Greetings all, just quickly want to share an album I’m now playing on repeat. It is based on CS Lewis’ writings, with overtones of Narnia! There is so much to explore. Enjoy!
Encouraging others
20 Quotes from John Piper on the Coronavirus
Last year John Piper penned a great little book at the start of the pandemic, and 12 months later his words still ring true:
“The coronavirus is God’s thunderclap call for all of us to repent and realign our lives with the infinite worth of Christ.” (77)
“Disasters are a gracious summons from God to repent and be saved while there is still time. . . . I think that’s God’s message for the world in this coronavirus outbreak. He is calling the world to repentance while there’s still time.” (79–80)
“What God is doing in the coronavirus is showing us—graphically, painfully—that nothing in this world gives the security and satisfaction that we find in the infinite greatness and worth of Jesus. This global pandemic takes away our freedom of movement, our business activity, and our face-to-face relations. It takes away our security and our comfort. And, in the end, it may take away our lives. The reason God exposes us to such losses is to rouse us to rely on Christ. Or to put it another way, the reason he makes calamity the occasion for offering Christ to the world is that the supreme, all-satisfying greatness of Christ shines more brightly when Christ sustains joy in suffering.” (82)
The quotations above are courtesy of a Gospel coalition post (link below). But don’t forget you can access Piper’s books as PDFs anytime. Follow the link https://www.desiringgod.org/books/coronavirus-and-christ. It is worth reading for yourself. Blessings!
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/20-quotes-coronavirus/
The One and Only God (new song!)
“Like a warrior in battle he will lead his people home . . . “
Here is a new song from Navigate Worship – a song written and performed by a collaboration of musicians at my church! Lyrics below the Spotify link. Had a great time adding some harmonies along the way. Enjoy!
(Ps. Lyric video coming soon – will post once available).
The One and Only God
Lord we lift our hearts to you
Lord we recommit our hearts and minds anew
Lord teach us of your ways and let us look upon your face
And fill us with your words
The God who sits above it all
The God whose kingdom shall remain and never fall
The God whose name is worthier than any other name
The God we call our own
Servant King, light of all the earth
Shout his praises and endless worth
Like a warrior in battle he will lead his people home
The one and only God
Oh our one and only God
Lord you lead us through the flames
And you promise we will not be set ablaze
Through waters and through rivers we will not be swept away
For by our side you’ll stay
The God whose word defines all things
The God whose mightier than any earthly king
Who stretches out the heavens giving breath to everything
We kneel before you Lord
Chorus
Almighty, who is there like him
Holy, no other rock, the one and only God
Oh our one and only God
Lift our voices, praise his precious name
Holy, and all fall short of the one and only God
Oh our one and only God
(chorus x2)
Performed by Navigate Worship, Written by Ashleigh Willett, Ross Tenni; Source: 2241884 Records DK
Messiah – the long-awaited precious promise
Ready for your new favourite Christmas song? Here it is.
From the album, This Christmas, by Francesca Battistelli (2020)
Lyrics:
Long awaited precious promise
Son of God and son of man
Heaven’s glory in a manger
Has come to us in Bethlehem
Messiah
Messiah
A baby born to save us all
Messiah
Messiah
On our knees we fall
All we longed for, all we needed
Shining in this child’s eyes
Hope forever, death defeated
Because of this one holy night
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore…
Fear cannot survive when we praise You!
Here is a powerful song from Matt Redman’s new live album released at the start of 2020, “Let There Be Wonder”. Lyrics are in the YouTube link. Enjoy! I think this is the standout song from the album. Let me know if there are others you have on repeat!
Blessings!
Almost Home – Mercy Me
1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)
This song from Mercy Me is a great encouragement in the midst of the weariness and challenges which 2020 has brought us. The film clip is also quite a unique and creative one! I trust you find these words from the bridge an especially beautiful glimpse of the joy of heaven to come.
“I know that the cross has brought heaven to us
But make no mistake there’s still more to come
When our flesh and our bone are no longer between
Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be
When all that’s been lost has been made whole again
When these tears and this pain no longer exist. . .”
Are you disappointed
Are you desperate for help
You know what it’s like to be tired
And only a shell of yourself
Well you start to believe
You don’t have what it takes
‘Cause it’s all you can do
Just to move much less finish the race
But don’t forget what lies ahead
Almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Well this road will be hard
But we win in the end
Simply because of Jesus in us
It’s not if but when
So take joy in the journey
Even when it feels long
Oh find strength in each step
Knowing heaven is cheering you on
We are almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
I know that the cross has brought heaven to us
But make no mistake there’s still more to come
When our flesh and our bone are no longer between
Where we are right now and where we’re meant to be
When all that’s been lost has been made whole again
When these tears and this pain no longer exist
No more walking we’re running as fast as we can
Consider this our second wind
Almost home
Brother it won’t be long
Soon all your burdens will be gone
With all your strength
Sister run wild, run free
Hold up your head
Keep pressing on
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
We are almost home
Almost home
Almost home
We are almost home
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover / Nathan Cochran / Bart Millard / Barry Graul / Mike Scheuchzer / Robby ShafferAlmost Home lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
Social isolation, then and now
Here is an entertaining yet poignant look at our world right now, which also takes us back to the social isolation in Jesus’ day. (Highly recommend…made by a friend of mine and played in our Good Friday livestream.)
Talking 1 Corinthians 13 (Live stream)
Defender
Defender
You go before I know
That You’ve even gone to win my war
You come back with the head of my enemy
You come back and You call it my victory, oh ooh
You come back and You call it my victory, oh ooh
You go before I know
That You’ve even gone to win my war
Your love becomes my greatest defense
It leads me from the dry wilderness
That You’ve even gone to win my war
Your love becomes my greatest defense
It leads me from the dry wilderness
And all I did was praise
All I did was worship
All I did was bow down, oh
All I did was stay still
All I did was worship
All I did was bow down, oh
All I did was stay still
Hallelujah, You have saved me
So much better Your way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
So much better Your way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
You know before I do
Where my heart can seek to find Your truth
Your mercy is the shade I’m living in
And You restore my faith and hope again
Where my heart can seek to find Your truth
Your mercy is the shade I’m living in
And You restore my faith and hope again
And all I did was praise, oh, oh ooh
All I did was worship
All I did was bow down, oh
All I did was stay still, stay still
All I did was worship
All I did was bow down, oh
All I did was stay still, stay still
Hallelujah, You have saved me
So much better Your way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
So much better Your way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
When I thought I lost me
You knew where I left me
You reintroduced me to Your love
You picked up all my pieces
Put me back together
You are the defender of my heart
Hallelujah, You have saved me
So much better this way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
So much better Your way (I know it’s so much better)
So much better Your way (I know it, I know it)
So much better this way
Hallelujah, great Defender
So much better Your way
So much better Your way (I know it’s so much better)
So much better Your way (I know it, I know it)
And all I did was praise
All I need to do is worship
Lord, I will just bow down
I’m just gonna stay still
All I need to do is worship
Lord, I will just bow down
I’m just gonna stay still
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Steffany Dawn Gretzinger / John-Paul Gentile / Rita E. Springer
Defender lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, Music Services, Inc
The Bridge – Casting Crowns
Lyrics:
Oh, you lead us home
Oh oh
The world’s getting darker by the day
I’m on my knees but don’t know what to pray
The broken things that broken people do
But knowing just how far You came for me
Gives me hope for every soul I meet
There’s no one so far gone that You can’t reach
So reach through me
Let them see, Lord, let them see
Your love is the bridge
You built with a cross
And Your truth is the light
That searches for the lost
Your grace won’t stop reaching
Your mercy won’t let go
‘Cause Your love is the bridge
And Your truth leads us home
Oh, You lead us home, Oh
You never told the broken they were whole
You spoke the truth that healed their broken souls
You’d never leave us here to fight alone
With love we earn the right to speak Your truth
It’s not just what we say, it’s what we do
I want to be a bridge that leads to You
So reach through me
Let them see, Lord, let them see
No rescue so relentless
No greater love than this
Where sin leaves a canyon
Your love builds a bridge
Writers:
Mark Hall, Matthew West, Bernie Herms and Seth Mosley
Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). My Refuge Music (BMI) (adming at CapitolCMGPublishing.com). Hickory Bill Doc / So Essential Tunes (SESAC) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com) (C) 2018 Provident
