From Acts chapter one:

⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Christ is risen!  Has ascended!  Christ will come again!

I love this simple Charlie Hall song and how it expresses just that – especially the use of the words sanity and clarity in describing Jesus.

Sanity: Soundness of judgment or reason.
Clarity: clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.

BTW – I’ve been know to wander around my house playing guitar (sometimes serenading my wonderful wife!)…guess I’m not alone!

x

Mystery
Charlie Hall (From The Bright Sadness)

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus, Mystery

Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again

Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim his come
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift you eyes, lift your eyes
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim his come
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift you eyes, lift your eyes

Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity

My my peeps and tweeps be blessed where ever they happen to be, o Lord!  AMEN!

x

Closer

Beautiful are the words spoken to me
Beautiful is the one who is speaking

Come in close, come in close and speak
Come in close, come closer to me

The power of Your words
Are filled with grace and mercy
Let them fall on my ears and break my stony heart

Come in close, come in close and speak
Come in close, come closer to me

x

One year ago today was the last time I saw my mom this side of heaven.  I had traveled to see her and my family in Montana since she had been sick and was back in the hospital.  As had been the case many times, her room was the gathering point for the family.  It was a great visit – all we really did was just spend time together – with each other…with Mom.  We laughed, cried, ate, talked, prayed – it was nice.  In my heart, I knew her time was close and I will always be glad I went.

If someone in your life has passed away, I’m sure you’ll agree that there are things that bring thoughts of them to you as you go through any given day – leading to tears, laughter, smiles, etc. As I was driving to work recently, doing my morning multi-task drive/prayer/worship, the Charlie Hall song below came on and just reminded me of my mom and the later stages of her life here on earth.

My mom’s body was weak and tired and I know at times she simply wanted Jesus to call her home (she would often tell us that)…but it was in His time, not hers (or ours). I get chills just thinking of my mom and the lines: Finally the voice I have followed for life / has a glorious face that is lit up with light / And you’ll come for me, no more pain, peace, / No more fear, release / just lost and consumed with my glorious King.

Mom is no longer tired or in pain, just worshiping her glorious Savior in His presence!

I can only imagine the day when I will say: Finally the voice I have followed for life / has a glorious face that is lit up with light.

Maranatha!

x

Come For Me

Jesus come take me away, I long to see Your face
This world is broken yet beautifully made,
Jesus come take me away
Jesus I’ll patiently wait, till like a vapor I’ll fade
Help me fulfill all your dreams for these days,
Jesus I’ll patiently wait

You’ll come again with a shout,
like a thief in the night you’ll come riding on clouds
Finally the voice I have followed for life
has a glorious face that is lit up with light
And you’ll come for me, no more pain, peace,
No more fear, release
just lost and consumed with my glorious King,

Jesus today I am tired, I need your music to come and inspire
I give myself to be refined in this fire,
but Jesus today I’m so tired

Come for me

© 2005 Generation Music
Words and Music by Charlie Hall