As We Worship...

I'm tradin' my sorrows

I'm tradin' my shame

I'm layin' them down

for the joy of the Lord

I'm tradin' my sickness

I'm tradin' my pain

I'm layin' them down

for the joy of the Lord

I am pressed but not crushed

Persecuted, not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I am blessed beyond the curse

for His promise will endure

that His joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow

may last for the night

His joy comes in the mornin'

What an exciting song of celebration for what Christ has done in our lives! What a great trade! In fact, you'd be a fool not to make that trade right? Let's remember as we gather on Sunday to worship, that there are those among us who have "scales" covering the eyes of their heart, and who haven't experience the joy and salvation that Christ brings. So, let's sing out in worship with all of our hearts, not only to our Savior and Creator, but also as a testimony of God's faithfulness to those around us.

Sunday Worship

"O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee"

I just love the words to that old hymn. The stanza continues,

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."

How true! Despite God's amazing mercy and grace, I daily feel my heart wandering and straying from my Maker. As we come together to corporately worship our Lord this Sunday, may we do so with tuned hearts and clean hands. May it be our goal this Sunday to enter our time of worship together with the attitude of the prophet:

"O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and Praise Your name,

for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things,

things planned long ago." Isaiah 25:1

Consider the words to this chorus:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

Amazing love, now flowing down

From hands and feet that were nailed to the tree

As grace flows down and covers me

It covers me

It covers me

It covers me

It covers me

Remember to pray this week for our pastor as he studies and prepares, that the words he speaks Sunday will not be his own, but be the very word of our Lord.