Friday Morning Prayer:)…. April 5, 2018

April 6, 2018 - 7 minutes read
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and king,
The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease—
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.[1]
 
“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’  As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his out garment around him…and jumped into the water.”[2]
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It is the Lord!  Beautiful words for ears that are given the grace to hear.  Jesus!  The name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease— ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘Tis life, and health, and peace.  O the mercy of God, his kindness toward us, grace to assist me to proclaim, to spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of Thy name.  We readily sing, “I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree… 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 death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”[3]
 
Peter loved Jesus.  He was painfully conscious of his sin, yet “It is the Lord!”  With joy mixed with remorse, he is not going to wait; he rushes to our merciful Savior.  Like Peter, most of us will be given the opportunity to reaffirm our love for Jesus after a period of disloyalty.  The pain of being broken by our own sin reveals the mercy of God, his sovereign hand forming jars of clay God intends you and me to be.    Do I truly love Jesus?  Do I trust and obey?  Do I readily confess Jesus as Lord?  Is supernatural love lived out in my daily life?  I fail.  I do hear, “It is the Lord!”  Humble.  I cry out in faith and run to my gracious Master and my God.  His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.
 
Calm before our merciful God.  I can’t truly love Jesus if I do not spend time pursuing him.  I have to stop and get quiet.  I must not only hear but listen carefully, sensing the Spirit’s leading, seeing, reading, digesting Scripture through the Spirit’s illumination.  That takes devoted time to be calm before the throne of grace.  Beloved, may our merciful God draw you closer and closer as you live daily for him.  We confess Jesus as Lord.  In his strength, we work out this great salvation with fear and trembling.  The truth of our confession is demonstrated by the process of our lives.
 
A sister in Christ contacted recently looking for a resource to help her keep praising our gracious God.  Another gal came to my office today for a final visit after moving to Palmdale.  She needed to know where to get connected to a church community.  My point is that we need one another to encourage and love deeply in word and deed.  I pray you know the love of Jesus through meaningful relationships in your local church community.  I am very thankful for you, the family of God designed by God for us to enjoy in Christ.
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin,
He sets the pris’ner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
He speaks, and, list’ning to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heav’n.
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Sisters are meeting to pray.  First Baptist.  1912 Arnold Way.   Alpine.  0900.
You are invited to join faithful sisters in Christ for a sweet hour of prayer.  There are various churches represented and there is room for Christian gals to join.  This is an expression of love for God and one another.   No pressure or expectations.  This is for those who have a desire to love Jesus and fellowship with like-minded sisters in Christ.
 
Brothers are meeting too!  Alpine Youth Center.  2153 Arnold Way.  Alpine.  0730.
Christian men meet weekly to enjoy brief fellowship and intentionally pray.   You are invited.  If you haven’t been in a while, it is always a good time to join in holy prayer.  If your schedule allows, join us for an hour.  We truly do allow the Spirit of God to lead our time.  Of course, we co-participate and trust our Lord to lead us as we ask, seek, and knock.   No frills or unnecessary expectations.  However, I am always excited about men joining together!  The joy of the Lord may be evident, and faithful men, necessarily humble, do cry out in faith before the throne of grace.

[1] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Oh_for_a_Thousand_Tongues_to_Sing/
[2] John 21:7