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Category Archives: Hymns and Songs

“Mary Picked the Roses” by Andrew Peterson (Rich Mullins)

02 Jun

“Mary Picked the Roses” by Andrew Peterson (Rich Mullins)

Mary picked the roses
Early in the morn
Mary picked the roses
As the day was being born
Mary picked the roses
To smell their sweet perfume
Mary picked the roses
But Jesus made them bloom

Joseph carved a table
From a piece of wood
Joseph carved a table
It was his livelihood
Joseph carved a table
Where kings could sit to eat
Joseph carved a table
But Jesus made the tree

And I write songs
These songs I sing (Hey, la la la)
I’d have none if not for Him
And I know whence came the tunes (Hey, la la la)
Because Jesus made the roses (Jesus made the roses)
Jesus made the roses bloom

I will soon be leaving
I will soon be gone
I will soon be leaving (I will soon be leaving)
But I leave for you my songs
Though this life is fleeting
And time is no one’s friend
I will soon be leaving (I will soon be leaving)
Jesus never ends

So I’ll write songs
These songs I sing (Hey, la la la)
I’d have none if not for Him
And I know whence came the tunes (Hey, la la la)
Because Jesus made the roses (Jesus made the roses)
Jesus made the roses (Jesus made the roses)
Jesus made the roses bloom
Made the roses bloom
Made the roses bloom

Written by Rich Mullins, Andrew Peterson and Gabe Scott

Dear God, I was talking to the guys in Christian Men’s Life Skills last night about “ego” and how it can get in the way. How it can “Edge God Out” (E.G.O.). We talked about accomplishments and who gets the credit. We talked about David and Goliath and David giving you all of the credit while everyone else put their trust in the idols of armor or other people.

Then I heard this song this morning. There’s an intro that Andrew Peterson gives at the beginning of the included video, and he mentions that a young, early 20-something Rich Mullins wrote this song but never recorded it. I imagine Rich might have started with the concept of the chorus. I see him sitting and praying and writing songs and wondering about this unique gift he had. In that moment, he was able to take a beat and recognize it was from you. Then he probably started looking for parallels in the Bible. Mary and roses aren’t necessarily in the Bible, but the idea is certainly part of Catholic tradition. His mind linked Mary and roses, Joseph and wood, and then himself and songwriting to the same idea: none of it would exist without its creator.

Now it’s time to look at my life and wonder where I might be trying to take credit for things I shouldn’t. How do I look for glory for myself? Compliments for things that should only point to you and glorify you? I was talking Sunday in Sunday school about the angel talking to Manoah and his wife in Judges 13 and how the angel always deflected glory to you. Do I really do that?

Father, help me to direct all glory to you. I my thoughts and in my words. In what I do and what I don’t do. Please, Father, use it all to bring glory to your name regardless of what it costs me. May my life be about your glory and your glory alone.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 2, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“One Hundred Three” – Antioch Music – James Mark Gulley

29 May

“Psalm 103”

VERSE 1 
Father full of love 
You have not dealt with us 
according to our sins 
Father full of love 
You have shown mercy 
mercy for Your children 

For You know that we are merely 
dust in the wind 
And You know that we are weary 
from this world that we live in 

PRE-CHORUS 
But You are strong and You are mercy 
Great are You here in this place 
You are love and You're forgiving 
You've turned this world around 
by the pouring of Your grace 

CHORUS 
Bless the Lord O my soul 
Bless His holy name all the earth 
Bless the Lord O my soul 
You are worthy You are worthy 

VERSE 2 
Father full of love 
You wrap us up in grace 
crown us with compassion 
Father full of love 
You heal our sicknesses 
every single one 

BRIDGE 
You are worthy of blessing and honor 
Glory and power wisdom and thanks 

#AntiochMusic

Dear God, I started singing along with this song this morning, and I just go overwhelmed with worship for you. It was almost too much. In fact, I found myself having to throttle it back a little. Oh, how I do love you. I do need you. There are times when I get upset at myself for not praying to you more in supplication, but I think one of the reasons I struggle with intercessory prayer is that I don't necessarily think of you as this great "hander out of favors in the sky." You are God. I'm here. Yes, I need help with my family. Yes, I need help with my work. Yes, our community, state, nation, and world need help. We need you. I need you. But what I really need, above all, is relationship with you. I want to be more like David in purusing and wanting to know you, as opposed to Saul who just wanted to revere you. Yes, I revere you, but I want to know you, be known by you, and worship you. 

Father, full of love. You have not dealt with me according to my sin. Father, full of love, you have shown me mercy and mercy for all of us. You know that I am merely dust in the windn. You know I am weary from this world. But you are strong, and you are mercy. Great are you here in his room right now. You are love. You are forgiving. You turned this world around by the pouring out of your grace. Help us know how to live into that. And let me close by saying, bless the Lord, oh my soul. Bless his holy name, John. Bless the Lord, oh my soul. You are worthy, Father. You are worthy. 

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen
 
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Posted by on May 29, 2026 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

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“The Parting Glass” by Ian Fowden

16 May

“Parting Glass”

Of all the money ere I had, I spent it in good company,
And all the harm I’ve ever done, alas was to none but me.
And all I’ve done for want of wit, to memory now I can’t recall.
So fill me to the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend and leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town who sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, I own she has my heart in thrall.
So fill me to the parting glass – goodnight, and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades ere I had, they’re sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts ere I had , they wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot that I should go and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and softly call, goodnight and joy be with you all.

Scottish Traditional Ballad, curated in 1770, but older in origin

Dear God, human sentimentality is a curious but beautiful thing. I came across this video from nine years ago this afternoon. It’s my wife’s cousin paying tribute to his father on the day of his funeral. Humans are just capable of so much love and appreciation for each other. It must be just a taste of what you have for us. It’s a part of us that is like your image, but we are a mere reflection–an often poor reflection–of how you feel.

What is it that steals this love and affection we have for each other? It’s often self-pity, I suppose. A feeling that our rights were somehow violated. I think about the people in my life who refuse to show me mercy, and I think that would be part of their story towards me. They feel that I somehow violated their rights and wronged them, and to some extent I did. There’s frankly really nothing I can do about those mistakes I made. It’s sad to me that those mistakes have nullfied the good I did. In retrospect, I even question if they can articulate the mistakes I made. What exactly is it they are angry about? Yet, they feel wronged. Their rights were violated. Pity should be extended to them and vengeance against me is theirs. No mercy. No, not any.

But this song and the spirit that drove it’s writing hundreds of years ago, is just great because it shows an appreciation of life. Of the lives of others and of one’s own life. And we only get so much time in this phase of life. I am pryerful that those who resent me will be able to be with me for eternity, and all of this pain in this life won’t matter anymore.

Father, I’m reminded of a line from Rich Mullins’s “Land of My Sojourn” that says, “Nobody tells you when you get born here how much you’ll come to love it and how you’ll never belong here. So I’ll call you my country, but I’ll be lonely for my home. I wish that I could take you there with me.” While I live between the now and the not yet, help me to find peace and live in the richness of the love and sentimentality that you put into me. And help me to find the mercy you have for me to give to anyone against whom I’m still holding a grudge.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Two Sets of Joneses” by Big Tent Revival

25 Apr

“Two Sets of Joneses” by Big Tent Revival

Well, this here’s a song about two sets of Jones’
Rothchild, Evelyn, Reuben and Sue
Just for discussion, through random selection
We’ve chosen two couples who haven’t a clue
Rothchild was lucky to marry so wealthy
Evelyn bought him a house on the beach
Reuben and Sue, they had nothing but Jesus
And at night they would pray that He’d care for them each

And the rain came down
And it blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
And one set of Jones’ was standing that day

Evelyn’s daddy was proud of young Rothchild
He worked the late hours to be number one
Just newlyweds and their marriage got rocky
He’s flying to Dallas, she’s having a son
Reuben was holding a Gideon’s Bible
And he screamed, “It’s a boy!” so that everyone heard
And the guys at the factory took a collection
Again, God provided for bills he’d incurred

And the rain came down
And it blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
And one set of Jones’ was standing that day

So, what is the point of this story?
What am I trying to say?
Well, is your life built on the rock of Christ Jesus?
Or a sandy foundation you’ve managed to lay?
Well, needless to say, Evelyn left her husband
And sued him for every penny he had
And I truly wish those two would find Jesus
Before things get worse than they already have

And the rain came down
And it blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
And one set of Jones’ was standing that day
And the rain came down
And it blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
There’s two sets of Jones’
Which ones will you be?

Dear God, I was listening to a playlist yesterday of 90s Christian music and this song came up. It brought back memories of 1995 (the year the song came out). My wife and I were living for a year in Dallas, and I worked for a Christian music publisher. I actually helped sell this album through a technologically-obsolete marketing stream called the “record club.” On Saturday mornings, a TV station on cable would play Christian music videos, and I remember seeing this video and liking it. I also remember feelings of arrogance, now that I think back on it. Kind of a, “Yeah, my wife and I are doing this right so we will have the good marriage. We love Jesus.”

Thirty-four years of marriage, 30 years of parenting, and decades of watching others succeed and struggle (sometimes both) changed my view of this song and the arrogance I had. As I sat down this morning and started praying about this, it made me wonder how the members of Big Tent Revival have done over the years and how they would reflect on this song now. Over the last 30 years, I’ve come to see messages like this song as a type of “prosperity gospel.” Someone is offering me checkboxes to get what I want. If I will be humble, worship you, and foresake earthly pursuits then I’ll have that marriage and family that I want. But I’ve come to learn through experience that that’s not how life works. Yes, you provide a bedrock of love and guidance for me, but a marriage can still fall apart even when both people are following you. I know a couple who lost a son to suicide three years ago. The husband is a pastor. She filed for divorce recently.

With the struggles I’ve been through, I used to complain that I was disappointed with you. How could you let these things happen? I knew life would still throw me curveballs, but you were supposed to be teaching me how to hit them, right? But that’s not how it works. Life happens. You just say, “Come to me. I will give you rest.”

Father, don’t get me wrong. I think the life spent worshipping you, repenting before you, and loving others will exhibit fruit that I want, but it will be fruit that grows out of me, not fruit that I consume from others. Life is going to do what life is going to do. There are good people dying in Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Russia, etc. They don’t have much control over it. Life is happening to them. I thank you for the patience you’ve had with me over the last 30 years. I’m not the man I was in 1995. Honestly, I don’t know how much I like that version of me. I mean, I was alright for a 25-year-old, but I was so much more dogmatic than I am now. Some people would call that “woke.” I call it humble. So I sit here this morning and humbly ask that you be my God and help me to move through this day, offering you to everyone I see.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 25, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“Then Came the Morning” by Luke Garrett

05 Apr

“Then Came the Morning” by Luke Garrett

They all walked away, nothing to say
They’d just lost their dearest friend
All that He said. Now He was dead
So this was the way it would end

The dreams they had dreamed
Were not what they’d seemed
Now that He was dead and gone
The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nails
How could a night be so long?

The angel, the star, the kings from afar
The wedding, the water, the wine
Now it was done, they’d taken her Son
Wasted before His time

She knew it was true, she’d watched Him die too
She’d heard them call Him just a man
Oh, deep in her heart she knew from her God
Somehow her Son would live again

Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn

Written by Chris Christian, Bill Gaither, and Gloria Gaither

Dear God, when I wake up on Easter morning, this is the song that almost always pops in my head. I first heard it about 40 years ago when Luke Garrett came to perform for a weekend revival at our church, and he stayed with my family (I was in high school at the time). I remember driving him back and forth to the church in my old truck. He was very kind to me. A good man. He died too young. I later found out that it was written, at least in part, by Gloria and Bill Gaither. That makes sense. It sounds like a Gaither song.

I think what I’ve always liked about it is how it puts me in the story, but it spends some time with the part the Bible passes over. The 36 hours or so between the burial in the tomb and when Mary visits the tomb on Sunday morning. It’s one of my own favorite things to do when I read and ponder scripture. To put myself into their shoes and see if I can think of some of the things they are experiencing.

In this case, Jesus is dead. What was it all for? Mary, his mother. What must she have been thinking as she saw this train on the tracks for at least months if not the last three years? How did this line up with what Gabriel, the shepherds, Anna, and Simeon said to her. The only thing that might have lined up with this was Simeon’s words in the Temple in Luke 2:35: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Was this that sword?

There were the other women at the foot of the cross. There were the eleven remaining disciples. There were the other believers. There were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. All of these people had to have been so disillusioned.

The part of the song that just says, “The dreams they had dreamed.” What were their dreams? Power? Glory? Redemption and success for Israel? If those were their dreams, they would never come back–even after the resurrection. That’s not why he came or did what he did. No, his ultimate plan would be revealed on Sunday morning, after the resurrection. He was here to be the Passover Lamb for all of us and for all time. All we need to do is metaphorically put his blood over the doors to our heart. That’s what he taught us to do. And that’s what we need to teach others to do.

Father, I’m so grateful for this morning. I’m so grateful the night turned into day. I’m so glad you didn’t fulfill their expectations and that you don’t strive to fulfill our expectations to this day. No, you know what we need, and you see life beyond this physical world and the short number of years we are here. Continue to shape and mold my mind. Help me to see what you want me to see and understand what you want me to understand. I just want to fulfill your glory for your glory’s sake.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“O Silent God” by Rufino Zaragoza

28 Mar

“O Silent God” by Rufino Zaragoza

O silent God, Holy One, God Unseen, God unknown.

Hear my prayer, hear my cry. Have you abandoned me?

In this dying I join your dying; in rising, I join your rising;

In this dying, I join your dying with Jesus, the glory of God.

Dear God, my wife and I were talking earlier this week about your silence. There have been times when we felt like you were being ridiculously silent. But she pointed something out to me that made me reply, “Now that’s a thought that’s going to fester.” She said that when she looked back, you were always talking to us. You weren’t really silent. You just weren’t giving us the answers we were looking for.

I’ve talked about pains in my life. I’ve brought them before you. And I’ve been frustrated at the years of silence on these issues. I’ve lamented. But she’s right. You’ve still been talking to me about so many other things.

  1. The most recent is my involvement in Christian Men’s Live Skills, a class for men to learn about soft skills like self-esteem and leadership, useful knowledge about important things like substance abuse and anger management, and then personal finance–all within a Christian context and alongside Bible study. I’ve loved it.
  2. You got me involved in mentoring a really neat young man who has a lot of challenges life has put in front of him. You’ve guided me to him.
  3. You’ve given me the Parents of the Bible project that I think has blessed others.
  4. You’ve given me opportunities to speak and preach to church groups.
  5. You’ve given me an upcoming opportunity to speak to some graduating seniors in the National Honor Society.
  6. You’ve given me success at work, and you’ve answered my cries when I’ve needed help and during crisis.
  7. I don’t know that the recent honor I got from the local Chamber of Commerce was from you, but I tried to use it to bring you glory and not myself.
  8. You’ve given me a wife who is loving an encouraging.
  9. You’ve given me three good friends who strengthen and nurture me with your love and wisdom.

As I think about this partial list (I could go on and on), I think about Naomi rolling back into Bethlehem in Ruth 1:19-21.

19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Naomi thought you were being silent, but you were working in ways she couldn’t see, starting with giving her Ruth. Of course, that would develop into Ruth and Boaz, and by the end of the book, she would be holding Ruth’s baby Obed. And she didn’t know that Ruth would lead to Israel’s greatest king, David, and then David would lead to your pathway for Jesus to enter the world. She only thought you were being silent, but you were actually speaking in so many ways.

Father, I’m just going ot have to accept that you are not prepared to give me the answers to my most fervent prayers right now. It’s not the plan. But it doesn’t mean you aren’t doing anything in that area or that you are being silent to me in general. You are doing a lot. You have done a lot. You will do a lot. My job in this moment and for all of the subsequent moments is to worship you and love others as much as I can. Help me to do that and to be who you need me to be in someone else’s life. Let me be your voice for them.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2026 in Hymns and Songs, Ruth

 

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“Banks” by NEEDTOBREATHE

24 Mar

“Banks” by NEEDTOBREATHE

I wanna be there when the voices in your head
Are loud enough to make you lose your mind
Just the same when you’re dominating the day
I wanna be the one who’s by your side

You know my love is not the jealous type
It doesn’t matter if we win or lose
I could stay or I could come
No matter where you’re coming from
I could be the one to let you choose

I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
Just like the banks to the river
And if you ever feel like you are not enough
I’m gonna break all your mirrors
I wanna be there when the darkness closes in
To make the truth a little clearer
I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
I’ll be the banks for your river

I’ll be the banks for your river

I’ll be the banks for your river

You are beautiful and wild at every turn
Who am I to take control of that?
Everybody needs a voice they can follow
When the water and the winds get bad

You know my love is not the jealous type
And it don’t matter if we win or lose
I could push or I could pull
No matter what you’re trying to do
As long as I can flow along with you

I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
Just like the banks to the river
And if you ever feel like you are not enough
I’m gonna break all your mirrors
I wanna be there when the darkness closes in
To make the truth a little clearer
I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
I’ll be the banks for your river

I’ll be the banks for your river

I’ll be the banks for your river

Baby, I ain’t saying that you need my help
But you don’t have to do it all by yourself
So, baby, when the current gets strong
You need somewhere to rest your bones
I wanna be there for you
I wanna be strong for you, oh, oh, oh

I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
Just like the banks to the river
And if you ever feel like you are not enough
I’m gonna break all your mirrors
I wanna be there when the darkness closes in
To make the truth a little clearer
I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
I’ll be the banks for your river

I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
(I’ll be the banks for your river)
And if you ever feel like you are not enough
(I’ll be the banks for your river)
I wanna be there when the darkness closes in
To make the truth a little clearer
I wanna hold you close, but never hold you back
I’ll be the banks for your river

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Nathaniel Rinehart / William Rinehart / Trent Dabbs

Dear God, I remember back when my wife and I got married there was a Steven Curtis Chapman song called “Go There With You.” The big wedding song from him at the time was “I Will Be Here,” and we even had that sung at our wedding, but the one I liked more was “Go There With You.” The tune was a little more…I don’t know…soaring. And I loved it because it talked about caring for my wife no matter what. Being there for her. Being not only a man for her, but being your man for her. Your husband for her.

I came across this song a few days ago, and I liked it. It gives me that same vibe. It says a lot of what I feel for my wife. I want to be what you need me to be for her to completely live out the life you have for her to live. To knock over all of the dominoes you have for her to knock over. I want to do everything I can to be her enabler in serving you with joy and gusto. And it can be awkward because you’ve given me dominoes to knock over with my life too. You want me to have an impact on the world around me. But I guess I hope I live out the idea that my highest and first calling is to make sure she is living out her calling in you.

Father, I know I fail in this. Sometimes I fail her and I fail you. I’ve certainly failed our children in the past. I wish I hadn’t, but I have. But I ask that you please give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Help me to see for my wife what you see and where you want her to go. Give her good counsel through me and through her friends. Help her to hear your voice and be drawn to it. And if you have a role for me to play in guiding her then help me to do it gently and quietly. But please don’t let me get in your way. I want to only be what you need her to have through me. Help me to do that.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 24, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”

19 Mar

“‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus”

1 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

2 O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood! [Refrain]

3 Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace. [Refrain]

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

Written by Louisa M.R. Stead

Dear God, I heard my wife playing something on the piano this morning as she prepared to sing at church in about an hour. I don’t think she played this song, but whatever she was playing put the earworm of this song in my head. I just found myself singing it to myself as I walked in here to pray. Thank you for that. Thank you for giving the world this song through Louisa M.R. Stead and teaching it to me so that it is something that lives with me.

So I figured I would just sit with the lyrics this morning and try to bask in them a little. I could use a little comfort. I could use a little direction. I could use your presence. I could use some rejecting of idols and putting trust in you.

1 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Sometimes I try to put myself in the mindset of the person writing this at the time. What were they experiencing from an emotional or even worshipful standpoint as they put down these words. Was their strife in their life? Was Mrs. Stead trying to just break it all down and simplify her faith into trusting Jesus and his words. Resting on the promises you gave us that are beyond this life. Turning loose of what is here in our physical world to embrace the promises you give us for eternity. Those are good reminders for me too.

2 O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Oh, to be clean. Again, I forget sometimes just how much you’ve forgiven me for. Just how much you’ve done for me. When I am unforgiving it can usually be remedied by remembering how much you’ve forgiven me through Jesus’s life, brutal death, and resurrection. I’ve been plunged beneath the healing, cleansing flood!

3 Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.

I like the words that I will stop living in my sin and selfishness. I lay it all down and I embrace life, rest, joy, and peace.

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

I pray that this can be my song. I pray that when people see me they will see that I am nobody without you and that they will want some of that for themselves. I have proved you o’er and o’er. Please give me your grace and help me to trust you even more today.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 19, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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“How Long, O Lord” by Daniel Schutte

16 Mar 
"How Long, O Lord" by Daniel Schutte
Based on Psalm 13, 22
Refrain: 
How long, O lord, will you hide your face
How long will the heavens be silent?
How long, O Lord, must we call out your name
'til you hear us and reach out your hand?

Verse 1:
Behold your children, forgotten, foresaken
Lost in our shame and our sadness.
Our hearts are barren, our spirits are broken.
Where is the love that you promised?

Verse 2:
Our hope is shaken, poured out like water
Dried like the sand in the desert.
Our hearts are hungry, famished and frightened
Where is the love that your promised?

Verse 3
By day we crow out in hunger and heartache
Hoping that heaven will hear us.
At night, in darkness, our spirits are restless
Waiting the dawn of your promise.

Verse 4
For you our parents had gambled their future
Trusting their fate to your kindness
Through fire and famine seeking their homeland
Staking their lives on your promise.

Dear God, in a couple of nights I’m going to be talking about prayers of desperation for a Lenten service. I picked Psalm 42, Elijah in the cave, and Jesus in the garden as the passages to be read.

We just don’t talk about praying through our pain enough. Modern songs are mostly about overcoming and victory in you, but we forget that sometimes we just need to lament. We feel weak. We feel betrayed. Maybe even abandoned. Maybe we can recognize that it was our sin that lead us away from you and to our current situation. But maybe it’s just life and neither the blind man nor his parents sinned to cause this situation (John 9). Maybe it is here so that your glory might ultimately shine. And it might be years before the glory shines.

The other thing for me to remember is that the lament keeps me on my knees. Even now, as I type this, I stopped typing for a few moments while I thought about sorrows in my life. Pain that I feel. And I see no end in sight. But that pain has become such a part of me now through the last several years that I’m not sure what my life would look like without it. Would I be who I am without that pain. Who would I be?

Father, I need to start putting together an outline of my talk on Wednesday. I think a piece of what I’m going to say is that we would not be who we are without the pain in our lives. For David, the author of the psalms that inspired this hymn, he wouldn’t have been who he became without the years of running from Saul. Elijah wouldn’t have been who he was without having to run from Ahab and Jezebel. Jesus’s sacrifice wouldn’t have been legitimate if he hadn’t shown us his pain in the garden. This life shapes us. Molds us. And if we allow you to use it to form us in the right way, then you have an opportunity to fill us. So form me into your vessel and then fill me with your Holy Spirit.

It’s with that Holy Spirit and through Jesus I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Waiting

04 Mar

“We Are Waiting” by Geoff Moore & The Distance

We are waiting, waiting
All of Your people anticipating
Come hear our plea, we are down on our knees, our knees
Oh come quickly Lord, You’re all that we need
Come find your people are waiting

From all across the earth our voices can be heard
A chorus of the faithful calling to the word
A hymn of invitation, our humble offering
Come find Your people are waiting

We are waiting, we are waiting
All of Your people anticipating
Come hear our plea, we are down on our knees
Oh come quickly Lord, You’re all that we need
Come find your people are waiting

With hands into the soil, and hearts toward the sky
We wait to hear Your call to draw us to Your side
But ’til that final day may You find us in the fields
Working with hearts that are waiting

We are waiting, we are waiting
All of Your people anticipating
Come hear our plea, we are down on our knees
Oh come quickly Lord, You’re all that we need
Come find your people are waiting

As a mother awaits her baby, all of creation is ready
For the trumpet to sound and the heavens unfold
We’ll rise from the ground to see You Lord
All of Your people anticipating
Come hear our plea, we are down on our knees

We are waiting, we are waiting
All of Your people anticipating
Come hear our plea, we are down on our knees
Come quickly Lord, You are all that we need
Come find your people are waiting

Written by Geoff Moore and Geof Barkley

Dear God, I thought about the patient prayer this morning and waiting on you. That’s when this old song from Geoff Moore about 30 years ago came to mind. I was initially thinking more along the lines of perseverance and just waiting on you to answer our prayers in your time so I didn’t think this song really fit where my head was. But then I spent a little bit of time with it and thought about it some more. As I looked at the verses I really liked the imagery in the second verse:

With hands into the soil, and hearts toward the sky
We wait to hear Your call to draw us to Your side
But ’til that final day may You find us in the fields
Working with hearts that are waiting

At the end of the day, you are what I’m waiting for. Now, frankly, I’m not really toiling and looking for Jesus to return any given day. I expect to die and see you then. But while I wait for that day, I will pray to you for the things of this earth that I care about: my wife, my children and their significant others, my family, my friends, my community, my country, my world, etc. And there are things that are going in ways that I don’t like. And there are some things that I pray a lot about. And there are some things that I’m frustrated you haven’t made it all work out the way I selfishly want it to work out. And so I keep praying, and through that process I hope you are doing your good in those situations and those lives. But that doesn’t mean I am called out of the world to just sit and wait. No, as this verse says, I need to keep working (with hands into the soil) and seeking you and your direction (heart toward the sky). And when the day of my death or your return comes, may you find me in the field where you’ve place me, working alongside others who are waiting.

Father, I remember Gary Thomas saying in a talk on marriage that I heard him give that he doesn’t hear enough sermons on perseverance. Help me to persevere in my prayer, in my discipleship with you, in my work, and in my waiting. And as far as the things I’m praying for that have not come to fruition in the way I think they should, I pray that you will give me the peace to know that you aren’t doing any of this so that I get things the way I want them. You are doing it so that your will might come and be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to be about your work and to have patience to wait.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2026 in Hymns and Songs

 

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