Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars. The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
Our God is a God of might and strength. And He shows His love for us through that might and strength.
We read Thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
God's love for us raised Jesus from the dead that we too might live forever. Jesus, through His resurrection, triumphed over death once and for all so that we do not need to fear death.
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 25:8
It was God's might and strength that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His (God's) right hand in the heavenly places.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23
And how's this for love? God tells us, through His word, that His strength and might are available to US! The same power that brought Jesus back to life after His crucifixion is shown "toward us who believe." That strength and might is at work in our lives, just as it was at work to raise Jesus from the dead! That is almost too much for me to comprehend. And look what else God has to say to encourage us:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10
Be strong! Call on the strength of His might! You do not have to rely on your own strength - lean on your Heavenly Father and let His strength and might uphold, support and embolden you to live for Him and rejoice in His love.
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part IV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
We read Thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
Indeed, we read God's love best by His amazing act of sending His only son to die in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God sent His son to live on earth and die the death we deserved to die because of our sinfulness. Jesus was a sinless man who paid the price once and for all for our sin. We couldn't have done it on our own.
There is nothing we can do to make ourselves clean, whole, pure and righteous. We must believe by faith in Christ alone who gave His life to ensure our forgiveness and salvation.
God's love was sent to us through His son Jesus so that we might live forever through Him. His endless love covers our wretchedness and reconciles us to Him, hallelujah!
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:9-10
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
We read Thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
Indeed, we read God's love best by His amazing act of sending His only son to die in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God sent His son to live on earth and die the death we deserved to die because of our sinfulness. Jesus was a sinless man who paid the price once and for all for our sin. We couldn't have done it on our own.
There is nothing we can do to make ourselves clean, whole, pure and righteous. We must believe by faith in Christ alone who gave His life to ensure our forgiveness and salvation.
God's love was sent to us through His son Jesus so that we might live forever through Him. His endless love covers our wretchedness and reconciles us to Him, hallelujah!
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:9-10
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part III
He who made the Pleiades and Orion and changes deep darkness into morning, who also darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is His name. Amos 5:8
Another way we see the love of God is through His creation. It is obvious that God loves His people, in that He would provide for us such beauty and wonder in nature. The changing seasons, the diversity of plants and animals, the beauty of falling water, the excitement of a thunderstorm: all of these things show us the power and glory of God's creation, and His love for us.
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before You. Nehemiah 9:6
God made our beautiful world and everything in it for our enjoyment and use.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:3-8
What is your response to the King of the Universe who created this world out of His amazing love for us?
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God on the lyre, who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry. Psalm 147:7-9
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
Another way we see the love of God is through His creation. It is obvious that God loves His people, in that He would provide for us such beauty and wonder in nature. The changing seasons, the diversity of plants and animals, the beauty of falling water, the excitement of a thunderstorm: all of these things show us the power and glory of God's creation, and His love for us.
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before You. Nehemiah 9:6
God made our beautiful world and everything in it for our enjoyment and use.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:3-8
What is your response to the King of the Universe who created this world out of His amazing love for us?
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God on the lyre, who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry. Psalm 147:7-9
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
Friday, August 13, 2010
O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part II
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. II Thess. 2:16-17
I think God's love is most precious to us in our trials. In the days of weariness and ill, His love heals, comforts and blesses us.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
He has given us His promise that He will not leave us or forsake us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We are His children, and He has redeemed us; He is our protector and our deliverer even when we are overcome with pain and helplessness.
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3
When we are in the midst of difficult or painful situations, it is so encouraging to remember that we will never be separated from God's love in Christ Jesus. Because of the great love with which He loves us, we can trust in His plan for us and know that He is working through our pain and suffering to sanctify us and glorify Himself.
Ultimately, our trials and our pain here on earth remind us that this sinful world is not our home. We must keep our eyes on Jesus as we wait for Him to call us to Himself through His mercy.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
When you are facing the painful trials of this world, keep yourself in the love of God. Be encouraged by His word and His promises, and most of all, look forward to our home in heaven where no tears will be shed.
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
I think God's love is most precious to us in our trials. In the days of weariness and ill, His love heals, comforts and blesses us.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
He has given us His promise that He will not leave us or forsake us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We are His children, and He has redeemed us; He is our protector and our deliverer even when we are overcome with pain and helplessness.
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3
When we are in the midst of difficult or painful situations, it is so encouraging to remember that we will never be separated from God's love in Christ Jesus. Because of the great love with which He loves us, we can trust in His plan for us and know that He is working through our pain and suffering to sanctify us and glorify Himself.
Ultimately, our trials and our pain here on earth remind us that this sinful world is not our home. We must keep our eyes on Jesus as we wait for Him to call us to Himself through His mercy.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
When you are facing the painful trials of this world, keep yourself in the love of God. Be encouraged by His word and His promises, and most of all, look forward to our home in heaven where no tears will be shed.
O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar
O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.
O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.
O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!
O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.
We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.
We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.
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