Archive for July 2020

A New Reality

2020-07-31 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6, NIV)

I’m in a hotel room where the bathroom sink has mirrors on three sides. I lean in and look to the side and see the fronts and backs of my head. It’s a different perspective, and it stretches as far as I can see, on toward infinity. Fascinating! I feel like I’ve glimpsed a new reality.

But I step back and realize there is no depth. There is no new reality–only a small sink with mirrors.

Lord, don’t let me get caught up in life that way. Outside of You, life is a small sink with mirrors. No depth, no length, no mystery, no reality.

In You is all the depth, all the length, all the new perspectives.

In You are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).

Keep me, Lord, in You.

Father,
we cannot understand this world
without understanding You.
You are wisdom.
We want to know You.

Hymn: Know the Lord

Psalm 120

2020-07-29 Hymns No comments

Psalm 120 is a hymn for pilgrims,
traveling through this evil world
toward their Father’s house.
It is part of the Psalms of Ascents series on Psalms 120 – 134.
To download a pdf of the entire “Psalms of Ascents” series,
complete with companion devotional readings,
click here.

Recording
Printed Music

God of truth and mercy, save us,
Hurt, harassed, oppressed by lies,
Tempted, threatened, lured by evil
Dressed in pleasure’s sweet disguise.
See Your children, all Your own,
Here where sin seems so strong.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
Strangers where we don’t belong.

God of peace, engulfing presence,
Shepherd through this hostile place,
Great Redeemer gone before us,
How we yearn to see Your face!
Weary, needy, nearing home –
Just ahead, now in view –
We are pilgrims on a journey.
O what joy, we come to You!

by Ken Bible, © 2019 LNWhymns.com.

Fresh Views of Timeless Truth

2020-07-27 Fresh Views of Timeless Truths No comments

What does “success” or “failure” mean in the Lord’s work? Money? How many people we reach? A Study in Failure is free pdf download that is unlike other volumes in the Fresh Views of Timeless Truth series. It is my personal testimony.

Links:
Free pdf of A Study in Failure
Complete list of available volumes in Fresh Views of Timeless Truths

As I Begin to Pray

2020-07-24 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Father,
as I walk through this false and foolish world,
reshape my false and foolish thoughts
by Your reality,
by the beautiful truth of all You are.

Help me see You and know You in Your transcendence.
Purify my desires by the holy breath of Your Spirit.
Keep me joyful in the unending flow of Your pure goodness.
Give me peace in the assurance of Your never-failing love.
Flood my being with the light of Your unspeakable greatness.

Give me a heart and mind that
are conscious of Your presence and
are fully responsive to You, my Father.

Make me like Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Father,
help me to think and live
in the reality of
who You are and
who I am.

Hymn: God My Father

Psalm 134

2020-07-22 Hymns No comments

Set to a familiar tune,
this benediction can be used
to close a service or
as a full hymn of worship and praise.
It is part of the Psalms of Ascents series on Psalms 120 – 134.
To download a pdf of the entire “Psalms of Ascents” series,
complete with companion devotional readings,
click here.

Recording
Printed Music

Blessing and honor, glory, love, and praise
Be to You, Father, good in all Your ways,
Holy, exalted, faithful, feared, adored,
Source of all being, Savior, Sovereign Lord.

Here at Your throne with lifted eyes we stand,
Eager to serve and move at Your command.
Joyful, we go to follow near or far,
Blessed and enabled, God, by all You are.

by Ken Bible, © 2019 LNWhymns.com.

I Want What You Want

2020-07-17 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” (John 4:34, NASB)

Father, at times I have been so self-centered.
I have wanted all the wrong things.
Now, Lord, I want what You want.

I am short-sighted.
I am blind.
I can’t see the future, and
I don’t know which way to go.
I want what You want.

You are love, my Lord.
You are wisdom and knowledge.
You see the end from the beginning.
And You are always good.
Everything You do is good and beautiful.

My God, I want what You want.

Father, You are the
sovereign Source and
Goal of all reality.
Help me not to impose on You
my tiny, self-centered expectations and
ignorant, preconceived notions.
You are Lord.
I will listen and follow.

Hymn: Father, Father

Psalm 133

2020-07-15 Hymns No comments

God’s life and love pours down from Him,
then flows out through us to those around us.
What a wonderful gift is loving unity in Him!
This hymn is part of the Psalms of Ascents series on Psalms 120 – 134.
To download a pdf of the entire “Psalms of Ascents” series,
complete with companion devotional readings,
click here.

Recording
Printed Music

Flowing down,
Flowing down –
Precious oneness flowing down,
Down from Father, Son, and Spirit,
Love is flowing down.
Peace is flowing down.

Flowing out,
Flowing out –
All God’s blessings flowing out.
Freely shared with all His people,
Life is flowing out.
Joy is flowing out.

One in Christ,
One in Christ –
Earth and heaven one in Christ,
All God’s people, all creation
One in Jesus Christ.
Praise You, Jesus Christ!

by Ken Bible, © 2019 LNWhymns.com.

Fresh Views of Timeless Truth

2020-07-13 Fresh Views of Timeless Truths No comments

For the next two weeks, reflect on the glories of God with Psalms of His Splendor, a free pdf download. These thirteen Psalms, with their companion materials,  will focus your heart and mind on the greatness of God.

It is part of a brand-new series, Fresh Views of Timeless Truth. Each volume provides readings, prayers, scripture, and recorded hymns on a focused topic.

Links:
Free pdf of Psalms of His Splendor
Complete list of available volumes in Fresh Views of Timeless Truths

God, I Need You

2020-07-10 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help.
(Psalm 28:2, NIV)

My God, I cry out to You from my smallness and darkness.
Help me, Lord.
Forgive my self-centeredness.
Take me to You.
Absorb my life into Yours.

I want You.
I feel the need in my heart and try to verbalize it
but don’t know how.

Come and take me, Creator Lord.
Come in and make me entirely love, eternal Savior.
Purify me in love,
not to please me,
but to please You wholly and entirely.

Swallow my smallness in Your greatness,
in Your length and depth and height.

Swallow my concerns in utter praise to You.
Swallow anxiety in thanksgiving.
Swallow wanting in giving.

Take me entirely into You, my Lord Jesus.

Father, we are so proud,
blind,
stubborn, and
small in this
wide universe of reality.
We search for You,
all the while we live and
move and
exist
entirely in You.

Hymn: Living Christ

Psalm 132

2020-07-08 Hymns No comments

When we gather to worship God,
we are part of a grand and timeless procession,
coming before His throne,
celebrating His salvation.
What a reality!
This hymn is part of the Psalms of Ascents series on Psalms 120 – 134.
To download a pdf of the entire “Psalms of Ascents” series,
complete with companion devotional readings,
click here.

Recording
Printed Music

Join salvation’s great procession.
Join the timeless singing.
All who share His resurrection
Follow Christ their King.
Come join His children, called and cleansed,
Forever all His own,
Pure and holy, O how glorious,
Coming to His throne.

Follow Christ, and breathe His presence.
Share His holy glory.
Walk in Him, the Living Temple.
Taste eternity.
God’s every promise stands fulfilled.
Our destiny is sealed.
All His blessings, all His gifts are
Now in Christ revealed.

Jesus Christ, we join in worship,
Loving, serving, singing;
All our joy, Your greater glory,
Lamb and Priest and King.
Your holy name be hallowed here,
Your perfect will be done.
May Your Kingdom fill our world and
Heaven and earth be one!

by Ken Bible, © 2019 LNWhymns.com.

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