... an unexpected word (from Him) of encouragement




The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame
Their great Original proclaim.
Th’unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator’s powers display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid the radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”



[i]paraphrased Psalm 19:1 - 6[/i]



Tune: Memories of Galilee
[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0010/x001054.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0010/x001054.htm[/url]

Tune: Creation
[url=http://www.scriptureandmusic.com/Music/Text_Files/The_Spacious_Firmament.html]http://www.scriptureandmusic.com/Music/Text_Files/The_Spacious_Firmament.html[/url]




Genesis 1:1 - 5
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [i]was[/i] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

And God saw the light, that [i]it was[/i] good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

So the evening and the morning were the first day.


13 - 19
So the evening and the morning were the third day.

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.

[i]He made[/i] the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that [i]it was[/i] good.

So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

That I "bear that name"

1 Peter:14-16 NIV
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Slow 2 Speak: When walking in his strength you can confidently say – I no longer live but Christ lives in me as you die to self daily. How do you die to self daily? You pick up your Cross and follow Him. What do I mean by that?
What ever takes first place in your heart that is not God becomes your God.

I can’t make it without God, there is nothing that I can accomplish if it’s not God working through me, never do I take the glory that belongs to Him. I think of myself as nothing but clay in the potter’s hands. If there is anything that I may accomplish it has always been led by his Spirit.

Doubt has a way of creeping in, I don’t know if it’s the workings of satan or what. Some how how God always has a way of shinning through.

What do you do when the realization floods your entire being, and a Holy and Godly fear creeps in. You see yourself where you are at and where you need to be and you ask yourself Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mind of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me, Who am I that you are mindful of me? I must pray, I have to pray, can’t touch this the realization is so real. Will I be struck as dead if I mishandle this Ark this place that God has chosen to bear his name, will my own words condem me, will I loose what I have been faithfully waiting for for such a long time. The realization has become more than I can handle. Oh if we would only learn to wait on the Lord, he will renew our strength, we will mount up with wings of eagle (Eagles Wings) we will run and not grow wearing we will walk and not faint.

And i thought this could never happen.
Sounds familiar I know.

... being able to walk in His Spirit




Spirit of mercy, truth and love,
O shed Thine influence from above,
And still from age to age convey
The wonders of this sacred day.

In every clime, by every tongue,
Be God’s amazing glory sung;
Let all the listening earth be taught
The wonders by our Savior wrought.

Unfailing Comfort, heavenly Guide,
Still o’er Thy holy Church preside;
Still let mankind Thy blessings prove,
Spirit of mercy, truth and love.




Tune: Ombersley
[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0013/x001364.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0013/x001364.htm[/url]

Tune: Paedia
[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0007/x000766.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0007/x000766.htm[/url]

Tune: Warrington
[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000609.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000609.htm[/url]




Psalm 147:1 - 6
Praise the LORD!
For [i]it is[/i] good to sing praises to our God;
For [i]it is[/i] pleasant, [i]and[/i] praise is beautiful.

The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.

Great [i]is[/i] our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding [i]is[/i] infinite.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.

... His steadfast reliability when I need His help




To God, the universal King,
Let all mankind their tribute bring;
All that have breath! your voices raise,
In songs of never ending praise.

The spacious earth on which we tread,
And wider heavens stretched o’er our head,
A large and solemn temple frame,
To celebrate its Builder’s fame.

Here the bright sun, that rules the day,
As through the sky he makes his way,
To all the world proclaims aloud
The boundless sovereignty of God.

When from his courts the sun retires,
And with the day his voice expires,
The moon and stars adopt the song,
And through the night the praise prolong.

The listening earth with rapture hears
Th’harmonious music of the spheres;
And all her tribes the notes repeat,
That God is wise, and good and great.

But man, endowed with nobler powers,
His God in nobler strains adores;
His is the gift to know the song,
As well as sing with tuneful tongue.



Tune: Cromer (and others)
[url=http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/g/tgunking.htm]http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/g/tgunking.htm[/url]




Psalm 147:7 - 11
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

He gives to the beast its food,
[i]And[/i] to the young ravens that cry.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.

You mercies and love oh God. Your kindness which leads us to repentance. And your resurrection power about to be revealed in your end time chosen ones. And the destruction of the evil one and his entire kingdom. amen

... keeping on chipping away at the work He has to do in me and that He is exceedingly gentle about it



God of mercy, God of grace,
Show the brightness of Thy face;
Shine upon us, Savior, shine,
Fill Thy Church with light divine,
And Thy saving health extend,
Unto earth’s remotest end.

Let the people praise Thee, Lord!
Be by all that live adored;
Let the nations shout and sing
Glory to their Savior King,
At Thy feet their tribute pay,
And Thy holy will obey.

Let the people praise Thee, Lord!
Earth shall then her fruits afford,
God to man His blessings give,
Man to God devoted live;
All below and all above
One in joy and light and love.




Tune: Heathlands
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000631.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0006/x000631.htm[/url]




Psalm 147:12 - 17
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.

He makes peace [in] your borders,
[i]And[/i] fills you with the finest wheat.

He sends out His command [i]to the[/i] earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes;
He casts out His hail like morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?

... reminding me of His deep love and perseverance with me



O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

O measureless might! Ineffable love!
While angels delight to worship Thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.




Tune: Hanover
[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000292.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000292.htm[/url]

Tune: Lyons (Haydn)
[url=http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/oworshiptheking.htm]http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/oworshiptheking.htm[/url]




Psalm 147:18 - 20
He sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, [i]and[/i] the waters flow.

He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and His judgments to Israel.

He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And [i]as for His[/i] judgments, they have not known them.

Praise the LORD!

... comforting my soul



O Thou who camest from above
The pure, celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze
And trembling to its source return
In humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
To work and speak and think for Thee,
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.

Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
Till death Thine endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.



[i]Charles Wesley[/i]


Tune: Hereford
[url=http://gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/wesley/hymns/umh501.stm]http://gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/wesley/hymns/umh501.stm[/url]

[url=http://ccel.org/cceh/0008/x000883.htm]http://ccel.org/cceh/0008/x000883.htm[/url]

[url=http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o649.html]http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/o/o649.html[/url]




Isaiah 64:1 - 4
Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!

That the mountains might shake at Your presence --
As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil --
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
[i]That[/i] the nations may tremble at Your presence!

When You did awesome things [i]for which[/i] we did not look,
You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.

For since the beginning of the world
[i]Men[/i] have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.