Filed under: Song...
I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle’s wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
by Steve and Vikki Cook
Filed under: Personal Lessons...
Okay, so this one has been getting thrown around inside my head for the past two days now. On Sunday I had the chance to visit a church that has been recently planted and is being Pastored by a teacher at school who I very highly respect. This is something that I have desired to do for a very long time but due to previous responsibilities haven’t been able to go. So, when I realized that this would be the one week that I would be able to go I was very excited.
I woke up that morning, jumped in my truck with my friend, and took off. Needless to say, it is kinda awkward to visit a new church up here in the North Woods. Most are small and I never really enjoy taking someone else’s pew. This put inside of me the slight anxiety which I very often prone to. Thankfully, after we arrived at the church, this anxiety soon dissipated.
The service went very well and I receivd a blessing from the preaching of God’s Word and the songs that were sung to his Praise and Glory, but the biggest thing happened after the service. Unbeknown upon our initial arrival the church had a Baptismal service planned out by the lake. So, seeing that this would be my first outdoor Baptismal service, we jumped at the opportunity.
It was amazing to hear all 15 of those getting baptized share their story. Some were kids who came to Christ at an early age, others were saved out of a life of sin and tradition, but all were sharing the amazing grace and mercy that could only come through the death of Christ.
Needless to say, I left with a full heart. There is something about a Baptism out in public. It seems so real, so open, so…Biblical. Thy were all declaring to the congregation and those who came because of the crowd that gathered that they were willing to forsake all and follow Christ. God is very Good…
Psalms 22:1-31 ~ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
For the past few days, after I read my normal Bible reading my heart is drawn back to Psalm 22. The Psalmest handles the death of the Messiah in such a way that one’s heart nearly hurts when reading of the suffering. It helps my mind and heart to focus on why I am here and for who I am living.
Filed under: Song...
How happy’s ev’ry child of grace,
Who feels his sins forgiv’n;
This world, he cries, is not my place;
I seek a place in heav’n.
A country far from mortal sight,
Yet, oh! by faith I see
The land of rest, the saints’ delight,
A heav’n prepared for me.
Oh, what a blessed hope is ours
While here on earth we stay,
We more than taste the heav’nly pow’rs
And antedate that day.
We feel the resurrection near,
Our life in Christ concealed,
And with His glorious presence here
Our earthen vessels filled.
by Charles Wesley
