There's Power in the Blood

I awoke this morning with a verse of Scripture on my mind, Galatians 2:20, and an old hymn of the church in my heart, There's Power in the Blood.

Galatians 2:20 is a foundational verse for my life:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NIV)

The words and music of the hymn in my heart were written by Lewis E. Jones in 1899. He wrote There's Power in the Blood at a camp meet­ing at Mount­ain Lake Park, Maryland:

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain

Crucified with You, My Christ, I find Power in Your Blood, my One and Only Source for Life Everlasting. Amen!
Grateful

Bethlehem Encore

I know it's already December 27th and nearly December 28th as I load this late night blog post, but Bethlehem is still strong on my mind. Those hope-filled words in the last verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" are still touching my soul deeply:

Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born is us today!

If you believe a Bethlehem Encore is in order, just click the link below and watch as Amy Grant introduces my friend, Jim Cole, to play and sing his Holy Day contemporary Christmas carol titled In Bethlehem Tonight for a Direct TV Christmas Special:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh_NwTtCxLc&feature=related

The Lamb sent to free us
lies asleep on the hay...

Simple but profound poetry! Thanks Baby Jesus! Thanks Big Jim!

ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD... STILL!
Grateful

I Belong Between The Bread & The Blood

We have now entered that season between Christmas and Easter.

During the Holy Days of the Christmas season, it slowly but surely struck me that Bethlehem is called The House of Bread and Calvary is all about The Blood.

As we live between The Bread and The Blood, let us be in constant Communion with The One Who was born as our Baby King. Yes, and let us be intentional about an ever-increasing intimate relationship with Immanuel, The Lamb Who was once (and for all-time) slain for our sins (but is now Alive forevermore!)

Soon enough we will find ourselves in that celebration season between His glorious Resurrection and His powerful Ascension with the remarkable reality of Pentecost on the horizon.

Lord Jesus, during every season leading up to my faith finally becoming sight -- on that Day when You return for me -- I want to belong to You, and never betray You! I belong between The Bread and The Blood. Amen!

Click link below for Kathryn Scott's song "I Belong":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg9TchaiOck&feature=related

(23b) The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (25)In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (26) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (27) Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. (28) A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (29) For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. -- 1 Corinthians 18:23b-29 (NIV)

Lord, from Your first cry in Bethlehem's Manger to Your final cry on Calvary's Cross, You have given to me everything necessary to succeed spiritually in every season of life and death! You are so Faithful. Find me ever so...

...Grateful (for Bethlehem's Bread and Calvary's Blood!)

I See The Lord

In Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah testified:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord...

Do I want to be able to personally say:
I see the Lord?

Do I want others to be able to personally say to me:
I see the Lord in you?

The words of this praise song have are one with the cry of my heart:

Click here: YouTube - Ron Kenoly/ I See the Lord

I see the Lord, I see the Lord,
Exalted high upon the worship
Of the people of the earth.
I see the Lord, I see the Lord
My eyes have seen the King,
The Lamb upon the throne
Who reigns forever more
(Repeat)

The train of His robe,
Fills the temple
A cloud of heavenly worshipers,
Surrounding His throne
We join with them now crying,

"Holy, holy is the Lamb.
The Lamb alone"
(Repeat chorus and verse)
(Repeat chorus)

... and ever
Forever and ever,
Forever and ever
Forever and ever,
Forever and ever,
Forever and evermore,
Forever more

My eyes have seen the king
The Lamb upon the Throne
Who reigns forever more
(Repeat)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Tina, a voice from Heaven in our local church family, sings and recorded a song written and recorded by the contemporary group Selah. The words moved my heart so wonderfully recently that I listened to the song about five times in a row. May the lyrics inspire Your love for our Lord, today:

Wonderful, merciful Saviour, precious Redeemer and Friend.
Who would've thought that a Lamb could,
Rescue the souls of men.
Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace.
You offer hope when our hearts have,
Hopelessly lost our way.
Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way.

CHORUS:
You are the One that we praise.
You are the One we adore.
You give the healing and grace,
Our hearts always hunger for.
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty, infinite Father, faithfully loving Your own.
Here in our weakness You find us,
Falling before Your throne.
Oh, we're falling before Your throne.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

His Arms-Wide-Open, Crying Invitation

From His first cry at His birth in Bethlehem's manger to His final cry at His death on Jerusalem's cross, God's Only Son had His Arms-Wide-Open inviting us to enter a love-relationship with the Trinity that begins on earth and continues for Eternity. Good news, indeed!

And the Good News gets Gooder, in that, His Arms-Wide-Open, Crying Invitation is still being extended to us. Christmastime accents the Christ Child's invitation. Let's respond to His invitation and let's invite others to also come to Bethlehem's Boy, yes Calvary's Lamb, for Heaven's forgiveness at Christmastime and all the time. We can turn His crying into laughing by receving The Gift of His Life with our Arms-Wide-Open and by sharing The Gift of His Life with our Arms-Wide-Open to others.

ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD! ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS NOW! :-)
Grateful

Plead His Blood, Speak His Name

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) -- And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...

ALL JOY!
Grateful