Tag Archives: Andrew Peterson

Sabbath Rest – Is He Worthy?

We’re going through the book of Revelations in our Sunday School class right now. I won’t pretend that I understand all the symbolism in that last book of the Bible – but this I do know: Jesus is the Worthy One!

Do you feel the world is broken?
(We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
(We do)
But do you know that all the dark won’t
Stop the light from getting through?
(We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?
We do)
Is all creation groaning?
(It is)
Is a new creation coming?
(It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst?
(It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?
(It is)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He was David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this?
He is
Does the Father truly love us?
(He does)
Does the Spirit move among us?
(He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves?
(He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us?
(He does)
Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Is He worthy of this?
He is!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
He is!
He is!

Music video by Andrew Peterson performing Is He Worthy?. © 2018 Andrew Peterson, under exclusive license to Centricity Music

T’was the Night Before Christmas

and what a beautiful sunset it was! Another lovely day (unseasonably warm, I’ve been told!) and another grand walk on the beach.
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Today’s Christmas song is another selection from Behold The Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson. Tonight many will be ending their Christmas Eve worship with a candlelit rendition of the beautiful carol Silent Night. And it will be lovely indeed. But this song, Labor of Love, gives us a different view of the event that we celebrate tonight and tomorrow!

Labor of Love

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David’s town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother’s hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph by her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
On the streets of David’s town
In the middle of the night
So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face

But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move
It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

It’s the Day before the Day before

…and these toes finally made it to the beach!  These toes even made it into the water!
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The sun was bright and while it wasn’t swimsuit weather (in my book) by any stretch of the imagination, it was a spectacular day for a nice long beach walk!
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Ahhh…..
Today’s Christmas Song is from the wonderful Christmas program by Andrew Peterson – Behold the Lamb of God. If you EVER have the opportunity to see this live (he tours with it each Christmas season), please, please, please go and see it. You will be blessed beyond measure!
Enjoy this sweet song for the early part of the program –

Gather Round, Ye Children, Come

Gather ’round, ye children, come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the pow’r of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man

Gather ’round, remember now
How creation held its breath
How it let out a sigh
And it filled up the sky with the angels
Son of God, Son of Man

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but He made Himself nothing
He gave up His pride and He came here to die
Like a man

Therefore God exalted Him
To the place of highest praises
And He gave Him a name above every name
That at the very name of Jesus, Son of God

We would sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but He made Himself nothing
He gave up His pride and He came here to die
Like a man

So in heav’n and earth and below
Every knee would bow in worship
And ev’ry tongue would proclaim
That Jesus, He reigns with the angels

So sing out with joy for the brave little boy
Who was God, but He made Himself nothing
He gave up His pride and He came here to die
Like a man

Gather ’round, ye children, come
Listen to the old, old story
Of the pow’r of death undone
By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man

Sabbath Rest – Faith to be Strong

EllieCropIn less than a week there will be an official High School Graduate in the family. Truly. She’s smart and beautiful and creative and kind and funny. And while her nest-leaving won’t be for a while yet (she’s heading off to Kent State in the fall), already our prayers are intensified as she stretches her wings and embarks on her next great adventure. The world is kinda crazy out there these days (did our parents say the same thing?), so I dedicate this song to you! May the Father always give you the Faith to be Strong!

Faith to be Strong
by Andrew Peterson

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we’re torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there’s much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we’re torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it’s hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we’re torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong

Sabbath Rest – Always Good

We lost a good friend this week.  He slipped into Heaven unexpectedly from our perspective, but he was not unexpected by the Savior who greeted him.  We weep not for him for he is Home at last. But for his precious wife and his children and grandchildren, our hearts ache with their loss.  Our loss. And we weep with them. But even in our weeping, we do well to lean heavily into the arms of Jesus – for He is Always Good

Written and recorded by Andrew Peterson

Do You remember how Mary was grieving?
How You wept and she fell at Your feet?
If it’s true that You know what I’m feeling
Could it be that You’re weeping with me?

Arise, O Lord, and save me
There’s nowhere else to go

You’re always good, always good
Somehow this sorrow is shaping my heart like it should
And You’re always good, always good

Well it’s so hard to know what You’re doing
Why won’t You tell it all plain?
But You said You’d come back on the third day
And Peter missed it again and again

So maybe the answer surrounds us
But we don’t have eyes to see

That You’re always good, always good
This heartache is moving me closer than joy ever could
And You’re always good

My God, my God, be near me
There’s nowhere else to go
And Lord, if You can hear me
Please help Your child to know

That You’re always good, always good
As we try to believe what is not meant to be understood
Will You help us to trust Your intentions for us are still good
‘Cause You laid down Your life
And You suffered like I never could

You’re always good, always good
You’re always good, always good