ThinkSingPray

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Palm Sunday, Prep for Holy Week 

 

Monday –      Easter Is the Story of a King (long version)
         Hymn: Here Comes Jesus! He’s Our King! (recording) (printed)

Tuesday –     Recognized as King
         Hymn: See the Servant (recording) (printed)

Wednesday – The Triumphal Entry
         Hymn: Who Is He? (recording) (printed)

Thursday –    Reflection on Psalm 118
         Hymn: Psalm 118 (recording) (printed)

Friday –          The Christ of Holy Week
         Hymn: The Heart of Christ (recording) (printed)

Saturday –     Prepare for Holy Week
         Hymn: As You Love (recording) (printed)

 

for more, visit
ThinkSingPray
at KenBible.com

Knowing the Transcendent God: My Personal Story 2

As we begin looking at our magnificent, transcendent God, I am reflecting on how He has patiently drawn me toward Himself. Here is the second of four major turning points.

In my early-to-mid-twenties, as I was entering adulthood, I longed to be all God wanted me to be. But I didn’t really know how, despite a thorough grounding in the Church’s teachings. I tried self-discipline, thinking that it held the answer to a productive and fruitful life. I tried in-depth Bible study, suspecting that somewhere in its pages were hidden secrets that only the astute could discover. Both self-discipline and Bible study are important, but neither proved to be the answer I was seeking.

Over time I realized that God doesn’t reserve His blessings only for the spiritual elite. In fact, I learned the opposite. God graciously showed me that the secret to a satisfying life was the simple truth I had learned as a young child in Sunday School: God is a real Being, and He is constantly, personally with us. What’s more, what He wants from us is amazingly, stunningly simple: He only asks that we trust Him, one step at a time.

Even as I say this now, the words seem so plain. But the personal realization of an ever-present God and a relationship of simple faith began to change me.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: You Are Near, O Lord
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Christ in Psalm 7

Because Christ,
the innocent one,
suffered injustice for us,
He declares us
innocent.
Praise His name!

Recording
Printed Music 

Christ stands condemned by hate and pride.
Justice and truth hang crucified.
Love, ever sovereign age to age,
Gently submits to evil’s rage.

See God present His Perfect Son,
Not to acquit the guiltless One,
But with the sacrifice displayed
Hear Him rejoice: “Their price is paid!”

See Christ arise to claim His own,
He who has shared their flesh and bone.
With the redeemed all gathered round,
Earth now explodes with joyful sound.

Join in the praise as tongues confess
Christ and His gifts all measureless,
Singing His grace still unexplored.
Darkness is past, and Christ is Lord!

 

by Ken Bible, © 2018 LNWhymns.com

ThinkSingPray

ThinkSingPray 

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Lent 5 

 

Monday –      Foreshadowing the Resurrection
         Hymn: I Know That My Redeemer Lives (recording) (printed)

Tuesday –     Ezekiel: A Vision of New Life
         Hymn: Ezekiel’s Vision (recording) (printed)

Wednesday – The Anointing
         Hymn: Make My Life a Holy Fragrance (recording) (printed)

Thursday –    See the Future
         Hymn: Hallelujah Hymn (recording) (printed)

Friday –          The Mind and Spirit of Christ
         Hymn: His Hour Has Come (recording) (printed)

Saturday –     A Seed Must Be Planted
         Hymn: Sown in Tears, Raised in Joy (recording) (printed)

 

for more, visit
ThinkSingPray
at KenBible.com

Knowing the Transcendent God: My Personal Story 1

On Fridays during the coming months, I will be blogging reflections on the transcendent God. To begin, let me reflect on my personal journey toward Him.

All my life God has been drawing me toward Himself. He has been working to help me know Him and trust Him and walk constantly with Him. But as I look back over the years, several key turning points stand out. Here is the first.

I became a Christian at age 10 and was active in my faith throughout my public school years. But about the time I started at the University of Cincinnati, I began to doubt. Were all the Bible’s fantastic stories really true? During my first two years in college, I was a sincere atheist, though I continued to attend church.

However, I came to realize that in my human limitations, I could not rationally know whether there was a God or not. The human mind, the human perspective is far too limited. Without even knowing the word, I wrestled with His transcendence and came to admit that He was beyond me.

But when my reasoning reached its limits, the living witness of God’s people took over. I became firmly convinced that God was real because He was real in the lives of my parents and the people in my home church.

There was no emotional crisis moment when I returned to God. His Spirit spoke to me quietly, personally, and I responded in faith. I decided to believe in Him. It was that simple. I decided to trust Him, and my life changed forever. I’ve never looked back.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Simple Faith
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Christ in Psalm 38

Jesus Christ took upon Himself
the full weight of
our suffering for sin,
so vividly depicted in
Psalm 38.

Recording
Printed Music 

Despised, condemned, forsaken
For sin, but not His own;
What guilt and countless torments rained
On Him and Him alone!
Rebuked, oppressed, abandoned there,
Immersed in deepest pain,
Consumed by sorrow, crushed by grief
And evil unrestrained.

While hatred shouts its anger,
Hear fervent love and prayer
As even those who torture Him
Are objects of His care.
While enemies are mocking Him
And loved ones pull away,
His unresisting silence speaks
More love than words could say.

O Savior, in our weakness,
Our darkest guilt and shame,
We look to You, our holiness,
Eternally the same.
Our pure and perfect sacrifice,
The goodness we pursue,
Our hope, our joy, our confidence,
Our destiny is You.

 

by Ken Bible, © 2018 LNWhymns.com

ThinkSingPray

ThinkSingPray 

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Lent 4 

 

Monday –      When Messiah Came
         Hymn: Here Is Love (recording) (printed)

Tuesday –     Scarred
         Hymn: Our Great High Priest (recording) (printed)

Wednesday – Picture This
         Hymn: Pictures of God’s Love (recording) (printed)

Thursday –    Jesus’ Heart for People
         Hymn: Feel the Savior’s Heart for People (recording) (printed)

Friday –          Letter from a Concerned Father
         Hymn: A Father’s Love (recording) (printed)

Saturday –     Love Is Not Blind
         Hymn: Our Father’s Burning Heart (recording) (printed)

 

for more, visit
ThinkSingPray
at KenBible.com

Complete Your Love in Us

Father, You are love.
As You immerse us in Yourself,
You immerse us in love.

Your work in us begins in love.
When we were far away and
walking the other direction,
Your love patiently,
sacrificially
drew us near.

In the heavenly places,
in the power center of all reality,
You blessed us abundantly in Your Son Jesus Christ.
You lavished on us eternal gifts
beyond our understanding.

You rooted us in love.
You planted us in
the rich soil of Your boundless goodness.
As we grow in love and
grow in You,
we bear the fruit of love,
nourishing the needy hearts all around us.

As You began Your salvation in love,
You will complete it in love.
You will come to us again.
You will take us fully to Yourself.
We will forever be
Your chosen people,
Your holy temple,
Your glorious bride.

Praise to You, Father!
As we trust and obey You,
complete Your love in us.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Love Has Brought Us Near
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

Your Love, Holy Father

Consider this:
the Father, Son, and Spirit have
engulfed us in the
love,
peace, and
joy
they share among themselves.

Recording
Printed Music 

Your love, Holy Father,
Love for Your Son,
Poured out through Your Spirit
Making us one!
No longer unclean and
No longer alone,
Now one with You, Father,
We are Your home.

Your peace, Holy Father,
Peace in Your Son,
Deep peace in Your Spirit,
Heaven begun!
Through suffering and heartache
This blessing has grown.
All wrapped in Your keeping,
We are Your own.

What joy, Holy Father,
Joy in Your Son,
Great joy in Your Spirit,
Glory begun!
Your life every moment,
Your presence, Your voice,
Your fullness forever–
Lord, we rejoice!

 

by Ken Bible, © 2008 LNWhymns.com

ThinkSingPray

ThinkSingPray 

about 

Lent 3 

 

Monday –      The Way He Speaks
         Hymn: When Jesus Speaks (recording) (printed)

Tuesday –     Father, as Jesus cleansed the temple…
         Hymn: My Mind Will Be Your Holy Place (recording) (printed)

Wednesday – I Hunger for You
         Hymn: Psalm 63 (recording) (printed)

Thursday –    Christ in Psalm 7
         Hymn: Christ in Psalm 7 (recording) (printed)

Friday –          The Just Will Live by Faith
         Hymn: By Faith in Jesus Christ (ST. THEODULPH) (recording) (printed)

Saturday –     Jesus Weeps for the Unrepentant
         Hymn: Jesus Weeps for the Unrepentant (recording) (printed)

 

for more, visit
ThinkSingPray
at KenBible.com