Be ready, be alert, resist, stand firm knowing you are not alone

Again I quote from the witness portion of my Journal. It is what I learned during a day of both blessing and trial. I also needed to review this entry because I needed to be reminded of the rest I find at the table of the Lord and the warning against becoming fodder for the enemy.

November 3, 2015

Worship: Everyone Needs a Little by Keri Jobe

Come all ye weary and ye broken
Come to the table of the Lord
Come sing the song of the forgiven
Come lay your burden on the word


Come and find peace
Everyone needs a little rest
Everyone needs a little joy
And a song to sing in the darkest night


And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little


Sing all ye saints and ye sinners
Call upon the mercy of the Lord
Come sing the song of redemption
Sing about the hope that is to come


Come and find peace
Everyone needs a little rest
Everyone needs a little joy
And a song to sing in the darkest night


And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little


He will lift you up
He will lift you up higher than sorrow
He will lift you up
And cover your soul with healing


Come and find peace
Everyone needs a little rest
Everyone needs a little joy
And a song to sing in the darkest night


And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little


Peace
Everyone needs a little rest
Everyone needs a little joy
And a song to sing in the darkest night


And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little
Everyone needs a little
Everyone needs a little

Songwriters
KARI JOBE, ED CASH, CHRIS TOMLIN

Published by
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

Read more: Kari Jobe - Everyone Needs A Little Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Video: https://youtu.be/jnggpVfw9xQ

Witness: Today was a mostly unproductive day. I spent most of my afternoon clearing out my e-mails, which had gotten up to over 400 unread messages. Technology can be wonderful and useful, but left unmanaged and it can be a burden and a time waster. I did discover a financial blessing in the e-mail and at the time I rejoiced and praised the Lord. However, times of testing soon followed. I will not go into the details of the trial, only that I should always be alert to the possibility of such things occurring when I experience a blessing in my life. Not that I should be morose or nervous about it, but alert and prepared. “Put on all of God’s armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” So we are exhorted to do in Ephesians 6:11.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Be ready, be alert, resist, stand firm knowing you are not alone. Others are fighting the same battle. Today the Lord took this weary soldier to His table and refreshed me. The song I sang encouraged me today, for it reminded me that the table, like the green pastures and quiet waters, is a place for rest and refreshment and that in the presence of my enemies.

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

The same blessings we saw in the first two verses are recounted again in this picture of a table prepared by the Lord. He mentions the presence of his enemies, for in this life we will have blessings, but we will also have battles. I came from one such battle today. It occupied half of my evening. Therefore, my time in the word was cut short. Never-the-less, God is good, and I have been fed and encouraged at His table. He has anointed me with the “oil of joy”. (Isaiah 61:3) My cup overflows with His blessings. In spite of the enemy of my soul, who seeks to devour me, I will praise my God and be fed by Him. I will not be food fed to my enemies! Who are my enemies that seek to separate me from the LOVE of my Shepherd? I’ll leave that for tomorrow. See if you can come up with an answer to what you think they are.

Keri Jobe is singing “Be Still” as I go to work:

“Be Still”

He is here for the broken and life to the one who is undone
He is peace to the wounded and hope for the helpless one
He is here, He is here

Be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still

When the waves rise against me and the wind tries to draw me away
I will stand on the mountain, safe in Your arms I will sing I will sing

Be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still

Be still I know He is God
He is here, He is here
Be still I know He is God
He is here, He is here

So be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still

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Writer(s): Aben Eubanks, Kelly Clarkson, Kenna Zemedkun
Copyright: Digbyomega Music, Smelly Songs, Emi April Music Inc., Nervous People 

A-Z Lyrics KARI JOBE Lyrics “Kari Jobe” (2009)

Video:   https://youtu.be/wYRXoVmUFmA

Is Your Faith a Surface Faith or a Settled Faith?

This question comes actually at the end of my witness portion of my journal. In it I speak of my son-in-law and his struggle with faith. It appears now that it was a surface faith that he had, for when Band of Brothers ended it's 12 weeks of meeting he quickly fell away. Now the latter life he now lives is in many ways is worse than before he began attending church and Band of Brothers. It is as if the demon that was in his life before left for a while then came back, found the place cleaned up and brought his buddies back with him (Matthew 12;43-45). I still pray for him every day. How about you? How deep is your faith?

November 2, 2015

Worship: Come to the Table by  Claire Cloninger

Come to the table of mercy
Prepared with the wine and the bread
All who are hungry and thirsty
Come and your soul will be fed.

Come at the Lord’s invitation
Receive from His nail-scarred hand
Eat of the bread of salvation
Drink of the blood of the Lamb. 

Read more at Come To The Table Of Mercy song http://www.turnbacktogod.com/come-to-the-table-of-mercy-song/#ixzz3qPKzweKr

Video: This version has two other worship songs attached to it. I have included only the lyrics to the first song.

https://youtu.be/XiqNuLDSJpQ

Witness:

Today I got a late start on journaling. I knew that my daughter wanted to go see War Room, but I thought it may have finished showing in the theaters here in Tulsa. Much to my delight, it was still showing at the same theater where I had seen it. 

So I told my daughter that I would watch the kids while she and her husband Tea, went to see the movie. I felt the movie could have a deep impact on their marriage and I prayed that God would give Tea a deep settled faith as a result of the movie. 

The word “settled” flowed out in an almost unconscious way, and I prayed past them for a second until I was caught up in the significance of the words. I knew Tea struggled with faith. He had made professions of faith before, but fell away quickly. Lately he has been going to church fairly consistently and attended the Band of Brothers with me. I have seen the struggle in his life. The pull of the Spirit and the flesh, battling for control of him (Galatians 5:17). 

So the word “settled” had significance of which I had not even thought through. As I said, I prayed the words almost unconsciously, maybe with the view of sounding deep without considering what I was asking. Do you pray like that sometimes? Struggling to sound pious or deep? I say that in passing, for I want to get to the heart of what I was asking God to do. 

When I thought of the phrase “settled faith”, I contemplated what its opposite might be and the phrase “surface faith” came to mind. Later, as I thought about how ― even as I typed this section― it described the faiths found in the parable of the sower and the seeds, or as some have called it, the parable of the four soils. The first three soils represented surface faiths. Perhaps I should exclude the first soil, for it appears there was no time for faith to germinate before it was ingested.  The second and third soils produced what seemed like the potential for fruit, but when the seed grew and reached the surface, persecution, problems and profits charred and choked the plant and they were unfruitful. It was only when the seed settled in the good soil that it was able to grow deep roots and be fruitful. 

So, my question is this. Is your faith a surface faith or a settled faith? Are you bearing spiritual fruit in your life? (John 15:8; Romans 7:3; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; James 3:17-18). Our Savior warned that those who do not bear fruit will be uprooted. (Matthew 15:3; John 15:2). Jude speaks of “godless men” who had infiltrated the church and sought to lead God’s sheep astray. Listen to what he says:

For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord…  These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. Jude 4, 12-13 NIV

Being fruitless and uprooted, God calls them twice dead! So, again, in light of how serious this issue is, I ask you if your faith is a surface faith or a settled faith?

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

A feast prepared by my Shepherd or Lord. I can barely fathom the depths of such condescension. Who am I that He should grant me such blessings, a sheep prone to wander. What grace, what mercy, what benevolence.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:1-9 NIV

And the Same God who prepares the feast also prepares us to go out and do the works He has already prepared for us to do!

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My heart wells up and burst out in song to my gracious and merciful Father.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.

What can we do to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Words: Julia H. Johnston

Music: “Moody” by Daniel B. Towner

Rom 5:20

(from Biblesoft Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

(Missing refrain added: http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/g/ggreater.htm)

 

The Marvelous Feast of the Lord!

November 1, 2015

Worship: His Love by Hill Song; His Banner Over Me by Bethel Church

“His Love”

Your light is over me
Flooding over me
The night is lifted

Heaven over me
Flooding over me
I can’t contain it

My cup overflows
My cup overflows

Praise the Lord
With all my heart
Praise Him for He
Has done great things

His banner over me is love
His love
His banner over me is love
His love

You brought the sunshine in
Turned the dark to day
You made the shadows flee away

You opened up my eyes
To a new and living way
The dawning of a brand new day

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A-Z Lyrics HILLSONG LIVE Lyrics

“God He Reigns” (2005)

Video:

https://youtu.be/bbl8Prfnl1k

He brought me to His banqueting table (echo)
He brought me to His banqueting table (echo)
And His banner over me is love

I am my beloved’s and He is mine (echo)
Yes, I am my beloved’s and He is mine (echo)
And His banner over me is love
Yes His banner over me, over me, is love.

And we can feel the love
Of God in this place
We believe in Your goodness
We receive Your grace.
We delight ourselves at Your table
Oh God, You do all things well
Just look at our lives.

And his banner over me is love
Yes his banner over me is love
His banner over you, his banner over me
His banner over us, it is love, love, love 

http://www.ap0s7le.com/list/song/212/Kevin_Prosch/His_Banner_Over_Me/

Video: Warning. This video ends abruptly at the end and the lyrics don’t flow well, nor are they always correct. I followed the song by the printed lyrics. I did enjoy the music. Just wish they ended the video better. As far as I can tell it is the only version on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/qxPpOZXNL-w

Witness:

Once again, it has taken a long time to get to this portion of the Journal. Finding the songs and the lyrics can be a little tedious at times. Sometimes when I get through I wonder if I have worshiped at all. Thank God for the time to go back each day to another journal entry where I can once again, without searching, worship again my great Shepherd and Lord. 

However, worship isn’t only for the beginning of a quiet time or every Sunday Church service. No, I find worship appropriate at any time of the day. It can be spontaneous or planned. It can be in song or work or dance. It can be in silent meditation or loud applause. Worship shouldn’t be compartmentalized. It is a way of life! It should permeate everything we do. O how often we relegate worship to a part of our life and not the whole.

 As I type these thoughts a “God sighting” has just occurred. My friend Glen, just texted me and asked me if I knew “what the practice of coram Deo is?” At one time I could have said yes, after all, an album by that name was produced by Charlie Peacock and we sold it at Family Christian Stores where I used to work. Yet I could only answer him that it sounded familiar. I then googled the term and the first entry was related exactly to what I have been trying to say here. This was totally unplanned, but I believe it was providential. Coram Deo is Latin for “before the Face of God” and can be translated “in the presence of God”.  R.C. Sproul says this about coram Deo:

"This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God." (To see the whole article you can follow this link – http://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-coram-deo-mean/

So wherever we are or whatever we are doing, if we realize we are in the presence of God, then we can declare:

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Ps 95:2 ESV

And

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing

Ps 100:1-2 ESV

And

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Ps 100:4 ESV

I could go one, for this subject is deep and wide, but let me end this portion with a familiar passage. One that reminds us that wherever you are or whatever you are doing, worship is the key. That life lived here on the horizontal is to be lived out on and for the vertical.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Cor 10:31 NIV

P.S. Don’t give God mere lip service, but life service

                                   

The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is made up only of rules taught by men."

Isa 29:13 NIV

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. KJV

Marvelous feast of the Lord. A feast that is:

Prepared by God – You prepare

Provided for me – before me

Proximate to my enemies – in the presence of my enemies

Preceded by blessing – You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Pursued by goodness and love- Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life

Perpetuated for eternity – I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amazing grace… that He would save… that He would satisfy… that He would secure a wretch like me. I cry out with the Apostle Paul these SPIRIT breathed words:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen. Rom 11:33-36 NIV

Let your overflowing cup of blessing flow into the lives of others.

October 31, 2015

Worship: Come to the Table by Michael Card

MICHAEL CARD

Come To The Table Lyrics

Come to the table and savor the sight
The wine and the bread that was broken
And all have been welcomed to come if they might
Accept as their own these two tokens

The bread is His body, the wine is the blood
And the one who provides them is true
He freely offers, we freely receive
To accept and believe Him is all we must do

Come to the table and taste of the glory
And savor the sorrow, He’s dying tomorrow
The hand that is breaking the bread
Soon will be broken

And here at the table, sit those who have loved Him
One is a traitor and one will deny
But He’s lived his life for them all
And for all be crucified

Come to the table He’s prepared for you
The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release
Come to the table and sit down beside Him
The Savior wants you to join in the feast

Come to the table and see in His eyes
The love that the Father has spoken
And know you are welcome, whatever your crime
Though every commandment you’ve broken

For He’s come to love you and not to condemn
And He offers a pardon of peace
If you’ll come to the table, you’ll feel in your heart
The greatest forgiveness, the greatest release

Come to the table and taste of the glory
And savor the sorrow, He’s dying tomorrow
The hand that is breaking the bread
Soon will be broken

And here at the table, sit those who have loved Him
One is a traitor and one will deny
But He’s lived his life for them all
And for all be crucified

Come to the table He’s prepared for you
The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release
Come to the table and sit down beside Him
The Savior wants you to join in the feast

Come to the table He’s prepared for you
The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release
Come to the table and sit down beside Him
The Savior wants you to join in the feast

copyright <a href=”http://elyrics.net” rel=”nofollow”>http://elyrics.net</a>

Video: https://youtu.be/SQgmxQWG5rc

Witness:

Come to the table the song says. I know the table mentioned in Psalm 23 meant something else to David in his day. Yet I cannot think of this table without thinking of the table spread before our Great Shepherd and His little flock of followers. The shocking words from this song are found

in the fourth stanza:

And here at the table, sit those who have loved You
One is a traitor and one will deny
But He’s lived his life for them all
And for all be crucified

The traitor and the disclaimer as well as the presumptuous all sat at the table and yet even for them He lived and died. Do you identify with any of these? What keeps you from entering in and joining? If He would deign even to die for these, He certainly would for you as well. Do you think yourself too good to need His pardoning death? Does your life compare with the Savior? Have you kept all the commandments? Scripture says:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.  Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:19-24 NIV

No, none is worthy to come yet He invites us to come.

Come to the table He’s prepared for  you
The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release
Come to the table and sit down beside Him
The Savior wants you to join in the feast

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

What a blessed feast we have according to the scriptures I shared yesterday.

What is on the menu? ― Eph 1:3 “every spiritual blessing in Christ” NIV

Holiness/Sanctification –

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world  to be holy and blameless in his sight. Eph. 1:4  NIV

Adoption –

In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ 
Eph. 1:5 NIV (2011)

Redemption/ Forgiveness –

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins
Eph. 1:7

Unity/Oneness – 
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Eph. 8-10 NIV (2011)

Provision –

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  2 Peter 1:3 NIV

And so much more!

The cost to us?  Nothing! – The cost to God? Everything!

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:4-10 NIV (2011)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-20 NIV

Surely we can say with the Psalmist, “my cup overflows”. Let it overflow into the lives of others. Let them taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8) so that they may come to the table and join the feast. 

Come to the Table of the Lord

It has been days since I have blogged my Journal. I find it harder to journal and blog since I have taken on the responsibility of watching the grand kids some nights as well as conducting a Lifegroup on Saturday nights. This journal entry reminded me of the patience I needed in waiting for my life storm to end. Some are going through a brief shower and others, like me, are in the midst of a Hurricane. Those who hide in the shelter of the Lord's house find safety in the storm others who chose not to are like one seeking shelter in a hurricane underneath an umbrella. My invitation is for you to come in the house of the Lord and sit at His table and find safety, rest, comfort, and nourishment!

October 30, 2015

Worship: Come to the Table by Sidewalk Prophets

"Come To The Table"

We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry, we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us

He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table

Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thieves
There's no one unwelcome here
So that sin and shame that you brought with you
You can leave it at the door
Let mercy draw you near

Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table

To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger, all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the poppers and the princess
All who fail you've been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow, all who lead
Anyone who's been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who have been labeled right or wrong
To everyone who hears this song

Ooh
Come to the table
Come join the sinners you have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Oooh
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
Just sit down and rest a while
Just sit down and rest a while
Come to the table

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Writer(s): Dave Frey, Ben Mcdonald
Copyright: Run Run Milo, Pencil Prophet Publishing, Dayspring Music LLC 

A-Z Lyrics SIDEWALK PROPHETS Lyrics "Something Different" (2015)

https://youtu.be/4cGJgRwkIDQ

Witness: It’s a rainy cool day. It is a welcomed break from the hot days that we have been experiencing and a time of refreshing for the earth. Sometimes dreary days are needed to bring needed nourishment and renewal. We can mope and complain about the rain, or wait patiently for the sunshine and the refreshment brought by those rainy dreary days. We also can mope and complain because the rain the Lord has brought into our lives, or wait patiently for the clouds to part and rejoice in blessings and refreshing that come from the dreary storm filled times in our lives. In fact, if we believe in the God of the flood and the rainbow, we can rejoice in the rain as well, expectantly waiting for what is to follow. I understand for some the rains are brief and for others they are a monsoon. I will not be flippant or dismissive concerning long periods of rain in our life, but this I know. Our great shepherd goes through them with us and leads us out of them. If we remain faithful and focused on Him, we will get through it. If we balk and stray, we may end up devoured by the enemy or fall off the edge of a cliff into the abyss. Yet, I am confident of better things for the true sheep of God. The Good Shepherd rescues them by rod and staff and calls them to His table of abundant blessing. It may still be raining outside, and the enemy may be close by looking on, but in the house of the Lord there is protection and blessing and peace in the midst of it all. In fact, the true saint declares with the Psalmist:

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Ps 84:10

NIV

They know the enemy’s tents may promise pleasure but it is only for a season (Hebrews 11:25), but in the end there is no treasure to be had only “moth and rust” (Matthew 6:19), death and dust. But the sheep of the Lord declare:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! Ps 84:11-12 ESV

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

This verse reminds me of a table implied in the previous Psalm we looked at. Psalm 22:26 says:

The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him — may your hearts live forever! NIV

In fact, one resource I read says:

Psalms 23:5

The background may be that of the fellowship meal which followed the thanksgiving sacrifice in the Temple (see 22:26).

(from UBS Old Testament Handbook Series. Copyright © 1978-2004 by United Bible Societies. All rights reserved.)

What a great scene we have before us! This is not only provision, but a plethora of blessings provided by God our Shepherd or Host, depending on how you see the metaphor here. And does He not promise this to His sheep or people? Does He not say in the Great Shepherd passages of John chapter ten:

I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure. John 10:10

Complete Jewish Bible

 And this eternal and blessed life contains:

Eph 1:3-10

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

NIV

And:

            2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

NIV

And so we declare with all the hosts of heaven and saints living and at rest:

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Rev 7:12 NIV

And how shall we then live in light of this all?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV

So come to the table my brothers and sisters and rest. And if you are still on the outside looking in, there is a place for you as well. Come!

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17 NIV

Therefore, with great humility and gratefulness, let us sit at the table of the Lord

October 28, 2015:

Worship: The Table by Chris Tomlin

"The Table"

I will feast at the table of the Lord
I will feast at the table of the Lord
I won’t hunger anymore
At His table [x2]

Come all you weary; come and find
His yoke is easy; His burden light
He is able; He will restore
At the table of the Lord

There is peace at the table of the Lord
There is peace at the table of the Lord
I won’t worry anymore
At His table

There is healing at the table of the Lord
There is healing at the table of the Lord
I won’t suffer anymore
At His table

Come all you weary; come and find
His yoke is easy; His burden light
He is able; He will restore
At the table of the Lord

I know He has a place for me
Oh, what joy will fill my heart
With the saints around the mercy seat of God

Come all you weary; come and find
His yoke is easy; his burden light
He is able; He will restore
At the table of the Lord
At the table of the Lord

I’m invited to the table of the Lord
I’m invited to the table of the Lord
He says, “Come just as you are”
To His table

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 A-Z Lyrics CHRIS TOMLIN Lyrics

"Love Ran Red" (2014)

Video:

https://youtu.be/peeqJ1bmT_w

Witness:

Yesterday I struggled for worship song dealing with the present passage. It is not one of my prerequisites for worship each day, I leave that open for God to lead me, yet I like to find songs that complement and enhance my study time. Today I came across a plethora of songs to worship with for the next few days. I was also struggling with verse 5. What was I going to say? What could I learn from this passage without falling into some sentimental trap or “prosperity” error? Today my mind is full of thoughts, so much so, I will probably forget some of them.

Shepherd, guide me through these next few days and feed me with the truth You want me to have for this moment in my life. If there be anything that I can share with others of your flock, may it be so, Amen!

WORD:

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

Provision and protection pervade this Psalm. Promise and preservation permeate throughout. How can I understand this passage without falling into “prosperity” prattle or “poverty” piffle?  How can we walk the narrow road between these two extremes? Perhaps by reminding ourselves of what Scripture says when we bask in the blessings of God or swim in the sea of scarcity.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. James 1:9-10 NIV   

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5 NIV  

Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. Proverbs 16:8 NIV

And finally we read in Proverbs 30:8 words that are echoed in our Lord’s model prayer. Here it is in its context.

"Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Prov 30:7-9 NIV

Therefore, with great humility and gratefulness, let us sit at the table of the Lord, both rich and poor and all that are in-between and enjoy the true riches that the Lord provides.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.

Eph 1:3-14 NIV