“No matter the bumps, No matter the bruises
No matter the scars, Still the truth is
The cross has made, The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt, Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain, Still the truth is
The cross has made, The cross has made you flawless”

This clip has just been released by Mercy Me, for song Flawless. Watch to the end to understand the paint…and why it has disappeared.

I have previously discussed the virtues of this song here:

The Cross has made you Flawless

Blessings!

20/05/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

Grace comes like a flood from our faithful God

“Finish What He Started”

I don’t have to know you
To know that you will go through hard times
It’s just part of life
Don’t let that moment blind you
And don’t let it define you
Take heart, that’s not who you are
Our God is able, more than capable
To be faithful to the end
He’ll finish what He started

No matter what you’ve done
Grace comes like a flood
There’s hope to carry on
He’ll finish what He started
No matter what you face
His mercy will not change
He’s with you all the way
He’ll finish what He started

Remember you’re forgiven
So there’s no need to give in
To the lie that you’re disqualified
Our God is able, more than capable
To be faithful to the end
He’ll finish what He started

This work He started in you now
He’s faithful to complete it
The promise was sealed when He cried out
It is finished
He’ll finish what He started

No matter what you’ve done
Grace comes like a flood
There’s hope to carry on
He’ll finish what He started
No matter what you face
His mercy will not change
He’s with you all the way
He’ll finish what He started
He’ll finish what He started

By Mercy Me

15/04/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

Watch “MercyMe – Greater (Official Lyric Video)” on YouTube

Greetings from school holiday land (aka teacher prep time). I’ve previously written a post about the lyrics of this song, but have just found a neat new official lyrics video that I thought I would share. It is such an uplifting and joyful tune. Blessings to you.

I JOHN 4:4-6
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

05/04/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

Our Saviour chose the Mercy Tree

This a beautiful song – a blessed Easter to you!
May your celebrations proclaim the grace and mercy of the empty tomb.

MERCY TREE

On a hill called Calvary
Stands an endless mercy tree
Every broken weary soul
Find your rest and be made whole
Stripes of blood that stain its frame
Shed to wash away our shame
From the scars pure love released
Salvation by the mercy tree

Verse 2
In the spot between two thieves
Hung the blameless Prince of Peace
Beaten, battered, scarred, and scorned
Sacred head pierced by our thorns
It is finished was his cry
The perfect lamb was crucified
His sacrifice, our victory
Our Savior chose the mercy tree

Chorus
Death has died, love has won
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome
He has risen from the dead

Verse 3
Hope went dark that violent day
The whole earth quaked at love’s display
Three days silent in the ground
This body born for heaven’s crown
On that bright and glorious day
When heaven opened up the grave
He’s alive and risen indeed!
Praise him for the mercy tree!

Verse 4
One day soon, we’ll see his face
And every tear, he’ll wipe away
No more pain or suffering
Praise him for the mercy tree

(Chorus 2x)
On a hill called Calvary
Stands an endless mercy tree

Official music video of “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm, as seen in the film “The Cross” featuring Billy Graham. To watch the film visit http://watchbillygraham.com.

13/03/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

At night His Song is with me

SING

“We’re in the middle of a series on spiritual dehydration and what to do when your faith feels worn out and dried up. . . Remember, we’re dissecting the three elements found in Psalm 42, verse 8: “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love / and at night his song is with me / a prayer to the God of my life.”

I don’t know about you, but I find that during phases of spiritual dehydration, the night is the hardest part of the day. It’s probably because I don’t have any activities to distract my brain; I’m forced to lie in bed and think about all the different elements that are contributing to my depression.

What should you do during these long and restless nights? The Psalmist tells us – sing!

I once was counseling a woman who was severely depressed, and she said to me, “My mind was constantly racing. I couldn’t get a hold of my thoughts or harness my emotions or even read my Bible. But the one thing that brought my soul peace was the music of the church of Jesus Christ.”

Maybe you should grab a pair of ear buds and sing silently in your head as you listen to your iPod while you struggle to sleep. Maybe you should sing aloud as you sit on the couch or clean up the house. Maybe you should gather with your small group and devote an hour to simply singing the theological truths that you normally talk about.

Whatever method you choose, sing good theology! Remind and refresh your soul through praise. God created music for the good of his people.

Especially in the darkness of spiritual dehydration and depression, light the candle of praise.

God bless

Paul David Tripp”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

What are some of your favorite worship songs?

What theological truths from those songs do you need to be reminded of?

How can you incorporate song during times of spiritual dehydration?

How might you be able to minister to others through song?

21/02/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

He is absolutely worth it all

There is absolutely nothing we could go through in this life that would prove our faith in Christ worthless. The joy, peace and assurance of our salvation in Him far outweighs any difficulties which faith in Christ brings.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ…”
(Philippians 3:8-9)

This assurance is beautifully expressed in a song sung by Meredith Andrews, the title track of her album Worth it All.

Meredith Andrews’ acoustic version:

Meredith Andrews’ studio version:

Worth it All
All I am Lord here before You
Reaching out for more
You’re the promise never failing
You are my reward
You are my reward

Chorus 1

I let go of all I have just to have all of You
And no matter what the cost
I will follow You
Jesus ev’rything I’ve lost I have found in You
When I fin’lly reach the end I’ll say
You are worth it all
(You are worth it all)

Verse 2

There’s no riches earthly treasure
That will satisfy
Ev’ry longing for You Jesus
Set this heart on fire
Set this heart on fire

Misc 1

(Bridge)
When I’m there in Your glorious presence
Ev’ry knee is bowed before You
Hear the sound of heaven singing
You are worth it all
All the saints cry holy holy
Angels singing worthy worthy
Forever I will shout Your praises
You are worth it all
(You are worth it all)

http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1908216

11/02/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

New Song from Keith & Kristyn Getty (& Graham Kendrick) | Worship Matters

New Song from Keith & Kristyn Getty (& Graham Kendrick)

by Bob Kauflin on February 10, 2015

Not too long ago I was in Nashville with Julie and we stopped by to see our friends, Keith and Kristyn Getty. While we were there Keith asked me if I wanted to hear a song they had been working on with Graham Kendrick. Of course, I said.

He played “My Worth is Not in What I Own.” I immediately thought, I want to sing this song and I want other people to sing this song. Now we can.

Col. 3:16 says that songs are meant to teach and admonish us while enabling the word of Christ to dwell in us richly. This song definitely accomplishes both goals.

Here are the words:

My worth is not in what I own;
Not in the strength of flesh and bone.
But in the costly wounds of love at the cross.
My worth is not in skill or name;
In win or lose, in pride or shame.
But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross.

I rejoice in my Redeemer, Greatest treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other;
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die:
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by.
But life eternal calls to us at the cross.
I will not boast in wealth or might,
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light.
But I will boast in knowing Christ at the cross.

Two wonders here that I confess;
My worth and my unworthiness.
My value fixed–my ransom paid at the cross.
(c) 2014 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) and Makeway Music (Adm. by musicservices.org).

We’re reminded of where our true value lies – not in our accomplishments, efforts, skills, reputation, wealth, might, or wisdom–but in the finished atoning work of the Savior. We are valued not because we are valuable, but because God has set his affection on us. Our worth is in the “costly wounds of love at the cross.” Nothing in this world will satisfy us like Jesus Christ. These are truths we need to preach to ourselves constantly. And this song helps us do just that in a way that is memorable and beautiful.

Keith and Kristyn kindly gave me permission to give away the choir chart and hymn chart for the song for a week. Enjoy.

http://www.worshipmatters.com/2015/02/10/new-song-from-keith-kristyn-getty-graham-kendrick/

08/02/2015 by sevennotesofgrace

Ascribing greatness to the one true God

We find the deepest meaning in life when our hearts freely go out to admire God’s power, rather than turning inward to boast in our own — or even think about our own. We discover something overwhelming: It is profoundly satisfying not to be God, but to give up all thoughts or desires to be God.

In our giving heed to God’s power there rises up in us a realization that God created the universe for this: So that we could have the supremely satisfying experience of not being God, but admiring the Godness of God — the strength of God. There settles over us a peaceful realization that admiration of the infinite is the final end of all things.

We tremble at the slightest temptation to claim any power as coming from us. God has made us weak to protect us from this: “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

O what love this is, that God would protect us from replacing the everlasting heights of admiring his power with the futile attempt to boast in our own!

John Piper
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-do-you-give-god-strength