'Christ the Lord is Risen Today' is a song for every day.
Memorize it now during the Easter season (or Resurrection Sunday)
Christ has proven His power over death through His own resurrection.
He has proven His power over death of His children by raising people from the dead when He walked among men.
He has given His promise that He will raise up all those who believe on Him for salvation.
Here are the words to the song and a link to the midi file.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/t/ctlrisen.htm
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
'Project Earth' Was an Expensive Project for God
God Counted the Cost
What a story we have in the Bible book of Genesis. In that book we are given the story of creation. God made everything in a time span of just six days. He mostly just spoke things into place. But, man was different. God made man with His own hands and He made man a living soul. Blessed is our God.
On the seventh day God rested. God was not weary as we are weary. He just sat back and enjoyed the work of His hands, sort of like an artist admiring his own painting or a carpenter admiring his handiwork. God was satisfied with His work.
However, unlike the artist or carpenter, God knew the future of His handiwork.
He knew in advance that Adam and Eve would sin.
He knew they would choose to believe the lie told to them by Satan.
He knew the sorrow that would come to them personally and to all mankind through them.
He knew the cost of redemption.
Yet, God created the heavens and the earth anyway.
He created Adam and Eve anyway.
He gave them freewill even knowing what would happen.
God counted the cost of creation before He began His building project.
Luke 14:28 says, ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?’
God knew what would happen in advance, but He went ahead anyway.
He knew about Calvary before the world began.
I don’t know why He went ahead with the ‘Project Earth’ anyway. I know if I saw suffering for my son in advance of any project I would just skip the project. Or, if I saw suffering for my daughter, grandsons, my family, Jerry’s family, or anyone else dear to me, I would not go ahead with a project. Now, maybe if I foresaw suffering for …….. – OK - not even suffering for them.
So – I really don’t know why God went ahead with creation.
I am glad that He did.
I am thankful for my life and lives of my family.
I am thankful for the daily benefits that God gives to us.
I am thankful for His presence, even in sorrow.
I am thankful for His mercy.
I am thankful for His love.
I am thankful for the grace He gives us to endure hardship and sorrow.
I am thankful for the days of joy that He gives us.
I am thankful for the certainty that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again in three days.
I am thankful that God has my dad with Him in heaven, and many other loved ones as well.
This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, whichever you choose to call it. I don’t know exactly on which day He was crucified, but we do know He rose up on the first day of the week.
When considering Jesus’ triumph over death and the grave, what people need to consider is that none of those events came a surprise to God.
God had counted the cost from the beginning.
He knew exactly what was going to happen, who would be involved, and what the outcome would be.
He knew that a way to reconciliation between God and man would be accomplished.
Crucifixion day was a harsh day of unbearable sorrow for those who loved Jesus.
It was a day of triumph for those who hated Him.
It was not a day of surprises for God.
He had counted the cost from the beginning.
The Bible actually tells us ‘why’ Jesus went ahead anyway. He not only counted the cost, He counted the joy that would come after the suffering.
Hebrews 12:2 says, ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
So, we actually have the reason Christ went ahead with ‘Project Earth’, even after counting the cost. He saw the future joy as worth the suffering that He must endure.
THAT is how valuable each of us is personally to God. Redeeming the souls of those He created brings God joy.
When we choose to follow Jesus, there is a cost to us. To some of us the cost will not be that great; to others it may cost them their lives. We just don’t know in advance.
But, by faith, we can know that whatever the cost, it will be worth it all.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’
The greatness and splendor of the reward God has for those that love Him is beyond the mental capacity of mankind to understand. The flip side of that is that the horrors of hell are beyond the mental capacity of mankind to fully comprehend either.
Calvary paid the full cost of our salvation.
We cannot earn by works what Christ has given us for free.
However, we CAN work for Christ because we love Him.
We can live a life that transforms from a material minded, self centered person into someone who follows the instructions in Galatians 5:22-23 which says,
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’
I am sure of this.
It will cost you less to follow Christ than it will cost you to reject Him.
To reject Christ and His way is to choose the way of the devil.
There is no middle ground.
There is no way into the Kingdom of Heaven where righteousness dwells except through Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31 says,
‘And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house’.
What a story we have in the Bible book of Genesis. In that book we are given the story of creation. God made everything in a time span of just six days. He mostly just spoke things into place. But, man was different. God made man with His own hands and He made man a living soul. Blessed is our God.
On the seventh day God rested. God was not weary as we are weary. He just sat back and enjoyed the work of His hands, sort of like an artist admiring his own painting or a carpenter admiring his handiwork. God was satisfied with His work.
However, unlike the artist or carpenter, God knew the future of His handiwork.
He knew in advance that Adam and Eve would sin.
He knew they would choose to believe the lie told to them by Satan.
He knew the sorrow that would come to them personally and to all mankind through them.
He knew the cost of redemption.
Yet, God created the heavens and the earth anyway.
He created Adam and Eve anyway.
He gave them freewill even knowing what would happen.
God counted the cost of creation before He began His building project.
Luke 14:28 says, ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?’
God knew what would happen in advance, but He went ahead anyway.
He knew about Calvary before the world began.
I don’t know why He went ahead with the ‘Project Earth’ anyway. I know if I saw suffering for my son in advance of any project I would just skip the project. Or, if I saw suffering for my daughter, grandsons, my family, Jerry’s family, or anyone else dear to me, I would not go ahead with a project. Now, maybe if I foresaw suffering for …….. – OK - not even suffering for them.
So – I really don’t know why God went ahead with creation.
I am glad that He did.
I am thankful for my life and lives of my family.
I am thankful for the daily benefits that God gives to us.
I am thankful for His presence, even in sorrow.
I am thankful for His mercy.
I am thankful for His love.
I am thankful for the grace He gives us to endure hardship and sorrow.
I am thankful for the days of joy that He gives us.
I am thankful for the certainty that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again in three days.
I am thankful that God has my dad with Him in heaven, and many other loved ones as well.
This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, whichever you choose to call it. I don’t know exactly on which day He was crucified, but we do know He rose up on the first day of the week.
When considering Jesus’ triumph over death and the grave, what people need to consider is that none of those events came a surprise to God.
God had counted the cost from the beginning.
He knew exactly what was going to happen, who would be involved, and what the outcome would be.
He knew that a way to reconciliation between God and man would be accomplished.
Crucifixion day was a harsh day of unbearable sorrow for those who loved Jesus.
It was a day of triumph for those who hated Him.
It was not a day of surprises for God.
He had counted the cost from the beginning.
The Bible actually tells us ‘why’ Jesus went ahead anyway. He not only counted the cost, He counted the joy that would come after the suffering.
Hebrews 12:2 says, ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
So, we actually have the reason Christ went ahead with ‘Project Earth’, even after counting the cost. He saw the future joy as worth the suffering that He must endure.
THAT is how valuable each of us is personally to God. Redeeming the souls of those He created brings God joy.
When we choose to follow Jesus, there is a cost to us. To some of us the cost will not be that great; to others it may cost them their lives. We just don’t know in advance.
But, by faith, we can know that whatever the cost, it will be worth it all.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’
The greatness and splendor of the reward God has for those that love Him is beyond the mental capacity of mankind to understand. The flip side of that is that the horrors of hell are beyond the mental capacity of mankind to fully comprehend either.
Calvary paid the full cost of our salvation.
We cannot earn by works what Christ has given us for free.
However, we CAN work for Christ because we love Him.
We can live a life that transforms from a material minded, self centered person into someone who follows the instructions in Galatians 5:22-23 which says,
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’
I am sure of this.
It will cost you less to follow Christ than it will cost you to reject Him.
To reject Christ and His way is to choose the way of the devil.
There is no middle ground.
There is no way into the Kingdom of Heaven where righteousness dwells except through Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31 says,
‘And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house’.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Circumstances versus Attitude
Change your attitude to change the world - for better or worse.
Contentment and joy in someone’s life never comes from their circumstances.
Think about it.
Being rich and independently wealthy does not guarantee either happiness or unhappiness.
The perfect job or lack of a job at all does not guarantee either satisfaction and happiness or dissatisfaction.
The most agreeable, faithful, and attractive spouse does not guarantee satisfaction or contentment in a marriage.
Healthy, intelligent, obedient children do not guarantee an appreciative or loving parent.
NOTHING is about your circumstances.
EVERYTHING is about your attitude.
Originally, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect Garden where neither sin nor death was allowed. Then sin entered in, and the whole of creation fell from grace with Adam and Eve. Eve was beguiled by the serpent because she became discontent or bored with her circumstances. Circumstantially speaking, Eve had it all, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. Lucifer really had it all. He was the highest of the angels, good looking, and lived in a perfect place. His circumstances were not enough to keep him happy and satisfied.
Lucifer, Adam, and Eve all had something in common. They had a bad attitude. They didn’t enjoy what they had.
For anyone to enjoy life, they must first look at life as a gift from God of immeasurable value.
God created you.
God is with you.
God has a plan for your good.
God has a perfect and eternal future for His children with Him.
A person with a negative attitude is probably the most difficult person in the world with which to fellowship. They have a black cloud following them around that can be so overwhelming that it seems to obstruct YOUR breathing just having to be near them. I don’t know what you can do for them except pray for them and avoid them like the plague. Don’t confuse those going through grief with negative people. Do not expect them to shrug off their grief. Grief and loss happen, and the bereaved must have their time to mourn before they can adjust and move forward with their lives. There is a danger of letting grief redefine one’s life in the negative mold, so when you face grief or loss personally you do have to be careful. Turn it over to God immediately, and He will lead you through.
A person with a positive attitude is a joy to be around for most people. That person just gets up in the morning and plans to face whatever the day brings with a good attitude. I have read that survivors of concentration camps in WWII tried to face each day with a positive attitude. I don’t know what they were ‘positive’ about, but that was how they got through it. I am sure those with the best attitude were able to encourage those around them as well.
Now, we don’t face the dire circumstances of the those in concentration camps, but many today are facing some dire circumstances. It may be an illness in the family. It may be grief. It may be impending financial disaster, or financial disaster may have already struck.
No matter what you are facing, here is what you need to do. Just get up in the morning and live your life. When you have that first cup of coffee or soda pop, enjoy it. That coffee may come from Starbucks, or it may be warmed over from last night in your microwave. It doesn’t matter. Just enjoy it. If you have breakfast, chew slowly and enjoy what you have to eat. If you have a job, be thankful for it, and do your best to do a good job. If you don’t like your job, it probably isn’t permanent anyway. Ask God for something better or more to your liking, but don’t let yourself be made miserable by your current job.
It is all about your attitude. If you cannot be satisfied in your current situation and circumstances, then you will not be able to enjoy or be satisfied in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in the future.
A good attitude will help you think more clearly. If you are in a situation or a relationship that you are questioning, then a better attitude is your first priority. You cannot properly assess a situation from a negative view point.
A positive attitude doesn’t look back. It looks forward toward the prize.
A positive attitude runs the race of the day, knowing sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
A positive attitude doesn’t measure its success by those around him or her. It just says, ‘Did I do better today than I did yesterday?’
Circumstances are usually totally beyond your control. Did you have anything to do with the current global financial crisis? I didn’t think so.
Your attitude, on the other hand, belongs to you. People seem to either view each day as a gift from God, or a curse and burden they must carry. They don’t want to die; they just don’t see any joy in living.
Today is a good day to evaluate your attitude. On a scale of one to ten how positive or negative are you? Are you satisfied where you are? Are you ready to make the attitude change that will give you a more satisfying life?
If you are plagued with a negative attitude, you may want to ask yourself why you are negative. Do you have real reasons to be negative? Has life been unfair? If that is the case, then think about this. Many people have very real reasons to be negative in their thinking and actions. But, having a reason to be negative does not require that someone live with a negative mindset. AND, no matter how valid a reason for constant negative thinking, it does nothing to propel anyone to a better future. To stick with a negative attitude is to stay in a downward spiral leading to despair and hurting many others on the way.
Everyone’s attitude, including mine and yours, can be improved.
It starts with thanking God when you go to bed at night and when you get up in the morning.
Be obedient to God because you love Him, want to please Him, and want that ‘well done’ that He gives to good and faithful servants.
And, just do your job(s) to the best of your ability, starting with your responsibility to God and your family.
In improving your attitude you will improve your own life and level of satisfaction. You will also improve the lives of your family and those around you.
Contentment and joy in someone’s life never comes from their circumstances.
Think about it.
Being rich and independently wealthy does not guarantee either happiness or unhappiness.
The perfect job or lack of a job at all does not guarantee either satisfaction and happiness or dissatisfaction.
The most agreeable, faithful, and attractive spouse does not guarantee satisfaction or contentment in a marriage.
Healthy, intelligent, obedient children do not guarantee an appreciative or loving parent.
NOTHING is about your circumstances.
EVERYTHING is about your attitude.
Originally, Adam and Eve lived in a perfect Garden where neither sin nor death was allowed. Then sin entered in, and the whole of creation fell from grace with Adam and Eve. Eve was beguiled by the serpent because she became discontent or bored with her circumstances. Circumstantially speaking, Eve had it all, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. Lucifer really had it all. He was the highest of the angels, good looking, and lived in a perfect place. His circumstances were not enough to keep him happy and satisfied.
Lucifer, Adam, and Eve all had something in common. They had a bad attitude. They didn’t enjoy what they had.
For anyone to enjoy life, they must first look at life as a gift from God of immeasurable value.
God created you.
God is with you.
God has a plan for your good.
God has a perfect and eternal future for His children with Him.
A person with a negative attitude is probably the most difficult person in the world with which to fellowship. They have a black cloud following them around that can be so overwhelming that it seems to obstruct YOUR breathing just having to be near them. I don’t know what you can do for them except pray for them and avoid them like the plague. Don’t confuse those going through grief with negative people. Do not expect them to shrug off their grief. Grief and loss happen, and the bereaved must have their time to mourn before they can adjust and move forward with their lives. There is a danger of letting grief redefine one’s life in the negative mold, so when you face grief or loss personally you do have to be careful. Turn it over to God immediately, and He will lead you through.
A person with a positive attitude is a joy to be around for most people. That person just gets up in the morning and plans to face whatever the day brings with a good attitude. I have read that survivors of concentration camps in WWII tried to face each day with a positive attitude. I don’t know what they were ‘positive’ about, but that was how they got through it. I am sure those with the best attitude were able to encourage those around them as well.
Now, we don’t face the dire circumstances of the those in concentration camps, but many today are facing some dire circumstances. It may be an illness in the family. It may be grief. It may be impending financial disaster, or financial disaster may have already struck.
No matter what you are facing, here is what you need to do. Just get up in the morning and live your life. When you have that first cup of coffee or soda pop, enjoy it. That coffee may come from Starbucks, or it may be warmed over from last night in your microwave. It doesn’t matter. Just enjoy it. If you have breakfast, chew slowly and enjoy what you have to eat. If you have a job, be thankful for it, and do your best to do a good job. If you don’t like your job, it probably isn’t permanent anyway. Ask God for something better or more to your liking, but don’t let yourself be made miserable by your current job.
It is all about your attitude. If you cannot be satisfied in your current situation and circumstances, then you will not be able to enjoy or be satisfied in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in the future.
A good attitude will help you think more clearly. If you are in a situation or a relationship that you are questioning, then a better attitude is your first priority. You cannot properly assess a situation from a negative view point.
A positive attitude doesn’t look back. It looks forward toward the prize.
A positive attitude runs the race of the day, knowing sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
A positive attitude doesn’t measure its success by those around him or her. It just says, ‘Did I do better today than I did yesterday?’
Circumstances are usually totally beyond your control. Did you have anything to do with the current global financial crisis? I didn’t think so.
Your attitude, on the other hand, belongs to you. People seem to either view each day as a gift from God, or a curse and burden they must carry. They don’t want to die; they just don’t see any joy in living.
Today is a good day to evaluate your attitude. On a scale of one to ten how positive or negative are you? Are you satisfied where you are? Are you ready to make the attitude change that will give you a more satisfying life?
If you are plagued with a negative attitude, you may want to ask yourself why you are negative. Do you have real reasons to be negative? Has life been unfair? If that is the case, then think about this. Many people have very real reasons to be negative in their thinking and actions. But, having a reason to be negative does not require that someone live with a negative mindset. AND, no matter how valid a reason for constant negative thinking, it does nothing to propel anyone to a better future. To stick with a negative attitude is to stay in a downward spiral leading to despair and hurting many others on the way.
Everyone’s attitude, including mine and yours, can be improved.
It starts with thanking God when you go to bed at night and when you get up in the morning.
Be obedient to God because you love Him, want to please Him, and want that ‘well done’ that He gives to good and faithful servants.
And, just do your job(s) to the best of your ability, starting with your responsibility to God and your family.
In improving your attitude you will improve your own life and level of satisfaction. You will also improve the lives of your family and those around you.
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