He is Risen!

(I know it's long, but there's an AWESOME freestyle/poem/speech in the middle of this incredible song!)

Christ is Risen
by Matt Maher

Lyrics:

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He's alive! He's alive!
He is risen indeed!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Sunday Song & Scripture

Two of my favorite parts of every Sunday church or chapel service are the praise and worship songs and the pastor (or chaplain as the case may be) sharing from the Word. So, on this Sunday, I thought I'd share a song and a Scripture that have been on my heart!

SONG:

The past few days I have woke up first thing in the morning with this song stuck in my head, it's that good! :) I just love it!

How Can I Keep From Singing
by Chris Tomlin


SCRIPTURE:

Tuesday past was the last day of this semester of PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). I have been a part of the group doing the Breaking Free study by Beth Moore. One of the central passages of the study has been very precious to me during the study, and I have therefore set out to commit it to memory.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

I hope you are all having a wonderful, restful Sunday and that you have a fantastic week!

His,

Worship and Praise Sunday - The Wonderful Cross

Good morning! Today is Sunday, and I am so excited because we are attending an Italian church today! The entire service will be in Italian (so we will not understand everything), but it is going to be so amazing to fellowship with believers halfway around the world! The commonality of Christ is the most incredible bond, and it has been so wonderful to build friendships and relationships with brothers and sisters of all different languages and nationalities and colors and shapes and sizes!

Today I'm participating in Worship and Praise Sunday, hosted by Jen at Following the Footsteps!

I chose The Wonderful Cross. The lyrics to the original hymn are by Katherine Scott, and I'm not sure whether Michael W. Smith or Matt Redman added the contemporary chorus, but I know both have performed it. The video is Matt Redman's version.

Before we left Colorado, my Aunt Geri encouraged us to "bask in God's love for us," so when I heard the verse that I emphasized below I was totally blown away! God's love for us is so extravagant and inconceivable and outrageous - how could I do anything but give him "my heart, my life, my all!"



When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My Richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an off'ring far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

and the beauty and the shame
in the glory of His name
Oh the wonderful cross

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

My prayer for you all today is that you would just rest in God's love for you!

Motivate Me Monday ~ Praise Habit

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Words: Frances Ridley Havergal, 1874

We sang this beautiful old hymn at church yesterday morning, and I was struck at how seamlessly it fits in (especially the portion I have highlighted) with the book I'm reading in my quiet times called Praise Habit by David Crowder.


I am only through the first chapter, and I am even going to go back through and read those again, because I want to make sure that the concepts are ingrained in my head. It's an impossibly beautiful book, and I am loving Crowder's style - a lot!!!

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:

What if we were so moved by who God is, what He's done, what He will do, that praise, adoration, worship, whatever, continuously careened in our heads and pounded in our souls? What if praise were on the tip of our tongues like we were a loaded weapon in the hands of a trigger-happy meth addict and every moment might just set us off? This is what we will do for eternity. What makes us think our time on earth should be any different? What keeps it from being so?

Do you see what I mean!?!!?!

We were meant for every moment to be alive with this dynamic relating and vibrant presence of hope in finding our Maker near us . . . Grasping this does not diminish the necessity of or disciplines; it only brings to them more depth and beauty.

It' a great read, very challenging and inspiring, I would highly recommend it!

Hope you all have a great Monday!