Sweetly Broken…

The malls and parking lots are jammed full – our minds are calculating how to wrap the presents in our closet and sneak them beneath the tree. But let’s not forget… never, never, let us forget. Our humble King, stepping down among us.

Sweetly Broken//Jeremy Riddle

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

But a Fraction…

This song is from Winter Youth 2007 in Portland, OR. I apologize to whoever originally wrote it, as I can’t give you credit, but I was unable to find this song online. The lyrics are really neat, though.

The sunset is a fraction of Your beauty
The thunder is a whisper of Your voice
The ocean holds a power that would crumble in Your grip

And we are humbled
We are honored
To know You at all

And Your mystery
Will not frustrate me
It leads me to adore your beauty
And I don’t need to understand You
To know Your love is true

Feasting and Fasting times…

Just reflecting lately on how (at an awesome youth gathering in Portland called Winter Youth) one speaker had talked about having fasting and feasting times. Sometimes we need to say “no” to food, material things, wordly pleasures… in order to ‘tune in’ to God all the more and to concentrate on Him above this world.

And sometimes we need to feast! To gather our friends around us and to say, “Let’s enjoy the blessings God has given us, thank you Father!!”. A lot of times we remember one and not the other… we’re either monks wearing clothes of camel hair or giddily enjoying the American life.

Which have you been doing lately? As you abandon His presence for the Xbox – or a slice of apple pie that’s just calling to you – do you feel a tug on your heart… reminding you of what’s more important? Or do you feel overwhelmed with daily responsibilities, piling higher and higher – have you forgotten to bask in the warmth of His love, to simply enjoy and say ‘thank you’?

Don’t forget… to feast and fast.