Oh Glorious Day

On the way home from the first service at church today I was listening to K-love on the radio. A song by Casting Crowns came one, "Glorious Day". It is actually a remake of a hymn we sang growing up. I couldn't help but sing along. If you want to listen to this song, click here.

O Glorious Day

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Oh, glorious day

Another favorite song of mine is being sung at church today by our pastor's wife, Julie. It is "In the Name of the Lord" by Sandi Patti. Growing up in church when Sandi Patti was one of the few "Christian" artists, I heard this song and sang it many times. There is something SO powerful about the words and the way the music builds.....the bridge "HIS name will be worshiped forever....Creator, Redeemer and KING!" . My heart just swells! To hear this song, click here:

In the Name of the Lord

Crowds have lined the narrow street
To see this man from Galilee
Just a carpenter some say, leading fools astray
Yet many kneel to give Him praise

And in His eyes, they glimpse the power
That sees the heart of all men
And He knows His Father's mind
He speaks His Father's words
For He comes in the name of the Lord

There is strength in the name of the Lord
There is power in the name of the Lord
There is hope in the name of the Lord
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord

When my plans have fallen through
And when my strength is nearly gone
When there's nothing left to do but just depend on You
And the power of Your name

And as we call upon Your name
Your strength through weakness to show
We can know the masters plan extend the masters hand
When we come in the name of the Lord

There is strength in the name of the Lord
There is power in the name of the Lord
There is hope in the name of the Lord
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord

His name will be worshiped forever
Creator, Redeemer and King

There is strength in the name of the Lord
There is power in the name of the Lord
And there is hope in the name of the Lord
Blessed is He, who comes, blessed is He, who comes
Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord
In the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord

Another song we are singing today is "Your Great Name" by Michael Neale and Krissy Nordhoff. The words of this song are equally powerful. Listen to them here:

Your Great Name

Lost are saved, find their way

At the sound of Your great name

All condemned feel no shame

At the sound of Your great name

Every fear has no place

At the sound of Your great name

The enemy, he has to leave

At the sound of Your great name

Jesus, worthy is the Lamb

that was slain for us

Son of God and man

You are high and lifted up

And all the world will praise

Your great name

All the weak find their strength

At the sound of Your great name

Hungry souls receive grace

At the sound of Your great name

The fatherless find their place

At the sound of Your great name

The sick are healed, the dead are raised

At the sound of Your great name

Redeemer, My Healer,

Lord Almighty!

Sustainer, Defender,

You are my king!

See a pattern developing here??

HIS name is powerful.

In the book of John 20:31 we are told, "but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

In Philippians 2:9-11 we are also told, "⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Today we celebrate the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus fulfilled prophecy when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey, a colt. In John 12:12-14 we see this:

¹² The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“ Hosanna!
‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’^[d]
The King of Israel!”
¹⁴ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
¹⁵ “ Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”^[e]

How can it be that today, people worship Him, they praise Him and in a few short days, some of those same people will be yelling, "CRUCIFY HIM!"?

I pray as we approach Good Friday and remember HIS sacrifice and death on the cross we will be focused on him and not drawn with the crowd. Let us not decide to chant what the world around us may be chanting. However, let us be BOLD and bring praises to HIM, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords.

Let us celebrate the tomb did not keep him.

Let us celebrate a RISEN LORD.

Let us celebrate our power that we have IN HIS NAME.

I pray you know the power of HIS name. I pray you know the peace only HE can give. I pray you have felt HIM envelope you in his arms. I pray you have the hope that only comes from knowing HIM. AND, in all those things, I pray you are sharing them with those around you who do not have peace, power, love and hope.

Celebrate today!!!

Our last Lent readings for the week are:

Monday - John 18:1-18
Tuesday - John 18:19-40
Wednesday - John 19:1-16
Thursday - John 19:17-24
Friday - John 19:25-42
Saturday - John 20 & 21