“Jesus, My Victory” – Musical Musings in March

March 26th, 2016 dsisler

 

I have often wondered what the disciples of Jesus must have felt on this day in history. Jesus had died on the cross the day before and here they were left to wonder what had really happened. There were probably feelings of guilt, hopelessness, frustration, grief and loneliness just to name a few. I suspect there may have been some accusations as well.

 

wheel barrelThis was a dark day for these early disciples of Christ.

 

If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we can find ourselves in this position. You might refer to these times as the “valley.” You too might feel some of the emotions listed above, but you might also experience bitterness, confusion, powerlessness, depression, regret or anger. And there are plenty more emotions you can use to fill this space.

 

The disciples only had to live with these emotions for one day. Sunday came and Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His loved ones. But what about you and I? How can we get out of the valleys of our lives to live victoriously with Jesus on the mountain?

 

Like the disciples, we need to hole up with Jesus. We need to spend time with Him and allow His Spirit to do His work in our lives. This is a process and it does take time, but it is possible.

 

One of my favorite books is “Follow Me” by Randy Sprinkle. Here are some words from this wise man. “Victory begins at the start of the day with a closed door, an open Bible, and a disciplined, responsive heart ready to turn loose anything that hinders our walk and work with God for the sake of His kingdom that day.”[i]

 

Victory is possible and it will come as we turn our hearts and minds over to the One who is able to defeat death. There is victory in Jesus. What do you need to turn loose to Him today?

 

I could have reused the “Victory in Jesus” hymn, but I found “Jesus, My Victory” to share instead. I pray you will enjoy it…and remember victory begins and ends with Jesus.

 

“Jesus, My Victory”[ii]

 

Jesus we come to Your table

We take Your body and blood

This is Your invitation

A reminder of love

Jesus we come to remember

The life You gave for us

Every sin is defeated

By Your death on the cross

 

Chorus:

Jesus Christ, You satisfy

Our Living Stream

The Bread of Life

Jesus Christ, more than I need

 

The Lamb of God

My Victory

 

King of Kings You laid Your body down

Oh what love that lets the lost be found

Oh what sacrifice given for my gain

All who die in You will rise again

King of Kings forsaken for my sin

Lamb of God and yet the Lion wins

Lifted high for all the world to see
My Victory

 

Click here to listen to this song.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “Follow Me” Randy Sprinkle, pg. 38-39

[ii] “Jesus, My Victory,” words and music by Brenton Brown, Travis Ryan and Brandon Collins, Thank You Music, Integrity Worship Music, Travis Ryan Music, Celiacrobat Music, 2012

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“By His Wounds” – Musical Musings in March

March 25th, 2016 dsisler

 

As you know, we arrived home on Monday morning and I could not wait to shower and wash my hair. I pulled out my hairdryer that went with me on our trip and turned it on. What a clatter it made! Something had gotten into the motor of my hairdryer and was causing some real trouble.

 

?

I turned it off and tipped it over. Something very precious to me fell out of my hairdryer. My diamond earrings!

 

Now I cannot even begin to suggest how these earrings wound up in the hairdryer. They were in a box with all my other jewelry (not another piece of jewelry was in the hairdryer I might add). Now the hairdryer and the box of jewelry were in the same suitcase, but come on. Really? Someone these two earrings found their way out of the box and into the hairdryer.

 

The earrings were a bit mangled (the picture tells the tale) and I will need to have them professionally repaired, but at least I have both earrings (the backs didn’t make it…I’m trying to stay positive here).

 

Today is day that all of Christianity is thinking of Jesus’ sacrifice. And as I remember what Jesus went through so that I might have salvation, my diamond earrings are worthless. Jesus’ precious body was bruised, battered and beaten for my transgressions. He sacrificed His own life for mine. And unlike my earrings that mysteriously landed in my hairdryer, God’s plan from the beginning of our time was to redeem mankind. Jesus chose to follow that plan. And I don’t know about you, but I am blessed and thankful for His choice.

 

The song I share today is about Jesus’ wounds. His sacrifice. As you go about you day today, I pray that you will not allow this to be just like any other day. I pray that you will offer your life to Jesus because of the great love He has for you.

 

“By His Wounds”[i]

 

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace
Was upon Him
And by His wounds
By His wounds, we are healed

 

Chorus:
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace, we are saved
We are saved

 

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace
Was upon Him
And by His wounds
By His wounds, we are healed

 
Chorus:
He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace
Was upon Him
And by His wounds
By His wounds, we are healed

 

What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

 

You’ll want to listen to this one. Click here!

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “By His Wounds,” words and music by Mac Powell and David Nasser, Consuming Fire Music, Meaux Mercy, 2007

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“More Than Wonderful” – Musical Musings in March

March 24th, 2016 dsisler

 

When you hear the word “more,” what do you think about? We usually use the word “more” to modify another word. More food. More money. More time. More energy. More snow (ha, ha…just kidding). For the most part, when we use the word “more,” we are lacking something and want an extra amount of what it is we are lacking.

 

The Macmillan Dictionary tells us that more is “an amount or number that is larger than another, larger than it was before or larger than you expected.”[i]

 

We see this in Scripture as well. Take a look at a few:

 

  • More valuable – Matthew 6:26
  • More powerful – Mark 1:7
  • More given – Luke 11:13
  • More fruitful – John 15:2
  • More blessed – Acts 20:35
  • More reconciled – Romans 5:10
  • More than we ask or imagine – Ephesians 3:20
  • More credited to our account – Philippians 4:17
  • More grace – James 4:6

 

God has blessed us with more than we can imagine in more ways than I can begin to mention here.

 

But what it really comes down to is the gift that God gave when He sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is “more.”

 

The song I’ve chosen to share today speaks directly to Jesus and how He is more than our words used to describe Him. He is more than wonderful or amazing or marvelous. So today, let’s sing this beautiful song with Sandi and Larnelle and agree with them that Jesus is more to you and me than we can ever express with mere words.

 

“More Than Wonderful”[ii]

 

He promised us that He would be a counselor
A Mighty God and the Prince of Peace
He promised us that He would be a Father
And that He would love us with a love that would not cease.

Well, I tried Him and I found His promises are true
He’s everything He said that He would be.
The finest words I know could not begin to tell
Just what Jesus really means to me.

Chorus:

For He’s more wonderful than my mind can conceive
He’s more wonderful than my heart can believe
He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams.
He’s everything that my soul ever longed for
Everything He’s promised and so much more
More than amazing, more than marvelous
More than miraculous could ever be
He’s more than wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me.

I stand amazed when I think that the King of glory
Should come to dwell within the heart of man
I marvel just to know He really loves me
When I think of who He is, and who I am.

(Chorus)
 

Click here for this wonderful version by Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] Macmillan Dictionary, http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/more.

[ii] “More Than Wonderful,” words and music by Lanny Wolfe, Lanny Wolfe Music, 1982.

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“My Beloved” – Musical Musings in March

March 23rd, 2016 dsisler

 

I’m back! We had an uneventful drive from Colorado to Ohio…and back again. Visited with family and friends. Attended my nephew’s concert of Celtic music (which was pretty awesome) and learned about a mission organization in Ireland. Watched my niece’s production of Lion King Jr (words are inadequate to describe how marvelous this was). Planned and prepared for my son’s wedding. And the purpose of the trip, to be part of the wedding (yes, this was the best of the best)!

 

Wedding FlowersIt was beautiful. The flowers. The music. The ceremony. The guests. The reception. All of it.

 

I wanted to enjoy this day. I continued to tell myself to enjoy all the happenings. Of course, there were times I got caught up in the craziness of the day, but at one point at the reception hall, I remember stopping and thinking, “Wow! This is beautiful!” It was then that I paused and found myself so blessed in that moment.

 

I began watching the guests, my son and his bride. I was touched by their love and kindness. I was blown away by words and actions. These moments are precious and are etched in my heart to remember and ponder as the years go by.

 

In the midst of the day, I was reminded of the love Christ has for His beloved, His Bride. The love between Philip and Heather was a reminder of how Jesus looks at you and me. And His love for us is magnified immeasurably more than the love we encounter here on earth.

 

John 3:16 (NIV) reminds of us God’s great love for mankind. “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.”

 

And Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) is another reminder of Christ’s love. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 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.”

 

The song I share with you today is one we use at Praise in Motion quite often. It is a gentle reminder of Jesus’ love for each of us. And in the midst of the craziness of our world, these words and this music is exactly what we need to hear.

 

Jesus is singing over you. Jesus delights in you. Jesus covers you with His peace. Jesus restores your soul. All He asks of you is to come away with Him. Do you believe? Will you accept His offer? Are you ready to be made whole?

 

“My Beloved”[i]

 

You’re my beloved, you’re my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

 

Under my mercy come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you my child

 

You’re beautiful to me
So beautiful to me

 

I sing over you my song of peace
Cast all your care down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me

 

I’ll breathe my life inside of you
I’ll bear you up on eagle’s wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength

 

I’ll take you to my quiet waters
I’ll restore your soul
Come rest in me and be made whole

 

You’re my beloved, you’re my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

 
Click here to listen to this beautiful piece of music.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “My Beloved,” words and music by Kari Jobe and Klause Kuehn, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity Praise! Music, 2005.

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Wedding Music – Day 12

March 22nd, 2016 dsisler

 

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

 

“O for a Thousand Tongues” – Musical Musings in March

 

Daytona Beach 021mYou may think I’ll be sharing the hymn by Charles Wesley written in 1739. And while that particular hymn has some beautiful words, I’ve chosen to jump ahead a few hundred years to the 1983 song, titled with the same words.

 

Both of these songs agree with King David that praising God is never-ending. Praise to God should be part of our life. Take a look at Psalm 35:28 (NIV). It says, “My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.”

 

Regardless of the version you choose, these songwriters felt inadequate in their praise to God. If a thousand tongues or hands were available, it still wouldn’t be enough.

 

And our problem as humans is that we use our tongues for other purposes. James tells us that “no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 – NIV). James goes on to tell his readers that “out of the same mouth come praise and cursing: My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:10 – NIV)

 

Under these circumstances, I don’t need a thousand tongues to get me into trouble. One will do just fine.

 

I know that on my own, my tongue is an evil weapon. But with God’s Holy Spirit, I am able to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully” (Ephesians 4:25 – NIV) and “not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29 – NIV).

 

So today, I chose to use my one and only tongue to speak truth, encourage others, and to praise God!

 

Today, I also chose the newer version of this song for the close harmonies and awe that fills my heart when I hear it. “O for a Thousand Tongues,” for no other purpose than to sing praise to Jesus.

 

VERSE 1
Glory to the Lamb
Whose throne forever reigns.
God in the highest
Worthy to merit our praise.
 

CHORUS
Oh for a thousand tongues to sing
Praises unto Thee.
Oh for a thousand hands to raise
In honor to the King.
 

VERSE 2
We crown You with singing.
Our lips shall utter Your praise.
In humble adoration,
In endless refrain.

REPEAT CHORUS
 

TAG
Oh for a thousand hands to raise
In honor to the King.
Oh for a thousand hands to raise
In honor to the King.
In honor to the King![i]

 

I know you’ll want to listen to this beautiful song, as recorded by the Nelons by clicking here.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

[i] “O For a Thousand Tongues,” Words and Music by David Binion, Word Music, 1983.

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  • "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19

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