Taking Time

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I don’t plan to disappoint Him but I do
I don’t plan to contradict Him but I do
I don’t plan to have a bad day where I walk away from Him
But I do.  Way too often I do
 
I don’t listen to His voice like I should
I don’t walk in His footsteps like I should
I don’t think about the ways I can witness of His love
Not I don’t.  Way too often I don’t
 
Taking time to be with Jesus should be my priority
Not just eking out a life of fun and games
Taking time to be with Jesus is my goal and my desire
I can’t remain where I am.  I have to change
 
I must spend time in His word every day
I must walk away from sin every day
I must tell of His great love to everyone I meet
Yes I must.  Every day I must
 
Taking time to walk like Jesus is my prayer
So that I can touch the sinners where they are
Taking time to spread His story to the ones who need it most
Ever word I speak will make them more aware
 
There was a song many years ago that Larnell Harris sang entitled “I Miss My Time With You.”  It represents the voice of God saying to someone how much he misses spending time with them because they haven’t been praying or reading the word like they should.  It’s a beautiful song with a great message.  When we love someone here on this earth, we want to spend time with them.  We will go out of our way often to spend time with them.  Their voice and their face are like caffeine top our spirit – they pick us up!
 
Way too often the cares of this life take precedence over spending time in prayer, in the word, and in our witness.  At least, that is true with me.  If I do not spend that time in the morning, I may never find it in the middle of the day. I have to Make Time!  I have to deliberately carve out some time, best in the morning, to spend with Him.  If I do that over and  over again, soon it will be a part of my routine and I will be spending the time with Him that I need to.  It is up to me to spend time with Him, because he is always with me.  I just am not aware of that until I turn to Him and seek Him first.
 
Psalm 63:1 King James Version
63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
 

You Overrun Me

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Sometimes I find myself running. Running away from you
Habits and traits of the past will surface and I don’t know what to do
I feel I have called on your mercy much more than you want me to
So I turn and just start running.  Running away from you
 
But you overrun me.  You won’t let me go
You catch me in full stride.  My running is slowed
It’s then that your mercy and grace is bestowed
You pour out your love.  You pour out your love
 
Then I look into your eyes.  Tears roll down my cheeks
I know that your strength has overcome my weakness
You take me in your arms and I can hardly speak
My head rests on your shoulder.  Your mercy at its peak
 
You overrun me when life gets me down
I know in the flood of shame you won’t let me drown
You take off my garment and give me a gown
You pour out your love.  You pour out your love
 
You turn me around and we walk in your grace
I look and I see a smile on your face
I can’t help but wonder what you see in me
That when I run away you come after me
 
Your love overruns me when I go astray
Your mercy and grace will not go away
So I sing this song and give you my praise
You pour out your love on me
 
In the song Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing the last verse says “Prone to wander Lord I feel it. Prone to leave this God I love.”  That is our human condition.  This flesh we live in, that our souls live in, is prone to walk away from the statutes of God.  We find ourselves running from the very God who has saved us and died for us.  We run because we feel shame, or guilt, or unloved or alone.  We run because we don’t think God will forgive us again for that foul mouth, or that lying tongue, or our impulsive flesh. But nothing could be farther from the truth. 
 
In the parable of the prodigal son we find the father looking for His son to come home after he had been gone for weeks, or months or years.  We don’t know how long the son had been gone.  The father was always watching for him, hoping he would come home.  When that day came that he saw his son in the distance, he ran to meet him.  He ran to welcome his son home, to pour out his love on him and embrace him.  I can see the son as his father came running, turn and start to run away, afraid of what the father might do to him.  But the father overran him and wrapped his arms around him and pour out grace and mercy on him.  He loved his son just like God loves us!

Little Old Me

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You’ll go to great lengths to bring me home
When I’ve lost my way and am alone
You’ll scale the highest mountain
Or swim the widest sea
Just to come find little old me
 
You see, I have a tendency to wander
And you have a love that’s fonder
So when I’ve turned to doubt
All you have shown me
You come rescue little old me
 
I know you’re my Savior.  I know you’re my friend
I know I can trust you.  Your love will not end
But little old me still wanders away
My heart is so glad that your love never fails
 
Lord help me when I seem to drift
Keep me afloat in the ship
The storm rages strong
In my own troubles sea
Send your peace to little old me
 
No height. No depth.  No distance too far
No height. No depth,  No distance too far
No height. No depth.  No distance too far
For your love to find me.  Your love will find me
Your love will find little old me

A New Hope

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I was shackled
Held by the snare of the enemy
Only I did not know it
I did not feel the chains
The weight
The burden
I was enjoying the pleasure
The high of life
The solitude of my sin
Each day brought new pleasure
New darkness
New shadows in my life
I had no hope
I did not care about the future
Only today mattered
Only what made me feel good today
There was no god
No judge
No one that challenged my way
No one that helped me see where I was going
And I cared not
I had today
I had pleasure
I had money
I thought I was free
I was free to do what I wanted
When I wanted
How I wanted
No guidelines
No destiny
No path to follow
Just a long and winding road
That led nowhere
 
Then I heard a voice
It sounded faint and soft
It was almost a whisper
In a place where there was shouting
A preacher spouting fire and brimstone
A preacher telling me my destiny
Telling me where I was heading
A place of horror
A place of darkness
A place of fire
I was scared
For the first time I confronted myself
As if looking in a mirror
I sat in that seat
Knowing my destiny now
Knowing it was not a good place
Knowing I did not want to go there
And I heard that voice
That soothing gentle voice
In the middle of my chaos
In the midst of this turmoil in my head
He spoke words of kindness
Of love
Of mercy
Of grace
An I wanted to follow that voice
I wanted to abandon my previous path
And start a new course
A new destiny
A new hope
 
He said I was chosen
He came to me
I was not seeking Him
I was not looking for a change
I was not wanting a change
But He found me
A wandering sheep
Lost and alone in a sinful world
In a dark place
In a place of bondage and shame
He found me
He loosed the shackles
He untied my hands
He loosened my mind from the enemies control
He set my fee on a new path
With a  new destiny
A new hope
A new life
He made me His own
He made me righteous
He sanctified me
He cleaned me up
He set my feet on higher ground
To stay
 
Now I write what He speaks
Words of praise
Words of blessing
Words of  grace and mercy
Words of protection and provision
I write His words for you
His voice speaks to me
And I write
My mind is free from clutter
Free from the noises of the world
Free from the shackles of my sin
He has chosen me
I am not sure why
I am not sure where it will lead
But I am sure this is what he has asked
He has called me
To write His words
To share His message
His love
His compassion
To a lost and dying world
Many are where I once was
Many are lost or have lost their way
I can only pray
That one will hear
That one will listen
That I can plant one seed
Touch one life
With His love
His words
Because God so loved the world
He gave His only Son
If you believe in Him
Hope is yours
Love is yours
Peace is yours
Joy is yours
Eternal life is yours
Just ask Him to be your Savior
Allow Him to be your Lord
And the Kingdom of God is yours

Sweet Aroma

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I fall on my knees and cry holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lamb of God
 
I bow down my head and sing worthy
Worthy, worthy, worthy
Worthy is the Lamb of God
 
Lamb of God, seated on the throne in majesty
Lamb of God, reigning forever in glory
Thousands and thousands praising your name
Sweet aroma from the prayers of the saints
Here I am, Jesus.  I am yours
 
I lift up my hands to you Jesus
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Lift my hands in praise to your name
 
Lamb of God, seated on the throne in majesty
Lamb of God, reigning forever in glory
Thousands and thousands praising your name
Sweet aroma from the prayers of the saints
Here I am, Jesus.  I am yours
 
Do you ever wonder how God interprets your prayers?  How do they come before Him?  He knows all languages so he can definitely understand what we are saying.  We are blinded sometimes to what we really need, though.  We don’t always pray for the right kind of thing.  When Peter and John were entering the temple by the gate beautiful, they were asked for alms by a lame beggar on the steps.  The had no many, but they surely gave him something better.  They gave him healing so he could leap and shout and praise God.  This was not what he asked for, but it was what he needed.  So God does understand what we ask for, but He may decide to give us what we really need instead..
 
I love the picture in Revelation 8:4 of the prayers of the saints rising like and aroma of sweet incense.  Even the Psalmist, in Psalms 141:2, talks about prayers being like incense.  We can smell that aroma and see the plume of smoke that rises into the atmosphere.  This givers so much more depth as to how God interprets our prayers.  Three senses are used instead of just auditory.  God hears what we saying, He sees our human condition, and He smells the aroma of our heart.  This is how He decides to answer.  He knows my tomorrow, so he always knows what is best.  My duty is to come before Him with praise on my lips and allow Him to hear, see and smell my heart’s desire and my real need.  Then he will always answer with what is best for me a that time, in that place and for the reason I have asked.

I Crown You With Praise

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Omnipotent, Most Holy God
Redeemer of all mankind
Lord of my days, King of my life
I crown you with praise
 
Omniscient, God only wise
I lift up my eyes to the skies
You know me more than I know myself
I crown you with praise
 
Higher than all my desires
Provider of all I require
You are the one my heart longs for
I crown you with praise
 
Beauty for ashes
Joy for mourning
Peace for the storms in my life
Hope for the hopeless
Friend to the lonely
You are my all in all
And I crown you with praise

This Heavenly Place

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I’ve lived a little less than seventy years
Sometimes in joy and sometimes in tears
Sometimes I’ve cried and sometimes I’ve cheered
I’ve sure had my ups and downs
 
But all of those years are nothing at all
To the future I’ll have in heavens great halls
Where I’ll eternally answer that heavenly call
To bow down and worship the Lamb
 
I’ll join with the elders around His throne
And all of those numbered as one of His own
Who they all are I truly don’t know
In that day I will dance with them all
 
My mouth will I open my voice will I raise
In a thunderous ovation of heavenly praise
As I worship the mighty magnificent name
Of Jesus Christ my Lord
 
Jesus, my Jesus I love you so much
Jesus, my Jesus I’m glad that you touched me
Jesus, my Jesus I lift up my praise
To your magnificent name
I am with you today
In this heavenly place
What a Savior you are to me

Unexpected

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What an unexpected journey the Lord has brought me on
As I look back I can see that my journey has been long
At the same time I am thinking it has only just begun
For I know He has a plan for my life
 
I was lost in deadly sin and was in the darkest place
Had no thought of getting out or having sin erased
But God had another plan to show me amazing grace
My plan was going to die a welcome death
 
I travelled to a friend who brought me to His church
The preaching went right through me and I suddenly was urged
To raise my hand for Jesus but my body would not lurch
I sat there in that pew needing help
 
Later on that week the pastor came a calling
Asked me if I wanted to ask Jesus to come in
I prayed that prayer and Jesus washed away my sin
God’s plan was just beginning in my life
 
Two years pater I went back to visit that same friend
But the Lord I a plan bigger than I could pretend
While there I met a girl who my lonely heart did mend
God’ plan for us to wed had begun
 
I could go on and on for a hundred verses here
But I think you get the picture why I hold Jesus dear
Neither time did I ask Him where His plan would steer
His plan finds me right where I am
 
So now I’m swerving Him with all my heart and soul
I am not really sure where He wants me to go
But He will get me there and this truth I do know
I am ready, willing and able to do what He asks me to do
 
You see we do not know when a change will come about
All we have to do is praise Him with a shout
Serve Him where you are and soon you will find out
His plan will happen unexpectedly

The Lord Said

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The Lord said I am free
Why do I walk in bondage?
The Lord said I am healed
Why do I walk in sickness and pain?
The Lord said I am blessed
Why do I walk in poverty?
The Lord said I am saved
Why do I walk defeated?
The Lord said I have faith
Why do I walk in doubt?
The Lord said I have peace
Why do I walk in turmoil?
The Lord said I have joy
Why do I walk in sorrow?
The Lord said I have light
Why do I walk in darkness?
The Lord said He’s my friend
Why do I walk alone?
The said He’s the way
Why do I wander off?
The Lord said He’s the truth
Why do I believe a lie?
The Lord said He’s the life
Why do I walk in death
The Lord said He’s the Light
Why do I walk in darkness?
The Lord said He’s the Bread of Life
Why do I walk in need?
The Lord says He’s the resurrection
Why do I remain in the grave?
The Lord said He’s the Word made flesh
Why do I not believe?
 
He has told us all these things So we could walk in faith
Believing every word and not doubting what He said
Determine this In your heart to rejoice this very day
Because I have just told you what our Savior said
And you can know it’s true
Because Jesus loves you!

Jesus Saves

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Some things have to be shouted from the rooftops
Some things have to be declared
I just can’t hold back any longer
It’s time to testify
And here’s the reason why
Jesus set this simmers soul on fire
 
CHORUS
He came and rescued me
From a life of little worth
So I could be His witness
To a dying, desperate earth
The life that I once lived
And the change He brought about
Is a story for the ages
So I will stand and shout
Jesus saves.  Jesus saves
Jesus saves a sinner just like me
Jesus saves. Jesus saves
Every day in every way Jesus saves
 
Now I have a moment to declare the truth
I’m no longer who I was
I have given Him my broken life
It’s time to testify
A thousand reasons why
Jesus set this prisoner free
 
CHORUS

BRIDGE
From a poor man to His riches
From a sick man to good health
From a lost man to a leader
From His voice no longer deaf
From a drunkard now I’m sober
From addiction now I’m free
From a life of heavy shackles
His blood delivered me
 
Jesus saves. Jesus saves
Jesus saves a sinner just like me
Jesus saves. Jesus saves
Every day in every way Jesus saves