November 21, 2024

Your Grace Finds Me

August 4, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvIt’s there in the newborn cry
It’s there in the light of every sunrise
It’s there in the shadows of this light
Your great grace

It’s there on the mountaintop
It’s 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
Then 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

Same for the rich and poor
Same for the saint and for the sinner
Enough for this whole wide world
Your great grace
Oh, such grace

From the creation to the cross
Then from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

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 I’m breathing out Your praise
I’m breathing in Your grace
Forever I’ll be

Yes, Your grace finds me
Yes, Your grace finds me

Matt Redman
written along with Jonas Myrin

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Aren’t you glad to have God’s grace and mercy?!?  When Jesus came to Earth, He became a living example of God’s goodness.  Jesus came to show us how to live, how to love, and how to care for each other.

Jesus lived among the people.  He did not keep to Himself unless He needed to be refreshed.  Then he would go to a secluded place to be with his Father.  Jesus knew the importance of keeping a relationship with God.  People did not always honor Jesus’ need to be alone; and He would graciously spend time with the people who were so hungry for His guidance.

In so doing, Jesus showed us how to love. He had (and still has!) compassion for those who are lost and hurting.  He healed the sick and lame…He cast out demons…He raised the dead to life…and He fed the hungry. Jesus taught His disciples how to care, and show mercy, and give grace.

By caring for his disciples, Jesus was able to give us examples of how hard- hearted we can be. How many times have we made the same mistake, and then had the area of wrong revealed in such a way it broke our hearts to realize it?  The is the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives to bring us closer to Jesus.  We do not need to be ashamed of what we have done. Rather we need to praise Him, Jesus, for caring and loving us enough to show us our error.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s pray:  Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy.  Thank You for loving us despite our pride…our need to be first.  I pray You will continue to find me in my weakness and break me until I see You just as You are…not as I make You out to be.  Thank You for humbling me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Your Grace Finds Me

May 31, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvIt’s there in a newborn cry
There in the light of every sunrise
There in the shadows of this life
Your great grace

It’s there on the mountain top
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 the wedding day
There in the weeping by the gravesite
There in the very breath we breathe
Your great grace

It’s 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

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

As long as there is sin, there will be grace.  And, even when we don’t realize it and we aren’t even looking for it, grace finds us.  Can you think of a time lately when you needed grace?  The awesome thing is that it really is everywhere.  It’s in the thorns that pierce us and the heavy loads we carry.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Grace meets us when we need His mercy and compassion.  Sometimes the pit we fall into isn’t always one that we chose…maybe someone pushed us in and we are struggling to get out.  More than anything we need His hand of grace to pull us out and His mercy to steady us so that we can keep moving forward instead of looking behind.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

And when we do breathe in God’s grace, we need to breathe out His praise for all that He is and all that He does.  And when we are doubting that we are even worthy of coming to His throne, may we be reminded that nothing that we have done or will ever do is what qualifies us to receive His grace and mercy.  It is the love that God has for us that He would send His only Son to die.  It was the carrying of the Cross and the death of Jesus that gives us our grace ticket into His presence.

Do you need to be reminded again that you are loved and wanted?
Listen again to the words of this song and claim them as they are for you…

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let us pray: Dear heavenly Father, You are so amazing and loving.  You are so full of mercy and compassion for each one of Your children.  Your forgiveness has no end.  Lord, we praise You today for the Cross. Because of the love You have for us, we will not be shaken because You have placed us on a firm foundation.  Thank You that we can come to You freely with any request and You listen.  You are always working on our behalf.  Please wrap Your arms around those today that need to be reminded.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

2014 – Three Things

January 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31b NLT

As I look back over the past year, there are three things God has shown me that have changed my perspective and my faith:

  • Yes, but…
  • Lay Me Down
  • Pocket Prayer

Yes, but…

Those two words have made such a big difference in my life.  When satan tries to bring up the past, reminding me of my failures or stirs up feelings of guilt, regret, or condemnation “yes, but…” stops him in his tracks.  “Yes, but…look how far God has brought me.”  “Yes, but…look what God has done.”  According to the Scriptures:

He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged
[he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment;
for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation];
John 3:18a AMP

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 NLT

Satan despises those two words—”Yes, but….”  That simple phrase keeps me from getting caught up in the enemy’s trap and shifts my focus. Those two little words give me the opportunity to praise God for all He has done in my life.

Lay Me Down

Too often I get in God’s way.  I run ahead of His plan.  I forget to seek His will.  One night in church we sang ‘Lay Me Down’ by Chris Tomlin.  The words of the chorus resonated deep within me.

“I lay me down I’m not my own
I belong to You alone
Lay me down, lay me down
Hand on my heart this much is true
There’s no life apart from You
Lay me down, lay me down
Lay me down, lay me down”

In John 13:38a (NIV) Jesus asks: “Will you really lay down your life for me?”  I must let go of my pride—I have to give up my rights—if I truly want His light to shine through my life.

Pocket Prayer

I just finished this Max Lucado study.  It answered so many questions I had regarding prayer.  It completely changed my prayer life.  The idea behind it is simple (because prayer should be simple). The basic outline goes like this:

“Father, You are good.
I need help. Heal me and forgive me.
They need help.
Thank You.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.“

Simple, right?  Then I embellish it in the areas I need to pray about.  Funny, sometimes I get so caught up in the ‘You are good…’ and thanking Him that I forget to pray the rest.  And that’s ok.  After all, prayer is just a conversation with God.  If I am all out of words…beyond words…incapable of words, then I just pray this and the Holy Spirit takes it from there.  As Romans 8:26-27 (NASB) tells us:

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we should,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

It is so freeing when I don’t have to worry about saying the right words or praying the perfect prayer.  As Max says “Intercessory prayer isn’t rocket science.  It acknowledges our inability and God’s ability.”  God’s ultimate Will is inflexible but we can alter His strategy with our appeals and intercession.  Hallelujah!

(click here to find the Pocket Prayer Challenge.  And here for the Before Amen book.)

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

I love Christian worship music.  Many, many songs have touched me this year.  But today, let me leave you with just one that speaks volumes about my life.  For no matter where I find myself in this life, His great grace always finds me.

Singer/Songwriter: Matt Redman along with Jonas Myrin

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

Your Grace Finds Me (Redux)

December 29, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Redux means to revisit, bring back, re-release.  This last week of 2014, we—the bloggers here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour—are each ‘revisiting’ a blog we wrote earlier this year.

We would love to share with you just a bit about how very good God has been to us!  He has given us all so much grace and mercy, blessings and provision, protection and guidance!  He has led us and taught us through His Holy Spirit so many incredible things!  He has molded, and chastised, and encouraged us to be daughters with humble hearts who are dependent upon Him.  And He has helped us to be strong, committed, and faithful women  who love Him and desire to bring Him much honor and glory and majesty.

We pray that our words would encourage you also…and draw You deeper into relationship with the One Who loves you so!  Here are my dear friend Cynda’s words.

❦

This is one of the first songblogs I ever wrote.  I re-read it again today because this song has been very much on my mind.  I am still amazed at the words God gave me to write; they still hold true for me today.  His great grace surrounds me.

In the last 12-18 months I have experienced mountaintops and valleys.  We celebrated our youngest daughter’s wedding along with their first anniversary.  We celebrated the birth of our first granddaughter. However that celebration was bittersweet, knowing we would lose her in a matter of days.  We experienced the weeping and sorrow that comes with the death of a loved one—especially when that death comes way too soon.  Psalm 30:5b (NLT) reminds me that

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

As you read my previous blog (posted below), consider these Scriptures:

Great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.
Acts 4:33b AMP

But even greater is God’s wonderful grace.
Romans 5:15 & 17 NLT

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people,
there will be great thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 4:15a NLT

But He gives greater grace
James 4:6a HCSB

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

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

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 grave side
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

Singer / Songwriter Matt Redman (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

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.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

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: , , , , , , , , ,

Your Grace Finds Me

July 10, 2014 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 grave side
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

 Singer / Songwriter Matt Redman (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

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.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

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: , , , , , , , , ,