Oh, I want to know You more

Just the time I feel that I've been caught in the mire of self,
just the time I feel my mind's been bought by worldly wealth,
That's when the breeze begins to blow, I know the Spirit's call,
and all my worldly wanderings just melt into His love.

Oh, I want to know You more,
deep within my soul I want to know You,
oh I want to know You.
To feel Your heart and know Your mind.
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me cries that say I want to know You.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds ordinarily lose life and song,
My heart begins to bleed, sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race, but set my own pace and face a shattered soul,
now the gentle arms of Jesus warm my hunger to be whole.

And oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breath
to know you in Your death and resurrection.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You, to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

(Sung by Steve Green, words and music by Steve Fry)

Be still, my soul

At the Black Sea in Eforie, Romania

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

A new song I learned...

God of grace, amazing wonder
Irresistible and free
Oh the miracle of mercy
Jesus reaches down to me.
God of grace, I stand in wonder
As my God restores my soul.
His own blood has paid my ransom
Awesome cost to make me whole.

God of grace, who loved and knew me
Long before the world began.
Sent my saviour down from heaven
Perfect God and perfect man.
God of grace, I trust in Jesus
I'm accepted as His own
Every day new grace sustains me
As I lean on Him alone.

God of grace, I stand astounded
Cleansed forgiven and secure.
All my fears are now confounded
And my hope is ever sure.
God of grace, now crowned in glory
Where one day I'll see Your face.
And forever I'll adore You
In Your everlasting grace.

A song I find myself singing a lot...

My child, are you discouraged by the sorrows of the day?

Does it seem that life is crumbling; the skies have turned to gray?

Don't forget I gave you promises, to guide you every hour.

In the moment of your heartbreak,let Me show you my great power!

.

And I will be your shield,when the battle rages on.

And I will be your light, when the way ahead is dark.

I will be your strong tower, and guide you every hour.

Just place your life completely in my hands.

.

I know it won't be easy, I never said it would.

But my grace will always be there; my plans for you are good.

Remember that your weaknesses are perfect in my sight,

only when you yield them to Me can I turn them into might.

.

And I will be your shield, when the battle rages on.

And I will be your light, when the way ahead is dark.

I will be your strong tower, and guide you every hour.

Just place your life completely in my hands.

.

And someday you'll understand, why I sent this trial,

and someday you will see the end, and know it's all worthwhile!

.

And I will be your shield, when the battle rages on.

And I will be your light, when the way ahead is long.

I will be your strong tower, and guide you every hour.

Just place your life completely in my hands.

. 

"I Will Be Your Shield" by Rachel Wissmann

Pondering...

As I study, I find that there are so many things I have not thought about before or that I was convinced I understood thoroughly enough. It is difficult and sometimes threatening to have my understanding stretched. My understanding of what it means to be a Christian is growing by leaps and bounds. Actually, I am realizing that my conception of a "good Christian" is too narrow. Fulfilling who God created me to be as a human and a bearer of His image is so much wider than that, and I feel like I am just beginning to touch the surface.

Some thoughts I have been pondering:

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 2:1-11

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

What is our calling as those restored to a relationship with God? Is it to make God present to "practice the presence of God?" No. Is it to seek spiritual experiences to assure us of His love and power in our lives? No. Is it to pray, to go to church, to study the Bible, to evangelize? No, though it involves those things. Our calling is the same as Adam's was. It is to serve Him with our whole life, to love Him, to enjoy Him, to reflect His character. Every area of our life is to reflect spirituality, not just some special parts of it. Every area of our life in every day is to express the relationsip we have with Him. Because we have a relationship with Him through Christ, we can speak to Him simply at any time. We do not have to use any special techniques to make Him present or to feel His presece or to ensure our prayer is real. We can simply talk to Him as our loving Father.
Ranald Macauley and Jerram Barrs, Being Human: The Nature of Spiritual Experience

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Stuart Townend, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us"