The Gospel - Jonathan & Melissa Helser

I heard a melody
That amazing grace can save
It doesn’t matter what I’ve done
I’ve been washed in mercy’s waves

And they say that love only comes to those who deserve it
And forgiveness only comes when you can earn it
But what do they know about grace

I’ve been saved by a love
That hung on a cross
It’s the gospel of Jesus
That rescues us

Where are my accusers now?
All I see is You and smile

You don’t have a stone in Your hand
All You have are these scars of redemption

Oh, the arms of love, they fly faster than I can fall
Oh, the arms of love, they’re in this room holding us

Psalm 103:9-11 – “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

With the completion of 2016 upon us and 2017 right around the corner, I look forward to the hope of a new year. Hope for personal growth in my faith. Hope for an ever-growing closeness in my marriage. Hope for my child to continue to explore who Jesus is and what He means to her. I have other hopes for those I love but none so pressing on my heart than their faith in our one true Hope.

When I first heard the song, The Gospel by Jonathan and Melissa Helser, I had to play it on repeat a few times. The lyrics made my heart rejoice in agreement. The lyrics aren’t profound. They aren’t difficult to understand. But they are truly the gospel message in a beautiful nutshell.

My favourite lines in this song are my heart’s desire for each of you to come to know and hold true in your hearts as well. “And they say that love only comes to those who deserve it. And forgiveness only comes when you can earn it… But what do they know about grace? I’ve been saved by a love that hung on a cross. It’s the gospel of Jesus that rescues us.”

None of us deserve His love but He loves us more than we can comprehend. None of us can earn His forgiveness, He gives it freely to us. He showers us with grace and mercy – completely undeserved from our own merit. He saved us by dying a sinner’s death on the cross – OUR sinner’s death on the cross – and rescued us from a life apart from God. If you were to picture your sin and goodness on the scales of justice, your goodness could never outweigh your sin. Even the most ‘good’ of people could never tip the scales in their favour on their own. Jesus is the only one who is perfectly sinless. Through faith in His death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension to heaven, we can have our sins removed from that scale of justice. They no longer count against us. We have no need for guilt because Christ has paid the penalty for our sin. He has rescued us from our sin.

May 2017 be a year where our striving ceases. May we abandon our perceived control and follow whole-heartedly our Father’s ways. He wants to lavish us with His love. He wants us to bask in the glory of His amazing grace. May we all live with the understanding of the spiritual death we have been saved from and look forward to the life we have in Him. We have been saved by a love that hung on a cross. The love of the Father shown to us through Jesus Christ. May you be encouraged to live out the gospel and to share it with a world in desperate need of His hope.

Matthew 16:19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Happy New Year! 

Noel - Chris Tomlin featuring Lauren Daigle

Love incarnate, love divine
Star and angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a Child is born
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Son of God and Son of man
There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord 
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel, Noel

Luke 2:1-20 – “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

This song, Noel by Chris Tomlin featuring Lauren Daigle, is one of my favourite Christmas songs. I simply love how the gospel message of Christ’s saving grace is woven into the story of His birth. It is a great reminder that God planned for our redemption even before He created the world.

I hope and pray that during this Christmas season you will be able to see what God has done in your life over the past year. I know that by writing this blog and studying the Scriptures through various Bible studies this year, He has grown my faith in Him. He has allowed me glimpses of His glory and for that I will never be the same. I pray that this “story of amazing love” will penetrate your heart not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.

Christ’s birth is cause to celebrate, but the entire purpose of His birth was so that God could extend His grace to us through Christ’s death. So, as we enjoy time with friends and family over meals and gifts, let us not diminish the reason we rejoice. We were given the gift of a Saviour who would pay the penalty for our sins so that we can live eternally with Him. There is no greater gift than the gift of eternal life offered only through faith in Jesus Christ. Come. Come and see what God has done.

Merry Christmas!

Praise the Lord by Crowder

I used to shake You like an 8-ball
I used to shoot You like a gun
I used to hold You like a hammer
Try to nail down everyone
I used to keep You in a steeple
Used to bind You in a Book
I used to take You like prescription
Without knowing what I took

But now I just don't buy it anymore
No, I've tried and I've tried to know everything for sure
But I find I know less as I come to know You more
You're not who I thought You were
Praise the Lord

Your love's an ocean, not a river
A symphony, not just a song
I don't think everybody's right
I just think most of us were wrong
I think that when we get to Heaven
We're gonna laugh when we can see
How hard we try to make it
And how easy it should be

And so I just don't buy it anymore
No, I've tried and I've tried to know everything for sure
But I find I know less as I come to know You more
You're not who I thought You were
Praise the Lord

Providence is endless
Mercy is a mystery
And fear is no good reason
To believe in anything

So I just don't buy it anymore
No, I've tried and I've tried to know everything for sure
But I find I know less as I come to know You more
You're not who I thought You were
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

Romans 6:1 – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

As a child, I was a people pleaser. I quickly understood the rules and abided by them. Knowing what was expected of me allowed me to achieve goals. I had a firm grasp on obedience and its reward as well as disobedience and its punishment. This behaviour also flowed into my faith. I can recall many times as a child and young teen where I felt I needed to do something as retribution for my sins. There were many altar calls responded to as I felt that my sins continually separated me from my Saviour and had to be atoned for afresh.

Now, years later and with some life experiences under my belt, I have come to the realization that in my early years I did not understand what grace was. In fact, I don’t think I ever considered it because I was constantly trying to be as obedient as possible so that I would not invoke God’s wrath on my day of judgement. God carried me on such a journey as to overwhelm me with His grace and every day I am discovering it anew.

I love this song, Praise the Lord by Crowder. When he sings, “I used to hold you like a hammer, try to nail down everyone”, I can identify with him. In my younger years, I would look at everything as right or wrong – which in itself isn’t bad but that right or wrong was assessed by me alone. Some of the things that I would look at as sin were a distorted view of what the Bible was actually saying. The words of man can sound convincingly like the words of God to a young person. It has taken years of studying Scripture on my own to interpret its meaning. And, I’m sure I haven’t got everything right even now!

One thing I know that God has been changing my view on over the years is His grace. I have come to a much better understanding of it. I don’t know why He chose me to extend His grace to, but I’m grateful He has.

These lyrics are so powerful to me:

“Providence is endless

mercy is a mystery

And fear is no good reason

to believe in anything.”

I do not know the ways of God. His mercy is mysterious to me. But, I am convinced that if you're looking at salvation as simply a “get out of hell free” card, you’re not looking at it correctly. This is where I find grace can be abused. I love when Paul tells the Romans, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” If I were to ask the question today, I would add many exclamation points after that question. It seems so incredulous to think that I would continue to sin simply because God is gracious. That I would use my salvation as a back-up plan so that I could continue to live the way that I want to live. To believe that my repeating the sinner’s prayer as a child would save me from eternal separation with God because He is gracious.

I am obviously not God. I do not decide who receives grace and who does not. But, I would encourage you to question if there are moments in your life where you choose to sin because you know God will forgive you. May we all be mindful of the weight of our sin and what it cost Christ in paying our debt. In my journey of learning more about and experiencing God’s grace, I join Crowder in saying, “But I find I know less as I come to know You more, You’re not who I thought You were, praise the Lord.” 

God of All My Days - Casting Crowns

I came to You with my heart in pieces
And found the God with healing in His hands
I turned to You, put everything behind me
And found the God who makes all things new
I looked to You, drowning in my questions
And found the God who holds all wisdom
And I trusted You and stepped out on the ocean
You caught my hand among the waves
'Cause You're the God of all my days

Each step I take
You make a way
And I will give You all my praise
My seasons change, You stay the same
You're the God of all my days

I ran from You, I wandered in the shadows
And found a God who relentlessly pursues
I hid from You, haunted by my failure
And found the God whose grace still covers me
I fell on You when I was at my weakest
And found the God, the lifter of my head
And I've worshiped You
And felt You right beside me
You're the reason that I sing
'Cause You're the God of all my days

Each step I take
You make a way
And I will give You all my praise
My seasons change, You stay the same
You're the God of all my days

In my worry, God You are my stillness
In my searching, God You are my answers
In my blindness, God You are my vision
In my bondage, God You are my freedom
In my weakness, God You are my power
You're the reason that I sing
'Cause You're the God of all my days

Each step I take
You make a way
And I will give You all my praise
My seasons change, You stay the same
You're the God of all my days

In my blindness, God You are my vision
And in my bondage, God You are my freedom
All my days

Psalm 3:3-4 – “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.”

Psalm 139:16 – “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

I enjoy being in control. I like when things are planned out and everything goes according to schedule. I enjoy organization and punctuality and structure. I don’t ask for much, eh? The worst feeling for me would be when I feel that I am not in control. So, it should come as no surprise that this is exactly the area of my life that God allows challenges to come my way to teach me again and again that He is ultimately in control of all aspects of my life.

This song, God of All My Days by Casting Crowns, is an amazing testimony to the faithfulness of God. When I hear the lyrics, I can see my own life story flash before my eyes. I can recall many times when I was “drowning in my questions”. When I couldn’t understand how God would bring about any good through my difficult circumstances. And yet, the truth of Him being the “God of all wisdom” shone through. He knows the outcome of each and every moment of my life. Nothing that happens to me is a surprise to Him.

This song is such an encouraging reminder to me and I hope it is to you as well. The lyrics that I find most powerful are those of the bridge:

In my worry, God You are my stillness
In my searching, God You are my answers
In my blindness, God You are my vision
In my bondage, God You are my freedom
In my weakness, God You are my power
You're the reason that I sing

He is my stillness. (Psalm 46:10)

He is my answer. (Hebrews 5:9)

He is my vision. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

He is my freedom. (John 8:36)

He is my power. (Isaiah 40:29)

He is the reason I sing. (Psalm 96)

God is so worthy of our praise, regardless of our circumstances. He will be with us as we endure the difficulties of life just the same as He will be near to us during the joyful times. He is in control of each day. Even though I enjoy the thought of being in control, I take such comfort in the fact that I am not and only He is. He is the God of my yesterday, my today, and my God of all the days He has planned for me in the future. The God of all my days. 

Frontiers - Vertical Church Band

I cannot feel your love so strong and still,
From where I've hidden.
I cannot hear your voice above my will,
But still You listen.

And all the while,
You call me to your grace,
All that I undid fades.

Lead me to the end of myself,
Take me to the edge of something greater.

I'm looking out beyond this great unknown,
Though I can't see it.
One day I'll see the place You call my home,
Lord, I'll be near it.

And all the while,
You call me to your grace,
All that I undid fades.

Lead me to the end of myself,
Take me to the edge of something greater.
Lead me to the end of myself,
Take me to the edge of something greater.

I am standing on the great frontiers,
Of your love, of your love.
You have overcome my deepest fears,
With your love, with your love.

I am standing on the great frontiers,
Of your love, of your love.
You have overcome my deepest fears,
With your love, with your love.

I am standing on the great frontiers,
Of your love, of your love.
You have overcome my deepest fears,
With your love, with your love.

Lead me to the end of myself,
Take me to the edge of something greater.
Lead me to the end of myself,
Take me to the edge of something greater.
Something greater.

John 3:30 – “He must become greater; I must become less.”

Luke 14:25-27 – “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

I tend to be in a reflective state of mind at this time of year. This past weekend we took our daughter to get her annual picture with Santa taken. Even though she’s nine years old, she still loves the magic of the season. After posting her cuteness online, Facebook shared memories with me of past Christmas postings and I was able to see how much she’s grown each year through the numerous pictures we’ve posted. And it struck me how this freshly posted picture will be simply a memory in, what feels like, a blink of an eye.

When I reflect upon my own growth over the years, it becomes an overview of my personal and spiritual growth – or lack thereof. This kind of growth is not always readily visible from the outside. Ideally, the person I am today is an improved version of the person I was a decade ago. The challenges that God allowed me to go through have shaped me into the person I am today. While struggling through them, I asked for the pain to be removed. I prayed away the trials. I hated the suffering. But, without the struggles I endured, I would not have learned to seek God’s will first and adjust mine to His.

The song Frontiers by Vertical Church Band calls us out to unabashedly follow Christ wherever He calls us to go. The phrase, “Lead me to the end of myself” is one statement that I pray will be true each and every time I say it. I am an inherently selfish person. I seek out my own way and desire to fulfill my own will. But, the more I align myself to Christ and follow His teachings, this battle becomes less severe. It remains a battle nonetheless.

The follow up phrase to “Lead me to the end of myself” is “Take me to edge of something greater”. This is my wholehearted desire. That I will abandon the will of my flesh and follow Christ into the greater life He has for me to live. One that is not for myself but for Him. A life of service to others. A life of sacrifice in my time, in my finances, in my comfort.

If I had known in advance the trials God was going to allow in my life, I would have asked for them to never occur. I would not willingly choose to experience the pain that those trials caused. In reflecting on them now that time has lapsed, I can’t say I would ask for them to happen but I can say that without them, I would never know God the way I do today and for that I am eternally grateful. He brought about joy from the pain.

The Lord has called me out to various new frontiers in my life. Some, I joyfully desire to follow Him into – even in the unknown of the situation. Others, I hesitantly shuffle my feet along as He moulds me into the person He desires me to be. What frontier is He calling you to today? Is it a new phase in life that you are readily anticipating? Is it a painful situation that you would desire He remove from your life rather than enduring it? Follow Him wherever He has called you today. The joyful and the painful journeys bring us closer to Him as He carries us through them. The end result, as we submit to His greater will, is one that leaves us changed forever. Changed into the men and women that God can use to reach the lost with the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Rest in You - All Sons & Daughters

Who is Lord, but our Lord
Who is God, only God
You are the highest
You are most good

Matchless is Your love
Our praise will rise above
Your peace like a river
Floods over us

Our hearts are restless
Until they find rest in You
Our hearts are restless
Until they find rest in You

This is where my hope lies
This is where my souls sighs
I will always find my rest in You

So full of mercy
Beauty and mystery
You are most hidden
But always with us

Our hearts are restless
Until they find rest in You
Our hearts are restless
Until they find rest in You

This is where my hope lies
This is where my souls sighs
I will always find my rest in You

This is where my hope lies
This is where my souls sighs
I will always find my rest in You

You cannot change
Yet You change everything
You cannot change
Yet You change everything

You cannot change
Yet You change everything
You cannot change
Yet You change everything

Oh Oh
You cannot change
Yet You change everything
You cannot change
Yet You change everything 

Psalm 62:1 – “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.”

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

We are nearing the time of year that leaves my soul in a restless state. Not only because of all the crowds of people in the shopping centres, but also because of the mass hysteria caused by the need to buy so much stuff. So many things that distract from the true meaning of the season!

It is such a conundrum for me as one of my favourite things to do is to give gifts. I love to see the joy on my friend’s and family’s faces when they receive something they truly enjoy. On the other hand, I don’t receive gifts all that well. I mean, I am grateful for all that I’m given, but I don’t know to answer the question, “What do you want for Christmas”, because I really don’t want anything.

My heart is content with what I have. To be able to say such a statement took many years of breaking strongholds of hiding my personal struggles behind things. If I looked ok on the outside, I figured people would think I was ok on the inside. And, as the song Rest in You by All Sons & Daughters speaks, my heart was restless until it found rest in Christ.

When I contemplate finding my rest in Christ, I think it happens two ways. Most importantly, we become at peace with God upon our salvation in Christ. Our hearts no longer are in darkness but filled with the light of Christ. Secondly, we daily need to find our rest in Him. This is much harder for me to do! In my propensity to be anxious and my desire to be in control, resting in Christ becomes a willful act of worship. It is not in my (sinful) nature to be at rest. My mind swirls with thoughts of things to do, things I’ve said, things I shouldn’t have said, etc. The list is endless. So, I find areas in my life that I can feel in control of. This continues the cycle of restlessness until my heart begins to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. I know that I cannot create a restful heart within myself. This will only happen through the merciful work of God in me.

The final chorus of this song has lyrics that encourage my heart. “You cannot change yet You change everything.” How amazing is this truth about our Saviour?! He is the same today as He was in Biblical times. What He promised to do in Scripture, He will do. He is the only One that can bring about a change in our hearts, to cause us to look to Him for rest. I pray that during the chaos of the season, you may find your rest solely in Him.

What a Beautiful Name - Hillsong Worship

You were the Word at the beginning
One With God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn't want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

John 1:1-5 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Philippians 2:6-11 – “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I have caught myself - too often of late - in moments of ungratefulness and ungraciousness. I find myself so prone to grumble and complain with complete disregard for the many abundant gifts I have been given by my Father. And I think to myself, God must look at me and be so disappointed with what I’ve done with all He has given me.

When I sit back and take a toll of all I’ve been given, I see I have no reason to be discontent. I have a husband that loves me unconditionally and puts up with the good and the tough times I put him through. I have a child that is so compassionate and caring that I could learn a lot from her. I have a supportive family that would drive hours just to visit with me. I have a church to call home filled with brothers and sisters in Christ that are committed to the call of following Him. I have a roof over my head and sufficient funds each month to maintain it. Seriously, what do I have to complain about?! But, my natural inclination to perfection begins the downward spiral of discontent. For the past few months, this is what God has been bringing to the forefront and showing me where I need to change.

This past week in my corner of Southwestern Ontario, the final leaves have begun to fall off of the trees. I have spent many hours, with help and on my own, attempting to clear our property of all these leaves before the first flurries of snow arrives. Living surrounded by the Great Lakes, this could happen at any time now that we’re well into November! And, as I fill bag upon countless bag of leaves, my demeanor becomes less and less gracious. I become annoyed with the neighbour’s tree that hangs so perfectly over the property line that I get the majority of their leaves. I see the wind whip up in all directions bringing leaves back to the area of the yard that I’ve already cleared. I see the millions of leaves waiting to be bagged up and, when I’m on my own, I get upset that I am the sole person responsible to complete this task. Presently, my husband is halfway around the world helping those in need and I’m raking leaves and grumbling that he’s not here to help me. But, it’s in those moments that God shakes my soul and brings me to a place where I recognize my sinful inclinations. He uses these ordinary, mundane moments to show me where I need to alter my behaviours and repent.

This song, What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship, is one that I have been listening to on repeat lately. It shares so powerfully about the absolutely amazing God that we serve. In my sinfulness, I know that I am no comparison to the perfection of Christ. But, He chose to come to earth to save those that would call on His name. A name that is filled with wonder and power. There is none like Him. To know that He is using His power to change my heart to make me more like Him is enough to cause me to desire to change. His loving conviction of my weaknesses cause me to look to Him for the strength to become more than I am.

I pray this song will be one that you can listen to and have your heart rejoice along with mine. Our Saviour is amazing. There are not enough words to describe Him. May you be able to look beyond the ups and downs of your daily circumstances and simply praise Him for who He is: an unrivaled, unequal, powerful God. 

Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing) - Chris Tomlin

Come Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing 
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing 

Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing
How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Luke 15:4 – “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

I have always loved the parable of the lost sheep. You know the story. One sheep is missing and the shepherd goes to seek it out so it will not remain lost. Oh how I loved to hear that that shepherd was Jesus and I was that silly, wandering sheep not even aware of the dangers around me or even knowing that I was in need of saving. This parable gave me a picture of God’s grace in my childhood years.

Years later as a mother, I was able to experience first-hand the absolute terror of losing track of my child in a crowd. Even more frightening was that we were on a family vacation in Mexico, in an extremely busy beach town and we didn’t speak the local language. Adalai was just three years old. I will never forget the heart pounding, breathless moments where we did not know where she was. Many family members joined us in searching for her and just as we were approaching the police on the busy streets, someone shouted out that they had located her. I was ecstatic and livid. Who knew those two emotions could occur simultaneously?! Adalai had wandered off to be with other members of our family without saying a word to Ray or myself. In our mixed emotions of relief and living out the potential dread, we lashed out in fear rather than jubilation and caused Adalai to feel quite badly. After the fear we put in her heart that day, she has never wandered from us since!

When I hear the words of Come Thou Fount, in which the author says he feels “prone to wander”, I think about the incident with Adalai in Mexico. I know that God is perfect and unable to sin and that in His sovereignty, He would know where I am all the time. But, I think that in my times of wandering, God must have sought after me in a similar manner that we searched for Adalai in that foreign city. He would not stop until He brought me back into the fold. He desired for me to be in His family.

Chris Tomlin has added a lovely chorus to this song that he has entitled, “I Will Sing”. The lyrical addition says this:

How Your kindness yet pursues me
How Your mercy never fails me
Till the day that death shall loose me
I will sing, oh I will sing

I am forever grateful that Christ pursued me and poured out His grace upon me, covering my sins in His mercy. I will speak of the great things God has done for me until my final breath. I pray you will find this updated hymn to be an encouragement to you this day. If you are also prone to wander, may you feel pulled back into the everlasting arms of our Father. He will pursue you. He will be gracious towards you and forgive you. He will seal you as His forever. His mercy will never fail you. Amen!

Christ in Me - Jeremy Camp

In this obsession with the things this world says make us happy
Can't see the slaves we are in all the searching all the grasping
Like we deserve much more than all these blessings we're holding
So now I'm running free into an ocean of mercy unending

So come and empty me
So that it's you I breathe
I want my life to be
Only Christ in me
So I will fix my eyes
'Cause you're my source of life
I need the world to see
That it's Christ in me
That it's Christ in me

Done with what holds me down the things I once was chasing after
Throw off these heavy chains that I have let become my master
So now I'm running free into an ocean of mercy unending

So come and empty me
So that it's you I breathe
I want my life to be
Only Christ in me
So I will fix my eyes
'Cause you're my source of life
I need the world to see
That it's Christ in me
That it's Christ in me

In this obsession with the things this world says make us happy
Can't see the slaves we are in all the searching all the grasping

So come and empty me
So that it's you I breathe
I want my life to be
Only Christ in me
So I will fix my eyes
'Cause you're my source of life
I need the world to see
Only Christ in me
Only Christ in me
Only Christ in me
Christ in me

Luke 9:24-25 – “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

In our early twenties, Ray experienced a rush of business success which translated into occasional financial windfalls for us. It was a time of accumulating much and then reeling from the financial implications of mismanagement. Goaded on by comments from those who could only see what we had, but not the struggle behind it all, my pride desired to keep up pretenses that our world was fine. By the grace of God alone, we managed to never miss a bill payment or a minimum credit card payment (even though some of these bill payments were accompanied by tears). It was through this influx of cash so early in our marriage that we began a journey with God about where our faith and security truly lies.

So many lessons can be learned when we look at our finances. I look at every dollar that enters our bank account as given by God. The transition of seeing ‘our money’ as ‘God’s money’ was not difficult for me because of the financial struggles we experienced in our twenties. I am so grateful that God saw us through those difficult years and has brought us to a place where we are submissive to Him with what He has given us. I am convinced that our faithfulness in giving even during the times when it hurt most is what helped us keep perspective. No matter how little or how much we had, God gave it all to us and in thankfulness, we have the ability to give some of it back to Him.

Jeremy Camp’s song, Christ in Me spoke to me about where my priorities lie. My desire in life is to follow Christ and in doing so, others will see Him in my actions and words. I am not always successful at this. Just ask my family! But, my desires have been broken away and changed over the years so that my focus is now more fixed on Christ. I know I have a long way to go. I will not achieve perfection in this lifetime. Thankfully, God still uses me in my sinfulness and brokenness because His Son lives in me.

Maybe today your priority struggle isn’t a financial one. Maybe your focus has been shifted off of Christ because of other circumstances in your life. Health concerns. Familial dysfunction. Employment issues. There are so many valid things that we put our time and energy into that, if we solely focus on them, draw our focus off of Christ. May I encourage you to look through lenses filtered by the redemptive grace of Christ? He walks with each of us throughout our days. Many times, I find I look to Him as an afterthought instead of crying out to Him first. May we all look to Christ alone as our source of life so that others will see Him in us.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Whatever Comes - Rend Collective

Lord, whatever comes
Make me steadfast, make me rooted
A cedar planted firm, deeply grounded in Your goodness
Whatever comes

Lord, whatever comes
Be my bedrock, keep me steady
Loyal to Your throne, whatever stands against me
Whatever comes

Be my bravery when I am trembling
Be my courage when my heart is caving in
Be the fireside when I am wandering
Be my Father, whatever comes

Lord, whatever comes
Be my soul, be strong as iron
Bending only when, when I kneel before the "I Am"
Whatever comes

Be my bravery when I am trembling
Be my courage when my heart is caving in
Be the fireside when I am wandering
Be my Father, whatever comes

Whatever comes, oh

Be my bravery when I am trembling
Be my courage when my heart is caving in
Be the fireside when I am wandering
Be my Father, whatever comes

Whatever comes

Ephesians 6:10-18 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

For the past several weeks, I have been part of a Bible study on the armour of God. Although I am only half way through the study, it has been great to work through each item that I need to keep my faith strong and active. It is not surprising that this study became available to me at this time in my life.

Next week, my husband will be heading off to India and Nepal for a 15 day journey to photograph and love up the beautiful people of these two countries. Our family sponsors a little girl at an orphanage in Nepal so we are quite excited to send along some small tokens of our affection for her to enjoy with her friends there. With this being Ray’s second trip to these countries, it’ll be great for him to touch base with the people that he met last year.

While I’m excited and supportive of Ray following where God leads him, I find the times that he’s away to be the filled with heightened spiritual warfare. Unexplained physical ailments and debilitating anxiety attempt to destroy my faith. All the while, I try to hide all the attacks I’m facing from my daughter so that she feels safe and secure while her daddy is away from home. Did I mention my Bible study was perfectly timed?!

Rend Collective recently released a new album entitled Campfire 2. The song Whatever Comes is one that speaks directly to me. I know in my mind and in my heart that God will see me through anything He allows to enter into my life. Sometimes, it’s the actual walking through the tough times that cause me to doubt. Thankfully, I have many experiences in my past that I only need to reflect on to remind myself that God has been and will be faithful. I will never be alone. Satan’s attempts to crush my faith will not succeed. God will see me through… whatever comes.

Stand in Awe by Phil Wickham

Who could know Your thoughts, who could grasp Your ways
Who could match Your goodness or deny Your grace
You awake my soul, captivate my heart
Oh God, how great You are

You command the laws of the universe
Burning bright with glory, infinite in worth
With a single word, You ignite the stars
Oh God, how great You are

I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
Christ the Way, the Life and the Truth
I stand in awe of You

What king would leave his throne, set his crown aside
For his own creation bear their sin and die
Unrelenting love, never ending grace
Oh God, we praise Your name

I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
Christ the Way, the Life and the Truth
I stand in awe of You

Amen Amen Amen
Amen Amen Amen
We praise You
We praise You

Amen Amen Amen
Amen Amen Amen
We praise You
We praise You

Amen Amen Amen
Amen Amen Amen
We praise You
We praise You

And we stand in awe of You
We stand in awe of You
Christ the Way, the Life and the Truth
We stand in awe of You
God, we stand in awe of You

Psalm 100:2 – “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”

Psalm 145:3-7 – ”Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”

In my life, I have found it easier to praise God when I have purpose to be thankful. There are so many instances of answered prayer on behalf of myself or others that encourage just that. He is so worthy to be praised! But, do I ever just praise without any other purpose than He is indeed worthy?

Phil Wickham’s song Stand in Awe causes me to reflect on just this. I have always loved being out in God’s creation. I have spent hours outside in my backyard looking at the stars and softly singing in worship to the Creator of it all. I have traveled to various mountainous regions around the globe and am amazed by the magnificence of it all. I absolutely see God’s handiwork in His creations and it makes me stand in awe of Him.

Oh to be reminded to praise God for the simple and profound fact that He is worthy of my praise! Regardless of my circumstances. Regardless of my present desire to be in worship. He is worthy! So, here are a few verses that I pray will invoke in you praise for Him:

• I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)
• I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:6)
• The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)
• In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:4)
• Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Psalm 66:20)
• For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:4)
• For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 117:2)
• Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! (Psalm 147:1)
• Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)
• Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. (Luke 1:68)
• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:2-4)
• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
• Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)

May you be encouraged today to take the time to simply stand in awe of our God!

You Came (Lazarus) - Jonathan David & Melissa Helser

You stood outside my grave
With tears still on Your face
I heard You say my name
My night was turned to day

You came,I knew that You would come
You sang,my heart it woke up
I’m not afraid, I seeYour face, Iam alive
You came, I knew that You would come

You said death’s only sleeping
With one word my heart was beating
I rose up from my grave
My fear was turned to faith

You are a miracle-working God
You are a miracle-working God
You are a miracle-working God
You are a miracle-working God
You are a miracle-working God
You are a miracle-working God

You turn my fear into faith
You raise me up from the grave

You came, yeah You came, yeah You came
I knew You would come

John 11:43: “Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

Ephesians 2:4-5: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

I love the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. The details show the perfect blend of Christ’s humanity and divinity. Jesus arrives to a scene of mourning people as Lazarus has been dead for days. Mary and Martha are saddened that He didn’t arrive sooner to heal their brother. Christ joins in their weeping, prays to His father and then calls Lazarus to arise from the dead. Can you picture being there witnessing such a miracle?

When I encounter trials in my life, I find I am much like Mary and Martha and question the Lord, “why?” Why do I have to endure this inconvenient circumstance? Why, when He is all powerful, doesn’t He put an end to my suffering? Why can’t He do a miracle for me? But, the story of Lazarus shows me that there is always a purpose, always something I can learn throughout my trials.

This song, You Came (Lazarus) by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser, is a beautiful change of perspective – Lazarus’. It provides a picture of great faith in knowing that Christ will come and will bring about new life.

While listening to this song, I can’t help but be reminded of our salvation story.  With lyrics like, “My night was turned to day” and “With one word my heart was beating”, our turning from death to life is evident. Christ did call each of us out of the grave – the grave we were born into because of the Fall. We were born dead in our sin until Christ’s call to be made new woke us up from our eternal slumber.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Let us live our lives as the new creations that we are. We have been given new life. I can’t imagine Lazarus wanting to return to his grave after Christ brought him back to life. I’m sure he wasn’t thinking how comfortable his tomb was and desiring to remain in it’s darkness. Likewise, when we have been called to new life by the Almighty God, let us abandon the patterns of sin and live our new life of freedom.

We have a miracle-working God. The greatest miracle we can experience is having our dead soul brought to life in Him. I pray that each of you will reflect on your Lazarus story with thanksgiving for all that you have been saved from and for what you have been saved for. 

Forgiven - Crowder

I'm the one who held the nail
It was cold between my fingertips
I've hidden in the garden
I've denied You with my very lips

God, I fall down to my knees 
with a hammer in my hand
You look at me, arms open

Forgiven! Forgiven!
Child there is freedom from all of it
Say goodbye to every sin
You are forgiven!

I've done things I wish I hadn't done
I've seen things I wish I hadn't seen
Just the thought of Your amazing grace
And I cry, ”Jesus, forgive me!”

God, I fall down to my knees 
with a hammer in my hand
You look at me, arms open

Forgiven! Forgiven!
Child there is freedom from all of it
Say goodbye to every sin
You are forgiven!

I could've been six feet under
I could've been lost forever
Yeah I should be in that fire
But now there's fire inside of me
Here I am a dead man walking
No grave gonna hold God's people
All the weight of all our evil
Lifted away forever free
Who could believe, who could believe?

Forgiven! Forgiven!
You love me even when I don't deserve it
Forgiven! I'm forgiven!
Jesus Your blood makes me innocent 
So I will say goodbye to every sin
I am forgiven! I am forgiven!

Psalm 32:1-2 – “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

1 John 2:12 – “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.”

The journey of my thirties has been that of recognizing and trying to understand the grace of God. It has not come easy to me as grace extended from an almighty God seems unfathomable. At the same time, I believe in its absolute truth.

The circumstances in my life that brought out the truth of grace to me was actually the most difficult season of suffering I have experienced to date: my journey through infertility. When I think about those years of anguish and struggle, I recall the darkness that surrounded me. I internalized all of my pain and projected it in anger and bitterness in prayers to God. When He brought about a heart change in me and I finally stopped fighting against His will, the pain dissipated. When He gave us our daughter through adoption, I understood grace.

Infertility is an excruciatingly painful journey. For many years I did not respond well to this trial. I blamed God and accused Him of being inactive on my behalf. I railed against the injustice of my circumstances. But, all the while God was working in my life to give me a picture of grace that will remain in my heart for all of my days.

During those years, I did nothing that would make God want to give me the desires of my heart. I pushed and pulled against Him. My mind battled against all the scenarios. I fought until the bitter end before finally throwing my hands up in surrender. And then, He gave me the desires of my heart. He forgave me for my all of my sins and then extended favour to me. Pure grace.

Crowder’s new album, American Prodigal, is an eclectic collection of songs. The song, Forgiven, is a powerful testimony of the gospel of grace. There are so many nuggets of truth in his lyrics that I can’t pick just one line that I love. Ponder these amazing words with me:

“Say goodbye to every sin, you are forgiven.”

“All the weight of all our evil lifted away, forever free.”

“Jesus, your blood makes me innocent.”

“You love me even when I don’t deserve it.”

“Child, there is freedom from all of it.”

Freedom. That is what grace truly gives to us. It’s not because of anything we have done or because we deserve it – because we don’t! Our redemption is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our forgiveness comes from Him alone. May you experience the joy that comes with the freedom given to us through grace. 

Oh My Soul - Casting Crowns

Oh, my soul
Oh, how you worry
Oh, how you're weary, from fearing you lost control
This was the one thing, you didn't see coming
And no one would blame you, though
If you cried in private
If you tried to hide it away, so no one knows
No one will see, if you stop believing

Oh, my soul
You are not alone
There's a place where fear has to face the God you know
One more day, He will make a way
Let Him show you how, you can lay this down
'Cause you're not alone

Here and now
You can be honest
I won't try to promise that someday it all works out
'Cause this is the valley
And even now, He is breathing on your dry bones
And there will be dancing
There will be beauty where beauty was ash and stone
This much I know

I'm not strong enough, I can't take anymore
(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)
And my shipwrecked faith will never get me to shore
(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)
Can He find me here
Can He keep me from going under

Oh, my soul
You're not alone

Isaiah 43:1b – “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Matthew 6:27 – “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

I have never considered myself a person who worries. If there is an event that I have no control over – like those insurance claims for so-called ‘acts of God’ – I take the approach that we’ve prepared as best we can and whatever the outcome, we’ll make do. God will take care of us.

When it comes to events that I feel I should have some control over, this becomes more of a grey area. The worry – dare I even say fear?! – creeps in and calls itself different names. I have ‘concerns’ or ‘problems’ or ‘trials’ but I won’t claim them as worries. As much brainpower as I expend on these circumstances, they certainly take up enough time to qualify as worries. But at the same time, I cling to the truth of Matthew 6:27 and I know that I can’t change the outcome of any situation simply by worrying. As a person who claims to be a Christ-follower, I have to trust that everything is in His control and that He will never leave us alone.

Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns, penned the song, Oh My Soul, on the day he received a diagnosis of an aggressive form of kidney cancer. I have never had to struggle with a serious medical condition. I can only imagine the shock and fear of having to hear a cancer diagnosis. To be able to go home and write such honest words of where his heart was at is a true testimony of Mark’s faith.

The line in this song that grips my heart is found in the chorus: “There’s a place where fear has to face the God you know.” Such simple words but such a big impact! There is nothing that can happen in my life that God can’t see me through. Do I allow my fears, anxieties, or worries to take over my life and seem bigger than God? Even in unassuming ways? Do I spend more time thinking about the problems in my life rather than presenting them to God and asking Him to do with them what He wills?

Every day, I need reminding that I am not in control. God knows all the circumstances of my life and He stands with me through each battle. There is no need to fear. He is greater and more powerful than any problem I may encounter. He is with me always. “Oh my soul, you’re not alone.”  

Children of God - Third Day

Praise to the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Our God and our King, to Him we will sing
In His great mercy, He has given us life
Now we can be called the children of God

Great is the Love that the Father has given us
He has delivered us
He has delivered us

Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God

A mystery is revealed to the universe
The Father above has proven His love
Now we are free from the judgment that we deserve
And so we are called the children of God

Great is the Love that the Father has given us
He has delivered us
He has delivered us

Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all, ooh
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God

We are the saints
We are the children
We've been redeemed
We've been forgiven
We are the sons and daughters of our God

Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all, ooh
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God

Children of God
(We are the sons and daughters of our God)
Children of God
(We are the saints)
(We are the children)
(We've been redeemed)
(We've been forgiven)
Children of God
(We are the sons and daughters of our God)

Ephesians 1:4-6 – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” 

1 John 3:1 – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

I am an adoptive mom. I proclaim this unashamedly for adopting our daughter has been one of the most amazing blessings God has given to me. I don’t look at our adoption journey as something that was second best or to be kept a secret. Even before we learned of our infertility, my husband and I had discussed adoption. It was always in our plans for growing our family. We simply just didn’t realize that it was the only plan God had to grow our family! But, we’re so overwhelmingly grateful that He gave us our daughter.

My desire to adopt began when I was a child. I was fortunate enough to have a number of friends who were adopted. Knowing them and spending time in their homes enabled me to see how natural and normal adoption is. Their parents loved them unconditionally. Their parents disciplined them just as mine did. I never noticed much of a difference between a natural born child and an adopted child. I tended to believe that my friends who were adopted had a much better life story to tell and I loved to hear whatever they were willing to share with me.

As an adoptive parent now, I look back on those times that I would ask so many questions of my friends and wonder if I ever over-stepped or said anything unintentionally inappropriate. My friends and their families were gracious enough to share their stories with me so I’m assuming that if I did ask something out of line, they were willing to forgive me! Just as a personal aside, if you’re planning on asking a question of an adoptive parent, first think how you would like to respond to such a question about your own biological child. If you then deem your question inappropriate, keep it to yourself. :)

Having first-hand experience adopting a child, I have so much more of an appreciation in knowing how God has adopted me into His family. The song, Children of God by Third Day speaks to this so well. “In His great mercy, He has given us life. Now we can be called the children of God.” Oh, how amazingly true this is!

To know that God planned in advance to call me to be His child is an overwhelming thought to me. He knew the person I would be, He knew the sins that I would struggle with and He still knew that I was the daughter He wanted to have in His family. All of my imperfections, all of my failures, all of my sinful tendencies – He still chose me to be His own. Through Christ’s death on the cross and my acceptance of Him as my Saviour, God has given me the right to be His child and co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” God loved me and knew the plans that He had for me at the beginning of time, so He set in motion the events that would cause my life to be created and He allowed for all the circumstances I have experienced to grow me into the person I am today.

He didn’t have to adopt me. He didn’t have to call me to be His child. But I am forever grateful that He has. My salvation is secure. Each day of my life has been written and my eternity is known. By nature, I am a sinful, depraved human being. Through adoption, I am a graciously forgiven daughter of the King. How I pray that this eternal heritage will be passed onto my daughter and that her own adoption will propel her into falling more in love with the God who has adopted her into His family as well. To God be the glory!

My Roving Heart - All Sons & Daughters

Let worldly minds the world pursue
It has no charms for me
Once I admired it's trifles, too
But grace has set me free

It's pleasure now no longer please,
No more content afford
Far from my heart be the joys like these,
Now I have seen the Lord.

As by the light of opening day
The stars are all concealed,
So earthly pleasures fade away
When Jesus is revealed

Creatures no more divide my choice;
I bid them all depart
His name, His love, His gracious voice
Have fixed my roving heart.

Now Lord I will be Thine alone
And wholly live to Thee
But I may hope that You will own
A worthless soul like me

Yes though of sinners I am the worst
I cannot doubt thy will
For if Thou had not loved me first
I had refused thee still

Creatures no more divide my choice;
I bid them all depart
His name, His love, His gracious voice
Have fixed my roving heart.

Matthew 18:11-13 - “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.”

Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

More days than not, I am faced with my own depravity. My humanity desires to overpower the Spirit of God that dwells within me. It desires to pursue the will of my flesh. It seeks after the charms of this world and only wants to live for the temporary. Oh how my soul mourns over my lack of strength to once and for all defeat these temptations!

But, I am reminded that simply because I am a Christ follower and have dedicated my life to serving Him, it doesn’t mean that I will be without temptation to falter. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. If I am purposing my life to follow Christ, the Enemy will certainly place temptations in my path to distract me from my goal.

This song, My Roving Heart by All Sons & Daughters, is off of their new album called Poets & Saints. So many of their lyrics read like psalms. This particular one speaks to my heart as I am well aware of my propensity to wander. This stanza is my favourite of the song:

Creatures no more divide my choice;
I bid them all depart.
His name, His love, His gracious voice
Have fixed my roving heart.

What an amazing declaration of an undivided heart! I pray that God will continue to change my heart to rid it of my desire to pursue my own will above His. I am thankful Christ fixed my roving heart through His death on the cross. I am thankful still that it didn’t end there and He continues to fix my roving heart. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are drawn to Him and to His will for our lives.

If you are wandering today, may I encourage you to listen to the Spirit calling you to return to your first love. As sheep we are prone to wander but our Shepherd will seek us out and continue to pursue us so that we will not remain lost. Commit your roving heart to our most gracious Saviour. There is nothing in this world worth pursing more than a relationship with Him!

Seek First - Housefires

Peace that passes, my understanding
Love that conquers, my fear and regret
Joy unending, eternal pleasure
In Your presence, my risen King

And I will seek first, Your kingdom
I will seek first, Your righteousness
And everything I need, You will provide for me
My heart is to seek first, Your kingdom
Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh

You’re all I really want, You’re all I really need
Father every breath I’ve got, You have given it to me

Matthew 6:32-34 – “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

It is back to school season in our home. Our daughter is excitedly anticipating her return to the classroom and her school friends – probably not in that exact order. :) Adalai is not a child who struggles with anxiety when it comes to firsts. When we dropped her off at Junior Kindergarten orientation at the tender age of barely 4, she walked right into the classroom and didn’t even look back to say goodbye. When we dropped her off for her first overnight camp, she gave us a hug and said that it was time for us to leave. We have no concerns with her ability to cope in new situations!

I, on the other hand, always carried along anxious reservations with me on the first day of school. Would I do well enough on all of my projects and tests? Would I have any friends? Would I be bullied? As a shy, academic-minded child, these were my concerns when I anticipated heading back to school in the fall.

I don’t often think about too many specific events from my younger years, but there are the occasional memories that stand out above the rest. I recall being in youth group and hearing my youth pastor talk about Matthew 6:33. He challenged us to seek God every day before attempting to do anything else. It was a challenge that I accepted and utilized during my high school years. This song, Seek First by Housefires, is a wonderful encouragement in my endeavour to seek God first as He is the one who provides all we need.

Seeking God first is as simple as starting the day off in prayer. In doing so, I find that regardless of how my day goes, I am mindful of who is in charge of it. It is not me – no matter how much I desire to believe I have full control of my life. Submitting each day to Him enables me to flow with the ups and downs of the day. I admit, I'm not always successful in my attempts to spend time in prayer each morning. On many occasions, my morning prayers are when I am alone in my car after the chaos of school drop-off has occurred and before the busyness of arriving at my office. I have to hope that God’s grace extends beyond my erratic prayers to my heart’s desire of seeking Him first each and every day.

My hope is that this will become more evident in my home. I want my child to see her parents making a concerted effort to be seeking God first in all we do. It may take a change in routine. It may take setting the alarm just a few minutes earlier than usual. It may take being more vocal about my faith in my home, not just when the opportunity arises. In all of this, my desire would be that our family would learn to seek God first. Not just on the first day of school, but on each and every day. May you be encouraged to seek Him daily as well.

Faithful to the End - Bethel Music

We're heaven-spun creations
His pride and adoration
Treasures woven by his love

His careful hands they hold us
Safe within His promise
Of calling and of destiny

I will sing of all You've done
I'll remember how far You carried me
From beginning until the end
You are faithful, faithful to the end

A Father's heart that's for me
A never ending story
Of love that's always chasing me

His kindness overwhelming
And hope for me unending
He's never given up on me

I will sing of all You've done
I'll remember how far You carried me
From beginning until the end
You are faithful, faithful to the end

There wasn't a day
That You weren't by my side
There wasn't a day
That You let me fall
All of my life
Your love has been true
All of my life
I will worship You

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – “He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Psalm 139: 13-16 –”For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Every year at this time I feel the natural pull to reflect on all that has happened throughout the year passed. This end of summer reflection certainly dates back to my school years but it’s also spurred on by the fact that it’s around this time of year that I celebrate my birthday. This year I turn 39 – the age I’m told most women begin to ‘hold’ at and no longer share their age. As I enter this final year of my thirties, I can’t help but look back at how my life has unfolded in this last decade and all those before.

If I were to share my testimony in one word, it would be faithful. Not my faithfulness, but the faithfulness of a most patient and loving Heavenly Father. Bethel Music has put music to the words in my heart with their song, Faithful to the End. The lyrics have become the anthem of my life.

Memories flood my mind every time I hear this song. I can’t listen to it without shedding tears. As I hear the words, “There wasn’t a day that You weren’t by my side. There wasn’t a day that You let me fall…”, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to me in my lowest times in life.

I was the pre-teen girl that severely struggled with her body image. I was the girl that held a razor in her hands many times and wondered if this was the only way to cut away my unloveliness. But, God was there with me. He stayed my hands. He quieted the negative thoughts that bombarded me daily. He loved me just as He created me.

Spurred on by my negative body image, I became the teen girl who so desperately wanted someone to love her. I wanted to have someone tell me that I was lovely and loveable. I was on a path that would have left me with serious regret, but God held me close and reminded me of my convictions. He showed me that His love was enough. That no love of a man would ever compare to the love my Saviour has for me. And, while I was impatiently waiting, God brought my husband into my life.

I was also the young wife who felt called to be a mother. And, then I went through years of infertility only to find out that I would never be a mother without extraordinary help. My world crumbled around me. I withdrew from life and simmered in my bitterness. But, God was faithful to me. Even when I was so angry at Him for not changing my circumstances, He gently held me and slowly walked alongside me as He brought me to a place of acceptance. Once I reached that place, it was only an extremely short amount of time before God blessed Ray and I with the amazing opportunity to adopt our daughter.   

I am the thirty-something woman who thought my occasional bouts of anxiety were manageable. I assumed it was just part of my quirkiness that I struggled in social settings. The day that my anxieties became more than I could handle shook me to my core. It seemed that my prayers for help were not being heard. But, I am constantly reminded that my God hears my prayers and has provided a strong support system to get me through the days when I feel unable to cope on my own.

These low points don’t define my life but they shine a light on God’s presence throughout it. In reflecting on not just the mountain top experiences, I am convinced over and over again that God has never left my side. He has had a purpose in all the experiences that make up my life to date. He has been faithful each and every day and will be faithful to the end. That end may be days or months or years from now, but I know that I will never be apart from the gracious love of God.

He has a plan for each of our lives. The good as well as the painful experiences grow our faith and confirm His faithfulness to us. We have such a loving Father that has known us since before we were born and He wants to carry us through each and every day of this life. I pray that you will be encouraged in those dark times to reflect on situations that God has seen you through. May you press on to the finish line where we all will be able to thank Him for His unending faithfulness to us.

This We Know - Vertical Church Band

You are who say you are
You’ll do what you say you’ll do
You’ll be who you’ve always been to us
Jesus
Our hope is in you alone
Our strength in your mighty name
Our peace in the darkest day remains
Jesus 

This we know
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise you ever made
Jesus, you are unfailing 

Our God through the wilderness
Our joy in the heaviness
Our way when it seems there is no way
Jesus 

This we know
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise you ever made
Jesus, you are unfailing

We trust you
We trust you
Your ways are higher than our own 

1 John 2:20-21 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.”

1 Peter 1:3-4 – “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

I was raised in a hymn singing church. It wasn’t until my pre-teen years that the church my family attended decided to branch out and allow worship choruses to be sung. While I love a variety of music that enables me to enter into worship of my God, I have a special place in my heart for the hymns that I learned by heart in my early childhood.

A favourite hymn that I loved as a child is Standing on the Promises by R. Kelso Carter. I can still hear the lyrics ringing in my ears, “Standing on the promises of Christ my king, through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.” The song, This We Know by Vertical Church Band, brings up memories of this hymn because it also speaks to the promises of God.

There are so many promises that God has given us to trust Him for. I wanted to share some of my favourites with you in the hope that you will find encouragement in them and claim them for yourselves.

Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” God promises that we do not need to carry our burdens alone. He is with us and will carry them for us. Rest in Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” God is with us. He will never leave us. When troubles come our way, there is no need to fear for we have Him on our side. Trust that you are never alone!

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We can be confident in the fact that we are chosen by God and nothing will be able to separate us from Him. We are eternally His. 

Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” We can rejoice in the promise of our salvation! Confess that Jesus is Lord and live your life as proof of your belief in Him. We have been given an undeserved gift of salvation through faith in Christ. How amazing!

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” This verse became one of my favourites when I was 12 years old. I found comfort in the fact that the things I was being tempted with were not unique to me. Others had been tempted and put their trust in God’s faithfulness and overcame the temptation. He promises to always provide a way out from the temptation to sin. He is so faithful!

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I can say from experience, this is so true! There are times when the desires of our hearts do not line up with God’s desires for our lives. Open yourself up to pursuing His will for your life and the desires of your heart may change. He gives abundantly according to His perfect will.

Ezekiel 36:26 – 27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” God has provided the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor and guide through this life. Our sins are forgiven, we have a cleansed heart and now we have the Holy Spirit to comfort and convict us. What a gift given to us so that we are never far from the heart of God!

Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God called us to Himself. He chose us to be an important part of the body of Christ. We each play a part in the creation of the masterpiece He is fashioning through us. Find joy in the process and know that God isn’t finished making us more Christ-like until we see Him face to face.

I hope and pray these promises given to us by God will encourage you where you are today. May your trust in our Saviour grow and may your hope in Him continue to grow.

Come to the Altar - Elevation Worship

Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Oh what a Savior
Isn't he wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you've found

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 103:11-12 – “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Is it just me or does anyone else struggle with confession? I am a perfectionist so I try to do all that I do as well as I can. When I fall short of the mark, I first look for outside reasons as to why I have failed to be perfect. Of course, most of the time the responsibility is solely mine. If my failure to be perfect has affected another person, the need for me to publicly announce my inadequacies is an unwelcome prospect. And yet, the confession of wrong-doing and requesting forgiveness is so freeing! Oh, how my stubborn pride holds me back from truly experiencing freedom in Christ!

Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship is a song that shares that promise of redemption and forgiveness. When they ask, “Are you… overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?”, I have to question myself. Do I truly feel the weight of my sin? Do I recognize my wrong-doing and the price that was paid to absolve me from the penalty of it? Do I flippantly approach the throne of God knowing that my sins have been forgiven and not feel true remorse for my unrighteousness? Has the length of my relationship with Christ enabled me to take for granted the cost of His sacrifice?

This song is such a great encouragement for the non-believer as well as those who call themselves Christ-followers. For those that don’t yet claim Christ as Saviour, the lyrics point to forgiveness through His shed blood. You no longer have to feel the guilt of your sin. Jesus took your sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. His sacrifice paid the penalty for your sin. Through faith in Christ, you are welcome in the presence of God.

For those of us that have followed Christ for many years, I find this song is a great reminder that you don’t just come to the altar once. The forgiveness of our Almighty God is available to us always. We can live with a clear conscience through our confession of our short-comings. He will always forgive. He will not hold our sins against us. He will give us another opportunity to live according to our calling in Him.

His arms are open wide. He waits to hear our confession of sin. He longs to see us desire to live within His will for our lives. He graciously gives us forgiveness. Isn’t He wonderful? Isn’t He worthy of all our praise? Let us all come to the altar of our Lord, confess our short-comings and give Him glory for the forgiveness of our sins.

Finally Free - Rend Collective

Your mercy rains from heaven
Like confetti at a wedding
And I am celebrating
In the downpour

Your heart is wild with colour
Like a never-ending summer
You burn away the winter
Of my cold and weary heart

My soul cries out holy, holy
My heart is lost in Your beauty
All hope is found in Your mercy
You paid the price now I am
Finally free

Your grace, oh God's the anchor
That's holding me forever
Come trouble or high water
I am steadfast

Yeah, you lift me when I'm sinking
Like the swell of mighty oceans
The power of redemption
Yeah, it gives me wings to soar

My soul cries out holy, holy
My heart is lost in Your beauty
All hope is found in Your mercy
You paid the price now I am
Finally free

We'll cast our crowns before Him
Like the rusting leaves of autumn
Now every chain lies broken
And finally we're free

My soul cries out holy, holy
My heart is lost in Your beauty
All hope is found in Your mercy
You paid the price now I am
Finally free

Ephesians 2:4-5 –“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Galatians 5:1a –”It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

When listening to the lyrics of a song, there’s typically one line that’ll grip me as unique. It rarely happens in the opening line of a song though. With Rend Collective’s song Finally Free, that is exactly what happened. I was completely caught up by the picture drawn by the words, “Your mercy rains from heaven like confetti at a wedding”.

Can you picture it? Can you see yourself in the downpour of mercy straight from the Father? He has covered us all in His mercy – His “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender” (Dictionary.com). We are the offenders. We don’t deserve mercy. But, for His glory, He has bestowed it upon us and called us to share the freedom we have in Christ to all the ends of the world.

And, indeed we are just that: free.

Free to live our lives with purpose.

Free to be an example to those we interact with.

Free to stumble, fall and fail but to get back up again.

Free to be forgiven.

Free to bring glory to God.

Because of our salvation in Jesus Christ, we have been freed from our sin, we are being freed from our sin, and we will live eternally free from our sin. Let the chains that were unlocked with Christ’s shed blood fall away. Walk in the freedom we have in Christ. May your soul join mine in singing of His holiness when we are Finally Free.

Finally Home - Jeremy Camp

I will be dancing free 
Unashamed before my King 
When I am finally home 
Won’t need no bed to sleep 
I have too much to see 
Just staring at Your throne 

Eyes will fill with tears of joy 
Your fullness, I will know

I will be forever running free 
Moving to all Heaven’s melodies 
Colors that I’ve never seen 
Bigger than my wildest dreams 
We’ll be together 
When I’m finally home

Head first into Your love 
I’ll never get enough of 
What You have to show 
And that’s just the beginning 
In Your river I’ll be swimming 
And the waters never cold 

Every tribe and every nation 
Shouting out Your name 

You and I will be together 
With a love that lasts forever 
And I know there’s nothing better 

We will be forever running free

2 Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Ah, the summer song. A song that brings pure joy and causes you to turn up the volume to unreasonable decibel levels every time you hear it. Finally Home by Jeremy Camp is just that for me. I love the celebratory nature of this song. It makes me long for the day when heaven is a reality.

I long for the day that I will get to see those who have gone before me. How amazing will it be to see lost loved ones once again?! And, not just those that we have known but a whole host of saints that have served our Saviour well. Check out Hebrews 11 for a few of the ‘greats’ of our faith. To think that we’ll all be together one day is incredible to me.

I also long for the day when we will be given our new bodies. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Gone will be the aches and pains of this world. The heartaches and fears will vanish. Our tears will be no more. Rather, we will move in the freedom of a perfected body. Oh, how my anticipation builds!

My ultimate longing is far above all the others. I long for the day that I will see my Saviour face to face. I await the day when time will be no more and I will be able to rejoice in His Presence forever. How wonderful will it be to finally see the One whom I’ve lived my life for?! I can hardly wait!

So, let us not just sit and ponder the wonders of heaven but push ahead in living a life worthy of the call. Live with the purpose of bringing glory to God in all you do. May the promises of future joy cause you to find hope for today.

Hebrews 12:1-2 –”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Power to Redeem - Lauren Daigle (featuring All Sons & Daughters)

You take what is
And you make it beautiful
When love floods in,
We're restored forever more

With breath that brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame
And nail it to a tree You alone
Hold the power to redeem.

No guilt competes
With innocence crucified.
No grave can hold what your grace has justified.
With breath that brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame
And nail it to a tree You alone
Hold the power to redeem.

Rejoice oh child of God
Lift your eyes to see
With every morning light,
Again we are redeemed

With breath that brings the dead to life,
With words that pierce the dark with light
Only by the blood are we set free.
With mercy strong to carry shame
And nail it to a tree You alone
Hold the power to redeem.

Oh you alone, hold the power to redeem

Galatians 3:12-14 – “The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

John 10:9a – “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”

Humanity struggles with boundaries. We want to be able to do what we want, when we want and how we want. We live by the mantra, “Do what makes you happy!” We fall into the lie that happiness in this life is the purpose for our existence. So, we do what we want, when we want and how we want without regard for eternal consequences.

Unfortunately, there are eternal consequences. If you have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, you are accountable for your response to it. John 9:41 says, “Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

A stumbling block for many is that Christianity claims accepting Jesus as Saviour is the only way to heaven. The world looks at this concept as narrow-minded. They cannot accept that there is only one path to salvation. In John 14:6-7 we read, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” He is the only entrance to eternal dwelling with the Father in Heaven.

Lauren Daigle’s song, Power to Redeem, pursues this truth. When she sings, “You alone hold the power to redeem”, my heart rejoices in the comfort those words provide. I don’t see this statement to be narrow-minded. In all honesty, I find it comforting to know that there is only one way to the Father. We don’t need to continually search for the truth. It has been provided to us and it is in Christ.

May you also find cause to celebrate that your sins are forgiven because of Christ. May you rejoice in the knowledge that your dead spirit has been brought to life in Him. Praise Him for calling you to enter through the narrow way. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

There is only way to salvation: Jesus Christ! Only He has the power to redeem!

Pieces - Amanda Cook

Unreserved, unrestrained
Your love is wild, Your love is wild for me
It isn’t shy, it’s unashamed
Your love is proud to be seen with me

You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us

Uncontrolled, un-contained
Your love is a fire burning bright for me
It’s not just a spark, it’s not just a flame
Your love is a light, and all the world will see

You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us
You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us

Your love’s not fractured
It’s not a troubled mind
It isn’t anxious, it’s not the restless kind
Your love’s not passive
It’s never disengaged
It’s always present
It hangs on every word we say
Love keeps its promises, it keeps its word
It honors what’s sacred, cause its vows are good
Your love’s not broken
It’s not insecure
Your love’s not selfish, Your love is pure

You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us

You don’t give Your heart in pieces
You don’t hide Yourself to tease us

You don’t give Your heart in pieces

1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 

Psalm 52:8-9 – “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”

A pattern is defined as a combination of qualities, acts, tendencies, etc., forming a consistent or characteristic arrangement (Dictionary.com). In reflecting over the past 29 weeks of worship songs that have moved my heart enough to share them with you, I have definitely seen a pattern emerge. I am drawn to lyrics of songs that speak of our God’s unfailing love for us as well as the grace given to us through the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. 

My testimony does not include a Damascus Road moment. It doesn’t include a distinct moment of recognizing my depravity and turning from my sin to follow Christ. At the age of 5, when I asked Jesus to be the Saviour of my life, all I understood was that God loved me enough to send His Son to die for me and I wanted to spend eternity with Him.

Throughout the many years that have followed since I prayed that prayer, my understanding of God has grown, been challenged, and grown some more. Life circumstances have altered the depth of love I have felt for God and also how I’ve felt God’s love for me. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His love remains constant. Not ‘feeling’ His love or His presence in my life should not be reason enough to question it.

Too many of us have an improper view of God. We fear a judgemental tyrant up in the sky waiting to send lightning bolts upon us when He catches us sinning. We wonder when the day will come that we finally have sinned beyond forgiveness and He will simply give up on us and remove His love from our lives. We project these incorrect ideas of what God’s love must be like since our only comparison is a depraved humanity. And, you know what? God’s love isn’t human – it’s supernatural! As much as we can understand love here on earth, it cannot compare to the love of God.

Amanda Cook’s song, Pieces, is an amazing description of God’s love for us. He loves us without limit. He loves us even in our unlovable state. He simply and purely loves us. “You don’t give Your heart in pieces. You don’t hide Yourself to tease us.” God is not dangling a carrot in front of us, teasing us with the offer of His love, in order to withdraw it when we reach for Him. He is light. In Him there is no darkness – no sin. He calls us to Him, calls us to be enveloped in His love, and He calls us to live in the light of His love.

May you know the love of God today and always. May you find confidence in knowing that His love is unchanging, unfailing, and unconditionally meant for you.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:14

Love Song - Third Day

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done
Well I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of Calvary

Just to be with you, I would do anything
There's no price I would not pay, no
And just to be with you, I would give everything
And I would give my life away

And I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
But all of those dreams are an empty emotion
It can never be done
Well I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

Just to be with you, I would do anything
There's no price I would not pay, no
And just to be with you, I would give everything
And I would give my life away

And I know that you don't understand
The fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
How much that I give you
And I promise, I would do it all again

And just to be with You, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay, no
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away, I gave my life away

Just to be with you
Oh, just to be with you
Oh, just to be with you

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Back in the early days of my dating relationship with my now husband, Ray would constantly be sending me little notes sharing his feelings for me. He would fold them up in such intricate ways that I knew I’d never be able to re-fold them but that made them all the more special. In a box of treasures in my home, you can still find a few of these mementos of the birth of our love. 

Over the years of our marriage, Ray’s ways of showing his love for me (and now also our daughter) have evolved. I don’t receive specially wrapped notes but I do receive texts throughout the day. I may not receive random ‘just because’ gifts but I get the joy of his presence in our home after his long day at work. Honestly, I’d much rather just have him with us than any frivolous gift he could give. We don’t go on many date nights as he knows I prefer to simply hang out at home with some take out and a movie. Our relationship is my comfort zone and where I know that I am at home.

Third Day’s song, Love Song, is by no means a current song. It was actually released shortly before Ray and I met at Bible College. The words mean just as much to me today as they did 20 years ago when I first heard them. This love song is not intended to be from human to human but from God to us humans. From the understanding I have of love through what Ray has shown me, I can only get a glimpse of what love my Saviour has for me. When I envision Jesus singing me a love song, it brings me to tears.

How can a God who is worthy of all honour and glory actually love me? Me – the sinful one. Me – the selfish one. Me – the one who deserves nothing but has been given unbelievable grace. I picture Christ singing these words to me and they warm my heart:

Just to be with you, I would do anything
There's no price I would not pay, no
And just to be with you, I would give everything
And I would give my life away

He would do anything to be with me. He would do anything to be with you. And, He did! He sacrificed His own life for our sins. He walked the hill of Calvary and faced death so that we could have eternal life. Why God would send His Son to die for my sins – for someone who is wholly unworthy of such redemption – baffles me. But, I am forever blessed by His actions. I am saved because Christ gave His life away for me.

At times it can be hard to accept God’s love. We recognize our unworthiness and unrighteousness so we feel it necessary to hide from His sight. But, He doesn’t want to condemn us. He wants to love us. He wants to show us a better way of living. He doesn’t desire for us to remain stationary in life but to constantly grow in Him and away from sin. Through His great love for us, He provides us a way to eternity with Him. Christ desires us to be with Him. He proved it by laying down His life for us. Absolutely amazing.

May the truth of God’s love for you infiltrate your heart and draw you closer to Him. May you fall further in love with the Saviour who is desperately in love with you.

Lion and the Lamb - Bethel Music

John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Revelation 5:12 – “In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”

Revelation 5:5a – “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.”

Growing up in a conservative church, I understood the fear of the Lord to be just that – fear. I wanted to be as good as I could be so that God wouldn’t turn His back on me and decide I wasn’t worthy to enter into my heavenly home when the time came. Being a perfectionist and an overachiever, I thrived on such a lofty goal.

As I matured in my faith, I began to understand the grace given to me through my faith in Christ. My salvation has had nothing to do my goodness because, without Christ, I am incapable of being found righteous in the Father’s sight. Over the three decades that I have claimed faith in Christ, my view of the fear of the Lord has changed and grown adding to it awe and reverence.

This song, Lion and the Lamb by Bethel Music, shows this incomprehensible balance in our God’s nature. Because of His many varying characteristics, it can be hard to justify the idea of a compassionate, loving God also being a sovereign and judging God. He is a lion and He is also a lamb.

Psalm 18:39 says, “You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.” When I think of Christ as a lion, I picture Him braced for battle and ready to pounce on any who would come my way with the desire to harm or destroy me. Just as a lion is the king of the jungle, Christ is the King of my heart. He will protect and guide me according to His good and perfect will.

More powerful to me is the thought of Christ being the Lamb that was slain for my sins. He was the spotless lamb sacrificed on the cross. He did not sin but died for my sins. Through His undeserved death, we now have access to the Father. Through Christ, we have forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ, we are not bound to habitually sin but to live in the freedom we have through grace. May we humbly bow our knee before Him, the Lion and the Lamb.

My Victory - Crowder

You came for criminals and every Pharisee
You came for hypocrites, even one like me
You carried sin and shame the guilt of every man
The weight of all I've done nailed into Your hands

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell's defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

Oh, Your amazing grace, I've seen and tasted it
It's running through my veins
I can't escape its grip in You my soul is safe
You uncover everything

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell's defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

Behold the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin, who takes away our sin
The holy Lamb of God
Makes us alive again
Makes us alive again

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell's defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 12:1-3 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Is there anyone else out there like me that upon receiving a new album, skims through it to see what songs grab you? When we downloaded the newest Passion album, this is exactly what I did. This song, My Victory by Crowder, is the second song on the album. To my detriment, this was one of the songs that I skipped over many times. I’m glad I finally gave it a chance because the lyrics are so amazing and powerful.

I find the chorus to be the most powerful:

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell's defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

To think of Christ on the cross, by His own choosing, paying the penalty for my sins, is difficult to understand. The pain and anguish He must have experienced during the hours He hung on that cross while the crowd below celebrated His humiliation is beyond comprehension. And then I read the words, “Your love bled for me”. That is pure truth. He loved us enough to suffer death by crucifixion so that we could have eternal life.

“Your death is hell’s defeat”. This phrase is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Hell was defeated because Christ rose again. Death could not hold him!

My favourite line in this song is the final one of the chorus: “A cross meant to kill is my victory.” What a picture it gives of triumph in the face of adversity. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus to stop people from believing that He was the Son of God. What ended up happened was salvation became available for all who would come to believe in Him. His death on the cross entitles us to victory over sin and spiritual death. What an amazing gift we have been given to be chosen to be a child of God!

Ephesians 2:4-5 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” I am so thankful for the grace extended to me, for being made alive in Christ, and for the love that has so lavishly been poured out upon me. May we remain grateful for all Christ has done for us through His death and resurrection. The cross meant to kill is our victory!

How Great is our God - Chris Tomlin

The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see
How great, how great is our God

Psalm 47:2 – “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”

Philippians 2:9-11 – “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

One of my favourite books of the Bible is Psalms. My poetic heart feels right at home as I flip through the pages of words of praise, frustration, hope, fear… basically the whole spectrum of emotions! The psalmists share their hearts unabashedly with God. Because of my natural inclination to be poetic, the draw of how the psalmists praise and pray has been strong for me. My prayer life has been influenced greatly by the Psalms.

Their influence doesn’t just end at how I pray but also how I praise. I love to read and hear words of praise and glory to our King. My personal worship time is one that I could not live without but it is only through time in corporate worship with fellow believers that my faith is amplified and refreshed. Simply put, my heart longs to praise my Saviour!

How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin is a song that allows for just that – praise. Jesus is our King. His is the name above all other names. He is the only one worthy of our praise. How I long for all of the earth to hear of His greatness and acknowledge His divinity!

The video I chose to share for this song is one that gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. The song on its own is amazing but when each person sings praise to God in their mother tongues, there is nothing better! What a picture of heaven this is for me! I look forward to the day when we are all called Home and people from every corner of the earth are gathered at the feet of our Saviour praising His holy name.

This heavenly picture that I carry in my mind can only come to fruition through God’s amazing grace and our obedience to His call. While I fully believe that only God can change the heart of humanity, we have been given a mandate to fulfill. Matthew 28:18 – 20 is well known as the Great Commission. “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Without our going and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, how will the masses know what will fill that God-shaped hole in their lives?

My heart’s desire is to make known the greatness of God. Because He is indeed great! I pray that you will consider the lyrics, consider the call on each of your lives, and pursue your Saviour with all of your heart. May your life reflect the greatness of our God so that others will see Him through your words and actions and want Him in their lives. And all will see how great is our God!

Call Upon the Lord - Elevation Worship

We need no other hiding place
Our hope is safe within your name
This we know, this we know
You promise never to forsake
What you began you will sustain
This we know, this we know

I will call upon the Lord
For he alone is strong enough to save
Rise your shackles are no more
For Jesus Christ
Has broken every chain

All of the heavens and the earth
Announce the fullness of your worth
This we know, this we know
Every enemy will flee
As we declare your victory
This we know, this we know

I will call upon the Lord
For he alone is strong enough to save
Rise your shackles are no more
For Jesus Christ
Has broken every chain

Jesus' name will break every stronghold
Freedom is ours when we call his name
Jesus' name above every other
All hail the power of Jesus' name

I will call upon the Lord
For he alone is strong enough to save
Rise your shackles are no more
For Jesus Christ
Has broken every chain

Romans 7:6 - But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

John 14:6-7 – “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

2 Samuel 22:2-4 – “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me. “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.”

Bondage. Enslavement. Yoke. Chains. All of these words invoke a burdensome picture in my mind. I can imagine the weighed down shoulders of a person carrying a load they were never intended to carry. It makes me wonder, in my spiritual state, how burdened down do I look? How much extra weight am I carrying around of things that should be laid down at the foot of the cross?

I find it so interesting that John closed off his letter, 1 John, by saying, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” He didn’t give any common benediction or promise of a future visit. He simply warned his readers to watch out for idols. Idols can be so sly in nature. They’re not all as obvious as a golden calf. They can even come in the form of something good. Basically, anything in our lives that we put more emphasis on than our relationship with Christ is an idol for us.

I have struggled with idolatry in my life over various things and people. Sometimes, that tactile item or person that is visibly present is easier to pour into than a spiritual relationship with God. The promise of eternity is overshadowed by the present.

Have you ever asked God to make you aware of sin in your life and then you were completely unprepared for Him actually answering you? Like, God blatantly points out where you’re being idolatrous in your life and He won’t let it go until you make a change? That is exactly what happened to me right around Christmas 2012. God had been gently making me aware of an idol in my life but, that December, He completely called me out on it and I had to let it go. What was my idol? My house.

If you’re ever interested in having your life changed drastically, I recommend reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. It was through this book that God finally broke through to my heart and all the idolatrous bonds to my home were shattered. For almost 13 years we lived in our large home, filling it with pretty things and changing up the décor on occasion. I knew the amount space in the house was more than we could ever need with only having one child but there was just something about owning such a nice house. My pride would swell when people shared how much they liked where we lived. But, over time, I began to despise the space. I would become depressed when people talked about our home. All of the space filled with all of our stuff became a burden that was suffocating me. I had to get out. After years of gently prodding, God used “Crazy Love” to get me out of my comfort zone and into living a life free from this burden.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” How true this is! When He called me to give up my home, my security, my societal value, He replaced it with value in Him. God lead us to the house He had chosen for us in a matter of days. When we walked into our new house, we simply knew we were home.

This song, Call Upon the Lord by Elevation Worship, encourages us to reach out to Christ. He wants to share in our burdens. The line that means the most to me speaks of the amazing freedom we have in Christ. “Rise, your shackles are no more for Jesus Christ has broken every chain.” And, so I ask, what are you being called to let go of? What does Christ want to give you freedom over? He has already broken the chains! Don’t just sit in the rubble of broken chains, live in the freedom of being burden-free.

Galatians 5:1a – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

Jesus I Need You - Hillsong Worship

Hope be my anthem
Lord when the world has fallen quiet
You stand beside me
Give me a song in the night

Jesus I need You
Every moment I need You
Hear now this grace bought heart sing out
Your praise forever

Beauty for ashes
You find the weak and contrite heart
Shoulder its burdens
And carry it into the light

Remember love
Remember mercy
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Your loving kindness
Has never failed me
Christ before me
Christ behind me

2 Corinthians 12:9a – “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Weakness is defined as “an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person’s character” (second listed definition on Dictionary.com). I don’t believe anyone truly enjoys being looked upon as someone who is weak. We’re encouraged from a young age to engage in being independent. As toddlers, we would rather tantrum than ask for help. Asking for help seems to be a sure sign of weakness.

And then this. Hillsong Worship’s song, Jesus I Need You, boldly proclaims our need for Jesus. Not just once in a while or when we’re in a tough situation, but every moment. Oh, the absolute freedom we experience when we submit to our Saviour! How burden-free we become when we release the idea of control into the hands of the One who is truly – and solely - in control!

Every line in this song is an encouraging balm to my soul. I utterly need Jesus in my life, in all circumstances, in every moment. I need Him to be goodness in me. I need Him to be my righteousness. Without Him, I am incapable of either.

Further humbling to me is the phrase “grace bought heart”. My heart, my salvation, was bought at such a steep price. It cost my Saviour His life. My sins, placed on His shoulders, became His burden. Through His death and resurrection, I am forgiven. It’s only by His grace that I no longer have to experience spiritual death. And not just me, but all who call upon His name and claim Christ as Saviour. This grace continues to awe me day to day, even after more than three decades of following Jesus.

I pray that, through submission to Christ, you will find His strength in your weaknesses. May you rely on Him to get through each and every day. May the grace He poured out upon you continue to awe you. May you find strength in the admission, Jesus I Need You.

Make a Way - I Am They

You brought me to the desert so You could be my water
You brought me to the fire so You could be my shield
You brought me to the darkness so You could be my morning light
If You brought me this far, if You brought me this far

Wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me
Wherever you call me, You will make a way
Wherever we’re going, I will be holding
To the promise you have made
You will make a way
You will make a way

And when I’m in the valley, You will be my comfort
And when I’m at the end of me, I find You there
When I’m in the battle, You will be my present peace
Cause You brought me this far, You brought me this far
If You brought me this far

Wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me
Wherever you call me, You will make a way
Wherever we’re going, I will be holding
To the promise you have made
You will make a way
My God will make a way

Cause You brought me this far
You brought me this far
You brought me this far
You will make a way

You brought me this far
You brought me this far
You brought me this far
My God will make a way

Wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me
Wherever you call me, You will make a way
Wherever we’re going, I will be holding
To the promise you have made

Wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me
Wherever you call me, You will make a way
Wherever we’re going, I will be holding
To the promise you have made
You will make a way
You will make a way

Hebrews 13:5b – “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Romans 5:3-4 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my teen years. This June signifies twenty years since my high school graduation. 20 years! That sounds like such a long time but it has felt much shorter. Thinking back to that time brings back many memories of emotional upheaval, dramatic mood swings and a very small worldview. Through it all, my child-like faith kept its hope placed in Christ.

As a teen, I think my most intense questioning was about purpose. Why am I here? What is the point of all of this? All I wanted to know was what the future held for me. I knew that God had my entire life mapped out already and I impatiently wanted to know all the details.

Make a Way by I Am They is a song that speaks of the confidence we have in God’s sovereignty. I may want to know what my future holds, but I am overwhelmingly grateful to know the One that holds my future. In my younger years, had God shown me the struggles and trials I would go through as an adult, I would have wanted to escape so that I wouldn’t have to endure the hardship! I certainly wouldn’t have learned to lean on Him like I have by going through the struggles.

My favourite line in this song is, “Wherever You lead me, I know You won’t leave me.” I proclaim with all the faith within me that this is absolutely true. It may seem at our lowest of lows that we are alone, that God has departed from our side, but that is entirely untrue. If we remove our focus off of ourselves and our problems and place it back on Christ, we will see that He is holding us throughout the dark times. In our humanity, in our self-centredness, we have trouble seeing the ‘big picture’. When we can’t solve our own problems or find a way out on our own, we feel overwhelmed by the pressures of this world. If we keep our hope in the Lord, we can know for certain that we are never alone.

If I could speak to my teenaged self about purpose, I would want her to know that no matter what you do in life, you only have one purpose: to glorify God. Everything you do, every life choice you make, falls under this ultimate purpose. Trust in the Lord to bring about His purposes in your life.

Twenty years later, I still am learning to let go of my perceived control and to simply trust in God. I know from experience that when I do submit myself to Him, the anxieties that overwhelm me dissipate. When my perfectionist self acknowledges that I am not and cannot be perfect on my own, the legalistic fueled fears of never doing enough fall away.

One of my favourite passages of Scripture since my teen years is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Trust in Him to make a way. He already has! Whatever you encounter in life, our Saviour will guide you through it. May you be encouraged today to bring glory to God in whatever comes your way.

Simple Pursuit – Passion featuring Melodie Malone

God take us back, the place we began
The simple pursuit of nothing but You
The innocence of a heart in Your hands
God take us back, oh God, take us back

To an unswerving faith in the power of Your name
A heart beating for Your kingdom to reign
A church that is known for Your presence again
God take us back

Nothing and no one comes close to You
Nothing could ever come close
Nothing and no one; it's You, and You only
Nothing could ever come close

Keep our hearts real, keep Your grace close
You're bringing us back
You're bringing us home

To an unswerving faith in the power of Your name
A heart beating for Your kingdom to reign
A church that is known for Your presence again
God take us back

Nothing and no one comes close to You
Nothing could ever come close
Nothing and no one; it's You, and You only
Nothing could ever come close

To an unswerving faith in the power of Your name
A heart beating for Your kingdom to reign
A church that is known for Your presence again
God take us back

Nothing and no one comes close to You
Nothing could ever come close
Nothing and no one; it's You, and You only
Nothing could ever come close

John 1:1-2 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

Recently, I returned from a vacation in Colorado. I have visited the Rocky Mountains a number of times in the past but only in Canada. Seeing them from south of the border gave a whole new perspective of them. Our rental car was filled with exclamations and wonder at every curve as we drove through the majestic landscape. My thoughts could not help but wander to the Creator of the amazing views. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” How awesome to be able to look at creation and get a glimpse of the magnificence of our God!

This song, Simple Pursuit by Passion, speaks of being brought back to the basics of our faith. So many have cluttered their belief system, that what they really believe is hard to decipher. Simple Pursuit points to a faith that is stripped of all of man’s complications and divisions. It calls for us to be brought back to the core of our faith. Simply, it points to Jesus.

Many years ago I attended Bible college. Having taken a year off after high school and spending many of those months on the mission field, I anticipated my Bible college years to have the same feeling of comradery in faith. I was surprised and disappointed by the lack of unity I experienced in this setting. Because of the tension I felt at Bible college, I became more passionate about my life being a reflection of Christ. I absolutely fail time and time again, but I am graciously forgiven. I want my faith to be simple – simply about Jesus.

Spending time in nature and being astounded by what God has created really does bring one back to the basics. It is an excellent reminder of how awesome our God is. Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” He has always been and always will be.

Let me encourage you today to keep your focus on Christ. Let the things that cloud our minds or block our view of our purpose be stripped away. Let the differences between brothers and sisters in Christ no longer be divisive but let us join together in our common belief: Jesus Christ is our sovereign Saviour.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Never See the End by Amanda Cook

Beyond the end and the beginning
You have been and You will be
Who in all the world is like You
Still I'm not beyond your reach

You are perfect in Your very nature
Yet You understand the human mind
Faithful even when I wander
You are patient, You are kind

How deep
How wide
How high
Is Your love for me
I can never see the end

Where can I go from Your presence
Your love surrounds me on all sides
Free from shame, there is no hiding
I am Yours and You are mine

How deep
How wide
How high
Is Your love for me
I can never see the end

Hebrews 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 – ”And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

A love without end; I cannot understand such a love. In my humanity, circumstances and feelings can alter the depth of love I have for the people in my life. Aren’t you grateful that God’s love is not like our human love? There is nothing that we can do that will remove His love from our lives. Unbelievable but true!

This song, Never See the End by Amanda Cook, speaks to that truth. There is no escaping from the love of God. In our finite minds, we believe that there must be a way to end His love for us. If we can do something to end the love given to us by another person, we must be able to end the love God feels for us. Love seems to be a passing emotion for humanity, so to comprehend a truly unconditional love is almost beyond our grasp. It is one of those miraculous truths that we simply need to accept by faith.

I am thankful that Christ came to earth and experienced life as a human so that He is able to empathize with us when we experience weaknesses. Our God loved us enough to come down and live among us. He loved us enough to sacrifice His own Son in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. He loved us enough to save us from eternal separation from Him. That is a love that is so deep, so wide, so high that you can never see the end of it.

1 John 3:1-3 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” May we revel in God’s love being lavished upon us and may we press on in our refinement to become more like Christ.

The Secret Place - Phil Wickham featuring Madison Cunningham



Better is a moment that I spend with You
Than a million other days away.
I’m running, I’m running,
I’m running to the secret place.

Where will you run, my soul?
Where will you go when wells run dry?
When the wind starts to blow,
How you gonna keep this flame alive?

In the fading light when night is breaking,
I know You will always be waiting.
You’ll always be there.

I’m running to the secret place
Where You are, where You are.
I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart.
Better is a moment that I spend with You
Than a million other days away.
I’m running, I’m running,
I’m running to the secret place.

You are my only hope,
You are the Rock on which I stand.
You will not let me go,
I know that I am safe inside Your hands.

In the fading light when night is breaking,
I know You will always be waiting.
You’ll always be there.

I’m running to the secret place
Where You are, where You are.
I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart.
Better is a moment that I spend with You
Than a million other days away.
I’m running, I’m running,
I’m running to the secret place.

Hands are lifted high, hearts awake to life.
We are satisfied here with You, here with You.
Chains will hit the floor, broken lives restored.
We couldn’t ask for more here with You, here with You.

I’m running to the secret place
Where You are, where You are.
I sing to You of all the ways
You stole my heart, stole my heart.
Better is a moment that I spend with You
Than a million other days away.
I’m running, I’m running,
I’m running to the secret place.

Isaiah 45:3 – ” I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

When God speaks to us, He can be very subtle about it. Occasional prodding by the Spirit, a timely scripture reading, a friend’s encouraging note, etc. This has not been my experience over the past couple of weeks! Over and over again He has caused the same idea to come up in either what I’ve read, what I’ve listened to and also with those that I’ve spoken to. The topic? Prayer.

I am the kind of person that when I hear 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray continuously”, it doesn’t overwhelm me. I feel that I have an open dialogue with God throughout my day. There are certainly times that I spend in deeper prayer when it comes to conviction and confession or laying my requests at His feet, but on the most part, I chat regularly with God about anything and everything.

In my small group Bible study over the past week, we have been looking into 1 John 5. The verses that particularly speak to me about prayer are 14 and 15: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” These Spirit inspired words encourage me but also cause me apprehension! In my deepening understanding of God’s sovereignty, I have come to be more aware of my requests and prayerfully submitting them ‘according to His will’. As much as I may desire a request to be answered in the way that I’ve asked, I also submit to His will being different and greater than my own.

This song, The Secret Place by Phil Wickham, is one of my favourites off of his new album, Children of God. How timely that his new album was released during the same week as my focused study on prayer! As I listened to the words of the song I came to realize that I don’t often passionately desire to spend time in deep communion with my Saviour. Would I even consider running to read my Bible or pray intensely not for anything in particular but to know the heart of God better? Do I truly believe that spending a moment with God is better than spending it with anyone else? Oh, how I desire to be a woman of prayer that knows her Saviour’s heart!

Jesus instructed us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13: “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” May we approach the throne of God with faith that He hears our prayers and submission to His will. May each one of us desire to run to that secret place to spend time with our sovereign Saviour!

Touch the Sky – Hillsong United

What fortune lies beyond the stars
Those dazzling heights too vast to climb
I got so high to fall so far
But I found heaven as love swept low

My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground

What treasure waits within Your scars
This gift of freedom gold can't buy
I bought the world and sold my heart
You traded heaven to have me again

My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground

Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever

Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out, I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever

My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground

My heart beating, my soul breathing
I found my life when I laid it down
Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground

Find me here at Your feet again
Everything I am, reaching out I surrender
Come sweep me up in Your love again
And my soul will dance
On the wings of forever

Upward falling, spirit soaring
I touch the sky
When my knees hit the ground

Psalm 95:6-7: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

Ephesians 1:7-8: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

I grew up in a Christian home and was a fairly obedient, quiet child. Throughout my childhood and teen years, I rarely strayed from the truth. Because of this, I never liked to share my testimony. I felt that without a dramatic departure from a life of sin, my story would never encourage others to follow Christ. It was not until my later 20’s and into my 30’s where I finally came to a place where I felt that God could use my story, as drama-free as it was.

As I reflect upon my life of being a Christ-follower, I can see the steady hand of God upon me. Even when I strayed, He only let me go so far before bringing me back to Himself. He allowed me to go on journeys that brought me closer to Him. He allowed me to go through struggles that made me so angry that I couldn’t believe that I still believed in Him. He gave me joy and sorrow. He convicted and cleansed. He brought me to my knees in utter submission to His sovereignty.

This song, Touch the Sky by Hillsong United, speaks to my soul of that complete submission to our Saviour. It shares of conviction, confession and of humbly submitting to a greater way. I absolutely love the line, “You traded heaven to have me again.” How amazing that we are valued so much by our Father in heaven that He sent His Son to die in our place for our transgressions! Christ’s sacrifice for me brings me to my knees in thanksgiving over and over again.

God has brought me through many varied journeys in my 38 years and I am so grateful that He has shown me His grace through them all. The faith of my childhood was one of rules and obedience. Even so, I never felt that it was overly burdensome. I was a perfectionist and a people pleaser so I appreciated the clear boundaries! It has taken my lifetime for God to show me His greater way – His amazing, undeserved grace. May you consider all that God has done for you, what He has saved you from, and rejoice in the hope of eternity with Him! May you touch the sky when your knees hit the ground.

Jeremy Camp – Overcome

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only Son, perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority
Every victory is Yours
All authority
Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

John  16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1 John 4:4 – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcomethem, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 5:5 – ” Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Overcome (definition): (a) to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat. (b) to prevail over (opposition, debility, temptations, etc.); surmount.

For the past couple of months, I have been engaging in a study on the books of 1, 2, and 3 John. The most recent weeks have centred on the final chapters of 1 John and the topic of overcoming has been addressed quite a bit. The study has reminded me of this song, Overcome by Jeremy Camp. It may be a few years old, but I find it still moves me as much today as when I first heard it. Having seen Jeremy Camp perform this song live also makes the powerful lyrics come to life in my memories.

When I think of the word overcome, I find it somewhat intimidating. I tend to be the kind of person that goes about my day, doing the things that I need to do, and solving problems that arise to the best of my ability. When I can’t solve a problem on my own, it really bothers me. My independent nature does not like to admit that I have encountered something I can’t do on my own and I need help.

To consider myself as someone who overcomes is difficult for me. I look to John 16:33 where Jesus tells His disciples, “But take heart! I have overcome the world!” and I can readily shout an amen! Jesus overcame sin and death through His death and resurrection. He is God incarnate. Of course He overcame! But 1 John 5:5 says, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” I believe that Jesus is the Son of God! Does that mean I too have overcome the world?! And then I pause on Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

We have the ability to overcome when we focus on our faith in Christ, grow in our relationship with Him, and rely on Him in all the circumstances of our lives. When life runs smoothly, it is easy to accept our triumphs as our own because we didn’t have to work very hard at them. When we’re hit with a difficult situation (and finally stop trying to fix it on our own), we realize that we need supernatural help to find our way through the murkiness. I find in times like these when the situation itself may not necessarily be overcome, God uses these struggles to bring us to complete reliance on Him. He brings us to our knees in recognition that we cannot do life on our own. We need Him in every moment of every day. Paradoxically, in submitting to Christ, we overcome.

How comforting it is to know that we serve a Saviour who has overcome the world. He is worthy of all honour and glory and all of our praise. He overcame!

Ever Be – Bethel Music

Your love is devoted like a ring of solid gold
Like a vow that is tested like a covenant of old
Your love is enduring through the winter rain
And beyond the horizon with mercy for today

Faithful You have been and faithful you will be
You pledge yourself to me and it's why I sing

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

You Father the orphan
Your kindness makes us whole
And you shoulder our weakness
And your strength becomes our own
Now you're making me like you
Clothing me in white
Bringing beauty from ashes
For You will have Your bride

Free of all her guilt and rid of all her shame
And known by her true name and it's why I sing

Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord
You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord

And it's why I sing
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips

Psalm 30:11-12: “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”

James 3:9-10: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”

This song, Ever Be by Bethel Music, moves me every time I hear it. I am overcome time and again by the picture of forgiveness and being made clean by our Saviour in the lyrics of this song. How can I not join in the choirs of Heaven singing His praises for all time?!

But, God did not intend for this song to fall on my ears to be only a feel-good tune. Like He has done a number of times before, He has caused me to pause on a single phrase in this song: “Your praise will ever be on my lips…” And, by pausing on this phrase, I have once again been convicted of my short-comings – primarily in my words.

Luke 6:45 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” I’d like to think that my heart is full of love for my Saviour and for those He has placed in my life to live with and take care of. I’d like to think that my heart desires to love those that God loves. I’d like to think a lot of great things about myself, but in all honesty, those things aren’t always true.

I have a great ability to harm those I love dearly with the words that come out of my mouth. These lips of mine have praised and discouraged. They have comforted and caused pain. They have created laughter and caused tears. Oh, the power of my words!

My conviction lies in the fact that the words that come out of my mouth are a reflection of what is in my heart. It would seem that my heart is a dark place sometimes. But, I am so encouraged by the truth that Jesus lives within me. He knows my short-comings and calls me to rise above them. He has forgiven each and every time when my words have not been a positive reflection of my heart. He has washed me white as snow. I have the opportunity each new day, to be a better example of Him to those I’m close with and to those I encounter throughout the day. I pray that I will learn to hold my tongue and to truly think about the words I say before I say them. I pray that the praises of my King will ever be on my lips.

Psalm 19:14: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

My Revival by Lauren Daigle

I will run and not grow weary
I will walk, I will not faint
I will soar on wings like eagles
Find my rest in Your everlasting name

You are my revival
Jesus on You I wait
I'll lean on Your promise
You will renew my strength

I will run and not grow weary
I will walk, I will not faint
I will soar on wings like eagles
Find my rest in Your everlasting name

You are my revival
Jesus on You I wait
I'll lean on Your promise
You will renew my strength

Oh, You are my revival
Jesus on You I wait
I'll lean on Your promise
You will renew my strength

Oh, You are my revival
Jesus on You I wait
I'll lean on Your promise
You will renew my strength
Oh, You will renew my strength
Oh, You will renew my strength

I will run and not grow weary
I will walk, I will not faint
I will soar on wings like eagles
Find my rest in Your everlasting name

You are my revival
Jesus on You I wait
I'll lean on Your promise
You will renew my strength

Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

There are three pictures of scripture that come to mind when I reflect on my formative years. Each scripture taught me something and played a part in bringing me to be the person I am today. This song, My Revival, has reminded me of this journey.

Church played a large role in my growing up years. My family spent every Sunday morning and night at church. In the afternoons, we’d gather as a family at my maternal grandparents’ farm. All these years later, I can still picture the plaque that hung on the living room wall. It was a picture of praying hands and the words from Joshua 24:15 were written on the plaque, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” This picture resonated with me as a declaration of my grandparents’ faith. While Sunday discussions about faith would usually turn into a theological argument among the adults, I am still grateful for this foundational heritage of faith that would spur me on to knowing God more personally.

In my own childhood home, we also had scripture hanging on our walls. The one that I would see every day coming down the stairs from my bedroom was the same one featured in this song, Isaiah 40:31. The words on that plaque that consciously or sub-consciously I read each and every day of my childhood have stayed with me for years. They struck me more personally as I grew and began to understand the loss that my father experienced when his first wife was killed in a car accident at the age of 29. The words, “… but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” became so much more meaningful to me as I began to grasp the loss that my dad had gone through and how he came through that tragedy. He found his hope in the Lord. God renewed his strength. God provided for my dad and two older brothers in their lowest of times. I will always be encouraged by these verses and the example of both of my parents for finding their hope and strength in the Lord during their weakest times.

The third scripture that comes to mind was one that I saw hanging on a wall in my aunt and uncle’s house while on the mission field in Papua New Guinea. Etched in ink on a bark tapestry were the words of Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Those words got me through many a difficult day in PNG. I was fearful about many things. I don’t know if I would even describe what I was experiencing as fear but in reflection, that is exactly what it was. Seeing His promise hanging in front of my eyes on a daily basis was the encouragement I needed to keep pressing on. I count that three month period in PNG as a major turning point in my faith. God was faithful. He was my strength and my help. He held me in His hands.

As I reflected on these three instances where I saw scripture regularly and how each passage is still meaningful to me today, I began to think about what it would look like to have more visible scripture in our own home. The words of this song are words that we want our daughter to claim for herself. And not just these words, but of all scripture. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Oh, how this is my prayer for my child!

So what has this song spurred me on to do? I have thought and prayed and chatted with my husband. We are determined to have more scripture in our home that our child will see daily. We want her to come to understand the words of God that have moved us to follow Christ more whole-heartedly. We want her to not just see the words in front of her eyes each and every day, but more importantly, to see it lived out by those of us that will impact her. After much reflection, we have settled on a verse that we hope will define our family. John 3:30 says, “He must become greater, I must become less.” Simple words, not so simple in execution.

I am encouraged by the lyrics in My Revival as I know that my strength comes from God. I cannot be a good example of Him through my own volition. May He continue to spur each of us on to grow in our faith, to be more obedient and to live out our lives so that He is proved greater. May He be our revival.

In Jesus’ Name – Third Day

The blind have sight
The deaf now hear
The lame will walk
The lost drawn near
And with new life
The dead are raised
All through the power
In Jesus name

The tired find rest
The sick are healed
The mysteries of our God revealed
And now the truth
Can be proclaimed
All through the power
In Jesus name

Name above all names
Savior and our Lord
Every knee will bow
And every tongue confess
No other name is given
By which we can be saved
Let us find our life and love
In Jesus name

The thirsty filled
The hungry fed
And those who mourn
Are comforted
The chains are broken
That have enslaved
We’re offered freedom
In Jesus name

There is power
There is hope
There is love like you’ve never known
There is forgiveness
And healing from your pain
All through the power
In Jesus name

Let us find our life and love
In Jesus name

John 20:30-31 – “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Acts 2:38 – “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

There was a time in my youth when I was concerned with the social repercussions I would experience if I mentioned the name of Jesus. People knew I was a Christian but speaking about Jesus was not necessarily part of my daily talk. In my early young adult years, after completing a study on the names of God, I became even more concerned with uttering the name of Jesus for fear I would use His name incorrectly. As I’ve aged and studied and learned, I have come to a couple of conclusions: 1) I don’t really care what people think of me, and 2) There is complete and absolute power in the name of Jesus.

In Jesus’ Name by Third Day, is a moving song about the power of Jesus name. They mention many instances that we can find in the Bible where amazing and miraculous things happened through Jesus’ name. Here are just a few examples and where you can read the whole story for yourself:

1. The blind have sight – John 9
2. The deaf now hear – Mark 7:31-37
3. The lame will walk – Matthew 9:1-8
4. The dead are raised – John 11:1-44
5. The sick are healed – Matthew 4:23-24
6. The hungry fed – Luke 9:12-17
7. There is forgiveness – Acts 4:12

Wow! Isn’t our God amazing?! The power in His name didn’t expire upon the completion of the New Testament. We have access to the same power today as that which occurred in Biblical times. Above all else, in Jesus’ name – and only Jesus’ name - can we be saved. He is the only One who can forgive our sins and make our hearts clean before the Father. I am grateful for each and every day that I’ve been given to proclaim His name as the only way to be saved!

Remember – Passion featuring Brett Younker & Melodie Malone

My heart hangs on every word that You speak
I need You, Lord come find me, Holy Spirit breathe
I've been walking through deserts
I need more of Your Presence
I'm weak, Savior be my strength

Down in the valley, when waters rise
I'm still believing
Hope is alive
All through the struggle and darkest day
I'll remember the empty grave

Your touch bringing me closer
Your hand healing what’s broken
My prayer, Father meet me here
My life for all of Your glory
Your grace let it surround me
Let faith change the atmosphere

Down in the valley, when waters rise
I'm still believing
Hope is alive
All through the struggle and darkest day
I'll remember the empty grave

Hallelujah, death is done
All of hell is overcome
Jesus, You are alive

Down in the valley, when waters rise
I'm still believing
Hope is alive
All through the struggle and darkest day
I'll remember the empty grave

Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

Romans 5:1-2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

The empty grave. Oh, the hope that we can find in the promise of those words. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, sacrificed Himself on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. And, amazingly, rose from the dead! Our sins are forgiven. Our God is alive. We have so much to be thankful for this Easter season.

Having been raised in a Christian home and come to a saving faith at an early age, I can’t even imagine my life without it centering on Christ. I certainly endured times of doubt and faithlessness during my life, but never to the point of turning my back on my faith. God has held me close to Himself and He’s held me together over the years. He keeps me pressing on as He shapes me into the person He desires me to be.

I can’t help but think about the many people in this world, and particularly the few I have personal contact with, that don’t find their hope in Christ. Do they look at my life and not see something different within me? Are they not pointed to Christ because of my life? I hope and pray that my fallible humanity would not turn someone from faith. That somehow Christ would still shine through me despite my failings.

The lyrics of this Passion song speak so truthfully to so many areas of my life but I find the bridge the most powerful. “Hallelujah, death is done. All of hell is overcome. Jesus, You are alive.” Indeed, we serve a risen Saviour. The grave could not hold Him. He has conquered death. This is the powerful God that we have access to as Christ followers. Amazing!

May you consider these lyrics this week and not let the wonder of the resurrection be lost on you. May you find renewed amazement in all that Christ has done to save us. May you remember along with me the empty grave. 

Joy of the Lord – Rend Collective

Though the tears may fall my song will rise
My song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail my song will rise
My song will rise to You
While there's breath in my lungs
I will praise you Lord

In the dead of night I’ll lift my eyes
I’ll lift my eyes to You
Though the waters rise I’ll lift my eyes
I’ll lift my eyes to You
While there's hope in this heart
I will praise You Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

When I cannot see You with my eyes
Let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine
Let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love
I will praise You Lord

How You shine with glory Lord of light
I feel alive with You
In Your presence now I come alive
I am alive with You
There is strength when I say
I will praise You Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

When sorrow comes my way
You are the shield around me
Always You remain
My courage in the fight

I hear You call my name
Jesus I am coming
Walking on the waves
Reaching for Your light

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength

Nehemiah 8:10b – “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

“The joy of the Lord is my strength” is an amazing statement. When we go through trials or difficult times, we are supposed to look to the Lord for strength. But how easy is it when we’re struggling, to simply cave to the waves of doubt and depression and wallow in self-pity? For myself, I know this all too well. I firmly believe that God is trying to teach me to find my joy and my strength in Him alone. There is no one person or one possession that will be to me what God is to me.

This song, Joy of the Lord by Rend Collective, was written in response to a miscarriage that a couple in the group experienced. Oh the heart-wrenching sadness that lost hopes and dreams can bring about! And yet, they sing about joy. How my heart needs to hear this! Even in the dark and painful times in our lives, we can find our strength in the joy of the Lord.

In today’s culture, I think that the term joy tends to be connected to happiness. And, happiness can be connected to prosperity. For the Christian person, the joy we have in Christ does not always equate to happiness or prosperity in our day to day lives. If we never experienced times of trouble, what would cause us to look to Christ for help? Or for strength to get through the more difficult situations? Hardships and trials are faith-proving times that God allows us to go through to refine us into the person He wants us to be.

My struggle in my hardships is to find the joy of the Lord during them. It is easy upon reflection, when the struggle is over, to see where God had been with me and helping me each step of the way. I pray that when I am being tested or put through a trial, I would be more prone to be joyful and to find my joy in the Lord. He sustains my life, He saves my soul, and He is my joy.

Great Are You Lord – All Sons & Daughters

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken

Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken

Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only

All the earth will shout
Your praise
Our hearts will cry
These bones will sing
Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only

Genesis 2:7 – “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Psalm 18:49 – “Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.”

Psalm 48: 1a – “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise…”

Great are You, Lord. Isn’t He? The idea of God’s greatness has never been a stumbling block for me. From my earliest of memories, I have always felt special. Special that God sent His Son to die for me. Special that He chose me to be His child. Special in the fact that He wants to use me in His plan. He was and is great in my life.

I have been especially amazed by God’s greatness as evidenced through miracles. I have seen the hand of God literally roll back thunder clouds when I was on the mission field and someone needed to be medically evacuated. Ray and I miraculously received the gift of our daughter only a matter of weeks after being approved to adopt after years of infertility. There are so many experiences that I could go on about. I have been undeservedly blessed.

For any of you that have followed myself or Ray on Facebook in the past month, you are well aware of a health crisis that my cousin’s daughter recently experienced. While on the mission field in Cote d’Ivoire, my cousins Jenna and Justin had their barely 2 year old daughter, Colette, contract a terrible case of E.coli that took her to death’s door. They ultimately had to be medically evacuated to Paris, France for Colette to receive the care she needed.

How intensely frightening that must have been! How helpless they must have felt! And yet, we serve a God who is overflowing with greatness. Over the past month, through the prayers of countless believers around the globe, God moved mightily in the life of Colette. Each day we would login to Facebook anticipating an update and each day we were buoyed by the hope that God would hear our prayers and heal His precious child. And He did hear us. He has healed and continues to heal. Colette is still mending but has come so far from where she was a month ago. Her life has affected so many people around the world and has caused many of us to proclaim again and again how great our God truly is. My soul rejoices continuously over the saving of her life.

This song, Great are You Lord, is an amazing expression of the joy in my heart. God is so good to us in our times of joy but He’s especially close to us in our times of darkness. He breathed His breath into our lungs and brought us into existence. What He has breathed into us, we should pour back to Him in praise. He is immensely worthy above all else. He has proven over and over in our lives how great He is. I look forward to a day when all believers are together and in unison we can sing of His greatness. Great are You, Lord.

Hands of Love – Crowder

In His hands that hung the sky
In His hands that touched the blind
In His hands, He is holding me

In His hands that flung the stars
In His hands that bear the scars
In His hands, He is holding me

Oh, Jesus, the One who frees us, the One who holds us all up
Jesus, the One who saves us, the One who holds us all
In His hands of love

In His hands that bring us life, in His hands we come alive
In His hands, He's holding us

Oh, Jesus, the One who frees us, the One who holds us all up
Jesus, the One who saves us, the One who holds us all
In His hands of love, in His hands of love, in His hands of love

Come cover us, come cover us, come cover us, in Your hands of love
Come cover us, come cover us, come cover us, in Your hands of love

(Come cover us, come cover us, come cover us, in Your hands...)
He's got the whole wide world in His hands
He's got the whole wide world in His hands
He's got the whole wide world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

Oh, Jesus, the One who frees us, the One who holds us all up
Jesus, the One who saves us, the One who holds us all
In His hands of love, in His hands of love, in His hands of love

John 10:27-28: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Psalm 85:2: You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.

Hands of Love by Crowder is one of those songs that you simply can’t listen to and sit still. I love listening to this song in the morning as it helps me get up and get moving. Beyond the fun and catchy melody of the music, the lyrics speak of a loving Saviour who covers us with His hands. Oh the protective hands of an all-knowing God!

As I consider the concept of what it is to be covered by the hands of God, I am ever thankful for His saving grace and for covering my sin with Christ’s shed blood. I am grateful for the freedom I have found in faith in Christ and the new life I have been given – eternal life.

When I was first introduced to this song, my husband, Ray, was heading on a mission trip to Peru. I found comfort in the thought that God holds me up, that He covers me, that He has the whole world in His hands. While Ray was thousands of miles away from me, I could vividly picture us both being held and cared for by our loving God. The world seemed a little bit smaller knowing that we were very much connected through our faith.

As I continue to listen to this song and consider the lyrics, I am also profoundly convinced that the words point us to an even greater protection than a physical one – that of an eternal nature. Jesus has freed us from the bondage of sin and has saved us from an eternity separated from Him through His death on the cross. What greater protection can there be than our salvation?

Some may listen to this song and think the lyrics only suggest that we are to be safe and secure while on this earth, that no bad circumstances should come our way because we have faith in God. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

I can certainly attest to being surprised at trials that come my way. I know to expect them but when they show up, I’m still taken off guard. Even Paul, speaking to the Thessalonian church said in 1 Thessalonians 3:24, “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.” We are destined for trials! Oh how my heart should rejoice in sharing in the suffering of Christ but how weak and fearful it is!

And then the lyrics of Hands of Love ring in my ears, “Oh Jesus, the One who frees us, the One who holds us all up. Jesus, the One who saves us, the One who holds us all in His hands of love… Come cover us…” Regardless of the trials or the physical afflictions we may face, He holds us eternally in His hands of love. He offers us something greater than physical safety while here on earth and that is eternal security through our faith in Him.

Romans 8:38-39 is an amazing reminder of the God we serve and how we cannot be separated from His love for us. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are safe in His hands of love!

Good Good Father - HOUSEFIRES II (Featuring Pat Barrett)

Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you're like
But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you're pleased
And that I'm never alone

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we're all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Oh, it's love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still
Into love, love, love

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

You're a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It's who I am, it's who I am it's who I am

Matthew 7:11 - If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

For those of us who call ourselves Christians, we can easily claim the goodness of God. It is one of His primary characteristics and is apparent all around us. Some years ago, I was not able to claim this truth. I did not see God’s goodness in my life at all. I was blinded by the darkness of infertility.

When my husband and I decided the timing was right to start a family I never would have thought that we were embarking on a five year journey of infertility. I never thought that God would take away what I assumed was my “right” as a woman to have a child. But, as time went on in our struggle with childlessness, that is exactly what I thought God had done. I felt He had cheated me of a privilege that most other women get to experience.

As you can imagine, my struggle with our infertility became more of a struggle of wills between myself and God. I wanted a family in the way I had dreamed He would provide it. God wanted to give me a family in His own way.

During this time of struggle, I did not see God’s goodness to me. It honestly felt like He was being good to everyone else but me. I could not see past my problems or the fact that God, in His awesome power, was not changing my situation. For five years I battled with Him until I finally came to place of complete submission and gave my dreams over to Him. My prayers echoed Christ’s own when He pleaded with the Father, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

It was only after that submission to His greater will that I could hope for the future. The refining fire that I had endured for so long was finally producing purpose. God called my husband and I to follow a new path of adoption and within a matter of weeks of completing our homestudy, we brought home our daughter. God was indeed good to me, even though I couldn’t see His goodness through my pain.

Maybe you are experiencing a trial of your own right now. Maybe you are also struggling to see God’s goodness through it. Even in the darkness, trust that He is good and is showing His goodness towards you. He is creating a masterpiece of your life and while you may only be able to see the bleakness of your current surroundings, He can see the beauty of His perfection in you. He is a good, good Father and we are dearly loved by Him.

Spirit of the Living God – Vertical Church Band

Spirit of the living God,
Spirit of the living God
We only want to hear Your voice,
We’re hanging on every word

Cause when You speak, When You move
When You do what only You can do
It changes us, it changes what we see and what we seek
When You come in the room,
When You do what only You can do
It changes us, it changes what we see and what we seek
You’re changing everything

Spirit of the living God,
Spirit of the living God
We’re leaning in to all you are
Everything else can wait
Spirit of the living God,
Spirit of the living God
Come now and breathe upon our hearts
Come now and have your way

When You move, You move all our fears
When You move, You move us to tears
When You move, You move all our fears
When You move, You move us to tears
When You fall, We fall on our knees
When You fall, We fall at Your feet
When You fall, We fall on our knees
When You fall, We fall at Your feet

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. - Matthew 6:33

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. - 2 Corinthians 2:4

Words are wonderful things. I have loved reading them and writing them since I was a young child. I think God gave me my love of words because I was such a shy child. It has always been easier for me to write out my thoughts than to verbally share them. I love the editing process and there is no chance for such a thing in face to face conversation!

This song, Spirit of the Living God by Vertical Church Band, is a wonderful, prayerful song. I identify with the lyrics as they share a prayer that I have prayed since my teens. I want to know God more. I want to recognize His sovereignty in all I do. I want to be open to the plans He has for my life.

An eye-opening moment occurred for me while listening to this song, and it all came down to two words, one letter difference. “It changes what we see and what we seek.” Who knew that a stirring in my heart would be caused by the letter k? But, how amazing does that statement become when we take to heart those two words, see and seek, and recognize the truth in the power of them!

Only God moving in our hearts can cause us to see the world and the people around us differently. I have often prayed that God will let me see those around me through His eyes. Let me see where there is a need that I can fill. Let me truly be an example of His love by my words and actions. Let me see without judgement but with eyes that see a soul in need of a Saviour.

And, how in tune with His voice am I? Have I opened my heart to hear what He is telling me through Scripture? Do I seek after things that will bring Him glory or am I seeking after self-edifying pursuits? Oh, how I want my heart to only seek after Him and His ways.

How do I find out what His ways are? By returning to the words inspired by God Himself – my Bible. My relationship with Scripture may mirror some of your own as it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. When in times of testing and trials, it is so easy to look to Scripture for comfort and guidance. It’s the first place I turn to! But, when there are no challenges in life, complacency can set in and my Bible becomes dusty. Over the past few months I have specifically heard a call from the Lord to return to His Word. I’ve felt a literal pulling within my spirit to touch the pages of my Bible and saturate myself in the truths within them. And, in this I am thankful. God has not left us to our own devices. Our prayers – even those decades old – did not fall on deaf ears.

And so, I continue to echo the words in this song in my prayers. I want to hang on His every word. I want Him to move me to tears. I want to be changed so that I see and seek after what He desires. I want to fall at His feet in complete and absolute submission. I pray that you will desire this as well and be encouraged in your pursuit of Him.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14

Safe – Phil Wickham

To the one whose dreams have fallen all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think you're on your own
But you're not alone
Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong it never lets you go
No you're not alone

You will be safe in His arms. You will be safe in His arms
The hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made, He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms

Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you now to rise
So hear Him now, He's calling you home. You will never be alone

You will be safe in His arms. You will be safe in His arms
The hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made, He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms

Cause these are the hands that built the mountains, the hands that calm the sea
These are the arms that hold the lame and they are holding you and me
These are the hands that heal the leper pull the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to the cross to break our chains and set us free

You will be safe in His arms. You will be safe in His arms
The hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made, He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms
You will be safe
You will be safe
When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. - Deuteronomy 33:27a

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. - Matthew 5:29-31

Two years ago, our family lost two very precious women. Called home to glory within a few weeks of each other were my grandma and my husband’s stepmom. Losing my grandma was an expected loss. She was nearing 90 years of age and we knew that any phone call from my parents could potentially share this news. On the other hand, losing Ray’s stepmom to cancer while only in her 50’s, was much harder to accept.

Grief is such a fickle emotion. I recall being completely fine one moment and then struggling to find my composure the next. Exacerbating the emotional upheaval was the fact that we had to explain these losses to our daughter who was 6 years old at the time. God’s grace abounded as our daughter seemed to accept what was going on quite well. We had many moments of discussion with her so that she would know what to expect during the visitations and funerals. We focused on where Great-Gram and Nana both are now – in heaven. Her 6 year old heart stayed strong through those months of loss and even became an encouragement to us as we grieved.

During these losses, I was reintroduced to Phil Wickham’s album, Heaven & Earth. There are many songs I enjoy off of that album but the song, Safe, was a balm to my soul at that time. Oh, how I needed to hear that I was safely being held in the arms of my Saviour. That He understood the pain of my loss and He was comforting me along the way.

This song touches on so much more than grief for me. There are many circumstances in life when we feel like victory is beyond our reach. That we can’t see an end to our problems. Somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that God isn’t bigger than our problems. Or, maybe we’ve become so apathetic that we believe He simply doesn’t care. But God is on our side. Let me remind you of a few of the more powerful images this song brings to life:

1. His hands calm the sea (Matthew 8:25 – 27)
2. He pulls the lame to their feet (Matthew 15:29-31)
3. He heals the leper (Mark 1:40-41)
4. He gives sight to the blind (John 9:1-6)
5. He brings the dead to life (John 11)
6. His arms were nailed to the cross to set us free (John 8:26)
7. He will be with us always (Hebrews 13:5)

Those are just a few of my favourite lines from the song that remind us of the powerful God that we serve. It humbles me to know that our God, as amazing as He is, wants to be in relationship with us. He cares about our pain, about our joy, about all of our circumstances. He is with us always, holding us in the palm of His hand, gently embracing us. What a picture of such a divine Father! I am thankful He holds me close in my sadness as well as in my joy. May each of you feel embraced by our Father today and always. “You will never be alone. You will be safe in His arms.”

Glorious Day – Casting Crowns

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Glorious day, Oh, Glorious day

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. - Revelation 22:17

When I was 12 years old, I participated in my first in-depth Bible study on the book of Revelation. I recall a lot of interesting and somewhat confusing ideas presented in the study, but the most important lesson I learned was that Jesus was going to return for His faithful followers and I wanted to be sure that I would be found among them.

The lyrics of this song, Glorious Day, bring goosebumps to the surface of my skin each and every time I listen to it. I can think of very few songs that so clearly and beautifully depict Christ’s entire life – His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and the promise of His return. I find myself challenged to have an eternal perspective on a daily basis.

A couple of months ago when my husband was in India for an extended time, I was listening to this song while planning for his return. I had been spending time cleaning and organizing our house. I made sure the laundry was folded and actually put away in drawers. I took care to clean myself up so I would look presentable to him when he returned. I certainly didn’t want him looking at me and our home and saying, “What did you do with your time while I was away?”

Unsurprisingly, my next thoughts went to Christ and His return. Am I living my daily life with the hope of His return in mind? Do I take care to keep my heart clean so that I can be presentable to Him when He arrives? How will I respond to my Saviour’s question of, “What did you do with your time while I was away?”

What a convicting question! How often do I justify taking “me time” when there are free hours in the day? Or, when I could be doing something more productive, do I veg out on the couch and waste hours with Netflix? Do I choose to read a novel when I could be saturating my mind with the Word of God? I am fully aware that occasional times of relaxation are absolutely necessary. My conviction arises from the times that I know I could be doing more and choosing to do nothing instead. Oh, my selfish and sinful self!

How I look forward to the day that the trumpet will sound for His coming. I pray that these times of conviction won’t go ignored but that I will learn the lesson God is trying to teach me. I desire to spend my time as wisely as possible. May the chorus of this song remind us of all that Christ has done for us and give us continued hope in His return. “Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified freely forever, one day He’s coming, Oh Glorious Day, Oh Glorious Day.”

Oceans – Hillsong United

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you're my God!

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” - Isaiah 6:8

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:28-32

From a very young age I have had a heart for missions. When missionaries that had served overseas came to church to talk about their ministry, I soaked up every word and placed myself in every picture. I absolutely wanted go to the ends of the earth and share the good news of Jesus to the masses. I wanted to help each person in the photos. I found the missionary life of sacrifice to be so fascinating and upheld it above other career choices.

As the years went on, my missionary heart remained but the day-to-day comfort of life in the Western world overshadowed my desire to serve God outside of my country. The fear of the unknown of life in the third world crept in. Concerns about safety, illness, language barriers or the usefulness of my skill-set clouded my vision. I was letting the enemy steal my joy.

When I was 19, I had the opportunity to travel to Papua New Guinea (in southeast Asia) and serve for 3 months with Wycliffe Bible Translators. My aunt and uncle had been serving there as full-time missionaries for a number of years so I was able to assimilate into the missionary life quite easily under their protective supervision. Those three months marked a turning point in my faith. Prior to that trip, my child-like faith had not been attacked too terribly. During those months abroad, my faith turned into a deep relationship with God and solidified my unwavering commitment for life. It wasn’t easy. I felt attacked by Satan on a regular basis. I felt ill for many of my days in PNG. But, I saw God move mightily in my life and in the lives of those around me during that time. Those memories from half of my life ago are some that stay with me and keep me pressing on in my faith to this day.

Oceans by Hillsong United is a song that brings back to my mind the desire that was once so strong within me to live a missionary life. I have listened to this song a number of times but there was one day in particular while I was driving alone, listening to Oceans, when I distinctly felt the Spirit’s conviction. As I sang along with the chorus, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders” and “Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander”, my breath caught in my throat. The words would not come out. I realized that the words being sung, I didn’t truly mean.

What a shock to my system! What a conviction of my heart! It is all well and good to sing these lyrics, but what is it worth when it’s not something I truly mean? I am a person who likes structure. I like to plan out my day and know where I’ll be going throughout it. To ask God to take me where my trust is without borders scares me to pieces. And, if He truly took me further than my feet could ever wander, I would likely be suffering from severe anxiety. In all honesty, without realizing it, I had put borders around where I was willing to allow God to take me or to send me. I was telling Him, “Here are the parameters I’m comfortable with. Do what you will within them.” Oh my faithless heart! My soul cries out as the father of the possessed boy did in Mark 9:24, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I am thankful for this moment of conviction as it continues to reveal an area of my life that I am holding onto too tightly. I will continue to sing this song until I truly do mean the words. I want to mean them. I want to completely submit my will to the Father’s and accept whatever He sends my way. And, believing my missional heart was given by Him, I trust He will call me to do as He wills. If I am meant to serve Him outside of my comfort zone, He will be there. If I am meant to only provide for others who are to serve in foreign lands, He will be provide. I am standing on the promise of Philippians 1:6, “… that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” However God plans to use me, I pray I will ever be willing.

Flawless - MercyMe

There’s got to be more 
Than going back and forth 
From doing right to doing wrong 
‘Cause we were taught that’s who we are 
Come on get in line right behind me 
You along with everybody 
Thinking there’s worth in what you do 

Then like a hero who takes the stage when 
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late 
Well let me introduce you to amazing grace 

No matter the bumps 
No matter the bruises 
No matter the scars 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 
No matter the hurt 
Or how deep the wound is 
No matter the pain 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 

Could it possibly be 
That we simply can’t believe 
That this unconditional 
Kind of love would be enough 
To take a filthy wretch like this 
And wrap him up in righteousness 
But that’s exactly what He did 

No matter the bumps 
No matter the bruises 
No matter the scars 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 
No matter the hurt 
Or how deep the wound is 
No matter the pain 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 

Take a breath smile and say 
Right here right now I’m ok 
Because the cross was enough 

Then Like a hero who takes the stage when 
We’re on the edge of our seats saying it’s too late 
Well let me introduce you to grace grace 
God’s grace 

No matter the bumps 
No matter the bruises 
No matter the scars 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 
No matter the hurt 
Or how deep the wound is 
No matter the pain 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless 

No matter what they say 
Or what you think you are 
The day you called His name 
He made you flawless
He made you flawless

No matter the bumps 
No matter the bruises 
No matter the scars 
Still the truth is 
The cross has made 
The cross has made you flawless

Psalm 103:12 New International Version (NIV)

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

There’s nothing more amazing to me than the cross. Honestly, how amazing is it that God would sacrifice His one and only Son to pay the penalty for my sins so that I may have eternal life? It is complete and undeserved mercy and grace. Mercy and grace that I am continually thankful for.

This song, Flawless by MercyMe, brings this reality to life every time I listen to it. I know that in a sinful, unbelieving state, I would be unable to stand in the presence of Almighty God. But, what a beautiful picture comes to mind when I think about Christ taking my place on the cross, dying for my sin so that when God looks upon me, He doesn’t see my sin but He sees Christ in me.

Also impressed upon my heart when I hear the lyrics of this song are those friends and family members who have not yet come to accept Jesus as Saviour. “No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars… the cross has made you flawless.” What an encouragement to my soul to know that it doesn’t matter how I’ve sinned in the past – I’m forgiven. There is nothing so terrible in my life that negates me from bowing in submission to God and asking for forgiveness. He will forgive. Christ took my sin upon Himself on the cross so that I wouldn’t have to die in my sin. Romans 10:9 promises, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Forever forgiven. Amazing grace.

In this ‘flawless’ state that we are in as born again believers, please don’t mistake this for the right to abuse grace. Paul tells us in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Simply because we believe Christ paid the price for our sins and that we will be forgiven, we shouldn’t look at that grace as an excuse to do whatever comes to mind. Paul also warns in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “’I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive.” How I pray that I will not enter eternity as an abuser of grace but rather as a child of God who tried to please her Heavenly Father – certainly failing at times – but covered in the grace of the cross.

May this song encourage you in your faith should you feel at times that you are conquered by your sin. Press on, fellow believers. And, seekers? Come experience the grace available to you through faith in Christ! You have a Saviour who walks with you, provides you the strength you need to overcome, and who will always forgive. “No matter what they say, or what you think you are, the day you called His name, He made you flawless.”

Shepherd – Amanda Cook

In the process, in the waiting 
You’re making melodies over me 
And Your presence is the promise
For I am a pilgrim on a journey

You will lift my head above the mighty waves 
You are able to keep me from stumbling
And in my weakness
You are the strength that comes from within
Good Shepherd of my soul 
Take my hand and lead me on

You make my footsteps and my path secure
So walking on water is just the beginning
Cause my faith to arise, stand at attention
For You are calling me to greater things

Oh how I love You, how I love You
You have not forsaken me 
Oh how I love You, how I love You 
With You is where I want to be

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:25

Recently, I watched a movie called, “Far From the Madding Crowd”. It’s based on the classic novel written by Thomas Hardy and centres on a Victorian time. There is one scene from the movie that stands out far above the rest. A farmer has a flock of sheep. One night, the sheep break down the walls of their pen and, one by one, escape. The farm is situated near a cliff shoreline of ocean. Each sheep follows the other, blindly into the darkness, and plunges to its death over the cliff. The farmer sorrowfully realizes the loss of his entire flock of sheep as he views the numerous carcasses at the bottom of the cliff. This scene plays over and over in my mind as I see it as a great warning for those who call themselves Christians but stray from our Shepherd and follow the ways of the world.

Shortly after watching this movie I was listening to this song, Shepherd, by Amanda Cook, and I was struck once again how Jesus leads His followers on the path of righteousness. But, as He tells in the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-21), many are choked by the thorns and choose to recklessly follow another lead, running headlong towards a cliff.

There are many opportunities in today’s world to listen to what society has to say and then question why Christianity differs from societal opinion. We get pulled into the lie that the church isn’t relevant to today’s culture. We hear the father of lies tell us that our faith needs to change to accept what society accepts as truth. And, amazingly, many of us run straight for the cliff with arms wide open. Like the song says, Jesus lifts our head above mighty waves. He keeps us from stumbling. He is our strength. He takes our hand and leads us. He offers us a better way, a clearer path, but for some reason, many are just like the sheep who blindly follow anyone who attempts to lead them!

The metaphor of humans being like sheep needing a shepherd brings me back to the first introduction of sin into the world. The fall of mankind.

Genesis 3:1-7 New International Version (NIV)

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened...”

Oh, how we need our eyes opened. How we need to secure our hearts with the truths of Scripture so that when society claims we need to alter our beliefs to align with theirs, we can boldly proclaim the words of the Lord. Let us follow our Shepherd with all of our hearts. May we recognize His leading and submit to it. May we be able to say “You have not forsaken me” and “With you is where I want to be.”

No Longer Slaves – Bethel Music

You unravel me, with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

From my mother’s womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I've been born again, into your family
Your blood flows through my veins

I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

I am surrounded
By the arms of the Father
I am surrounded
By songs of deliverance

We've been liberated
From our bondage
We're the sons and the daughters
Let us sing our freedom

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
All my fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me
So I could stand and sing
I am child of God.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

For the past year I have been struggling with anxiety. Thankfully, its inconvenient head has not reared itself on a daily basis but often enough to be an issue. My particular struggle involves traveling. I do not fear driving on highways or even worry about getting in an accident. I’m not concerned with my vehicle breaking down or needing assistance along the way. In analyzing the why and when of my anxiety, it seems to mostly appear when I have to travel with others. Just the thought of losing control in front of those who aren’t in my immediate family, causes anxiety to grip my heart.

My family knows my occasional quirkiness. They understand that I need to do certain things to remain even keeled and not need to rely on any medication to balance me out. There are times, depending on the stress of the situation, that I feel my personal coping skills slipping away and I have to resort to using the medication my doctor prescribed for me. I do feel it is a last resort though. I have always relied on prayer and the strength I have in Christ to get through whatever comes my way. Over the past year, having to acknowledge that I may need assistance to overcome my anxious thoughts, has been a bit of a blow for my self-controlling ego.

My life over the past year has consisted of much prayer to get through all that I need to do each and every day. It has consisted of much Scripture brought to mind that I learned as a child to bring me back to searching God’s Word more readily. There are so many negative aspects of struggling with anxiety, but the one positive is that you realize again and again that you are not in control and you must submit to the One who is.

This brings me to my song choice for this blog, No Longer Slaves, by Bethel Music. The words that struck me to my core are not earth shattering in and of themselves, but they are earth shattering for the mere fact that they show how much I rely on myself and not on God. “I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God.” This got me questioning if I am a slave to fear. I know I’m a child of the one and only, Almighty God. I don’t doubt His abilities in my life. But, do I have fears that cause my anxious thoughts? Am I not submitting them to Him on a regular basis and dying to self so that He may live in me? Am I living so deeply in denial that I can’t even knowingly answer these questions truthfully?

And then my heart hears the words that God has chosen me, He has called my name, His arms surround me, and He has liberated me from my bondage. How amazing. How absolutely and utterly amazing. Even in my weakness and doubt and fear, He loves me and holds me close to Himself. He knows my heart wants to earnestly and only follow Him. He knows the struggles I deal with each and every day and He walks with me through them all. He has liberated me from my bondage to sin and given me eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. I am a child of God.

I find in my own life, going about my day to day business, I can take for granted the meaning of being a child a God. I don’t fully recognize the power that I have access to through my Heavenly Father. Instead, I choose to push on in life with the perception that I have control over what I have control over. And yet, in submitting my control, true liberation and freedom can be found. Even though I find that anxiety has become a thorn in my flesh, I am thankful to God for it as it keeps me seeking after Him. I pray that I will not struggle with it for the rest of my days, but even so, my prayer is that God would use it to refine me into Christ-likeness. May we all be able to proclaim, “I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am child of God.”

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

The beginning of a new year lends to moments of reflection upon the year that was. Did I learn and grow? Did I reach or move closer to the goals I set for myself? Or, am I filled with regret over what did not come to pass or missed opportunities? As I reflect upon 2015, I see moments of obedience to God and also times of ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit in my life. Times of triumph, and those of regret. Amidst this mixed bag, I can still see the workings of God in my life and a slow release of my assumed control. 

It was also within this past year that the only music I engaged in listening to was that of praise and worship to our God. I found that by only allowing my mind to focus on the praise of our Lord and Saviour, my mind was able to process challenges in a more Christ-like manner. Of course, my humanity came through on a number of occasions but I do feel more battles were won than lost. During these worshipful moments – mostly while driving alone – God spoke to me a number of times through the words of the songs pouring into my soul through the mediocre speakers in my car. 

By late summer/early fall, I felt a pressing in my spirit to share some of the insights God gave to me during these intimate moments with Him. In my humanity, I balked at this request. Who am I to share anything from God when there are so many other qualified people in the world – even in my small circle of the world?! And yet, the gnawing of the anguish from blatantly disobeying God when He made a specific request from me remained. With a tentative yes, I postponed God’s request for much of the fall as my husband, Ray, was traveling to India and would be blogging from there. Honestly, how much blogging from one family can be tolerated at a time, God?! And, here is it is, the beginning of a new year where I finally have decided to no longer squelch the Spirit’s request and will follow through. Even if no one reads a word. Even if I’m only writing to remind myself of the insights God gave to me through His Word in music. Even if I find it a struggle to maintain regular updates. Even if I am rejected and ridiculed. Even if this is purely a step of obedience and only God notices. Here I go. To God be the glory.

I Am They - Even Me

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

He knows my thoughts
The things that no one sees
He knows my heart
It’s every broken piece
Somehow still I’m held by this one thing
And somehow still I’m held by this one thing

Yes, Jesus loves me
Even me, even me
I stand forgiven and free
Even me, even me

He knows my past
The choices I have made
When I have wandered
When I pushed away
Somehow still I’m held by this one thing
Somehow still I’m held by this one thing

Yes, Jesus loves me
Even me, even me
I stand forgiven and free
Even me, even me
Even me, yes even me 

Nothing could ever stop this love
Nothing could ever take it away
My life was lost, His life He gave
Even to the grave, even to the grave
Even to the grave 

Yes, Jesus loves me
Even me, even me 
I stand forgiven and free
Even me, he loves even me 

Yes, Jesus loves me
Even me, even me 
I stand forgiven and free
Even me, he loves even me
Even me, he loves even me
Even me, even me 

I was raised in a Christian home. A conservative Baptist home to be exact. Many of my early memories occur in a church setting. I felt completely at home with my family, church friends and in the 4 walls of our church building. Some may say I was sheltered, but I knew no other way and loved the world God had placed me in.

I also loved singing the old hymns week after week. Even today, my heart soars when the opening chords of a beloved hymn is played. Sunday school was a weekly occurrence and it never occurred during the adult service but before. Imagine, adults participated in Sunday school as well as an hour long sermon on a single Sunday!  It was in these weekly sessions that my little heart grew to know the stories of the Saviour of the world – Jesus.  I would sing all the time that Jesus loved me. I knew it very well.

This song, Even Me, by I Am They, brings back memories of my child-like faith. Complete belief in what was being taught to me through the Scriptures. I never wavered. I had no reason to doubt! Building on the simple phrases in Jesus Loves Me, I Am They goes further to define more thoroughly the grace extended to us by a loving Saviour.

Those two little words – even me – bring so much meaning to the song. Jesus loves me, even in my sinfulness. Jesus loves me, even though I fail and falter regularly. Jesus loves me, even in my brokenness. He simply and deeply loves me. And in all of this, He does not want me to remain in my sinfulness, failure and brokenness. He calls me to accept His forgiveness, accept His grace and grow into the person He has called me to be. Oh, such amazing grace. Such undeserved grace.

Listening to this song for the first time absolutely humbled me. I still find it hard to believe that the God of the universe called me to be His child. He chose me to be His own. He wants a relationship with me. Unbelievable and yet completely true! I am His and He is mine. Even me.