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Delivered From. Delivered Through.

How He watches over His loved ones Died to call them all His own

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own
How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus 1875
 By: Samuel Trevor Francis (1834 – 1925)

Listen to this epic version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this classic hymn give yourself some time to ponder this text and the riches it communicates of the love of Jesus. Soak it up and let it change your perspective. Let’s think about this.

He Watches Over Us

So what does it mean that He is watching one us? Some might say with all the evil in the world God may be watching over us but He is not doing anything. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Because He was watching and is still watching over us, He died so that He could do something about all the evil in the world. He died to save us from it. Sometimes that saving is delivering us from evil, and sometimes it is delivering us through it. What makes the difference is that He has made us His, His loved ones, by dying on the cross for us.

How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

He loves us so much that He died for us. There is no more obvious way for Him to have watched over us than to secure our eternal destiny. That is precisely what Christ’s sacrifice accomplished. We have become eternally His through the death of Jesus. Hallelujah!

He watches over His loved ones. Good news if you are one of His. The great news is that Jesus died for us so that He could make us His own. All we have to do is believe it and confess His name. If you have not ever done that, do it today.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how Jesus watches over us through His sacrifice. Dying for us, to pay the penalty of our sin, changes everything. We are free of the condemnation our sins deserved. Pray this simple prayer, “Father, I believe Jesus died for me.” 

He Still Watches Over

How for them He interceded Watching o’er them from the throne

He was watching over us when He died on the cross.

He will be watching over us from the throne until He returns.

The first watching delivers us from…

The second delivers us through…

Jesus’ finished work on the cross delivers us from the consequences of our sin. There is really no better news than that. Jesus’ ongoing work before the throne delivers us through the consequences of our sin and others. That is pretty news as well.

How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 ESV

For the second time in this stanza we are reminded that Jesus watches over us. This time it is coupled with His ability to save us for all time since He lives to make intercession for us. And He does so from the throne of God. Take comfort in this fact and rest in Jesus’ deep deep love.

One last bit of comfort, He is always praying for you, interceding to the Father on your behalf. What does He pray for? For you to be one with Him as He and the Father are one. His presence makes the difference in every circumstance. Pray you will know it more every day.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about Jesus praying for you. What are you facing today that you need delivered from or delivered through? Wait on Jesus to do that work on your behalf. Pray for the courage to trust Him while you wait for deliverance, “Jesus, help me know Your presence more every day.” 

Lord, thank You for watching over me. Help me to find a deeper place of rest every day in these life-altering truth.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Restful Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 37.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. Psalm 104:24-25 ESV

Jesus is worthy of praise. We spent the first stanza comparing His love to the ocean and now we declare that His praise should extend in a similar fashion with all participating who have come to know His love. Do you routinely spread the praise of Jesus for His great love for you?

How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6 ESV

God’s unchanging character is clearly put on display here. Because He loves us He has not consumed us. Though the Lord is speaking to the children of Jacob, we have been grafted in to that family. He loves us eternally and that will never change. Oh how He loves.

How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

He loves us so much that He died for us. There is no more obvious way for Him to have watched over us than to secure our eternal destiny. That is precisely what Christ’s sacrifice accomplished. We have become eternally His through the death of Jesus. Hallelujah!

How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 ESV

For the second time in this stanza we are reminded that Jesus watches over us. This time it is coupled with His ability to save us for all time since He lives to make intercession for us. And He does so from the throne of God. Take comfort in this fact and rest in Jesus’ deep deep love.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own
How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Delivered From. Delivered Through. appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
How He watches o’er His loved ones Died to call them all His own – https://pixabay.com/photos/christ-cross-faith-jesus-passion-3484141/
How for them He intercedeth Watches over them from the throne – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-hands-god-jesus-religion-4033437/

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God, Never Changing. Us, Ever Praising.

violin GIF
O the deep deep love of Jesus Spread His praise from shore to shore

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own
How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus 1875
 By: Samuel Trevor Francis (1834 – 1925)

Listen to this a cappella version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this classic hymn give yourself some time to ponder this text and the riches it communicates of the love of Jesus. Soak it up and let it change your perspective. Let’s tune our hearts.

Us, Ever Praising

We established in the first stanza the greatest reason to praise God, His deep deep love for us. Now the clear call is issued for that praise to be spread from shore to shore. He is worthy of all the praise we could ever bring.

  • When you consider His work of creation, He is worthy of praise.
  • When you consider His work of redemption, He is worthy of praise.
  • When you consider His work in consummation, He is worthy of praise.

No matter how or when you consider it, He is worthy of praise, but most of all for His love. We should be constantly changing our behavior until it is characterized by the praise He deserves. Is your life becoming more and more consumed by this lofty pursuit?

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. Psalm 104:24-25 ESV

Jesus is worthy of praise. We spent the first stanza comparing His love to the ocean and now we declare that His praise should extend in a similar fashion with all participating who have come to know His love. Do you routinely spread the praise of Jesus for His great love for you?

After comparing His love to the ocean now the writer challenges us to cover those same waters with praise. Or he might be saying to cover the land between those waters with praise from one shore to another. Either way, we should be engaged in praising Jesus for His love.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how engaged you are in spreading the praise of Jesus. Is it something that you do, or does it characterize all you do? The latter is the answer you you want to be able to give. Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, help me spread the praise of Jesus.” 

God, Never Changing

How He loveth ever loveth Changeth never nevermore

While we are constantly changing, allowing our lives to be more and more consumed by the praise He deserves, God never is. Changing that is. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

One of the most remarkable ways He does not change is in His love for us. That is remarkable because we give Him plenty of reasons to change from a loving disposition to something else. Fortunately for us, nothing we can do changes Him. He is infinitely loving.

How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6 ESV

God’s unchanging character is clearly put on display here. Because He loves us He has not consumed us. Though the Lord is speaking to the children of Jacob, we have been grafted in to that family. He loves us eternally and that will never change. Oh how He loves.

Ever loving. Never changing. What a beautiful side by side. His love is constant, eternal. Nothing will ever change Him. What could bring any more peace than simply trusting in these simple truths? But we must surrender to them, and that might not be so simple. Ask for help.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and reflect on the unchanging character of God’s love. Nothing can change his disposition toward us. You may struggle to believe God could love you that much, but because of Jesus work He can and does. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, help me surrender to Your changeless love.” 

God, thank You for Your unchanging love. I wonder some times how You could love me like that, but I believe it is true, and am continually being changed by that truth. Help me to surrender to it and welcome others into it every day as I spread Your praise. In Jesus’ name. 

Continual Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 37.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He loveth ever loveth
Changeth never nevermore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own
How for them He intercedeth
Watches over them from the throne

After comparing His love to the ocean now the writer challenges us to cover those same waters with praise. Or he might be saying to cover the land between those waters  with praise from one shore to another. Either way, we should be engaged in praising Jesus for His love.

Spirit, help me spread the praise of Jesus.

Ever loving. Never changing. What a beautiful side by side. His love is constant, eternal. Nothing will ever change Him. What could bring any more peace than simply trusting in these simple truths? But we must surrender to them, and that might not be so simple. Ask for help.

Jesus, help me surrender to Your changeless love.

Here is still more comfort. He watches over His loved ones. Good news if you are one of His. The great news is that Jesus died for us so that He could make us His own. All we have to do is believe it and confess His name. If you have not ever done that, do it today.

Father, I believe Jesus died for me.

One last bit of comfort, He is always praying for you, interceding to the Father on your behalf. What does He pray for? For you to be one with Him as He and the Father are one. His presence makes the difference in every circumstance. Pray you will know it more every day.

Jesus, help me know Your presence more every day.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time Be Resonant.

The post God, Never Changing. Us, Ever Praising. appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
O the deep deep love of Jesus Spread His praise from shore to shore – https://giphy.com/gifs/beach-ocean-sea-13p0Be3pdJDnRm
How He loveth ever loveth Changeth never nevermore – https://www.spreadshirt.ie/shop/design/jesus+christ+eternal+love+religion+christianity+mens+premium+t-shirt-D5d81369f2225095f54a08581?sellable=309pLABD5Nu0JvXG4Dd4-812-7&view=D1

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Led Along by Love’s Current

Underneath me, all around me, Is the current of Thy love

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus 1875
 By: Samuel Trevor Francis (1834 – 1925)

Listen to this epic version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this classic hymn give yourself some time to ponder this text and the riches it communicates of the love of Jesus. Soak it up and let it change your perspective. Let’s think about this.

The Current of Love

It is everywhere, but it is also subtle.

It is profoundly powerful, but it is also graciously gentle.

It is a song of love with me, but also transforms by life into a prayer.

Such is the force of God’s love there is simply no stopping it, yet it will not overwhelm the one who has yet to fathom it. It is all around us but until we surrender to it does not announce it’s presence. It is below us forming a foundation for life but at the same time it is fluid and can quickly take a different shape.

Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,  and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8 ESV

The imagery continues to expand our understanding of God’s love. Though challenges in life come, God’s love meets us in each of them and overwhelms them so we are not overwhelmed. Rather, His love is like a song that transforms my life into a prayer to God.

Can you feel it? Not only rolling over you, but underneath you and all around you? Have you sat or stood in a current of water that tugged and pulled on you. The force of the rushing water pushing you in one direction is a good illustration for God’s love. Are you resisting it?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the current of His love. Can you feel it moving you along or does it seem absent? We must become familiar with the moving of His love. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, give me awareness of the current of Your love.” 

Leading to Rest

Leading onward leading homeward To my glorious rest above

We must become familiar with the movement of His love because it is the force that directs our lives. It will keep us out of some trouble. It will led us through others. It will show us the way we should go.

It is easy to follow other impulses. they lead us down simpler paths. His love is often not the road of least resistance, but it is always the best, because it leads to rest, first internal, then eternal.

Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 ESV

His love is all we need, and our trust is in Him and it. It reveals to us the way we should go as we lift up our souls to Him every day. Can you feel the tug and pull of those gentle currents today? Take a few moments and ask the Spirit to cause you to be mindful of them, and follow.

Although it can seem at times to be swirling – over, around, underneath – it is ever moving you in one direction, onward,  homeward to glorious rest. Along the way it also allows respites of calmer, still waters which point to that great, glassy sea. Ask your Lord to lead you to it.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about the glorious rest toward which His love is leading You. Do you long for that? Will you allow Him to lead you onward, homeward, even if the current takes you through some painful places? Pray for the courage to trust Him on the journey come what may “Lord, lead me to Your glorious rest.” 

Lord, thank You for Your leading. Thank You for giving me a sense of what You have called me to, and the trust You have given me that You are moving me along to that place. In Jesus name. Amen.

Restful Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 37.1 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

 

This is the love of Jesus, vast and unmeasured. It is a common tool in writing to repeat things to emphasize their importance. There is nothing more important than the deep deep love of Jesus.

Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. Psalm 36:5-6 ESV

The ocean is one illustration of God’s love that helps us consider the boundless nature of it. You can see the beginning but not the end. Unlike the ocean there are no boundaries on God’s love like the shores of the sea, so it is able to roll over us regardless of our circumstances.

Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,  and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8 ESV

The imagery continues to expand our understanding of God’s love. Though challenges in life come, God’s love meets us in each of them and overwhelms them so we are not overwhelmed. Rather, His love is like a song that transforms my life into a prayer to God.

Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 ESV

His love is all we need, and our trust is in Him and it. It reveals to us the way we should go as we lift up our souls to Him every day. Can you feel the tug and pull of those gentle currents today? Take a few moments and ask the Spirit to cause you to be mindful of them, and follow.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the Refrain.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time,Be Resonant.

The post Led Along by Love’s Current appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
Underneath me all around me Is the current of Thy love – https://giphy.com/gifs/nicelandseafood-Q5idwzxmoRkBdiEVpu
Leading onward leading homeward To my glorious rest above – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mixed-media-underwater-sunset-waves-1741170/

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The Ocean of God’s Love

O the deep deep love of Jesus Vast unmeasured boundless free

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus 1875
 By: Samuel Trevor Francis (1834 – 1925)

Listen to this a cappella version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this classic hymn give yourself some time to ponder this text and the riches it communicates of the love of Jesus. Soak it up and let it change your perspective. Let’s tune our hearts.

Deep Deep Love

Knowing God’s love changes everything. We can face any trial knowing that His love will cover us. We can endure any hardship knowing His love will carry us. We fathom any depth of sadness knowing His love is deeper still, by far.

Only the Lord Himself can reveal the depths of His love to us. We do not have the capacity to grasp it on our own, any more than we have the ability to calculate the volume of the all the oceans combined. It is much more than a mathematical calculation. It is poetic imagery.

That is a helpful illustration for us: God’s love as an ocean. Though the ocean can not even begin to truly represent the eternal expanse of God’s limitless love, it may be the best expression on earth. Even still, we need His help.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

This is the love of Jesus, vast and unmeasured. It is a common tool in writing to repeat things to emphasize their importance. There is nothing more important than the deep deep love of Jesus.

What a powerful, simple explanation of Jesus’ love. Vast. Unmeasured. Boundless. Free. As we press into the illustration of the ocean as a representation of God’s love the unmeasured nature comes to mind. Imagine standing on the shore. Ponder the expanse of His love.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about the expanse of Christ’s love. Just gaze at the image above or another of the ocean and allow Jesus to reveal His love. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, thank You for Your love.” 

Rolling Over Me

Rolling as a mighty ocean In its fullness over me

Not only is the magnitude God’s love represented well by the ocean, but also the fluid, moving quality of it. In this next line the writer invites us to consider the rolling, undulating nature of the ocean as an illustration of God’s love. It washes over us in its fullness.

Have you felt God’s love like that before? Maybe it seemed like your circumstance was about to overwhelm you, ready to swallow you up, when suddenly you became ever more aware of the love of God rolling over you instead. No situation is as powerful as the love of God.

Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. Psalm 36:5-6 ESV

The ocean is one illustration of God’s love that helps us consider the boundless nature of it. You can see the beginning but not the end. Unlike the ocean there are no boundaries on God’s love like the shores of the sea, so it is able to roll over us regardless of our circumstances.

As we continue to think of the ocean, listen for the crashing of the waves against the shore. It is relentless. It simply does not stop. Are you thankful that God’s love is relentless, rolling over you in all of its fullness? It covers sin but can also feel overwhelming. Surrender to it.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and reflect on the relentless nature of God’s love. Maybe that thought is mingled with a bit of fear, but it need not be. The rolling waves of God’s love wash away our fears, not us. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “God, help me receive Your relentless love today.” 

God, thank You for the illustration of Your love that the ocean is. It fails to represent it perfectly, but it still challenges me to think bigger. Show me the depths of Your love as I ponder it these next few weeks. In Jesus’ name. 

Deep Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 37.1 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

O the deep deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured boundless free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me all around me
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

What a powerful, simple explanation of Jesus’ love. Vast. Unmeasured. Boundless. Free. As we press into the illustration of the ocean as a representation of God’s love the unmeasured nature comes to mind. Imagine standing on the shore. Ponder the expanse of His love.

Jesus, thank You for Your love.

As we continue to think of the ocean, listen for the crashing of the waves against the shore. It is relentless. It simply does not stop. Are you thankful that God’s love is relentless, rolling over you in all of its fullness? It covers sin but can also feel overwhelming. Surrender to it.

God, help me receive Your relentless love today.

Can you feel it? Not only rolling over you, but underneath you and all around you? Have you sat or stood in a current of water that tugged and pulled on you. The force of the rushing water pushing you in one direction is a good illustration for God’s love. Are you resisting it?

Spirit, give me awareness of the current of Your love.

Although it can seem at times to be swirling – over, around, underneath – it is ever moving you in one direction, onward,  homeward to glorious rest. Along the way it also allows respites of calmer, still waters which point to that great, glassy sea. Ask your Lord to lead you to it.

Lord, lead me to Your glorious rest.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post The Ocean of God’s Love appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
O the deep deep love of Jesus Vast unmeasured boundless free – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/background-sunset-heaven-landscape-625662/
Rolling as a mighty ocean In its fullness over me – https://giphy.com/gifs/adventrgram-ocean-photography-cgtraveler-sunrise-wSYE7n6pk9dqRXzitR

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Lips and Lives in Line with Love

And preach Thee too as love knows how

Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life

Faith of Our Fathers 1849
 By: Frederick William Faber (1814 – 1863)

Listen to this a cappella version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we conclude our journey through this hymn ask yourself if you can make the commitment of the refrain. “Faith of our father, holy faith, we will be true to Thee ’til death.” That is quite a commitment! Let’s think about this.

Preach with Love

Our words should always be characterized by love, but especially when we are preaching. Preaching can take various forms as well, not only what is done from a pulpit with the word of God open. Through our words and our deeds we preach the faith of our fathers.

Both those words and deeds should be informed by love. Or directed as love knows how, as the writer put it in this final stanza. So ask yourself if your lips and your life reflect an understanding of love.

And preach Thee too as love knows how

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

Love instructs and informs our preaching. We are not simply to live out our faith, we are also to use our words to make it plain, to teach it with patience. We are to be ready to reprimand, disapprove, and encourage in every season, and that will require us to use our words.

Love changes the way we preach. When we love friend and foe alike, we are compelled to share our faith with them using our words. But when we truly love, it changes the words we use and the way we use them. It is not only what we say but how we say it. Spirit help me.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider what love knows. Love knows a better way to do everything. When you begin to think of telling or showing someone about you faith always make certain it reveals an awareness of love. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, help me to preach with love.” 

Words and Life

By kindly words and virtuous love

Our words must be spoken with love, but we must also bring our actions in line with it. Sometimes that requires that you bite your tongue and other times that your boldly proclaim the truth. Sometimes that means that you refrain from doing something and other times that you act.

This is not easy. To speak or not to speak. To act or not to act. If we allow love to guide us, the decisions become easier.

By kindly words and virtuous life

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, Philippians 2:15 ESV

Our lives must be in line with our words, otherwise we will not remain blameless and innocent. Our living must not blemish our testimony or words, otherwise we will not shine as lights. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal if there are any inconsistencies in your words and deeds.

Words and life that match. One version said “saving words” which I like even better because few people are saved by unkind words. Saving words imply kindness and care, but our lives must reinforce what we say or our words will be meaningless at best, and harmful at worst.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about if your lips and your living line up. Do you have enough self-awareness to be comfortable with your conclusion? What do you think the Holy Spirit would say about that? Why don’t you ask Him? Then finish by praying “Lord, make my lips and my life congruent.” 

Lord, thank You for helping be preach with love. Help me line up my lips and life so they both convey Your love to the world. I confess I need your help in I am going to have any chance at that. In Jesus name. Amen.

Lovely Thinking!

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Podcast 36.4 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Faith of our fathers we will love

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

One of the best ways we can show that the faith of our fathers is real is to do all in love. To be able to stand firm, be strong and courageous, but repay evil with love is a true mark of faith. Is there a situation in your life right now where you can love like this? Ask God for help.

Both friend and foe in all our strife

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27-28 ESV

In these words Jesus is preparing His disciples, which includes us, for the times that taking a stand for our faith will bring ridicule, disdain, and even hatred. To love, do good, bless and pray for those who are creating our strife is no small task. Ask Jesus for help with this also.

And preach Thee too as love knows how

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

Love instructs and informs our preaching. We are not simply to live out our faith, we are also to use our words to make it plain, to teach it with patience. We are to be ready to reprimand, disapprove, and encourage in every season, and that will require us to use our words.

By kindly words and virtuous life

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, Philippians 2:15 ESV

Our lives must be in line with our words, otherwise we will not remain blameless and innocent. Our living must not blemish our testimony or words, otherwise we will not shine as lights. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal if there are any inconsistencies in your words and deeds.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.

Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Lips and Lives in Line with Love appeared first on Resonant 7.

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And preach Thee too as love knows how – https://pixabay.com/vectors/bible-story-disciples-new-testament-5560735/
By kindly words and virtuous life – https://pixabay.com/vectors/bible-story-disciples-new-testament-5560737/

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