Friends, is it just me or is May the most chronically busy month of the whole entire year?! …next to December, of course. December is all kinds of scheduled with festivities and calendared with Yuletide gatherings. And then…May happens. It’s a whole big deal, amen?! {Sidenote: Do you know when my babies were born? December and May, that’s when! It’s a little extra cray-cray in this house…whatev.} Anyway, you and I both know what happens in the midst of the busy seasons. When the daily planner begins to run out of empty squares? Yep. We rush from place to place without spending time with Jesus. I am here to help, sweet friends. You can thank me later, I suppose.
In case you are feeling more like a hamster in a wheel this week and less like a soul in fellowship with your Creator, I’ve jotted down my favorite words from my favorite hymns. In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to have a big love for words. I guess I’m just a bit…(ahem)…wordy.
May these words meet you in the midst of your chaos and may they focus your heart on the splendor of God.
1) Blessed Assurance: “This is my story. This is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” I’ve been singing this one to our babies in the glider since our oldest son was born.
2) Because He Lives: “How sweet to hold a newborn baby and feel the pride and joy he gives, but greater still the calm assurance: this child can face uncertain days because He lives!”
3) Amazing Grace: “‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace shall lead me home.” Grace my fears relieved. As a woman who struggles with anxiety, these words mean so much to me. Only Jesus has the power to conquer fear.
4) How Great Thou Art: “When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, ‘My God, how great Thou art!’ Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. ‘How great Thou art!’ ”
5) I Have Decided to Follow Jesus: “The world behind me. The cross before me. No turning back, no turning back.”
6) Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: “Let Thy grace, Lord like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord. Take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.”
7) How Deep the Father’s Love For Us: “I will not boast in anything. No gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer, but this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.”
8) Take My Life, Lead Me, Lord: “Here am I. Send me, Lord. Here am I. Send me, Lord. Make my life useful to thee.”
9) It Is Well With My Soul: “And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, oh my soul!”
10) Great is Thy Faithfulness: “Grace for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine with then thousand beside. Great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” A contemporary version of this hymn was sung at our wedding as I walked down the aisle. Sara Groves’ song, “He’s Always Been Faithful” still takes my breath away when I remember walking toward my groom while my friend, Lindsay sang this song of thanksgiving and glory to God. This hymn {and that song by Sara Groves} are both deeply worshipful anthems.
Have a lovely weekend! May you find your heart in the presence of God through worship.
From my word-loving heart to yours, ~Courtney
I have just started reading your blog posts and wanted to say Thank you for sharing and allowing the Lord to use you to help other women in their walk with Christ.
Constance, that means so much to me. You will never know how much I appreciate that! There are times when writing to Cyberspace feels silly and then I remind myself that God places topics on our hearts that He can use for His glory in the hearts of the other very real women on the other side of the screens. Thank you for encouraging me today! Have a lovely Thursday, sweet friend!