Hymn of the Week

This week's hymn of the week is "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" by John Newton. It was written in 1779 and based on the verse "Your name is like perfume poured out;" Songs of Solomon 1:3. "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear." With lyrics like that and like the last verse, "Till then I would they love proclaim with every fleeting breath; and may the music of thy name refresh my soul in death," you want to sing along and never stop singing to the praise of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It brings to mind again the wondrous grace from God our Father that we receive through Christ. How amazing that we can hear the name of Jesus! How incredible that God would love us and shine His mercy towards us! Words cannot describe, my mind cannot fathom what God has done for me or why He would do it. Why me? Indeed, how sweet the name of Jesus sounds. Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King, my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring. Everlasting praise and glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;
'tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest.

Dear name! the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,
my never failing treasr'y filled with boundless stores of grace.

Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art, I'll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name refresh my soul in death.

Discovery of the Week: Picnik

Picnik. Is. Amazing. A photo editing site that is completely free and open to everyone, Picnik is so much easier to use than Photoshop! I love it! I know exactly what I'm doing, am able to have large amounts of control over what goes on, and can easily undo a mistake. There are so many neat features and effects to use. I strongly encourage you to check it out. Here's an original photo, and then what I did with it on Picnik.

9/11/01

2,819 killed. 289 intact bodies found. 1,717 families never received remains. 1,609 lost a partner or spouse. 3,051 children lost a parent. 115 nations whose citizens were killed in the attacks. 26 days after 9/11 the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan. 1.4 million Americans changed their holiday-travel plans from plane to train or car. 35-39 - age of the greatest number that died. 99 number of days the fires continued to burn.
I was 7 years old on September 11, 2001. All I remember is being downtown in Huntsville and scared because all I knew was that planes were hitting tall buildings. And for a couple of years after that, until I really understood what had happened, I was still scared whenever planes flew over our house. Now I can't stand it when I look at a digital clock that's at 9:11. Always Remember. Never Forget. 9/11/01.

Hymn of the Week

I know I haven't done this in a while, but I'm going to try to start and pick back up on it. This week's hymn is a new one, written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. It was introduced this summer into our youth group worship music. We all loved it, and try to sing it every chance we get. With beautiful words and music filled with hope in the saving death of Jesus Christ and His coming return, this "modern" hymn is a masterpiece. Death is dead, love had won, Christ has conquered! For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! Praise be to God.

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

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!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r 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!

War of Words

In this past Sunday's War of Words video, Paul Tripp made a point that I found incredibly convicting. Words come from the heart. Have you ever thought about that? Everything we say comes from our heart. There is no "I didn't mean that" or many times no "just kidding." Words we say were in our heart before they left our tongue. Tripp used an illustration of something his mother told him when he was young. "A drunk never says or does anything that wasn't already inside him." Or something along those lines, I can't remember the exact wording. But it's so true. Words do come from the heart. They are incredibly powerful. And we need to remember that and watch what we say and think before we speak. Nothing we say wasn't already in our hearts. Honestly, it's kind of scary.

Discovery of the Week

So recently I started listening to 50s music because I have XM radio and there's a 50s channel. And I love 40s and 50s music. They also have a channel that is completely Elvis, and my sister and I were listening to that this morning when we heard a song that I...really liked. So here it is, Discovery of the Week!