A good song for Lent

He Ever Loves Us
Written by Alex Mejias
CD: High Street Hymns (Download it from Amazon here)

He ever loves us in our brokenness
Weeps for every grief we face
Intercedes for us without ceasing
And bids us to receive His grace
And bids us to receive His grace
His love protects us through the dark night
Never leaves us in our pain
Shelters us with His presence
In weakness, He perfects His strength
He ever loves us in our brokenness
In the cross he hides our shame
Forsaken by the Father
He died for us, He took our place

My Valentine’s Day post

Last year I wrote a longer post on Valentine’s Day.  I was reading it again last night and many of the feelings I expressed I still feel.  In most ways I am still in that same place I was last February.  If you missed it here it is (typos and all).

This year I simply post a quote I have been thinking about recently.  This is describing the sort of love I think everyone is seeking.

“What really counts in life is that at some moment you have seen something, felt something which is so great, so matchless, that everything else is nothing by comparison, that even if you forgot everything you would never forget this.”

St Augustine on God

“What are you then, my God – what, but the Lord God?  For who is Lord but the Lord?  Or who is God save our God?  Must high, most excellent, most powerful, most almighty, most merciful, and most just; most hidden, yet most present; most beautiful, and most strong; stable, yet mysterious; unchangeable, yet changing all things; never new, never old; making all things new and bringing age upon the proud, though they know it not; ever working, yet ever at rest; still gathering, yet lacking nothing; sustaining, filling and protecting; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet possessing all things.  You love without passion; you are jealous without anxiety; you repent, yet have no sorrow; you are angry, yet serene; change your ways, your are plans are unchanged; recover what you find, having never lost it; never in need, yet rejoicing in gain; never covetous, yet requiring interest.  You receive over and above, that you may owe—yet you have anything that is not yours?  You pay debts, owing nothing; remit debits, losing nothing.  And what have I now said, my God, my life, my holy joy—what is this I have said?”

Waiting on God

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

Keep us, O Lord,
while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after you
and in an affectionate walking with you,
every day of our lives;
that when you come
we may not be found hiding our talent,
nor serving the flesh,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious God for ever.  Amen.  (Celebrating Common Prayer)

He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the LORD.”  The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!  My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.  But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.  It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, to put one’s mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), to give one’s cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults.  For the Lord will not reject forever.  Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. (Lamentations 3:16-31)