Lent and Sermon on the Mount...

I have been posting on Inst*gr*m about a book I am using as my Lent study:

It is proving to be an amazing resource.  I have had it for a few years, tried it last year (I think it was last year?) and I just could not stick with it.  This year has been (so far) a much, MUCH better year than last year...so I decided to give it a go.  SO glad I did.
 

I am also going back through the Sermon on the Mount study (book by Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones, workbook by Kari Denker) and I just finished week four yesterday.  It is taking longer than I thought it would, but it is so worth the time and effort of going back.  I realize how very much I missed the first time through (as well as where I went wrong in trying to walk out what I learned).

Anyway, what I have found so interesting about these two studies is that both of them have led me to two old, old hymns.  

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" and "Just As I Am".

I remember growing up and hearing both of these just about every Sunday and/or Sunday evening at altar call time (most churches do not even do altar call anymore - at least the ones we have been to here do not).  And it got me thinking how very, very much I love the old hymns.  How much of God's Word is tucked into each one.  And how little we hear them now.  And it is not just the hymns themselves, but the stories behind them.

For example - after reading the story behind "Just As I Am" I went back and re-read the lyrics.  And the entire Gospel message is right there.  

If you are unsure what you believe and/or your faith has grown cold I encourage you to do two things, right now - 

1) Look up these two hymns.  Read the lyrics.  Find a version you enjoy singing along with and sing them.  Pray them.  Memorize them.

2) PRAY.  Cry out to God to restore to you the joy of your salvation.  Or if you have never believed, cry out to God to remove the blinders from your eyes so that you may behold the Holiness, the Goodness, the Perfection of Jesus.  He is our everything.  Only through Jesus' shed blood on the cross will your heart find salvation and will you be able to experience peace.  And then ask Him to give you a hunger for His Word and His presence.  And step out in faith.  Today.  Right this minute.  Do not delay.  

2 Corinthians 6:2 :

for He says, “AT A FAVORABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “A FAVORABLE TIME,” behold, now is “A DAY OF SALVATION”— NASB