My Portion Forever
by Matt Papa
Psalm 73:25-26, Isaiah 40:8
This world will surely pass away
But You remain, You remain
Riches will fade
Names will be forgotten
Bread of life, only You satisfy
I put my hope in You
YOU ARE ALL I NEED
MY PORTION FOREVER
THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY LIFE
MY SUFFICIENCY
IN YOU I TAKE REFUGE
YOU'RE MY ALL WHEN ALL IS GONE
Whom have I in heaven or earth?
Only You Lord, only You
My flesh and heart may fail
But never my Redeemer
The grass withers, the flowers fall
But Your promises are sure
The best of earth could not compare
To You my Savior You are my treasure
This world is not my home
I will trust in You alone
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
That I may know Him
This is a repost of one of my posts awhile back. I was reminded of it and really wanted to share it again because of how true it is and how I want this to always be my heart’s desire and the desire of others. I hope you’re blessed by this and filled with an even greater desire to know Him more!
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
I begin with these particular verses on a post about knowing God because how can we really truly pursue a knowledge of our Lord without a desire for Him? He puts this desire in our hearts and will fulfill that desire as we seek Him and draw near to Him finding our fulfillment and satisfaction in Him alone. Probably the most popular quoted John Piper line would be, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
I hope that as I share on my blog what the Lord has laid on my heart personally, that it will also bless those who read it and encourage you to really desire Him more and to really treasure Him and count everything as loss compared to knowing Him.
A line from another one of my favorite songs came to mind just now as typing this:
"Knowing You Jesus, knowing You. There is no greater thing."
The Lord is really shaping my heart to make this statement true in my own life. I pray that He will do the same in yours because there is truly nothing better in life...absolutely nothing.
"We cannot know Him unless He speaks and tells us about Himself. But in fact He has spoken. He has spoken to and through His prophets and apostles, and He has spoken in the words and deeds of His Son. Through this revelation, which is made available to us in holy Scripture, we may form a true notion of God; without it we never can." J.I. Packer
This is our only source. We must study our Bibles and meditate upon Scripture.
"People who know their God are before anything else people who pray." J.I. Packer
"What were we made for? To know God.
What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God.
What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God.("This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3)
What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God.
("Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23,24)" -Packer
“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3
Knowing God...really knowing God...It's more than knowing about Him.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8a
You cannot know the real quality of something until you have tasted it!
And I have learned from experience that this world has nothing to offer.
Once you get even a small taste of the LORD, nothing else will ever satisfy. You will only want more of Him.
Philippians 3:7-10
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
OH THAT I WOULD KNOW HIM!
This is one of my favorite songs by casting crowns that fits this post just perfectly. Think about how true the words of this song are and ask God to make them true to your heart.
To know Him is to want to know Him more!!!
"To Know You"
By Casting Crowns
To know You is to never worry for my life
To know You is to never give into compromise and
To know You is to want to tell the world about You
‘Cause I can’t live without You
To know You is to hear Your voice when You are calling
To know You is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know You is to feel the pain of the brokenhearted
‘Cause they can’t live without You
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I’m reaching for, I live my life to know You more
I leave it all behind, You’re all that satisfies
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to ache for more than ordinary
To know You is to look beyond the temporary
To know You is believing that You’ll be enough
‘Cause there’s no life without You
All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
I want to include the words of another song that I love to play on my guitar. This also speaks of desire to know Him!
ONE PURE AND HOLY PASSION
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)
I realize that knowing Him can only happen by spending time with Him and reading His Word and praying for help from the Holy Spirit to interpret His holy Word and draw me to Himself.
We need Him to help us know Him!
There is nothing better in this life than to know Him!
"Oh Lord, that I may know YOU..."
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
I begin with these particular verses on a post about knowing God because how can we really truly pursue a knowledge of our Lord without a desire for Him? He puts this desire in our hearts and will fulfill that desire as we seek Him and draw near to Him finding our fulfillment and satisfaction in Him alone. Probably the most popular quoted John Piper line would be, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
I hope that as I share on my blog what the Lord has laid on my heart personally, that it will also bless those who read it and encourage you to really desire Him more and to really treasure Him and count everything as loss compared to knowing Him.
A line from another one of my favorite songs came to mind just now as typing this:
"Knowing You Jesus, knowing You. There is no greater thing."
The Lord is really shaping my heart to make this statement true in my own life. I pray that He will do the same in yours because there is truly nothing better in life...absolutely nothing.
"We cannot know Him unless He speaks and tells us about Himself. But in fact He has spoken. He has spoken to and through His prophets and apostles, and He has spoken in the words and deeds of His Son. Through this revelation, which is made available to us in holy Scripture, we may form a true notion of God; without it we never can." J.I. Packer
This is our only source. We must study our Bibles and meditate upon Scripture.
"People who know their God are before anything else people who pray." J.I. Packer
"What were we made for? To know God.
What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God.
What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God.("This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3)
What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God.
("Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23,24)" -Packer
“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3
Knowing God...really knowing God...It's more than knowing about Him.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8a
You cannot know the real quality of something until you have tasted it!
And I have learned from experience that this world has nothing to offer.
Once you get even a small taste of the LORD, nothing else will ever satisfy. You will only want more of Him.
Philippians 3:7-10
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
OH THAT I WOULD KNOW HIM!
This is one of my favorite songs by casting crowns that fits this post just perfectly. Think about how true the words of this song are and ask God to make them true to your heart.
To know Him is to want to know Him more!!!
"To Know You"
By Casting Crowns
To know You is to never worry for my life
To know You is to never give into compromise and
To know You is to want to tell the world about You
‘Cause I can’t live without You
To know You is to hear Your voice when You are calling
To know You is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know You is to feel the pain of the brokenhearted
‘Cause they can’t live without You
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I’m reaching for, I live my life to know You more
I leave it all behind, You’re all that satisfies
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to want to know You more
To know You is to ache for more than ordinary
To know You is to look beyond the temporary
To know You is believing that You’ll be enough
‘Cause there’s no life without You
All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You
I want to include the words of another song that I love to play on my guitar. This also speaks of desire to know Him!
ONE PURE AND HOLY PASSION
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)
I realize that knowing Him can only happen by spending time with Him and reading His Word and praying for help from the Holy Spirit to interpret His holy Word and draw me to Himself.
We need Him to help us know Him!
There is nothing better in this life than to know Him!
"Oh Lord, that I may know YOU..."
Monday, February 13, 2012
I Surrender
I Surrender
by Leslie Ludy
Lord, I know You see this fear in my heart
of what my future holds
I feel You softly ask if I can trust You more
and give You control
So I kneel before You now
and I offer everything
Come and be the Lord of all
-All I am or ever hope to be
I surrender, I surrender
to the One who loves me more than life
I surrender, I surrender
here is my heart
I open it wide
To the One who cannot be unfaithful
I now offer You all that I am
I surrender, I surrender
From this day on I´ll be in Your hands
I´ve been living for myself
and now I want to live for You alone
Come and help me when I´m weak
And when my path seems so unknown
You will be beside me still
I know You want what´s best for me
So when I want to take control
Lord, please come and help my unbelief
by Leslie Ludy
Lord, I know You see this fear in my heart
of what my future holds
I feel You softly ask if I can trust You more
and give You control
So I kneel before You now
and I offer everything
Come and be the Lord of all
-All I am or ever hope to be
I surrender, I surrender
to the One who loves me more than life
I surrender, I surrender
here is my heart
I open it wide
To the One who cannot be unfaithful
I now offer You all that I am
I surrender, I surrender
From this day on I´ll be in Your hands
I´ve been living for myself
and now I want to live for You alone
Come and help me when I´m weak
And when my path seems so unknown
You will be beside me still
I know You want what´s best for me
So when I want to take control
Lord, please come and help my unbelief
Friday, January 27, 2012
Eternal life starts...NOW?
(These are notes taken from a Paul Washer sermon that I listened to back in October and was reminded of today, so I looked it up and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I heard it. This was really helpful to me living in the here and now as I think about heaven and my future in Christ and eternity. I hope you find it helpful too!! It's good stuff.)
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Eternal life is not just a future thing. Those who believe in the Son HAVE eternal life. Eternal life is that we might know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Eternal life is not so much a QUANTITY OF LIFE(even though it is that)...not just a long long time. But, eternal life is a QUALITY of life. A quality of life that has been absolutely changed by a Person that has been brought into that life- the Person of God. And that's why eternal life starts NOW.
A good illustration:
Speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven...
Imagine you're standing on a train platform...and a train is coming. The engine is right at the platform...so you can say that the train has arrived. But at the same time, you must say that the train has not YET arrived because all of it's not here...and at the same time you can say that the train is ARRIVING. That's the Kingdom of Heaven, the whole idea of eternal life and everything that God is doing in your life. That's what it's about.
When you come to know Christ, there is a sense in which the Kingdom has arrived and you have eternal life. But also in it's fulness it's still coming...You've got it, you've got the first-fruits of it- the indwelling of the Spirit, the presence of God, different works of God in your life...so it has come. But it's still coming and one day it will come in it's fullness when Christ returns and the resurrection and the new heavens and the new earth!
We learn things so that the quality of our life is transformed and the quality is only transformed in the Person of God, in the Person of Christ.
joy unspeakable and full of glory!! That's what it's about- the quality of your life.
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Eternal life is not just a future thing. Those who believe in the Son HAVE eternal life. Eternal life is that we might know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Eternal life is not so much a QUANTITY OF LIFE(even though it is that)...not just a long long time. But, eternal life is a QUALITY of life. A quality of life that has been absolutely changed by a Person that has been brought into that life- the Person of God. And that's why eternal life starts NOW.
A good illustration:
Speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven...
Imagine you're standing on a train platform...and a train is coming. The engine is right at the platform...so you can say that the train has arrived. But at the same time, you must say that the train has not YET arrived because all of it's not here...and at the same time you can say that the train is ARRIVING. That's the Kingdom of Heaven, the whole idea of eternal life and everything that God is doing in your life. That's what it's about.
When you come to know Christ, there is a sense in which the Kingdom has arrived and you have eternal life. But also in it's fulness it's still coming...You've got it, you've got the first-fruits of it- the indwelling of the Spirit, the presence of God, different works of God in your life...so it has come. But it's still coming and one day it will come in it's fullness when Christ returns and the resurrection and the new heavens and the new earth!
We learn things so that the quality of our life is transformed and the quality is only transformed in the Person of God, in the Person of Christ.
joy unspeakable and full of glory!! That's what it's about- the quality of your life.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Year's End Prayer
O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when Thou givest,
when Thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With Thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If Thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
Thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use.
~The Valley of Vision
Thou art good when Thou givest,
when Thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With Thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If Thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
Thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use.
~The Valley of Vision
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Is For Those Who Hate It Most
Taken from The Gospel Coalition Blog
Matt B. Redmond
Christmas Is for Those Who Hate It Most
We are by now accustomed to hearing about how Christmas is difficult for many people. The story of Scrooge and his—ehem—problems with this season is no longer anecdotal. It is now par for the course. Maybe it always has been. Maybe the joy of the season has always been a thorn in the side of those who can scarcely imagine joy.
Not too long ago, I heard from someone about how difficult Christmas would be because of some heartbreak in their family. There was utter hopelessness and devastation. Christmas would be impossible to enjoy because of the freshness of this pain. It's been a story very hard to forget.
I get it. I mean, it makes sense on the level of Christmas being a time in which there is a lot of heavily concentrated family time. The holidays can be tense in even the best of circumstances. Maneuvering through the landmines of various personalities can be hard even if there is no cancer, divorce or empty seat at the table. What makes it the most wonderful time of the year is also what makes it the most brutal time of the year. My own family has not been immune to this phenomenon.
But allow me to push back against this idea a little. Gently. I think we have it all backwards. We have it sunk deep into our collective cultural consciousness that Christmas is for the happy people. You know, those with idyllic family situations enjoyed around stocking-strewn hearth dreams. Christmas is for healthy people who laugh easily and at all the right times, right? The successful and the beautiful, who live in suburban bliss, can easily enjoy the holidays. They have not gotten lost on the way because of the GPS they got last year. They are beaming after watching a Christmas classic curled up on the couch as a family in front of their ginormous flat-screen. We live and act as if this is who should be enjoying Christmas.
But this is backwards. Christmas—the great story of the incarnation of the Rescuer—is for everyone, especially those who need a rescue. Jesus was born as a baby to know the pain and sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus was made to be like us so that in his resurrection we can be made like him; free from the fear of death and the pain of loss. Jesus’ first recorded worshipers were not of the beautiful class. They were poor, ugly shepherds, beat down by life and labor. They had been looked down on over many a nose.
Jesus came for those who look in the mirror and see ugliness. Jesus came for daughters whose fathers never told them they were beautiful. Christmas is for those who go to "wing night" alone. Christmas is for those whose lives have been wrecked by cancer, and the thought of another Christmas seems like an impossible dream. Christmas is for those who would be nothing but lonely if not for social media. Christmas is for those whose marriages have careened against the retaining wall and are threatening to flip over the edge. Christmas is for the son whose father keeps giving him hunting gear when he wants art materials. Christmas is for smokers who cannot quit even in the face of a death sentence. Christmas is for prostitutes, adulterers, and porn stars who long for love in every wrong place. Christmas is for college students who are sitting in the midst of the family and already cannot wait to get out for another drink. Christmas is for those who traffic in failed dreams. Christmas is for those who have squandered the family name and fortune—they want "home" but cannot imagine a gracious reception. Christmas is for parents watching their children’s marriage fall into disarray.
Christmas is really about the gospel of grace for sinners. Because of all that Christ has done on the cross, the manger becomes the most hopeful place in a universe darkened with hopelessness.
In the irony of all ironies, Christmas is for those who will find it the hardest to enjoy.
It really is for those who hate it most.
Matt B. Redmond
Christmas Is for Those Who Hate It Most
We are by now accustomed to hearing about how Christmas is difficult for many people. The story of Scrooge and his—ehem—problems with this season is no longer anecdotal. It is now par for the course. Maybe it always has been. Maybe the joy of the season has always been a thorn in the side of those who can scarcely imagine joy.
Not too long ago, I heard from someone about how difficult Christmas would be because of some heartbreak in their family. There was utter hopelessness and devastation. Christmas would be impossible to enjoy because of the freshness of this pain. It's been a story very hard to forget.
I get it. I mean, it makes sense on the level of Christmas being a time in which there is a lot of heavily concentrated family time. The holidays can be tense in even the best of circumstances. Maneuvering through the landmines of various personalities can be hard even if there is no cancer, divorce or empty seat at the table. What makes it the most wonderful time of the year is also what makes it the most brutal time of the year. My own family has not been immune to this phenomenon.
But allow me to push back against this idea a little. Gently. I think we have it all backwards. We have it sunk deep into our collective cultural consciousness that Christmas is for the happy people. You know, those with idyllic family situations enjoyed around stocking-strewn hearth dreams. Christmas is for healthy people who laugh easily and at all the right times, right? The successful and the beautiful, who live in suburban bliss, can easily enjoy the holidays. They have not gotten lost on the way because of the GPS they got last year. They are beaming after watching a Christmas classic curled up on the couch as a family in front of their ginormous flat-screen. We live and act as if this is who should be enjoying Christmas.
But this is backwards. Christmas—the great story of the incarnation of the Rescuer—is for everyone, especially those who need a rescue. Jesus was born as a baby to know the pain and sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus was made to be like us so that in his resurrection we can be made like him; free from the fear of death and the pain of loss. Jesus’ first recorded worshipers were not of the beautiful class. They were poor, ugly shepherds, beat down by life and labor. They had been looked down on over many a nose.
Jesus came for those who look in the mirror and see ugliness. Jesus came for daughters whose fathers never told them they were beautiful. Christmas is for those who go to "wing night" alone. Christmas is for those whose lives have been wrecked by cancer, and the thought of another Christmas seems like an impossible dream. Christmas is for those who would be nothing but lonely if not for social media. Christmas is for those whose marriages have careened against the retaining wall and are threatening to flip over the edge. Christmas is for the son whose father keeps giving him hunting gear when he wants art materials. Christmas is for smokers who cannot quit even in the face of a death sentence. Christmas is for prostitutes, adulterers, and porn stars who long for love in every wrong place. Christmas is for college students who are sitting in the midst of the family and already cannot wait to get out for another drink. Christmas is for those who traffic in failed dreams. Christmas is for those who have squandered the family name and fortune—they want "home" but cannot imagine a gracious reception. Christmas is for parents watching their children’s marriage fall into disarray.
Christmas is really about the gospel of grace for sinners. Because of all that Christ has done on the cross, the manger becomes the most hopeful place in a universe darkened with hopelessness.
In the irony of all ironies, Christmas is for those who will find it the hardest to enjoy.
It really is for those who hate it most.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The Jesus I Need
A lot of you know me, yet I'm pretty sure very few of you have heard my testimony. You might think that I can say that the Lord kept me free from the world because I was raised in a Christian home, was homeschooled and very involved in church and church camps, was highly active in my youth group and went to 2 years of Bible college plus stayed a third year to work on staff at that Bible college.
You might guess that the Lord saved me at a young age and spared me from a lot of things that many young people go through. Well, I guess I could say that I am very blessed to have been raised in a Godly Christian home where my parents were careful to protect us from worldly influences. I can say that God did spare me from quite a bit just from placing me in this home.
Yet, I still have a deceitful heart and was led astray for some time. This led me into a time of deep guilt and great saddness and even depression. But you know what! God used that sinful time in my life to draw me to Himself in a way I never knew Him before. I can relate to the woman in Luke 7:47 where Jesus says that she loved much because she was forgiven much. God has to bring us to the point where we realize our desperate need for Him before we can understand His forgiveness and His great love in a way that changes us never to be the same again. I wish that I didn't have to learn the hard way. In no way am I glad that I sinned against my Lord. This is how God did it for me, and I am so thankful that He used my disobedience to cause me to fall in love with Him in a way where I'm not sure that I would have otherwise. Thank you, Father!
I was listening to this John Waller song, and it just made me cry because I realize that this is the Jesus that I have and the Jesus that saved me!
He didn't save me because of anything I did or could ever do. He saved me because He is a God of grace and love and mercy and EVERYTHING else!
JOHN WALLER
THE JESUS I NEED
She was desperate
Down to her last hope
Now she crawls on her hands and her knees
Through a crowd on a dusty road
If she could touch Him
She knew He could make her well
Reaching and straining she touched His garment
Healing fell
Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for her
I know He'll do for me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need
Verse 2:
Tormented
He had lost his mind
There was nothing but evil and anguish
There in those cold, dark eyes
But the day would come
Everyone would know
That the words of this Jesus
Could set free the captive
And make them whole
Chorus:
Bridge:
More than a story book fable
He is alive and He's able
To rescue anyone who believes
Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for them
I know He'll do for you and me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need
You might guess that the Lord saved me at a young age and spared me from a lot of things that many young people go through. Well, I guess I could say that I am very blessed to have been raised in a Godly Christian home where my parents were careful to protect us from worldly influences. I can say that God did spare me from quite a bit just from placing me in this home.
Yet, I still have a deceitful heart and was led astray for some time. This led me into a time of deep guilt and great saddness and even depression. But you know what! God used that sinful time in my life to draw me to Himself in a way I never knew Him before. I can relate to the woman in Luke 7:47 where Jesus says that she loved much because she was forgiven much. God has to bring us to the point where we realize our desperate need for Him before we can understand His forgiveness and His great love in a way that changes us never to be the same again. I wish that I didn't have to learn the hard way. In no way am I glad that I sinned against my Lord. This is how God did it for me, and I am so thankful that He used my disobedience to cause me to fall in love with Him in a way where I'm not sure that I would have otherwise. Thank you, Father!
I was listening to this John Waller song, and it just made me cry because I realize that this is the Jesus that I have and the Jesus that saved me!
He didn't save me because of anything I did or could ever do. He saved me because He is a God of grace and love and mercy and EVERYTHING else!
JOHN WALLER
THE JESUS I NEED
She was desperate
Down to her last hope
Now she crawls on her hands and her knees
Through a crowd on a dusty road
If she could touch Him
She knew He could make her well
Reaching and straining she touched His garment
Healing fell
Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for her
I know He'll do for me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need
Verse 2:
Tormented
He had lost his mind
There was nothing but evil and anguish
There in those cold, dark eyes
But the day would come
Everyone would know
That the words of this Jesus
Could set free the captive
And make them whole
Chorus:
Bridge:
More than a story book fable
He is alive and He's able
To rescue anyone who believes
Chorus:
And this is the Jesus I want
Friend of the broken and weak
What He did for them
I know He'll do for you and me
This is the Jesus I want
Giver of life and peace
Still today He's reaching out to you and me
This is the Jesus I need
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