“I will sing the wondrous story I will sing the wondrous story, of the Christ who died for me, how He left His home in glory, for the cross of Calvary. Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me, sing it with the saints in glory, gathered by the crystal sea. I was lost, but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray, threw His loving arms around me, drew me back into His way. I was bruised, but Jesus healed me, faint was I from many a fall, sight was gone, and fears possessed me, but He freed me from them all. Days of darkness still come o’er me, sorrow’s paths I often tread, but the Savior still is with me, by His hand I’m safely led. He will keep me till the river, rolls its waters at my feet, then He’ll bear me safely over, where the loved ones I shall meet.” I am getting ready.

I could not do without Thee; I cannot stand alone, I have no strength or goodness, no wisdom of my own; but Thou, beloved Savior, art all in all to me, and weakness will be power, if I lean hard on Thee. I could not do without Thee; no other friend can read, the spirit’s strange deep longings, interpreting its need; no human heart could enter, each dim recess of mine, and soothe, and hush, and calm it, O blessed Lord, but Thine.  I could not do without Thee, for years are fleeting fast, and soon in solemn loneness, the river must be passed; but Thou wilt never leave me, though the waves roll high, I know Thou wilt be near me, and whisper, “It is I.”

I never realized how much I needed the Lord, until he showed me that he needed me, by choosing to first love me. “He stretched forth his hand and mine enfold, I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea, ‘twas not so much that I held him, as thou dear Lord held me”. What a loving Savior! I love him because he first loved me.

“They cried to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and the wonders he does for his children. Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and tell of his acts with shouts of joy”. Thank you, Lord!

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.”

As we grow in our walk with God, he lifts us higher. And as the song writer said, we are pressing on the upward way, new heights we are gaining every day; still praying as we’re onward bound, saying “ Lord, plant our feet on higher ground”. As we grow in our walk with God, we experience changes, our hearts have no desire anymore to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay; though some may dwell where those abound, our prayer, our aim, is higher ground. Lord, continue to lift us up, continue to guide us along the homeward way, still praying as we’re upward bound, that you will plant our feet on higher ground. Thank you, Lord!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s time for us to carefully examine ourselves. It is time for us to give to God the things that belongs to him; giving up those things that so easily cause us to lose our way. It’s amazing to think about all the things I thought were important, things that I thought I could not do without, until I gave my life to Christ. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done for me and in my life. All of those things that I craved brought me nothing but shame, they caused me to wander away from God. My brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s not worth it to gain the world and lose our souls. Is there anything worth more than your soul? Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I need is Jesus Christ.

Lord, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Proverbs 28:13

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51

“It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, and they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Thank you, Lord!