Post by IHS32404 on Aug 7, 2004 12:00:31 GMT -6
Today we gather to read from the Scriptures and sing hymns to our God.
Let us sing:
Lift your voices to the Lord:
Glory to our God most High!
I wish to sing a song written by the artist Michael W. Smith (a popular Christian artist) the song is entitled Lord Have Mercy (I'm assuming its based off the prayer with the same name).
Don't we all feel that way sometimes? We all need God's love and mercy. Today I thought it would be appropriate to tell of my own experience with God's mercy. Here is my testimony:
Several days before the night of March 24 or 2004 I began to experience a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wondered what it was. Throughout the day at school I felt bad but didn't know what the problem was. I found myself strangly interested in religious things that day which was very unusual for me at least thinking of Christian things. My life was full of sin and vice. I had done many bad things up until this point to name a few: cussing, lusting, pornography, anger, hate, deception. Well, later in the day I was walking outside when I suddenly realized that this thing I was feeling had to be God. I spoke to God saying, "Alright God, you got my attention. Prove yourself, if you are really out there, and if you really care, prove it." I went to sleep on that thought.
The next morning something strange happened, you might call it an odd coincidence but I call it the plan of God. (I go to a Christian school). The message at chapel that day was about atheism and how it is wrong. The speaker proved that God existed and that only the God of Christianity was true and that he cares for us. Well after that you can imagine that I was a bit shocked. Throughout that day I began to re-evaluate my idea of salvation. Up until that point I thought I was saved, I had gone down the aisle said the prayer did the baptism thing, so my thought was, "I'm good to go." I realized something with my experience there, everytime in the Bible salvation is by faith not by 'accepting Jesus.' So I looked up faith in the Webster's Dictionary it said, "complete trust" I realized that was something I didn't have. But something inside of me just kept me down so that I couldn't trust Christ as Savior. So I rejected God and said to myself, "I'm already saved I don't need this!" That might've been my plan but God had other ideas.
The next day was Wednesday, when I woke up I felt as sick as a dog, I thought I was going to stay home because I thought I had a virus or something. But I did go to school that day and felt awful the whole day. This pounding question on my heart, "Am I really saved?" I thought about hell that day, alot. Well once home I put my mind off of it for a while. But later that night at around 10 PM I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried to go to sleep but that wasn't going to happen. I knew what I should've done but I didn't until God acted. God pulled me out of bed. He gave me the strength to pray, to have faith. So I prayed something like this, "Lord Jesus, I know that I've been bad and sinned against you, and I want to change around but I can't do it by myself. Jesus, change my life around, forgive me of all my sins. I believe with all my heart, soul, and mind that you are the Son of God and died for me. I trust in You alone for my salvation. Thank You Lord." Never had such a peace descended upon me. Now was the hard part of changing my life around to be like Christ...
Now you know of my experience with the grace of God.
Let us sing the ancient prayer Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison
Let us sing:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Lift your voices to the Lord:
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love, carry me
My king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
Amazing love, carry me
My king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Amazing love, carry me
My king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
Amazing love, carry me
My king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
Glory to our God most High!
I wish to sing a song written by the artist Michael W. Smith (a popular Christian artist) the song is entitled Lord Have Mercy (I'm assuming its based off the prayer with the same name).
Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken
Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief
Renew the fire again
Chorus
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Repeat
I have built an altar where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions
Help me love You again
Repeat Chorus
I have longed to know You & Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining
Like a beacon in the night
Repeat Chorus 2x
Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief
Renew the fire again
Chorus
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Repeat
I have built an altar where I worship things of man
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions
Help me love You again
Repeat Chorus
I have longed to know You & Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining
Like a beacon in the night
Repeat Chorus 2x
Don't we all feel that way sometimes? We all need God's love and mercy. Today I thought it would be appropriate to tell of my own experience with God's mercy. Here is my testimony:
Several days before the night of March 24 or 2004 I began to experience a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wondered what it was. Throughout the day at school I felt bad but didn't know what the problem was. I found myself strangly interested in religious things that day which was very unusual for me at least thinking of Christian things. My life was full of sin and vice. I had done many bad things up until this point to name a few: cussing, lusting, pornography, anger, hate, deception. Well, later in the day I was walking outside when I suddenly realized that this thing I was feeling had to be God. I spoke to God saying, "Alright God, you got my attention. Prove yourself, if you are really out there, and if you really care, prove it." I went to sleep on that thought.
The next morning something strange happened, you might call it an odd coincidence but I call it the plan of God. (I go to a Christian school). The message at chapel that day was about atheism and how it is wrong. The speaker proved that God existed and that only the God of Christianity was true and that he cares for us. Well after that you can imagine that I was a bit shocked. Throughout that day I began to re-evaluate my idea of salvation. Up until that point I thought I was saved, I had gone down the aisle said the prayer did the baptism thing, so my thought was, "I'm good to go." I realized something with my experience there, everytime in the Bible salvation is by faith not by 'accepting Jesus.' So I looked up faith in the Webster's Dictionary it said, "complete trust" I realized that was something I didn't have. But something inside of me just kept me down so that I couldn't trust Christ as Savior. So I rejected God and said to myself, "I'm already saved I don't need this!" That might've been my plan but God had other ideas.
The next day was Wednesday, when I woke up I felt as sick as a dog, I thought I was going to stay home because I thought I had a virus or something. But I did go to school that day and felt awful the whole day. This pounding question on my heart, "Am I really saved?" I thought about hell that day, alot. Well once home I put my mind off of it for a while. But later that night at around 10 PM I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried to go to sleep but that wasn't going to happen. I knew what I should've done but I didn't until God acted. God pulled me out of bed. He gave me the strength to pray, to have faith. So I prayed something like this, "Lord Jesus, I know that I've been bad and sinned against you, and I want to change around but I can't do it by myself. Jesus, change my life around, forgive me of all my sins. I believe with all my heart, soul, and mind that you are the Son of God and died for me. I trust in You alone for my salvation. Thank You Lord." Never had such a peace descended upon me. Now was the hard part of changing my life around to be like Christ...
Now you know of my experience with the grace of God.
Let us sing the ancient prayer Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison