Lyrical Friday - We Should Run

[photo credit]

Happy Friday to YOU!
I am pretty sure that you have days, or maybe just moments, when you wish Jesus would come and take you away. No? OK, I guess its just me. Ha! We all have a longing for something bigger, somewhere farther, something more. We cannot find fullness of joy or satisfaction in this life. And though our bodies were created for this world, the real us (our soul) was created for Heaven. It is only natural to for us to not feel at home here on earth. I am not saying that we are to be miserable and downcast. There is a difference.

Today's lyrical post comes from Sarah Macintosh. Heaven is the sweet word that comes to mind when I listen to these words. Moments where I find myself remembering and missing a loved one that has passed away, I think of these words. When I am fed up with the affairs of this life, I think of these words. In every low and dark moment, it is these words in 'We Should Run' that lifts my spirit to a place of joy, peace, and hopeful expectancy. This song is a reminder of what we live for: Christ and to see Him lifted up. Because of Heaven we live to draw people to Him.

Oh the joy of knowing that we will one day 

run with Jesus, 

laugh with Jesus, 

dance with Jesus 

and be alive!

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Luke 6:25 

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

We Should Run, Sarah Macintosh


I waited till the morning
Looking for every sure sign
Listening for footsteps
For when You will take me outta here
People keep on asking
When will we regain life
With the One who’s for us 
Rescue won’t You come

Cause we should run we should be laughing
We should look and see that He is lifted high
We should shout we should be dancing
We should call and find a Savior who’s alive

Someone says Your building
You pull and stretch this old life
Re-shaping what I’ve broken
Till I can see that You’ve been here
People started smiling
Lives are being made right
With the One who’s for us
Rescue You have come!

Now we will run we will be laughing
We will look and see that You are lifted high
Yes we will shout we will be dancing
We will call and find our Savior, You’re alive

Now our feet will run
Yes our eyes they see
And our hearts rejoice
How Your people sing
Hear Your people sing

Dayspring

Because of the tender mercy of our God, 

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven (Dayspring)

to shine on those living in darkness 

and in the shadow of death, 

to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

[photo credit]

Monday morning I read  Zachariah's song found in Luke 1. His song ends with these two verses. There is one phrase, one word that can not escape me: Dayspring (the first appearance of daylight in the morning; the beginning or rise of anything; advent). God has given Jesus to us as our Dayspring, this is an accurate and appropriate name for Him. For He is the first and only appearance of light in our darkness that can deliver hope, mercy, grace and truth. Through Him there is a rising from the shadow of death, and with it a new beginning. He is our only guide into the path of peace. 

I have to say, if there is a Christmas name for Jesus that I favor, it would have to be Dayspring. I pray that these two verses may never escape you, and be a reminder that in your darkest hour Jesus is your Dayspring! May you celebrate Jesus every day. Merry Christmas. 

Lyrical Friday - Kingdom Come

Happy Friday!
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We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”^[c] 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

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For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. Psalm 22:24
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The righteous cry out, and the Lord heard, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:17-2 
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Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Bound in affliction and irons—
¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And despised the counsel of the Most High,
¹² Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
They fell down, and there was none to help.
¹³ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces. Psalm 107:10-14
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 1 Corinthians 5:17
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Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:12-13
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But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
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Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:13-14

-I pray that your faith has been renewed after reading these verses. Kingdom Come by JJ Heller is a song that settles these very scriptures in my heart. Your affliction, heartache, pain, struggle and burdens matter to God. He is intimately acquainted will all your ways (Psalm 139) and promises to perfect all which concerns you (Psalm 138). There will be a day where He will make all things new, brand spanking new! There will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no turmoil, no more fears. We will abide in peace, eternal and glorious peace. There will be no shadow of shame over us and sin we will not know. Thinking of it overflows my heart with joy.

So what are we to do until that day comes? I would fail you if I didn't point you in the right direction (--->Jesus). He is your portion of strength, courage, boldness, peace, joy, self control, love, mercy, grace, validation, affirmation, counsel, hope and well, the list goes on. Though we live in the here and now, we are building/and being built for the then and there of eternity. May hope arise for you in Jesus as you allow Him to manage your current affliction and deliver you from them.
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I can't wait to spend eternity with you!
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Kingdom Come, JJ Heller

Ashes, ashes, we fall down
It always feels too soon
But when we walk on golden ground
All will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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All will be made new
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Life is but a dream at best
Morning's coming soon
Kingdom come will bring us rest
All will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
All will be made new
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All sorrows and sighs
Will fade away into the night
And all will be made new
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Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
All will be made new

Lyrical Friday - Wrong Worship

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24


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Happy Friday dear Friends! 
Once again, I had a different song in mind when the Lord brought to remembrance this video that my friend showed me earlier in the week. Though the video caused me laugh, it also compelled me to search my heart. I even said "ouch" because it revealed the ugliness of my heart. Let the confession booth open it's doors. 
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Sometimes when I worship, I don't really mean it. I am not saying that I do this intentionally but there are distractions, thoughts that pop into my head, even lack of faith that creeps into my heart as I worship God. It is so easy to sing along to a song that I know all the words to or even to bow my head in "prayer" when in all reality my mind is consumed with what I will eat after the service is over. I know I can get an"Amen" from someone out there who can admit to the same wrong. 
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I love that this video reveals what often is the condition of our heart as we worship God. I'm here to encourage you and challenge you to pray with me:

"Lord, humble me. Teach me to worship you in spirit and in truth. Teach me to worship you wholeheartedly, with no reserves, no distractions and none of me in the way. You are worthy of praise, glory, devotion, adoration and exaltation because You are Father, You are Son, You are Holy Spirit, You are the Almighty God, You are Healer, You are Provider, You are the Prince of Peace, You are the Great Shepherd, You are Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and Friend. Amen!!!" 

 Pray a prayer similar to this one before entering a time of worship, whether it be in your home or your church. A prayer like this the Lord will never deny. I know that He will magnify Himself in your worship! Don't steal the glory of worship by making it about you. Glorify God alone in your worship.
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Wrong Worship, First Orlando Church

 "Our worship here on earth may be the loneliest times in Heaven." -Arlene Hoffman

Lyrical Friday - Heaven Song

happy Friday sweet friends.

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At the funeral of a teenager, the youth pastor shared a conversation he held with him days before his death:

One day, this teen was weeping and so, the youth pastor asked him why he was crying. The teenager replied, "I want to see the face of God." Over a year ago my cousin, who attended the funeral of her friend, shared with me this beautiful anecdote. It is still resonating heavy within my heart.

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Do I yearn for Jesus with the same passion?
Do I long to see His face?
Am I living for the here and now, or for the there and then?
Am I eager/restless/craving for Heaven or  am I attached to this world? 
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As I search my own heart and ask myself these questions, only one song echoes my response. Heaven Song by Phil Wickham is fitting. May these lyrics provoke you to yearn for Heaven, for our Father; with the same passion as the teenager who now is basking in the full glory of our Lord.
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Heaven Song, Phil Wickham


You wrote a letter and You signed your name
I read every word of it page by page
You said that You'd be coming, coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song

I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
'Well done my child, enter in and rest'
Tears of joy roll down my cheek
It's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams