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How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty roads and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sin and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price
How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
by Twila Paris
This song was sung last Sunday at my church. It is one of my favorites so I thought i would print the words for anyone and everyone to read. These lyrics always bring me to tears as i am reminded just how much my God loves me. I especially love the line that talks about the" radiant bride who waits for her groom with his light in her eyes". I know this was true of me 18years ago as I walked down the aisle toward Randy . I hope it still rings true today. But even more, I pray and hope that the light of Christ shines in my eyes for a lost world to see. How amazing to think though the words of this song that reflect all that God ,through His Son, has done for mankind. Completely beautiful!
"How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure life so that others may live." Another of my favorite lines. May this always be true of me, Lord.
Sorrowful news
3 years ago
6 comments:
Wow, the photo of Kate is beautiful. Did you take it? I never really knew all the words to that song-thanks for sharing. I did not to church this week, just let Lily rest. Let's try to get together soon! jody
LOVE the new header, friend.
What stunning lyrics. I don't think I know that song. Going to find it on youtube.
Thank you for being SUCH a blessing.
I was just thinking this morning about how much Jesus loves us and we just really can't comprehend it with our puny minds.
Thank you for the blessing today!
Hi Lisa, to answer your question...I use a Nikon D90 with a 50mm 1.4 lens. It's my favorite lens for now. I also have the 18-105mm lens that came with the D90. It's the only 2 I have at the moment. I appreciate your comments on my photography. I'm still in the learning process and it's always nice to hear what others think. Glad to know we're on the same journey. :-)
BTW, love Twila and this song...it really is "Beautiful".
What a joy and a blessing to know both of you. I thank the Lord for each one of you! It really is extensive just how far reaching God's redemptive purposes can be seen when I examine your lives (myself being included in the extent). I love all of you and thank the Lord for you. The joy that we have in the fellowship with those who are in Christ Jesus is precious, precious, precious.
This may sound odd but I have been thinking about something lately. I am coming to believe (standing on the outside and watching your lives and others) that participating in adoption may very well be the second-most selfless act that can be done in the name of Christ . . . martyrdom being the greatest. Aside from a person giving his or her own life-blood for the gospel of Christ, adoption is nearly about the closest thing. Just like you pointed out in what you wrote . . . There are years ahead of providing for, investing in, loving on these beautiful girls. It is a calculated taking-up of the cross of Christ. My prayer and my hope is that these two girls will grow up to be committed to taking up their own crosses for the sake of the gospel.
I also want to write something for that couple that may come by this post who is considering adopting. The adoption of Kate and Olivia has really changed my life. Having walked with the Lord for a few years, I was able to watch Randy and Lisa adopt these two girls from the outside. For what God has taught me through these two adoptions, I am extremely thankful. I never really thought about those five passages in the New Testament where the word "adoption" is used. When I compare what Randy and Lisa have done over the past 6 years, I really believe that God has shown me the most beautiful example (outside of Scripture) of what exactly God the Father did on our behalves when He adopted us.
-These two girls never knew Randy or Lisa prior to them initiating a relationship to them.
-These two girls were bankrupt. They had nothing to contribute to the fare/the price that was necessary in transferring them from where they were to where they are now.
-As if the 7,000 miles were not enough, Olivia could not even speak. She could not pick up a phone, write a letter, or send an email to ask for help.
-If you visited Olivia or Kate in their former countries and sat down and asked them to explain the condition they were in, they would not have been able to.
-When Randy flew to China, he knew specifically who he was going to get. He knew specifically how he was going to get her. He knew exactly how much it cost (or maybe not :) ) He knew exactly where he was going to take her.
-There are a thousand more things that I could say about these adoptions . . . but really, the thing that gets me is exactly what Lisa has already said. I've stood back and watched Randy too. He has no real reason to have loved these two girls and rescued them. Everything that is his is really theirs. They lack nothing. Each of them has a "Dad" now that loves them so much.
We could very well say some of the same things about ourselves. God in fact has adopted us. He has not taken us from China to North Carolina. But even more, He has transferred us out of the domain of darkness and in the kingdom of the Son of His love. Where we were dead in our sins and trespassess, He has made us alive in Christ with life eternal. And you know, I'm thankful that we see that the Father was not the only one we see who participates in our adoption. In fact each member of the Trinity is referred to in reference to our adoption. The Father is mentioned in Eph. 1:5. "He predestined us to adoption." The previous verse mentions that the Father chose us before the foundation of the world. The redemptive plan of God (before the foundation of the world) has always been committed and resolute in bringing about our adoption so that we would have God as our Father. In Gal. 4:5 and Eph. 1:5, God's own Son is the means through whom He brings us to Himself and adopts us. "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ." And in Romans 8 we see the Holy Spirit's role. "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as son . . . The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." The Holy Spirit graciously tells us (over and over and over and over again) that we really are the children of God. And not only that, but He reminds us that at times when we might cry out "Abba, Father", we really have everything now being heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ. What is His will undoubtedly be shared with us. AMAZING.
We have an amazing, gracious, loving Father if we are in Christ Jesus. When we participate in adoption we really proclaim the gospel of Christ. And I thoroughly believe that the bottom line reason someone ought to adopt is that one reason- proclaiming the gospel of Christ undoubtedly results in glorifying God. I'm so thankful that God saw it as glorifying to Himself to expand His own family . . . It's my prayer that God's Church will see it the same way.
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