May 31st, 2014

May 30th, 2014

May 29th, 2014

May 28th, 2014

This journey [through sorrow] is made possible only through Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, who was well acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). It was Jesus who paved the way for us as he followed his own journey of lament. On that fateful night in the Garden of Gethsemane, he voiced his sorrow, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Mark 14:34). He cried out to God for help saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (13:36).Jesus personified the heart cries of his people at the cross. He became the fulfillment of all our laments. And he calls us to cast all our burdens on him. Because of Jesus and the gospel, we can come to the “throne of grace in confidence and find the help and grace in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We can come to Jesus with all our emotions and cares and know that he hears us, that he cares for us, that he is at work in us.

Read more over at Desiring God blog.

May 26th, 2014

When a Christian friend or loved one dies, our hearts are broken. But in our grief we must remember that for the Christian,

 death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come. 

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” Philippians 1:23

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15

“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, 

in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,

 and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the

 victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:49-57

-compiled by Sam Ludvicek

May 25, 2014

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

-Matt Redman

May 24, 2014

Your Hands

J.J. Heller

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking 
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking 
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still