Learning To Lean

 Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

How many times do we make the best of plans and think we have life under control, then wham!

Our perfect plans scramble by the unexpected, and we find our only hope is to lean on Jesus. 

As the years pass, I find myself leaning more and more on the Lord. 

Learning To Lean

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Sad  and broken hearted, at an alter I knelt,   —    I found peace that was so serene;   —    And all that He asked was a childlike trust   —    And a heart that is learning to lean.

CHORUS:

Learning to lean, learning to lean,   —    I’m learning to lean on Jesus;   —    Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed,   —    I'm learning to lean on Jesus.

The joy I can't explain fills my heart   —    Since the day I made Jesus my King   —    His blessed Holy Spirit is leading my way   —    He's teaching and I'm learning to lean.

There's glorious vict'ry each day now for me,   —    Since I found His peace so serene.   —    He helps me with each task, if only I'll ask;   —    Ev'ry day now I'm learning to lean.

John Stallings

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

 Luke 12:6-7  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 

[7] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

The devil would like us to think that God is too busy for our  problems or that we haven’t been good enough to get His attention. 

Sometimes we need to be reminded just how valuable we are to our Lord and Savior. 

I can never post this song too often. 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

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Why should I feel discouraged?    —  Why should the shadows come?    —    Why should my heart be lonely     —    And long for heav’n and home?  —  When Jesus is my portion.  —  My constant Friend is He: — His eye is on the sparrow,  —   and I know He watches me;

CHORUS: 

I sing because I’m happy,  — I sing because I’m free,  —  For His eye is on the sparrow,   —  and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,”  — His tender word I hear, —  and resting on His goodness,     —    I lose my doubts and fears;    —    Though by the path He leadeth,     —    but one step I may see;    —    His eye is on the sparrow,     —    and I know He watches me;

Whenever I am tempted,  —  Whenever clouds arise,  —  When songs give place to sighing,  —  When hope within me dies,  —  I draw the closer to Him,  —  From care He sets me free;  —  His eye is on the sparrow,     —    and I know He watches me;

Civilla D. Martin. 1905

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. 

Until You’ve Known The Love Of God

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God’s love is always pure, always holy, always seeking what is best for the object he loves. 

His love is given freely without the hope for anything in return. 

God loves because He is love. His love is never ending - Jer. 31:3. 

His love is always given first, 1 John 4:19. 

His love is precious beyond words!

Until You’ve Known The Love Of God

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If you could own all the world and it's money,    —    Build castles tall enough to reach the sky above;    —    If you could know everything there was to know about life's game,    —    Yet you've known nothing until you've known God and His love. 

CHORUS; 

Until you've known the loving hand that reaches down to a fallen man    —    And lifts him up from out of sin where he has trod;    —    Until you've known just how it feels to know that God is really real;    —    Then you've known nothing until you've known the love of God.

If in your lifetime you could meet everybody    —    And you could call every name from here to yon;    —    But if you've not come face to face with Jesus and His saving grace,    —    Then you've known nothing until you've known God and His love.

Rusty Goodman  1965

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. 

Higher Ground

 The Apostle Paul, with all his spiritual accomplishments, takes a spiritual inventory and sees himself as a man who stands in need of improvement with the Lord.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

May we never be guilty of becoming complacent, but that we will always strive to get closer to Jesus and be more of what He wants us to be.

Higher Ground

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I’m pressing on the upward way,   —   New heights I’m gaining every day;   —   Still praying as I’m onward bound,   —   “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

CHORUS

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,   —   By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,   —   A higher plane than I have found;   —   Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay   —   Where doubts arise and fears dismay;   —   Though some may dwell where those abound,   —   My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,   —   Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;   —   For faith has caught the joyful sound,   —   The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height   —   And catch a gleam of glory bright;   —   But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,   —   “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1898

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. Also, “Then Sings My Soul”.

Under His Wings

 Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

If you long to dwell in that secret place, you can through submission and worship and losing yourself in God’s Word. 

It’s a special place of peace and safety. 

No other place outshines that sacred place under His wings. 

Under His Wings

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Under His wings I am safely abiding.   —   Tho' the night deepens and tempests are wild,   —   Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me.   —   He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

CHORUS:

Under His wings, under His wings,   —   Who from His love can sever?   —   Under His wings my soul shall abide,   —   Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!   —   How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!   —   Often when earth has no balm for my healing,   —   There I find comfort, and there I am blest. 

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!   —   There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;   —   Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me.   —   Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

William O. Cushing

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. Also, “Then Sings My Soul”.

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Stand By Me

 Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Seems like the older I get, the more I need Jesus and year 2020  hasn’t helped.

I’m thankful that we can count on God and His promises during our life journey.

Stand By Me

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When the storms of life are raging, — Stand by me.  —  When the storms of life are raging,    —   Stand by me.    —   When the world is tossing me    —   Like a ship upon the sea;    —   Thou who rulest wind and water,    —   Stand by me.

In the midst of tribulations,    —   Stand by me,    —   In the midst of tribulations,    —   Stand by me.    —   When the hosts of hell assail,    —   And my strength begins to fail,    —   Thou who never lost a battle,    —   Stand by me.

In the midst of faults and failures,   —   Stand by me.    —   In the midst of faults and failures,     —   Stand by me.    —   When I do the best I can,    —   And my friends misunderstand,    —   Thou who knowest all about me,    —   Stand by me.

In the midst of persecution,    —   Stand by me.    —   In the midst of persecution,    —   Stand by me.    —   When my foes in war array   —   Undertake to stop my way,    —   Thou who saved Paul and Silas,    —   Stand by me.

When I’m growing old and feeble,    —   Stand by me.    —   When I’m growing old and feeble,    —   Stand by me.    —   When my life becomes a burden,  — And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,  —   O thou "Lily of the Valley,"   —   Stand by me.

Charles A. Tindley 1905

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. Also, “Then Sings My Soul”.

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Through It All

 1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

[7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

God wants us to know that there will be times when we will have battles; our faith will be tried. 

Peter calls these times "manifold temptations". This means they hit us from every side often with devastating consequences.

Peter speaks of the refining process that gold goes through. When it’s put to the flame the impurities come to the top. The result is far purer gold than before.

When Jesus allows us to go through the furnace of affliction, it serves to remove from our lives things that were not needed and it brings us into a closer and purer relationship with the Lord.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Through It All

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I've had many tears and sorrows,    —    I've had questions for tomorrow,    —    there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.    —    But in every situation,    —    God gave me blessed consolation,    —    that my trials come to only make me strong.

CHORUS:

Through it all, — through it all, — I've learned to trust in Jesus, — I've learned to trust in God. — Through it all, —  through it all, — I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I've been to lots of places,  —  I've seen a lot of faces,  —   There's been times I felt so all alone.  —  But in my lonely hours,  —  yes, those precious lonely hours,  —  Jesus let me know that I was His own.

I thank God for the mountains,  —  and I thank Him for the valleys,  —  I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.  —  For if I'd never had a problem,  —  I wouldn't know God could solve them,  —  I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Andrae Crouch

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit. Also, “Then Sings My Soul”.