BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED!

As we take time as a body to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I searched this week for a contemporary song about Christ’s sacrifice. “By His Wounds” which is based on the fifth verse of Isaiah 53, so clearly describes the coming Messiah and the suffering He would endure in order to pay for our sins. In His sovereignty, God orchestrated every detail of the crucifixion to fulfill every prophecy of this chapter, as well as all other prophecies of the Old Testament  (http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Isaiah.html).

Isaiah 53:5 reads — But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. (NIV)

I encourage you to take time to mediate on the words of this song, and give thanks for the privilege of walking with Christ.

BY HIS WOUNDS

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

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

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

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
And by His wounds, by His wounds

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

(Sung by Mac Powell, Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman and  Brian Littrell)

Thanks for visiting AnEncouragedHeart. Signing off…God Bless! Cynthia

GOD’S GRACE

Are you familiar with the story behind the hymn “Amazing Grace”?  I had an opportunity to see the movie by that same name several years back. It depicted John Newton, whose life was interrupted by God in an extraordinary way.

Once a slave captain, he later became a servant of God. Moved by the Spirit, he was compelled to go against his own desires and goals, as well as his contemporaries, and do what was right in the eyes of God. He surrendered his life to God and in so doing, fought against slavery and encouraged others in the political arena to further the abolitionist movement.

On a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him (http://www.anointedlinks.com/amazing_grace.html).

Like John Newton, we were far away from God and have been brought near to Him by His grace. The Apostle Paul shares this revelation with the church at Ephesus in the second chapter of the book of Ephesians:

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

More about John Newton                                                                                            

John Newton wrote the words to one of the most beloved hymns of all time between 1760 and 1770, while working as an evangelical pastor. Son of the commander of a merchant ship, Newton was captain of a slave ship for many years, until he underwent a dramatic religious conversion while steering his vessel through a storm.

Repenting and regretting the misery he had inflicted on the thousands of human cargo he had transported across the Middle Passage for many years, he devoted his life to the Church, and wrote the lyrics to many hymns which are still popular today.

In 1780 Newton, he became a cleric at several parishes in London. There he drew large congregations and influenced many, among them William Wilberforce. Newton continued to preach until the last year of life, although he was blind by that time. He died in London December 21, 1807. (Information from http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/song.php)

I leave you with a contemporary rendition of this awesome song.

Thanks for visiting AnEncouragedHeart. Signing off…God Bless! Cynthia

GOD IS…

A song that has touched my heart for almost the last two decades is  “He Is” by Aaron Jeoffrey. I posted the song via YouTube in my first blog. Several friends have commented on how much the song ministered to them. In my opinion, it is one of the most anointed, contemporary songs that I have ever heard. Please take a minute to read the words, and listen carefully to the song as the artists exalt God’s character throughout each book of the bible. I guarantee that the mighty God that we serve will bless your heart beyond measure.

Please take this song with you in your heart through the upcoming week.

                                       “He Is”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttS7FH8X4n4

In Genesis, He’s the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice

In Joshua, He is salvation’s choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He’s sovereign

Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He’s the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, wisdom’s cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Isaiah, He’s Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He’s the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire

In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He’s the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He’s the great missionary

In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain

In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He’s the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He’s our mediator and our faithful Pastor

In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

He is, He is, HE IS!

The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I AM

He’s the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!

Words by Jeoffrey Benward & Jeff Silvey

Thanks for visiting AnEncouragedHeart. Signing off…God Bless! Cynthia

REHEARSE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!

Wow! It has been one of those weeks. A week that keeps you on your knees! One that has you meditating on God’s word perhaps more than usual. One that has you trying to drown out the weights of this world, so you can hear the voice of God a bit more clearly.  I AM A TEACHER! Need I say more???

To that end, oftentimes I find myself longing to hear a song that uplifts my soul, a message from His word, or a word of confirmation that helps me to remember that He knows where I am. Something to remind me that He is near. He is alongside of me — right by my side, guiding my footsteps.

Do you remember King David, the man after God’s own heart? What did he ask himself?

Psalm 42:5

                  Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?

Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God- soon

I’ll be praising again.

He puts a smile on my face.  He’s my God. (Message)

David goes on to say in verse 6 that he rehearses everything that he knows about His God. He recounts what God has done on behalf of His people. What powerful words! He encourages himself as He remembers the all-power, faithful God that he serves.

And, yes, God has revived me, given me strength, and a heart to praise HIM. Like David, I have remembered all the great things the all-power, faithful God has done for me.

So, rehearse the faithfulness of God — just like David!

I leave you with a few songs of encouragement.

“He Will Carry Me”, by Mark Schultz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSXs6f2LMvk

“By Your Side”, by Tenth Avenue North http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

“Come Thy Fount” by Jadon Lavik http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wK-DcTws2o

Thanks for visiting AnEncouragedHeart. Signing off …God Bless! Cynthia

 

 

HE IS OUR HEALER!

I would like to start by thanking each one of you for stopping by and visiting my blog over the past week. I hope that you will not just talk to me, but others as well. So, please feel free to respond to any and all comments posted on the site.

I want to share with you a few thoughts that I had after listening to a song, which has actually been around for a number of years – “Imagine Me” by Kirk Franklin.  I had the opportunity to hear it performed this week at a public school performance. Yes, at a public school performance. I was struck by the fact that students were whole-heartedly singing the lyrics to a ‘standing room only’ crowd. A room full of hearts ready to hear from God.  I believe that many hearts were drawn closer to the Lord because of the song’s message — God’s awesome, healing power is available to each one of us.  These students were used by God. Whether they were aware of this or not, God allowed His spirit to rest on the crowd that evening. For those of you who have not heard “Imagine Me, take a few minutes and let the Lord speak to your hearts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYhtvoOJ-RA .

How does this song minister to you?  I see God’s great love and His power to heal broken hearts and lives. Sometimes, He removes the scars. Sometimes, however, they may stay to remind us of what He has done on our behalf.

“Remember Your Chains” by Steven Curtis Chapman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FRAYGLMjP4  speaks to this. The words below are just a glimpse into the message of this song.

There’s no one more thankful to sit at the table                      

                                   Than the one who best remembers hunger’s pain

Thanks for visiting AnEncouragedHeart. Signing off…God Bless! Cynthia