Don't Fear, Just Trust Him

Why fear the unknown, when instead you can trust the One who knows all things.  God not only knows all things, but He has planned the beginning to the end, and will make it result in glory for Him and good for you.    He loves us, and we can rest in His moment-by-moment care for us.  What a comfort and relief!

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Shelter in the Storm

A verse from a Sovereign Grace song that I have been enjoying lately:
(from one of their latest cds called "From Age to Age")

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven

-Sovereign Grace Music

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Shine On Us

This past February I got to attend a Steven Curtis Chapman concert where I was introduced to the music of Josh Wilson. We now own two of his cds and we are definitely fans.  His voice and style, on some of his songs, reminds me of a modern day version of Keith Green.

On his cd called See You, he has a song called Shine On Us. It is one of my favorites from that cd.  Tonight I discovered that Josh Wilson released the video for that song, and it is so creative. What a great idea for a music video.

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The Look

John Newton, an English seaman turned pastor, who lived in the 1700s, wrote these powerful words:

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agony and blood,
Who fixed His languid eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

Sure never to my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair,
I saw my sins His blood had spilt,
And helped to nail Him there.

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou mayst live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled;
That I should such a life destroy
Yet live by him I killed.

****************

Songs like that stir up my soul to celebrate the mighty work that Christ has done on the cross to save sinners! I am so thankful that Sovereign Grace Music took those words some years ago, tweaked them a bit, set them to new music, and added this chorus:

Forever etched upon my mind
Is the look of Him who died
The Lamb I crucified
And now my life will sing the praise
Of pure atoning grace
That looked on me and gladly took my place

I am grateful for this kind of music that helps me stand in awe, and worship my wonderful, merciful Savior.  Click here to hear this song.

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Riding the Rollercoaster

House hunting is an emotional rollercoaster! The ups and downs of it make me feel the rush of excitement and then the crash of disappointment intensely.  But I am hanging on to Jesus, and though my knuckles are white, that is a very good place to rest.  Anything that makes me pray, and reminds me of my complete and utter dependence on Christ, and causes me to rehearse all His faithfulness to me in the past, and calls me to hope in His goodness and sovereign love for the future --is a very good thing.

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Thankful for Liberty

I have been blessed by God in so many ways.  Today being July 4th, I'm especially thankful that, at present, I live in a country where I am free to pursue every opportunity to know, love, worship, and serve Jesus Christ.  I also have the freedom to proclaim Him to the world.  That may not last forever, but for today, I am thankful for that freedom, and want to make sure that I don't waste the great opportunity that I have been given.  Why are we here, anyway? The pursuit of "life, liberty, and happiness" really is empty without Jesus. And there are still so many around me that do not know Him.  Jesus came "to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners", and in our "free" country many still walk in darkness, enslaved to their own sin.

So, as I enjoy the fireworks, all the red-white-and-blue, food, and fellowship with friends, I'm praying that it will all be for Him.  Praying that my life will exalt and proclaim Jesus Christ!

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Celebrating Grace

"Great God of wonders! all thy ways
     Display the attributes divine;
But countless acts of pardoning grace
     Beyond thine other wonders shine:
Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
     We take the pardon of our God;
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,
     A pardon bought with Jesus'  blood:
Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?

O may this strange, this matchless grace,
     This God-like miracle of love,
Fill the wide earth with grateful praise,
     As now it fills the choirs above!
Who is a pardoning God like Thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?"

-Samuel Davies, a former president of Princeton, as quoted by J.I.Packer in Knowing God

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