Sunday Hymns - See What a Morning

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

"See, What a Morning" (Resurrection Hymn)
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2003 Kingsway Thankyou Music

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Good Friday Hymn - The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

The Power of the Cross
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

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Beauty from Ashes

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3) 

I had the privilege of visiting Gospel of Grace Fellowship this morning, and as the first song began I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to our great and mighty God who has brought about this new church. As I stood there and saw kids serving the body, people rejoicing in their Savior, and the joy of the Lord shining on their faces I couldn't stop the tears of joy. 

In the last two and half years my brothers and sisters in Christ have been through the fall and repentance of their pastor and then a church split. And yet God has preserved and protected them, and brought out of these fiery trials a beautiful new church....beauty from ashes.

My sweet friend Sherry happened to have her camera out as I turned to my Mom in tears, and she captured the moment so well.

They congregation was singing Hosanna, and it was just so perfect.

"Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest
Lord we lift up Your name
With hearts full of praise
Be exalted oh Lord our God
Hosanna in the highest" 

This was a group of people who truly did have "hearts full of praise" and it was such a beautiful reminder that whatever our circumstances are, God is sovereign over them and is working all things for our good and His glory. 

"Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due His name: 

worship Yahweh in the splendor of His holiness... 

The Lord gives His people strength; 

the Lord blesses His people with peace."  

(Psalm 29:2,11)

Sunday Hymns - Crown Him with Many Crowns

1.    Crown him with many crowns,
    the Lamb upon his throne,
    Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
    all music but its own.
    Awake, my soul, and sing
    of him who died for thee,
    and hail him as thy matchless King
    through all eternity.

2.    Crown him the Lord of life,
    who triumphed o'er the grave,
    and rose victorious in the strife
    for those he came to save.
    His glories now we sing,
    who died, and rose on high,
    who died, eternal life to bring,
    and lives that death may die.

3.    Crown him the Lord of peace,
    whose power a scepter sways
    from pole to pole, that wars may cease,
    and all be prayer and praise.
    His reign shall know no end,
    and round his pierced feet
    fair flowers of paradise extend
    their fragrance ever sweet.

4.    Crown him the Lord of love;
    behold his hands and side,
    those wounds, yet visible above,
    in beauty glorified.
    All hail, Redeemer, hail!
    For thou hast died for me;
    thy praise and glory shall not fail
    throughout eternity.

Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800-1894, and Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903
Music: George J. Elvey, 1816-1893

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Saturday Snapshots 3.23.13

 

 

Watching Daddy play hockey

March 2013 Bob DeWaay Health Update

Friends, 
This just came from my mom. Please keep him in prayer.

Please pray for Bob, his inflammation levels (sed rate and CRP level) have increased and his white cell count is back to normal so his immune system is no longer wiped out, which is not good. They are increasing the Cytoxan dosage and the dosage of Prednisone. He will be starting the new drug to strip the iron out of his system next week Wednesday. Please pray it will be effective with few side affects.  He sees the hematologist at the University of MN for a consult next week Thursday. Thank you so much for praying!

 

If you are unfamiliar with his ongoing battle with Churg-Strauss Syndrome, you can read about it here.

Sunday Hymns - The Church's One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.


’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master’s hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

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Thankful Thursday 3.14.13

~Standing in the hall listening to a two-year-old sing "Trust and Obey" in his crib.

~Yummy scones for breakfast.

~Modern medicine.

~Seeing old friends at our new church.

~One Year Old birthday parties.

~Big smiles

~Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Sunday Hymns - And Can it Be

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

             Amazing love! how can it be
            That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.

             Amazing love! how can it be
            That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray:
I woke the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

             Amazing love! how can it be
            That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

No condemnation now I dread:
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Music: Thomas Campbell

Thankful Thursday–Sweet Fellowship

I’m so thankful for a wonderful weekend away with some sweet sisters in Christ. I had not met any of them before, and we came from everywhere from Mexico to Canada, from different backgrounds and different stages in life, and yet we had instant fellowship through the blood of Christ in Whom we have true unity. We laughed, and cried, and talked, and prayed, and discussed theology. We ate wonderful food (thank you Stephanie!) and sipped tea and knitted/crocheted. But what really stands out in my mind was how quickly I came to love my sisters. They are all so dear, so precious to me.
The words to “The Family of God” were running through my head most of the way home, and they are so true:

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these folks are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God


From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

I’m also so thankful for my wonderful husband who made this trip possible. It was such a blessing to have a few days away to get refreshed and encouraged.

Bob DeWaay Health Update - March 2013

Please pray for my dad. He met with his Hematologist yesterday and is now scheduled for a consultation with a Hematologist at the University of MN on 3/28/13. His Rheumatologist thinks there are two separate issues going on, the Hematologist thinks it is all Churg Strauss Syndrome. The problem is the 2nd drug they put him on his not working. It worked as far as wiping out his immune system, but it hasn't helped his red blood cell aplasia problem. The theory is if it is from an auto immune disease, and his immune system is wiped out, it should solve his red blood cell problem, but it hasn't. 

He has now developed a complication of weekly transfusions - iron levels that are way too high. Normally if someones iron is too high they have them give blood, he can't do that. The iron can build up and deposit in his liver, pancreas, heart and other vital organs and cause problems. He can't take any supplements now that have iron. Neither of his doctors know what to do for him so they are referring him to the U of M.

There is a chelation process that can be done to get rid of the iron in the blood, but it is very expensive and we don't know if his insurance company will cover it. That is one of the things this new Hematologist will be going over with him. That and what other courses of treatment can be done. Stronger drugs, running more tests to see if there is a 2nd condition causing the problem, and to see if a bone marrow transplant may be an option. We won't know anything until we see him on 3/28. My dad is doing well but is more tired now that he is down to 5 mg of prednisone a day. Please pray for wisdom for the Doctor's and healing for my Dad. We know that God is sovereign and in charge. Thank you for praying, it means so much to us!!!!

Sunday Hymns - Whate'er My God Ordains is Right

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Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morn anew
I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.

-Samuel Rodigrast 1676

Traditional Version

Contemporary Version by Indelible Grace