Sing Praise

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will give thanks to your name
because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
You stretch out your hand;
your right hand saves me.
The LORD is with me to the end.
LORD, your love endures forever.
“How great is the glory of the LORD!”
from Psalm 138

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
By them your servant is instructed;
obeying them brings much reward.
Though your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
Yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin.
Let the words of my mouth meet with your favor,
keep the thoughts of my heart before you, LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
from Psalm 19

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!

I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.

Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Music: Azmon, Carl G. Gläser, 1828; arranged by Lowell Mason, Modern Psalmist, 1839

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Words: Henry J. van Dyke, 1907 Music: Hymn to Joy, from the 9th Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven; adapted by Edward Hodges, 1824

My Resting Place

My soul finds rest in God alone; my peace depends on Him
And in that place of quiet rest, He fills me from within
He pours on me His holy oil, Spirit of the living God
Then He takes me by His hand and comforts me with His love
He comforts me with His love

Those who wait upon the Lord, new strength He gives to them
He gives them wings like the eagle, so they might soar with Him
He weaves His strength into their lives, Spirit of the living God
Then He gives them all of this peace, to guard their hearts and their minds
Guarding their hearts and minds

Come my soul and take your rest, and find your peace in Him
The holy presence of the Lord, that fills you from within
Oh pour on me your holy oil, Spirit of the living God
Fill my cup, Lord I lift it up, until I overflow*
*Resting Place ~ Paul Wilbur

Joy - getting practical

Do you ever have a “duh” moment? When you think, “Wow . . . yeah . . . of course . . . I can’t believe I didn’t see that before . . . it was right there in front of me!”? Well that happened to me this week.

Thanks to Linda, I’ve found Holley’s Joy Challenge. On Thursday, Holley wrote, “I've learned when the practical part of my life gets out of line it makes it so much harder to keep a strong relationship with God and live in joy.”

As I read her list of practical things like eating well, rest, exercise, etc., I had the “duh” moment. I realized that even though I have purposefully been looking for and seeing the sacred in the “ordinary” for some time, until I read and reread her post I had not really been making the connection between the “practical,” as she put it, and the sacred.

It really made me stop and think when she then asked, “What’s your favorite practical tip or trick for keeping your joy?”

As I reread her essentials list, I saw how important those things are and how they do effect my spiritual life. So, in addition to the things that Holley listed, some of my favorite practical tips or tricks for keeping my joy are:
~keeping things simple
~keeping first things first
~routine
~a peaceful, restful home
~stopping to really listen and engage when someone is talking to me
~keeping in touch with extended family
~getting outside
~opening the windows, letting fresh air in
~reading
~listening to hymns and worship music
~a clean home
~walking

I’m so grateful for Linda and Holley and for this new way of looking at and seeing the spiritual side of the practical.

Consider joining the Gratitude Community!

I Surrender All

Words: Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
Music: Winfield S. Weeden, 1896

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
Refrain

Praise Him!

Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing—
now and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!
God is higher than anything and anyone,
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God,
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 113 (The Message)

My Refuge

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.
I have no good apart from you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart instructs me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
from Psalm 16

In Your Word I Hope

Dear Heavenly Father, please open my mind to the understanding of Your word. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in me. In Your word I hope. Amen

(Luke 24:45 • Colossians 3:16 • Psalm 119:114)

Let Us Pray

Dear Sisters,
I ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

I also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Amen

from Colossians 1:9-14

Every Wednesday, we Walk with Him, posting a spiritual practice that draws us nearer to His heart.

Hope and Trust

On this Multitude Monday, I am grateful for His most gracious gifts of:
Hope~
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from Him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
In God is my safety and my glory.

and Trust~
I will trust in Him at all times,
Pour out my heart before him;
God is my refuge!
from Psalm 62:6-9

Consider joining the Gratitude Community.