Song for Sunday: I’ll Fly Away

I’m getting more and more excited all the time for that glad morning.  Praise God.  To see His face.  To worship Him without the tentacles of sin.  It will be sweet.

 

Some glad morning when this life is o’er

I’ll fly away

To a home on God’s celestial shore

I’ll fly away

 

I’ll fly away, O glory

I’ll fly away

When I die, hallelujah! by and by

I’ll fly away

 

When the shadows from this life have flown

I’ll fly away

Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly

I’ll fly away

 

O how glad and happy when we meet

I’ll fly away

No more cold iron shackels on my feet

I’ll fly away

 

Just a few more weary days and then

I’ll fly away

To a land where joy shall never end

I’ll fly away

 

~Unknown

Discouraged

I’ve been discouraged for a while now.  Not sure discouraged is the best word but for lack of a better one I’ll use it.  Partly because looking into the world around me is down right draining.  I’ve been reading a book over the last couple weeks that has exposed various worldviews that people hold.  They are so hopeless, so illogical, so individualistic and so intricately embedded into all of culture and life, even the church.  When asked we would of course declare that God has created the world and that salvation is only through Jesus Christ.  And yet we, I, live as though I can choose my own way and am not accountable to anyone, let alone God.  When it is said bluntly: all choices are morally equal and so there is no such things as sin and therefore no right and wrong, my response is immediate and emphatic that this is not true.  And yet I live a lifestyle based on that assumption, denying it all the while with my mind and heart.

 

We’ve lost our fear of God.  We’ve lost a sense that He is awesome in the sense of creating awe.  Romans 3:18 says "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  Although we believe He exists and have trusted Jesus for salvation, we act like He isn’t going to judge us or hold us accountable.  I don’t.  As long as no one confronts me I must be doing okay. 

 

Which is really where this bout of discouragement has started.  The culture aspect has followed but it really started within.  Tracing it back I think it began one evening as a group of us were planning for a missions weekend our church held.  We were discussing what we as a church really need to do and how important prayer is and on and on.  One of those ‘rah, rah’ sessions where all the problems are diagnosed and all the solutions given and the participants walk away feeling good that we’ve solved the worlds’ problems and do nothing to implement the solutions we’ve discovered.  At one point in the meeting I got tired and cried within, "I’m tired of being challenged and not changed!"

 

I look out and I see hopelessness.  I look in and I see a young woman with good intentions and desires who is largely unchanged, unmotivated and independent of God.  Part of me wants to stay in this discouragement because then at least I’m feeling something and can even pretend that I’m accomplishing something.  Reminds me of the many times that I’ve conned myself into believing I was being productive by staying in bed and pressing my snooze button for the umpteenth time.  I am not who I want to be.  And in a moment of uncharacteristic honesty I’m going to say that I’m not even someone who deserves to be financially supported or applauded in the ministry sense.  I’m not looking for people to be condescending and say things like "Debbie, you’re not that bad…"  I dare you.  Look into what I do.  Investigate.  How effective is my life?  How much sway does God have in it?  And then please, be honest and help me.

 

I’m not who I would be.  I’m not who I preach at others to be.

 

And yet, and yet… even today God gives hope.  "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  (Matthew 28:20)   

Song for [Easter]: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia

Sing, ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia

 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia

Where, O death is now thy sting? Alleluia

Once He died, our souls to save, Alleluia

Where’s thy victory, O grave Alleluia

 

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia

 

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia

 

~ Charles Wesley

Song for Sunday: For the Cross

This song, while being fun and upbeat, has some of the most profound lyrics concerning the cross.

 

I will love You for the cross and I will love You for the cost,

Man of suffering, Bringer of my peace.

You came into a world of shame and paid the price we could not pay:

Death that brought me life, blood that brought me home,

Death that brought me life, blood that brought me home.

 

And I love You for the cross!

I’m overwhelmed at the mystery.

I love You for the cross;

That Jesus You would do this for me

When You were broken, You were beaten

You were punished, I go free!

When You were wounded and rejected

In Your mercy, I am healed.

 

Jesus Christ the sinner’s friend, does this kindness know no bounds?

With Your precious blood You have purchased me.

O, the mystery of the cross!  You were punished, You were crushed,

But that punishment has become my peace.

Yes, that punishment has become my peace.

 

~ Matt & Beth Redman