Links for Holy Saturday

We’ve not traditionally blogged much on Holy Saturday, but here are some links to past entries and some good sites for those looking for prayers, music and devotionals.

All our Holy Saturday entries

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Resources & Compilations

Poems for Holy Saturday

NEW: Holy Saturday around the Blogosphere 2015

Holy Saturday around the blogosphere (2014)

Kendall Harmon’s wealth of Holy Saturday entries

Holy Week: Index of Holy Week devotionals, prayers, quotes and resources here at Lent & Beyond

A collection of fantastic Holy Week Devotions from the Pontifications blog from 2004

More Pontifications Lent, Holy Week & Easter Devotionals (from 2005)

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Quotes & Devotionals

NEW: Henri Nouwen on Holy Saturday “The Day of God’s Solitude”

NEW: “Life lock’d in death, heav’n in a shell!” – Henry Vaughan

Holy Saturday: Death has seized our Lord Jesus Christ; but shall not keep its hold on Life

WA Criswell: He is dead… He is dead… He is dead. Then, then then…

Lent Quotes: St. Cyril of Jerusalem – He vouchsafed salvation

Three Spiritual Classics for Holy Saturday (from the Pontifications blog archives)

A Homily from Saint Ephrem of Syria

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Music & Poems

Poems for Holy Saturday

Palestrina: Lamentations for Holy Saturday, performed by the Tallis Scholars

Classic CCM for Holy Saturday into Easter: Christian Stephens’ The Descent, and Arise

A Classic CCM Song for Holy Saturday – He Holds the Keys (Steve Green)

Trevin Wax: My Jesus – Dead

Trevin Wax has written an amazing poem /meditation for Good Friday.  I’m reproducing the whole entry here.  Thanks Trevin for such profound words. (I’ve also tagged this under Holy Saturday, since it makes a good Holy Saturday reflection as well.)

Art Credit: Carracci,Annibale The dead Christ c 1582, Stuttgart Staatsga

And Jesus called out with a loud voice,
“Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.”
Saying this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)

~~~~~

He is dead: this man from Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel, the Lord of the world.

With His dying breaths, He spoke words of forgiveness, finality, and faith.

But now the breathing has ceased, and the lungs that exhaled forgiveness are deflated. My Jesus – dead.

The eyes that looked at the crowds with compassion are closed. My Jesus – dead.

The arms that reached out to the unworthy are lifeless. My Jesus – dead.

The hands that touched the leper are driven through with spikes. My Jesus – dead.

The ears that heard the cries of blind men are deaf. My Jesus – dead.

The lips that that told news of a kingdom are stilled. My Jesus – dead.

The voice that calmed the seas is silent. My Jesus – dead.

The feet that walked on water are stopped. My Jesus – dead.

The heart that bled for sinful humanity no longer beats. My Jesus – dead.

The Bread from heaven, broken on earth.

The Light of the world, in the shadow of death.

The Vine that bears fruit, withered and fallen.

The Gateway to God, now sealed in a tomb.

The Shepherd of souls, struck down by the sheep.

The resurrection and life, a crucified corpse.

My Jesus – dead.

~~~~~

He loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Emily Polis Gibson – In the midst of sorrow, a terrible question (a Good Friday reflection in memory of the Kenyan martyrs)

Reflecting on some of the writings of Frederich Buechner and Julia Esquivel (a Guatemalan poet and theologian), Emily Gibson has posted a powerful and beautiful Good Friday entry which she has dedicated to the memory of the 100+ Christian college students brutally murdered in Kenya this week in yet another persecution of our faith.

I’m posting here one of her quotations of Buechner and three stanzas of her original poem which spoke so powerfully to my heart as I think of and remember those who have been martyred for their faith.  Thanks be to God that through His suffering Christ HAS conquered death and hatred even if it often seems they have the upper hand in this life.  We know this life is just a shadow, and that the Cross shows we can rely totally on the Father’s love for us.  There is nothing He has spared to bring us into His joy, not even the life of His own Son.

…{His is} the love for the enemy–
love for the one who does not love you
but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain.
The tortured’s love for the torturer.
This is God’s love. It conquers the world.
~Frederich Buechner from The Magnificent Defeat

This is God with a man’s beating heart,
who bleeds from open wounds of a man’s skin,
while nailed to a tree,
considering His torturers below
and forgives them.

[…]
This is God with a man’s frailty and fear,
feeling forsaken,
conquering death and hatred
by dying for us.

This is God with a man’s last breath
giving His spirit into the hands of His father
and in so doing, ensures we live forever.

Go read and reflect on the full entry.  It’s one of Emily’s best.

And please keep praying for the families of the students killed in Kenya yesterday.

Good Friday entries at Kendall Harmon’s TitusOneNine (2009 – 2015)

Rather than just linking to Kendall Harmon’s Holy Week category at TitusOneNine as I’ve been wont to do on Good Friday in past years, I thought it would be good if I did a round up of some of Kendall’s best Good Friday entries from today (so far) and years’ past…  As I did in last night’s Maundy Thursday roundup, I’ll post several prayers in full, and then post links to quotes, poems, music, sermon excerpts, etc.

A Prayer for Good Friday (I)

Lord Jesus Christ, who for the redemption of mankind didst ascend the cross, that thou mightest enlighten the world that lay in darkness: gather us this day with all they faithful to that same holy cross; that, gazing in penitence upon thy great sacrifice for us, we may be loosed from all our sins, and entering into the mystery of thy passion, be crucified to the vain pomp and power of this passing world; and finding our glory in the cross alone, we may attain at last thy everlasting glory, where thou, the lamb that once was slain, reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer for Good Friday (II)

O Christ, who by the thorns pressed upon thy head hast drawn the thorns from the sorrows of this world, and given us a crown of joy and peace: Make us so bold as never to fear suffering, nor to suffer without cheerfulness in thy service; to the glory of thy holy name.

A Prayer for Good Friday (III)

Lord Christ, who didst enter into thy triumph by the hard and lonely way of the cross: May thy courage and steadfast loyalty, thy unswerving devotion to the Father’s will, inspire and strengthen us to tread firmly and with joy the road which love bids us to take, even if it leads through suffering, misunderstanding, and darkness. We ask it for thy sake, who for the joy that was set before thee endured the cross, despising the shame, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.

A Prayer for Good Friday (IV)

O God, whose blessed Son endured the loneliness and darkness of the cross, that we might enjoy eternal fellowship with thee: Grant that amidst life’s shadows we may know that we are never forsaken, but that we are ever walking in the light of thy countenance; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer of William Temple

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst for me endure the horror of deep darkness, teach me by the depth of thine agony the vileness of my sin, and so bind me to thyself in bonds of gratitude and love that I may be united with thee in thy perfect sacrifice, my Saviour, my Lord, and my God.

A Prayer of John Wesley

O holy and ever-blessed Jesus, who being the eternal Son of God and most high in the glory of the Father, didst vouchsafe in love for us sinners to be born of a pure virgin, and didst humble thyself unto death, even the death of the cross : Deepen within us, we beseech thee, a due sense of thy infinite love; that adoring and believing in thee as our Lord and Saviour, we may trust in thy infinite merits, imitate thy holy example, obey thy commands, and finally enjoy thy promises; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God, world without end.

And Another Good Friday Prayer

O holy and adorable Redeemer, by whose condemnation we are acquitted, by whose stripes we are healed, by whose death we have life, by whose cross we gain our crown: Keep us, we beseech thee, ever mindful of thy boundless love; and when thou dost call on us to bear for a while thy cross, like Simon of old, make us to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for thy sake, and accept our feeble sacrifice, through the merits of thine eternal redemption. (W. E. Scudamore (Rector of Ditchingham and Fellow of Saint John’s College, Cambridge)

Still Another Good Friday Prayer

O God, the Father of mankind, who didst suffer thine only Son to be set forth as a spectacle despised, derided, and scornfully arrayed, yet in his humiliation to reveal his majesty: Draw us, we beseech thee, both to behold the Man and to worship the King, immortal, eternal, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer for Good Friday (IX)

Hear us, O merciful Lord, and remember now the hour in which thou didst commend thy blessed spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father; and so assist us by this thy most precious death, that dying unto the world, we may live unto thee; and that at the hour of our departing from this mortal life, we may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, there to reign with thee, world without end.

A Prayer for Good Friday (VII)

Dear Lord, who hast blessed us with the gift of family life, that we may learn to love and care for others: We praise thee for the example of thy Son Jesus Christ, who even when deserted and betrayed by closest friends took thought for his mother and his disciple. Open our eyes to recognize in all men the claims of kinship, and stir our hearts to serve them as brethren called with us into the sonship of thy love.

A Prayer for Good Friday (VI)

Almighty and eternal God, who in thy great love didst give thine only Son to die for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world: Enable us, we beseech thee, by thy Holy Spirit, to worship thee with reverence, and meditate with humility upon those mighty acts by which thou didst bring redemption to thy people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Poems, Quotes, Sermon Excerpts…

• John Donne—Good Friday, 1613, Riding Westward
• George Herbert—The Sacrifice
• Richard John Neuhaus on Good Friday
• Of Which Wood Shall we Eat this day? (Martin Luther)
• Lord George Carey’s 2014 Good Friday Sermon
• “The love that Jesus showed on the Cross: love that endures and that saves”
• Good Friday is about the central and pivotal idea of a “happy exchange”
• Good Friday—A Five Year Old Gives Just a Glimpse of What the Cross Really Means
• For I the Lord have slain (John Newton)
• All generations shall lament and bewail themselves more than him (Martin Luther)
• Charles Spurgeon on the Dying Thief
• The Agony  (George Herbert)
• His Damnation our Liberation, His Defeat our Victory (Karl Barth)
• How shall I measure out thy bloud? (George Herbert)
• The Carpenter’s Son (A. E. Housman)
• And so we come to Good Friday (Benedict XVI)
• Ian Poulton’s Good Friday Sermon 2012 – Five Words from Matthew: Surely
• The 2012 Good Friday Homily of Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher of the Papal Household)
• To open that Kingdom to them (St Thérèse of Lisieux)
• Father Cantalamessa’s Good Friday Homily 2011
• Meditations for Good Friday Via Crucis by Augustinian Sister Maria Rita Piccione
• Father Cantalamessa’s Good Friday Homily 2010
• A Ballad of Trees and the Master (–Sidney Lanier 1842-1881 )
• The Seven Last Words
• The Twelve –Allen Tate (1899-1979)
• Who was Jesus? –Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389)
• Roosters –Elizabeth Bishop (1911 – 1979)
• Father Cantalamessa’s Sermon on Good Friday 2009
• Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of India: Meditations for Good Friday 2009

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MUSIC & SERMONS – Audio & Video links – (I’m in the process of checking these links, not all may be working)

• From Sweden’s Lund Cathedral—The final Chorus of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion

• St Pauls Cathedral Choir: God So Loved The World (John Stainer)

• Orlando Gibbons – Drop, Drop, Slow Tears

• Johnny Cash & The Carter Family – Were You There (1960)

• Kings College Cambridge Chapel Choir: Faure Pie Jesu and Agnus Dei

• J.S. Bach: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (Choir of King’s College, Cambridge)
  • Try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4uUJibpvw

• A Sermon for Good Friday: Tim Keller on 5 things the Cross Teaches us about Suffering 
  • try this link (web archive)

• Music For Prayer and Meditation on Good Friday 2011—Michael Card’s “Why”
  • try this link

• O Sacred Head Now Wounded – Fernando Ortega

Some short Good Friday quotes

This is my first Holy Week on Twitter, and several pastors and Christian leaders have been tweeting some very encouraging and meaningful short quotes and prayers for Good Friday.  I thought it would be good to compile some of the most striking quotes here.

 

At the cross, Jesus did not merely feel forsaken. He was forsaken. Not only by his disciples, but by God himself. http://t.co/LSzQqLrHFQ

— Desiring God (@desiringGod) April 3, 2015

Jesus endured the horrific agony of Good Friday so that we could share in the spectacular glory of Easter. http://t.co/LSzQqLrHFQ

— Desiring God (@desiringGod) April 3, 2015

Nails didn’t hold Jesus to the cross. Love did. #Jesus pic.twitter.com/KkFVqAsweM

— Tony Evans (@drtonyevans) April 2, 2015

Our God is none other than the God of the Cross – the God who has pledged His own being for us with every drop of His blood. #EnjoyYourDay

— Glen Scrivener ن (@glenscrivener) April 3, 2015

A prayer for Good Friday Love did not die upon that cross but, arms outstretched, still welcomes us, the twisted… http://t.co/4KU3r5yxbo

— John Birch (@faithandworship) April 3, 2015

The man who stands there making no defence, Is God. His hands are tied, His heart is open.#GoodFriday http://t.co/kBoG3QjhTg

— Malcolm Guite (@malcolmguite) April 3, 2015

There can only ever be 1 answer to the question: ‘Can you name the day on which you were saved?’ ‘I was saved on Good Friday’- @malcolmguite

— Ed Thornton (@Edthornton) April 3, 2015

Reason for the cross…Before the cross is for anyone else’s sake, the cross is for God’s sake (John 12:27-28).

— David Platt (@plattdavid) April 3, 2015

Today, he took our ugliness that we might have his loveliness.

— Mike Reeves (@mike_reeves) April 3, 2015

“Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once and He volunteered for it.” @rcsprouljr R C Sproul Jr.

— Scotty Smith (@ScottyWardSmith) April 3, 2015

“To become a man was something, but to become a man of sorrows was far more; to bleed, and die, and suffer…” Spurgeon

— Matt Redman (@matt_redman) April 3, 2015

I believe as they beat on his beautiful face He turned a torturer’s chair to an altar of grace http://t.co/XcNXFIPEgN #CrucifiedMan

— MakeWayMusic (@MakeWayMusic) April 3, 2015

Good Friday – evidence that no matter how desperate our circumstances, God has been there before us, and will meet us there. #EasterMeans

— Church of England (@c_of_e) April 3, 2015

#eastermeans the greatest sacrifice ever made, and the greatest love ever shown, for the greatest freedom ever given #thankyoujesus

— Hannah Frost (@Happityhan) April 3, 2015

New blog post: Quote of the Week: “Our sin was so great that nothing less than the death of Jesus could save u… http://t.co/TFUR2fT9aB

— jillsavage (@jillsavage) April 3, 2015

1 God + 3 Nails = 4 Given #GoodFriday

— Ann Voskamp (@AnnVoskamp) April 3, 2015

With every strike of the hammer, it looked liked the dark would win. This was God’s masterstroke. #GoodFriday #SundaysComing

— Ann Voskamp (@AnnVoskamp) April 3, 2015

By His love — you are held, By His grace — you are saved. And by His wounds — you are healed. #GoodFriday pic.twitter.com/eAfJPuYNbG

— Ann Voskamp (@AnnVoskamp) April 3, 2015

“When Satan tells me I am a sinner he comforts me immeasurably, since Christ died for sinners.” M. Luther #GoodFriday #gospel

— Alex Hawke (@AlexGTHawke) April 3, 2015

No matter what the controversies of the moment, here’s what matters: Pontius Pilate is still dead, and Jesus of Nazareth is feeling fine.

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) April 3, 2015

Good Friday Quotes. John Piper – The Intentionality of Christ’s Death

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16)

The love of Christ for us in his dying was as conscious as his suffering was intentional. If he was intentional in laying down his life, it was for us. It was love.

“When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

Every step on the Calvary road meant, “I love you.”

Therefore, to feel the love of Christ in the laying down of his life, it helps to see how utterly intentional it was.

Look at what Jesus said just after that violent moment when Peter tried to cleave the skull of the servant, but only cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52–54)

It is one thing to say that the details of Jesus’s death were predicted in the Old Testament. But it is much more to say that Jesus himself was making his choices precisely to see to it that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.

That is what Jesus said he was doing in Matthew 26:54. “I could escape this misery, but how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

I am not choosing to take the way out that I could take because I know the Scriptures. I know what must take place. It is my choice to fulfill all that is predicted of me in the Word of God.

from here:

http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/every-calvary-step-was-love

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-intensity-of-christs-love-and-the-intentionality-of-his-death

Classic Worship Music for Maundy Thursday from Graham Kendrick

I have been following Graham Kendrick on Twitter since Lent began.  He’s uploaded a lot of his classic worship songs.  Here is a 26 song Easter playlist (it includes songs appropriate for Holy Week, not just Easter)

Here are several songs that are especially related to Maundy Thursday:

Meekness and Majesty

The Servant King

Peter at the Breaking of the Bread

Kendall Harmon’s Maundy Thursday entries – including 7 Maundy Thursday prayers

Here are some entries for Maundy Thursday (from this year and past years) at Kendall Harmon’s fabulous TitusOneNine blog.  First his collection of Maundy Thursday prayers, posted various years:

Still Another Prayer for Maundy Thursday

Blessed Lord Jesus, who, when about to depart out of this world, having loved thine own, and loving them to the end, didst institute the holy sacrament of thy Body and Blood, the dying legacy of thy love: Vouchsafe, we earnestly pray thee, that we may never draw near thine altar, save with hearts enkindled by love for thee and for one another; for thy dear name’s sake.

Another Prayer for Maundy Thursday

O Lord Jesus Christ, who in the garden didst teach us, by word and example, to pray, that we might overcome the perils of temptation: Graciously grant that we, always continuing in prayer, may gain abundantly the fruit thereof, and be partakers of thy victory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

A Prayer to Begin the Day from The Royal Maundy

Lord Jesus Christ, who when thou wast about to institute thy holy Sacrament at the Last Supper didst wash the feet of the apostles, and teach us by thy example the grace of humility: Cleanse us, we beseech thee, from all stain of sin, that we may be worthy partakers of thy holy mysteries; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

A Prayer for Maundy Thursday

O Christ, the true vine and the source of life, ever giving thyself that the world may live; who also hast taught us that those who would follow thee must be ready to lose their lives for thy sake: Grant us so to receive within our souls the power of thine eternal sacrifice, that in sharing thy cup we may share thy glory, and at the last be made perfect in thy love.

A Prayer for Maundy Thursday

O Lord Christ, who in the days of thy flesh didst hallow bread and wine to be a perpetual memorial of thy passion, and a never-failing means of fellowship with thee: Make us so to thirst after thy righteousness that through these holy mysteries we may be filled with all the fullness of thy divine life, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; for thy glory’s sake.

One Last Prayer for Maundy Thursday

O Saviour of the world, who in Gethsemane didst accept the bitter cup in submission to the Father’s will: Look mercifully upon our weak and wayward lives, and arm us with such strength and courage that we may tread without fear the appointed path of duty, and evermore follow the pattern of thy costly obedience; for thy honour and glory, who now livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Still Another Prayer for Maundy Thursday

O Lord Jesus Christ, enthroned in the majesty of heaven, who, when thou camest forth from God, didst make thyself as one that serveth: We adore thee because thou didst lay aside the garment of thy glory, and gird thyself with lowest humility, and minister to thy disciples, washing their feet. Teach us to know what thou hast done and to follow thine example; deliver us from pride, jealousy and ambition, and make us ready to be subject one to another, and with lowliness to serve one another for thy sake, O Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

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Music,  Poems, Sermons & Quotes:

• “The most profound revelation of the heart of God apart from the crucifixion”
• Music for Maundy Thursday: Paul Mealor – Ubi Caritas
• God in Private and Public: A Bishop Tom Wright Maundy Thursday Sermon
• The Bp of Chelmsford—An act of love or a photo opp?
• Saint Peter (Christina Rossetti poem)
• The Archbishop of York for Maundy Thursday 2014—True Friends
• This Bread I Break (Dylan Thomas Poem)
• Maundy Thursday (–Wilfrid Owen)

and also recommended:

Kendall Harmon’s Sermon from Sunday for Holy Week—‘It is finished’

Maundy Thursday Quotes: Charles Spurgeon “He yet goes among His people with the basin and the towel”

Thanks to a great friend of L&B, Pat Dague for this devotional reflection for Maundy Thursday by Charles Spurgeon:

The Lord Jesus loves his people so much, that every day he is still doing for them much that is analogous to washing their soiled feet. Their poorest actions he accepts; their deepest sorrow he feels; their slenderest wish he hears, and their every transgression he forgives. He is still their servant as well as their Friend and Master….humbly, patiently, he yet goes about among his people with the basin and the towel. He does this when he puts away from us day by day our constant infirmities and sins….It is a great act of eternal love when Christ once for all absolves the sinner, and puts him into the family of God; but what condescending patience there is when the Saviour with much long-suffering bears the oft recurring follies of his wayward disciple; day by day, and hour by hour, washing away the multiplied transgressions of his erring but yet beloved child!….While we find comfort and peace in our Lord’s daily cleansing, its legitimate influence upon us will be to increase our watchfulness, and quicken our desire for holiness. Is it so?
…CH Spurgeon

A few Good Friday Links

This post is sticky.  New entries follow below.   Note: the Lent 2015 Links post that was at the top of the blog is here, should you need access to those links.

Apologies that Lent devotional blogging has not been possible in recent weeks.  Here are a few Good Friday links that may be of interest:

Our Compilation of various Good Friday poems, quotes, prayers, devotionals

Poems for Good Friday

Good Friday 2014 around the blogosphere

Dr. Peter Toon’s 2004 Reflection on the Good Friday Collects

Good Friday 2014 Index – last year I took a three day Holy Week retreat, which allowed some time for posting a lot of Good Friday entries here at L&B.  This post has links to 15+ Good Friday entries posted last year.

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Our Good Friday category is here should you want to browse through our past entries.  Here are several sub-categories & tags:

• Good Friday Art
• Good Friday Devotionals
• Good Friday Music (includes hymns & contemporary)
• Good Friday Poems
• Good Friday Quotes
• Good Friday Resources

Music for Lent: Wonderful Merciful Savior

The March 5th Lent entry from the Biola University Lent Project online devotional site included the excellent modern hymn Wonderful Merciful Savior:

Wonderful, Merciful Savior lyrics

Wonderful, merciful Savior,
Precious Redeemer and Friend,
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men.
Oh you rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper,
Spirit we long to embrace—
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way.
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise.
You are the One we adore.
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for.
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own,
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne.
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne.

The “about” section of the Biola devotional includes some interesting history of the song:

The tune Wonderful, Merciful Savior was penned in 1989 by Dawn Rodgers, and the lyrics were completed by Rodgers and Eric Wyse while leading worship at Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. The song is still sung regularly at Christ Community Church, and has been recorded by a number of artists, including Selah, who brought it to #1 on the Christian Inspirational Music Chart in 2001.
http://www.wonderfulmercifulsavior.com/

The Biola Lent devotional includes Selah’s version of this song.  While it is Selah’s version which has perhaps received the most acclaim, I first heard this song as recorded by Steve Camp on his 1994 album Mercy in the Wilderness, and this remains my favorite version. (Unfortunately it’s not available for online purchase.) 1994 was a challenging period for me personally and spiritually, and when I first heard this song, it helped me throw myself on Christ and trust in His mercy in a way I’ve never forgotten.

You can listen to Steve Camp’s version of Wonderful Merciful Savior (with a prelude of “There is No Other Name”) here:

 

Great Resource: Bible in a Year blog from Church of the Advent

One of our recent Twitter followers is the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham Alabama, one of the largest and most vibrant orthodox Anglican parishes in the US.  In browsing their Twitter feed, I discovered a great resource at their website:  The Bible in a Year blog

Here’s the about page which explains the rationale and purpose for the blog

Here’s a PDF document outlining the reading plan

Currently they’re reading and blogging about 2 Kings.  It’s a resource that’s very worth bookmarking, especially for small group Bible studies perhaps looking for a discussion starter on a certain passage, or if you’d like to find commentary on one of today’s Lectionary readings.  By looking at the reading plan, and using the blog’s calendar feature you could find the commentary for Jeremiah 4 – 6 – covering today’s OT lesson from Jeremiah 4.

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Malcolm Guite: Prayer Walk – excellent poem and reflection on prayer

Malcolm Guite’s blog is one of my new discoveries thanks to Twitter, and I’m very much enjoying his Lent entries. I really appreciated his “Prayer Walk” entry yesterday, and encourage readers to go enjoy it in full.  I won’t post his poem here, but rather a portion of his reflection on how prayer walking has strengthened his prayer life.

I have noticed how often interesting footpaths and bridleways start just beyond the brambles at the end of tarmacked roads marked ‘dead end’. And it seemed, for me at least, that is very often where prayer starts too. I am sure that prayer should be a first resort, but for me it is sometimes the last resort when I’ve tried everything else! I’ve also noticed that the places in life where I get stuck and come up as it were against a ‘dead end’ sign, are inevitably the important places, the places where there is real stuff to deal with and that is precisely why I get stuck or find it difficult to move forward. Too often one simply shies away from these personal dead-ends and goes for the first diversion (usually Facebook!) to try something easier. But when I’m walking, the opposite is true. It gives me pleasure to walk down the apparent dead-end and find the hidden path where the cars can’t go, strike out across the fields and leave the traffic behind, so I have tried to apply this to my prayer life.

The full entry is here.

It’s interesting that he mentions George Herbert’s poem “Prayer” as his inspiration for the poem he posted.  I too have been reading and reflecting on Herbert’s poem, especially since I’ve been reading Tim Keller’s excellent book on prayer.  I’m hopting I’ll find time in the next day or two to post Herbert’s poem and some of Keller’s reflections and insights about it.

Music for Lent (Classic CCM): Keith Green – Rushing Wind

Keith Green’s wonderful prayer song “Rushing Wind” came up in my Lent playlist two nights ago.  I’ve been singing it in my head ever since.  It’s such a powerful prayer of sanctification and surrender.

Rushing wind blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within,
Come and breathe you breath upon me,
I’ve been born again.

Holy spirit, I surrender, take me where you want to go,
Plant me by your living water,
Plant me deep so I can grow.

Jesus, you’re the one, who sets my spirit free,
Use me lord, glorify, your holy name through me.

Separate me from this world lord.
Sanctify my life for you.
Daily change me to your image,
Help me bear good fruit.

Every day you’re drawing closer.
Trials come to test my faith.
But when all is said and done lord,
You know, it was worth the wait.

Jesus, you’re the one, who set my spirit free,
Use me lord, glorify, your holy name through me.

Rushing wind blow through this temple,
Blowing out the dust within,
Come and breathe you breath upon me,
For I’ve been born again.
Songwriters: Green, Keith Gordon / Green, Melody
Rushing Wind lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lent quotes: “Lent is for the Lost” – Ann Voskamp

I appreciated this powerful encouragement / basic reminder as Lent has me very aware of the mess I make of my life when I choose to cling to sin:

Lent’s for the messes, the mourners, the muddled — for the people right lost. Lent’s not about making anybody acceptable to a Savior — but about making everybody aware of why they need a Savior.

From Ann Voskamp’s most recent Lenten blog entry.  Go read it all!