Friday, December 31, 2010

So Many Times

Happy New Year! Is it just me me or is it hard to believe that we are coming onto 2011 already?! I don't know about you, but new years in a way scare me. Its like looking at an empty page book knowing that within a years time it will be filled with all kinds of things. It can be disturbing at times to think about what will be written on those pages for the next year. Yet at the same time it can be exciting to wonder what new and thrilling things may come our way. But you know what? I am so glad that I am not the writer of that book. But rather the Master of Authors even now is preparing to write each and every one of our stories for the next year. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." How can we fret then we have such a God as that? About a year ago I was coming upon something that I was sure I was not going to be able to handle. It was then that God's still small voice came to me and said, "Bronner, look at all that I have brought you through in the past! Why are you doubting that I can help you overcome this?" I realized there and then that "...He's proven that He is more than able so many times..." The following words came to me there in the stillness of His presence. I pray that as you come into this next year you remember what a faithful God we serve and how His amazing grace can lead us through any difficulty we may face in this upcoming year. May God bless you! Happy New Year!

"Father, You've led me thus far.
Father, I've given you my heart.
My lips cannot begin to tell
Of all You've done for me.
Day by day new mercies I have seen.
Father, I bow before Your throne.
Father, I face a great unknown.
I see a storm approaching me
And I'm dreading to go through
But I must endure so I can tell the world:

So many times He's brought me through
Why should I doubt Him now?
So many times looking back
I see the impossible done somehow.
And through it all I've found the strength to stand
The grace to live in perfect peace sublime.
He's proven that He is more than able
So many times!

Faithless, I stand upon the shore
Fearful, I gaze upon the storm
In selfishness I turn away
Refusing to go through
Because I think I know what's best for me to do.
Recalling how far I have come
Remembering all that Thy hand has done
I turn around to face the storm
Knowing in the end
That my Captain is the Maker of this Wind!"

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Picture of Grace

Picture a man with no reason for living
And no hope of smiling again.
Imagine a world with no golden daybreak
Enclosed by the blackness of his sin.
Then this scene is changed in beauty and glory
Transformed by Love's sweet embrace.
The Hands of my Savior erased all my sorrow
And painted this picture of grace!

How skillful the hands of the Artest
Who painted this picture of me!
He saw with the eyes of the Master
How beautiful my life could be!
Where once was a portriat of gloom and dispare
THis masterpiece stands in its place!
Its signed with His blood and its framed with His glory
This beautiful picture of grace!