I am heading to my son’s wedding and will be pretty busy over the next week or so. I ask that you extend a few things on my behalf:

• The ability to re-post some music that I’ve shared in the past.
• Prayer for safe travel.
• Prayer for my son, Philip and his bride, Heather.
• Joy and presence in each moment.

I’ll remember you and pray for you each day. Until we meet again…

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

“My Savior’s Love” – Musical Musings in March

Sometimes words are not sufficient. The adjectives we use in day-to-day living just don’t seem to fully envelope the grace and love that our God has for mankind. And yet, some of the most beautiful hymns have been written that use such adjectives.

Wonderful and marvelous are two such words.

I do believe that from the beginning of time, mankind has had a difficult time in describing God’s love.

King David’s descriptions included “unfailing love” (Psalm 6:4), “great love” (Psalm 17:7), “wonderful love” (Psalm 31:21), “abounding in love” (Psalm 86:5), and “enduring love” (Psalm 136).

Our New Testament writers had similar problems. We read Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV). “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

John followed suit in 1 John 3:1a (NIV). “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

And sometimes, the biblical writers went beyond description and stated what God did because of His great love for us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NIV)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 – NIV)

Perhaps it is difficult to understand the length to which God will go to show us His love. Maybe, as we see in Ephesians 3:17-21 (NIV), that the only way we can understand God’s great love for us is through Him.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his powers that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Today, our songwriter expressed his amazement at God’s love. And do you know what? I believe it is okay to just say it’s wonderful and marvelous. So enjoy “My Savior’s Love” today. Bask in His love. Allow God’s love to cover you. And you too will stand amazed.

“My Savior’s Love”

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain:
Oh, how marvelous! Oh, how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
Oh, how marvelous! Oh, how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.[i]

Click here to hear this beautiful song.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

[i] “My Savior’s Love”, Words and Music by Charles H. Gabriel, Public Domain, 1905