Well Invested

The young boy in John 6 was willing to part with his loaves and fishes. Maybe there were others present that day who had food hidden away and didn’t offer to share it. Who knows? Maybe one of the disciples had a Snickers bar tucked in his cloak! So afterwards he thought, “Shoot! We could have had dessert for everyone, too!”

In giving his food into the hands of the Master, the boy not only participated in feeding thousands of hungry people but also shared in the bounty till his own stomach was “made full.” Spurgeon said, “Anything that you take away from self and give to Christ is well invested.”

Jesus accepted the little barley cakes and tiny sardines. In taking them up, He was saying, “These will do for me. These are enough for me.” Though there was just a small amount, He knew He could use it and even do mighty things with it. The boy gave all he had to the Master, and Christ proved it was enough for Him.

All is His

I thought I owned million-a-thing, the thoughts I think, the songs I sing;
I thought I claimed each moment mine, the lyric, the poem, even the rhyme.
I thought I had a way with life, that peace was mine, and even strife;
I thought I could hold it in my hand, be queen for a day-now that’d be grand!
But then I thought, “These thoughts won’t do.” Something in them refused to ring true.
For even my mind which built such notions, and also my deepest heartfelt emotions,
Were created by Him Who possesses the stars, the Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars,
All creatures, all plants, things present and past, all that is gone and that which will last.
You see, nothing is mine, not even this breath; all is His: my days, my death.
So I will live as I am: truly His own, from kneeling on this Earth ’til before His throne.
And when they ask, “What did she possess?” The love of a King and His happiness.

Amen, Jésus, Amen

When Liliana was two years old and beginning to form her words well, every night as we laid her in bed and said a goodnight prayer, she would conclude by saying, “Amen, Jésus, Amen.” She first called Jesus by His French name. We are trying to raise our girls bilingually, so hearing her sweet voice say “Jésus” brought joy to our hearts.

It is precious to consider that Christ’s children from around the globe call out to Him in their native tongues and He hears. He responds. He carries out the Father’s will in and through our lives. This Savior we serve is international. He is universal. He is all and in all (Colossians 3:11).

Below is a song written for Lillie that speaks of Christ’s Lordship.

AMEN, JÉSUS, AMEN
For Lillie
Amy Branson Fata
© 2009 Portion Music (ASCAP)

I realize how small I am
And I can’t comprehend how big You are
And Lord, I know not a day goes by
That You don’t occupy Your throne

Chorus
Your will be done in the daytime
Your will be done when the stars shine
For then, for now, and for all of time
Oh Amen, Jésus, Amen
Oh Amen, Jésus, Amen

You hold all things in the palm of Your hand
And I can’t understand why You hold me
For You are King, Lord of space and time
If You’d not think of me, I’d cease to be

The universe cannot contain
The glory due Your name and all You’re worth
And my small heart is captured by Your grace
And I will fill this place with Your praise

Chorus 2
Que ta volonté soit faite la journée
Que ta volonté soit faite la nuit étoilée
Pour aujourd’hui, pour l’éternité
Oh Amen, Jésus, Amen
Oh Amen, Jésus, Amen

A Decade of Blessing

Ten years ago we embarked on an adventure into full-time music ministry. We had no idea how the Lord would use us. We wondered how He would provide for our needs as we left behind the security of a regular paycheck. Nonetheless, we confidently grabbed His hand and leaped into the unknown believing Him to be Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Who Provides. And He is. We don’t just believe it; we know it. Through the years, we have marveled at His provision as He showered us not only with what we needed, but also with blessings above and beyond our desires.

We pray our testimonies and songs have been an encouragement to God’s people and we earnestly hope His name has been glorified. What we have experienced on this side of our ministry is a Heavenly Father Who loves and teaches us in every season of life. In famine or feast, He is present at our table.

He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided” (Genesis 22:12-14).

Thanks be to God, Who in His providence, ordains the ram to be caught in the thicket. May His guidance and goodness continue to abound in the decade to come, but more importantly, may we bear fruit for His kingdom and be vessels of honor for His name’s sake.

The Savior’s Feet

A new modern hymn describing the beautiful feet of our Lord . . .

THE SAVIOR’S FEET
Amy Branson Fata
© 2011 Portion Music (ASCAP)

Falling teardrops wash the Savior’s feet
Jesus is her heart’s cry
With her hair she wipes the past away
With perfume she finds life
The Son of Man has come to
Answer the sinner’s plea
The dust of life on this earth
Under the Savior’s feet

Walking on this sod to redeem us
Children of the promise
Jesus, Son of God, gave up the throne
Placed His favor on us
Behold the Lamb slain for us
Hanging upon a tree
Behold our chains breaking loose
Under the Savior’s feet

Reigning on His throne the Son sat down
At the Father’s right hand
Sins are now atoned for all of time
We rejoice at night’s end
The veil, His flesh, torn for us
Father’s promise complete
Behold His sworn enemies
Under the Savior’s feet

The Lord Takes Care of Dogs and Babies

I answered the phone and a voice on the other end said, “I have Maestro.” He had gotten off of his leash and had wandered a half-mile down the road. I am thankful that the kind folks who found him read his collar and returned him safely to us. But in my haste to recover him and tell Patrick about the call, I left the gate at the top of the stairs open. In the middle of my story, we heard a baby call from above. Sabrina was sitting at the top of the stairs patiently awaiting my return, which was out of character for her; she is normally brave and adventurous. Again, my heart sang out in praises to God for His protection.

What I am most thankful for are not these moments where we are spared sorrow or even tragedy, but rather the peace of knowing that even when we do fall down the stairs, we have a Heavenly Father Who ordains all of our steps and supplies all of our needs.

Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way? (Proverbs 20:24)

All of life, every breath and every moment, is designed for His glory. It is not up to us to understand the WHY, but rather to pursue the WHO.

Paris in the Springtime

We just returned from spending four wonderful weeks in Paris, France. Many nations were represented by the people attending the international churches in Paris, in Jurbise (Belgium) and in Eindhoven (The Netherlands). Worshiping God with His children from around the globe is a glimpse of our future glory in heaven. The commonality we find in Christ Jesus is a most precious gift. It is one I will never forget.

Little Munch

Sabrina will be ten months old the day after Easter. She is a spunky, humorous, wonderful baby whom we have nicknamed “Munchie.” Below is a picture of a nylon sticker we miraculously got unstuck from the back of her hard palate two nights ago. I know we aren’t supposed to live in the land of the “what ifs,” but what if we hadn’t noticed her strange cough as she played? What if the manufacturer had made the sticker clear instead of white, and what if we hadn’t seen its corners when she tilted her head backward in laughter? What if I had nursed her and put her to bed as I had planned to do just a few minutes later?

This week, as believers, we celebrate not only Christ’s sacrifice, but also His victory over sin and death through His resurrection. We are grateful that His sufferings are ours in abundance (2 Cor. 1:5) and we praise Him for the fact that He is our risen Lord. As a mother, I also cry out, “Thank You, thank You, thank You, Jesus!” for sparing my little Munch.

The Soul’s Nourishment

Psalm 119 is considered to be the alphabetical acrostic to end all acrostics. There are only eight other acrostic Psalms and most of them use one or two verse segments, rather than eight, in their poetic form. Often, acrostics are used as mnemonic devices to aid memory retrieval. This Psalm is not only a magnificent piece of literature, but also a powerful portion of Scripture where the psalmist is unwavering in his loyalty to the Word of God.

Reflecting on the poetic nature of Psalm 119, it is precious to consider that the Holy Spirit would choose to speak to us in forms that are both beautiful to our hearts and helpful to our memory. Whether plain or elegant, His design of instruction is intended to benefit the spiritual growth of His people. Calvin stated that the will and purpose of the Spirit is to make us feel and understand that doctrine is set down not only for great clerks who have gone to school for ten or twenty years, but also for the most simple; therefore, none should pretend any excuse of ignorance. Verse 130 reads, “The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

I remember saying to my mom during a moment of teenage rebellion, “Why should I read the Bible? I don’t understand it anyway.” Claiming ignorance is more socially acceptable than admitting laziness. God has implanted a need for His Word in His children, and to deny ourselves time in it is to deny nourishment to our very souls. Whether we are well-educated or simple-minded, He will provide wisdom to those who pursue His truths.

Broken Before God

Are you grieved over your sin? Do you frequently pour your heart out to God in repentance? Alan Redpath said, “God will never plant the seed of His life upon the soil of a hard, unbroken spirit. He will only plant that seed where the conviction of His Spirit has brought brokenness, where the soil has been watered with the tears of repentance as well as the tears of joy.”

When I was a little girl, I remember being in the classroom of our little country church in Kentucky listening to my Sunday school teacher describe sins such as murder and stealing. I sat there with my buttons popping with pride (probably on a dress my mother made me wear!) believing I was without sin. At least I never did those things, the sins that really “mattered.” We know that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child (Proverbs 22:15). But as an adult, am I not guilty of the same thought process? Do I watch the world around me and think, “I don’t do those things.” How dangerous it is to compare myself to anybody or anything other than Christ. He is the perfect spotless One. His standard of holiness is the only one worth striving to attain.

May I find myself convicted of every unholy thought, motive or act through the power of His Word and His Spirit working within me. With eagerness, may I bow to soak His feet with tears of repentance, that He may turn them into tears of joy.