Listening

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem lookin for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understandig and His answers." Luke 2:41-47

"Listening." I'm so thankful that Christ not only speaks, He also listens. We don't know if God allowed the twelve-year-old Christ to exercise His full omniscience or to unleash just enough wisdom to astound His listeners. But I love the fact that Christ still listens-----not just to learn, since He knows all things. Rather, He allows us to pour out our hearts because He loves us and wants to hear us." ~ Beth Moore

"O Lord Jesus, just as during Your early life You offered prayers and appeals to the Father with loud cries and tears-----and were heard because of Your reverance and submission (Heb. 5:7)-----I pray that I too would come before You in perfect trust, knowing that You always live to intercede for us." (Heb. 7:25)

Midnight Musings

Welp here it is 2:30AM and I am wide awake. I do not know what the purpose of all this insomnia is, but I am trying to make the most of it........I know that most of you have probably never heard of Meredith Andrews' music, but I had the privilege of discoverig it at an Aaron Shust concert I went to where she along with Brandon Heath opened the show. To say that her music has blessed me would be an understatement. As I sit here typing this I am listening to my favorite song of hers "Draw Me Nearer" that I posted the lyrics for on here a while back. Anyway, God has gifted this woman greatly and her music is poweful and a great blessing. If you ever get the chance to check it out, you should, her album is called "The Invitation" and is available online or at most Chrstian bookstores. A song of hers that has blessed me tonight is called "The New Song We Sing" and is surprise, surprise about redemption, my favorite subject! I thought I would share it with you.......

"You are the God who reconciles the wayward heart through Christ. The old has gone, the new has come, we are reconciled by love, We are reconciled by love

And this is the new song we sing To the king of heaven This is the new song we bring After all you’ve given We stand before you redeemed As your children This is the new song we sing

We who were once so far away are brought near by Your blood The barrier has been destroyed By Your grace we freely come, by Your grace we freely come

We live in You, we live for you We live to you our king We stand in You, we stand for You We stand as your redeemed ‘Your redeemed!’

REDEMPTION

My devotional from Beth Moore's book "JESUS, 90 Days With the One and Only" was on redemption, my favorite topic, so I thought I would share some of the Scriptures and thoughts with you..........

"The Word made flesh first entered the temple wrapped in a baby blanket. His earthly parents lifted Him to His Father and, in essence, purchased Him from heaven------for a while-------for a lost world. One day that baby would buy them from earth for the glory of heaven. Wow!"

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." Second Corinthians 8:9

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and wordly desires, and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to REDEEM us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Titus 2:11-14

"The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether." Psalm 19:8-9

What a hope we have in Jesus!

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

~ Chris Tomlin