I was reminded yesterday of the value of prayer partnerships as I was blessed to sing in a trio with two long time prayer partners in our morning service. We were able to schedule Pastor Gundar and Pastor Walt in between their regular ministry duties of the day to slip in to our service for a few minutes. It was an emotional time for me since Pastor Gundar is moving on to pastor in Montana and we will not be getting together every week as we have for the past eight years. The hymn we chose was "Grace greater than all our sin". I am blessed as I ponder the mercy and Grace of God in my life.
Here are the lyrics of this great old hymn of the church:
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, October 17, 2008
Relating to Grace
A quote this morning from Jerry Bridges of “The Navigators” , a ministry to college students:
“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone.”
If I am going to be successful today in my goal of being a true servant of God, I need to be aware of His mercy. Without that mercy, I am doomed. That kind of understanding of the grace of God comes only when grace become a discipline in our lives.
Scott Wesley Brown and Jeff Nelson gave us the great gospel song “Grace Alone”. It has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it.
Here are the lyrics:
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.
“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of His grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace. Every day should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone.”
If I am going to be successful today in my goal of being a true servant of God, I need to be aware of His mercy. Without that mercy, I am doomed. That kind of understanding of the grace of God comes only when grace become a discipline in our lives.
Scott Wesley Brown and Jeff Nelson gave us the great gospel song “Grace Alone”. It has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it.
Here are the lyrics:
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
God has a tattoo
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” ( Romans 8:31 )
It really is a good thing to know who is for us. To be able to look into the cheering crowd and know that those cheers are for you and not your opponent is a valuable thing. The above Bible verse from Romans is an encouragement to us that God is in our corner cheering us on. I do not have to make an appointment for later but right now God is for me. Max Locado puts it his way:
“He could not be closer than He is at this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are better, nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you. Had He a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If He drove a car, your name would be on His bumper. If there is a tree in heaven, He’s carved your name in the bark. We know He has a tattoo, and we know what it says, ‘I have written your name on my hand.’ (Isaiah 49:16)”
That is really what grace is all about. It is unmerited favor bestowed on undeserving us. I am thankful for that mercy. God gives it because He wants to.
The Hymn: "Grace Greater than all my sin."
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
It really is a good thing to know who is for us. To be able to look into the cheering crowd and know that those cheers are for you and not your opponent is a valuable thing. The above Bible verse from Romans is an encouragement to us that God is in our corner cheering us on. I do not have to make an appointment for later but right now God is for me. Max Locado puts it his way:
“He could not be closer than He is at this second. His loyalty won’t increase if you are better, nor lessen if you are worse. He is for you. Had He a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If He drove a car, your name would be on His bumper. If there is a tree in heaven, He’s carved your name in the bark. We know He has a tattoo, and we know what it says, ‘I have written your name on my hand.’ (Isaiah 49:16)”
That is really what grace is all about. It is unmerited favor bestowed on undeserving us. I am thankful for that mercy. God gives it because He wants to.
The Hymn: "Grace Greater than all my sin."
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Our Big God
In the 26th chapter of the book of Job, in one of Job’s speeches, he makes the following observation:
“7 God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don't burst with the weight. 9 He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds. 10 He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night. 11 The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke. 12 By his power the sea grew calm. By his skill he crushed the great sea monster. 13 His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. 14 These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?"
It is good to be reminded of the power of God. He really does not fit into that box that we try to put Him into. I am currently taking a class on Wednesday nights where we are learning about the history of the church. The journey of the church (the body of Christ) through the centuries starting with the apostles and moving through the centuries to today. One of the terms that came out in class last night was “The ‘lostness’ of man” This hopeless condition that God has delivered us from by sending His son Jesus Christ to find us.
On the other side of that equation is the “bigness” of God. In our mind we really do not comprehend the scope of either our need or God’s solution. Only in the spiritual light are we able to comprehend that, and then only by faith.
“For by grace are we saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but not I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
“7 God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don't burst with the weight. 9 He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds. 10 He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night. 11 The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke. 12 By his power the sea grew calm. By his skill he crushed the great sea monster. 13 His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. 14 These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?"
It is good to be reminded of the power of God. He really does not fit into that box that we try to put Him into. I am currently taking a class on Wednesday nights where we are learning about the history of the church. The journey of the church (the body of Christ) through the centuries starting with the apostles and moving through the centuries to today. One of the terms that came out in class last night was “The ‘lostness’ of man” This hopeless condition that God has delivered us from by sending His son Jesus Christ to find us.
On the other side of that equation is the “bigness” of God. In our mind we really do not comprehend the scope of either our need or God’s solution. Only in the spiritual light are we able to comprehend that, and then only by faith.
“For by grace are we saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but not I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
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