Higher Ground

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

Every island, sea, and mountain,
Heav’n and earth, shall flee away;
All who hate Him must, confounded,
Hear the trump proclaim the day:
Come to judgment! Come to judgment! Come to judgment!
Come to judgment! Come away!

Now redemption, long expected,
See in solemn pomp appear;
All His saints, by man rejected,
Now shall meet Him in the air:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
See the day of God appear!

Answer Thine own bride and Spirit,
Hasten, Lord, the general doom!
The new Heav’n and earth t’inherit,
Take Thy pining exiles home:
All creation, all creation, all creation,
Travails! groans! and bids Thee come!

The dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshippers;
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for Thine own;
O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!

attributed to Charles Wesley

Having Sown, We Will Reap

Having Sown, We Will Reap

God fulfills His promises,
Even if it surprises us with overwhelming joy.

God fulfills His promises,
So that the world may marvel at His power.

God fulfills His promises,
So that we might delight in Him.

If we sow, even though it be through sorrow,
God will give us a joy-filled harvest.

God fulfills His promises.

- based upon Psalm 126

Equal Standing - Women in Luke - Part 13

Woman with Ten Pieces of Silver

- she is mentioned as a main character in a parable
- loses one piece of silver (these pieces of silver are most likely her dowry, which would probably act as her retirement plan)
- sweeps out her entire house to find the missing piece
- seeks until she finds it
- when she finds it, she calls together all her friends and neighbors and tells them her good news

Nearer, Still Nearer

Nearer, Still Nearer

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest”;
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest.”

Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an offering to Jesus, my King;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.

Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last.
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee;
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!

by Leila Norris

Hiking Four Mile Trail

Hiking Four Mile Trail*

The morning light
In autumn's russet colors
Filters through the trees.

The marker notes
The beginning of the trail -
The journey's just begun.

The trail zigzags
Back and forth it wends its way
I journey forward alone.

The sun rises,
The blue sky gleams above
Ever upward I go.

The same view
Greets me as I continue -
No glimpse of Half Dome.

The trail makes
A bend - finally I see
The glory of Half Dome.

Through the woods
The final bit of the trail
I reach the top - my goal.

* about Four Mile Trail

Equal Standing - Women in Luke - Part 12

The Crippled Woman

- so crippled that she could not straighten herself
- Jesus healed her and she was straightened immediately
- since Jesus healed her on a Sabbath, it caused quite a stir
- she, however, glorified God for what He had done for her

All I Have is Christ

All I Have is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2009 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Equal Standing - Women in Luke - Part 11

Mary
- Martha's sister
- sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching
- commended by Jesus for choosing to listen to Him

Personal reflection:
I need to make Mary's example a part of my life. I need to learn to chose that one "needful" thing. I hope you'll join me in making listening to Jesus a priority in our lives.

May the Mind of Christ, My Savior

May the Mind of Christ, My Savior
by Kate Wilkinson

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.