It is Done

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed.

- Psalm 71:23

You took our sin

 You bore our shame

You rose to life

You defeated the grave

A Love like this the world has never known

            -Jesus, Son of God (Chris Tomlin)

     Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God the Just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

            -Before the Throne of God Above

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine -

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

            -In Christ Alone (Natalie Grant)

These sufferings, this passing tide

Under Your wings I will abide

And every enemy shall flee

You are my hope and victory

            -Praise Father, Praise the Son ( Chris Tomlin)

The ground began to shake

The stone was rolled away

His perfect love could not be overcome

Now death where is your sting?

Our resurrected King

Has rendered you defeated

-Forever (Kari Jobe)

The storm rolled in, it was dark in the land

As the Son of Man was crucified

You don't take His life, He laid it down

And He paid the price, and shed His blood

Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the victory cry.

            -The Power of the Cross (Keith and Kristyn Getty)

It is done, the veil is torn

  He has won and I am free

        -Liberty ( Phil Wickham and Shane & Shane)

My sin, o, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole

Was nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

- It is well (Shane and Shane)

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore

            -10,000 Reasons (Matt Redman)

When we arrive at eternity's shore

Where death is just a memory and tears are no more

We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring

Your bride will come together and we'll sing

You're beautiful

            -You’re Beautiful (Phil Wickham)

On that bright and glorious day

Heaven opened up the grave

He’s alive and risen indeed

Praise him for the mercy tree

Death has died. Love has won!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ has overcome.

He has risen from the dead.

-Mercy Tree ( Lacey Sturm)

Worth is the Lamb who was slain

Worth is the King who conquered the grave

            -This is Amazing Grace (Phil Wickham)

- Charlie  

Taken Care Of

I never saw myself being the type of person to rely on other people too often. I grew up with this mindset of being independent and going at life on my own. Coming to college, I was ready to take that independence to a whole new level...You can imagine then my reaction when the people I meet in college, are people who like to take care of other people... 

Now, I'm not talking about people who baby each other and try to protect each other from this scary world, I am talking about people whom you can depend on in times of trouble, in times of need, and in times of praise. People that remind you that there is more to life than what we read in textbooks. People that teach you more about yourself than what you could ever feel comfortable sharing. People that will walk side by side with you through life, learn with you, and challenge you. 

Maybe I always prayed for these people, or maybe I just never knew how much I needed people like them in my life...

After 18 years of my life learning to be independent, I am only now starting to learn what it means to be taken care of and loved, more specifically by my own friends and peers. They are a constant reminder that it is okay to not have everything figured out and that growing up doesn't have to be something you do on your own. It is okay to feel like a kid sometimes and ask for help. Most importantly though, above all else, they've showed me what it feels like to be loved and cared for beyond all my understanding.  

You see, I believe that things happen for a reason. The people I meet and the places I end up, there is a reason behind all that. I might sound a little crazy, but that is okay. I can't possibly think of everything that has happened in my life as purely coincidental. True, it is not everyday that you meet amazing people but I believe that those people are put into our life for a reason. Be it to teach you, to love you, or to just struggle though life together with you, they are there because Someone thinks that these people all crossing paths will somehow make a difference. I don't know how God works, nor will I ever, but that doesn't mean what He is doing in my life is any less significant. In fact, everyday I am in awe at his timing and provision. He answered prayers that I have only now began to utter. He knew my needs before I could even put them into words. He taught me to depend on others and to depend on Him. He has reminded me that I cannot do this on my own and that I don't have to. He has placed people in my life who reflect His love so that in return, I may learn once again what love is and how to love those whom he has loved first. 

So I guess you can say in college, I am learning what it feels like to be taken care of. I feel like a kid sometimes and it bothers me, but that is okay. It is definitely a humbling experience needless to say. I have still a lot to learn. It seems so surreal...this love, but granted... that love is so out of this world. 

John 13:34-35  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

-Charlie