How Deep the Father's Love For Us, Fernando Ortega/ Stuart Townend

Ponder the very simple, but precious, things He allows us mortal beings to do:

- To hold a newborn baby (or a wiggly puppy !)
- To sing in a choir, hum a melody, or listen to the song of a warbler.

- Pick up a leaf or a feather and see the intricacies of its design.

- To truly love another person.
- To be a person awakened to knowing God through His Spirit and His Word!

There are also the times when we are just hanging on to the promises; we often wait, but don't see it play out the way we had expected or hoped:
- The child with disability or a relational struggle.
- A marriage not quite what you had longed for.
- Personal or family health issues.
- Loneliness despite others around you.
- Financial difficulties/debt.

Joni Tada, quadriplegic at age 17. http://www.joniandfriends.org

God can and often does use pain to bring us to a place of brokenness and humility. Otherwise, we may miss the blessing and intimacy He intends to give us through the struggle. He loves us so much that He uses any means possible to draw us to Himself.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world". - C.S. Lewis

How Deep the Father's Love for Us, by Stuart Townend, is a modern-day hymn which well deserves a place in the canon of true anthems of the Church. Mr. Townend ministers in the UK and has recently penned these rich words. He tells us how he came to write the words: http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=BdVQNyQmdM4&feature=related

Lyrics:
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon his cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)

Supporting Scriptures:
In Matt. 27:46, about the 9^th hour that Jesus was on the cross, He "cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That is to say, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'" Mark's account (Mk. 15:34) is almost identical.

"Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:28-30

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53: 4-6

"For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:12b

"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

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