes, y.o.u.! (You know who you are!)  You who doubt that you have value and worth to anyone.  You who worry that anyone will ever REALLY love you for you.  You who doubt that you can ever truly, finally change.  You.  ‘Cause here’s the truth—YOU ARE NEW! And all by God’s grace, and because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and just simply because you are loved!

[O] brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you;
1 Thessalonians 1:4

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:2

You are NOT the girl who was shame-filled, doubt-filled, worry-filled, fear-filled. No, ma’am! You, YOU ARE NEW!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself….
2 Corinthians 5:17 and 18

So please don’t sit there splashing tears on your keyboard…get up…waltz around the room…lift your hands in surrender and in praise to the One Who chose you and says you are beloved.

Sing this song with me; will you? And let it settle deep down into that beautiful, changed heart of yours. And remember—this IS who YOU ARE! (Y’know how I know? God said so.)

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