Rebecca and I seem to always get a theme for the year from God. Sometimes we have the same theme. Sometimes it's different. Yesterday we were talking about what we felt God teaching us this year.
I think the part of God's story that hit me most this year was the promise of the new creation. I have been struck by the hope of God's plan for redeeming his creation. We have been going through Revelation at church. The sermon series is called 'Unveiled Hope.' We are learning that in the midst of all the sufferings, wars, and strie, all shall be well.
Almost every cd I have bought this year has had something about the coming day when every wrong shall be made right.
I have witnessed the faith of friends and friends of friends who have stared death, hopelessness, and disease in the face with a defiant faith that boldly claims Christ will win and his enemies will not.
One of my favorite gifts this year was ITunes money (thanks, Sweetheart). I bought Andrew Peterson's album, Carried Along.
I heard this song yesterday for the first time. Just another reminder that Jesus is coming again. He is coming to restore everything he bought back with his blood on the hill. Until then we'll be in the fight. Our lives will be full of joys and sorrows, highs and lows, obedience and disobedience. But, when we see him we will be like him and then our deepest sorrows will become our greatest joys. So, come Lord Jesus.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus by Andrew Peterson
Tonight in the line of the merchandise store
While they were packing up my bags
I saw the pictures of the prophets of the picket signs
Screaming, "God hates fags"
And it feels like the church isn't anything more
Then the second coming of the Pharisees
Scrubbing each other 'til their tombs are white
They chisel epitaphs of piety
Oh, there's a burning down inside of me
'Cause the battle seems so lost
And it's raging on so silently
We forget it's being fought
So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Amen
It's taken me years in the race just to get this far
Still there is no end in sight,
There's no end in sight
'Cause I've carried my cross into dens of the wicked
And you know I blended in just fine
Well, I'm weak and I'm weary of breaking His heart
With they cycle of my sin, of my sin
Still He turns His face to me and I kiss it
Just to betray Him once again
Well, I've got oceans down inside of me
I can feel the billows roll
With the mercy that comes thundering
O'er the waters of my soul
So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Tonight in the light of the gathering rain
I could hear creation groan
And a sigh rose up from the streets of the city
To the foot of Heaven's throne
Oh, and the people hear the sound of a sweet refrain
An absolution in the fray, in the fry
It tells of the death of the one for the lives of the many
More than any picket sign could say
So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
I hope this isn't overkill. I realize reading songs and listening to them are very different (so maybe you just need to buy Andrew Peterson's albums). I had to put this last song in.
After the Last Tear Falls by Andrew Peterson and Andrew Osenga
After the last tear falls
After the last secret's told
After the last bullet tears through flesh and bone
After the last child starves
And the last girl walks the boulevard
After the last year that's just too hard
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
After the last disgrace
After the last lie to save some face
After the last brutal jab from a poison tongue
After the last dirty politician
After the last meal down at the mission
After the last lonely night in prison
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales
'Cause after the last plan fails
After the last siren wails
After the last young husband sails off to join the war
After the last "this marriage is over"
After the last young girl's innocence is stolen
After the last years of silence that won't let a heart open
There is love
Love, love, love
There is love
And in the end, the end is
Oceans and oceans
Of love and love again
We'll see how the tears that have fallen
Were caught in the palms
Of the Giver of love and the Lover of all
And we'll look back on these tears as old tales
4 comments:
Thank you for continuing to point us to the gospel. I enjoy every post you have created and always look forward to reading the outpouring of your heart and your passion for truth. Please be encouraged to glorify the Lord and know the seeds of truth are falling on thirsty hearts. Love you.
i love you, sweetheart! i'm thankful god gave me you.
I'm thankful God gave me BOTH of you! That was an awesome post, Danny. The words to those songs were very powerful. I'm glad you shared them.
Danny and Rebecca...I too love both of you! The theme for the year!? I know exactly what you mean. Feels like I've pondered it hourly over the past couple of months. I have it taped to my desk at work, but it's branded on my heart as well. Two simple words. Brokenhearted Joy. It describes everything about everything in my life. It's redemption at the foot of the cross. Not sure who gets the credit for it, but I think Jonathon Edwards. It describes the songs in this post. Along with this I cling to Piper's 7th point, "The best of all possible worlds." And I am filled with hope that all our sorrows will become joys when we are at last in the presence of our Savior. I find myself never wanting to leave Narnia to reenter reality, but there are few who understand that longing. The longing of dwelling in the hope of what is to come. In the words of Paul, to live is Christ, to die is gain. I concur, Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
Post a Comment