Recovering from a Rough Week

It's been a long week this past week, both at home and at the post office.  With the passing of Veterans Day, the mail has picked up considerably, and hours are longer and darker.  At home, Hope is fighting her persistent cough, Nikki, her migraine headaches and cough, and me, fighting this bronchitis that's given me great difficulty in breathing over the past month.  And with all our coughing and/or snoring, rest is elusive.  The past few days, I have found joy in song.  These lyrics, from "My Life Is in You, Lord" brought me strength.

"My life is in You, Lord; my strength is in You, Lord; my hope is in You, Lord.  It's in You, it's in You"

I am reminded that I cannot make it on my own.  I am thankful for a Savior who lets us rest on His shoulder when we need.  What I need is a new focus, not new circumstances.  To help me refocus, I found these scriptures on which to meditate:

Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with  thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which  surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ  Jesus.”

Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hallelujah for the Cross

I just received my copy of the Newsboys lastest CD, a compilation of hymns done in their own contemporary style.  I particularly love their new song, "Hallelujah for the Cross."  Hopefully, we'll be singing this one sometime in the near future.

Here is a collection of scriptures whose truths are contained in this new hymn:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
• I Peter 1:18-19 - Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
• I Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Romans 6:5-6 - For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
• I Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
•  I Thessalonians 4:13-14 - But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

HALLELUJAH FOR THE CROSS

Up to the hill of Calvary
My Savior went courageously
And there He bled and died for me
Hallelujah for the cross
And on that day the world was changed
A final, perfect lamb was slain
Let earth and heaven now proclaim
Hallelujah for the Cross
 
Hallelujah for the war He fought
Love has won, death has lost
Hallelujah for the souls He bought
Hallelujah for the Cross
 
What good I’ve done could never save
My debt too great for deeds to pay
But God, my Savior, made a way
Hallelujah for the cross
A slave to sin, my life was bound
But all my chains fell to the ground
When Jesus’ blood came flowing down
Hallelujah for the Cross

Hallelujah, hallelujah
 
And when I breathe my final breath
I’ll have no need to fear that rest
This hope will guide me into death
Hallelujah for the cross
 
Hallelujah for the Cross

©2013 Simple Tense Songs (ASCAP) / Todd Wright Music (BMI)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7NJc1_t6q0