Hallelujah Joy

Easter Live ~ The Power of the Cross

2011-04-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

This the power of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame
Bore the Wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross

O to see my name written in your wound for through your suffering I am free.

Easter Live ~ Palm Sunday ~ Long Live the King

2011-04-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

I love this music from the song writer Adrian Snell. (his music has a huge following on the continent hence the dutch subtitles)This is the first piece from a musical called The Passion.

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosannain the highest heaven!”

Hosanna means "Save us"

Easter Live ~ Palm Sunday ~ I see the King of Glory

2011-04-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am, for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

(Hillsong)

What a wonderful prayer. Heal my heart and make it clean, Open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours, Everything I have for your kingdoms cause, As I walk from Earth into Eternity. Amen

Lent series ~ He Knows My Name ~ Maranatha Singers

2011-03-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

http://amazingsalvation.blogspot.com/

Lent series ~ He Knows My Name

2011-03-29T02:15:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to this beautiful song by Kelly, a blogger friend who I know loves this song. It's such a comfort to know that

"God knows my name"

"God hears me when I call"

"He see the tears that fall"

"He'll never leave me"

This would be a beautiful lullaby to sing to a child what a blessing and comfort the words would be and yet they are equally there for an adult to, Gods Lullaby to me.

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in his hands

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

and He hears me when I call

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

and He hears me when I call

Thank you Kelly for sharing this song with me.

Lent seies ~ Intimately Aquainted With Me ~ Masterpiece

2011-03-25T03:09:00.001-07:00

Here we go, folks... more lineup announcements for #gb11: http://bit.ly/hmQrRS

Lent series ~ Intimately Aquainted with Me

2011-03-25T03:08:00.000-07:00

I found this whilst browsing through the many renditions of Psalm 139 on You tube. it seems I'm not the only one who loves the Psalm
I'll let Masterpiece do all the talking!

Lord you search me and know me
when I sit and when I rise
Lord You know my thoughts before I think them
Lord my path you scrutenise
My lying down
My every word
All this knowledge is so high
Lord you're intimately aquainted with me
Where can I flee from your presence
why would I even try?
If I fly into the heavens
Or to Hell om Earth I slide
You are there
You are with me
Even there your hand will lead me
The darkness will not overwhelm me
For even dark is light to thee
Lord you know my inward parts
Inside my mothers womb you weave
Daughter fearfully and wonderfully made
In the image of her king
How prescious are your thoughts to me o God
How vast the sum of them
If I were to count them
They would outnumber every single grain of sand
Lord you are intimately aquainted with me

Lent series ~ Where you are is where I belong ~ Laura Woodley

2011-03-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

Lent Series ~ Where You Are Is Where I Belong

2011-03-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

Laura Woodley's beautiful song entitle Home is based on Psalm 139:

You traced the lines of my finger prints

Counted my days before I knew them

Precious thoughts for me more than the sands

And my name is written on my hands

You know the number of hairs on my head

All of my words before they are said

When I rise up and when I lie down

When I go in and when I go out

Father you have a place in your heart for me

Jesus your son made me family

And I am no orphan

By your Spirit I receieve (x2)

I have found my heart

Where you are is where I belong

A place I fit perfecty

There is room in you for me (x2)

There is room in you for me

There is room in you ...

for me

I have found my home.

Father God, You know more about me than I know about myself. You know my in's and outs, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad and you still chose to have me in your family. You are a refuge for me. Where you are is where I belong It's there I fit so perfectly. You have made room for me. Thank you.

Lent Series ~ If I make my bed in the depth

2011-03-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Lent Series ~ From Psalm 139 ~ Towan Greene

2011-03-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

If I make my bed in the depths

Or settle on the far side of the sea

If I rise on the wings of the dawn

Even there your hand will follow me

If I say surely darkness will hide me

The night will shine on me like the day

Holy Lord, draw me near to your glory

I know your warmth and your light will never fade away

Search me o God and know my heart

Test my ways and know my anxious mind

Leed me home to your peace

No greater love exists for me to find

This song was written by Towan Greene who was at that time a member of our music group. He brought the song to a practice several years ago, the words have stuck with me. They are words are taken from Psalm 139 and when I asked Towan if he'd be happy for me to share them, he suggested reading Psalm 138 v 6 onwards as well.

Psalm 138 v6+ (from the New Living Translation)

Though I am surrounded by troubles,
      you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
   You reach out your hand,
      and the power of your right hand saves me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
      for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
      Don’t abandon me, for you made me

It's a cry from the heart of David, A statement of belief "Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies."
A statement of occurance "You reach out your hand,
      and the power of your right hand saves me."
A statement of hope "The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
      for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever."

And a statement of doubt " Don't abandon me for you made me"

Psalm 139 then goes on to affirm Gods love, Gods presence and Gods control.

I really love the Way that Towan's song verses end with such positive statements

Even there your hand will follow me

I know your warmth and your light will never fade away

No greater love exists for me to find

Great thoughts to carry with you.

Lent series ~ Meditation Psalm 139 ~ Liz Babbs

2011-03-15T05:04:00.001-07:00

Lent series ~ O No, You Never Let Go

2011-03-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

Lent series ~ O No, You Never Let Go

2011-03-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

Psalm 139 contains the amazing verses:

If I say "Surely the darknesswill hide me and the light become night around me" ( I'm going through a tough time, Everything is going wrong around me, I'm facing trials, it's not fair, life's not good) "Even darkness will not be dark to you, the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you" (my dispair won't stop you loving me, won't stop you being with me. You'll carry me through it, you'll lift my burden)

Matt Redman's lyrics talk about this:

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

--------------------

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

*** Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

lent Series ~ Footprints in the sand ~ Leona Lewis

2011-03-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Lent Series ~ Footprints in the sand

2011-03-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

For this Lent I am focusing on Psalm 139 whichspeaks about "God's faithfulness to us. I talked about the original poem "Footprints" in THIS POST, a couple of days ago. A modern interpretation of the poem was written a couple of years ago and was a chart hit for the singer Leona Lewis. The words she sang are based on the poem.

You walked with me

Footprints in the sand

And helped me understand

Where I'm going

You walked with me

When I was all alone

With so much I no along the way

Then I heard you say

I promise you

I'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I'll carry you

When you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life

Flash across the sky

So many times have I

Been so afraid

And just when I

Have thought I've lost my way

You give me strength to carry on

That's when I heard you say

Chorus

When I'm weary

Well I know you'll be there

And I can feel you

When you say

I promise youI'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I'll carry you

When you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

This chorus is so true of Gods attitude to us "I promise you, I'm always there" ~ "even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (v10)
"when my heart is filled with sorrow and dispair" ~Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you (v12)
"I'll carry you, when you need a friend, you'll find my footsteps in the sand.

Lent Series ~ Even though you know ~ Rebecca St. James

2011-03-12T10:25:00.000-08:00

Lent Series ~ Even though you know

2011-03-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

Based on Psalm 139, Rebecca St. James' lyric's are very humbling. Again, they focus on the mask and disguise we often wear. The person we pretend to be, the attitude we display, but God see's more than that. He sees right to our very core to the most deep and hidden thoughts. He see's our hurts, our pain and what we are really like and even though he knows the truth, he loves us just the same. He doesn't ever distance himself from us, he doesn't ever stop loving us. Imagine that your friends or loved ones could see what God see's in you, would they hang around or still feel the same about you? There is nothing that we could ever do or think that would make God stop loving you the same as he does now.

You search me
You know me
You see my every move
There's nothing I could ever do
To hide myself from You
You know my thoughts
My fears and hurts
My weaknesses and my pride
You know what I am going through
And how I feel inside
But even though You know
You will always love me
Even though You know
You'll never let me go
I don't deserve Your love
But you give it freely,
You will always love me
Even though You know
You will always love me
Even though you know

lent Series ~ Footprints

2011-03-11T04:33:00.001-08:00

~ Footprints

lent Series ~ Footprints

2011-03-11T04:31:00.000-08:00

Psalm 139 speaks of the fact that
"Where can I go from your spirit, where can I flee from your presence?
It's so often that when people are going through tough times in their lives that they will feel distance from God. At these times human emotions of anger, dispair and hurt block him out, but during these times, the Psalm reminds us:

"If I go up to the heavens, you are there (when I am happy you are with me)
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there with me (when I am sad you are with me)
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast

To many many people, both Christian and non christian, Footprints in the sand is a well know poem. It has graced many a poster, bookmark and card. The words it speaks are comforting as they speak about our walk though life with God. At times when we are coping there are two sets of footprints, ours and Gods, but at times where we go though struggles there is one set. That set belongs to God. That's when he picks us up in his arms and carries us through the tough times.
For many years no one knew the author, although many people tried to claim ownership. In the end the writer was proved to be Mary Stevenson (Zangare).
As a young girl, Mary had hand written copies of the poem to give to friends when they were going through tough times in their lives; It was sometime after this that friends of Mary saw it in print and wondered why she wasn't given credit for writing it. Solicitors told her that it would be very hard to prove her the author since it had been used by many publishers of religious materials and greeting cards. Mary wrote 'Footprints' in 1936 when she was very young and knew nothing of copyrighting. She didn't follow up her claims until in 1984 when clearing out her garage, she found an original copy and with carbon dating and other tests, Mary was officially recognised as the writer.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Lent Series ~ Your Love ~ Oslo Gospel Choir

2011-03-10T01:44:00.001-08:00

Lent Series ~ Your Love

2011-03-10T01:43:00.000-08:00

You've examined my heart

and Lord you know me.

It's no use pretending,

you see right through me

You know where I am

You see all I do

Lord you're never sleeping

You know all my words before I speak

You know where I stand

And what I seek

You know if I laugh or if I'm crying

Lord you're never sleeping

There's no place I can hide from your love
I can only survive through your love
Show me somewhere to go, a place you don't know
To cover my soul
On the wings of the dawn I might fly
To the ends of the earth beyond the sky
I could go anywhere, but you'll always be there
Where ever I go.

Lord you know when I sit and when I stand

Each moment I live I'm in your hand

I can't get away from your sweet Spirit.

Lord you're never sleeping

Long before I was born

Your eyes could see me

You knew all my days before they'd ever reached me

So come what may I know you'll be there

Lord you're never sleeping

Chorus

I'm surrounded, I'm surrounded, I'm surrounded

God is never sleeping

Chorus

There is no place I can hide, know where I can go because your love is always with me. I can turn my back on you, but you never turn your back on me, you don't get bored of waiting, you have patience beyond measure.

You knew me and all I would do long before I was born. You made me, you knitted me together in my mothers womb, I am fearfully and wonderfully made with your love.

Help me to receive your love and to show your love to other people.

Lent Series ~ Psalm 139 ~ I cannot Hide from you ~ Clay Crosse

2011-03-09T03:49:00.001-08:00

Lent Series ~ I cannot hide from You

2011-03-09T03:48:00.000-08:00

This song is taken from Psalm 139 writen by David. It's a Psalm that has very familiar words. "Lord you have searched me and you know me". This will be a recurring theme for my thoughts as we go through Lent.
So often we put on a disguise to go through life. The mask that hides our true feelings, attitudes and thoughts. God see's straight through the mask. He knew us before we were born, he knitted us together in our mothers womb's. "all the days you ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." how then can we hide anything about ourselves from him .... we can't.

You have looked into my heart

You know everything about me

You see my deepest thoughts

And every corner of my soul

Each single step I take

And all my words before I speak them

Every place that I have been

And every place that I will go

I cannot hide from You

You know me all too well

There's no story of my life

That Your memory could not tell

I can ride the morning wings

Till I'm completely out of view

But whether in dark or light

I cannot hide from You

Long before I drew first breath

You already knew my secrets

You watched as I was formed

Out of sight from human eyes

Your Spirit is with me

And I am always in Your presence

When I sit and when I stand

When I sleep and when I rise

Turn my heart from wicked ways

Search the whispers of my mind

And lead me on the road

That will take me home

To everlasting life

Take off your mask, be the beautiful person God made you to be.

Who Can Know The Mind Of Our Creator ~ Martin Layzell

2011-03-07T02:11:00.000-08:00

Who Can Know The Mind Of Our Creator

2011-03-07T02:07:00.000-08:00

Who can know the mind of our Creator?
Who can speak of wonders yet unseen?
Who can reach the heights of understanding,
Or sing the notes of wisdom's melody?

Who has weighed the dust of every mountain?
Who has walked the mysteries of the deep?
Who has laid the earth on its foundations?
And who commands the waves upon the sea?

I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
So glorious and true
I stand in awe, I stand in awe

You have seen the end from the beginning
You have been before the world began
You have reached to me within my darkness
And in the light of mercy now I see
(by Martin Layzell)

Isaiah chapter 40 Is the source fro these thoughts. It's a beautiful chapter of the bible that speaks of the preparation for the coming of the king. It starts with some well known verses that predict John The Baptist

"A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.^"

^{but then goes on to speak of the magesty and power of God}

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
   or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
   or weighed the mountains on the scales
   and the hills in a balance?
¹³ Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
   or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
¹⁴ Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
   and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
   or showed him the path of understanding?

²¹ Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
   Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
²² He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
   and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
   and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
²³ He brings princes to naught
   and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
²⁴ No sooner are they planted,
   no sooner are they sown,
   no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
   and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

and then finishes with these wonderful, comforting words

²⁸ Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

So that we can say

I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
So glorious and true
I stand in awe, I stand in awe

See what a morning

2011-03-05T01:15:00.001-08:00

See What A Morning

2011-03-05T01:14:00.000-08:00

See What a Morning ~ artwork by Karen Clark

This is another great song from Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. It's a great Easter anthem that has a very comfortable place in worship, be it modern or traditional.

The lyrics are based on the Easter day story that we find in the bible. Verse one sets the scene. It's early morning. The tomb lies empty, the grave clothes folded and Gods perfect plan in action. Each verse finishes with that statement of Faith, a wonderful Easter Greeting "For he lives, Christ is risen from the dead

See what a morning gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem
Folded the grave-clothes tomb filled with light
As the angels announce Christ is risen
See God's salvation plan
Wrought in love borne in pain paid in sacrifice
Fullfilled in Christ the Man
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead
See Mary weeping "Where is He laid?" (On the first day of the week Mary Magdalane, Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices to annoint the body of Jesus, They were concerned because they felt that none of them would be strong enough to remove the stone from infornt of the tomb. As they reached the tomb, they saw that the stoe had already been moved)

As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb (They entered the tomb and found it empty, the clothes were folded up)
Hears a voice speaking calling her name (Mary Magdalane stood crying, a man said to her "woman, why are you crying?" Thinking it was the gardener, she pleaded, Tell me where you put him". Jesus, for that is who the man was, said to her "Mary")
It's the Master the Lord raised to life again ( Instantly Mary recognised him and responded "Teacher")
The voice that spans the years
Speaking life stirring hope bringing peace to us (Jesus calls each one of us by name and offers us peace and love)
Will sound till He appears
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead (again the Easter Greeting)

One with the Father Ancient of Days (Jesus was taken upto heaven to be with his Father)
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty (But left with us his holy spirit)
Honour and blessing glory and praise
To the King crowned with power and authority
And we are raised with Him
Death is dead love has won Christ has conquered (through his death on the cross, he paid the debt for each one our sins. he bought us back from Hell's claim)
And we shall reign with Him (as he told us)
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead (again that wonderful Easter Greeting)

All to Jesus (I surrender all)

2011-03-04T03:55:00.001-08:00

All To Jesus I Surrender

2011-03-04T03:50:00.001-08:00

This is a modern adaption of the traditional evangelical hymn which was originally written in 1896 by an American evangelist, although at the time the hymn was written the writer was in the process of coming to the descission whether he should become and evangelist. The lyrics are his prayer to Jesus. I give you everything and ask that you show me and equip me for the way ahead.
This song is as relevant today in our own busy and hectic lives. May we take the time to surrender all our good times and bad times, all the times when we don't know which way to go or what decission to make, to the Lord and trust in him.

All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

chorus

All to Jesus, I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Chorus

All to Jesus, I surrender
Lord, I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Chorus

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
O the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Chorus

God Of Justice

2011-03-02T01:05:00.001-08:00

Explanation in the post below

God Of Justice

2011-03-02T01:04:00.000-08:00

I was shocked to read this report yesterday regarding the banning of charities in the London Borough of Westminster, running soup kitchens for the poor and homeless. The council also want to make it an offence to sleep rough and they are proposing to cut £5 million from the budget to fund hostels.
Westminster council, one of the richest in the land, wants to bring in a bylaw making it an offence to “give out food for free”, punishable by fines. The twisted move blows apart David Cameron’s Big Society boast that an army of volunteers will flock to help those worse off.

Reverend Alison Tomlin of the Methodist church in Westminster said: “The proposals are nothing short of disgusting. This bylaw punishes people solely for their misfortune and belongs in a Victorian statute book, not the 21st century.”

But Westminster’s Daniel Astaire risked provoking further fury by declaring free food “keeps people on the street longer”. He added: “Soup runs have no place in the 21st century. It is undignified that people are being fed on the streets. They actually encourage people to sleep rough with all the dangers that entails."

When did these so called policy makers look at the Bible. It speaks clearly of the duty of those with to give and care for those without. Ideally there would be no homelessness, no metal illness, violence and abuse and poverty that have led to the huge number of homeless on the streets, but while there are homeless, there needs to be support and love shown to them.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ Matthew 25 v 31~45.

The lyrics of the son God of Justice by Tim Hughes realitterate this scripture
God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

Indescribable ~ Chris Tomlin

2011-03-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Indiscribable ~ Chris Tomlin

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

I love this song, The lyrics speak so clearly of Gods wonderful, amazing and beautiful creation, they talk about how this "all powerful, untamable, indescrible, uncontainable, incomparable and unchangable" God see's right into our hearts, he's made this wonderful world with it seasons, mountains, climates, seas, creatures, plants and planets, a world so diverse and amazing and yet he knows the stars by name and he loves each one of us enough to look deep into our hearts. He sees all the parts of me I try to hide away, the hates, hurts, lies, he see's the darkest deepest secrets of my heart and yet he loves me just the same as if I had never done any of it. His wonderful forgiveness means that his death on the cross washed my heart clean, makes me new and makes me his own special child surrounded with the love of his creation.

Words of Encouragement

2011-03-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

This blog, as you may know has been neglected. The cobwebs have built up and because of time constraints, I stopped writing it. I missed it, I missed the depth of thought etc.
Last night I was talking to friends and was told by one that it was inspirational. I went to bed and lay awake thinking of the possibilities and how I could work around it to fit it into my schedule.
I've taken the feather fuster and the polish and had a bit of a tidy up. I don;t promise that I will post every day, but aim to do a couple pf times a week.
I pray that those that read my thought and the words of the songs will be blessed by it.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Casting Crowns

2009-12-02T11:30:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for CHRISTmas

2009-12-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

Long before Jesus was born, the bible scriptures told of the need to prepare for the coming of a saviour.

Isaiah 7: The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Micah 5: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. "

Abide With Me ~ James Last arrangement

2009-11-11T00:40:00.001-08:00

Abide With Me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out lifes little day;
Earths joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwellst with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempters power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is deaths sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heavens morning breaks, and earths vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

James Last - Abide With Me
Words: Henry Lyte, 1847.
Music: William Monk, 1861.
Category: Music

Tags: James Last Abide With Me instrumental Henry Lyte William Monk

Least we forget

2009-11-11T00:35:00.000-08:00

Phil Wickham - Safe

2009-11-05T03:14:00.001-08:00

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

www.philwickham.com

Safe ~ Phil Wickham the story behind the song...

2009-11-05T02:49:00.000-08:00

Phil Wickham's song Safe came about after he spoke to someone after a concert one night.
The man whom he spoke to told him a story that moved him to tears and he then wrote his beautiful and poignant song Safe. ( see the post above). which is on his new album out November 2009.

The story: The man started to tell his story. He was a sucessful business man with a company that was doing really well, but over recent times the going became harder and tighter and tighter. He got to the point where he said "Lord I just don't know what to do" The man was in debt with his house repayments and with other things too. The lord eventually brought him to the place where he was broken and he realised that the most important thing, far more important than his business and his sucess was to be in love with God and to know his love. God said to him that he should be faithful to him, to his wife and to his children as God had put them in his care. The money and everything else didn't matter, they paled into insignificance because God and his family were far more important.
One morning the man got up and took large pieces of card. he stuck them to the side of his car with his name and his number and said "I'll do anything" and all of a sudden there was contractor after contractor coming to him saying "I've got work for you". Phil was struck by the love the man expressed for the lord, that even though he was in toough times he could still praise the Lord.

This could easily be anyones story in this present climate... I pray that for all those going through hard times, that Gods love and fithfulness will be real to them.

Your Name ~ Paul Baloche

2009-11-04T04:15:00.001-08:00

As morning dawns and evening fades, you inspire songs of praise!

Psalm 65 ~ Songs of Joy

2009-11-04T03:59:00.000-08:00

Psalm 65
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.
9 You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing. ....

Because how can we fail to do otherwise when God supplies our needs.

Thank You Father that you know our needs so much more than we do, that you provide both physically and emotionally. Thank you Father that your love surrounds us ...

Be Still My Soul - Selah

2009-11-03T04:17:00.001-08:00

This is a beautiful song of worship for those going through uncertain times.
"in every change, he faithful will remain"

Only Grace - Matthew West

2009-10-26T02:46:00.001-07:00

Only Grace

2009-10-26T02:05:00.000-07:00

Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

This passage from the bible is titled "The accent" ~ The climb up . Life as a christian is not always an easy path. No one promised that following Christ would be an easy walk.
Yet we are given God on which to fix our eyes. When we stumble and when we fall his grace and his love helps us to stand back up and begin again.

I wasn't intending detailing the song that I have done today, but as I searched and searched for the one I wanted this song kept jumping up before me and so eventually I listened (yes I was listening at the service on "listening to God" yesterday!)How perfectly they fit with what I am wanting to share and so....

The words of Matthew Wests song Only Grace tell us this:

There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday…has disappeared

The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear
There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believe me it's enough

Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace
You're starting over now
Under the sun

You're stepping forward now
A new life has begunYour new life has begun
An’ there's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believe me…it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace…

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, get back upGet back up again
Ohh…get…back…up…again…
There's only grace…
There's only love…
There's only mercy and believe me it's enough…

it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only…there’s only…grace…

If I could turn back time ....

2009-10-24T06:56:00.001-07:00

Well tonight I can because the clocks go back!!

Light of the World ~ Tim Hughes

2009-10-24T02:23:00.003-07:00

Light of the world ~ Tim Hughes

2009-10-24T01:49:00.000-07:00

Would you believe that before October is even through, I have planned the Christmas day service at church. I was reading a blog where a lady had recently found she was pregnant. She said "It won't change anything!" somehow I think she is in for a bit of a shock!
Anyway I began to think about how the tiny child born at christmas became light to a world shrouded in darkness. Tim Hughes' song Light of the world was one that immediately sprang to mind:
Light of the word
you stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.

and then our response to this

So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
Your all together lovely
Altogether worthy
altogether wonderful to me

then that poignant bridge:

And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross,
No I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

That's when the realisation dawns that this little baby laid in a manger is destined for the cross. it's all in Gods special plan so that i can say and you can say I am free, I am redeemed (bought back), I am saved because Gods son took my place on the cross.

For the month of December I am planning my own Advent calender on this and my other blog creative and faithful.

God of Justice ~ Tim Hughes

2009-10-19T01:35:00.001-07:00

God of Justice ~ Tim Hughes

2009-10-19T01:11:00.000-07:00

Last night we had the wonderful experience of formally welcoming and commissioning our schools and church youth worker Mark Tiddy.
It was wonderful to hear how the vision held by three churches over a very long period had come to fruition over many years until finally after metaphorical walls had been broken down at the senior school and chance meetings, opportunities andconversations had taken place, the Hunsley christian youth trust had come into being and the search for a youth worker had begun.
Mark fitted the criteria and was appointed.
The Bishop of Hull attended and comissioned mark andthe trust.
Our music group was swelled by the addition of some wonderful young instrumentalists and singers and the congregation from All Saints South Cave, Elloughton cum Brough Cof E, St Barnabus Swanland and The Baptist church at Pateborough (where Mark used to work) entered into the praise and worship.
Last Monday we'd learnt a new song which Mark had requested. "God of Justice" which he felt was a job description.

God of Justice,
Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must goStepping forward
keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Please pray for the Hunsley trust and for Mark that this wonderful opportunity will bear much fruit and that this job disription can be a real inspiration and model on which to build.

How Great Is Our God

2009-09-05T04:15:00.001-07:00

Dancing worship

2009-09-05T04:06:00.000-07:00

There are many many ways in which we are able to worship God. I am always in awe of the uplifting feeling I feel watching others dance in worship and praise to him. I'm not a dancer myself. I've never felt comfortable in movement, but it doesn't mean that I can't worship whilst seeing other people dance.
Our church is blessed with a number of very tallented dancers who regually share this gift with us. Dancing to both gentle contemporary Christian music and more experimental and dance type christian music. Not only do they dance, but they encourage the yonger and older members of our congregation to join with them.
The dance video above is the first of a series of worship dances I'll share with you over the next few posts.
www.paradosiballetcompany.com are the dancers dancing to How great is our God (the splendour of the king

Kees Kraayenoord - Living water

2009-05-15T01:48:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Living Water

2009-05-15T01:16:00.000-07:00

Kees Kraayenoord dutch song writer wrote this song after reading the story of the Samaritan woman meeting Jesus at the well

John 4
Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."
"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

The woman to whom he spoke was an adulteress, a woman who had really made a mess of her life. Culture at the time meant that Jesus should not be talking to her on both the grounds that she was a woman and the grounds that she was "living in sin". But he did talk to her. He recognised the pain in her life that caused her to seek love from man after man. He knew the inner depths of her soul without her having to say anything and his words to her were words of comfort, that struck her deep within. She recognised that he spoke with authority and she took on board his calling.

Later in the reading we read:

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

I remember being at senior school and the Christian Union there was supported by one of the teachers Val Fotherby. She was a member of the Prison Christian Fellowship. One day she invited a guy called Michael Tony Ralls (I think) to talk to us. His was a story of drugs and gangs and yet in prison he received a copy of the living bible and read it. The truth of Jesus spoke to him and changed his life around.

I sin too. I make mistakes in my life that hurt my very essence and effect those around me and yet Jesus takes my imperfection if I allow him to and uses me. And he can use you too.

If perfection was a requirement of being used by God then there is not one of us on this planet good enough for him. But because the grace of God is Forgiveness and he gives everyone who want it the living water he handed to the Samarian woman at the well.

All my tears ~ Selah

2009-05-06T03:32:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

The passing of friends

2009-05-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

Over the last two years, I've felt privaledged to have known two women who have been taken by cancer, both of them far too young.Both their funerals had elements of joy in them. Yes there was sadness, but also happiness for their release from suffering and their meeting with the Lord.At one of the funerals, a passage was read that was written by one of the women and I'd like to share that with you. It was how she imagined meeting with God would be.

"I was at an airport once to neet a friend. There were a lot of people there and a lot of noise. A tall man carrying a heavy suitcase walked through from the luggage pick up area into the main concorse. His wife and three year old son were standing right at the back of the crowd of waiting people.

As soon as his son saw him he shouted "daddy" and raced through the crowd at full sprint and launched himself into his dad's arms.They said nothing, but gazed at each other and laughed and laughed.

The busy-people noise had stopped and everyone turned to see what the laughter was all about. I had a lump in my throat and quite a few people had tears in their eyes.

Ever since then, that's how I have imagined what meeting God will be like: to hug each other tightly, look into each others eyes and laugh our heads off."

What a wonderful image. I only hope that when I meet with Jesus it will be just like that!

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

2009-04-27T04:32:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Who am I?

2009-04-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

Who am I,
that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I,
that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Lord I am yours because you paid for me by your death on the cross. Those nails through your hands and feet were the price it cost to buy me back from the claims of hell. Thank you.

Friends ~ Michael W Smith

2009-04-25T01:08:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Friends ~

2009-04-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

My Daughter is going through a bit of a tough time at the moment. She's a sensitive little 9 year old and one of her friends has recently moved to a new house 15 miles away. Although she's still attending the same school, it is likely that in the new school year or possibly even sooner this friend will move to a nearer more practical school. For Eden this is tough. Her world is small, she's never gone through the moves and seen that you can come out at the other side.

During my childhood up to the age of 11 I was a frequent mover. A new home meant a new school and then making new friends, there was always that feeling of loss each time you moved, but in time it lessened and you could move on.

As an adult I have moved several times. My biggest move was London to Yorkshire (back to my home village) It was a strange time for me. I had left a handful of very close friends behind and it took me a long time to settle. But eventually I did settle and made some close friends here.

Today I wasn't sure what i was going to post about until I popped up the You tube window and there was this song that fitted so perfectly in Eden's situation.

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Cant believe the hopes hes granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem youve gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love gods given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy youll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem youve gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Thank you God for the gift of friendship. For those you give us to be close to. You know both the joys and sorrows of having friends. Help us to be the very best a friend can be: honest, caring, supportive and encouraging. I thank you for the friends I've made through blogging, thankyou for their encouragment and support.
Amen

Joyful Joyful from Sister Act 2

2009-04-23T03:00:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Joyful, Joyful

2009-04-23T02:46:00.000-07:00

Who can fail to love the movies Sister Act and Sister Act 2. Dispite being written for a secular audience, the story lines are based in a convent and feature lots of "religious" practice.
The songs are full of praise to God. Maybe not all in Christian songs, but in an earthly manner. Songs that can be applied to our relationship to God when we know what to look for. It is our experiences as Christians that allow us to take song such as You raise me up or bridge over troubled water and make them intop acts of praise to God.
Other songs in the movies are re jigged christian songs and anthems. Joyful Joyful is one of those. The lyrics were originally written in 1907 and designed to go with the music ode to joy by Beethoven, and yet so naturally the words flow into this modern interpretation.
Enjoy and worship!

Jesus, Be The Centre - Michael Frye

2009-04-15T01:08:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Jesus be the centre ~ Michael Frye

2009-04-15T01:02:00.000-07:00

Jesus be the centre
Be my source, be my light Jesus

Jesus be the centre
Be my hope, Be my song, Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live, Jesus

Jesus be my vision
be my path, be my guide, Jesus

For without you in all areas of my life I cannot live effectivly for you. I cannot be a "godly" person if I keep earthly desires. I need to hand everything that I am over to you.

See What A Morning ~ Townend and Getty

2009-04-12T00:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter

CHRIST IS RISEN

Explanation in the post below

Easter ~ He Has Risen

2009-04-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

He has Risen

He is risen indeed Hallelujah

Matthew 28

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
The Guards' Report

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
The Great Commission Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I woke with the challange in my head this morning of what song would be right to put on the blog to celebrate this Easter Day.

The song I eventually chose is See What a Morning by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.

The words of this song are a celebration of the intricatly woven plan of God that is "bourne in pain, wrought in love and paid in sacrifice. Fulllfilled in Christ the man..... For he lives Christ is risen from the dead!"

He is risen

He is risen indeed ..... Hallelujah!

Still By: Reuben Morgan

2009-04-11T07:09:00.001-07:00

"When oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with you above the storm"

Explanation in the post below.

Approaching Easter ~ The loss

2009-04-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

When Jesus died it was the Jewish day of preparation (the day before the sabbath ~ on the sabbath, Jews do no work ~ including burying the dead) Jesus' body was taken down from the cross and because there was no other tomb near by they laid Jesus in a tomb in the Garden belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was a secret follower of Christ because he feared the Jews.
Matthew tells us that Pilate ordered guards to seal the tomb and to stand guard. He had heard that Jesus has said "I will rise again in three days" Pilate did not want the disciples to take the body to make it look as though Jesus had risen.

I wonder how Jesus friends and family felt. Over the last few days they had watched Jesus endure horrendous treatment and then to saw him die on the cross. They witnessed his anguish and pain. They'd barely had time to put his body into strips of cloth and into the tomb before the sabbath.
They must have been afraid that Pilate, Caiaphas and the other chief priests and people of the law would not be satisfied with having "got" Jesus. What if they came after the followers of Jesus too. Perhaps they hid away keeping a "low profile"

To loose a friend is a very painful and hard event to go through. To see the empty place at the table, to think ' I must tell him, about it' an then realise that you can't.
We are not told what the disciples did over this time. We do know that Mary the mother of Jesus went with John and was then cared for in his home. I think this must have been a comfort to both of them. When you loose someone it's always a comfort to talk to other people who also knew them and share your loss.

Although Jesus said he would rise again in three days time, and they had witnessed him giving life back to Lazarus and Jairus' daughter and Peters mother in law they would have had doubts that a dead person would rise on his own. On the third day women went to the tomb to anoint the body with spices and if they were expecting Jesus prophesy to come true they'd have had more expectation and wouldn't have felt the need to spice the body.

Father God
To loose a loved one is a devastating experience
Facing each new day is so difficult when you feel the pain
Let the void they have left in my life be filled with happy memories
Wrap your loving arms around me
With your help I can get through each day
Help me let go of the pain.
Amen

For the cross ~ Kees Kraayenoord

2009-04-10T00:35:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Approaching Easter ~ The Crucifiction

2009-04-10T00:13:00.000-07:00

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

Today is Good Friday. In many ways it's hard to understand the "good". The son of God killed as a common criminal having endured torture and humiliation and the pain of Crucifixion. For the disciples it must have been very hard indeed. Their leader and friend whipped, tried and crucified. Unlike us, they hadn't the chance to read the end of the book. How much easier for us who have read the end and know the wonderful things to come.
Many Christians world wide will be gathering today to celebrate the death of Jesus, looking forward to Sunday when we can celebrate his Resurrection.

Just imagine the hammer and the nails. The clang as metal connects with metal. That clang representing our reasons for Jesus being nailed to the cross. Because without our sinfulness, the cross would not have been there. With out our wrong doing, the need for this perfect, blameless sacrifice would never have had to be made.
The sacrifice that Jesus made on that cross bought each and everyone of us from the claims of hell.

Thank you Jesus that you died for me.
Thank you that you took my sins on your shoulders and subjected yourself to the nails and the cross.
Jesus, with out you I am nothing. With out you I am lost and wretched.
You died for me because you love me.
Thank you Jesus
Amen

Come and see ~ written by Grahem Kendrick

2009-04-09T00:42:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Approaching Easter ~ Trial

2009-04-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

We often read of mistrials and miscarriages of justice. If the judges and lawyers looked into the trial of Jesus, then it might be headlined as the Biggest misscarriage of Justice ever...
Having been passed from pillar to post, he is finally taken to Pilate. Pilate can find nothing worthy of the punishment of death and tries to set Jesus free, But the crowds who days before shouted "Hosanna" shouted for hs crucifiction and when Pilate tries to offer them a murderer "Barabas" they choose the murderer in exchange.

John 19
Pilate gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip. The soldiers made a crown out of thorn branches and put it on Jesus. Then they put a purple robe on him. They came up to him and said, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists.
Once again Pilate went out. This time he said, "I will have Jesus brought out to you again. Then you can see for yourselves that I have not found him guilty."
Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the temple police saw him, they yelled, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"
Pilate told them, "You take him and nail him to a cross! I don't find him guilty of anything."
The crowd replied, "He claimed to be the Son of God! Our Jewish Law says that he must be put to death."
When Pilate heard this, he was terrified. He went back inside and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer.
"Why won't you answer my question?" Pilate asked. "Don't you know that I have the power to let you go free or to nail you to a cross?"
Jesus replied, "If God had not given you the power, you couldn't do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did something even worse."
Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, "If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor."
When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as "The Stone Pavement." In Aramaic this pavement is called "Gabbatha."
It was about noon on the day before Passover, and Pilate said to the crowd, "Look at your king!"
"Kill him! Kill him!" they yelled. "Nail him to a cross!"
"So you want me to nail your king to a cross?" Pilate asked.
The chief priests replied, "The Emperor is our king!" Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus was taken away.

Gethsemane ~ Kees Kraayenoord

2009-04-08T01:51:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Approaching Easter ~ Not my will but yours

2009-04-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

Today we look at the Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is night and Jesus takes his disciples to the garden. He leaves them and takes his three friends James, John and Peter further into the garden. He asks them to wait before going further on his own. He is displaying real human emotions. Those of distress and troubledness. How would we feel knowing that a death sentance was hanging over us with a cruel and horrible death awaiting us. But worse still, what if it was your own Father who'd organised it?

Mark 14 32-42
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray.
He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch.
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

Jesus asks his Father to let him escape the death, but in doing so he also acknowledges Gods power and control over things.
Jesus returns to Peter, James and John to find them sleeping... this must have added to his hurt. Coudn't they see what he was going through, how could they sleep at a time like this?
He wakes them and then goes off to pray again, but on returning find them sleeping. The disciples can find no words for him.

God gives a great big No to Jesus' request to "take the cup from him". Jesus returns to his freinds, wkes them and stands to see the soldiers and his frined Judas coming into the garden....

At The Cross

2009-04-07T01:16:00.001-07:00

"even though I fail you"

see post below

Approaching Easter ~ With Friends like these ....

2009-04-07T01:04:00.000-07:00

With Friends like these, who needs enemies?

Ever felt let down by your friends?

Perhaps you felt like they let you down, didn't do what you thought they would, broke a confidence.

Jesus had friends and followers, then there were twelve appointed friends who were like his best friends. The ones he could trust and that he went places and did things with.Today's post looks particularly at two of those friends Peter and Judas.

Judas. He was known among the disciples to be light fingered. he carried the money bag around and was known for dipping his hand in to it. Jesus knew his imperfections and yet still held him dear.
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' Said Jesus at the last supper. He was referring to Judas. he knew that Judas was going to betray him.

Jesus was aware of how the next few days were going to pan out.After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him."What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
John 13 18 - 30

Jesus Friend problems didn't end there either. His friend Peter would also play out a role. That of disowning Jesus.
Peter said: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Luke 22 34.

Even though Jesus was in full knowledge of these facts, I'm sure the pain he felt at these Revelations must have been great.

Make me a Servant

2009-04-06T01:03:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the next post

Approaching Easter ~ Washing Feet

2009-04-06T00:48:00.000-07:00

John 13 1-17
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

It was just before the Passover Feast.
Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"Jesus answered,
"A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Washing feet was an honor that a good host awarded to his guests. Sandals were the standard foot wear and the dusty roads meant that people were often glad to have this service offered to them. It was a refreshing thing.
When Jesus offered to wash his disciples fee, he was met with horror. peter could not imagine Jesus washing his feet. But Jesus explained that he had come to Earth, not to serve, but to be a servant. Of course, we know that he then goes on to offer the most subservient service of all and give his life for us.
Although he'd predicted his death to his disciples, I'm sure that none of them fully understood.
Jesus says "I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you" What we do for others, we are doing for Jesus.

Hosanna ~ Jesus entry into Jerusalem ~ Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

2009-04-05T07:08:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Approaching Easter ~ The Triumphal Entry

2009-04-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

Mark chapter 11 V 1 - 10

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

Today is Palm Sunday. The day when we look at Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. It might be thought that a donkey would not befit a king and wouldn't a fine horse be better suited. The fact that a donkey is used shows us that Jesus came in Peace. Donkeys were used in civilian life whereas horses were used more in War situations. The donkey was a young colt and had probably never been rode on before. The Fact that the owner of the donkey allowed Jesus to use it shows the respect he had for Jesus.

Hosanna means "O save us" Once people knew that Jesus was coming they ran to see him. They had heard that he had raised Lazerus from the dead. Belief was fast spreading that Jesus was the Messiah (the saviour) they'd been waiting for. They shouted about his decendancy from David.
What great value they gave to Jesus they spread their clothes on the floor to be trampled underfoot. Clothes in that period of time were a very valuable commodity. They also took palm branches and waved them shouting "Hosanna"

Jesus what a wonder you are ~ Maranatha Singers

2009-04-04T01:12:00.001-07:00

Picture Mary sitting at Jesus feet, having poured out the perfume on to them. ..........

Approaching Easter ~ Jesus is Annointed

2009-04-04T00:07:00.000-07:00

With Holy Week starting tomorrow, I thought I'd dedicate the posts into the story line of the build up to Easter.

Jesus had some close friends based in Bethany. Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They were brother and sisters.

John 12
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (Earlier in John we read about how Jesus raised Lazerus from the dead.)

Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (Mary took the expensive perfume and apoured it on to the feet of Jesus. Was she annointing him in preparation for death?)

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (a thief and yet one of Jesus' disciples)

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. (Jesus predicts his death)
You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (Lazarus has become famous among the Jews for being raised from the dead. He's a bit of a celebrity)
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, (He was known to the cheif priests)
for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
(Lazarus was spreading the news about Jesus being the son of God and people were listening and changing).

With All I Am (By Hillsong)

2009-04-03T01:21:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below.

With All I am ~ Hillsong

2009-04-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

Into Your hands
I commit again (again ... I keep turning back to youand you keep accepting me)
With all I am, (not worthy of your love)
for You, Lord
You hold my world
In the palm of Your hand (I am so insignificant, but you hold me in your loving care)
And I am Yours forever (I give my life to you)

Jesus I believe in You Jesus
I belong to You You’re the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
With all I am (with out you I am nothing... with you I am loved and accepted and have reason)

I’ll walk with You
Wherever You go
Through tears and joy
I’ll trust in You (you share my joys and sorrows)
And I will live
In all of Your ways
And Your promises, forever

I will worship
I will worship You

Lord have mercy -Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant

2009-03-24T07:50:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Lord have mercy ~ Michael W Smith with Amy Grant

2009-03-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

Psalm 86 v3 -.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
You are forgiving and good,
O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave
The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Mary Did You Know?

2009-03-23T04:13:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Mary Did you know?

2009-03-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

Mary did you know is traditionally seen as a song for Christmas time, but with it being Mothering Sunday (mothers day) in the UK yesterday I'd thought that today I would focus on the Mother of Christ.

Mary, Did you know?
This song never fails to make me think what joy and pain motherhood can inflict upon a woman. Mary allowed herself to have that pain inflicted upon her when she said "let it be acording to your will" in response to being told that she would bear Gods son.
I truely wonder whether she could have really understood what this entailed or indeed, whether when she was living through the tring times of her sons childhood she could understand what it all meant.

As a young girl, unmarried and being told "you have been chosen" cannot have been easy. There would have been ridicule, rumours and disowning to deal with.

One day the family had joined a pilgrimage to the temple in jerusalem. On the return home, there were a lot of people travelling together and after a full days travel, Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was "lost". What terror must have gone through her mind. I remember my little sister being lost on the beach in France when we were little. Seeing my parents fear and then their joy at being reunited with a small teary faced child, glad to be safe back in the arms of her mum. and yet when Mary found Jesus he was happily sitting in the temple discussing deep subjects with some teachers. His response is not that of a lost child. He says "did you not know I would be in my Fathers house" How Mary must have felt at that I don't know.

Later in Jesus life we see Mary, along with her son at the wedding in Canan. Here she has great faith in her son. She tells the servants "do as he tells you". Jesus then performs his first public miracle. How proud she must have been.

Then picture her seeing her son captured, tried, publically flogged and led through the streets carrying his cross. How her heart must have broken, the pain she had to bear. I can't begin to imagine that sorrow at seeing her child be placed upon a cross and to hear his cries.

Seeing Jackie, the mother of Jade Goody (UK - 27 year old reality TV star) standing at the gates of her daughters home over recent weeks, sharing what is happening as her daughter battles with ravaging cancer, it is plain to see how devastating it is to see a child dying. Jade passed away in the arly hours of the morning on Mothers Day, a week after being batized along side her sons.

Adrian Snells song "Son of the world" echo's the sentiments in the song above.

Sonof my heart where are you roaming?
I have wandered many paths in search of you
Rising with the sun as the early flowers open
You wander lonely through our country
With words I cannot understand
Son of my heart.

Son of my life I love you dearly
Love so deep I don't know how to say
I want you close to my heart and walking by me
Yet ways are strange,
your people change
Son of my life,

Son of the world I was your mother
Mine was the pain that once unlocked you to the world
And now I see a stranger held in chains and taken from me
What words remain when daylight fades
Son of the world.

Father God
We ask that you bless mothers everywhere.
You saw your own mothers pain as she saw you grow to manhood. You understand the frustrations, pains and joys that Mothers go through.
Be a comfort to mothers who suffer loss of their children through death or circumstances.
Heal relationships between mothers and children and restore the love.
Thank you for the gift of children that turn us from womanhood to motherhood. Let our children be a blessing to us and let us share your love with them.
Amen

In His Time

2009-03-19T02:39:00.001-07:00

explanation in post below

In his time

2009-03-19T02:28:00.000-07:00

Ecc.3 v1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

This beautiful song speaks about how God can turn mourning into dancing, how he'll make all things beautiful but it will be in his time, not ours. This really means that we need to hold strong to the promise he gives us, as all too often we expect imediate answers to our prayers and we expect them to be answered in the way that we want rather than the sometimes creative way that God chooses to answer them.
Verse one begins "In his time" but as the song is sung we see a deepening of the personal realtionship with God as the words change to "In your time".

In His time, in His time,
He makes all thing beautiful in
His time.Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing,
in Your time.

In Your time,
in Your time,
You make all thing beautiful in Your time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing,
in Your time.

Ecc 3 v11
"He has made every thing beautiful in his time"

I am the way - Adrian Snell

2009-03-18T07:39:00.001-07:00

explanation in the post below

Alpha and Omega ~ Adrian Snell

2009-03-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Alpha and Omega ~ The first and the last.

This song is based on many of the words spoken by Jesus.

John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14 v10 " I am in the Father and the Father is in me"

John 12 v 36 "Whoever serves me must follow me"

"Come to me with your burdens and I will give you rest"

bridge over troubled water ~ Paul Simon sung by Michael W Smith

2009-03-10T06:02:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

Bridge over troubled water ~ Paul Simon

2009-03-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Again, this song was not written as a song for God, but the words are very fitting to the way God talks to us.

Isaiah 49 v 13
Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

When youre weary,
feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all; (because I know what you are feeling)
Im on your side. (I'm by your side)
when times get rough (I've been through rough times)
And friends just cant be found, (my friends turned their back on me too)

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down. (I lay down on the cross for you)

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around, (I've been in the darkness, I've suffered the pain for you)

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down. (I lay down on the cross for you and I will pick you up and carry you accross the troubled water of your life.)

The lord comforts his people and will have compassion for the afflicted

I call you Faithful ~ Donnie McClurkin

2009-03-08T07:51:00.001-07:00

Explanation in the post below

I call you faithful ~ Donnie McClurkin

2009-03-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

Rev 1 V8 I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Donnie McClurkin wrote this song as a simple reflection on the many facets that God has to us. Bet you'll be singing it all day. see how many more thing you can add to the list!

I call you holy
Your name is holy
You are so holy to me
I call you holy
Your name is holy holy you are and holy you'll be.

I call you Righteous ...

I call you awesome ....

I call you faithful ....

I call you healer ...

I call you saviour ....

I call you all that ....

Thank you father that you are so many things to me. Thank you that you are able to meet every need I have. You are everything to me.

We Bow Down ~ Viola Grafstrom

2009-03-07T03:02:00.001-08:00

explanation in post below

We Bow Down ~ Viola Grafstrom

2009-03-07T02:48:00.000-08:00

2 Corinthians 9:8-9
And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

You are all I need
It's your face I seek
In the presence of your light
we bow down
we bow down

We bow down
and confess
You are Lord in this place

Above All Powers Baloche and Le Blanc

2009-03-06T03:25:00.001-08:00

Explanation in the post below