"Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee"

"InTheGardenOfFaithHopeAndLove" Facebook Page. Kimberly Bradshaw
 

“Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee”

“But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.”

That last line in verse three is a true statement. We who are saved know to the depth of our hearts the love of Jesus. We know it; we feel it, and we hear it. Our entire being is filled with the knowledge of Jesus’ love.

How can we explain it to someone? I don’t think we can ever explain in words just what the love of Jesus does to us and for us. We are covered. We are enclosed in His love at all times. We are never away from His love.

It makes you feel special. Just think. Me. I am covered by the love of Jesus. Who am I. Just one out of millions who through faith gave her life to Him. That’s all I did. I was then enveloped in a love that is so powerful and so enormous that I can never get away from it.

His love is sacrificial, unconditional, and transformative, demonstrated most profoundly through His life, teachings, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. And He shares it all with us that we may be like Him.

Galatians 2:20 says: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Yes, because He lives in me, I have been crucified with Him. Everything I do is layered between the love I have for Him and the love He has for me. I fail miserably. But that doesn’t negate that’s it’s real.

Verse Two of this hymn says: “O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek!”

Jesus knows that we will fall. He picks us up and says, “Try again. I still love you.” No matter how awful we feel because we failed, Jesus still loves us. He continually encourages our hearts through reading His Word and hearing His Word. And we try again.

Yes, none but His loved ones know the reach of His love. He’s waiting for you. All you have to do is believe and you’ll be covered with a love so fine it will never let you go.

By His Grace . . . 

Set My Soul Afire

 

Set My Soul Afire

Refrain:

“Set my soul afire, Lord, Set my soul afire,

Make my life a witness of Thy saving power.

Millions grope in darkness, waiting for Thy Word,

Set my soul afire, Lord, Set my soul afire.”

What does it mean to set your soul afire? It means to rekindle and refire our hearts for Jesus. It is an earnest plea to burn brightly for the Lord in holy living and powerful witnessing. Is your soul afire today for the Savior?

This happens for many of us when we take part in a revival. I can remember the thrill I feel listening to strong men of God preach with fire. My soul is full and excited.

You may feel afire when you do something to help someone. You make a difference and the effect it has on you stirs your soul.

It may be when a person you have been witnessing to comes to Christ. A warmth settles in you, and your heart is full of thanksgiving.

Get your heart right with God in every area. Make a difference in prayer. Look for ways each day to shine, share, and speak the truth in love. Let people see Jesus in you! Develop a lifestyle of godly discipline and tackle the simple projects before you.

The torch of faith and freedom is in our hands. Will we be faithful to burn brightly for Jesus Christ until He calls us home?

Do you remember when you first got saved? You were “on fire” for God. You could not wait until the church doors opened; you had to be there. You could not get enough of reading your Bible, you had to have it. You were telling everyone you knew that you were saved, and a child of God and Heaven was your home.

Find that fire again. Let it burn inside of you, filling you with joy and desire to live for God.

By His Grace . . . 

Goodness of God

Graphic from SonFlowers Facebook page

 “Goodness of God”

“I love You, Lord, “For Your mercy never fails me.
All my days, I've been held in Your hand.
From the moment that I wake up,
Until I lay my head, Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

“'Cause all my life, You have been faithful.
And all my life, You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

The first moments of the morning when you wake up and your eyes open, until you finally lay your head down, close your eyes and prepare to sleep, you can praise God! All that time, morning to night, you have the opportunity to sing of the goodness of God.

Sometimes it takes me awhile before God comes into my thinking. It comes much quicker now that I am older and retired. My days are quieter and non-rushed. Even so, when I worked, at some point God would come into my  mind, and I would immediately sense peace. That’s what thinking about God should do for you. Saying the name of Jesus, an umbrella flows over you and covers you with His peace.

Throughout your day, no matter how rushed and anxious, when your mind brings God’s Name to you, don’t waste the moment. “Thank you, Lord,” “I love you, God” will bring rest and peace to you during anything you are occupied with at the moment.  Even, “Oh, Lord” during anxious times reminds you He is always with you. Don’t let the moment pass.

His goodness is with us 24 hours a day. There is never a time when you are completely alone. The whisper of His name breaks through the hardest moments to bring relief and calm. Even through tears.

It won’t always be easy, especially if you’re going through difficult times or heartbreak. But if you call out His name, He can move mountains. The answer may not form at that moment. But you have the assurance that He heard and is working in the situation.

Never let that line of communication close. It is your lifeline. It is your direct contact with your God and Lord. He’ll always be there. He wants you to always be there too!

I relate to the second verse:

“I love Your voice, You have lead me through the fire.
In darkest night, You are close like no other.
I've known You as a Father, I've known You as a friend,
And I have lived in the goodness of God.”

"I will sing of the goodness of the Lord!"

By His Grace . . . 

"My Jesus I Love Thee"

 

Verse Three

“I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as thou lendest me breath,

And say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.”

Praising God. How fortunate we are that we have been blessed with a Heavenly Father who loves us and provides for us. How fortunate we are that we answered His call and are now one of His children. A loving, happy family to be born into.

From the first that we accepted Jesus as our Savior we have wanted to praise Him. We had a lot to learn about Him, but we had heard enough to know He loves us and is always with us. The more we learned about Him, the more we wanted to praise Him.

The Bible is filled with verses that praise God. We can turn to page after page and read words that praise God. Then we learned hymns and songs that praise Him. Our joy is full when we sing to Him.

We get to do this all of our lives until He takes our last breath away and we are in His presence. Then we will continue praising Him all through eternity.

Romans 15:11

“And again, ‘Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him.’”

Scripturesavvy.com: “Praising God is not just a suggestion; it’s an essential part of our faith journey. When we extol God, we acknowledge His greatness and goodness. Through our praises, we establish a deeper connection to Him. This verse calls out to Gentiles, who were often seen as outsiders in the early church, reminding them that they are welcomed into God’s family. This isn’t just a nod; it’s a clarion call to lift voices in worship, celebrating God’s universal outreach . . . The phrase ‘Praise the Lord’ signifies an action – it is not simply a passive acknowledgment but an invitation to actively engage in worship. Praise requires expression, and in the life of a believer, it becomes a vital response to God’s goodness. The act of praising reflects one’s response to what they recognize God has done in their lives.”

Verse One

“My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.”

“And praise Thee as long as thou lendest me breath.” Praise Him today. He will be exalted and you will be filled with His joy!

By His Grace . . . 

"I Am Resolved"

 

“I Am Resolved”

 Refrain:

“I will hasten to Him, Hasten so glad and free,

Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.”

How fast do you go to Jesus? Do you linger, or do you “no longer linger” like it says in the first verse of this hymn: “I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world's delight”? Whether you are in a good place or a place you shouldn’t be, how long does it take you to go to the Savior?

 Psalm 119:60

“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”

Godsbless.ing: “This verse emphasizes the urgency and importance of following God’s commandments promptly and without hesitation. When we hear the Word of God, we should respond immediately. The verse suggests that our dedication and commitment to God should be quick, eager, and without hesitation. This psalm encourages believers to hasten in obeying God’s commands as a demonstration of faith and unwavering commitment. It prompts individuals to reflect on areas in their lives where obedience may be delayed and inspires them to take immediate steps towards aligning with God’s will. May this verse serve as a catalyst for prompt obedience and a deeper connection with God in the journey of faith.”

When we hasten, we should do it with gladness because our God is willing and waiting for us to come to Him. There is nowhere else we can go to receive true deliverance and perfect instruction. We are free to do this. God wants and expects us to come to Him.

I like the invitation in the third verse:

“I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay;
taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
we'll walk the heavenly way.”

Will you go with me? Let’s hasten to our Heavenly Father, the greatest and highest! I am resolved. How about you?

By His Grace . . . 

"Lord, I Need You"

This barn surrounded with golden rod was a lovely scene .

 “Lord, I Need You”

“Lord, I need You, oh, I need You.

Every hour, I need You.

My one defense, my righteousness,

Oh God, how I need You.”

I need you, Lord. The heartfelt cry of every believer who stands tall for Christ and lives to serve Him. In good times and bad times. We, who depend upon our Savior to be with us through our life, gladly and confidently say: “We need You.”

This chorus says it well. Every hour. Our one defense. My righteousness in You. Yes, God, I need you.

Matt Maher and a number of collaborators, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, and Jesse Reeves, wrote this Praise and Worship song for a Passion Conference where college students were coming together to worship God. Jesse Reeves shared the idea of using the old hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour” by Annie Hawks as a springboard for the new song. The first verse of that well known hymn says: “I need Thee ev'ry hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like Thine can peace afford.” And so, they drew upon its lyrics for some extra stimulation. How many times during a clock’s 24-hour rotation does someone need God?

They tried to imagine students sitting in their dorm rooms and struggling with the various temptations and other issues that come their way. They pondered what needing God really meant for Christians.

The answer is obvious. We need God at all times. Sound too needy? Too weak? The strongest man or woman who is a believer relies on and calls on Jesus all the time. Jesus isn’t a crutch. Jesus is strength. Jesus is a deliverer. Jesus is what every believer needs to live a powerful and strong life. Believers live for and work for Jesus.

Never be afraid to call on Jesus. Yes, we all need Him. Because He is our life. He is our God. He is everything to us.

Verse One

“Lord I come, I confess,
Bowing here, I find my rest.
Without You, I fall apart,
You're the one that guides my heart.”

Lord, I need you.

"Faith is the Victory"

 

“Faith is the Victory”

His banner over us is love, Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death Is still our shining shield.

We all need heroes. We can find them in our church fellowship. We can find them in our friends. We can find them in our families if they live for God. Those men and women who live for Jesus and tell the world about Jesus.

We can read about them everyday as we go through our Bible. God’s Word is filled with saints that stood the test of time. We can read about saints of old through their biographies and in devotion books. There are videos of Christian men and women who conquered for God.

These examples of men and women guide us forward to do amazing things for God. They’ve been there. They’ve walked through the valleys. They are our shining shields.

Faith is the victory. Strong faith. Daily faith. Living faith. Deep-settled confident faith. Our faith is strengthened when we hear or read about saints of old. We can count on God to strengthen us when we read and hear about faithful saints.

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Biblerepository: “This verse calls us to remember God’s faithfulness throughout history and how He continues to work in our lives today. Each day becomes an opportunity to honor God and to live out the assurance that we are victorious in Christ, enabling us to encourage one another in faith.”

God continues to support His children and will continue until we are called home. Until that time, draw from the experience of saints of old to encourage you in your walk. Whether it’s Moses, Joseph or Peter, or Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers or Amy Carmichael, or the older lady who sits next to you in choir or the Elder who sits in your pew, we have saints of old to help us find our way. The same faith they had is the faith we have and it’s still a shining shield.

I think it’s time for me to get out Warren Wiersbe’s book, “50 People Every Christian Should Know” and read it again.

By His Grace . . .