" Come as you are..front page story"

I saw a Pittsburgh Post Gazette printing press through a window from the street.
It was setting idle, not sure why, but I thought maybe it was idle waiting for the front page story.

The stories in much of the news have been going on-
 in Ferguson, Missouri and some protests were in Pittsburgh the night I was in the city.
News from Iraq, the murder of an American reporter by Islamic state extremists,
 Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Ebola survivor,
 Ukraine fighting Russia-
 All these stories seem to capture the news and rightly so, but I started thinking,

 "What is the front page story of your life today?"

If I had a chance to write it ,what would I write.
What would I be passionate about? 

If I knew I had little time left, what would I want my friends, family and those I see on the street to know?

The words
Come as you are
 came to mind from recently hearing a song by David  Crowder that would be
  my front page news:

So lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face-

Come as you are

There’s joy for the morning

Oh sinner be still

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can’t heal

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can’t heal"

"Come as You Are"

"Come As You Are [feat. Crowder]" Lyrics
by Passion Worship Band | from the album Take It All

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

The following Bible verses illustrate how simply the Gospel message can appeal to me, and the common person in need.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28 ESV)


“Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;...

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;...

....let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
(excerpts Isaiah 55 1,6,7 ESV)

Fountain at the Point

It is not complicated, but is Free, abundant grace -a free gift.

...“Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Rev 22:17 ESV)

Yellowstone River Canyon

I looked up a reference for “Come unto me.” Matthew 11:28 and I read in Morning devotion that 

 The law repels, the gospel attracts. This is good news!

Morning

The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, “Come.” The Jewish law harshly said, “Go, take heed unto thy steps as to the path in which thou shalt walk. Break the commandments, and thou shalt perish; keep them, and thou shalt live.” The law was a dispensation of terror, which drove men before it as with a scourge; the gospel draws with bands of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep, bidding them follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet word, “Come.” The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.

From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into glory, the language of Christ to you will be, “Come, come unto me.” As a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by saying, “Come,” even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you, bidding you follow him as the soldier follows his captain. He will always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you shall hear his animating voice calling you after him all through life; while in the solemn hour of death, his sweet words with which he shall usher you into the heavenly world shall be—“Come, ye blessed of my Father.”

Nay, further, this is not only Christ’s cry to you, but, if you be a believer, this is your cry to Christ—“Come! come!” You will be longing for his second advent; you will be saying, “Come quickly, even so come Lord Jesus.” You will be panting for nearer and closer communion with him. As his voice to you is “Come,” your response to him will be, “Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy service.” (CHS Morning Dec 16)

Port of Olympia

At times we could have regret in our lives that causes depression and prevents us from moving on with all the good things that are overshadowed in our lives.

Paul David Tripp states in a book Lost in the Middle- Midlife and the Grace of God.

"The harvest at your feet- is what it is. Yet, in all of this there is hope because your Lord is the Lord of new seasons.
God made you and your story. Your story is His story.
He has watched over you and kept you amidst life’s seasons.
“If you’re a sinner living in a fallen world, it is impossible for you to look back at a legacy of perfect choices. You and I will have reason to regret until we are finally home with our Lord. Think about it: no reason anymore to want to unthink a thought, unsay a word or undo a choice. Therefore, in the middle of your regret, live with one eye on a regretless eternity to come. [i]

“You’re standing in a pile of leaves of your marriage, your extended family, your friendships and work. It’s tempting to sit down in the pile of leaves and examine leaf after leaf and wish you were holding a new bud from a new sapling, but you aren’t. With the new season comes the freedom to plant new and better seeds. With the new season comes the expectation of a new harvest of new fruit.”

It is vital that we arm ourselves with biblical strategies for dealing with regret. There is much that is still before you. You can participate in a real turn in your story. As God’s child, you have a reason to step forward in faith, hope and courage, embracing the new life that is always available to you because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ."

[i] Tripp, Paul David. Lost in the Middle- Midlife and the Grace of God. Pages 108, 123-133. Shepherd Press. 2004.

Storey Peak - Sun Mountain WA

"He will always be ahead of you, bidding you follow him as the soldier follows his captain. He will always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you shall hear his animating voice calling you after him all through life...

"God has not cut you off from mercy so there is no room for despair.."

 REFRESHING - FRONT PAGE NEWS that I wish was in every newspaper and news program.

"inlet and watching"

Recently I was walking along the beach toward an intracoastal waterway inlet. I saw two things that got me thinking. 

1. Inlet and a stream of water

2. Seagull - sentinel, watching

The inlets provide navigable routes inland along natural rivers or bodies of water.

The inlet prompted a few thoughts:

- What we let into our lives can change us for the good. Thankfulness can be a source of refreshing joy. I do struggle with being thankful as I ought and want to make thankfulness a habit.

- Also need to be careful what I allow into my mind and heart.

 We can drift little by little, just as the water in the inlet keeps wearing away the sand and soon overflows.

As the water level rises as life's cares and worries they will choke the life out of me if I do not guard my heart. 

Soon the narrow inlet and sandbars become covered and the ocean is indistinguishable from the inlet waterway. We lose our zeal for good and the disciplines of grace.

Photo by Arlia

So on this morning I was challenged again to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.

"so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:10-14 (ESV)

Now to the seagull

it looked like a sentinel keeping watch - looking for the sunrise after the night.

The Seagull  was determined to get the morning catch necessary to survive and grow and seemed to wait, not caring that it was alone on it's pursuit.

I thought of how i need to watch and pray for a desire to please God-

 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matt 26:41 (ESV)

One of my heroes,William Wilberforce, wrote to his son concerning being a man that would benefit others, ".. the mainspring must be the desire to please God, which, in a Christian, implies faith in Christ and a grateful sense of the mercies of God through a Redeemer, and an aspiration after increasing holiness of heart and life"

So i do not want to get off track. I want to finish this life well and do not want to go back to the old ways. I daily need to recall the washing and renewal.

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.  Titus 3:3-8( ESV)

There are times in our lives that we need to wait- this can be one of the hardest things for me but I want to be expectant and look up in faith. God can provide all that we need and provide hope.

"I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope.

I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning."

 Psalm 130:5-6 (AMP)

“I wait for the Lord; from him I expect relief and comfort, believing it will come, longing till it does come, but patiently bearing the delay of it, and resolving to look for it from no other hand. (MHC)

Though storms or waves break upon us, and they will,
 we can stand firm. Our God will stand unshakable as an Anchor to our souls in the middle of the crashing waves of this life.

ANCHOR

Published on Jul 5, 2013

Hillsong Live Album Glorious Ruins, 2013, Name of Song: Anchor

VERSE

I have this hope

As an anchor for my soul

Through every storm

I will hold to You

With endless love

All my fear is swept away

In everything

I will trust in You

CHORUS

There is hope in the promise of the cross

You gave everything to save the world You love

And this hope is an anchor for my soul

Our God will stand

Unshakeable

VERSE

Unchanging One

You who was and is to come

Your promise sure

You will not let go

BRIDGE

Your Name is higher

Your Name is greater

All my hope is in You

Your word unfailing

Your promise unshaken

All my hope is in You

Zugspitze- Highest Peak in Germany Photo by Dirk Kiesewetter

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

I was looking at a picture of my grand-daughter from a family picnic.

Glimpse - hair braided with care by another's hand,
 fine dessert dish, 
best ice cream and cookies,
 hand reaching with confidence knowing the kindness and love of the one giving the treat,
a table that was used generations before her at the family farm. Generosity, trust and life preserving and giving back to us over and over again through the generations.

I thought about the table and the lavishness of God towards me despite my sin and unbelief at times.

Reading this morning in Psalm 78: 19

and noticed a verse I hadn't noticed before and it challenged me -

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 
Many times we think there is no hope or there is not a way out or through our circumstances. We cannot see getting to the other side of challenges. 

"We look to our own means at times. 
"God is not limited to means-to any means, much less to one of my choosing."(CHS).  We can limit God as is recorded in this Psalm vs 41 "They ...limited the Holy One of Israel"



































There is not always a clear view of the future and we can forget the many ways we have been cared for in the past or delivered and relieved of hard circumstances- we need grace to see the way.

"God did great things for his people Israel when he first incorporated them and formed them into a people: Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, and not only in their sight, but in their cause, and for their benefit, so strange, so kind, that one would think they should never be forgotten." (MHC)

The ESV Study Bible notes: God persevered with his people, they sinned and rebelled yet God was patient and will continue his purposes to the very end. The story is one of constant disbelief or the people in the face of God's unimaginable grace and provision, and even more grace being granted in the face of disbelief."

So God can spread a table in the wilderness!
The road ahead has twists and turns,
but we need to press on and pass on the recollection of God's great mercy and provision!

Psalm 78

"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
 We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
 and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78:1-4)

"..that the next generation might know them,

    the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

 so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

    but keep his commandments; (Ps. 78:6-7)

Yet he, being compassionate,
    atoned for their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
    and did not stir up all his wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a wind that passes and comes not again.
 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!(Psalm 78:38-40)

Psalm 23 - Keith Green

Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell  in the house of the Lord
    forever

" A smoldering wick he will not quench"

I was reading the evening devotion for July 19 by Charles Spurgeon. It was a glimpse of how God cares for us and loves us, and though times may be hard, or we may be depressed, or weary he has shown favor on us and will gives us hope even in the darkest of times. Some of us are timid and tempted to drift but there is a HOPE AND A PROMISE, "Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them."

"... a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick he will not quench,.." Matthew 12:20 (AMP)

Evening July 19 (CHS)

"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench."

Matthew 12:20

What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the smoking flax--what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is almost smothered; an infant's breath might blow it out; nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here described, yet Jesus says of them, "The smoking flax I will not quench; the bruised reed I will not break." Some of God's children are made strong to do mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can pull up Gaza's gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a few mighties who are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every passer by; a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they are taken like birds in a snare; if trial threatens, they are ready to faint; their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows--weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus--so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need never fear a harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our weakness, he rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him, and the smoking flax no damping frowns.

Matthew Henry's commentary helps me understand this care and Love of the Lord:

"What is the compassion of our Lord Jesus toward them? He will not discourage them, much less reject them or cast them off; the reed that is bruised shall not be broken and trodden down, but shall be supported, and made as strong as a cedar or flourishing palm-tree. The candle newly lighted, though it only smokes and does not flame, shall not be blown out, but blown up. The day of small things is the day of precious things, and therefore he will not despise it, but make it the day of great things, Zech. 4:10. " (MHC)


"Who [with reason] despises the day of small things? ...the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth." Zech 4:10


Note, In God’s work the day of small things is not to be despised. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, God often chooses such, by them to bring about great things. As a great mountain becomes a plain before him when he pleases, so a little stone, cut out of a mountain without hands, comes to fill the earth. Though the beginnings be small, God can make the latter end greatly to increase; a grain of mustard-seed may become a great tree. Let not the dawning light be despised, for it will shine more and more to the perfect day. The day of small things is the day of precious things, and will be the day of great things.(MHC on Zech 4:10)

Growth is not easy in this life. Some experience growth through trials and some through blessing but both means are covered by God's plan and care. He supplies the needed strength to enable "a day of small things to make it a day of great things." So have hope in the middle of a time of growth and stretching that all things will work for good.

"And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold"

 Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP)

Great promise and a love that never fails is our foundations.

Promise

Your Love Never Fails - by Jesus Culture

"Your Love Never Fails"

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

You make, all things, work together for my good.

"flight of thoughts"
 I am always amazed how God can impress thoughts into our minds when we see creation, flowers, mountains, read books, and it goes on and on....

So...... We can get through challenges that seem insurmountable by prayer and realizing God's grace and taking courage, initiative and making decisions that have a greater end in view.

I have been reading a book about World War II that is inspiring .


Achieving victory, seemed impossible when the odds were against the U.S Army in Northern Europe at the battle of the Ardenees - the Battle of the Bulge. They had to fight desperately for survival. Yet 'Remarkable achievements' were made against the enemy at a great cost.

And the story of the 110th Infantry- 2000 men vs. 10,000 -

 "That sentence encompasses hundreds of stories of heroism, most of which will never be known"

So many faithful people will make "Remarkable achievements" going through each day in common ways, confident of  God's perfect plan and care, and each day serving and pressing on in the midst of hard circumstances in faith. 

Many of these stories will never be known but are for God's glory and our good. From bruise and smoldering, to trust and hope, to joy in pain, to achieving great reward living our lives.

... a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick he will not quench,.." 

Mt. Shuksan near Mt Baker

Like the Moon we borrow our light

I recently read a devotional that stated-  "like the moon we borrow our light", bright as we are when grace shines on us, we are darkness itself when the Sun of Righteousness withdraws himself."

Therefore lets cry to God never to leave us!
Keep us everywhere!
Lord keep when in the valley and when we are on the mountain . (CHS, Evening June 29)

I thought of a few pictures of the moon i had taken recently and a friend had taken.
The moon has no light of it's own but reflects the light of the sun.

Super-moon 7 11 14 photo by Maryann Drago

"Moonlight is the light that reaches Earth from the Moon, consisting mostly of sunlight, with some starlight and earth light reflected from those portions of its surface which the Sun's light strikes." (Wikipedia)

Even the Super moon of July 12 weekend, as big and bright as it is - " borrows it' light"

I thought of how I need God- everywhere in my life.

There has been many times in my life and my children's lives that I have gone to Psalm 121 to request help. I LIFT MY EYES  to my keeper and shade.

The Lord will keep- is Bedrock truth I HAVE BUILT MY LIFT ON and trust, no matter how shifting the ground may feel or my feelings or mental state may sway this truth. It is solid ground!

I ALSO thought how we grow in faith to trust God and obey like Abraham, in the hardest of circumstances.

 "God is able to guide me, We may not know the road ahead, but we know the guide. We may feel the journey is long but we sure the everlasting arms that carry us are strong enough." (CHS Sermon #261)

 "Abraham went on his way along alone and weary journey, and God did not desert him, but graciously provided for him."

The Call of Abraham

In a dry and weary land, God works all things for good. 

Why All things work for good is because-

The Lord has made a covenant with us." 

He said "They shall be my people and I WILL BE THEIR GOD" (Jeremiah 32:38).

Flowers in the midst of thistles. He cares for us and will turn all to the best.

"Some things are kept in sugar and some in brine "

"God does not deal alike with all."

Psalm 121 
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

ONWARD !

I was traveling recently out west and saw a sign and the landscape of the country behind me in the rear view mirror. How time flies and how many of the good things in life pass so quickly without being able to fully appreciate.
Also the road ahead still has many new and wonderful events to come on down the road. So this got me thinking" forget what lies behind AND PRESS ON to what lies ahead!"

I was reading a sermon by Charles Spurgeon in which he comments on Phil 3:13-14
ONWARD! 

"Paul’s statements in the Text call us to look at him under four aspects—
first, as forming a just estimate of his present condition: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended.” 
Secondly, as placing his past in its proper position: “Forgetting the things which are behind.” 
Thirdly, as aspiring eagerly to a more glorious future: “Reaching forth unto those things which are before.” And fourthly, as practically putting forth every exertion to obtain that which he desired: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14)



































It is good to have a humble opinion, and to stay alert in our daily battle against sin and have a " just estimate" of our present condition. (We have not yet attained, are not already perfect; there is still much wanting in all our duties, and graces, and comforts)Spurgeon comments-
"Many of us are exceedingly good-tempered when nobody provokes us; some are wonderfully patient because they have a sound constitution, and have no racking pains to endure; and others are exceedingly generous because they have more money than they need.
A ship’s seaworthiness is never quite certain till she has been out at sea! The grand thing will be to be sound before the Living God in the day of trial. I pray every Believer here to get off his high horse, and to remember that he is, “Naked and poor and miserable” apart from Christ—and only in Jesus Christ is he anything at all! And if he thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself, but does not deceive God."

I  can get distracted by the cares and worries of this life in my walk on this earth. I MUST PRESS ON and stay focused on the " broad picture" the prize. Must forget what lies behind that would impede my walk with Christ.

Matthew Henry's commentary states-

 "As he who runs a race never takes up short of the end, but is still making forwards as fast as he can, so those who have heaven in their eye must still be pressing forward to it in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavors and preparations. The fitter we grow for heaven the faster we must press towards it. Heaven is called here the mark, because it is that which every good Christian has in his eye; as the archer has his eye fixed upon the mark he designs to hit. For the prize of the high calling. Observe, A Christian’s calling is a high calling: it is from heaven, as its original; and it is to heaven in its tendency. Heaven is the prize of the high calling;..—the prize we fight for, and run for, and wrestle for, what we aim at in all we do, and what will reward all our pains. It is of great use in the Christian course to keep our eye upon heaven. This is proper to give us measures in all our service, and to quicken us every step we take; and it is of God, from whom we are to expect it. Eternal life is the gift of God (Rom. 6:23), but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. There is no getting to heaven as our home but by Christ as our way."

So though life changes things and we get discouraged  we need to go ONWARD and FORWARD.
I was thinking about a song writer Michael W. Smith who has walked with the Lord for many years and still writes and sings songs that speak of God's sovereignty and care over us. I want to aspire to fiinish this race and pursue Christ.

"Even what the enemy means for evil

You turn it for our good

You turn it for our good and for Your glory

Even in the valley, You are faithful

You're working for our good

You're working for our good and for Your glory"

Reaching down in endless grace
You're the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight

Sovereign Over Us

(2014 Sparrow Records- Michael W. Smith)

"Sovereign Over Us"

There is strength within the sorrow

There is beauty in our tears

And You meet us in our mourning

With a love that casts out fear

You are working in our waiting

You're sanctifying us

When beyond our understanding

You're teaching us to trust

Your plans are still to prosper

You have not forgotten us

You're with us in the fire and the flood

You're faithful forever

Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us

You are wisdom unimagined

Who could understand Your ways

Reigning high above the Heavens

Reaching down in endless grace

You're the lifter of the lowly

Compassionate and kind

You surround and You uphold me

And Your promises are my delight

Your plans are still to prosper

You have not forgotten us

You're with us in the fire and the flood

You're faithful forever

Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us

[x2]

Even what the enemy means for evil

You turn it for our good

You turn it for our good and for Your glory

Even in the valley, You are faithful

You're working for our good

You're working for our good and for Your glory

[x2]

Your plans are still to prosper

You have not forgotten us

You're with us in the fire and the flood

You're faithful forever

Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us

[x2]

You're faithful forever

Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us

"Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us"