Satisfied//Chelsea Moon

This song, sung by Chelsea Moon, is a favorite of mine.  The words, written by Clara T. Williams in 1875, are a beautiful expression of the satisfaction found only in Jesus, and I love the way this version is sung.  Enjoy listening!

Satisfied
by Clara T. Williams, 1875

All my life I had a longing
For a drink from some clear spring, 
That I hoped would quench the burning 
Of the thirst I felt within

Refrain:
Hallelujah!  I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone, 
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me 
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth, 
My Redeemer is to me.

{taste and see}

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" 

{Psalm 34:8}

"...feed on His faithfulness." {Psalm 37:3}

He satisfies! Brothers and sisters, how incredible in our hunger, in our discontent, to feed on His faithfulness, to drink deeply of His love, to taste and see that He is good!  We are a people who will always be hungry for something, who will always struggle with discontent.  We were made to be incomplete without Him.  We will not find satisfaction apart from Him.  How incredible, then, to be under His grace, to be invited to draw near, to be freely offered the water of life that will never run dry!  How blessed to be His!

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat..." 

{Isaiah 55:1}

How incredible is His goodness to us in our unworthiness!

Merely statistics?

>>If 1 family from 1 out of every 3 churches adopted there would be no more orphans in the US<<

I can't stop thinking about this fact. Body of Christ, will these things be merely statistics, or will we see past facts on a page to the individual hearts of vulnerable children? We have been welcomed by our heavenly Father, adopted, rescued. We are His children and His hands and feet in this world.

Check out this link and this link for more.

He is...

I hope you enjoy this beautiful, awe-inspiring meditation on the names of God throughout Scripture.  How amazing is our God?  What a joy to worship and serve Him this morning!

P.S.  While you're there, I would greatly encourage you to explore Irish Elk Media!  Their music will be available to order soon through their website and some of it is already available for download on iTunes, which I am so excited about.  I have been so blessed and stirred by these songs and videos, and I pray they touch your heart as well.  All glory to our worthy God!

God, My Heart, and Clothes by C.J. Mahaney

An excellent article on the topic of modesty, written by C.J. Mahaney, taken from his book Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.  It's a bit long, but SO worth the read!  Enjoy, and let me know what you think.  :)

Look Up

I found this video to be a much-needed reminder, as I am so often guilty of living this way.  Technology is a gift that can be used for the glory and honor of God, but it can also be one of the greatest distractions from living a life consumed with love for Him and those He's placed in our lives.  It's hard to say it better than this!

Charles Spurgeon||Psalm 149:4

"The Lord taketh pleasure in His people."  {Psalm 149:4}

photo credit: Miah Coen

How comprehensive is the love of Jesus!  There is no part of His people's interests which He doe not consider, and there is nothing which concerns their welfare which is not important to Him.  Not merely does He think of you, believer, as an immortal being, but as a moral being too.  Do not deny it or doubt it: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered" "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way."  It were a sad thing for us if this mantle of love did not cover our concerns, for what mischief might be wrought to us in that part of our business, which did not come under our gracious Lord's inspection!  Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your meaner affairs.  The breadth of His tender love is such that you may resort to Him in all matters; for in all your afflictions He is afflicted, and like as a father pitieth his children, so doth He pity you.  The meanest interests of all His saints are all borne upon the broad bosom of the Son of God.  Oh, what a heart is His, that doth not merely comprehend the persons of His people, but comprehends also the diverse and innumerable concerns of all those persons!  Dost thou think, O Christian, that thou canst measure the love of Christ?  Think of what His love has brought thee--justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life!  The riches of His goodness are unsearchable; thou shalt never be able to tell them out or even conceive them.  Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ!  Shall such a love as this have half our hearts?  Shall it have a cold love in return?  Shall Jesus' marvellous lovingkindness and tender care meet with but faint response and tardy acknowledgment?  O my soul, tune thy harp to a glad song of thanksgiving!  Go to thy rest rejoicing, for thou art no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by the Lord. 

||Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, April 29, Evening Reading||

He lives!

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!" {Luke 24:5-6}

"'Death is swallowed up in victory.'  'O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?'" 
{1 Corinthians 15:54-55}

"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection."  {Romans 6:5}

>>>We serve the living, life-giving God!<<<

He satisfies

{Isaiah 55:1-3}
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." 

{Psalm 145:15-19}
"The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.  You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works.  The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them."  

satisfy::
>>meet the expectations, needs, or desires of
>>to content
>>to gratify wants, wishes or desires to the full extent; to supply possession till no more is desired
>>to feed or supply to the full
>>to free from doubt, suspense, or uncertainty; to cause the mind to rest in confidence by ascertaining the truth

{Psalm 107:8-9}
"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." 

He satisfies.

Removed, a short film

This short film is such an accurate look at the life of a child in foster care.  Sometimes I forget what my siblings have been through, and how many children are still waiting.  It's good to be reminded.  James 1:27

Grace

This sermon, titled Grace, by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church is definitely one of the best, most comprehensive teachings on grace I've ever heard.  Praise God for His amazing grace!

Not just a foreign problem

This morning I read an absolutely heartbreaking article about the rise in human trafficking around the Super Bowl, due to the higher demand.  It's so easy to believe that human trafficking is a foreign problem, when in reality it's right in front of our noses.  Please click here to read the article, and remember to pray and fight for justice for women here and around the world.