Thankful for the Hope of Heaven

It’s been a really tough year, as you can guess from many of the posts here. But this Thanksgiving I am reminded that I have so many things for which to be thankful. God has blessed me with a wonderful family, and some good friends. But mostly I am thankful that this world is not all we have to look forward to. I am thankful that Jesus has taken my sin and given me his righteousness. I am thankful that God has given us a love that knows no bounds!

I was just listening to this song by Rich Mullins today, and it made me feel very thankful for God’s unfailing love.

[Youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=tBITqv69_Bc]

A Love that Knows No Bounds
by Rich Mullins

Deep calls to deep
And all that we need
Has been lost in what we’ve found
And all we shall be
Is growing by leaps
In a love that knows no bounds

And we will rise on spirit wings
When we wake from earthen dreams

Time ticks away
Night after day
‘Til the clock comes unwound
With all we shall be
Still growing by leaps
In a love that knows no bounds

And we will wake from earthen dreams
To rise on spirit wings

Hold Me, Jesus

This is a long time favorite, by one of my all-time favorite artists.
Rich Mullins – Hold Me, Jesus
It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

“You have been my king of glory, won’t you be my prince of peace.”

[Youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=8gBGGX3yvMo]

If my life was a map . . .

This song comes from my heart today. Would that I be made new.

The Altar

I’m at the end of myself, I just dropped out of the running
I don’t recall when I last pulled the shades and said “here comes the sun, here comes the new day”
Someone remind me again that joy might show up on ocassion
I’m sitting here with my hands on my head, and my eyes on the ground, wondering if I’ll be found by You

Will you make me new? Will you take what’s left of me?
I guarantee that it won’t be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what’s keeping me afraid?
I know I’ve prayed it all before, but I’m back on the altar

I don’t believe what they say about one foot in front of the other
If my life was a map, you’d see every last step just circling around, still lost, never found by You

So will you make me new? Will you take what’s left of me?
I guarantee that it won’t be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what’s keeping me afraid?
I know I’ve prayed it all before, but I’m back on the altar

Maybe last year I’d have made empty promises
Maybe last month I’d have tried to pull strings
But I don’t have one single chip left to bargain with
The only thing left is me needing You to make me new

Will you take what’s left of me?
I guarantee that it won’t be a fair trade
Will you set me free from what’s keeping me afraid?
I know I’ve prayed it all before
But I’m back
On the altar

by Nicole Nordeman, from her album, Brave [Special Edition]

Love is like Oxygen

I was recently handed an excerpt from a book to read. I couldn’t find the book to be sure which book it is from. The title appears to be: Living in the Present. The following quote is from Chapter 29, “Practicing the Presence of People.”

I was struck by the following statement:
“Love is like oxygen. The breath of it I had just a moment ago will do me no good if I do not take another breath soon. To stay alive I must keep breathing.”

It helps to understand why as people we crave affirmation and expressions of love, but I think the lesson for me is that those around me need the same.

Being Understood

I don’t think I have ever felt so understood in my whole life! Of course, there are plenty of things I don’t understand. Nevertheless, right now, I feel like there are some very special people who have given me the wonderful gift of believing enough in me to listen and patience to understand me. First of all my wife, my sister and two good friends.  I can’t express my appreciation enough!

Telling Myself Good News

In our reading through Galatians, we were asked to say to ourselves the “gospel” that Paul is reminding the Galatians of. Here is what I told myself from Galatians 1:3,4:

“Grace and Peace! Grace which is a blessing to your spirit and Peace . . . soul peace. Grace that comes through Jesus, who gave himself willingly for you. Grace! Jesus gave himself willingly for you . . . to buy you! To buy you back! To rescue you from darkness, to save you from being condemned, from being condemned before the Father, from being condemned before those whom you hurt, from being guilty before the one who would devour your soul.

This grace that brings you peace with God. Peace within yourself, peace with those around you! Peace! In your soul.”

Lonely Moon

Another Mark Heard favorite.

Our world doesn’t offer hope, despite what they say. Without a God who is ever present, I think this would describe me. I am thankful that I am not an “orphan,” living “by the light of the lonely moon.”

LONELY MOON
by Mark Heard.

Was a child and a newcomer to the ways of the world
Eyes ablaze with the light of high noon
Just to love and to be loved was all he wanted
By the light of the lonely moon

They taught him to capture and tame wild pathos
Sold him distractions and made every day seem the same
Caught the Holy Ghost lurking in his cellar and threw Him out
Leaving just a lonely name

Soon they took everything that he lived for
So he asked them to please take his life too
They denied him existence but they let him live
In a lonely room

He would suckle at the bosom of Mother Earth
But his experience poisons that thought
He falls prey somehow
To the silence of the deep-space dark
Of this lonely blue rock

Now his path is lit only by the light of falling stars
The embers fall to scorch and cut his face
He wants to believe in his unbelief
In a lonely place

But they buried his conscience
Near to the grave of God
Sealed his soul up in a tomb of tears
And they scattered his ashes East of Eden someplace
On a lonely breeze

Was a child and a newcomer to the ways of the world
Eyes ablaze with the light of high noon
Just to love and to be loved was all he needed
By the light of the lonely moon
By the light of the lonely moon

Love & Fear

I once had a discussion about Fear and Love with a friend of mine. It seems fitting that the song is by U2 as well. Enjoy.

A Gift is Given . . .

This was written by my 9 year old daughter to go with a gift she made her cousin.

Satisfying Story

Permanent Things had one of my favorite quotes from Tolkien today.

I remember the first time I read The Lord of the Rings. In The Return of the King, after the battle of Pelinor fields, Faramir and Eowyn meet during their convalescence. It struck me as a pleasing thought that they should meet, but even more pleasant was the moment, when they are walking in the garden and Faramir says:

“I love you. I used to pity your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, still I would love you.”

It’s such a satisfying thought, that they should find one another. Each has fallen victim to darkness that had overtaken their lands and each had suffered such great loss. Perhaps, I am a bit of a romantic, but it is such an encouraging thought that they should be there to comfort one another, but even more, that such comfort would grow to true and deep love.