Showing posts with label hymn pondering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hymn pondering. Show all posts

5.03.2009

Sunday hymn pondering- Solid Rock

UPDATED: The link to the sermon is here. It is Part 2. But they are all good! Parts 1 and 2 are directed towards the men and parts 3 and 4 will be directed towards the women.

I wasn't going to post today. At the end of church, we totally. rocked. out. this song. And I knew I had raw emotion that I need to deal with, work out, into something understandable. I hope this gets me there. It might get long...

Pastor Greg's newest teaching series is 'He said, She said'. I'll update later with a link to the sermon.

Today, he was teaching men to be godly leaders, protectors and providers. He told a really great story about his daughters and their courtships, about his protection over them from ungodly men. He told about giving them away on their wedding day. He told that their hearts hadn't been stolen, but that he willingly gave them away to these godly men. It was beautiful.

And I weeped. And I didn't know why. Here beside me, I had a godly man. A man who loves this woman, who protects and provides for his children. So, why was I weeping?

I was mourning. Where was my father when I needed that same protection of which Pastor Greg spoke? I was violated as a child. And this morning, I mourned the absence of protection. Also, last week, as I finshed Wednesday's post, I told God I was done with this, talking of this subject, which pierces me, but I am reminded that God is not done. He continually brings me healing, and I continue to write it out, to tell His story.

And later, as a teen and college student, with little sense of self worth, I allowed myself to date ungodly men. Boys, who did not value me for who God created me to be. So, again, I mourned that protection.

And the end of the sermon left me feeling let down and I didn't really know why, because again, here beside me, I had a man. A man who loves God, who loves me, who loves his children, who provides and protects. Why was I weeping!?

Then there was some unfamiliar songs. Now, I love me some songs. I love to sing. I love to feel the ivory beneath my fingers. Worship lifts my soul as I lift up my Savior, my Redeemer, my God in Praise! So, these songs: they were unfamiliar, and I didn't have the strength to join, and I was discouraged. And then. And then, there was my hymn. My familiar words, which laid a foundation for my salvation. But this time, it was not slow moving and labourous. Oh. No. Our worship leaders rocked it! And the words. They brought understanding! They brought joy to my weeping!

I understood. I learned in spite of the hurt, God: my solid rock, my salvation was faithful to me. He provided my protection. He provided me a godly man. One to protect me and provide for me, one to LOVE me! And I rejoiced. Because even in the hurting, God was there and He made a way for me.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When Darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

Because Christ rescued me from that dark place, rescued my mind and my soul.
Because I find myself in Him, I can rest on Him.
Because Christ loves, protects and provides for me, I can be loved and protected and provided for by the one He sent to me.

4.12.2009

Sunday Hymn Pondering Easter Sunday

Every Morning is Easter Morning...

Every Morning is Easter Morning
Every morning is Easter morning from now on
Every day is resurrection day
The past is over and gone
Good by guilt, good by fear, good riddance
Hello Lord, hello sun!
I am one of the Easter people
My new life has begun
Every morning is Easter morning from now on
Every day is resurrection day
The past is over and gone
(Repeat 3Xs getting softer with each line)
Every morning is Easter morning
Every morning is Easter morning
Every morning is Easter morning
(Back to normal volume)
FROM NOW ON

As a child, I sang in the church's children's choir. One Easter we sang this song and had a little dance to go with it too. Every year, just like Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday, I sing this song.

Think about it. Think about the words. Yesterday doesn't matter. It's forgiven and gone. Christ is ALIVE. Here. Now. This is the day to live each moment to the fullest for Him.

Hallelujah! Hosanna in the Highest!

4.10.2009

Hymn Pondering Good Friday

Jesus walked this lonesome valley


What is Good Friday all about?

This year, it's about a reunion. Today my siblings and I will be reuniting with our biological mother. We haven't seen her in over 20 years. I really love this song. Though my life has had plenty of good, there were large parts of sadness and loneliness. It was always good to remember the valley that Jesus walked.

Say a prayer for us, will you?

Jesus walked this lonesome valley.
He had to walk it by Himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for Him,
He had to walk it by Himself.
We must walk this lonesome valley,
We have to walk it by ourselves;
O, nobody else can walk it for us,
We have to walk it by ourselves.
You must go and stand your trial,
You have to stand it by yourself,
O, nobody else can stand it for you,
You have to stand it by yourself.

3.22.2009

Sunday Hymn Pondering Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Awesome keyboard skills here: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

I am leading my siblings through The Search for Significance. Rather, it is our Lord is leading us, because last night I was feeling tired and down, and we still managed to have a productive conversation. A very good one in fact.

The topic was reconciliation and that God has reconciled himself to us through Jesus Christ. I found there is a simple enough definition. Yet to really allow Christ to transform us requires us to cease looking for approval from others and instead only seek the approval of Christ. We can't earn that. It is a gift of grace, bought on the cross. We must allow ourselves to be transformed by Him.

You can read the lyrics here.

3.15.2009

Sunday Hymn Pondering- All Things Bright and Beautiful

You can listen to it here and here.

Oh, I just love Spring in the Lowcountry! The breeze is cool, the sun is gorgeous (not yet sweltering) the mosquitos haven't become the size of birds and we can play outside all. day. long.

And play we have. We head out to the great back yard after breakfast, coming in only for eating purposes and then right back out again. After dinner, there are baths and bed. It's a beautiful routine.

We will continue rejoicing in God's creation in this fashion until summer heat hits. Then just before lunch, we will seek respite inside and wander back out again when the evening breeze blows. And it will become it's own beautiful routine.

Which makes think about this.






All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
1.Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings. (Refrain)
2. The purple-headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky. (Refrain)
3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one. (Refrain)
4. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. (Refrain)
Read more ponderings here, here and here.

3.08.2009

Sunday hymn pondering- Let us Break Bread Together

Let us Break Bread Together


I couldn't think of a more appropriate song for this news. God continues to work in ways in my life which bless me beyond description. While I don't often write about my family, this post is all about them!

My brother's job has him leaving the country soon. My sister lives a day's drive away, which isn't far comparatively, but with small children in both places, it isn't an easy drive. It's been years since the three of us were together in one place at the same time. My grandfather, who've I written about here , also lives far away. I haven't spent quality time with him in years (T3 was a baby)! My earthly mom also lives far away and well, it's been more than 20 years since I've seen her.

For Easter, they are all coming! We will be breaking bread together- literally, but more than that. We will have quality time together, renewing relationships and just enjoying each other. I am convinced God brought this together, and I am praying to continue to see His hand in all the details.




And I am looking forward to this:





Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

3.05.2009

Sunday hymn pondering- Where it all began

I owe my Mom thanks for this collection of hymns I have. I have received a few as gifts from my husband, but most of them came from her. My favorite is the one with the celtic cross called 'The Hymnbook'. This is the book of hymns which I wrote about here. The church I grew up in had a bell tower with a dozen or more bells. Enough to play a simple melody. Many mornings, I would ring the bells with the help of a small keyboard, electronically attached to the bells, causing them to ring the melody I played. And in playing the melodies, the Lord engraved the words and His truth on my heart.

3.01.2009

Sunday Hymn Pondering- How Great Thou Art

Oh my, God. How Great Thou Art. This is one of my all time favorite hymns. A hymn of worship and adoration to our great and mighty God.


This hymn of praise fills me up and my cup of blessings overflows. It's all about what He has done and will do for us. 'When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart." Need He do anything more for us? Isn't this promised return enough to carry us through our most difficult days here on this Earth until He comes?


As a teenager, I remember thinking of how God had worked in my life til that point. I know I am quite naive to the happenings of this world, that many of my peers have been sexually active long before they were married. Many have struggled with the difficult consequences of these actions. Because of the circumstances which brought me into this world, and that which facilitated my adoption, I believe God used these things to protect me from making the same choices. When I was a young lady, not yet married, I chose to remain abstinent, not because it was what God wanted, but because I didn't want my life to take the same rough road it had for my biological parents. And when I received a marriage proposal from my beloved, we both knew divorce was no option, because as children we had experienced it's devastating effects. Even though my heart wasn't seeking God in these issues (it was looking out for it's own best interest), I think God used those experiences to shelter me and protect my tender heart.


I am full of joy each time I ponder His coming to take me home and my opportunity to bow and worship Him, He who saved me, who has protected me and loved me. What joy shall- and does-fill my heart.


You can find the lyrics to this hymn of praise here.