Like Incense/Sometimes By Step

July 9, 2010 — Leave a comment

This track off the new Hillsong Live A Beautiful Exchange release is getting the most play right now…

May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands a sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight
Your statues are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let love keep my will upon its knees

Oh God You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God You are my God
And I will ever praise You

To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun
All Your ways are loving and are faithful
Your road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Brooke Ligertwood | David Strasser | Rich Mullins
© 2009 Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) | (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)

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Verses for the Day

July 7, 2010 — Leave a comment

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  -Jeremiah 29:11

We are … perplexed, but not in despair;  …  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  -2 Corinthians 4:8, 18

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Familiarity & Help

July 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

I read this yesterday and it’s been ruminating ever since:

Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

The thing that hit me was how I (and maybe you) often under appreciate the fact that Jesus was tempted while on earth.

After I read that verse, I jumped to Matthew 4:1-11 and re-read the passage where Jesus was led in to the desert to be tempted by Satan.

Continue Reading…

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Recollection

June 25, 2010 — 3 Comments

It’s cool how the small things cause you to remember stuff from your past – both good and, well, not-so-good.

In my new role as a foster father (not-soon-enough adoptive father!), the other day, Sam & I were cleaning up the side of the house and we were “team sweeping” the leaves and stuff – me sweeping, him using the dust pan.  He was having a tough time getting all the stuff in the dust pan and I recalled how my dad taught me the “sweep, back up the pan, and repeat” process for getting all the stuff picked up.  So, naturally, I imparted my well-honed “sweeping” knowledge to him…

Pretty cool – and not so painful.  I’m sure, in the course of our lives together, I’ll have ample opportunity to share and teach Sam about the not-so-good or hard lessons I’ve learned…

I was reading in Colossians yesterday and these two verses from chapter two popped out:

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Continue Reading…

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“Nuggets” From The Week: May 23-29, 2010

June 4, 2010 — Leave a comment

Some “nuggets” from my daily Bible study times:

LK 11:37-52 – We may not literally DO the actions of Pharisees & Experts, but our heart may be similar. Search, know, & try, oh God. [May 23]

“Lord, R U telling ths parable 4 us or 4 all?” Peter, LK 12:41 / Too oftn we hear/read something & seek 2 apply 2 others B4 ourselves [May 24]

The people were delighted w/all the THINGS Jesus DID. LK 13:17 / Jesus’ actions had message/meaning. Our actions MUST point back to THAT. [May 25]

“…any of you who does not give up everything cannot be my disciple.” LK 14:28-33 / Jesus calls us to thoughtful sacrifice & service. [May 26]

The Parable of the Lost Son – LK 15:11-32 / 3 views of grace: 2 undeserving, 1 unconditional. May we be like the (F)ather [May 27]

Things people think R important R worthless as far as God is concerned. LK 16:15 / God’s economy is SO different from ours. [May 28]

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“Nuggets” From The Week: May 16-22, 2010

May 22, 2010 — Leave a comment

Some “nuggets” from my daily Bible study times this week:

“Who needs a doctor: healthy or sick? I’m inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside & out.” -Jesus (-us?) [May 16]

“When Jesus finished saying all this in the hearing of the people,…” Luke 7:1 | Jesus wasn’t covert. May we be like Him in our day-to-day worship. [May 17]

We can mistakenly think the seed on “good soil” has it easy (LK 8). Don’t miss this phrase: “and by persevering”. God’s Word: Hear, retain, and persevere! [May 18]

“I didn’t keep the news of your ways a secret, didn’t keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth for myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.” -David (PS 40:10 MSG) [May 19]

Jesus: “You give…” Disciples: “We only have…” LK 9:13 // How often we think/say/do this. Imagine living as if God were all-knowing/powerful & ever-present! [May 20]

Jesus to the 72: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” LK 10:3 / Why do WE assume/require comfort & safety to serve Him? [May 21]

Jesus finished praying in a certain place & a disciple said, “Lord, teach us” LK 11:1 / His posture made it clear He’d been w/God-does ours? [May 22]

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#50pic Friday – May 7, 2010

May 10, 2010 — Leave a comment

Here is my #5opic Friday Challenge album!
[What’s #50pic Friday?  See Here, then Here]

All photos taken with an iPhone and either left “as taken” or processed using a few apps: CameraBag, Pic Grunger, TiltShift, Photogene, or ColorSplash.

Enjoy!

Continue Reading…

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Constant Confirmation

May 6, 2010 — Leave a comment

What an amazing day yesterday – I’ll write about it at some point…I’m still processing it all.

One thing is certain:

My amazement never stops at how God constantly confirms
His love, care, direction, …

This song played several times yesterday and, this morning, I read the passage from Romans.

Continue Reading…

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For The Love Of Hymn[s]

May 3, 2010 — Leave a comment

I stumbled upon this quote today:

“For some years it has been apparent that the rage for novelties in singing, especially in our Sunday Schools, has been driving out of use the old, precious, standard hymns.  They are not memorized as of old.  They are scarcely sung at all.  They are not even contained in the non-denominational songbooks which in many churches have usurped the place of our hymn books.

We cannot afford to lose these old hymns.  They are full of the Gospel; they breathe the deepest emotions of pious hearts in the noblest strains of poetry; they have been tested and approved by successive generations of those that loved the Lord; they are the surviving fittest ones from thousands of inferior productions; they are hallowed by abundant usefulness and tenderest memories.  But the young people of today are unfamiliar with them, if the present tendency goes unchecked.”

-Basil Manly, Jr., 1892

Interestingly, three albums that are in my music rotation right now are hymn-based:

PAGE CXVI’s, Hymns and Hymns II and
Sandra McCracken’s, In Feast or Fallow.

By the way, you can get PAGECXVI’s Hymns free at this link until midnight, Tuesday (May 4th).

All three are highly recommended mixes of old and new hymns – check ’em out kids!

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Unlike Me

May 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

This whacked me yesterday:

“What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” -Romans 3:3-4

Now, replace the “faith” references with love, hope, peace, grace, forgiveness, kindness,…you get the picture.

God is so unlike me. Hallelujah, He’s unlike me!

Maranatha!

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