Complete In Thee, Aaron Wolfe/Ben Nyce

With the sunshine streaming in the window and warming my back, I feel completely in my element. Warm tea, lunch is over and cleaned up (well almost), and my heart is enjoying the creativity of planning next years garden or planting a new climbing rose. But do I think for a moment that this really makes me whole or complete? There is the reality of childhood hurts, gnawing insecurities, and fears that I often push aside. Am I really complete in myself? No way!

But I choose rather to dwelling on the promises of our Lord for me and for you as I ponder the words of this melodic song. For all my sin there is Pardon; for all my offenses there is Mercy, and for my emptiness vast Supply!

Originally a hymn to a different melody, Ben Nyce rewrote Complete In Thee keeping the great old words of Aaron Wolfe (1821-1902). As with many of the other songs you will find here, when used with piano, guitar, or violin, etc., it could be used in a congregational worship setting or to teach your whole family. To get the sheet music for free download go to http://www.crowdedship.com/?p=942

Lyrics:
Complete in Thee, no work of mine
May take dear LORD the place Thine;
Thy Blood hath Pardon Bought for me,
And I am now Complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee no more shall sin,
Thy Grace hath Conquered, reign within;
Thy Voice Shall bid the Tempter flee,
And I Shall Stand Complete in Thee.

*Chorus

Yea Justified! O Blessed Thought
And Sanctified Salvation Wrought
Thy Blood hath Pardon Bought for me,
And Glorified I too Shall be.

Complete in Thee each want Supplied,
And no good Thing to me Denied;
Since Thou my Portion LORD will be I ask no more,
Complete in Thee.

*Chorus

Dear Savior when Before Thy bar
All Tribes and Tongues Assembled are,
Among the Chosen will I be,
At thy Right hand, Complete in Thee!

Supporting Scriptures:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ." Colossians 1:28

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..." Revelations 7:9

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. " Psalm 73:25-26

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together." Romans 8:17

See What A Morning?, Stuart Townend

Oh, the thrill which the women must have felt to see the stone rolled away. Greater yet, the thrill for Mary to see her Savior face to face - to hear His voice!
Oh, what a morning it was! Someday as overcomers, we too will see His radiant face!

"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

Matthew 27: 62-66

Although the video shows only one guard, Matthew 28:1-7 (below) states there were "guards". Stuart Townend, a master songwriter from Yorkshire, England, has given the worldwide church music rich in the Word. Read his bio at http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/bio

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
D           A/D      G          D/F#
See, what a morning, gloriously bright
A        Bm  G      D/F# G    D/A  A
with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem
D           A/D            G                 D
folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light
A/C#   Bm  G     D/F#   G        D/A  A  A7/G
as the angels announce Christ is risen!
            A/G  G  D/F#     G       D/F#
See God's salvation plan, wrought in love,
  G      D/F#   G      D/A   A   A/G  D/F#
borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
             A/G     G   D/F#
fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
G      D/F#   G       D/A     A       D   A/D
for He lives: Christ is risen from the dead


Verse 2:
See Mary weeping, "Where is he Laid"?
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till he appears,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!


Verse 3:
One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty
Honour and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

Supporting Scriptures:
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." John 20:15-16

"So Peter and the other disciple [John] started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed." John 20:3-8

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. " 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7

"...if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us... " 2 Timothy 2:12

"I[Jesus] and the Father are one.” John 10:30

Refiner's Fire, Bob Doerkson/Darlene Rose -part 2

Darlene Rose was refined by fire. One by one, she lost her husband, her Bible, her health, her innocence, all the wedding gifts they brought along, and she was made to think the U.S. lost the war because she had no news. I wonder how I would respond under those conditions. (See The Lord is My Light, Jan. 2011, for an earlier post on Darlene Rose)

"Just two weeks before I was brought to this prison, the Lord had laid it on my heart to memorize a poem by Annie Johnson Flint. Now I knew why. After drying the tears from my face and mopping the tears from the floor with my skirt, I would sit up and sing:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
And our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
The Father's full giving is only begun.

Strength came, and I knew I could go through another interrogation, and another, and another. I was physically weak, and desperately frightened, but God gave me the courage to deport myself like a good soldier for my Lord before those cruel men." - from Darlene Rose's book Evidence Not Seen.

When Darlene Deibler Rose wrote her book, she wrote it with her young sons in mind. “I wished them to know, if ever difficult circumstances came into their lives, that their mother’s God is still alive and very well, and His arm has never lost its ancient power”.
Lyrics:
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master

Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Supporting Scriptures:

"This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:9

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin...Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:2,7,10

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9

I'm Waiting For You, Michael W.Smith

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

I do love that Jesus used symbolism even a child can understand:
Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts - we need to open it to Him.
Jesus is the Way - we need to go through Jesus (a doorway) to come to the Heavenly Father.

Our sons have a good friend who has wanted to start a procrastinator's club for some time. His website says "Coming Soon"...Many well meaning people will put off the most important decision of their life until it's too late. Consider this from 2 Peter 3:8-10,14:

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare..So then, dear friends, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. ."

"Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
2 Corinthians 6:2

Lyrics:

I walked this road

So very long ago
To show the way
So you would know
I walked the road
With holes in my hands in feet
To make the way
Come follow me

Chorus:
No, you are not alone
You will be free indeed
The journey begins and ends
With me
One million miles
It starts with a step or two
What are you waiting for?
I'm waiting for you

You run the race
Thinking you've almost won
Then you may find
You've only begun

You're on the road
Thinking you're far from here
And suddenly find
You're very near

Chorus

Supporting Scriptures:
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." Ephesians 5:15-17

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

" Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:25

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:31-36

By Our Love, Nathan and Christy Nockles

TV show host Oprah Winfrey

Americans are seen around the world as people who live like the self- absorbed TV character J.R. Ewing of Dallas fame. Another old TV show, Dynasty (note the word nasty) portrays us to the world as money grubbing, adulterous, deceitful and wealthy fat cats. A Saudi-raised Pastor living here writes "inter-national marketing of our movies and TV programs paints a lurid picture of American life for the Third World. Viewers get their ideas of American life from The Dukes of Hazard, Dallas and Baywatch, so they assume that illicit sex, fast cars, guns, and intrigue are the norm here. They are not."

"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car." - G.K. Chesterton

How I wish we would always live so that our love, reflecting Christ, would shine!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35

Lyrics:
Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit,
there's much to be done...
We will come reaching,
out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!

The time is now Come Church arise...
Love with His hands See with His eyes...
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love...

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now,
set your hearts above
You will be reaching,
long after we’re gone,

And they will know you by your love!

Supporting Scriptures:
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right." James 2:8

"He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:27-31

"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4:21

Rest Of My Life, David Meese

This joyous and happy music by David Meese makes me think of Psalm 96:1 - "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth." It is about new birth in the Lord; He gives us a kind of heart transplant. It is also a new praise worship song to our family. Meese's childhood was tragic in many ways, but God has restored him and is using him! (see My Father's Chair, December, 2010) With an violent, drug and alcohol-addicted father, he became rebellious and destructive, but his Heavenly Father rescued him as Rest Of My Life (screen below) testifies wonderfully!

Here is a link to the story/testimony aired on Focus on the Family: http://listen.family.org/daily/A000002819.cfm

Lyrics:
Lord, you mercy came, and it made me sing
With all my heart
Blessed be the name of the One who brings
Such a fresh new start

Ah, now the air smells clean
And the grass looks green, the sky looks bluer
Than I have ever seen
You have made my sweetest dream come true

And I want to live for you
For the rest of my life, for the rest of my life
And I want to give to you
All the rest of my life, all the rest of my life

Lord, You've proved again, You're love extends
To the deepest need
When I hit the end, You're love begins
And from there you lead

Lead through an open door
To a golden shore... a royal kingdom
Where my heart explores
And the more I learn, the more I sing

And I want to live for you
For the rest of my life, for the rest of my life
And I want to give to you
All the rest of my life, all the rest of my life

Supporting Scriptures:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Revelations 3:8

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

O Lord, You're Beautiful, Keith Green

Keith and Melody Green shared Christ's compassion for the needy, as Keith invited people off the streets to live with them at their home, which over time became a community of 7 homes filled with 70 people.

"My life was radically changed by that experience." noted Jerry Bryant, the first pastor there, regarding Green's heart for God's people. "If he read it in the Scripture, he didn't see any reason not to do it," continued Bryant. "When he became a Christian, he saw where Jesus said to feed the poor and minister to those in need, so he opened his home and started inviting people to live with him."

He said he would have come to know Jesus earlier if it hadn't been for people who called themselves Christians living double lives.

On July 28, 1982, at the age of 28, Keith and two of their young children, Josiah and Bethany, were in a small plane crash and went to be with Jesus. Although Keith was one of America's best-selling Christian musicians and songwriters, recording 5 albums in his lifetime with over 1.5 million in distribution, Keith considered himself first and foremost a servant of Jesus. He often said that when he died he only wanted to be remembered as having been worthy to bear the name of "Christian".

I want to share some very important things he said about idolatry (his words have been prophetic) in future posts. He has been used to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ into so many lives. This song is the original version, while M.W. Smith's version (yesterday's post) is quite different. Lyrics:
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with Holy fear.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Supporting Scriptures:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

“Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” Song of Solomon 6:10

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1: 12-16