Here are the lyrics:

We are saved in a world that’s lost
All our hope rests in Your Cross
God of strength, our weakness shows
We need You
We need You, Lord

Father, enter this temple
Come touch Your people
We need to be where You are
And children living as their Father
Washed in pure water
We need to be like You are

We are searching for Your presence
We are knocking on Your door
Let Your wings cover us with promise
For communion
For communion

To be like You are
To be where You are
Father, come touch Your people

To be where You are
To be like You are

Nothing is beyond the reach of prayer except that which was out of the will of God.
Prayer Power Unlimited, J. Oswald Sanders

Here is Paul Baloche singing the song Hosanna (Praise is Rising).

You can download the lead sheet by clicking on this link.

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) has a series of videos on their website that includes beginning guitar lessons with Paul Baloche. Paul Baloche is one of the best worship songwriters of our day. He’s written the songs “Above All”, “Praise Adonai”, “Open the Eyes of My Heart” as well as many others. One that has become one of my favorite worship songs is a new one he co-wrote with Brenton Brown called “Hosanna (Praise is Rising)”. What I love about these guys is that they make available lead sheets and resources on their websites to equip others. Visit each one of their websites by clicking on their names above.

But back to why I originally wrote this post. CCLI has a whole series of instructional videos. If you’ve ever thought about learning to play the acoustic guitar for the purpose of worship start at the beginning with this video. Then navigate through the pages of cclitv.com for more instructional videos.

Here’s another great Hillsong worship song.

Mighty to Save
words & music: Reuben Morgan, Ben Fielding
Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
A kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King…Jesus

“Hosanna”, written and sung by Brooke Fraser is an amazing worship song. Here is a video of the song and also a video of an interview of Brooke on the writing of the song.

Video at Hillsong during a worship service.

Video of Brooke describing on how the song was written.

As believers it is really important to read the bible everyday. Here are some different bible reading plans to choose from.

Bible Reading Guides - Historical
Read the books of the Bible as they occurred in the Hebrew and Greek traditions (the order in which they were written). For example, the Old Testament books in the Hebrew Bible do not occur in the same order as they do in our English Bible. The New Testament books are arranged according to their date of writing as well. Click here for the plan.

Bible Reading Guides - Chronological
Read the events of the Bible as they occurred chronologically. For example, the Book of Job is integrated with Genesis because Job lived before Abraham. Click here for the plan.

Bible Reading Guides - Old and New Testament Together
Read the Old Testament and New Testament together. Your knowledge of the Old Testament will be enhanced by what you read simultaneously in the New Testament. Click here for the plan.

Bible Reading Guides - Beginning to End
With this guide there are no surprises. You simply read through the Bible from start to finish, from Genesis to Revelation. Click here for the plan.

Bible Reading Guides - Blended
If you prefer not to read straight through the Bible but want to add variety to your Scripture reading. For example, while you are reading the Old Testament book of Isaiah, you are also reading the New Testament book of Mark to heighten the variety of your Bible reading. Click here for the plan.

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:28

Don’t you feel that perfection is not in you? Doesn’t each action and reaction every day teach you that? Every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters “imperfection.” Each and every tear you cry reminds you that you are imperfect. But in the midst of this sad realization of imperfection, here is comfort for you - you are “perfect in Christ Jesus.” In God’s sight, you are “complete in him.” But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is guaranteed to all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It’s an amazing thing to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? The Church then will be so pure, that not even the eyes of the one who knows all will see a spot or blemish in her; holy and glorious.

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this portion of scripture, “Complete in Christ.” It is not until then that we will fully understand the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. Doesn’t that make your heart jump for joy at the thought of it? As filthy as we are today there will be one day that we will be completely clean. Only Christ can take a shameful sinner and transform him into a glorious saint. We will do well to stand in awe of the truth of our personal perfection in Christ.

excerpts from Spurgeons, Morning & Evening

…of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. Colossians 1:25-27

The apostle Paul had been saved to serve God. “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you,” he said. He knew that his life was now to be lived out to serve the Creator of the universe. He wasn’t saved to go on living and doing the same things he had been doing up until this point. His life had been changed so that he could now go out and share the same message that had changed his life. He had been entrusted to reveal the wonderful mystery of God and he was very well aware of his calling and his purpose because he was well acquanted with his Savior.

What has God entrusted to you? Do you realize that God has assigned you a specific ministry and that in fact you are not in part time but in full-time ministry! In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul affirms that God has given everyone a spiritual gift and a ministry. Each one of us has a specific spiritual gift which we are to “manage”. One of the primary purposes of a believer on earth is to be a minister of the Most High God. How are you doing? Are you sitting and soaking (in the sermons) or are you selflessly serving and exercising your gift or gifts following in the footsteps of our greatest Example, Christ Jesus? If not, now is the time to begin to redeem the time — it is a decision that you will be eternally grateful that you made. So don’t procrastinate. Fulfill your purpose as Paul did with great zeal and joy.