Some wonderful person up in the north of England sent a CD and how I wish I could put it on the web for everyone to hear! It is the children in the Sunday School of Morecombe Full Gospel Church singing and, it seems to fill the house with sunshine.
One track features their innocent young voices singing 'The Ten Commandments' and it goes:
You shall have no other gods before me
Nor to an idol shall you bow the knee
You shall not take the Lord God’s name in vain
Remember the Sabbath it’s God’s holy day
Honor your parents
You shall not kill
Be faithful in marriage for this is God’s will
You shall not steal
Nor false witness bear
Of coveting always beware
I cannot listen to it without bowing my guilty head and thanking the Lord for the ton of mercy He had on me. So many people I talk to think they are OK, and not sinners at all. At least I never had that problem! I knew with no doubt whatsoever that I was a sinner and where I deserved to go.
Do you think you are OK and God will just wave you into Heaven? It's not like that at all! Jesus said: 'I am the way (to Heaven), the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'
In John 3:3 He says: 'Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.'
Christianity is so radical that you cannot even be in it unless you are 'born again', meaning born spiritually, made anew, created afresh inside by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Being born again is something personal, and in my case, quiet, private, just between God and me. I didn't 'feel' anything creepy. I just knew deep down that Jesus was God and I was going to follow Him regardless. Being born anew is something between you and Jesus, something He will do in the heart of anyone who sincerely puts their faith and trust in Him.
If you still think you are OK, please check yourself out against those simple 10 Commandments.
Did you faithfully keep No 1, no other gods before Jesus? Or did other things take first place in your life? They certainly did in mine! Dong! Failed that one.
Number Two? No idols, no bowing the knee to statues? Dong! Failed that one too. I often knelt in front of the statue of Mary in the Catholic Church of St Andrew's where I grew up in St Louis, Missouri. Maybe a movie star was your idol, or a new car or a beautiful house? People from India have china cabinets full of little idol statues which they pray to. Time to chuck out the idols!
How about Commandment Number Three - God's name? Dong! Failed that one countless times. People today, especially women, constantly say: 'Oh my G-d' as an expletive. When I point out that they are using God's name in vain, they are surprised and, strangely, they usually say it again because it is their way of expressing surprise! God's name is holy! This is a serious matter, but nitwits on television are constantly misusing His holy name, and undiscerning people just copy that. It is .... vile.
That is only the first three. James tells us in the Bible that if we offend against even one commandment, we have broken them ALL, because the Mosaic Law is one solid entity. All or nothing.
That is why the Bible confidently tells us 'All have fallen short of the glory of God.' All are guilty. All need a Savior. Even Jesus' mother indicated that she needed a Savior! We are fallen people in a fallen world, and thank God for sending Jesus to die for all our sins. He is our only hope!
Won't you kneel down wherever you are and ask Jesus to forgive your sins today? I did in 1981 and it is a prayer that I believe He will always answer. I begged Him to forgive me, and to make me one of His people. I knew I was guilty and had no other hope.
From that night I have belonged to Him! He will forgive you, wash you clean, and make you one of His people by baptizing you with His Holy Spirit. You may not feel a thing; I didn't. In fact I thought He would never want me. But although that (false) thought made me sad, I also thought: 'Even if He doesn't want me, I love Him and I am going to follow Him forever.'
It was only later after I searched for a church, kept reading the Bible and talking to Christians that I learned with the utmost delight that Jesus always answers that heartfelt prayer of repentance! He died for sinners! Even me! And even you.
Anyway, I love the CD and the voices of the children. It made me sad that I grew up in a Catholic church and we had no children's music at all. How dumb. I heard it for the first time in my 60s and I love it! Anyway I looked up the Morecombe church which made the CD and here is their pastor, Chris Brough, talking about being a disciple of Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTVgXvthQNo
And here is an eye opener on their website, talking about Joyce Meyer and Creflo Dollar (please don't send them any of your hard earned dollars; they are already rich - they should be sending you money!)
http://www.mfgc.net/#!youth
And although I don't know how to put the children's CD on our website, I can print out the words of the songs for you. Someone has worked very hard with these children, and I for one really appreciate it. Here are the words, plus two extra songs I have added.
Good news! Good news! Christ died for me.
Good news! Good news! If I believe;
Good news! Good news! I'm saved eternally. That's wonderful EXTRA good news.
(Second Verse) Good news! Good news! Christ lives for me.
Good news! Good news! He prays for me.
His Word tells that He'll come again for me. That's wonderful EXTRA good news!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world He gave His only Son
That whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life
L is for the love that He has for me
I am the reason He died on the tree
F is forgiveness and now I am free
E for enjoying His company
For God so loved the world He gave His only Son
That whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life
******
Matt 6:20 treasure in heaven
I want to live for Jesus every day
I want to live for Jesus come what may
Take the world and all its pleasure
I’ve got a more enduring treasure
I want to live for Jesus every day
I know that my Redeemer liveth He lives within my heart 4X
******
Ps119:105
Read the Bible 2x
Read it daily 2X
It’s a lamp it’s a lamp and a light to my pathway (Repeat)
Ps 23 (sing in round)
The Lord is my Shepherd I’ll walk with Him always
He leads by still waters I’ll walk with Him always
Always always I’ll walk with Him always 2X
Jer 32:17
He made the stars to shine (twinkle twinkle)
He made the rolling sea
He made the mountains high so high
And He made me (bumpety bump)
But this is why I love Him
For me He bled and died
The Lord of all creation
Became the crucified
He also made the sun to shine on everyone
He made the rain and snow and things that grow
But this is why ---chorus
Joy
I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart
Where? Down in my heart
Where? Down in my heart
I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay
And I’m so happy so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my hear-ar-art
And I’m so happy so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart
Where ? Down in my heart.
Where? Down in my heart
I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart
Where ? Down in my heart to stay
And I’m so happy…
I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in my heart
Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart.
I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in my heart
Where? Down in my heart.
Down in my heart to stay
And I’m so happy so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
And I’m so happy so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
********
Matt 7:24-27
The wise man built his house upon the rock 3X
And the rain came tumbling down
The rain came down and the floods came up 3X
And the house on the rock stood firm
The foolish man built his house upon the sand 3X
And the rain came tumbling down
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the house on the sand fell flat
So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ 3X
And the blessings will come down
The prayers go up and the blessings come down 3X
So build your house on the Lord
******Ten Commandments
You shall have no other gods before me
Nor to an idol shall you bow the knee
You shall not take the Lord God’s name in vain
Remember the Sabbath it’s God’s holy day
Honor your parents
You shall not kill
Be faithful in marriage for this is God’s will
You shall not steal
Nor false witness bear
Of coveting always beware
John 14:6
I am the way the truth and the life
That’s what Jesus said 2X
Without the way there is no going
Without the truth there is no knowing
Without the life there is no growing
I am the way the truth and the life
That’s what Jesus said
*******
How did Moses cross the Red Sea?
How did Moses cross the Red Sea?
How did Moses cross the Red Sea?
How did he get across?
Did he swim? No, No
Did he row? No, No
Did he jump? No, No No, No
Cross a bridge? No, No
Did he fly? No, No
How did he get across?
God blew with His wind,
puff, puff,puff,puff,
He blew just enough,
nough,nough,nough,nough,
And through the sea, God made a path,
That’s how he got across
Praise God!
**********
Mr Noah built an ark
The people thought it such a lark
Mr Noah pleaded so
But into the ark they would not go
Down came the rain in torrents (splish splash) 3X
And only 8 were saved
The animals went in 2 by 2
The elephant giraffe and kangaroo
All were safely stowed away
On that great and awful day
Down came the rain in torrents (splish splash) 3X
And only 8 were saved
Whenever you see a rainbow 3X
Remember God is love.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world
He gave His only Son
That whoever believes in Him
Shall not die but have eternal life
L is for the love that He has for me
I am the reason He died on the tree
F is forgiveness and now I am free
E is enjoyment in His company
66 Books
66 books in God’s holy Word
Telling the story of Jesus my Lord
Books of the Bible I love so well
The books of the Bible I love to tell…
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Joshua Judges Ruth
First and Second Samuel
Kings Kings Chronicles and Chronicles
Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job
Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah
Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel
Hosea Joel
Amos Obadiah
Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk
Zephaniah Haggai
Zechariah Malachi and Matthew
Mark Luke and John The Acts Romans
First and Second Corinthians
Galatians Ephesians Philippians
Colossians Thessalonians 2
Timothy Timothy
Titus Philemon and Hebrews James
First and Second Peter
First and Second John
Third John Jude and Revelation
Two songs I added:
B-I-B-L-E
That’s the book for me
I stand alone on the Word of God
B-I-B-L-E
*****
O be careful little eyes what you see 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little eyes what you see
Oh be careful little ears what you hear 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little ears what you hear
Oh be careful little tongue what you say 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little tongue what you say
Oh be careful little hands what you do 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little hands what you do
Oh be careful little feet where you go 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little feet where you go
Oh be careful little heart whom you trust 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little heart whom you trust
Oh be careful little mind what you think 2X
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little mind what you think
So be careful little mind what you think
The worship leader at our church and I were so impressed by this CD that we are trying to make a little songbook of it for our Sunday School. Fortunately she has the technical skill to make it come out right on proper pages, with songs on both sides of the page. God gives us all different gifts, maybe so more of us can gain rewards by contributing whatever it is that we can do!
*The children who sang on that CD are now probably all grown up and, I hope, still following the Lord. It still gives me a thrill to listen to them.