I Search For You On The Horizon

The Last Night

"The Last Night" by Skillet

The Last Night
by Skillet

You come to me with
Scars on your wrists
You tell me this will be the last night
Feeling like this

I just came to say good-bye
Didn't want you to see me cry
I'm fine
But I know it's a lie

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be
The last night you'll spend alone
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go
I'm everything you need me to be

Your parents say
Everything is your fault
But they don't know you like I know you
They don't know you at all

I'm so sick of when they say
It's just a phase, you'll be okay
You're fine
But I know it's a lie

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be
The last night you'll spend alone
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go
I'm everything you need me to be
The last night away from me

The night is so long when
Everything's wrong and
If you give me your hand
I will help you hold on
Tonight, tonight

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be
The last night you'll spend alone
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go
I'm everything you need me to be

I won't let you say good-bye
And I'll be your reason why
The last night away from me
Away from me

Blessed Beyond The Curse!

"Trading My Sorrows" by Darrell Evans is one of my all-time favorite worship songs. It has been for years, since I first heard it when I started going to church in fourth grade. It holds promises that, for years, I didn't believe for myself. Now, I listen to it as a song that holds blessings I know were made for me, as well as others.

"Trading My Sorrows" by Darrell Evans

Trading My Sorrows
by Darrell Evans

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

We say
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Amen

I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted, not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

We say
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Amen

We say
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
Yes, yes, Lord
Amen

I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted, not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

Let the joy of the Lord come and be my strength again

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
The song of a child-like heart

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Time to run and play with the Lord
He set my feet to dancing
Put a new song in my heart

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

You set my feet to dancing
You put a new song in my heart
It's the joy I know of Jesus

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

My 15 Favorite Christian Songs

I made a video combining my 15 favorite Christian songs! Check it out!

Cool Devo By Scotty Smith

No longer will there be any curse. Revelation 22:3a

“Please, Lord, hasten this Day!” Try to imagine what it’s going to be like to have every expression of sin and its consequences removed from us and the universe forever! Here’s the logic of John’s grand affirmation: When Jesus comes back the judgment and limitations that God placed upon his people and his creation because of sin will be gone forever (Genesis 3:14-19). There will be no more curse because there will be no more occasion for judgment!

Think of it this way. When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden before the fall, it was possible not to sin. After the fall, when God’s shalom was violated by sin and death entering and breaking all things, it was not possible not to sin. After Jesus comes back to finish making all things new, it will be not be possible to sin. Let’s say that in another way. After we are glorified at the second coming of Jesus it will be impossible for us to sin ever again! “Wo, Nellie!” as Keith Jackson the great sports commentator used to say. That’s the best news imaginable!

This means that, in word, thought and deed, we will only love God and one another perfectly, forever! It also means that every consequence of sin will be forever gone. No one and nothing will ever be broken again. How dare we even speak in such glorious terms? Only because Jesus has already exhausted God’s judgment against our sin upon the cross. He was cursed that we might be blessed. He took the full consequences of our covenant breaking that the full blessings of life in a new heaven and new earth will be ours forever. And here’s what’s really staggering. Though we will have to wait for the second coming to be glorified—that is to be made perfect in love, we are ALREADY as justified as we will ever be! Today we say, sing and dance… there is NOW, therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ! Indeed, “Please Lord, hasten this Day!”

Scotty Smith
Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship
Christ Community Church
1215 Hillsboro Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
615-468-2230

It's good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9

Won't that be wonderful?

Magnificent Obsession

"Magnificent Obsession" by Steven Curtis Chapman


Magnificent Obsession
by Steven Curtis Chapman

Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers
And explanations
I have cried and prayed
But still I seem to stay
In the middle of life's
Complications

All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I'm
Chasing down the wind
But now, it's brought me back to You
And I can see again

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be
For You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

So, capture my heart again
Take me to depths I've never been
Into the riches of Your Grace
And Your Mercy
Return me to the cross
Let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the Love
That You've shown me

Cut through these chains that tie me down
To so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be
For You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession
My magnificent obsession

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
Lord, You are all my heart desires
You are everything to me

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be
For You
I want it all to be for You

'Cause You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one
Consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be
For You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession
Be my magnificent obsession

A Pretty Funny Joke!

I found this in the July 2009 issue of Reader's Digest (one of my favorite magazines). I thought it was pretty hilarious!

A banker approaches the Pearly Gates sweating and struggling with a heavy suitcase. Saint Peter greets him and says, "Set the suitcase down and come in"

"No way!" barks the banker. "I have to bring it in."

"What could possibly be in there that's so important?" asks Peter.

The banker opens the suitcase to reveal 50 gold bricks. Peter's jaw drops: "You brought pavement?"

Yeah, I know it's kind of cheesy, but it's a really good lesson about what we value here on earth, while forgetting what is available in Heaven.

Discipleship - Part 1, Lesson 6

Lesson 1 and an intro
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5

Lesson 6 was cald "Worship" and it was amazing and really tied the other five lessons together well. I was totally changed by this lesson and, although it's hard to get, it is worth the effort. I enjoyed it throughly.The sections were:
Core truth - What activity defines the primary purpose of the church? The functions of the church have been variously defined as teaching, fellowship, outreach, and worship (see Acts 2:42-47). Of these important functions, honoring God through worship is the church's primary purpose, because it is our eternal vocation.
Memory verse - Revelation 4:11 (in the context of Revelation 4)
Bible study - Revelation 4-5
Reading: Handling the Trauma of Holiness

Again, I'll encourage you if you go to Pathway to join a Discipleship group in August (when they'll be available again) if you haven't already started!

Discipleship - Part 1, Lesson 5

Lesson 1 and an intro
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4

Lesson 5 was called "Prayer". It was very interesting to me and one that I was able to get a lot out of. The sections were:
Core truth - What is prayer, and how can a disciple pray effectively? Prayer is a transparent dialogue. It is a conversation with God in which we address him and in quiet are addressed by him. There are four types of prayer, which are summarized by the acronym ACTS. Adoration: Appreciating God for who he is apart from what he has done for us, Confession: acknowledging to God our specific sin and seeking his pardon, Thanksgiving: appreciating God for his benefit to us, and Supplication: interceding for ourselves or others accoring to God's will.
Memory verse - Matthew 6:9-13 (in the context of Matthew 6)
Bible study - Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8
Reading - How Do We Pray?

If you go to Pathway and haven't joined a discipleship group yet, I encourage you to do so when it becomes available again in the Fall!

Discipleship - Part 1, Lesson 4

Lesson 1 and an introduction
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Lesson 4 was called "Bible Study". It was kind of dull in some ways, just a lot of information, but it was still good things that need to be known. It included how and why we should study the Bible. The sections were:
Core truth - What place should the Bible have in a disciple's daily quiet time? Because the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the uniquely inspired revelation of God and the standard of truth in all matters of faith and practice, a portion of each day should be set aside to read, study, and meditate on God's Word. The Bible is to the spirit what food is to the body.
Memory verse - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (in the context of 2 Timothy 3)
Bible study - Psalm 119:1-16
Reading - Inductive Bible Study

If you go to Pathway, I again encourage you to join a discipleship group. Just reading these gives you NOTHING in comparison to what you would get out of a group, studying together.

RCP Family Camp

         

Click here to download:

RCP_Family_Camp.zip (8460 KB)