Lent Series ~ Footprints in the sand

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 ~ I cannot hide from You

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.

Lent Series ~ Your Love ~ Oslo Gospel Choir

lent Series ~ Footprints

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 ~ Even though you know

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 ~ Intimately Aquainted with Me

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 ~ Your Love

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 seies ~ Intimately Aquainted With Me ~ Masterpiece

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

Lent Series ~ Where You Are Is Where I Belong

 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 ~ O No, You Never Let Go

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

Lent series ~ O No, You Never Let Go

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

Lent series ~ Meditation Psalm 139 ~ Liz Babbs

Lent series ~ He Knows My Name

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 series ~ He Knows My Name ~ Maranatha Singers

http://amazingsalvation.blogspot.com/

Lent Series ~ If I make my bed in the depth

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

lent Series ~ Footprints in the sand ~ Leona Lewis

Lent Series ~ From Psalm 139 ~ Towan Greene

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.