Sara Groves: when the saints

This song is a good reminder that when we read through the book of Acts in the bible, we should be asking ourselves: "Where in the world can I be doing what the disciples were doing?" Now, on the surface, the world today may look very different from what it looked like 2000 years ago. But, the sad reality of sin and our fallenness is that no matter what era that we live in there will always be people using and abusing other people. Though we have advanced greatly through technology, greed, lust and hatred still remains which means that there will always be a need for followers of Jesus to be engaging redemptively with the world from an eternal perspective with the Gospel.

"I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad. I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul. I see the young missionary and the angry spear. I see his family returning with no trace of fear. I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights. I see the sister standing by the dying man's side. I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor. I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door. I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road. I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load..."

Mercy Me: spoken for

This song is in many ways my heart's cry for all people, but specifically for those who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction because they are the ones who are being destroyed by their all-consuming desire for the things of this world (drugs and alcohol) at such an alarming and tragic rate. Whenever I see someone caught in such bondage to their lust for the world, the Spirit of God moves my heart to begin praying that Jesus would set them free into His eternal Kingdom of grace and freedom where they are covered by Divine Love, where God puts His hand upon their life and says to the devil, "No more! This one is mine!" and where their hearts are completely spoken for: sold out for Jesus.

Hillsong United (Brooke Fraser): SOON

I long to see Jesus, to see Him in all of His majesty, to see the Savior who gave His life, so that I could live, to see my friend and King who shares all eternity with me. I long to see Jesus, to see Him in all of His beauty, to see Him who is Love and Truth, to see the Shepherd who has guided and cared for me through this life. I long to see Jesus, to finally see Him face to face.

Rita Springer: fragrant offering

This song reminds me of the Gospel story where a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume (Mark 14:3-9). What moves me in the narrative is both the woman's passion to boldly bless Jesus regardless of who was around and Jesus' full acceptance of her fragrant offering. What especially touches my heart is when people begin to criticize her for being wasteful, Jesus becomes very protective of her. "Leave her alone,” He says, “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me" (Mark 14:6 NIV).

This is good reminder that in the world's eyes, extravagant offerings to the Lord may seem foolish and wasteful. But, to the Lord they are "a beautiful thing." My heart's cry is that I would hold nothing back from the Lord, that the whole of my life would be a pleasing and fragrant offering to the Lord. I pray Lord that just as the woman in Bethany broke the alabaster jar of expensive perfume and anointed You, Jesus, I too would "pour  my vial of worship over You" regardless of what anyone thinks or says Jesus. Help me Holy Spirit to give generously and with wild abandon to the Lord! To the Father's glory! Amen.