Posts tagged as “encouragement”

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

So begins one of the most familiar old hymns--one which is most likely remembered because of its use as an "invitational song" at the close of many traditional church services. Whether or not you know this hymn, you probably are not familiar with the history of its authorship and the story behind its writing. At least, I know I was not.

"When you get this concept into your mind and heart it will totally revolutionize your life." That's just the way the Lord said it to me. And just what is this revolutionary concept? His all-consuming, unconditional love for me. (And each of you can say the same.)

I'm sure that, like me, if you've been a Christian for any length of time you've had moments when the hair stood up on the back of your neck; when you've gotten "goose bumps"; when the arrangement of events have led you unmistakably to the conclusion that HE HAS SPOKEN. But I realize that what I really want is not these encounters which may come only once in a lifetime if at all but, instead, the regular, intimate relationship with God that Adam and Eve had with Him in the Garden.

"Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart"

A few years ago my dear friend, Robbie, gave me new insight into the significance of this song. We must have been singing it in a service and I told her how much I liked it. She said something like, "But have you ever thought about what you're saying when you sing this song?"

And, therein, lies the beginning of another journey with the Lord...

There's a song which has dominated my attention for the past couple of weeks. From the first time I heard it, I began to play it so many times I've lost count. I think it's a beautiful song, of course, but there's so much more to it than that. It's a simple, quiet song with two voices and an acoustic guitar. I really want to suggest it not as a song, but as a prayer--a prayerful preparation for a conversation with our Heavenly Father.