Hosanna!

The God of Israel had just rescued His people from their mighty enemies through a parted sea on dry ground. Dry ground. They didn’t have to wade through a little bit of water or even slog through mud. God provided a red carpet toward the Promised Land.

Days later, they camped near some springs of water and seventy palm trees. (Countless studies could be done on the significance of the number 70 in God’s Word.)

Not too long after, God ordained certain holy days to be celebrated every year, one of them being the Festival, or Feast of Tabernacles.  During the seven days this feast was observed, the Israelites were to live in tents, or tabernacles, made from the leaves of various trees, including palm trees, as a celebration and remembrance of the Lord’s deliverance and provision in the desert.

Because this joyful holiday had been celebrated generation after generation, palm leaves became a symbol of victory, triumph, and faithfulness.

So when Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey just before Passover, the crowds who had gathered there, recognizing Jesus as their savior (although their idea of what He was there to do would be vastly different), it was only right that they cut down palm branches to welcome Him.

“On the next day, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, a great crowd who had come to the Feast took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. And they cried,

‘Hosanna (oh save)! 
Blessed is the King of Israel
who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

John 12:12-13

He did indeed come to save us, but in an even much greater way than they thought. He didn’t come to only save us from a cruel and unjust government, but to save us from ourselves, from our own sins that would have brought a certain death to our souls in this life and an eternal one in the next.

The next time the apostle John would give us a look at the significance of palm leaves would be as he was given a glimpse into heaven.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

‘Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!’”
Revelation 7:9-12

 

 


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Saturday Song – I Will Carry You

Much of my life I seemed to walk alone. Or so I thought. Through more difficult days I can count, more trials, more stumbling and reaching out in the darkness for someone to help me up and thinking no one was there, now I see Jesus was.

It was He who led me, He who protected me, He who lifted me up again and again, and He who loved me through it all, and I know He always will. 

I pray you know He’s there for you, too. I pray you know He carried your sins on the cross, even when He knew the sins that would stumble you, and He loved you still.

I pray you know when you’re in need He’ll provide for you; when you fall He’ll pick you up; when you’re empty He’ll fill you; when you’re lost He’ll come after you; when you’re broken He’ll weep with you, and then He’ll heal your heart, as many times as it takes.  

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

 

 

I Will Carry You
by Ellie Holcomb
 
I know you’re tired, I see it in your eyesAll that anxiety that rules your mindI’ll be your shield when you don’t feel likeYou’ve got strength enough to fightI’ll stand by your side
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
You are not the sum of your mistakesYou don’t have to hide the parts of you that acheI choose you as you are a million times‘Cause I am not ashamed of youI won’t walk away from you
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry youWhen the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
Up and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdensUp and over the mountainsValley deep as the oceanWhen you can’t keep goingI will shoulder your burdens
 
I will carry youThrough your darkest nightWhen you’re terrifiedI will carry you (carry you)When the waters riseWhen your hope runs dryI will carry you
 
I will carry you, carry youThrough the darkest night (you)When you’re terrified(I will shoulder your burdens)I will carry you, carry youWhen the waters rise (you)I will carry you

Saturday Song – Burn the Ships

The story goes that in 1519 a Spanish explorer and soldier led an expedition in search of the conquest of Mexico. As he claimed authority over one piece of land, he ordered that his ships be burned to keep his men from retreating. (Although the truer story was probably that he had his ships sunk.)

Still, the term “burn the ships” became a trope meaning “no turning back.”  And for us who are in Christ, there is no turning back to the world or to our old way of life. 

We only move forward in faith, with our LORD, the Defeater of Death, into the waters, into the fires, into the valleys, into the victories of a deeper and more abiding faith, no matter what. 

Whatever piece of the world we’re still holding onto, let’s bravely let it go, burn the ship, claim our new life in Him, and take a step into a new day with our Faithful Father, and never look back. 

”But my righteous one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.’

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.'”
Hebrews 10:38-39

 
 
 
Burn the Ships
by for KING & COUNTRY


How did we get here?All castaway on a lonely shoreI can see in your eyes, dearIt’s hard to take for a moment moreWe’ve got to
 
Burn the ships, cut the tiesSend a flare into the nightSay a prayer, turn the tideDry your tears and wave goodbye
 
Step into a new dayWe can rise up from the dust and walk awayWe can dance upon our heartache, yeahSo light a match, leave the past, burn the shipsAnd don’t you look back
 
Don’t let it arrest youThis fear is fear of fallin’ againAnd if you need a refugeI will be right here until the endOh, it’s time to
 
Burn the ships, cut the tiesSend a flare into the nightSay a prayer, turn the tideDry your tears and wave goodbye
 
Step into a new dayWe can rise up from the dust and walk awayWe can dance upon our heartache, yeahSo light a match, leave the past, burn the shipsAnd don’t you look back
 
So long to shame, walk through the sorrowOut of the fire into tomorrowSo flush the pills, face the fearFeel the wave disappearWe’re comin’ clear, we’re born againOur hopeful lungs can breathe againOh, we can breathe again
 
Step into a new dayWe can rise up from the dust and walk awayWe can dance upon our heartache, yeahSo light a match, leave the past, burn the shipsAnd step into a new dayWe can rise up from the dust and walk awayWe can dance upon our heartache, yeahSo light a match, leave the past, burn the shipsAnd don’t you look back
 
And don’t you look backAnd don’t you look back

 

Saturday Song – Give Me Jesus

 

 



Give Me Jesus
by Jeremy Camp

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I rise
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusGive me Jesus
You can have all this worldJust give me Jesus
 
When I am aloneWhen I am alone, oohWhen I am aloneGive me Jesus
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusYou can have all this worldJust give me Jesus (Jesus)
 
When I come to dieWhen I come to dieOoh, when I come to dieGive me Jesus
 
Give me JesusGive me JesusYou can have all this worldJust give me Jesus
Give me JesusGive me Jesus
You can have all this worldYou can have all this worldYou can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

Saturday Song – Cry Out To Jesus

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

 

 

Cry Out To Jesus
by Third Day

To everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
And they’ve done all they can to make it right again, still it’s not enough

For the ones who can’t break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you’re not alone in your shame
And your suffering

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus

When you’re lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
And for the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Oh, cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

Saturday Song – In Jesus’ Name (and a little something extra)

Good morning (or afternoon or evening!), everyone. I wanted to share a couple of things with you today.  

First, I came across a message this morning I wanted to share with you light of yesterday’s blog. It was written in 1980 by a man in Rwanda who was killed for not renouncing his faith in Christ. After his death, this statement was found posted on the wall in his room. He had written it the night before. 

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

We are the Fellowship of the Son!

And second, because of my fellowship with a beautiful sister in the Lord at church last Sunday, she reminded me of this song that so encouraged me, and I thought was also appropriate to share with you today. 

This life is hard, and sometimes it’s even harder for us who are trying to walk the walk of faith because that makes us a target of the enemy, like the man in Rwanda. I know there’s pain, I know there’s suffering, believe me, I know. But I also know there’s healing in Christ. He wants to heal your heart and mind. It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but if you’ll begin, in faith, offering Him the pieces of your heart, He’ll begin putting them back together. If you’re hurting today, I pray for your healing, in Jesus’ Name. If you would like specific prayer, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

For Him,
Dorci


In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible)

by Katy Nichole

I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name ’cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name, in Jesus’ name
 
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He’s the God of possible
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
In Jesus’ name
 
Come believe it
Come receive it
Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Come believe it
Come receive it
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible
 
I pray for your healing
That circumstances will change
I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough
Would happen today

I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
I pray for revival
For restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come alive in Jesus name
In Jesus’ name

Saturday Song – Remind Me Who I Am

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!”

1 John 3:1a

 
Remind Me Who I Am
by Jason Gray
 
When I lose my way
And I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror, all I see
Is who I don’t wanna be
Remind me who I am
 
In the loneliest places
When I can’t remember what grace is
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
 
When my heart is like a stone
And I’m running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can’t receive Your love
Afraid I’ll never be enough
Remind me who I am
 
If I’m Your beloved
Can You help me believe it
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
 
I’m the one You love
I’m the one You love
That will be enough
I’m the one You love
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You, woah
 
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
To You

The Saturday Song – Reason

Alrighty. I’m just coming back from being flat on my face with a shoulder surgery first, and while still recovering from that, helping my husband through covid, and before he was well, being pulled under by it myself. Let’s just say it’s been a long eight weeks. 

Going into surgery I knew I’d have lots of extra time and wanted to spend much of it in prayer asking the Lord what to do next. I expected to hear from Him, to be encouraged by Him, to get excited about what His plan was. 

Instead, the Lord showed me I’d been stifled with a discouragement I didn’t even know was there. Step 1. 

There are many reasons for it, but the reasons don’t really matter. The fact is that most of us will probably be there at some point, for one reason or another. Might be for a short season, or a long one. And obviously the last couple of years may well have ushered that in for many of us. 

We’re tired, we’re grieving, we’re lost. Maybe we don’t have the same love for God we once did; maybe we don’t serve Him with the same passion we once had. If that’s you, remember step 1. 

Once we know it, we can pray and ask the Lord to deliver us from discouragement, hopelessness, fear, a sin that’s taken hold perhaps, or maybe from just being in a rut, and fill us again. 

I pray the Lord will fill us and renew us with His love, the love that gave all to redeem us, the love that refuses to allow anything to separate us from it, that love that’s promised to be with us through anything, no matter what, the love that has gone ahead and prepared a forever home just for us.

So as you watch this (and please don’t try this at home!), may the Holy Spirit put that love and hunger back in our hearts to worship and serve Him to the fullest. I pray we’ll pull our helmets out of that trash, spiritually speaking, and wholeheartedly give our lives again to Him, because His love compels us.

May the Lord bless you. 

Reason
by Unspoken

This year’s felt like four seasons of winter
And you’d give anything to feel the sun
Always reaching, always climbing
Always second guessing the timing
But God has a plan, a purpose in this
You are His child and don’t you forget

He put that hunger in your heart
He put that fire in your soul
His love is the reason
To keep on believing

When you feel like giving up
When you feel like giving in
His love is the reason
To keep on believing

If we could pull back the curtain of Heaven
We would see His hand on everything
Every hour, every minute, every second, He’s always been in it
Don’t let a shadow of a doubt take hold (take hold)
Hold on to what you already know

He put that hunger in your heart (hunger in your heart)
He put that fire in your soul (fire in your soul)
His love is the reason

To keep on believing
When you feel like giving up (feel like giving up)
When you feel like giving in (giving in)
His love is the reason
To keep on believing (yeah)
(His love is) it’s the reason
(His love is) it’s the reason
His love is the reason (ooh)

He’s the peace in the madness
That you can’t explain
He’s the hope in the heartbreak
The rest in the suffering
He’s closer than the air you breathe
From the start to the end to the in between
Don’t you dare doubt even for a minute
What He started in you
Yeah, He’s gonna finish

He put that hunger in your heart (hunger in your heart)
He put that fire in your soul (fire in your soul)
His love is the reason (Your love, Your love)
To keep on believing (just keep on believing)
When you feel like giving up (feel like giving up)
When you feel like giving in (oh) (giving in)
His love is the reason (Your love, Your love)
To keep on believing (yeah)

(His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
(His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
His love is the reason (His love is)
It’s the reason (His love is)
It’s the reason

His love is the reason, hey, hey

The Saturday Song – Lord of My Life

Hello Friends,
No matter where you are today, whether walking with the Lord, struggling to walk with Him, or having turned your back on Him for whatever reason, for however long, I want you to know our Lord Jesus is there and He always will be. Wherever you’ve been, He knows and loves you, and wherever you’re headed, He’s been there and back and made a way for you. Call out to Him with assurance that He will forgive where you need to be forgiven, hold out His hand, and invite you to come alongside and walk with Him. 
 
I hope the sentiment of this song will be ours throughout the coming year, and with it the peace and hope of Christ.  
 
Heavenly Father, may you be the song in our hearts and the light for our paths through every storm, every rainbow, every desert, every heartache, and every joy. May you forever truly be the Lord of our lives.
 
 
Lord of My Life
by Matt Maher
 
A sky without a North Star
A ship without an anchor
Caught up in the current
My heart is prone to wander

All these roads I’ve taken
Lead me back to nowhere
And you’re the destination
And you’re the way to get there

You can have it all

Be the song I sing, be my guided light
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Mercy’s never failing
Forgiveness overflowing
A beauty you’re unveiling
A love that just keeps growing

This is all I want
I surrender all

Be the song I sing, be my guided light
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Wanna love who You love, watch it break on through
I wanna go where go You go, wanna move where You move
Watch it break on through, break on through

Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh
Woah-woah, woah-woah
Woah-oh-oh, oh-oh
Woah-woah, woah-woah
Savior of my soul, be the Lord of my life
Every step I take, always by my side
I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life
Oh, I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

I am Yours, and You are mine
Be the Lord of my life

The Saturday Song – Strength of My Life

 
“God is our refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
 
Heavenly Father, no matter what’s happened the past year, may you renew and strengthen us through your Spirit’s resurrection power, and be our light for the coming year. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 
Happy New Year!
 
 
 
 
 
Strength of My Life
 
Every day I look to you
To be the strength of my life
You’re the hope I hold onto
Be the strength of my life
 
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life today

Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life today
 
Every day I look to you
To be the strength of my life
Breathe on me and make me new
Be the strength of my life
 
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life today
 
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life today
 
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life today