Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder

We know how easy it can be to hear the story of the gospel and it to sound dangerously familiar to us, so we use this solo song at the end of an evening of hymns to let them breathe and let people have time to reflect and pray that the wonder of Christ and His work in the world should not be forgotten.
~ Keith and Kristyn Getty


I've seen days melt into nights in circles of lights,
I've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers,
I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh,
and a story form within.

Don't let me lose my wonder.
Don't let me lose my wonder.

I saw her broken dreams inside but helping others fly,
I saw his eyes without a doubt though other lights faded out,
And though her calling roared, such graciousness poured
From the vision of her soul.

A baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark,
I knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still,
I found my home in the light where wrong was made right
And You rose as the morning star.

Psalm 66

Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name." Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for humankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot--come, let us rejoice in him... Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Romans 8:26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

P.S. Thank you, Mom!

Update

Please continue to pray for my friend. The situation is not necessarily better, and I am at a place of absolute confusion as to what to say, what to do ...even what to pray.

Tears of the Saints

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In its state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home


Tears of the Saints, Leeland

I love this song; it gives me goosebumps and brings tears to the brink.

Shut Up and Pray

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him."

1 John 5:14-15 NIV

"...I had read about the "shut up and pray" principle, and I believed it was the strategy God wanted me to employ in both of these situations. I was relatively certain that I was praying according to God's will, and I claimed God's promise in the verses above. But to be honest, I wasn't completely sure until I witnessed the Lord's supernatural intervention. David prayed, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3) If we pressure people or say the wrong things when we want them to change their behavior or course of action, we can make them more stubborn and resistant. In these cases, we're not helping God, we're hindering Him. Often, the Lord won't get involved in matters like these until we back off and hand them completely over to Him. If we stop trying to accomplish what only God can, and if we invite Him into the situation through fervent prayer, He will do what we can't. He knows how to reach these people even when we don't, and He can put pressure on them in ways that will turn their hearts toward--not against--Him and us. If we're ever tempted to harbor bitterness or resentment against the people involved, we must repent and ask for God's forgiveness and help, otherwise our prayers won't be very effective. If you feel like you've tried everything to get someone to change their behavior or course of action and you've gotten nowhere, let me encourage you to entrust the matter to the Lord, "enter His rest," and "cease from your own labors." (Hebrews 4:3,10) Persevere in prayer, then be prepared to witness the miracle-working power of God!

Lord, show me when to confront someone about their behavior, and when to just be silent and pray for them. Help me to do my part, and to let You do Yours. When I'm tempted to hold anything against anyone, help me to forgive them quickly and thoroughly. Thank You that because of my right-standing with You in Christ Jesus, my prayers shall have "great power and wonderful results"! (James 5:16 TLB)


Excerpt from "Shut Up and Pray," a devotional by J.M. Farro