
We sang a new song together Sunday named 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. It was from a new album just released with the same name. Below is a devotional he wrote for the song and a couple links if you are interested in his album.
“For all Your goodness l will keep on singing… Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find,”
A music producer once commented that in the world of pop you can only really write four kinds of song: “l love you”, “l hate you”, “Go away” and “Come back”! That’s an amusing and yet astute observatìon. But gladly, when it comes to writing songs towards the God of all eternity, we have a whole different color palate to work with. When I talk about the reasons for God’s worth and say there are ‘ten thousand reasons for my heart to find that’s actually a huge, poetic understatement. The reasons for the praise of God are so wide and wonderful that we could sing from now until forever and never run out of ideas as to why He is quite so worthy.
Think about the world of nature for a moment. As of now, scientists have described over 1.7 million species of animal, plant and algae on earth. Mammals make up one of the smallest groups – with less than 6000 members known. For insects on the other hand, we’re aware of about 1 million different species. And in all categories, there are more species becoming known every year. ln fact, in some places like the depths of the ocean we’ve hardly even begun to explore, and there are countless more species to find and identify. But let’s stick for a moment to those 1.7 million species we know of so far. I think we could safely say that every kind of plant, animal or other living thing created by God is a reason for His praise. So we’ve hardly begun and we’ve found 1.7 million reasons why we might respond to Him. Next, look up at the stars – scientists are now saying there are more stars in the known universe than there are grains of sands on all of the world’s beaches and deserts. So, right there we have billions and billions more reasons to utter up an offering of praise. Next, we look to our own lives – the countless blessings weaved into our everyday existences, and the miracle of life itself. We thìnk about families and social circles, and provision in our lives. And we praise, and praise, and praise again. Perhaps that’s why at the end of Psalm 30 the worshippers say:
“ . . . my heart may sing to You and not he silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Psaln 30:12)
The psalmist knows of a multitude of reasons why we should worship God. And he knows of not one reason why he should refrain from doing so. He can’t think of a single motive why he should remain silent. The same must be true for our own lives. The worship of Jesus should be vibrant, creative and colorful as we unfold our hearts in praise. There will be an eternity of reasons to adore and revere Him.
Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
John Newton was born on July 24, 1725. This past Sunday was July 24th so we decided to honor him a bit. Below is a fantastic John Newton hymn that we read together.
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode;
on the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters,
spring form eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, when such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver,
never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus they march, their pillar leading,
light by night, and shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.
Savior, if of Zion’s city,
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy Name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
Tags: hymn, songs
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