The Love of Christ

Ephesians 3:19
The love of Christ which passeth knowledge.


The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fulness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe His matchless, His unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is so vast and boundless that, as the swallow but skimmeth the water, and diveth not into its depths, so all descriptive words but touch the surface, while depths immeasurable lie beneath. Well might the poet say,
"O love, thou fathomless abyss!"
for this love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it. Before we can have any right idea of the love of Jesus, we must understand His previous glory in its height of majesty, and His incarnation upon the earth in all its depths of shame. But who can tell us the majesty of Christ? When He was enthroned in the highest heavens He was very God of very God; by Him were the heavens made, and all the hosts thereof. His own almighty arm upheld the spheres; the praises of cherubim and seraphim perpetually surrounded Him; the full chorus of the hallelujahs of the universe unceasingly flowed to the foot of his throne: He reigned supreme above all His creatures, God over all, blessed for ever. Who can tell His height of glory then? And who, on the other hand, can tell how low He descended? To be a man was something, to be a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer, these were much for Him who was the Son of God; but to suffer such unparalleled agony-to endure a death of shame and desertion by His Father, this is a depth of condescending love which the most inspired mind must utterly fail to fathom. Herein is love! and truly it is love that "passeth knowledge." O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power.

Devotional by Charles Spurgeon

Links for You

We can learn something from this lady at Country Charm ~ 92 year old lady says "No" to thief......how the Easter date is determined ~ You can click to turn off the music on the blog, to hear the video.

This is part two of the story ~ Nubs is reunited with Marine owner

This is for those who love tea at Gracious Hospitality ~ Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon

This hymn is beautifully done at The Deputy Domain ~ O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

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Praise and Thanks

How Great Thou Art ~ sung by Anne Murray ~ pictures of Jesus

Because He Live ~ song by the Gaithers

My Tribute ~ song by Andrae Crouch

Jesus Rejoiced

Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit.


The Saviour was "a man of sorrows," but every thoughtful mind has discovered the fact that down deep in His innermost soul He carried an inexhaustible treasury of refined and heavenly joy. Of all the human race, there was never a man who had a deeper, purer, or more abiding peace than our Lord Jesus Christ. "He was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows." His vast benevolence must, from the very nature of things, have afforded Him the deepest possible delight, for benevolence is joy. There were a few remarkable seasons when this joy manifested itself. "At that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth." Christ had His songs, though it was night with Him; though His face was marred, and His countenance had lost the lustre of earthly happiness, yet sometimes it was lit up with a matchless splendour of unparalleled satisfaction, as He thought upon the recompense of the reward, and in the midst of the congregation sang His praise unto God. In this, the Lord Jesus is a blessed picture of His church on earth. At this hour the church expects to walk in sympathy with her Lord along a thorny road; through much tribulation she is forcing her way to the crown. To bear the cross is her office, and to be scorned and counted an alien by her mother's children is her lot; and yet the church has a deep well of joy, of which none can drink but her own children. There are stores of wine, and oil, and corn, hidden in the midst of our Jerusalem, upon which the saints of God are evermore sustained and nurtured; and sometimes, as in our Saviour's case, we have our seasons of intense delight, for "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of our God." Exiles though we be, we rejoice in our King; yea, in Him we exceedingly rejoice, while in His name we set up our banners.

Devotional by Charles Spurgeon

Song of Praise - Jesus Christ Is Risen

I also wrote a post about the Easter Sunrise Service here.

"Alleluia! Alleluia!"

A hymn for Easter Sunday ~



Alleluia! Alleluia!Hearts to heaven and voices raise;
Sing to God a hymn of gladness, Sing to God a hymn of praise;
He who on the Cross a Victim For the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Now is risen from the dead.

Christ is risen, Christ, the first fruits Of the holy harvest field
Which will all its full abundance At His second coming yield;
When the golden ears of harvest Will their heads before Him wave,
Ripened by His glorious sunshine From the furrows of the grave.

Christ is risen, we are risen! Shed upon us heavenly grace,
Rain and dew and gleams of glory From the brightness of Thy face;
That we, Lord, with hearts in heaven, Here on earth may
fruitful be,
And by angel hands be gathered And be ever safe with Thee.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high!
Alleluia! to the Saviour Who has gained the victory!
Alleluia! to the Spirit, Font of love and sanctity!
Alleluia! Alleluia! To the Triune Majesty!

Christopher Wordsworth (1862) Arthur S. Sullivan (1874)

Listen to the music here
Click on the black and white notes for the music played by the Moravian band.

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"Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus" Movie

View this Christian flash presentation here.

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Easter and Spring

Happy Easter and First Day of Spring!

A couple of links for you ~

Rose of Sharon ~ Welcome Spring

Songs From My Journey ~ New Life

Enjoy the beautiful flowers of springtime ~

Spring Flowers


Spring Medley Revisited I

And celebrate the gift of everlasting life ~


The Invitation

Given to us from God, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ ~

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.

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Everlasting Love

A wonderful devotional by Charles Spurgeon ~

John 15:9
As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you.


As the Father loves the Son, in the same manner Jesus loves His people. What is that divine method? He loved Him without beginning, and thus Jesus loves His members. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." You can trace the beginning of human affection; you can easily find the beginning of your love to Christ, but His love to us is a stream whose source is hidden in eternity. God the Father loves Jesus without any change. Christian, take this for your comfort, that there is no change in Jesus Christ's love to those who rest in Him. Yesterday you were on Tabor's top, and you said, "He loves me:" to-day you are in the valley of humiliation, but He loves you still the same. On the hill Mizar, and among the Hermons, you heard His voice, which spake so sweetly with the turtle-notes of love; and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all His waves and billows go over you, His heart is faithful to His ancient choice. The Father loves the Son without any end, and thus does the Son love His people. Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver cord, for His love for thee will never cease. Rest confident that even down to the grave Christ will go with you, and that up again from it He will be your guide to the celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and the same immeasurable love the Son bestows upon His chosen ones. The whole heart of Christ is dedicated to His people. He "loved us and gave Himself for us." His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves Him! There is much food here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness!

Bing Crosby - Easter Parade

This is just for fun. Some things always make me think of my mother. She loved the song, Easter Parade, written by Irvin Berlin in 1933. I also remember going downtown shopping for shoes and hats for Easter.

"Hosanna"

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, 1632

This hymn is sung on Palm Sunday. There are parts in the Moravian hymnal, but I will try to post the words correctly.

Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes! Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is He that comes, Blessed is He that comes,
He that comes in the name of the Lord! He that comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes! Hosanna! Blessed is He that comes!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!

Christian Gregor (1765)

Be sure to listen to the pretty music here.

I read in the newspaper that the service will be broadcast live on WSJS 600/1200 AM radio.

My friend Barb, from Tidbits and Treasures, sent me this information from her website on Holy Week and Easter.

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"Jesus, Source of My Salvation"

Jesus on Cross

Jesus, Source of my salvation, Conqueror both of
death and hell, Thou Who didst, as my oblation,
Feel what I deserved to feel, Through Thy sufferings,
death and merit,I eternal life inherit:
Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,Dearest Lord forever be.

Lord, Thy deep humiliation Has atoned
for all my pride;I need fear no condemnation,
Since for sinners Thou hast died.Thou becam'st a curse,
dear Saviour,To restore me to God's favor;
Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee, Dearest Lord forever be.

Lord, I'll praise Thee now and ever, Who for me wast
crucified; For Thy agony, dear Saviour
For Thy wounds and pierced side, For Thy love so tried,
unending, For Thy death, all deaths transcending.
For Thy death and love divine, Lord I'll be forever Thine.


Ernst Christoph Homburg (1659) Christoph Anton,c. (1642)

The hymn is in the Moravian Hymnal, and is played by the Moravian Band. It is usually played slower I believe.

I had a link to the music, but it has been removed.

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Easter Sunrise Service

I found this article about the Easter Sunrise Service in Old Salem. We used to go and would dress very warmly, because it was usually extremely cold. The beautiful walk down to God's acre for the sunrise is very impressive, with the bands playing.

I believe this may be the chorale the band plays during the night ~ "Sleepers, Wake!"
This is the first chorale sung by the congregation at the 6:00AM service, after the pastor says "The Lord has risen" and everyone says " The Lord is risen indeed!"

Hail, All Hail, Victorious Lord and Savior,
Thou hast burst the bonds of death,
Grant us, as to Mary, the great favor
To embrace Thy feet in faith:
Thou hast in in our stead the curse endured,
And for us eternal life procured,
Joyful we with one accord
Hail Thee as our risen Lord.

I'm sorry that the music has been removed.

The last hymn sung is "Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord", and the music has been removed.

Here are some more pictures of Old Salem and the church.

Here is a link for more information about the service.

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Tribulation

A timely devotional by Charles Spurgeon, pertaining to all some are going through ~

Acts 14:22
We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.


God's people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when He chose His people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the faithful." Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have His presence and sympathy to cheer them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the kingdom," it will more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they passed to enter it.

God's Word

I have been looking through scripture verses, received by email, that I have saved on my computer. I thought I would share some of them with you.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your
affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-2, King James Version

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21, King James Version

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9, King James Version

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, is as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8, King James Version

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14, King James Version

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts 2:17

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

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A Variety of Posts

Go over to Sue's at Coffee and Praise ~ Sign up for her Giveaway and read her beautiful words

Water ~ Hear a beautiful song, "How Long Has It Been" ~ and read "The Man Who Walks on Water"

Some really cute animals ~ NannyKaren's Korner

And Karen had something else I really liked ~ music

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PROOF

Watch this video ~ Proof of God's Existence