Highlighted Song: Stronger by Hillsong

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

~1 John 4:4 (ESV)

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I LOVE BIG songs with a BIG message. And this song is BIG.

Life Commonalities

Trying to kick a bad, sinful habit? Asking "why do I have to go through this" for the thousandth time?

We all have these things in our lives at different times, at the same time, or perhaps seemingly all the time! Struggles with sin and trials of life can become such a constancy and can so consume our minds that soon they seem to be ruler of our lives.

God is Stronger

However, whatever that sin--no matter how unbeatable it seems, whatever that fiery trial--no matter how heated, endlessly ablaze, and rekindling it seems, God is bigger, God is greater, God is stronger.

I, being "one of those people," have been so very encouraged by the song, Stronger, by Hillsong--both in listening and singing it with the congregation of God's church! This song's musical BIGNESS greatly supports the BIGGER message in the song--that God is BIGGEST!

"You broke my shame and sinfuless"--sin is already shattered and completely defeat-able! "You rose again victorious"--It is He Who has done it! "Faithfulness none can deny"--None can honestly deny that He is yet with us and will eventually see He has never left! "There is truth that sets me free"--There is LIFE to live! "You are stronger you are stronger, Sin is broken you have saved me..."

Now TURN IT UP LOUD and enjoy!

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Stronger
by Hillsong

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner's cross
You broke my shame and sinfuless
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

You are stronger you are stronger
Sin is broken you have saved me
It is written Christ is risen
Jesus you are Lord of all

No beginning and no end
You're my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

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Highlighted Song: Stand in Awe by Jeremy Riddle

"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

~John 1:29 (ESV)

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Stand in Awe

I just discovered a GORGEOUS song this morning! It's called Stand in Awe by Jeremy Riddle, who also wrote one of my other favorite songs, Sweetly Broken.

This song is a powerful invitation to simply come and behold and worship our kind, awesome, "gracious and astounding" Lord Whose "love so confounding appears to us in a CLEANSING FLOW of blood."

"God raised Him from the grave--for Him arm is MIGHTY TO SAVE!"

"All hail the Lord of every man!"

The melody and choir voices in this recording combined with the words they are singing make my hair stand on end!!

To listen, go here and scroll down to "Stand in Awe," or listen below!

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Enjoy!

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Lyrics: Stand In Awe
by Jeremy Riddle (c)

Gracious and astounding
God's love so confounding appears to us
In a cleansing flow of blood!

The Son left throne and glory,
Bore the Father's wrath and fury in our stead;
And for the sins of all He bled!

Stand in awe and worship!
Raise a voice and worship; Come adore
The King of kings and Lord of lords!

Behold the Lamb in Heaven
He was dead but God raised Him from the grave;
For His arm is mighty to save!

Now glorified and reigning
The keys of death and Hades in His hand;
And all hail the Lord of every man!

The King of kings and Lord of lords.

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Can Singing About the Gospel Become Rote?

This article was revised on January 19, 2011

I read an article today by Bob Kauflin on the Gospel and worship. While I do not agree with all of his content or theology on worship, the emphases on making the Gospel a major part of our diet is a valid and critical point. Here's a bit of personal elaboration on the point.

Not only can the Gospel become a familiar and repetitive (even monotonous if we're not careful and intentional) subject of our daily worship (not just Sunday song), but the temptation to become in effect "annoyed" or merely act on obligation to include words of Gospel in our daily diet exists.

And aren't we all familiar with words becoming "just words?"

The Gospel is not a set of words from Sunday school. It's The Gospel of God!

"The cross stands for all that was accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. It focuses on his substitutionary death at Calvary but includes everything that gave meaning to that act. His preexistent state in glory. His incarnation. His life of perfect obedience. His suffering. His resurrection. His ascension. His present intercession and reign in glory. His triumphant return.

It’s our responsibility as leaders to make sure, as the Puritans said, that we always 'labor to be affected by the cross.' The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news the world has ever heard and our singing should show it.

What have you done to make sure that singing about Christ’s redemptive work on the cross never becomes rote?"

-Bob Kauflin

From Can Singing About the Gospel Become Rote? from WorshipMatters.com - January 29, 2010

And the natural effect of the Gospel, when it sinks into our hearts, is to affect our lives for God's glory and overflow to our worship. Honestly, if we are not passionate about the Gospel, and if we have no interest in singing to the Lord with a might shout of thanks, something is wrong--but we're not hopeless. Find hope in this: As you expose yourself to the Gospel truth--that while we are weak, our sins are paid for and we are FREE to LIVE, and that God has an amazing desire to teach us about and display to us His glory--you can be affected and transformed!

I hope that served you, friends! Thanks for reading and contributing. God bless.

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Daily Thought: Worshiping When You Don't Feel Like It

I heard one of my all-time favorite speakers, John Piper, expound on something most brilliant and encouraging: Pleading for a heart of worship is an act of worship. When our hearts are so incredibly tired and our souls weary that we cannot even muster up the desire to worship, we can, from the ground on our backs, plead to our God for a heart that loves to worship and in that act, worship Him. We can say, "Father, I desire not to worship your holy name, though you are worthy, and I am so sorry. Forgive me and raise up passion for you in this weary soul."

Further, should you not desire His Word, we can ask: "Father, incline my heart to Your Word."

Thank God for this hope!

We Love You, Jesus

I have really come to love this song by Shane & Shane. I was aware of the band prior to hearing this song this year, but was not aware of how rich their content is and how gifted these two guys are.

This song puts forth a strong statement that draws one's attention toward gratefulness. Truly we have endless reasons for which we can say, "We love You, Jesus, for so many reasons!!" He has died and risen again as He promised to make salvation free and available to all. And on top of that, He saves "so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).

You can hear a sample here, or download the song in full from iTunes. I hope you're blessed by it.

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