There are days where I feel like the jukebox inside my head is stuck and spinning the same record. Some days it’s enjoyable. Others, not so much, especially when it’s Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair”. I’m sure you’re glad you weren’t around me those few days! Don’t blame me, blame the catchiness of a song sung by a 9 year old. As of late the song on repeat has been “Forever Reign”. I love this song and the message it conveys:
You are good, you are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, you are love
On display for all to see
You are light, you are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, you are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, you are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, you are true
Even in my wondering
You are joy, you are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, you are life
In you death has lost its sting
Chorus:
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to your arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, you are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, you are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, you are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, you are God
Of all else I'm letting go
My heart will sing no other name
Jesus, Jesus
My heart will sing no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Ephesians 3:17-19 says: "And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God" (The Message). The New Living Translation says: "Then Christ will make His hom in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
The love of Christ is all we need. We spend much of our lives working to provide ourselves with things to satisfy our temporary desires. We long to be “happy”. My boss and I had a great conversation a few weeks ago about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion dependent on our circumstances. Joy is dependent on our emotional well-being. “Happiness may warm us, but it is joy that creates the fierce heat of emotion that takes our breath away” (Alive, 2003) (See the article “Joy and Happiness: The Same or Very Different Emotions?” here). What an awesome way to describe joy! Happiness is temporary but joy is difficult to diminish. When you look at the difference between the two, you realize that relationships bring about a great deal of joy. I’m blessed to have so many great people in my life who bring me joy, but none compare to the joy I have in my relationship with Christ. His love is unconditional and never ceasing. Christ’s love looks past our failures and fears. Nothing I could do would make Him love me less. May my heart only sing the name of Jesus forever! May my joy be complete in Him so that through Him I may bless others!
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, you are love
On display for all to see
You are light, you are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, you are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, you are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, you are true
Even in my wondering
You are joy, you are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, you are life
In you death has lost its sting
Chorus:
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to your arms
The riches of your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, you are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, you are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, you are here
In your presence I'm made whole
You are God, you are God
Of all else I'm letting go
My heart will sing no other name
Jesus, Jesus
My heart will sing no other name
Jesus, Jesus
Ephesians 3:17-19 says: "And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God" (The Message). The New Living Translation says: "Then Christ will make His hom in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
The love of Christ is all we need. We spend much of our lives working to provide ourselves with things to satisfy our temporary desires. We long to be “happy”. My boss and I had a great conversation a few weeks ago about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion dependent on our circumstances. Joy is dependent on our emotional well-being. “Happiness may warm us, but it is joy that creates the fierce heat of emotion that takes our breath away” (Alive, 2003) (See the article “Joy and Happiness: The Same or Very Different Emotions?” here). What an awesome way to describe joy! Happiness is temporary but joy is difficult to diminish. When you look at the difference between the two, you realize that relationships bring about a great deal of joy. I’m blessed to have so many great people in my life who bring me joy, but none compare to the joy I have in my relationship with Christ. His love is unconditional and never ceasing. Christ’s love looks past our failures and fears. Nothing I could do would make Him love me less. May my heart only sing the name of Jesus forever! May my joy be complete in Him so that through Him I may bless others!
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:1-4
0 comments:
Post a Comment