One of my favorite Psalms of reassurance that God, and not the wicked, is in control is Psalm 2. Here is it in versification from The Psalms of David in Metre.
Why rage the heathen? and vain things
Why do the people mind?
Kings of the earth do set themselves
And princes are combinedTo plot against the Lord and His
Anointed, saying thus,
Let us asunder break their bands,
And cast their cords from us.He that in heaven sits, shall laugh;
The Lord shall scorn them all.
Then shall He speak to them in wrath,
In rage He vex them shall.Yet, not withstanding, I have Him
To be my King appointed;
And o’er Zion, my Holy hill,
I have Him King anointed.I sure decree I will declare
The Lord hath said to me,
Thou art mine only Son: this day
I have begotten thee.Ask of for me a heritage
The heathen I’ll make thine;
And, for possession, I to thee
Will give earth’s utmost line.Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
Of iron, break them all;
And as potter’s sherd, Thou shalt
Them dash in pieces small.Now, therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
Ye judges of the earth:
Serve God in fear, and see that ye
Join trembling with your mirth.Kiss ye the Son, lest in His ire
Ye perish from the way,
If once his wrath begin to burn:
Bless’d all that on Him stay.
SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
I’m away for the weekend, but this week an old favorite has been resonating in my soul. Lord With Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee, by Francis Scott Key. Read my post about it, and the lyrics here.
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
Ephesians 2:4-5 ~ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
This is what I’m singing for special music at church tomorrow. My heart is filled with awe. You can listen to a clip of the song here.
This Fathomless Love
Words and music by Steve and Vikki Cook
As recorded on Songs for the Cross Centered Life
Lyrics
Lord, what moved Your heart to love lowly man
Before any star could herald Your praise?
And why did You come, abasing Yourself
Veiled in a robe of frail human clay?
Why would You, the pure, give Your life for the vile
The innocent seeking the guilty
To be reconciled?
I can’t comprehend this fathomless love
I’m gripped and amazed at what You have done
Why would the adored become the despised
To bear all the furious wrath that was mine?
How awesome this mystery
Of Your fathomless love for me
Why would You adopt and take as Your own
Those who had crushed Your one precious Son?
Why mercy and grace towards Your enemies?
Your name they have cursed and Your throne they have shunned
Oh, how could You choose to show kindness to these?
The ones who would mock You and hate You
The ones just like me?
© 1999 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).
SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
Psalm 98:1-2 - O sing unto THE LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. THE LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
This is one of my favorite Psalms. (Yes, I looked back and it is the last Psalm I blogged on, nearly a year ago.) It shows how great God is and how good He is, and echos my worship and gratitude back to Him. I truly love to SING unto the Lord.
I have been in awe of my God, my King, my Savior, my Lord today, just rejoicing in His greatness and His goodness. Making melody in my heart and a joyful song with my voice.
While rejoicing in the spirit and in song, everyday life continues. Although He has kept me in perfect peace, my flesh has been frustrated at web changes today - the planned "remodeling" is going fine, but slow - I actually took a break from recoding pages today. But I wasn’t counting on going to my blog and finding my template totally messed up!
I’ve been looking at an app that would work with my Dreamweaver CS3 to build WordPress templates, so I figured now was the time to give ThemeDreamer a try. Since I knew I wanted a different template anyhow, I’ve been looking - and not finding anything I like. Well, maybe with this new app I could find a basic shell I like and adapt it.
Found one, tried, it didn’t work. 
Looked more, didn’t find anything else - even though I really wish this one had 3 columns rather than 2. Decided while I was at it I REALLY needed to upgrade my WP software, (running a REALLY old one,) figured that could be part of the reason it wasn’t working.
SOOOOO - upgraded WP. Still singing praises to my King.
I uploaded the new Template "out of the box" to make sure it worked OK on its own, without my changes. It worked - but it’s ugly.
Now it’s going on midnight. But I can’t leave it as it is. I think my blog has shown over half a dozen "looks" today. Praying no-one looked while it was messed up or down in between.
Decided to go back in and make a few changes, just to see if it will work - without the Theme Dreamer, just basic CSS changes.
Beautiful! I love it! It still needs tweaking, (and I still wish I had 3 columns) but I am pleased with how it is shaping up, and I can go to bed now. Still singing praises to my King - not only because He is great and done marvelous things - like my salvation! Not only because He is good - and gives me the very breath of life. But also because He cares about the little things in my life, like nice looking blog sites.
I hope you like it too!
SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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This week we will Celebrate 2 HolyDays. Neither was instituted as a "holiday" by God, but both are great reasons for Celebrating. Both will be celebrated by many around the world, but many will celebrate without knowing the meaning of what they are celebrating. Both should be understood and bring much Rejoicing!
The first began this past Lord’s Day and continues for 8 days. It is Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication or Lights. The Celebration goes back to the time period after Alexander the Greek, the "silent years" between the Jew’s return after Babylonian captivity and the advent of Jesus, Emmanuel.
The Jewish people were under great oppression and persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes. Their Temple had been desecrated, even to the point of a pig, utter uncleanness, being sacrificed on the altar. But God’s people stood firm, faithful in prayer, Scripture study, and in fellowship together.
The sons of Mattathais, the Maccabees, stood against the Greek soldiers and chased them out of their village. Joined by the other Jews, in a 3 year war, they defeated the great Greek army, and rid Judea of them.
But their Temple was in ruins. The light of the holy oil that had burned day and night had been put out and was gone. They cleaned the Temple and found oil enough for 1 day. But God miraculously kept that oil burning for 8 days, while more was made and brought to the Temple. The people rededicated the Temple to the Lord.
Even though this HolyDay was not instituted as such by God, we have good reason to celebrate it. We can follow Jesus’ example, He did. Also, this celebration has meaning for us as believers in Jesus, the Christ. There is no physical Temple that God inhabits anymore, but those who have been reborn of God are His dwelling place. We can take this time to celebrate the salvation He has worked in us and the sanctifying work He is doing in us. He is cleaning up His dwelling place, from the defilement of the world. He also lights within us the Holy Oil of His Spirit, which never goes out.
We can also look at the historical aspect of this celebration and learn from the Jews and especially the Maccabees who stood in their faith under much persecution. We too can continue in the practice of our faith, even when persecution surrounds us and the world is set against us. The battle is the Lord’s, He wins. We stand with Him under impossible odds, and He who is faithful will see us through, to His glory.
Celebrate the Feast of Dedication and the Lights!
SDG,
For Me and My House ~ At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa @ Me and My House ~ Discipleship for Life!
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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A friend sent me this, saying they were learning it in their church. This song is beautiful.
SDG,
Lisa
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
Before my children and I began singing hymns, I had never considered singing the psalms. (Obviously we don’t come from a background that teaches psalmody nor hymnody.) The only Psalm I’d heard sung was the 23rd - and snippets of others included in modern choruses.
Although I’d bought an old Psalter, mainly for educational purposes as we studied the Pilgrims and Puritans, we hadn’t seriously began learning them. When we went to a family camp 3 years ago we were introduced to congregational singing of the Psalms - and their beauty. How anyone can say that psalm and hymn singing is dead and dreary is beyond me. (Well, obviously they’ve only encountered it in a "church" that is dead and dreary. The people are dead, not the hymns!)
The saints of God, with their voices raised in harmonious praise, singing the rich Psalms and Hymns, excellent music with depth, put the simple ditties we "grew up" on to shame. It isn’t just emotional-feelings stirring music, it is rich, deep complete soul enlivening and arresting music. It isn’t music you mindlessly sing, but music that engages both the mind and the heart, enabling you to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
I find it quite telling that in contemporary worship, people are always seeking a newer song list. The songs that were sung 2 or 3 years ago are "old" and everyone is tired of them. It seems it is always time to move on, because, although the songs were fun while they lasted, there was nothing substantial to keep them surviving long term. They were nothing but a fad. They stirred emotions once, but no longer are having the same effect. They’ve become ho-hum. (I can say that having been in worship ministry for over 20 years.)
Yet, other songs have survived hundreds of years, and still touch the hearts, souls, lives of people in deep ways. These songs have survived, not 2 years, not 10, not 20, but many, many generations, 100’s of years and still have a message that honors God and reaches hearts in lasting ways. (Not all hymns of course. There’s been a good share of shallow, non-lasting "fluff" there too. They aren’t still around, just like much of today’s music won’t still be around in a hundred years.)
The Psalm I’d like to share with you today is one we first heard at that family camp. The whole family loved it. We came home and tried to find it. It took nearly 3 years, but a couple months ago I finally found the tune online.
This is the version of words we sang at camp (I believe), (they were altered a bit for the tune.)
1 O sing a new song to the Lord,
for wonders he hath done:
His right hand and his holy arm
him victory hath won.2 The Lord God his salvation
hath caused to be known;
His justice in the heathen’s sight
he openly hath shown.3 He mindful of his grace and truth
to Isr’el’s house hath been;
And the salvation of our God
all ends of th’ earth have seen.4 Let all the earth unto the Lord
send forth a joyful noise;
Lift up your voice aloud to him,
sing praises, and rejoice.5 With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms,
unto Jehovah sing:
6 With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound
before the Lord the King.7 Let seas and all their fullness roar;
the world, and dwellers there;
8 Let floods clap hands, and let the hills
together joy declare9 Before the Lord; because he comes,
to judge the earth comes he:
He’ll judge the world with righteousness,
his folk with equity.
SDG,
Lisa
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You just can’t imagine my young son’s thrill when he found out what our new hymn for this week was. It wasn’t a new one, as we usually learn each week. But this one is his absolute favorite!
Why was it our hymn for the week, if we already know it? Because that is the chapter we are at in our "Mr. Pipes" reading. As we read the story, the older ones knew what was coming, but you should have seen his face when he realized we were reading about his song.
I don’t know what attracted him to this hymn over all others, perhaps the descant part that the boys get to sing on their own. But every time he’s allowed to pick a song for our morning worship, we know what it will be - It is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford. Mr. Spafford wrote this song in 1873 after his 4 daughters were drowned at sea, and his wife nearly so.
I can relate to this song too. In 1990 we lost our 5th daughter, only 3 hours after birth. My Lord was truly with me and granted a "peace that passes all understanding." Although I could not understand how anyone could get through such without God, it truly was "well with my soul."
It is Well with My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.Refrain (after each verse)
It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
SDG,
Lisa
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
I heard a story this week about one of my favorite hymns, an old celtic hymn, I’m sure most of you know - Be Thou My Vision, by Patrick, missionary to Ireland in the early 400’s. (Not all attribute it to him.)
I was listening to a message by Joe Morecraft, so I hope I get all these details right. Joe had heard about some Indian scratchings, from pre-1000, in the mountains in southern Virginia, and he asked his grandma, who was 97 and lived there, if she knew anything about them. She said yes, and told him where about, and to go find an old timer there and they could no doubt give him directions to go see them. He did and found them. But as he was looking at them, he knew these weren’t just Indian scratchings. He had seen these petroglyphs before. It was ancient Irish petroglyph writing, and it was the words to Be Thou My Vision, — in southern Virginia, — in America, written there before 1000 AD. Awesome!
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
SDG,
Lisa
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Posted in Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
This week we learned about a hymn writer new by name to us, Ray Palmer; and also looked at one familiar to us, (and probably you, but perhaps not by name,) Samuel Francis Smith.
Samuel Francis Smith wrote "My Country ‘Tis of This" which is far more a song of patriotism than worship of God. But Ray Palmer, as the book we are reading states, "represents the last major American hymn writer who wrote his hymns from a Calvinistic understanding of God’s Word," (meaning emphasizing the Sovereignty of God, and in all glory to Him.)
Although I knew this hymn before, I was totally unfamiliar with its author. The words of My Faith Looks Up to Thee express my soul:
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,
Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!
Listen to and read more about this hymn here.
SDG,
Lisa
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