God's Wondrous Love

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God's love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race—
The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
-from "The Love of God" by Frederick Lehman

At the wedding I attended tonight, this song was sung. As I meditated upon the words, I was moved. I had to include the entire song tonight; I could not cut out any of it. I retrieved the text from www.hymnal.net when I got home. Many people have visited this sight and commented on how this song has touched them. One writer from Australia said this: This hymn, whilst broad in its literary span, does not treat God's love in a general sense. Its sentiment speaks of the burden and depths of God's love in verse 1, the unchanging nature of His love in verse 2, and what unbounded appreciation is required from us of His love. It is here that we realize that we must as "scribes" be learning His boundless love in His economy all the time, with hearts saturated with such good matter concerning Him (Psa. 45). The "ink" with which we write is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3) as the Spirit sheds abroad in our hearts His love. O how much do we need to write concerning the God of love, even to the extent, that we the ministers of the new covenant would be His living letters!

What wonderful thoughts! To think that God is using me as a "letter" full of His love inspires me. I want to share that love with the world around me. Verse three challenges and convicts me! As I read it, I stand in humble amazement. Everyone who has stood on the shore and gazed out at the vast expanse we call ocean can appreciate the beautiful metaphor present in this verse. Can you imagine the ocean completely drained or the skies completely filled? Despite the magnitude of an ink of ocean or the vast expanse of a tablet of sky, the scribe would find that he has fallen far short of what he needs to "write the love of God." How precious! How glorious! How humbling! How completely wonderful!!! God loves me!!!

This I Pray

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
- from "Make Me a Blessing" by Ira Wilson

This song is my prayer tonight.

The world is full of needy people: family, friends, strangers, children, adults, neighbors, mailmen, cashiers, waiters, pastors, salesmen, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas... the list goes on and on. My life can be used to bless others if I allow the Lord to work through me. I want to show the pure love of Christ to those around me.

Heavenly Father, I need You to purge me of self. Help me see the needs of others. Use me to show people Christ's love. May Christ be seen in me. "Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray!"

Finding Strength for Trials

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
-from "Day by Day" by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

What a rich text! I had to include the entire hymn because I found comfort in so much of it. "With each passing moment (all the time)...trusting in MY FATHER'S (the God of gods is MY Abba) wise bestowment (He gives to us wisely)...no cause for worry or fear (NO REASON TO WORRY)." WOW!!!

I am so thankful that "He whose heart is kind beyond all measure" is the one caring for me each day! When I contemplate that "every day the Lord HIMSELF is near me," I stand in awe. Why me? He cares for me? I sin and fail Him; I get caught up in the cares of this world. Yet He is there "with a special mercy for each hour." What a comfort!

Oh, loving Father, "help me then, in EVERY tribulation, to trust thy promises." Keep me from doubting during the difficult times; may "I lose NOT faith's sweet consolation offered within Thy holy Word. You give comfort; You give rest. Help me rely on YOU."

Trusting Jesus

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
- from "Trusting Jesus" by Edgar Stites

Over the past few months, this song seems to have been on "repeat" in my mind. I want to chew on the words and digest them. I want to trust the Lord with all that I am. Oh, how I long to trust Him "every day" and "whate'er befall." I know in my head that "while He leads I cannot fall," but I desire to really, truly, and entirely trust Him in my heart. In a way, that statement is quite a paradox. I either trust something/someone, or I don't. "Kind of" trusting cannot exist. I must be honest with myself; if I am questioning God, I am not trusting Him. What a sobering thought! I have trusted God with my soul; why do I not trust Him with my everyday life. What a rebuke these thoughts have been to me! Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts!

Oh, Lord, "even when my faith is small" help me to trust You! You are the I AM; You are Jehovah-jireh! Help me to "simply trust."

Praising God

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

I just want to praise God today! He is so gracious to me. I just finished reading Matthew chapters 1-3 and was reminded of God's grace despite our sinfulness. God used Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba despite their sinful, pitiful states. He allowed them to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ. His grace covered their faults. Praise the Lord that He wants to use me too, despite my flaws.

This weekend I enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July and America's freedom. I thought "America, America, God shed His grace on thee!" Our Loving Lord has shed His grace on this country, and I pray that He will continue to do so.

Praise God for His wonderful works to the children of men!!!

Talking about Jesus

Let's talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He,
The Lord of lords, Supreme throughout eternity,
The great "I Am," the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door.
Let's talk about Jesus more and more!
- by Herbert Buffum

We are learning this song in our girls' first grade Sunday school class, but we can apply it to our lives whether we're six or sixty! As I have been reflecting on these lyrics, I have been asking myself several questions. Do I love talking about Jesus? Do I share His wonderful grace with others? Do I tell others of His goodness and love? The joy of the Lord should flow from my spirit. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks..." Not speaking about Him should be impossible!

Lord, fill my thoughts. I desire to share You through my speech. I want to talk about You more and more!