Oh Give Thanks to the Lord for He Is Good!

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing
He hastens and chastens His Will to make known
The wicked opressing now cease from distressing
Sing praise to His Name, He forgets not His own!

1. He has given me new life.
2. He has brought me into His family.
3. He has given me amazing pastors to care for my soul, amazing caregroup leaders to deepen my walk with God, and amazing fellow heirs who are my examples and my comrades in this fight.
4. He has put me in Mission28, which is a haven of righteousness for me to rest in.
5. He has blessed me with gifts of teaching and prayer and given me oppertunities to use them in both my churches.
6. He has given me strong relationships with my sisters in Christ.
7. He has blessed me with the desire and the means to further my education at a school that has an excellent teaching program, near an amazing church, a few hours from my house.
8. He has provided for my every physical need.
9. He has given me a job cleaning for people in the church in such a way that it fits in with my schedule, brings in a good income, and lets me interact with my older brothers and sisters.
10. He has protected me with good health.
11. He has given me travelling mercies every time I commute.
12. He has given me to Christian parents who raised me in His steps, and whose praise I could not begin to write down beyond that they reflect the Love of Christ and His Church and I want to be like them.
13. He has given me a dear little sister who is the means of my progressive sanctification, who keeps me humble, who helps me check my temper, who is gracious to forgive me, and who is now my dearest friend.
14. He has given me a brother, no longer little, who is maturing into a man after God's own heart, who is strong in faith, who listens to the Spirit, who is maturing into a leader, and whom I dearly love.
15. He has given me a grandmother who is a servant first and foremost, who presents the love of Christ to us, who has a deep deep strength for her 83 years, who does not grow weary in doing good, who is an excellent example of what a Godly, Beautiful, Woman is to be, and who never forgets to write to me when I am gone. 

My God has blessed me far beyond this, extending grace for every time I sin, strength to overcome my failures, joy to meet my smallest and weakest triumphs, and the peace of knowing that He is my Father.  My God has blessed me with a host of things material and immaterial that are too many to count.  But greatest and most treasured of all is the Grace He gave at the Cross. 

Before the Cross I kneel and see the measure of my sin
How you became a curse for me, though You were innocent. 
The magnitude of Your great Love was shown in full degree
When Righteous Blood, the crimson spill rained down from Calvary.

Within the Cross I come to know the Holy Wrath of God:
That just one sin should cause the spill of pure and Righteous Blood.
My God, I do not understand why You would come to die
To save a wretched, broken man, a sinner such as I.

Upon the Cross, Lord I behold a glimpse of Holy Wrath:
The Crown of Thorns, pierced hands and feet, the cutting Roman lash.
Why Lord Jesus would You give Yourself to such an end
To ransom those who curse Your name and call the rebel 'Friend'?

Your wonderous Cross, my precious Lord, I cannot praise enough
For it is here that I can see the Gracious Father's love.
Oh never let me go beyond this place of Holy Grace
That broke my sin so I can see my Father's Glorious Face.

Oh let Your Cross be with me now, where You would have me go
That in my words and thoughts and deeds Your Glory I may show.
Lord let this be until the day I stand before my God
And lift my voice to praise the One who shed His Precious Blood.

Oh the Precious Blood that flowed from Mercy's side
Washed away my sins, when Christ my Savior died
Oh the Precious Blood of Christ the Crucified
It speaks for me before the Throne, where I stand Justified.

well people,

in seven days, two hours and nine minutes (with an ETA of 0100) we will be at RK07. 

yes

i  know

it will be awesome. 

Who's packed?

it's....

 SNOWING!!!!

i hope it keeps up all day.  and no i'm not just saying that cause then i get out of school, but because it s so pretty outside with teh snow coming down.  makes me want to watch white christmas or star wars or something...

Currently Reading Humility: True Greatness By C. J. Mahaney see related

Because the best way to remember is through song...

have i stated here how much i love girl's caregroup?  'cause i do.  very much so.  and we are reading the above shown absolutely fabulous book in GCG and entertaining great thoughts of God.  But i, being a bear of little brain and too much sin, am far too easily distracted in battling pride and cultivating humility.  and then i stumbled across my CD of Caedmon's Call "In the Company of Angels", and heard this song:

No more my God, I boast no more
Of all the duities I have done
I quit the hopes I held before
To trust the merits of Thy Son.
No more my God
No more my God
No more my God
I boast no more.

Now for the lost I bear His name
What was my gain is no my loss
My former pride I call my shame
And nail my glory to His Cross
No more my God
No more my God
No more my God
I boast no more.

Yes and I must I will esteem
All this as loss for Jesus' sake
Oh may my soul be found in Him
And of His righteousness partake
Amen

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy Throne
But faith can enter Thy demands
By pleading what My Lord has done.
No more my God
No more my God
No more my God
I boast no more. 

how easy a reminder to cultivate dependence on God and humility before Him when there is such a trebled reminder: 1) I can do nothing of my own accord, therefore 2) I have nothing to boast of before God.  But even if I do sinfully boast, 3) the work of Jesus on my behalf covers all my sin and reminds me once again that I can do nothing of my own accord.  Such a vital truth to remember!  Such an easy way to do so!