The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - I´m Amazed

Lyrics to I'm Amazed

No one knew how alone I was feeling
And the emptiness I tried so hard to hide
Through I laughed and said my life was fine without You.

I was covering up the secret tears I cried
Then one day someone told me of Your mercy
And the love You showed on a hill called Calvary
There you died and purchased my redemption
When you broke sin’s power and set my spirit free

I’m amazed that You love me
I’m amazed how You care
Through Your precious blood
I’ve fond pardon
And my sins are washed,
They’re all washed away
All my sins are washed away

It’s true there have been days when I’ve failed You
Lord, You know the many times I’ve gone astray
But I’ve learned that Your love is stronger than my weakness
And you ear is open every time I pray
No one else has ever cared for me like You, Lord
Other friends could never be as close to me
I’m not afraid to face the problems of tomorrow
Knowing You are everything I’ll ever need

I’m amazed that You love me
I’m amazed how You care
Through Your precious blood
I’ve fond pardon
And my sins are washed,
They’re all washed away
All my sins are washed away

Glory In The Highest

What a wonderful day when the multitude of angelic host gathered to lift their voices in praise to God at the coming of the Messiah (Luke 2:13-14). Likewise, what a privilege we have to join in and announce to our world and all creation, "Glory in the highest!"

And when we take time to look about at God's handiwork in His creation and to see that all of creation declares the glory of God (Psalms 19:1-3), the redeemed of the Lord can not help but be compelled to join in and to sing God's glorious praises.

But the greatest inspiration for giving glory to God is found in the cross of Christ; for those who are redeemed, have by the mercy and grace of God been chosen to sing praises to the Lamb of God who was slain (Revelation 5:12). As we lift our hearts in praise to the Lamb, and we value the work of Christ upon the cross for our forgiveness and the propitiation (wrath bearer) of our sins, we are indeed amazed by God's grace!

Though we praise God and give Him glory because He alone is worthy of praise, there is great personal benefit in giving God praise. The Bible says that Abraham "grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he (God) had promised". (Romans 4:18-21 ESV) Likewise, we can grow strong in our faith through exercising praise and adoration to God.

I hope you will take time to sing along with the attached video below and sing "Glory in the Highest" and may you be strengthened in your faith as you give glory to God.

Glory In The Highest by Chris Tomlin

The Amazing Story of John and Donna Bishop

Below you will find the story of John & Donna Bishop as found at FamilyLife. It is an amazing story of faith and inspiration. It is the story of true commitment to one's spouse and God. It is the story of faith in the God who "works everything together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Still amazed by God's grace,
John
___________________________________
from: FamilyLife Marriage Memo
by Dave Boehi
In 1995, a man woke up in a hospital bed in Arkansas and had no idea who he was. In fact, he didn't know anything.

He didn't know that his name was John Bishop. That he had been married for 24 years to Donna, and they had three sons. That he served as pastor at a church in Heber Springs, Ark., and they lived on the grounds of a youth camp they had started.

But this was more than amnesia. John was suffering from aseptic meningitis, and for whatever reason, the disease wiped away all of his memory.

John didn't know how to read or write. He didn't even know how to walk, talk, or chew food. Everything was blank.

And so begins one of the more amazing stories I’ve ever heard. For the next three days (August 4-6) on FamilyLife Today you can hear John and Donna Bishop of Rosebud, Ark., talk about the trials they have faced over the last 13 years. For John, it's the story of a man who has had the ultimate second chance--the opportunity to start everything all over. "All I remember is from 1995 to this day," John says in the interview. "I remember nothing before that. Everything that happened in my life beforehand is what I've been told. When I woke up from meningitis, I did not know her. I did not know me, my name. I didn't know anything."

And for Donna, it's the story of a wife who basically lost her first husband, and had to decide what to do with this grown man who, at first, had to be cared for and taught as though he were an infant.

She kept thinking John's memory would return, but it never did. She had to teach him how to eat again, starting with baby food. It took two years for him to walk well. He learned to speak by reading lips and matching the words he heard with the way a person's mouth moved. (In fact, even after 13 years, John is still learning to improve his grammar and syntax as he speaks.)
"It was almost like I had four boys instead of three," Donna says. She had to assume all responsibilities for the family. Yet she never wavered in her commitment to John. "My parents had a good marriage, and I was always taught that when you're married, you're married for life. When you say for better or for worse, in sickness and health, you're in for the long haul. I never even thought about divorce."

But how do you explain the concept of marriage to a man who doesn't remember you and doesn't even know what marriage is?

At one point, when she felt John had progressed enough to understand, Donna told him, "You’re John, I'm Donna, and we're married. That means you belong to me, and I belong to you."

"You're my Donna?" he asked.

He got it. And ever since then he has called her "My Donna."

"It was so easy to love her, she loved me so good," he says today. "Everything I know is what my wife taught me. I tell everybody she taught me reading, writing ... and my favorite subject, kissing."

John still suffers from a variety of health problems--seizures, cluster migraine headaches, an injured back ... in the last year he's lost much of his sight. But the impact God has had through him because of this long struggle may be greater than anything before 1995. He and Donna began God Is So Good Ministries to testify to the goodness of God even in the midst of an incredible struggle.

John says the ministry name is inspired by something God taught him during a time of depression and discouragement after his new life began. "I really loved the book of Psalms, because David been through trials too ... He kept saying God is good." He remembers laying on the couch one night after a difficult day. He read Psalm 34:8, which says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

John prayed, "God, I gonna believe You're good. If I never get better, I still gonna believe You're good because that what Your word says. Lord, this must be what faith means ... believing You, even when I don't feel like it."

There are many other stories I could tell about this remarkable couple, but then I'd be stealing too much thunder from the FamilyLife Today broadcasts! You can listen to the three-part series with the Bishops on your local Christian station, or online at our website.

Links:
Forgetting What Lies Behind...
"For Better or For Worse"
Making New Memories

How To Drink Orange Juice to the Glory of God

Recently my thoughts have been captured by the truths contained in Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (ESV). One evident truth in that verse is that anything in our lives that is not about the glory of God is sin. Paul also said it this way, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV). Below you will find a copy of a John Piper article titled "How To Drink Orange Juice to the Glory of God" that speaks to the issue of everything not of God's glory as being sin.

When I asked two weeks ago, "Is the Doctrine of Total Depravity Biblical" my answer was, Yes. And one thing I meant was that all of our actions (apart from saving grace) are morally ruined. In other words, everything an unbeliever does is sinful and thus unacceptable to God.

I said that one of my reasons for believing this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:31. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I asked, "Is it sin to disobey this Biblical commandment?" Yes.

So I draw this somber conclusion: It is sin to eat or drink or do anything NOT for the glory of God. In other words, sin is not just a list of harmful things (killing, stealing, etc.). Sin is leaving God out of account in the ordinary affairs of your life. Sin is anything you do that you don't do for the glory of God.

But what do unbelievers do for the glory of God? Nothing. Therefore everything they do is sinful. That is what I mean by saying that, apart from saving grace, all we do is morally ruined. Some of you then asked the practical question: Well, how do you "eat and drink" to the glory of God? Say, orange juice for breakfast?

One answer is found in 1 Timothy 4:3-5: "[Some] forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."

Orange juice was "created to be received with gratitude by those who believe the truth." Therefore, unbelievers cannot use orange juice for the purpose God intended-namely, as a occasion for heartfelt thanksgiving to God from a true heart of faith.

But believers can, and this is how they glorify God. Their drinking orange juice is "sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." The word of God teaches us that juice, and even our strength to drink it, is a free gift of God (1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:11). The prayer is our humble response of thanks from the heart. Believing this truth in the word, and offering thanks in prayer is one way we drink orange juice to the glory of God.

The other way is to drink lovingly. For example, don't insist on the biggest helping. This is taught in the context of 1 Corinthians 10:33, "I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved" (RSV). "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Everything we do-even drinking orange juice-can be done with the intention and hope that it will be to the advantage of many that they may be saved.

Let us praise God that we have escaped by his grace from the total ruin of all our deeds. And let us do everything, whether we eat or drink, to the glory of our great God!

Click here to find original article at http://www.desiringgod.org/.

Baptism: A Testimony of Changed Lives

Don't Worry! They'll Be Just Fine...

Dear Mom,

Scoutmaster Webb told us to write our parents in case you heard about the flood and got worried. We're all OK. Only one of our tents and two of our sleeping bags got washed away. Nobody drowned because we were all on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yeah, please call Chad's mother and tell her he's OK. He can't write her because of the cast on his arm.

I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps! It was neat! We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for all the lightning.

Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire, so he probably didn't hear him.

Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? It was so cool! The wet wood still wouldn't burn, but one of our tents did, and some of our clothes. Boy, Johnny is going to look weird until his hair grows back!

We'll be home Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked when we left, but he said with a car that old you have to expect something to break down. That's probably why he can't get insurance. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 15 people in the car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and yelled at him.

This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You still can see some of the trees under the water from the flood. Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some Scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about us leaving the life jackets behind. He has to spend a lot of time working on the car, so we're trying not to cause him any trouble.

Guess what? We passed our First Aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Also, Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken. He said they got sick like that with the food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our Scoutmaster. He said he figured out how to do things better while he was doing time.

I have to go now. We are going into town to mail this and buy some bullets and more gasoline. Don't worry about anything. We are doing just fine.

Love,
Your son

Source: http://www.preaching.com/resources/illustrations/11579697/