"He Leadeth Me."

 

Refrain:

“He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me.

His faithful foll-wer I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.”

God leads us. At all times. Every day. When we’re awake, and when in the darkest nights, we have the assurance that God leads us. John 10:3 says: “The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Godsbless.ing: “The verse highlights the gatekeeper opening the gate for the shepherd, symbolizing God or the Holy Spirit facilitating the connection between Jesus and His believers. As the sheep listen to His voice, it underscores the significance of recognizing and heeding Jesus’ teachings for spiritual growth. Moreover, Jesus calling His sheep by name signifies the personal and profound relationship He shares with each individual, knowing them intimately and leading them out of harm’s way into a purposeful life.”

He has angels watching out for us so they can assist in leading us in the way our Shepherd has directed.

Hebrews 1:14

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Godsbless.ing: “Isn’t it comforting to know that angels are always around us, ready to serve and support us on our journey towards salvation? This verse reassures us that we are not alone in our spiritual journey, that divine beings are constantly watching over us. Angels, as ministering spirits, are there to help, guide, and protect us as we strive towards our ultimate goal of salvation.”

When we ask for God’s leading, He always answers.

Psalm 31:3

“Since you are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.”

Enduringword.com: “David did not ask for rescue because he was so good, but for Your name’s sake. David believed that if God would lead and guide him, it would bring honor to God and His name.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: “The psalmist desires the Lord would lead him in the way of truth and paths of righteousness, according to his word; and guide him with his counsel, and by his Spirit, that so he might walk in the way in which he should go.”

He leadeth me. We can rest assured that our Lord is always leading us as we go through each day.

By His Grace . . . 

"Above All"

 
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“Above All”

“Above all powers, Above all Kings.

Above all nature, and all created things.

Above all wisdom, and all the ways of man.

You were here before the world began.

Chorus

“Crucified, laid behind a stone.

You lived to die, rejected and alone.

Like a rose, trampled on the ground.

You took the fall, and thought of me,

Above all”

This was a popular worship ballad, written in 1999. It was performed during President George W. Bush’s 2001 inaugural prayer service. Michael W. Smith made the song popular and won a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year in 2002

Paul Baloche writer, along with Lenny LeBlanc, was quoted as saying: "I'm humbled and blown away that a simple prayer of worship, started at my little piano, and found its way to the President of the United States. The possibility that this song could be an encouragement to him is such an honor."

“You took the fall, and thought of me, Above all.” The words become very personal when it says, “He thought of me, Above all.” It’s hard to accept knowing Christ died for me. All that Christ went through because of me. To save me. To save you.

sermonwriter.com: “This song had its beginning when Paul Baloche was reflecting on how much greater Christ is than the things that the world counts as great. The words for this song came easily to him, and he wrote them down.  However, the song had no chorus, and so he put it aside.

“Then one day Baloche got together with Lenny LeBlanc. He played a number of possibilities for LeBlanc, but “Above All” was the only one that captured LeBlanc’s attention.

“When Baloche noted that the song had no chorus, LeBlanc decided to sleep on it to see what might happen.  What happened was that he came up with words for a chorus that contrasted dramatically with the words to the verse.  The verse talks about how much greater Christ is than anything else, but the chorus talks in graphic terms about Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. The key to this song is that it was Christ’s willingness to give up His exalted nature so that He could come to live among us, minister to us, and die for us.”

As you consider this Praise and Worship song, may the words, “You took the fall, and thought of me, Above all,” be an everlasting reminder of Christ’s love for you and His ultimate gift so you can live with Him.

By His Grace . . .

"Standing on the Promises"

“Standing on the promises of Christ, my King!

Through eternal ages let His praises ring.

“Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,”

Standing on the promises of God.”

The words “Glory to God” is found many times in Scripture, but “Glory to God in the highest” is only found in Luke 2:14 and is a profound declaration celebrating God’s majesty and announcing peace on earth through the birth of Jesus. Angels proclaimed this.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The highest. There is nothing above. God is as high as you can go. God deserves all the praise and honor for His divine plan of redemption through Jesus. It was a celestial celebration recognized by the angels.

Scripturesavvy.com: “When we look at the verse from Luke 2:14, we see a beautiful proclamation made by the angels announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. This statement is one of the most significant verses in the Bible because it encapsulates the essence of the Gospel—the good news that humanity had been waiting for. The angels were declaring glory to God in the highest, meaning that God deserves all the praise and honor for His marvelous plan of redemption through His Son. It is a reminder to us that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God in everything we do.”

God’s glory was revealed in a new and profound way through the incarnation of His Son. “In the highest” suggests that this glory is recognized not only in the heavens but also in the highest degrees of divine attributes, showcasing God’s mercy and love for humanity.

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: “Other works of God are for His glory, but the redemption of the world is for His Glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon Him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptations. That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth.”

Having this proclaimed in the first verse of this popular and fun hymn blends in great with words about God’s promises. This is something we want to shout and sing! We sing with joyful voices and open hearts for all God has done for us.

"Glory to God in the highest" encapsulates a powerful message of worship, peace, and divine favor. It invites believers to recognize God’s majesty and embrace the peace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. This verse continues to resonate deeply within the Christian faith, serving as a cornerstone of praise and adoration for God’s goodness and love

“Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing.”

By His Grace . . . 

"More About Jesus"

 

“More About Jesus”

Chorus:

More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me.”

How much more do you want to know about Jesus? Are you satisfied with knowing you are saved and don’t need to do anything else? Do you read about Jesus and the work He did here on earth, but don’t need to know all He continues to do daily for His followers? Or do you want to know everything there is to know about Jesus?

How do you go about knowing more about Jesus if you really want to? Following are a few ways: Read about Him in the Bible . . . sing hymns and songs that bring Him close . . . pray to Him . . . listen to men and women who He has gifted to teach . . . tell others about what He has done in your life. All of these ways, even your own testimony can fill you with more of Jesus.

Crosswalk.com, Cindi McMenamin: “You and I must be fully saturated in the Word of God . . . What fills your thoughts each day? God’s Word or the words of people? What you focus your mind on will determine if there’s more of Jesus or more of you.”

Ephesians 1:17

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the glorious Father; may give you the Spirit of

wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: “No matter how much knowledge you have of Jesus, there is an unfathomed depth of knowledge which you may still explore, and which you should be exhorted still to attempt to fathom.”

I like the words of this hymn:

“I Want More of Jesus”

“I want more of Jesus, more and more and more.
I want more of Jesus, than I’ve ever had before.
I want more of His great love ,so rich, so full and free.
I want more of Jesus, so I’ll give Him more of me.”

You can always have more of Jesus. The possibilities are endless. Is that your desire? Give Him more of you.

By His Grace . . . 

"You Are My All in All"

It's nice to see birds sitting among the leaves again.
 

“You Are My All in All”

“You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all.
Seeking You as a precious jewel, Lord, to give up I'd be a fool,
You are my all in all.

“Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name.
Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name.”

Dennis Jernigan, the writer of this song, prefers not to think of himself as a songwriter, but rather as a "song receiver." Zephaniah 3:17 is a verse he takes with practical seriousness, that God sings over him; so, when Dennis is singing, he believes that the Divine joins in -- a voice with a message that has his attention.

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Those of us who write can relate to his comment. Whether it’s a topic to write about or words to write on a topic, I ask God to bring words to my mind, and I believe God gives me what I need to get a note or an article written. It’s happened too many times for me to think I just thought of something to write.

God is our “All in All.” He has, or should have, total control over you because this is your desire. You have given Him everything so He can and will direct your life until He calls you home. The words also mean He is supreme over all things. Not just you.

1 Corinthians 15:28

“When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be All in All.”

Bibleref.com: “God will be ‘All in All.’ In other words, God's glory will reign supreme over the entire universe.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: “The purpose of Christ’s becoming subject to God the Father is that God may be ‘All in All,’ meaning ‘God will be everything to everyone,’ including Christ. The expression, ‘be All in All,’ signifies primarily absolute supremacy or rule.”

Worthy is His Name! Let Him be your All in All!

By His Grace . . . 

"Come, Ye Souls by Sin Afflicted"

“Take His easy yoke and wear it;

Love will make obedience sweet;

Christ will give you strength to bear it,

While his wisdom guides your feet Safe to glory,

Where his ransomed captives meet.”

Love makes many things possible. Things you didn’t think you could do. When love interrupts negative thinking, it’s amazing what can happen.

Being obedient doesn’t always make us feel good. There are many things we don’t want to do for many different reasons. We don’t have the time. We don’t have the money. We don’t want to go out. We don’t want to stay in. They’re not our favorite person.

When our heart is filled with love, though, all the reasons we can’t do something changes. There is a reason to do it. Love is the great conqueror. Christ’s love is the great motivator.

2 John 1:6

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”

Godsbless.ing: “This verse is a powerful reminder of how we should live our lives as believers. It encourages us to not only love one another but also to walk in obedience to God’s commands. Love and obedience go hand in hand in our relationship with God. When we truly love God and others, obedience to His commands naturally follows as a demonstration of that love . . . Walking in love means putting others before ourselves, showing compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. It means treating others as we would want to be treated, following the example of Jesus Christ. And when we obey God’s commands, we align our lives with His will, demonstrating our love and devotion to Him . . . This verse serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize love and obedience in today’s fast-paced world, where individualism often overshadows community."

“Love will make obedience sweet.” We don’t do this alone. We have strength through Christ and His wisdom. “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

By His Grace . . . 

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

 

Refrain:

“Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;

Higher than the mountain, Sparkling like a fountain, all sufficient grace for even me;

Broader than the scope of my transgressions, Greater far than all my sin and shame;

O Magnify the precious name of Jesus, Praise His name!”

Unfortunately, as Christians, we continue to sin. Sin looks differently now. Before we were saved, sin didn’t bother us. We did what we wanted too, when we wanted too, and never blinked an eye.

But now, when we sin, we know it. We have no doubt that we’ve sinned. And it’s hard to let it pass.

We can’t live in our sin anymore. Our body doesn’t belong to us. It houses something greater. God lives there. As soon as we sin, it fills our mind and doesn’t go away.

It doesn’t matter how bad our sin is or how often we commit it. It won’t let us be. It will haunt our insides until we confess, because we know we are wrong.

We have to tell God we are sorry. We must trust that He will forgive us. And because of His matchless grace, we will be forgiven.

God’s grace. There is nothing like it in this world. It gives us what we need so we can move forward and not be inhibited by wrongdoing.

Yes, it is matchless grace. God freely gives it. It is greater than anything we could ever get. Because we are a child of God, He presents us with this gift, this remarkable and unimaginable gift, that is sufficient to cleanse us from our sin, and He says: “You are my child; you have been washed as white as snow and are acceptable to Me.”

It’s something we never get used to. To be freely forgiven. Forever. It is matchless grace, far greater than anything we've ever experienced. Hallelujah!

By His Grace . . .