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
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.
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)
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.
This is a great modern hymn from Keith Getty (2013) and friends. Enjoy the rich lyrics and the performance from his wife Kristyn and Joni Eareckson Tada. If you know Joni’s story you will understand the significance of her singing this song, particularly the last four lines: “Earth’s struggles overcome
Heav’n’s journey just begun
To search Christ’s depths
And ever to follow.”
Good Shepherd of my soul
Come dwell within me.
Take all I am and mould
Your likeness in me.
Before the cross of Christ
This is my sacrifice:
A life laid down
And ready to follow.
The troubled find their peace
In true surrender.
The prisoners their release
From chains of anger.
In springs of living grace
I find a resting place
To rise refreshed,
Determined to follow.
I’ll walk this narrow road
With Christ before me
Where thorns and thistles grow
And cords ensnare me.
Though doubted and denied
He never leaves my side
But lifts my head
And calls me to follow.
And when my days are gone
My strength is failing
He’ll carry me along
Through death’s unveiling
Earth’s struggles overcome
Heav’n’s journey just begun
To search Christ’s depths
And ever to follow.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.(Ezekiel 36:26 ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)
I just love the grace and truth of these two favourite passages (of mine) from God’s word. They sum up the compassionate heart of a God who would send his own son to die in order to make alive those dead in their rebellion against himself! They explain that the abundant new life we have in Christ is in no way something we have dreamed up. This is the intervention of an all-powerful God into the hearts of mortal men and women!
I also love the way the band Tenth Avenue North have described this rescue and restoration plan of our loving God (album: Light Meets the Dark). He came to bring us truth, which is his very substance. He came to bring us back to the start, to a relationship with him unhindered by our sin. He came to touch our hard hearts, to soften and make them tender and alive toward him. I trust you will enjoy meditating on the truth of these verses, particularly the grace of God which they reveal, grace which comes to us by no merit of our own.
“The Truth Is Who You Are”
It would be easier if You were just a thought in my head Simply something that I once read A belief needing my defense
And it would be easier if You were something I once knew A hope just to hold on But You’re holding out Your hands
You came to take us back to the start You came to touch the hardness of our hearts You gave us truth, that truth is who You are, it’s who You are
And it’s not enough to just say, “I believe” ‘Cause truth is that talk is cheap So grace give me eyes to see
You came to take us back to the start You came to touch the hardness of our hearts You gave us truth, that truth is who You are It’s who You are
Flesh and blood You offer us Oh, to eat the bread and drink the cup Oh, to taste, to see, to feel, to touch Emmanuel, God with us Emmanuel, God with us
‘Cause You came to break the chains apart To wake the dead and the sleeping of our hearts You gave us truth that truth is who You are It’s who You are It’s who You are It’s who You are
Here is a video commentary by the lead singer, explaining more about the meaning of the song: http://vimeo.com/11339654
Greetings all! Thanks for reading along and welcome to my new followers!
Just a quick post to share a lovely song for a wedding reception. If you’ve got one coming up, check it out! The song is called TONIGHT by JJ Heller, a gentle slow (dance) song, from the album The Pretty and the Plain. Listen here on itunes (track 6). Enjoy.
“Tonight” Love, you are lovely You have put the stars to shame I have lost my senses, and you’re the one to blame Bluer than the sky above, closer than my skin Tonight our life begins
Now we are dancing We spin like falling leaves Hold me tighter darling I never want to leave As we move across the floor it’s starting to sink in Tonight our life begins
You are mine beloved And I am yours to keep
Take my heart forever
You have captured me
God is singing over us, we hear it in the wind
Tonight our life begins
And here’s another song with wedding potential – and a video clip. THE BOAT SONG – beautiful!
Love this new Christmas song I’ve just found by JJ Heller – THE PERFECT GIFT. It was released two days ago. Guess what video clip we will be playing at our carols this year? He was the perfect gift, Oh.. He came to bring us peace, Oh.. Holy Child, our King!
Here are the lyrics:
THE PERFECT GIFT
Have we forgotten, with all the rushing around,
With all the shops and the cards, and the chaos in this town?
Have we forgotten we need some sorting out?
Clear our minds we will find what the story is all about. oh…
CHORUS:
He was the perfect gift, Oh..
He came to bring us peace, Oh..
Holy Child, our King!
Do we remember the wonders of his love?
Will our voices join with the chorus up above?
Do we remember how on that silent night
There was a baby who came to recall us back to life? Oh..
CHORUS
Fill our hearts with wonder
Turn our winter into summer
Fill our lungs with laughter, peace and joy, peace and joy
The perfect gift, bringing peace….Oh
He was the perfect gift, Oh..
He came to bring us peace, Oh..
Holy Child, our King!
Holy Child, our King!
And in case you’ve not encountered JJ Heller before, he is one of her older and most charming songs: THE BOAT SONG
I’ve been trying to buy one of her albums on iTunes but apparently Taylor Swift has blown up iTunes! “Try again later.”
‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed When others say I’ll never be enough And greater is the One living inside of me Than he who is living in the world
These lines are the chorus of a really lively and encouraging song on the latest Mercy Me album. The song is titled Greater. It explores the fact that the Great One – Jesus Christ himself – lives in us by grace, through faith! From His perspective we are redeemed, we are fully accepted by Him, with all our guilt and pain. Though there are days we lose the battle, “grace says it doesn’t matter”. He is living in us and He is greater than the world that would condemn and discourage, and call us fools. I pray that your joy and strength may be renewed in the Lord as you sing along. Below you will find the lyric video, the story behind the song and the lyrics themselves. (If you don’t have a copy of the latest Mercy Me Album, this site says it is just 5.99 on iTunes for a limited time: http://mercyme.org/) Blessings to you!
GREATER (Mercy Me, Album: Welcome to the New)
Bring your tired and bring your shame
Bring your guilt and bring your pain
Don’t you know that’s not your name
You will always be much more to me
Every day I wrestle with the voices
That keep telling me I’m not right
But that’s alright
‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed When others say I’ll never be enough And greater is the One living inside of me Than he who is living in the world In the world, In the world And greater is the One living inside of me Than he who is living in the world
Bring your doubts and bring your fears
Bring your hurt and bring your tears
There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed
Every time I fall
There’ll be those who will call me
A mistake, Well that’s OK
Chorus:
There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater, He’s Greater
I am learning to run freely
Understanding just how He sees me
And it makes me love Him more and more
He’s Greater, He’s Greater
Songwriters: Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Ben Glover, David Garcia, James Bryson, Jim Bryson, Michael John Scheuchzer, Mike Scheuchzer, Nathan Cochran, Robby Shaffer
You would probably also like this song from the same album: Flawless
There is an invaluable resource, particularly for guitarists, within the Worship Together website. In case you haven’t discovered it yet, go there now! http://www.worshiptogether.com/
Each song comes with a SONG VIDEO/NEW SONG CAFE where the song writer is interviewed, they share their song, and explain some of the unusual things they do to make the song work. Chord structures, rhythm and dynamics are all explored. It’s also helpful to hear the history of how the song came together, and the main things the writer intends the song to say. I always enjoy getting to know a little about the person behind the song as well. These clips are a great research for helping with tricky chord structures, and just getting the right feel to a song. I hope you find it helpful!
I'm Ash. I love Jesus. I'm a wife and a mum. I'm a teacher. I'm also studying my Masters of Counselling. I started studying a few years after started the very hard work of engaging my own story of harm and trauma. This is a place where you'll hear my stories, as well as the stories of others. I'll also reflect on faith, healing and walking with Jesus. I pray that these words might encourage you to do your own painful but life-bringing work of examining your own stories, and allowing Jesus to heal the parts of you still locked in shame. For He came that we might have life, and have it to the full. Welcome, fellow traveller.
Words, words, words... well said Hamlet! A little blog to go off on tangents within the worlds of history, literature, TV and film that interest me. From the Tudors to Tom Hardy's Tess, the Boleyns to Bollywood or from the Wars of the Roses to Wuthering Heights, feel free to browse through my musings to pick up extra ideas and points for discussion!
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