How Great Is Our God

Ok, so I learned how to put videos on my blog today. Thanks Zach. My son, home for "reading" week from U of Windsor in his third year, (English and Political Science) and way more knowledgeable about this stuff than I. He can spell wonderfully in class and on papers and horribly on msn....however, enough about that. So I won't make you all crazy with all these videos but enjoy this one...Chris Tomlin is singing the song in the background. I love it! Show me once or twice and I learn....reading the instructions....just doesn't cut it for me. So I guess that means I am a relational learner... :) It was a great time for him to listen to some really cool songs, which will not hurt him one bit. Mothers can be soooo tricky. :) Enjoy!

Hillsong - Found

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It’s more than the air I breathe

My world was changed

When Your love You gave for me

My purpose found

And all that You want for me

And I found myself in You

And I found myself in You

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It’s more than the air I breathe

And I found myself in You

And I found myself in You

Take me to a place

Where I can see You face to face

And all I want to do

All I want to do

Is worship You

Under His Wings

A Hymn I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion; I rest in the holiest place; His kingdom and all its dominion I’ve found with abundance of grace. Refrain: Under His wings, yes, under His wings; I’m resting in Jesus, oh, it is precious! Under His wings, yes, under His wings; I’m resting in Jesus, under His wings. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion, Where peace like a river doth flow; Where manna from heaven is given; Where joys are eternal, I know. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion, Thus sheltered securely from harm; With Him I have constant communion, I’m resting on His mighty arm. I’m in the Lord’s sacred pavilion; Where I would forever abide; Though once far away—a lost alien—In Jesus I now can confide. Written by Barney E. Warren

The Heart

John 6:68 (NIV) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." John 14:27 (NASB) Jesus said, "Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you , not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

A New Heart and a New Spirit

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NASB "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be and be careful to observe My ordinances." Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" Proverbs 27:19 "As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man." The concept of a new heart and a new spirit has been coming back to me, over and over again. I read these references and rejoice that there are things that I will never fully understand. That as I journey into this Life that is Christ ....there are the weavings and concepts in God's Word that I will never totally grasp. This and this...makes that and that....and in and of myself things need to be that way. In and of God, things are NOT always that way. I found in Neil T. Anderson's book "The Daily Discipler", another account of these thoughts. "We have been given a new heart because we have been made a new creation in Christ. In fact, it is the new heart that makes a new person. Our new birth means "a new heart" (see Deut. 30:5,6; Ezekiel 11:19). Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The last phrase literally means "for out of it are the issues of life." This is seen in Ecclesiastes 10:2, " The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Jesus taught that what we do comes from our heart, (Matthew 12:34,35). Our new life stems from our heart. Godly thoughts, motives, words, feelings, attitudes and actions all originate in our heart. It is the mission control center of human life. The believer in Christ, through death and resurrection with Him, has received God's Spirit and a new heart, and thus a new control center of life." What think ye readers of this blog on this? Just curious ....always curious.

Yet Again....Manning

In Brennan Manning's Book, "The Signature of Jesus", he talks of a friend, who was a member of the small community of brothers that they referred to as "the Little Brothers of Jesus". His description of this man Dominique Voillaume, and how Manning talked of the influence Vollaume had on his life was precious to me. A true brother in Christ and mentor by example. The following quote comes as the last entry from the journal of this humble man (found after his death) ....through Manning's book.

"Dominique Voillaume never tried to impress anybody, never wondered if his life was useful or his witness meaningful. He never felt he had to do something great for God...."

.....the last journal entry.....

"All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me. I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my word and witness. If he wants it to, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is his concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that."

Manning says then....

"Any spirituality that does not lead from a self-centered to an other-centered mode of existence is bankrupt."

Read the account.....if you never have.

In Jesus and also Dominique's words...."Father, forgive them, ils ne comprennent pas."

How Manning is used by God to convey a hard message full of Truth to others but through a tender manner......amazes me.

Sounds Right to me

"I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God."

Elisabeth Elliot

Jesus is all I need.

"The only thing worth holding onto ......is holding onto me".
Jeremy Camp

Joy Unspeakable

Jude 1:20-25 Amplified

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
21 Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--[which will bring you] unto life eternal.
22 And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you, and on some have mercy who waver and doubt.
23 [Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality.
24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]--
25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).

Verse 24 has spoken to me this past weekend.

I am Nothing Jeremy Camp

Seems I’m always in this place,

Where the things I seem to take, are the things I wish would fade.

I always purpose in my heart,

To do things the right way, then I realize I’m still clay

And this piece that’s being shaped, will be a beauty You create

I am nothing without Your love.

I’m unworthy but Your death has been enough

I’m completed by Your touch,

But I feel like I’ve been given so much so I thank You, I thank You.

I wouldn’t even face, all the troubles of the day,

If it wasn’t for Your grace

Sometimes I even wait,

To see if I’m awake, seems so good I can’t relate

And Your every word I crave,

And I’m grateful for every breath I take

When I’m feeling all my shame, You won’t let it stay,

I sail away into Your love

I’m taking every day, To give my life away,

It’s the only way I know

Behind the Song:

'Without the love of Christ, where would I be? What kind of hope would I have? I know that I don’t deserve the tremendous grace that the Lord offers, but because of His death on the cross I have been given the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life and become worthy of being called a child of God. It is by the hand of God that I have been completed, and now I can rest in that very hand of love. “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2' - Jeremy Camp

Continuing on Love

Again in reference to SHOWTIME by Tod Bolsinger..... In the 7th chapter called, "Not you or me but we", ....Bolsinger talks about the different kinds of love, "with agape love being our final goal"...he says...."the love that is like God's love". Now I know that that kind of love is in me if God is in me. It very rarely, if ever manifests itself because I usually get in the way. However, I digress. He then talks about .."taking love out into the world, but only after really loving the community of believers...and to what Francis Schaeffer called 'the mark of a Christian'." John 13:34-35 is the scriptural reference for this. He refers to.... "brotherly love (philadelphia), which is a commitment to fellow Christians not necessarily for all people". I like what he says although, as with everything I read right now, I have a different perspective on the terminology, or the language that he uses. I am working through the thoughts behind what is said if you will. I know that in and of myself, I can do nothing and so without continuing to qualify this always....and until all of this is crystal clear in my mind, I tend to hesitate to share a perspective about what it is that we can do....Arghhhhh ....not that 'we' can do anything in our own strength....(there is the dilemma I face daily.... :) Anyway, in Bolsinger's own words... "God is calling us to be people who take His message of love and gracious acceptance into the world. But before we have the right to say it, we must live it. More than anything else, we need to be a community that communicates to each other in both words and actions: 'I love you, I forgive you, Supper is ready'. " These three phrases are what he indicates ...."a poll a few years back, gave as the top three answers as to what word or phrase people would like to have said to them sincerely". He suggests that these three phrases ..."may be the best description of the church, he has ever read", (and he wrote a Ph.D. dissertation on the life-transforming communion that the church is supposed to be). I like his thoughts.....whenever we look towards being a light out there in the world....we need to make sure the light is shining in the community of believers that we are a part of. That Light, of course, is Jesus, and will shine where it will as we submit. It is what Jesus did though in some ways....brought truth and light to His close company of friends and then sent them out. Sort of like the old adage....if your backyard is in disarray.....don't be trying to clean up someone else's backyard. Again, I share that I believe that Christ in me....does what He wills in any circumstance and at anytime. He brought me to this book and I appreciate this man's thoughts on community. We have a lot to learn about community. True community. I go to, as Bolsinger did as well.... to Galatians 3:28. Paul knew about community.

Another good read

SHOWTIME

LIVING DOWN HYPOCRISY BY LIVING OUT THE FAITH

By Tod Bolsinger

I am almost finished this book and it has proven to be an interesting read. A lot of fresh thought and a lot of really good ideas and I found it an encouraging read about how as Leighton Ford puts it...."how Christ can show through you in a 'show me' world."

Interesting information from the internet mentioned in the book.

The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words

The Gettysburg Address: 286 words

The Ten Commandments: 179 words

The Lord's Prayer: 66 words

God so loved the world: 5 words

I forgive you: 3 words

I love you: 3 words

The United States government regulation on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words

American author, obviously but I didn't have time to convert to a Canadian flavour. The message comes through loud and clear though eh? "Less is better, sometimes."

The author states, "Faith that makes a difference is a simple subject, but it's not an easy one".

More tomorrow on this read.

You LORD, are all I want!

Psalm 16 CEV

(A special psalm by David.)

The Best Choice

Protect me, LORD God!
I run to you for safety, and I have said,
"Only you are my Lord!
Every good thing I have is a gift from you."
Your people are wonderful, and they make me happy,
but worshipers of other gods will have much sorrow.
I refuse to offer sacrifices of blood to those gods or worship in their name.
You, LORD, are all I want!
You are my choice, and you keep me safe.
You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright.
I praise you, LORD, for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind.
I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.
With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.
I am your chosen one.
You won't leave me in the grave or let my body decay.
You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.

Perfect Everlasting Love Without Fail

Deuteronomy 7:9 NCV

"Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God.
He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands."

Nehemiah 9:17

"They refused to listen; they forgot the miracles you did for them. So they became stubborn and turned against you, choosing a leader to take them back to slavery. But you are a forgiving God. You are kind and full of mercy. You do not become angry quickly, and you have great love. So you did not leave them."

Psalm 89:33 NKJ

"Nevertheless, My lovingkindness, I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail."

Isaiah 54:10 NCV

"The mountains may disappear and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; My promise of peace will not come to an end, says the Lord who shows mercy to you."

Lamentations 3:22,23 NCV

"The Lord's love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; Lord , your loyalty is great."

Jeremiah 31:3 NCV

"The Lord appeared to his people and said, 'I love you people with a love that will last forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness."

John 1:16,17 NLT

"We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us - one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ."


All of us who know Christ, have Love. He is Love. Let the radiance, the beauty of being His bride, shine forth from that place within, that sometimes goes to another place; a lonely place, a sad place, a wounded place. Enter into the place of His Presence with confidence and love for He is the One who gave everything and and yet lives and has made His perfect covenant with you, His pledge, His word, His love, His peace and His Life. He is the Bridegroom. You are loved lavishly, wondrously, and without measure. Perfectly.
Happy Valentine's Day.


1 Corinthians 2:9

"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

Real Freedom

John 8:36 The Amplified Bible "So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free."

I heard a great quote this morning from Greg Laurie's sermon this morning....I don't know if it was his or not...but it led me to other thoughts and so on and so on and ....yep, you get it. " The same sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay." His message was do we want knowledge about God for the sake of accumulating knowledge to appear __________ (fill in the blank) (this is then about me and what I am doing for God), or do we want to know God... intimately and personally, focussing on Jesus Christ, on looking into the Word and receiving revelation from the Word, (this is then about Him and what He is doing through me). Not an earth shattering message for those who know who they are in Christ, but a real tender and simple message for us to be reminded of. Malcolm Smith spoke about becoming too book-learned, too knowledge driven, too determined to know all there is to know....that one can forget to live Life that has been given. Another quote came to mind...I think Francis of Assisi said it...something about being the only Bible some people might read....meaning our Life that is Jesus. Brokenness continues. As I said....and so on and so on. Hmmmmmm

Everything is a learning experience. :) Me Bad.

Max

From Max Lucado's book called "In the Eye of the Storm".

Have you got an upset tummy? Maybe a good reason.

"He had compassion on them." Matthew 14:14 NIV

"The Greek word for compassion is splanchnizomai....

"Splanchnology" is a study of ... the gut. When Matthew writes that Jesus had compassion on the people, he is not saying that Jesus felt casual pity for them....

Matthew is saying that Jesus felt their hurt in his gut;

He felt the limp of the crippled.

He felt the hurt of the diseased.

He felt the loneliness of the leper.

He felt the embarassment of the sinful.

And once he felt their hurts, he couldn't help but heal their hurts."

Every Blessing is Ours

Don't forget, don't ever forget, no matter what, that we have right here and right now......every that would mean EVERY, spiritual blessing, even when we don't particularly feel like we do. :) Ephesians 1:3 NLT " All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." He has blessed us....I guess that means it is done....thank You, Father.