Christmas is Good News!

Christmas is good news!   

It is the best news, because  we are not alone.

The almighty God of Heaven and Earth  came to us!
He is with us!

He has demonstrated His love for us in the most profound way.

God so loved  that He gave…

“We love, because He first loved us.” I John 3:19

He gave  Himself.

He gave His best.

He gave His Son, Jesus, …fully man and fully God.

Jesus was born in the most humble of circumstances so that He, the King of Kings, could instead serve as our Savior.

He has experienced what we experience,

walked where we walk,

and lived in our fallen world.

God has chosen to share His longing for us to know Him and know His great love for us

in the person of

… Jesus, …

His beloved, only Son.

God looked down upon this world, filled with hatred, jealousy, pain, bitterness, anger, loneliness, shame, murder, adultery, thievery, and callous disregard for others…

 

…and His response was… Jesus.

A sacrificial Savior,

a caring Shepherd,

and a forever Friend,

Jesus is the Truth that God loves us more than we can comprehend.

He is the Way that has been provided for us to escape the power and the penalty of all of the sin and wrong in this world.

He is the Life…

… the very life of God…

that can be born within us.

Anyone who understands this amazing truth and responds to God’s gift of Jesus by saying,

“Yes. I receive Him. Thank You for THE Gift.”

… will never be the same.

The Light of the World, the Prince of Peace, the Redeemer and Savior, Jesus, will be a forever friend as well as the Lord of your life.

It is possible to sing, “Joy to the World” in the midst of human suffering (even your own)…

… because our suffering is not the end of the story.

His suffering is.

He suffered death on the cross so that we might live…

       abundantly,

               eternally,

                      and even joyfully.

The message of Christmas is that we need Him, so…

       … He came!

He came because of the darkness and pain of this world

       … and because of the darkness and pain in our own hearts.

He is with us.

       He loves us.

               He lived for us…

 … and He continues to live for us.

(The Bible says that Jesus is praying for us and preparing a place for us, even right now.)

But before He was resurrected and went to Heaven,  Jesus died for us.

He, who had lived a perfect life because of His great love and Divine power…

He, who was and is God.. in human flesh… the living Word of God…

He gave His all to show us  His great love.

 

So, now, the good news of Christ’s coming has become all about  WHY He came.

He came because He loves us and we needed Him.

and now

Death and sorrow

and illness and pain

and loneliness and heartache

are  NOT  the

end

of the story.

Joy to the World!

Luke 2:10-11

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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This post was written by Cynthia A. Boyd and was inpired by an interesting article about the fact that songs which share the message of the Joy of Christmas may seem incomplete, hollow, and even unfeeling to many people because the messages of “joy to the world” and “peace on earth” and holly jolly holidays may seem to neglect the difficulties and sorrows and tragedies of life. It’s so true that many people are suffering hurt and pain at this time of year and all of the time. We must always be sensitive to the hearts of others and acknowledge their sorrow and loneliness, knowing that devastation in the midst of celebration feels isolating and deeper still.

I must state without reservation that I do agree with the premise of the article I read.  This post is sort of an addendum.  Yes, it is true that we need to be careful to be sensitive to the hurting world around us and and to share the whole truth of the gospel and the fact that Christmas is all about the hurt and pain and God’s desire for us to someday dwell with Him in a holy place where none of the bad things exist.  I agree completely.

Stay with me here.  I wrote this article because the pain in our world doesn’t change the fact that Christmas is still good news since the reason for the good news, for the coming of Christ (and the perfect life He lived, and His death, and His resurrection), is because of our pain and our need for understanding the depth of God’s love and our need for being born into new life.  Not “in spite of”, but rather “because of” our pain, Christmas is good news!

Christmas is still (and always will be) good news!

Note:  Here is a link to the article I had read:  http://www.christianpost.com/news/rethinking-our-holly-jolly-christmas-songs-110783/
and on author Russell Moore’s own blog, where it appeared originally, @  http://www.russellmoore.com/2012/12/18/crucify-your-holly-jolly-christmas/

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Do you know Jesus?

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

 

Joy for Today

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”    Psalm 118:24

What does it mean to rejoice and be glad in today?

Here’s one definition of the word “rejoice”:  “animated with gladness, exhilarated, feeling joy” *

Pastors and Bible scholars often state that there is a difference between happiness and joy.  The writers at GotQuestions.org state their belief in this way:  “The Bible teaches that happiness is fleeting because it often depends on things outside of ourselves, but true joy is eternal because it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ, which is itself an everlasting source of joy.”
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/joy-happiness.html#ixzz2MbRweTBr

We shouldn’t be as focused solely upon happiness which is dependent on outward circumstances.  Our joy in the Lord is based on an internal constant – our relationship with Him.

What does the Bible say regarding joy?

1. *  Psalm 4:7 –  “You have filled my heart with greater joy.”
   God is the source and provider of joy in our lives.
3. *  Psalm 19:8 –  “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.”
   God’s Word also brings joy to the life of the believer because it is right.

*  Psalm 92:4 –  “For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the work of your hands.”
God’s mighty works can bring us joy as we consider His mighty power, His creativity, and His kindness.

*  Acts 16:34 –  “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole family.”
Salvation brought joy to the Philippian jailer.

*  2 Corinthians 7:4b –   “…in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.”
Even in the midst of problems, we can have endless joy as we learn to keep our minds focused on God and his promises.

*  Galatians 5:22 –   “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
Joy is one of the evidences of our spiritual conversion and our relationship with Christ.

*  1 Thessalonians 1:6b –   “…in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit gives us joy, revealing God’s love and care for us in countless ways.

*  1 Thessalonians 5:16 –  “Be joyful always…”
We are commanded to always be joyful, a similar verse reminds us that we are “abounding in hope”.

*  James 1:2 –  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
We should be joyful even when we face trials in life,  choosing joy in spite of circumstances.

– The scriptures about joy were taken from http://www.richchristianpoorchristian.com/2010/04/difference-between-happiness-and-joy.html

What does the Bible say about “today”?

“So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”   Hebrews 4:7
Although this verse probably referred to salvation (similiar to “today is the day of salvation”), we can also enter His rest by choosing to spend time in meditation and prayer.  As we allow God to specak to our hearts, we have chosen His rest rather than choosing to harden our hearts by allowing worry or doubt to take hold.

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.”    Exodus 14:13
The Egyptians had been the captors of the children of Israel and then became their pursuers, intending to punish them and take them captive once more.  Moses encouraged the people to believe and to trust firmly in God’s deliverance.  After all that God had already done in sending the plagues on Egypt to secure the release of His people, He was not going to allow them to be re-captured and enslaved again.  What holds you captive and pursues your heart?  God has promised delieverance to those who will stand firm and trust him.

“I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the LORD our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today.”   Deuteronomy 29:15
God was always thinking of us.  Though we had not yet been born, we were in His heart.  His covenant and His promises are for us!  As the Psalmist said, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”  And yet, He is.  YOU are on God’s mind and in His heart.

“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”   2 Corinthians 6:2
Isn’t it incredible the lengths to which God has gone to show His favor to us and to offer us salvation.  He did not withhold His only Son.  He loved us while we were yet sinners.  He sent the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts and speak to our hearts to call us to Himself.  When you have already said “yes” to God’s salvation, you are the apple of His eye.  His favor rests on you.  This is not just the favor of an earthly King.  God’s favor is the merciful and loving goodness of the King of all creation!

“The Sovereign LORD has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning, He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will.”   Isaiah 50:4
God has given us His word, full of promises, assurance and comfort.  He gives us His peace when we fix our minds upon Him.  He opens our minds to the understanding of the eternal, even when the temporary circumstances of our lives seem overwhelming or even hopeless.  He sends others to strengthen and encourage us, working in their hearts as well so that they may know how to comfort us; and sometimes He allows us to be the one with words of comfort or just a comforting presence for others.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”   2 Peter 3:8& 9
Never forget God’s patience and His complete understanding.  He is not slow to hear your prayers.  He is patient.  Unlike us, he is not prone to act hastily or unwisely.  There is time…an eternity of time…for God to make everything right and to wipe away all sorrow, giving us the incredible, eternal gift of being present with Him in Heaven, where the joy and delight will be beyond anything we can imagine and will never end!

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”   Psalm 118:24
Today, we can rejoice and be glad!  We have a loving God who is a keeper of promises.  He is patient, kind, merciful, and good.  He cares about everything in our lives.  He is the God of all comfort.  He saw our need and sent His only Son to provide salvation.  He is preparing a place in heaven for you!  As Babbie Mason’s song, “What Can Separate You (From the Precious Love of God)” says, “To give you life forever, He left no stone unturned“.  He is the lover of your soul and the keeper of your heart.

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”   Psalm 5:3
May we choose to begin the day seeking God, knowing that He hears us.  May we wait expectantly for His work in our lives and on our behalf.  May we wait, trusting Him, and choosing joy in the waiting!

Dear friend, rejoice today; and be glad in the loving kindness of the one true God, whose mercy endures forever!

Here are the words to a brand new song by Travis L. Boyd.  This song is special and will bless a lot of hearts.  May it be a reminder of God’s love and care and the way He meets us where we are and surrounds us with His loving presence.
EARLY IN THE MORNING
by Travis L. Boyd

Early in the morning
When the night is gone,
Creation awakens
To welcome the dawn.

Early in the morning
At the break of day,
Your glory shines forth
In the beautiful world You have made.

Early in the morning,
When I bow in prayer,
Your presence surrounds me.
I rest in Your care.

Early in the morning,
When I speak Your name,
Your peace overwhelms me.
My soul must proclaim…

Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, Amen!

(bridge)
Morning by morning,  Your mercies are new.
Lovingly, You guide my way.
Moment by moment, You shepherd my soul,
Giving me strength and  fulfilling my days.

Early in the morning,
I will lift my voice
To worship and praise You,
My soul must rejoice!

Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah!  Hallelujah, Amen!

(copyright Travis L. Boyd, Worship Sounds Music)
Available on the Worship Sounds Music website at http://www.worshipsounds.com

* The definition of “rejoice” near the beginning of this post is from http://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/rejoice.html

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This post was written and compiled by Cynthia A. Boyd, with song lyrics written by Travis L. Boyd.

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Here is a link to a video of Babbie Mason’s beautiful and comforting song,
“What Can Separate You (From the Precious Love of God)”

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=1MECJNNU

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Looking for answers for yourself or for a friend?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

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30 Thankful Verses

Thankful hearts, rejoice!

Here are thirty verses about giving thanks to God.  There is one verse for each day of the month, with some brief devotional thoughts to inspire you.

  DAY  ONE

  “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord.   Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:  “He is good; His love endures forever.”   Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud.”    II Chronicles 5:13

Jesus prayed that we (God’s people) would be one.  When we come together as one to praise and thank Him, God’s presence is made known to us as he inhabits (literally, dwells within) the praise of His people.  Today, let us thank God, as the trumpeters and singers did, for His great love that endures forever.

  DAY  TWO

  “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”    Psalm 7:17

He is holy and righteous.  Thank God today for His righteousness.

  DAY  THREE

  “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart:  I will tell of all Thy wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and exult in Thee, I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High.”     Psalm 9:1 & 2

How are we supposed to give thanks to the Lord?  This verse tells us that we should give thanks to God with our whole heart.  A half-hearted thankfulness results from giving thanks out of a sense of duty, just because we know we should.  However, when we spend some time thinking and meditating on all that God has done (His wonderful deeds), thankfulness is the natural overflow of our hearts in response to our great God.  Spend some time thinking of His wonderful deeds, and thank Him with your whole heart!

  DAY  FOUR

  “Blessed be the Lord!  for He has heard the voice of my supplications.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”    Psalm 28:6 & 7

Thank the Lord today for being a God that we can trust.  He has our best interests at heart.  He gives His strength, protects us, and helps us.

  DAY  FIVE

  “Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name.”     Psalm 30:4

His saints…   He has accepted us as we are, saved us, and is at work in our hearts to make us like Jesus.  Thank God for His mercy in all of these things!

 

  DAY  SIX

  “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.”    Psalm 50:14

He has given sacrificially to us in every way, and He always keeps His promises.  Thank God today for accepting your thankfulness as a sacrifice to Him, for the sacrifices He has made to you, and for His unchanging character as a keeper of promises.

  DAY  SEVEN

  “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”    Psalm 69:30

Thank God for the songs that allow you to praise His name and bring glory to Him through thanksgiving.  Sing one of these songs to the Lord today.

  DAY  EIGHT

  “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High; To show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.”     Psalm 92:1 & 2

Thankfulness is a good thing!  From morning until night, give thanks for God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness today.

  DAY  NINE

  “O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is His also.  The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.  O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”     Psalm 95:1 – 7a

He is a great God!  Our God is the sovereign ruler and creator of all things!   And yet, he regards us with tenderness, as the sheep of His hand.  Thank God for His might and for His tenderness today.

  DAY  TEN

  “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”    Psalm 97:12

We can be called righteous only to the extent that His righteousness indwells our hearts.  Thank God today for living within you.

  DAY  ELEVEN

  “Make a joyful moise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness; come fefore His presence with singing.  Know that the Lord is God; it is He that has made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good:  His mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.”     Psalm 100 (all verses, 1 – 5)

The Lord is good!  His mercy lasts forever!  (He never tires of showing mercy!)  His truth will prevail, even when it seems that the world is full of lies.  Thank God today for these great truths about who He is.

  DAY  TWELVE

  “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him; talk of all His wondrous works.  Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”    Psalm 105:1 – 3

We can rejoice and give thanks because when we call upon the Lord, He hears us.  When we seek Him, He responds.  Before we knew we needed Him, He met our need.  These are among the wondrous works of the Lord.  Thank Him today for being a God who knows us and who wants to be known by us.

  DAY  THIRTEEN

  “Praise ye the Lord; O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.  Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?  Who can show forth all His praise?”   Psalm 106:1 & 2

Thank the Lord that His mighty acts are so numerous that no one can name them all.  Thank Him for the ways that He is at work that we cannot see.  The Lord is good!  Show forth His praise today.

  DAY  FOURTEEN

  “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to the sons of men!  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!”   Psalm 107:21 & 22

No matter who we are, where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, God’s love for us is steadfast.  Thank God today for His wonderful, everlasting love.

  DAY  FIFTEEN

  “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!  I will sing and make melody!  Awake, my soul!  Awake, O harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn!  I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, I will sing praises to You among the nations.  For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!  Let Your glory be over all the earth.”    Psalm 108:1 – 5

God’s faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  It is beyond any faithfulness that we have ever known.  God’s faithfulness is not dependant on perfection from us.  He is faithful is spite of our sinfulness.  Thank God for His faithfulness today and every day.

  DAY  SIXTEEN

  “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng.”    Psalm 109:30

Where did the Psalmist give thanks and praise to God?  ….in the midst of the throng.   And how?  …with his mouth.  Thank God today, no matter where you are and who is there with you.  Thank Him out loud!

  DAY  SEVENTEEN

  “Praise the Lord.  I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”    Psalm 111:1

Where else did the Psalmist give praise and thanks to the Lord?  …in the company of the upright, in the congregation.  You will never know how much your presence and the testimony of your praise may mean to the heart of another believer.  Do not forsake the worship of God with your congregation.  As iron sharpens iron, the faith of others increases our own faith, and your faith increases the faith of others.  Thank God today for those who have been a spiritual influence in your life.  Give Him praise with your whole heart, and remember to assemble with the saints in your congregation every time that you can be there.

  DAY  EIGHTEEN

  “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God upon the lyre.”     Psalm 147:7

Why are we told in scriptures so many times to sing to the Lord with thanksgiving?  It’s because we matter to Him, and our praise matters to Him as well.  We were created to bring Him glory.  Thank God that you matter to Him, and that He considers you to be of such infinite value that your praise brings Him glory.  Glorify Him with your praise and thanksgiving today.

  DAY   NINETEEN

  “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.  Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”     Isaiah 12:4-5

To whom are we to make God’s name and His deeds known?  …to the nations, and to all the world.  Our God wants everyone to know Him.  He values all people.  He loves all people.  Today, thank God for the fact that He has allowed you to be part of His great mission to make Himself known and to reach the hearts of people around the world.

  DAY  TWENTY

  “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”    II Corinthian 4:15

Thank God for His wonderful, incredible grace, reaching out to us in spite of our sinfulness and covering our sin because of His great love.

  DAY  TWENTY  ONE

  “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”    Eph. 5:20

For what should we be thankful?  …everything.  This is the most difficult thing for us to do, but He is with us and is working all things together for our good.  Give thanks for the hard places in your journey.

  DAY  TWENTY  TWO

  “Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God.”    Phil. 4:6

Thank God today for the fact that we have the ability to talk to Him in prayer about anything.  We are to come to Him without reservation.  We do not need to worry.  He hears our prayers and answers them in His wisdom.

  DAY  TWENTY THREE

  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power, so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.    Col 1:11 – 12

God continues to give!  He gives strength through His glorious power, along with endurance and patience.  He gives us an inheritance as His people.  He allows us to live in the light of His glory and grace.  Thank Him today, with joy!

  DAY  TWENTY  FOUR

  “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”    Colossians 2:7

We don’t have to stay where we are in our walk with the Lord.  He accepts us and loves us as we are, but He also continues His work in our hearts as we build our lives on Him.  Thank God for His work in your heart and life.  He will be faithful to complete it!

  DAY  TWENTY  FIVE

  “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.”    Colossians 3:15

Thank God for His peace, and ask Him to help you allow His peace to rule in your heart no matter what circumstances surround you.

  DAY  TWENTY  SIX

  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”    Colossians 3:16 & 17

Thank the Lord for Christ our Savior!   He has given His all for us, so may we live to bring Him glory!

  DAY  TWENTY  SEVEN

  “Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas.   You accepted what we said as the very word of God–which, of course, it is.  And this word continues to work in you who believe.    I Thessalonians 2:13

Thank God for the power of his Word, which continues to work in us, and for Jesus the living Word, who has been the physical incarnation and demonstration of the Word

  DAY  TWENTY  EIGHT

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”    I Thessalonians 5:18

We belong to Christ Jesus!  He has saved us, and God holds us in the hollow of His hand.  How can we fail to be thankful?

  DAY  TWENTY  NINE

  “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”    I Timothy 2:1

Thank God for the people in your life…all of the people!  And, when God brings a name or face across your path (whether you know the person or not), thank Him for this person and ask God to help them.

  DAY  THIRTY

  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably, with reverence and awe.”    Hebrews 12:28

Thank God for His eternal Kingdom and His ultimate victory.  With our thankfulness, we offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence for Him and awe because of who He is and what He has done.  Thank Him for being who He is.

WORTHY  OF  OUR  THANKSGIVING

For all of time, God has been the same.  He has always been worthy of praise and thanksgiving, and He always will be.  Our grateful hearts on earth foreshadow the thankfulness of the great multitude in Heaven.  Give thanks to Him every day!  Amen.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multititude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!”  And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, ” Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever!  Amen.”
Revelation 7:9 – 12

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This thankfulness guide could certainly be used in the month of November as many people focus on thanksgiving to God.  However, it can be used at any time!  Everyday, we have 10,000 reasons to thank God and give Him praise!

Note:  The verses used in this post were copied from BibleCC, the Online Parallel Bible at http://bible.cc/
The verses were found using the following search terms:  ‘thank’, ‘thanks’, ‘thankful’, ‘thankfulness’, ‘thanksgiving’, ‘give thanks’, and ‘giving thanks’.  In each case, the Bible translation which seems to convey the meaning of the verse most clearly was used, so the verses represent various Bible translations.  There were other verses in which the thankful terms also appeared.  However, many of the verses in Psalms were very similar to verses already chosen.  Other verses were part of a narrative and would have sounded incomplete when used out of context.  The 30 verses chosen were just the best representation of verses about the subject of being thankful or giving thanks.

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These scriptures were compiled and the devotional thoughts were added by C. A. Boyd

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Do you know someone who is looking for answers?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

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To Infinity!………………… and far, Far, FAR beyond!

One of the things that I love about music is that it is always moving.  It is not a stationary art form.  One note ceases and the next begins.  One phrase is followed by another.  Underlying chords are changing.  The melody pushes forward, embracing the mood of the piece and the message of the lyrics.  A moment of dissonance gives way to a glorious major chord.  There is dynamic contrast to provide the shading and shadow, as if an artist’s brush were painting a visual representation of the tune.  Meter changes or modulations to a new key intrigue us with a surprise twist on the theme.  The intensity of melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and interpretation move ahead to a glorious big ending or a more quiet and contemplative finish.  When the movement of notes and patterns comes to a close, the music stops.  A final note can only be sustained for so long, and yet the expression of love or joy or hope or longing that was contained in the music seems to linger, as though it is suspended in the air that surrounds us.  The experience of making the music or of sharing in it through listening has awakened something within us, and we often remember a certain song or concert or performance.

Talented artists and sculptors can also create a sense of movement visually.  In looking at a finished painting, we glimpse the clouds that are sailing across the sky, a breeze rustling the leaves of trees and foliage, an almost solemn expression betraying the smile that is a just a moment away, barely perceptible ripples in the surface of a tranquil pond, or a mother’s gentle, rocking motion as she soothes her child.  The work of a sculptor is often a three dimensional study of a moment in time.  A horse’s flank reveals muscle in motion, and marble clothing drapes the sculpted human form in fluid movement.

It goes without saying that there is movement in dance.  Whether the dance is the refined and intricately choreographed poetry in motion that reveals the work of a true ballet master or a jubilant, impromptu celebration of good news, it is also the expression of our deepest longings.  We desire to witness the power of human emotion and the experience of living as it is visually portrayed through movement.   The beauty of love, the excitement of a dream come true, or the tragedy of loss are particularly touching when portrayed through the movements that we call dance.

If the arts reveal the soul of mankind, then it becomes obvious that movement is very important to us.  What is so appealing about movement?

“I’m goin’ somewhere, and I’m takin’ Teddy with me!”

Movement is life.  Movement is a constant for us.  Even when we are lying completely still, our hearts are at work, beating in life-sustaining motion.  Movement is healing for us.  By working and exercising, doing things, and having fun, we strive to make our own lives better and to enrich the lives of those we love in some way.  As human beings, we are always yearning for something more, for something better than what we know.  Our longing to make things more convenient, more efficient, more comfortable, or more beautiful allows us to use our God-given intelligence and creativity to solve problems.  Inventions and innovation result from our desire to somehow continue moving forward in our lives.  Most of us are life-long learners, always seeking to know more and to use that knowledge in some positive way.  Even though we acknowledge the truth with the phrase, “Nothing’s perfect”, we still long for more and keep striving.  Our lives are a journey of discovery.  As soon as we recognize a need for change or improvement, we begin to seek a solution and discover ways to make things better.  Other than the obvious reasons for personal, relational, and environmental improvement, I believe that there is something else at work deep within each of us.

God’s word has something to say about our longing for something more than what we experience in our day to day lives.  Here, from the New Living Translation, is Ecclesiastes 3:11.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

Somehow, our hearts know that we were made for more than a brief span of time in a beautiful and majestic and yet imperfect world.  As we look at the symmetry and amazing creativity of God’s creation, we know that perfect beauty and harmony can exist.  The astounding complexity of the tiniest creature and the fragile and ferocious balance of nature testify to the supernatural  intelligence of our infinitely caring Creator.  He has placed a longing for more within our hearts.  It is a longing that can only be filled within the context of relationship with Him and ultimately in reaching our eternal dwelling place with Him in Heaven.

“Your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch.” 1 Samuel 25:29 (New Living Translation).

All of our movements, our work, our striving, our creative expression, and our efforts toward life management and self-improvement can never be enough to erase the longing for more.  God has set eternity within our hearts.   The universal longings of the human heart and soul can all be fully met only in Him.

The longing to love and be loved, fully and perfectly.
The longing to live in an environmnet of perfect serenity and peace.
The longing to live forever.
The longing to live in a place where there is no heartache and no pain.
The longing to have a dwelling place that is uniquely designed to meet all of our needs perfectly.
The longing to know and understand things that seem difficult and beyond understanding.
The longing to find delight and joy in living that goes beyond our wildest dreams.

We cannot find true and perfect fulfillment of all of these longings in this earthly life, but for those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who love God, and who have surrendered their own desires and longings for something better, there is a promise of the life to come.  It is a promise that we cannot fully grasp because we don’t know all of the facts.  It is impossible for us to completely understand the fulfillment of God’s promise, because we have no basis for comparison.  His answer to the longings of our hearts and souls goes beyond anything we have ever experienced.  Our eyes have never seen anything like it.  Our ears have never heard anything like it.  Our minds have never thought of anything so wondrous, even in our most extravagant dreams.

I Corinthians 2:9   “But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.”

I can’t wait to see, to hear, to experience, and to know!   As I am now, I am unfit for Heaven.  My mind is too easily distracted from things of eternal importance to the mundane tasks of every day and even the earthly interests that draw me away.  I would not be able to fully enjoy Heaven without a change.  Although the process of change began many years ago when I said “Yes!” to Jesus, there is much change that still needs to take place in my life and heart.  I cannot live in a Holy place as I am now.  My presence would render it unholy.  However, I will not stay in my current state.  God’s promises assure me that He will continue to refine my soul and my life while I am here on earth, moving me forward in my journey toward Christlikeness.  In Phillipians 2:13, I find His promise for the here and now.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

This is God at work.  I am not alone in this journey.  God himself continues His creative work as He creates a clean heart and a right spirit within me.  I cannot achieve holiness on my own, but when I have Christ within me, I have the hope of glory.

God also promises to finish His work within me.  His work did not cease when the Earth was formed and filled with life.  He is still at work, and He never leaves a job unfinished.  When he begins a work, He will complete it!  Phillippians 1:6 shares the confidence we have in His promise:

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

And on that day, what will Heaven be like?  What will eternity with God be like?  Although we can learn what the Bible reveals about heaven, there is much that we will not know until we arrive.  We do know that we have never seen anything like what we will see.  We have never heard anything like what we will hear.  And, we could never imagine anything so incredible if we dreamed and thought about Heaven every day for the rest of our lives.  It will be that different, that wonderful, and that extraordinary.   There are no words in our language that could adequately describe what we will experience, because it will be so far, far beyond anything we’ve ever known.  Yes, we will have eternity.  We will have forever.  We will have an infinite amount of time, a never-ending life.   But, we will have so much more than just time!  The idea of living on is certainly appealing to us, but the time itself is only a part of the gift of God’s mercy that will alllow us to experience what He has prepared for us.

Think of someone who loves you.  Do you remember a time when someone did something just for you?  Perhaps you think of someone who planned a special surprise for you, or hosted a party for you and tried to include all of your favorite things, someone who prepared a special meal for you, spent time with you when you needed companionship most, or planned an outing with obvious care that revealed a concern for you in every detail.  Perhaps someone invested their time and made a special gift just for you or helped to plan and prepare for your wedding shower or baby shower.  Perhaps a buddy invited you to play golf at your favorite course, followed by barbecue at the place your wife doesn’t care for but that you love.  Maybe a friend at work went out of the way to help you with a project or to keep things going when you were home sick.  Someone has done something nice for you, keeping in mind what you need most or enjoy most or love most.  Now, remember the last portion of I Corinthians 2:9:  “…neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.”   Think about that for a moment.  This is what Jesus said about God’s desire to bless us and to “give good gifts” in Matthew 7:11:

“If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

In this passage, Jesus was talking about prayer.  His point was that we should not be afraid to ask God for anything, knowing that He is good and that He wants to demonstrate His love and caring to His children.   Even though I have not written about prayer in this post; and even though we have been considering the unknown of what God has prepared in Heaven for those who love him rather than His desire to bless us while on earth, the Bible tells us that our God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!  If His desire was and is and always will be to bless us and demonstrate His love for us in this earthly life and in the life to come, we cannot begin to fathom what that means for eternity.  He is preparing a place for us.  With thought, and care, and love, and every resource at His disposal, the God of Creation and of all Eternity, the Savior of Mankind, is preparing a place for us.  Sometimes in this earthly life, we get carried away with our expectations for an event or a surprise, and then the actual event or gift is a bit of a let-down in comparison to our over-active imagination.   In Heaven, it would be impossible to be disappointed with what God will have prepared for us.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  He has been creating and preparing and longing for the day when we will finally know Him even as we are known.  We cannot begin to imagine the wonder, the beauty, the joy, the love, the peace, the comfort, the surprise, the caring, and the paradise that awaits us.

Welcome….

Infinity (or, eternity) is good.  Inifinity is beyond good.  It is impossible for us to even imagine infinite time.  Then, when we add God’s love and care and preparation for us beyond all imagining… it is mind boggling to even consider.  What will it be like to experience something that is infinitely better than the best we have ever known?  What will it be like to take the best gifts we know…life and love…and see them manifested in the Divine and Holy?  When we are told that God’s best for us is more than we can imagine, we must remember that with God, everything is infinitely more and infinitely beyond.  Only in Heaven will we finally begin to understand infinitely lavish Love in the person of God Himself.   Here is His confession of Love:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”   Jeremiah 31:3

God is Love

It is as though a bridegroom has secretly built an extravagant and wonderful home for his bride.  After their wedding, she sees it for the first time.  It is wonderful beyond her wildest dreams.  In every detail, she sees the love that the bridegroom has poured into this lavish and unexpected gift.  The thoughtfulness and caring, the knowledge of what she would love, and the obvious truth that no effort or expense has been spared overwhelm the bride with the goodness of the heart of her beloved.

Dear ones, you who love the Lord, we are the beloved ones !  Infinitely more than we have loved, we have been loved.  We are God’s beloved.  We are the bride of Christ.  He has given everything for us!  He has invested himself in the gift of His creation, sustaining it in ways that we cannot begin to fathom.  He has provided us with a Savior, personally coming to earth in the form of a human child who was also fully divine.  He has given Himself in caring for us, loving us, comforting us, drawing us to Himself, and helping us to mature in Christ, answering the prayers we prayed in his infinite wisdom and even the prayers that we didn’t know how to pray.  And finally, He has given Himself to us fully in His preparation for eternity and in His Presence with us for all of eternity.   Your “mansion” will be your smallest gift, not your largest.  That’s just one that we happen to know about.  What about the surprises that are beyond our imagination?  I can’t even write about what He has prepared, because it is infinitely more than my mind can understand and infinitely beyond what my words could ever convey.   This is the one thing that I do know:  His Presence and our full knowledge of the depth of His love will be our most treasured gifts for all of eternity.

So, meanwhile, here we are in our human bodies with our love of life and movement and fun and joy and song and people.  We are using our earthly eyes to try to see as we read or write these words. We are using our finite minds to understand as we try to grasp the meaning of all of this.  We are living, loving, crying, giving, hurting, sharing, wondering, knowing, and striving.  At various times we are joyful, sad, elated, depressed, celebrating, devastated, confused, happy, bitter, or hopeful.  We are experiencing this world with all of it’s ups and downs.  And yet, somehow, we know there is more.  We try various ways to move toward what we think may be better.  Those of us who know the Lord have the answer; but we don’t always walk in it, and we don’t share it with others as we should.  What if we knew all that God is preparing for those who love Him even while we were still living the earthly life?  Then, would we be more eager to share the best news that mankind has ever been given?  I ask myself this question:  Why isn’t His promise enough?   Why do I have to know what is inside all of the gifts of eternity if I know the Giver?  If I know that He is infinitely more and that His love is infinitely beyond, why would I even hesitate to share such incredible news?  Why would anyone?

My little boy, Logan, loves Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story movies.  The favorite Buzz phrase for every fan is “To infinity…and beyond!”  The first time that we heard it, many of us adults may have had an inward chuckle, thinking of the redundancy of this phrase.  How would Buzz know that he’s saying the same thing twice?  He’s just a toy.  We smile, and we enjoy our young ones as they imagine something beyond what their little minds have experienced thus far and sum up all of that unknown stuff that is out there somewhere using their hero’s ‘buzz word’ (pun intended).  “To infinity and beyond!”  shout the little voices, ready to go wherever that is and do whatever there is to do there.  We smile and think about the fact that he or she doesn’t even know what the word infinity means.  Our minds expand on that fact.  How could you keep going on forever and then go on beyond forever to a place that is beyond the beyond?  We chuckle again.  Animated movies…plastic toys…big imaginations!  They’ll learn soon enough what is real, we think.

Today, I’m ready to challenge those notions.  There is a Love without limits.  There is a Life without end.  There is a reality that goes beyond what we know to be “real”.  Who could love beyond infinity?  Who transcends space and time?  Who is and was and always will be?  Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  He who gives Himself infinitely and always has more to give.  He who knows me intimately and loves me anyway.  He who will give us an infinity of time and life….and so much more!   He who gives infinity and far, far beyond…

Romans 8:35  “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36.  Just as it is written,  “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;  WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

37.  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  38.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  39.  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” *

God loves you, my friend!  To infinity, and far, far beyond….

*(from the New American Standard Bible)

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This post was written by C. A. Boyd

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You may have experienced the loss of a loved one.  We hope that these thoughts and scriptures about Heaven will be helpful to you.  Here are some additional scriptures of comfort.

Years ago, Travis and I went to a Christian concert, and one of the artists was talking about a friend who had what the Doctors called “terminal cancer.”  This man had a joyful attitude because he believed that the two possible scenarios for his future were to either (a) be miraculously healed or (b) be with the Lord.  He held onto the Lord and held on to hope!

Every person has a unique time to be born and a time to die.  For those left behind on earth, there is deep sorrow and mourning.  Grief is a process that all must someday endure.  It means that we have loved deeply.  But, remember the words of the previous post.  Even beyond the depth of our love, God’s love is deeper still… infinitely deeper.  He loves you, and He loves your loved ones.  Below, you will find some scriptures to bring comfort even in the pain of loss.

TRUST  GOD TO HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WRITTEN ON HIS HEART!

Here are some scripture verses that offer comfort and hope.

• The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who  are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18
• Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you  again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” – John 16:22
• I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them  comfort and joy instead of sorrow. – Jeremiah 31:13
• …weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the  morning. – Psalm 30:5
• He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3
• “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you,”  says the Lord. – Isaiah 66:13
• I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will  bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done  what I have promised you.” – Genesis 28:15
• I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar  paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before  them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16
• But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it  in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the  fatherless. – Psalm 10:14
• And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in  Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore  you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. – 1 Peter 5:10
• The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a  sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a  well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. – Isaiah 58:11
• For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who  have no one to help. – Psalm 72:12
• This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if  we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14
• The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he  saved me. – Psalm 116:5-6
• For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on  his afflicted ones. – Isaiah 49:13
• Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we  may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16
• In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your  sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy   when I called to you for help. – Psalm 31:22
• In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.  From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his  ears. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out  of deep waters. – Psalm 18:6, 16
• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father  of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our  troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort  we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of  Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort  overflows. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
• The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my  rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my  salvation, my stronghold. – Psalm 18:2
• For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted  one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry  for help. – Psalm 22:24
• Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak  with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief…But I trust in you, O LORD;  I say, “You are my God.” – Psalm 31:9, 14
• A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD  delivers him from them all; – Psalm 34:19
• In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered  them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were  not disappointed. – Psalm 22:4-5
• For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. – Matthew 6:8
• You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage  them, and you listen to their cry, – Psalm 10:17
• For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver…we went  through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. – Psalm 66:10, 12
• The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has  made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him  in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their  cry and saves them. – Psalm 145:17-19
• Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my  unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be  removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10
• My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from  him. – Psalm 62:1
• He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in  the shadow of the Almighty. – Psalm 91:1
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as  the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be  afraid. – John 14:27
• Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – I Peter 5:7
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in  him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
• He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms  and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have  young. – Isaiah 40:11
• You understand, O LORD; remember me and care for me. – Jeremiah 15:15

• Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out  weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying  sheaves with him. – Psalm 126:5-6
• I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In  this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the  world. – John 16:33
• Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will  never let the righteous fall. – Psalm 55:22
• Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace  with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained  access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice  in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2
• My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves  my life. – Psalm 119:50
• Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry  for help, and he will say: Here am I.  – Isaiah 58:9
• He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me  because he delighted in me. – Psalm 18:19
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and  petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the  peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your  hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
• Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of  your wings. – Psalm 17:8

We do not want you to be uninformed about those who fall asleep, or to  grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus  died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus  those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word,  we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming  of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command,  with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and  the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive  and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet      the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore  encourage each other with these words. – I Thessalonians 4:13-18

•  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among  the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10
•  The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take  great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice  over you with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17
•  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a  willing spirit, to sustain me. – Psalm 51:12
• Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me  with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. – Psalm 73:23-24
• Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the  LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:21-23
• For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor  demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither  height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to  separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
• Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes  refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the  disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills  {his purpose} for me. – Psalm 57:1-2
• I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my  fortress, my God, in whom I trust. – Psalm 91:2
• I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with  power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell  in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and  established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to  grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to  know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the  measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4
• But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your  love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. – Psalm 59:16
• He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will  find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. – Psalm 91:4
• The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for  those who trust in him. – Nahum 1:7
• I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in  the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and  wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:13-14
• The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to  it and are safe. – Proverbs 18:10
• The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie  down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my  soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even  though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no  evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm  23:1-4
• I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my  fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered  with shame. – Psalm 34:4-5
• May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to  your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your  law is my delight. – Psalm 119:76-77
• I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven  from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And  I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God  is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and  God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear  from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or  pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:2-4
• O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for  you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no  water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your  glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. – Psalm 63:1-3
• And my God will meet all your needs according to his  glorious riches in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:19
• Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great  mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me  quickly, for I am in trouble. – Psalm 69:16-17
• …because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake  you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be  afraid. What can man do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6
• But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the  Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. – Psalm 73:28

Scripture verses copied and edited from http;//www.joeagoglia.com/resources/scriptures.asp

© Copyright 2003-2012 Justin Agoglia. All Rights Reserved.

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For those who love and mourn through valleys of deepest sorrow…love and prayers to you.

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Do you know someone who is looking for answers?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

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We have another post about how much God loves you.  It is:  You Are Greatly Loved!

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Introducing the choral anthem, “For the Sins of All”

“For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17

There’s a new addition to the WorshipSounds Music Website!

The powerful message of the anthem “For the Sins of All” is now available for SATB Choir.  There is also a beautiful, full orchestration available.  The lyrics of this anthem tell the story of the amazing, sacrificial love of God and the incredible demonstration of grace in action as Jesus laid down His life in order to provide salvation for us…for the sins of all.

This anthem also has a Full Orchestration available.   In addition, there is a Vocal Solo in of this song on our website’s Home Page in the left sidebar.  The Vocal Solo is available in 3 keys.  Both the Orchestration and our brand new Accompaniment Track (which features the Orchestration) work with both our SATB Choral Anthem and the Medium Voice Vocal Solo.  We do not yet have Accompaniment tracks for the other 2 Solo keys.  You can hear the Accompaniment Track with a Vocal Solo demo at the end of this post.  Scroll down to our Sound Cloud recordings of “For the Sins of All”.

Here are the lyrics to “For the Sins of All”

(Verse 1)
“The tiny cries of a baby in a manger,
A rugged cross on a hill called Calvary,
The perfect plan of a holy, loving Father
Who gave His son to rescue you and me.

(Chorus)
For the sins of all
He walked the road to Calvary.
For the sins of all
He suffered on that tree.
With a final shout of victory,
He changed the course of history.
For only He could answer Heaven’s call
And die upon a rugged cross
For the sins of all.

(Verse 2)
Before the world was ever set in motion,
Before the dawn of mankind had begun,
Before the name of Jesus had been spoken,
The Father chose to sacrifice His Son.

(Repeat chorus)

(Bridge)
Through the life He led and the blood He shed
And the sacrifice He made,
He was reaching out with eternal love
To the ones He came to save.

(Repeat chorus, with tag ending)

* Lyrics to “For the Sins of All”, copyright Travis L. Boyd, WorshipSounds Music

See this and hear this anthem with our Video Demo on the WorshipSounds Music Website on the Adult Choir music pageat www.worshipsounds.com

Listen to the Medium Voice Vocal Solo Demo with Accompaniment Track on our Sound Cloud recording below.

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Do you know someone who is looking for answers? 

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

 

You Are Greatly Loved!

“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts throught the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” Romans 5:1 – 5

There are so many ways that the immense and immeasurable love of God is manifested to us, His deeply loved ones.  He has written His love for us into His creation, and He has chosen again and again to show us mercy and grace because of His powerful, perfect, and almighty love.

Here are some ABC reminders of the many ways that God has demonstrated His love to us.

{ A }  God’s love accepts us just as we are.   When we are ready to see our own sinfulness and come to Him for forgiveness and salvation, God is always ready to receive us.  We don’t have to clean ourselves up first or get ourselves right.  He takes care of that after we have come to Him.  The invitation to come to Him for salvation and forgiveness has no other conditions.  It is the beginning point of our walk with the Lord and our journey towards becoming like Christ.

{ B }  God’s love blesses our lives in countless ways.  Every good gift is from Him.  (James 1:17)

{ C }  God’s love covers our sin with His mercy through the blood of Jesus.  “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed in the one to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”   Psalm 32:1 & 2
(Note:  the sin is covered by God only as we confess it and ask for His forgiveness, as in verse 1a)

{ D }  God’s love delights in fellowship with us.  He is never unavailable.  He is God with Us, Emmanuel.

( E )  God’s love is everlasting.   He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   God’s love for us will never change or grow cold.

( F )  God’s love is forgiving.  He is rich in mercy.  As the hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” expresses, He is “ever giving and forgiving.”

( G )  God’s love is generous.  Because He loves, He gave the most precious gift ever given…His only Son.

“We love, because He first loved us.” I John 3:19

( H )  God’s love is holy.  There is no impure thought or motivation within the heart of God.  His love is the most pure and holy of all loves.

( I )   God’s love is immortal.   The Bible says that God is love. And, since God will never die, His love (that is the basic character of who God is and the fundamental motivation for all that He does) will never die.  Our mortal loved ones may leave us for a time on Earth, but God’s love has always been, constantly is, and will always be.  It is who He is.

( J )  God’s love is a jealous love.  He wants to be first in our hearts.  To some, that may sound out of character for our merciful and loving God; but He is the one who made us and knows us best.  He knows that our lives will be complete, abundant, full of joy, and our full potential will be realized only as we love Him first.

( K )  God’s love is kind.  He has our best interests at heart.   As the lyrics from the chorus to the song, “Trust His Heart”  (recorded by both Babbie Mason and Cynthia Clawson) tell us so beautifully:  “God is too wise to be mistaken.  God is too good to be unkind.  So, when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”

( L )  God’s love is long-suffering (patient even when it is painful to be so).  He allows the world to continue even though our sorrows bring him grief and our sin breaks his heart.  His desire is to allow us more time to come to faith in Him, even in this fallen world.  He sees beyond the present pain to the joy and victory that is to come and continues to show mercy.

( M )  God’s love is merciful.   Perhaps a better spelling for the word would be mercyfull!   Because God’s love for us is infinite in its fullness and in its capacity to forgive, God delights in showing us mercy.  His mercies are new every morning!

( N )  God’s love is near.  He is near to all who call upon His name.  We don’t to wait for someday to know the love of the Lord.  He is here.  He is near.

( O )  God’s love is the origin of all true love.  We love because He first loved us and created us with the capacity to give and receive love.

( P )  God’s love is powerful!  His love has the power to transform lives, heal hearts, and purify souls.

( Q )  God’s love has both…quality and quantity!  The quality of his love has a purity that goes beyond anything we experience on earth.  And, as for quantitiy, there is always, abundantly, more of God’s love…enough to fill our hearts for eternity!

( R )  God’s love is redemptive.  He will redeem every experience, every pain, every rejection, every loss, every tear, and every heart that says “Yes!” to His  “Come Just as You Are”  invitation.

“For God so loved…”

( S )  God’s love is saving love.  In the words of Dottie Rambo, “He looked beyond my fault, and saw my need.”   Because of His great love for us,   God met our need for holiness, for relationship with Him, for abundant life, for purpose, for salvation.  He sent Jesus as our Savior and allowed the ultimate sacrifice of Christ to become a substitutionary payment for the wages of our sin.

( T )  God’s love is true.  We may wonder about the constancy of others, but God’s love is unaltered by time or circumstances.  There is nothing that can separate us from the true love of God.

( U )  God’s love is understanding.  There are those in our lives who may love us but not completely understand us.  God, on the other hand, understands us better than we understand ourselves; and the best part is that He loves us anyway!

( V )  God’s love is victorious!  The Latin phrase, “Amor vincit omni,”  means “Love conquers all.”   Our earthly loves are sometimes lasting in spite of obstacles, but we are inevitably separated by the enemy of death.   God’s love has conquered sin, hell, and death!  His love is victorious over all and will ultimately allow us to share in this victory.

( W )  God’s love is welcoming.  We are the prodigals, captivated by our own desires, undertaking risky and ill-advised paths through life to get to the destination we think we want, using other people to get our way, living as if there is no tomorrow, breaking the Father’s heart with our sin and self-destructive ways.  He is the ever-loving Father, waiting and praying for our return, continually watching for a sign that we are on our way home, ready to run to us and embrace us in all of our filth when He sees that we are ready to return, restoring our lives and our status as His own children, ready to celebrate and to give us every good gift!

( X )  God’s love is eXtravagant.  He always goes far beyond in everything he does for us.  He could have made us an earthly home that would have sustained us without all of the beauty and majesty that he has put into His creation.  The colors, the shapes, the textures, the variety of species…in every facet of life…birds, trees, fish, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, insects, flowers, grasses, leafy plants, crustaceans, mammals, food-bearing plants, shrubs, vines, and even microscopic creatures…it’s amazing!  Every idea that we think we have came from Him first.  Drinking straws?  Butterflies have a built in tube for drinking nectar.  The wheel?  Have you ever seen a tumbleweed in the wind?  The internal combustion engine?  Our sun and every other star.  Machines and factories?  Our bodies are a machine.  They are designed so that we can do work and accomplish tasks.  A robotic arm has joints that allow it to bend and move in ways that we take for granted.  Airplanes?  Obvious.  Electricity?  What about lightning and the electical impulses in brains and our nervous system.  Computers?  Our human brains are amazingly capable in storing information and in reasoning that goes far beyond what any machine can do.   What about identification technologies that quickly calculate all the relationships between the swirls of a fingerprint, the structure of a face, or the identifying points in an eye?  We are that individual, each one the Master Artist’s masterpiece.  None of these individual characteristics unique to every person could have come from evolution or natural selection.  Did our ancestors select each other for mating based upon such miniscule identifiers?  Such a thought is preposterous.  No, each of us is formed by God in the womb as a totally unique and individual creation.  Do we carry some genectic traits?  Of course.  God planned it that way.  As the founder of the family, he wants us to be connected to those who are related closely to us.  And yet, there is nothing in genetics that could explain the artist’s signature that is found in our fingerprints.  What about salvation?  He didn’t just send us a do-it-yourself guide.  He sent Himself, gave Himself, and sacrificed Himself in the person of God the Son, Jesus Christ.  Every moment His love and mercy allows us to live is a gift far beyond what His holiness and justice would require, were it not for God’s eXtravagant grace and limitless love.

( Y )  God’s love yearns for what is best.  He has promised to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).  He will not rest until he has accomplished this.  He who began a good work (in us and in His kingdom purposes) will be faithful to complete it.

( Z )  God’s love is zealous for us.  He never loses His zeal for our salvation and sanctification; and He will accoomplish our ultimate glorification as we come to live forever with Him and are complete in Him, becoming like Christ in purity and in perfect love.

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This post was written by Cynthia Boyd and was inspired by the awesome and limitless love of God, with the help of the prompting provided by the message of the Valentine used as the illustration for this post.

Note:  I have tried to include some scripture references and to be very specific in the references to salvation.  If you spot any confusing wording, please let me know.  This blog is being viewed by people all over the world, and I don’t want to confuse anyone.  Thanks, C. B.

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Do you know Jesus? 

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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