hallelujah

cloverton. Hallelujah

My Constant Need for Jesus . . . My Righteousness, My Defense

This song really hits the point:  We are in constant need of Jesus, true God.  He is our One Real Defense and our Righteousness.  He makes us right before God when we clearly have so much wrong.

Blessings.

Al

Give me words to speak . . . Psalm 119

Psalm 119

123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
    looking for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your love
    and teach me your decrees.
125 I am your servant; give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.

Great Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us about the great plans God has for Jeremiah - plans to prosper him and not to harm him.  We also have God's encouragement in Ephesians 2:10 that tells us we were created for something special.  We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for doing good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This song by Cloverton focuses on God's great plans for us, great plans here on earth and the greatest of all plans when He brings us to heaven to see Jesus face to face.

Be blessed in Jesus.

:)

What Love Is This?

If you and I could go to the cross and have a dialogue with Jesus, what would it sound like and how might it shape my heart?  This song by Keri Jobe (What Love Is This?) helps shape the truth about how that dialogue might have worked itself out in real time:

Me:  Jesus, this is so horrible.  You don't deserve this.
Jesus:  Yes, I know.  But . . . if . . . I didn't - You would have to.
Me:  Jesus, I'm sorry.
Jesus:  Please look at my pain and see how much it hurts so that you can see the depth and height and breadth of my love for you, _______(place your name here) _____.    I love for you is greater than the pain.  Know that, think about that, live as if that is true.
Me:  THANKS

All I Need is You [Jesus]

In our vertical relationship with Jesus, we get identity (child of God - perfect in His sight - precious)
we get security (I will be with you always to the very end of the world; His angels protect you)
we get hope (heaven is our home; Jesus is preparing a place for us right now; He will turn dark times into good for all who love God)
well-being (a truly joy-filled existence knowing that we are loved; our well-being can be physical, emotional, and spiritual)
meaning - Life does have meaning.  We are here on earth to learn about Jesus and learn about our need for Him so that we can live forever with Him AND so that we can share both truths with the world around.
purpose - our purpose is to live for Him; serve Him.

Here is a song that fits some of those thoughts:

Communion Hymn

Another great Hymn by Stuart Townend:

Keri Jobe - Steady My Heart

How challenging it is to live with human hearts that are fickle, movable and often unbalanced.  This song is a good reminder of Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

run to Jesus for refuge
sing to Jesus because of all that He is.

He steadies my heart.

Children of God

Gotta love Third Day, Children of God.

It hits a chord in the heart to know that we are all accepted and loved as dear children.

Galatians 3:26-4:7
 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
. . . But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Be blessed in the love of our Heavenly Father!!!

Jesus is our EVERYTHING

Here is a great song by the band, Lifehouse:  "Everything"
 - - - side note: I find nothing that says they are a Christian band.  So please don't freak out if you see me using their lyrics and turning it to Jesus and His love for us.

second note: several Christian groups have used this song as the backdrop for Christian skits on Jesus' love for His people and the things of the world that separate us from His love.  BUT, His love wins us back!  [applause!]

One other note - such "light" and fluffy lyrics do, at times, come from the Christian contemporary scene and I can easily see how many people listen to them and wonder if the band is singing about Jesus or a girl.  I am taking these lyrics and adapting them to the love story that the Bible paints about Jesus and His bride (the collection of believers).

God uses that picture, probably one of the most emotionally charged experiences in human life (the love of a man and a woman) to show His intense love for us.  The more we understand His love, the more we will love Him and His people, His world.

I've taken several of the lyrics and added Bible passages - I guess it helps the song to be more devotional and meaningful for me personally.  Hope you are also blessed by it.

Find me here, And speak to me. I want to feel you, I need to hear you. You are the light, That's leading me, To the place, Where I find peace again.	Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,     a light on my path.
You are the strength, That keeps me walking. You are the hope, That keeps me trusting.	Psalm 28:8-9 The Lord is the strength of his people,     a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;     be their shepherd and carry them forever.
You are the light,To my soul. You are my purpose, You're everything.	John 1:4-5  In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

Words can build you up or tear you down. Hawk Nelson

the Power of words - what if the words that started your day built you up and prepared you for anything you will face that day?  Words from God can do just that.

Consider this:  "I am unconditionally loved." 
"I am a son/daughter of Heaven's King."
"God is my Father; Jesus is my brother; the Spirit is my encourager."

try saying those words of truth to yourself in the mirror for the next 30 days.  Leading counselors tell us that they will form in the subconscious and change how we view ourselves and in turn relieve us of stresses related to how we feel about ourselves.

Oh God, Help Me to Be -- Cloverton

OK, so I'm hung up on this Kansas Group - man they put out stirring, sad, powerful music that is coupled with strong lyrics.  This one is a prayer (comes in 8 verses)

Oh God, Help me to be
Closer to you so I am farther from me
May your Kingdom be the only one that I seek, Oh God.

if you want more verse (lyrics) just let me know.

Be blessed!

You are Precious in Jesus' sight
You are dearly loved.
By the blood of Jesus you are forgiven


Al - a fellow sinner redeemed by Jesus

When . . . is . . . life . . . too . . . heavy?

Big Daddy Weave has this great song that points to the real identity that Jesus won for us.  So why are we still striving and fighting?  the Battle has been won.

According to the riches of His Grace, by the power of His love we are bought back from all that made us slaves.

Jesus offers us real life . . . by dying. Matthew 16

Cloverton has this great song called "The End is the Beginning."
Check out the song at this link:

Cloverton - The End is the Beginning.

Jesus says that dying to self brings life.  Matthew 16 encapsulates that idea:

Matthew 16:24-27

24 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me. 25 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will find it.

26 “What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can anyone trade for his soul? 27 The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory. His angels will come with him. And he will reward everyone in keeping with what they have done.

enjoy!

• Jesus loves you unconditionally! 
• Jesus died so that you could live.  
• He gives you reason to live; He secures your worth.  
• You are extremely precious to Him.
• in Jesus, all your guilt and punishment have been removed; believe the good news.

The Father has shown His love for us . . . in the Birth, Life and Death of Jesus.

Stunning!  you want your hair to stand on end, imagine all that the Heavenly FAther did for you by sending Jesus.  Heavenly Father, I offer you grand applause; you deserve the whole earth to rise up and cry "Hallelujah."  Thank you for rescuing me.  thank you for dying for me.  thank you for taking the rugged cross and the bloody nails.

AMEN.

There are some songs which just GRAB your soul - this one does for me. . . . to the Beautiful

John 14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust in me also.

2 “There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am.

Jesus promises to take us into the Beautiful - forever with Him!

John 17:3

“And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

praising YAHWEH

Here is a worship "mob" singing about Yahweh:

"faithful God you are here to stay" - I think that my attitude and actions would chase you away but your love glues me to you.

Bless your Really great name.

Some days just are this way . . . I really need your help!

Yesterday was "one of those days" for me.  but the challenge that I have is that grey cloud of disbelief and skepticism that hangs over the Bible's truths.  I see that God calls me His loved child - but its clouded in doubt.  He calls me precious - and my garbled thoughts find an escape clause.  "That can't really be true, can it?"

Every hour I need you - moreso on those days.  Help us through the fog of doubts, misbelief, lies that Satan and the World throw at us.

here is a great song that points to my need/ our need:

Matt Maher; Lord I need YOU!

When You Feel trembling and unsteady - "Steady My Heart"

Jesus, the pain of life and the guilt from mistakes make me very unsteady and somewhat of a wreck at times. Life is messy, pain is always around - i deliver it to my family; others put pain in my day, my neck and shoulders.  I'm actually sitting here worried about life breaking me and there is a literal pain in my shoulders between my shoulder blades.

Life hurts and I need to know that Jesus is there when life hurts, when life is hard.  I will run to Jesus to steady my heart.

take a listen to this cool song that reflects that idea:

Keri Jobe - Steady My Heart

Let My Life be the PROOF of Your Love

Really like this version that they did live on KLOVE.

For King and Country. Let My Life

Psalm 11 and Lamb of God

This is such a great devotional song:

Tenth Avenue North - Lamb Of God (The Struggle)

There are probably other passages or Psalms that would work better with this song BUT it happens to be the one I was reading this morning when I heard the song for the first Time....Thank you, Jesus, for GREAT artists who can express your Word in music.

Thank you for your Power, Your face shining on us, your favor surrounding us like a shield, your blessings of family, children, food, COFFEE, and our very life today.

Blessings to all of you.

Al

What do you like?

When it comes to good, Christian, solid-message music, what do you like?  Please post comments to share your insights on good Christian music.

thanks!

By His Wounds We are Healed. Isaiah 53 . . . sweet grace

Another Mac Powell song that so closely reflects Isaiah 53.  Love it.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wKqDbVUFjzU

Peace to you in Jesus' name!

Rhett Walker Band - Brother (acoustic live)

Amazing Grace - Todd Agnew remix

Todd's song, Grace like Rain, is a great remix of the traditional "Amazing Grace.

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_fgE8V0Kuw

Todd has some other songs that really speak to the type of music I used to listen to.
  I really enjoy the voice and his lyrics.

Psalm 51 - Restore to Me

Psalm 51 is the humble follow-up to murder, adultery, etc. that King David committed against God.  Mac Powell (from Third Day) has this awesome song, Restore to Me, that is based primarily off of Psalm 51.  check it out.

Be blessed in knowing that God already knows how you and I have messed up, broken down our lives and He is sooooo willing to fix the mess.  Thank you Jesus!