Blasted Gourds

Peter Jeffery on True Happiness in the New Year

ministerandy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:55:42 +0000

WORDS OF LIFE PSALM 1
In the Psalms ‘blessed’ means happy, so Psalm 1 is telling us
what is necessary to make a man happy.
At this time of the year you will be wishing friends a happy
New Year and they will be doing the same to you. The words
give a certain amount of pleasure, but what exactly do they
mean?
They generally mean that we hope that the circumstances
of life will shine favourably upon our loved ones. For most
people happiness depends entirely upon circumstances. This
is a fallacy, but people believe it, with the result that happiness
becomes a fleeting allusion, always dancing in and out
of our lives and never constant or permanent.
For the psalmist happiness is independent of circumstances and
depends upon our relationship with God.
The happy man does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
(v. 1) — he does not take his standards and lifestyle from the
current whims of the world.
So what is it that makes him happy? We are told in verse 2.
He has a standard that does not change. He takes God seriously.
Because of this he has stability (v. 3) and is not shaken
by every adverse circumstance.
Here is a good thought to start the new year with — be
determined that you will take God seriously. Don’t be like so
many who just play around with Christianity as if it is a Sunday
hobby.
Give more time to God so that your private devotions are
not a duty but a delight.
Learn to enjoy God. If you do this you will find that your
whole spiritual life will take on a new dimension and God will
be your happiness. Happy New Year.

12 Days of Christmas Music: Away In A Manger

ministerandy — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:07:20 +0000

So many renditions of this one, but this one is probably my favorite. Merry Christmas to all.

12 Days of Christmas Music: Labor of Love

ministerandy — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:01:52 +0000

This is not your typical Christmas Carol, but tells the story of Jesus Birth vividly.

12 Days of Christmas Music

ministerandy — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:28:03 +0000

Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb is the Christmas Story in Music. Here is Gather Round Ye Children Come.

12 Days of Christmas Music: Come and Worship

ministerandy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:46:49 +0000

Bebo Norman’s rendition of Come and Worship is well done. Christ’s birth and life is certainly reason to Worship. Lloyd-Jones says it well

The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy, the supreme example of God’s faithfulness to his promises…. What God did when he sent his Son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything he has ever promised to do. Look at it in personal sense: “All things work together for good to them that love God”—that is a promise—“to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28, KJV). “But how can I know that is true for me?” asks someone. The answer is the incarnation. God has given the final proof that all his promises are sure, that he is faithful to everything he has ever said. So that promise is sure for you. Whatever your state or condition may be, whatever may happen to you, he has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5, KJV)—and he will not. He has said so, and we have absolute proof that he fulfills his promises. He does not always do it immediately in the way that we think. No, no! But he does it! And he will never fail to do it.

12 Days of Christmas Music: O Little Town of Bethlehem

ministerandy — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:08:50 +0000

Fernando Ortega sings his rendition of this popular Christmas Carol

12 Days of Christmas Music: Little Drummer Boy

ministerandy — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:29:08 +0000

This rendition by Jars of Clay is still on my list of top Christmas songs

but for those who don’t enjoy Jars of Clay, maybe you will like a different rendition by Johnny Cash

12 Days of Christmas Music: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

ministerandy — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:58:19 +0000

This may be one of my favorite Christmas Hymns. I think the kids are already tired of me playing it over and over.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a king,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

12 Days of Christmas Music: First Noel

ministerandy — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:49:24 +0000

I ran across another new Christmas Album I am really enjoying by Phil Wickham. The album is only $5 on Amazon. Here is his rendition of First Noel. Enjoy.

12 Days of Christmas Music: Irish Christmas

ministerandy — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:40:11 +0000

The Getty’s have released a new Christmas Album. If you enjoy their modern hymns and/or Irish music you should check it out. Here is a modern carol they have written for children.