hallelujah - tenth avenue north

At first I am afraid
But not because of fear
But the holy of holies is drawing me near
Your voice like thunder
Shakes the ground I'm on

So hide my face in the shadow of Your wings, oh Lord
Hide my sin from the beauty here before Your throne, Your throne

Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
And so we enter in to see Your face, yeah
We enter in to see Your face, oh God, mmmm...

Well I'm falling to my knees
I feel the earth beneath
With the weight of my sin and this crushing unbelief
Could You really love me
With all that I've done, oh Lord

So hide my face in the shadow of Your wings, oh Lord
Hide my sin from the beauty here before Your throne
So hide my face in the shadow of Your wings, oh Lord
Hide my sin from the beauty here before Your throne

Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
And so we enter in to see Your face, yeah
We enter in to see Your face, oh God, oh God
We sing Lord

Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
And so we enter in to see Your face, yeah
We enter in to see Your face, oh God

You spread Your hands
And made a refuge for the weak
And blessed the weary bruised and broken
Took us in
Inside Your wounds we hide away
Inside Your wounds we hide
You spread Your hands
And made a refuge for the weak
And blessed the weary bruised and broken
Took us in
Inside Your wounds we hide away
Inside Your wounds we hide

Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
And so we enter in to see Your face, yeah
We enter in to see Your face, oh God

Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
Hallelujah for the blood of the lamb that was slain
And so we enter in to see Your face, yeah
We enter in to see Your face, oh God

worship

Five Minute Friday :)

Worship isn't always a Sunday thing.

I get caught into the trap of believing that worship is only standing in the third row on the left,
singing the song projected onto the screen at the front of the room.
That it maybe is singing along to the playlist on my iPod;
but nothing more.

I couldn't be more wrong.

God and I- we're still working on my understanding of this mystery,
but we've come a long way.

I believe that every act of goodness, done out of a desire to be more like Christ, is worship to him.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6

Even before Christ became the final offering, the prophet Hosea speaks the heart of God.
God worship isn't sacrificing on an alter-
it is the daily sacrifice of self,
death to self in honor of God.

Music is a beautiful part of worship, yes,
but the heart of God is so much bigger.

Our lives are our song.
We are the offering.
This is worship.



And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Luke 9:23-24

 Love:)

R

three things

lonely

Five Minute Friday again- slightly late :)

Sometimes,
lonely isn't being all by yourself.
Sometimes,
the biggest moments  of feeling alone are when you're in a crowd,
and you're not the same.

Something different has marked you-
and the beauty and the pain of it has changed you,
and you feel alone.

That's a hard place to be.

The only way to peace in that time is remembrance-
that for those who know Christ,
we are never alone.

Though this road be shadowy and narrow,
we carry the light of Christ,
and we do not walk alone.

So in the midst of a crowd, or  by yourself-
have hope.

You are never truly alone.


Love:)

R

creed - rich mullins

I believe in God the Father almighty
Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ
His only begotten Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

 
And I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not
The invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered
Was crucified, buried, and dead
He descended into hell and
On the third day, rose again
He ascended into Heaven where
He sits at God's mighty right hand
I believe that He's returning to
Judge the quick and the dead
Of the sons of men

And I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not
The invention of any man
I
 believe it, I believe it
I believe it
I believe it, I believe it

I believe in God the Father almighty
Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son,
Our Lord
I believe in the Holy Spirit
One Holy Church, the communion of Saints
The forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends

And I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not
The invention of any man

for when you don't know what to say

She'll carry the scars for a long time,
maybe forever.

Don't we all carry scars, though?
Won't we all have them?
Just some more visible than others?

Oh Lord, where are you?
Do not forget us here.

Sometimes I cannot see Him,
and the dark hangs heavy.

There comes a place when there are no words,
there is nothing left to say.

..the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Cross references:

1. Romans 8:26 : [Matt. 20:22; James 4:3]
2. Romans 8:26 : Zech. 12:10; Eph. 6:18; See John 14:16

 Romans 8:26

You beg the Spirit of God to pray,
because you don't even have the right words for that.

Then?
You wait.

There is nothing left to do.

And you ask for peace in the waiting,
receive with open arms the calm in the midst of the whirlwind.

I don't have words.
I don't know what to say.

I have hope, though.

God is good.
I am so sure of that.

He is so gracious.

And today?

Today I choose to rest in that.

Love:)

R

               Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
 They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
 When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
 The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.

 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.