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

Sing Unto the Lord a New Song

I don't think David was thinking we need to sing different words, lyrics or even familiar lyrics to a new tune when he penned these familiar words in Psalm 96:1.  In fact, he may not have even been thinking of music at all.  Our lives speak volumes of God's working without words being spoken.  And as we are continually sanctified daily through His Word, and His grace and mercy in our lives, we do have more to praise Him for each and every day.  Thus, we have a "new song" to offer to Him to close each day.

This morning, we will be singing a new song entitled Never Once.  Here are the lyrics:

Never Once by Matt Redman

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

"Don't sweat the small stuff"

One question I remember my mother rhetorically asking many years ago, and it has stuck with me - when going through a troubled time, dealing with a problem, just dealing with change or a difficult hand you've been dealt in life - "does this affect my salvation?"  The answer - no.

Our conclusion then, is if it does not affect our salvation, why worry about it?  Worrying about tomorrow does not help us today.  As Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  There are many times we fret over the small things in our lives, many times we just want to have our own way, many times we fear change.  But in the end, life will go on. And our faith will continue to grow, having placed our future in our Savior's hands.  And, whatever the circumstance it is that we had been dealing with, it will fade.  As Ecclesiastes 3 reads, there is a time for everything.  But after spending verses 1-8 naming different circumstances we face in our lives, verse 11-12 concludes, "He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."  After facing our season, we find out what really matters: our faith, hope, and love.  (I Corinthians 13)

So, next time you face the small stuff - you get discouraged, face someone or something you just can't seem to conquer, or just have a bad day - ask yourself, does this affect my salvation?

Now the big question - are we saved?  And if not, how do we become saved?  Answering these questions not only allows us an eternity with God, but while we are still alive, it will also allow God to conquer these issues in our lives. What does it mean to be saved?  Please check out this website, listing step by step what we must do to be saved.  The article is entitled, "How can I be sure of my salvation?"
http://christiananswers.net/q-dml/dml-y005.html

My Life Verse - Answering the Question "What Would Jesus Have Me to Do?"

Many years ago, I worked on Greensprings Farm, a dairy farm owned by Dale Clymer, a fellow church member.  I don't remember when I heard this particular verse, but I remember hearing it on the radio playing one afternoon as I planted some flowers along the barn.  Since then, I have made this my life verse:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
Colossians 3:23

This past Sunday, we were studying from I Peter 4:7-11.  It is neat how one portion of Scripture can remind us of another.  Here is verse 11:

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen."
I Peter 4:11

Colossians 4:17 is also very similar:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

May this be on our minds, even when difficult times come.  I know I struggle with my anger and get easily annoyed when others make unreasonable or incorrect statements or have unrealistic expectations.  I pray God can use these verses to bring not just my actions, but also my reactions closer to what He would expect.  After all, we should work as unto Him.  As Pastor Jeff shared a few weeks ago, let us not just only say "what would Jesus do", but "what would Jesus have me to do."

Some New "Old" Songs

I was searching for some new music this evening to help lead us in some songs and hymns we have not sung in a while - My Redeemer and He Is Lord.  While looking, I stumbled upon a song that reminded me a lot of something Pastor Jeff shared during this past week's sermon.

Here are the words to the song "He Is Able."

He Is Able

He is able more than able
To accomplish what concerns me today
He is able more than able
To handle anything that comes my way
He is able more than able
To do much more than I could ever dream
He is able more than able
To make me what He wants me to be

Written by Greg Ferguson and Rory Noland
© 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.

When I discovered "He Is Lord", I found an additional site that had extra stanzas.  Like many other creeds in the Christian faith, these extra stanzas help highlight portions of Christ's ministry here on earth we should not only believe, but learn to emulate.  As far as I know, these words were anonymously penned and public domain.  The words to the first stanza are based on Philipians 2:10-11; the following verses are based upon John 12:32; John 3:16, and I John 5:11, according to www.hymnary.org.

He Is Lord

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord;
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord!

He is King, He is King!
He will draw all nations to him, He is King;
and the time shall be when the world shall sing
that Jesus Christ is King!

He is Love, He is Love!
He has shown us by his life that He is Love.
All his people sing with one voice of joy
that Jesus Christ is Love!

He Is Life, He is Life!
He has died to set us free and He is Life;
and He calls us all to live evermore,
for Jesus Christ is Life!

He Suffered for You - Do You Stand In Awe of Him?

One other song that came to mind for this Sunday's service is I Stand in Awe of You.  The first verse is well known, but did you know the second as well?

I Stand in Awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description, majesty enthroned above

I stand I stand in awe of You
I stand I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction, cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion
Who can fathom this mercy so free
You are beautiful beyond description, Lamb of God who died for me

Music and Words by Mark Altrogge
© 1986 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Powerful lyrics indeed, reminding us of I Peter 3:18a:

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

Remembering some old hymns - from all parts of the world

As I was preparing for this week's service, I stumbled across one hymn called Come Christians Join to Sing. Interestingly, it is sung to a traditional Spanish melody, which is probably why I've never come across it before.  A lot of hymns in our hymn book, entitled "The New Church Hymnal" from 1976, which are not specifically written by a particular composer, are sung to traditional melodies, such as This Is My Father's World (English), Be Thou My Vision (Irish), How Great Thou Art (Swedish), or O How I Love Jesus (American).  But I've rarely seen a Spanish melody before.  It just goes to show, you can praise God in each and every tongue, and that music is a universal language!

So, here are some older hymns for your listening pleasure.  Thanks once again to www.hymnpod.com, a source for good piano music for a lot of well-known classics:
Come Christians Join to Sing http://www.hymnpod.com/2011/03/25/come-christians-join-to-sing/
Have I Done My Best for Jesus http://www.hymnpod.com/2010/07/03/have-i-done-my-best-for-jesus/
Thank You Lord (well known chorus, lesser known verses) http://www.hymnpod.com/2009/01/27/thank-you-lord/