"Beautiful Lord"

God has really been using different songs lately to minister to me. Here's one by a new band called Leeland that has helped me significantly because of the comforting truth it holds. I play it again and again to remind myself to let Him be the "peace that calms my troubled sea" and to let His grace "[remain] the shelter that I seek." My weakness really is all I have to give.

"Beautiful Lord" by Leeland

Verse 1

When the storm is raging all around me

You are the peace that calms

My troubled sea

And when the cares of this world

Darken my day

You are the light that shines

And shows me the way

Oh, the beauty of Your majesty

On the cross You showed Your love for me!

Chorus

Beautiful Lord

Awesome and mighty

I’m captured by this love I see

Beautiful Lord

Tender and holy

Your mercy brings me to my knees

It’s Your mercy that has made me free

Beautiful Lord

Verse 2

When my sin is all that I can see

Your grace remains the shelter that I seek

And when my weakness is all I can give

Your gentle Spirit gives me strength again

And oh, the beauty of Your majesty

On the cross You showed Your love for me

And I am lifted by Your love to sing!

It’s Your mercy that has made me free!

-Amber Harrington-

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

The following hymn is by a man who lived in the 18th century, named William Cowper. He wrote many hymns alongside his spiritual mentor, John (author of "Amazing Grace"). Though he (Cowper) was saved, he suffered bouts of severe depression. It's amazing to read his work with that in mind.

I like this hymn so much that I think I want to get it framed someday.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way
by William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

-Amber Harrington-

The Beauty of Grace

You took the crown of thorns,

And gave me a crown of grace.

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You took upon my death,

And gave me Your life.

-

You took my cloak of sin,

And gave me robes of righteousness.

-

You took my condemnation,

And gave me hope.

-

You took my tears of pain,

And gave me the joy of the Father.

-

My Inadequacies are endless,

My transgression abounds.

-

Yet you do not forsake,

You do not condem.

-

How can it be?

How can it be?

-

By the blood of one who is perfect,

One far more righteous than me.

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So often I forget where I once was and where Christ proclaims me to be. He is my great High Preist who pleads my cause to a God who is just and who does not let the wicked go unpunished. The father looks upon the Son and pardons ME because my eternal wrongs have been atoned. This however, is not where our Lord ends. In His great mercy and steadfast love for us, He has granted us a portion of His great Kingdom and His beautiful glory. He bathes us in His marvelous light, fills us with faith, allows us to know Him, and grants us the grace to overcome our sinful flesh.

-

May we seek to continually remind ourselves of our sin, and furthermore, of the cross so that we might fufill 0ur purpose and our great declaration. To live for the glory of God, the wonderful Trinity.

-Kyle Glick-

Sons of God

C. H. Spurgeon - Morning and Evening

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God."—1 John 3:1,2.

BEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called "the sons of God." What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." We are content to be unknown with Him in His humiliation, for we are to be exalted with Him. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." That is easy to read, but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ. With all these things against us, now—in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be—now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." "Ah, but," you say, "see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory." But read the next: "It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him." The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and divine power shall refine our bodies, then shall we see Him as He is.

His Daily Faithfulness

Last week was one of those weeks. I wasn't depending on God for his daily strength. I wasn't relying on the "fountain of living waters." Oh how easy it is to slip into self-sufficiency! It seems to me like the busier I get, the more I rely on myself, when it should be the opposite.

That's why, in my despair, I was glad to be reminded by Lamentations 3:21-24 that though I choose not to depend on Him at times, He graciously continues to renew His grace each day. I can say, along with Jeremiah: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

Though my faith ceases many times, I'm so glad that "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases!" I'm so glad that He provides us with mercy that will "never come to an end" and that is "new every morning." Though I fail to commune with the Lord for days, I can boldy come before the Throne of Grace, unafraid and without shame, because of His daily faithfulness to show me mercy.

If you are disappointed in your own efforts to depend on Him, take heart! Though we are unfaithful, he remains very faithful each and every morning with new mercy and another fresh opportunity to “hope in him."

-Amber Harrington-

Christ The Lord

Christ the Lord,

It is you who are most adored.

Entering the world as a helpless child,

You were born to give your life,

For the guilty and the vile.

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Christ the Lord,

Our hope and saviour,

The wrath of the Father you bore,

So that we might inherit the right,

To know Him forevermore.

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Christ the Lord,

Deliverer of sinners and the abhorred.

The beauty of salvation,

Far more than a story,

Forever be displayed,

Your splendor and Your glory.

-

Kyle Glick