Hold My Hand (Day 10 of 31 days)

This is a simple little song written a few years ago...  I think it's funny to use the image I did in the middle of a "little lost dog" (it's not terribly poetic), but it was and still is such a fitting description of how I can feel at times.  Wandering aimlessly through my days - pretty sure I'm supposed to be getting somewhere  but not sure how.  It's my prayer these days as I trust God to lead me and as I long to walk hand in hand with Him.

Hold My Hand

“Remember – it is My job to hold on to you…  not just the other way around.”

PLEASE Lord, hold my hand

Don’t let me go

I can’t stand without You

I get lost without You

In the sun and the fog

Can’t find my way without You

Like a little lost dog

But I cannot stay with You on my own

I am too weak, but You are so strong

Bind my heart to yours

Fix my eyes upon You

So that all distractions fade

In Your face of Truth

You are my Way

Please help me to walk with You

M. Ens  9.20.06

All Creation Sings

This was one of the very first songs I ever wrote and it's still one of my favorites...

All Creation Sings

  

In the beauty of the mountain peaks I see Your majesty

Your power in the mighty ocean waves

Your loving, gentle touch, a cool summer breeze

Your refreshing in the falling rain

Your faithfulness in the rising sun

Your healing in the dawn of Spring

Your joy and delight is the laughter of a child

Of You, all creation sings

Lord, You're bigger than the sky above yet closer to me

Than the very air that I breathe

The grandest canyons wide could never hold all Your love

And Your truth is a rock for eternity

Your freedom is like the eagle as it soars

Your Word like a fire that burns in me

The light of heaven shines in the moon and stars at night

The universe sings of Your glory

So Lord unto You I lift this, my humble prayer

That the world would somehow see

More of You and less of me

Of You, may my life sing

Of your love, and of your power, of your peace, hope and joy

May my life sing        

M. Ens  1995

Be My Strength

Be my strength

Be my song

Be my salvation

You are my God

I will hide

Myself in You

My refuge, my fortress

I am safe with You

Hallelujah!

Our God reigns!

Hosanna!

Our God saves!

Give thanks to the Lord

For He is good

The Lord is with me

And His love endures

M. Ens

Aug 26, 2010

I wrote this song last year during the final week of moving out of our house before moving up to Canada for training.  We finished moving out of our house on the evening of Aug. 30 and drove off for Canada on Sept. 1.  Phew!

God has been teaching me lately more about what it means to hide myself in Him.  I can't really put words to it yet, but am thankful that He is with me to protect me, shield me, comfort me, strengthen me...  He is always here.  Always present.  Always available.  Always strong.

Always in me.  And I'm always in Him.

Mind blowing, people.

John the beloved disciple put it this way (emphasis mine):

1 John 4:13-20

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹³ This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given to us from His Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. ¹⁶And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

What a beautiful mystery...

I Cannot Help but Praise You {Day 5 of Songs from My Heart}

This morning it was rainy and gray. We got home yesterday from a packed trip to Missouri, Kansas & Oklahoma visiting a bunch of people and churches and even a school to share with them about our call to Peru. It was tiring but really good. And upon preparing to come back (I'm starting to feel strange calling Fresno "home") I was sort of expecting to feel overwhelmed today. With all the things there are to do in the weeks ahead as we anticipate leaving for Peru just after Thanksgiving (we hope!) there is a mountain of stuff for God to get done. : ) Much, much to do! 

I usually come home from trips worn out and less than enthusiastic about cleaning up and unpacking and getting back into the normal routine. I often end up fighting to not get depressed. But today, to my surprise, I woke up in a good mood! Not fighting the blues and grays like I expected. Instead for most of the day I've had joy and peace that doesn't make any sense. Could be denial, but I'm gonna choose to believe it's God's wild grace and proof that if I trust Him and walk with Him He'll guard my heart with peace that is beyond comprehension.

Which leads me to today's song. It was written several years ago & roughly recorded (as in I cringe a few times when I listen to it!) in 2009.  : )  Click here* if you want to listen to it.

*Might I suggest you right click and select "open in new window" or new tab to listen and read along at the same time. Or right click and select "save link as" to download.)

I Cannot Help But Praise You

I cannot help but praise You (3x)

‘Cause You’ve done so much for me

You’ve given me peace

You’ve given me life

You’ve given me power to stand in the strife

You’ve given me joy

You’ve rescued my soul

Your love is amazing and there’s so much more

I cannot help but praise You (3x)

Because of who You are to me

You’ve filled me with hope

You’ve shown me your truth

With every sunrise your mercy is new

You’re changing me Lord

You’ll show me your way

As I seek You day by day by day

Your love gives me joy, peace, patience, kindness

Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

And as I abide in You, You abide in me

Until there’s so much fruit it over-overflows

And for eternity I’ll praise You

For eternity I’ll praise You (2x)

As I bow before Your throne

Singing “Crown You with many crowns!”

           And Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord

           The Lord God Almighty upon the throne

           You are worthy to receive

           Honor, glory, praise and power for eternity!

So for eternity we’ll praise You

For eternity we’ll praise You

For all eternity we’ll praise You

And You’ll reign forevermore!

M. Ens 6.1.07

GREAT IS THE LORD

GREAT IS THE LORD

Psalm 48, Deut. 33:12

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise

In the city of our God, His holy mountain

It is beautiful, the joy of the whole earth

Is Mt. Zion, the city of the Great King

            God is in her walls, He has shown Himself to be her fortress

            As we have heard, so we have seen:

            GOD MAKES HER SECURE FOREVER

In your temple, O God, we’re amazed by Your great love

We’ll sing Your praise, to the ends of the earth

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him

For He shields her all day long

            And the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders

            For this God is our God forever and ever

            He will be our guide to the very end

Remember what He’s done

Tell the next generation

So they will know our God

            So they will rest in Him

                        And tell the world of His unfailing love

M. Ens   3.24.2010

Not By My Might

Last night was our last stop in our whirlwind tour of MO, KS & OK.  We've shared/spoken/visited at about 12 or 13 events in the last 11 days and it was a lot of fun.  The kids still have a bit of homework to finish up (ugh) but we are really thankful for the time we've had to share about this journey of ours and our dreams for the future.  Doing it all with our teammate Stacy made it even better.  : )  It was our first time doing anything as a team and even though it was only part of our team (there are at least 3 others who are on our team as well) it was a great glimpse of the joy working together is going to bring.  PRAISE GOD!

Last night at our last sharing time at Watershed Church in Kansas City, MO, I felt led to share this song with them.  So I thought it would be an appropriate one to share with y'all today.  ; )  I wrote it during the crazy summer of 2010 when we were working hard on moving out of our house so we could start training in Abbotsford and I KNEW there was NO WAY we would be able to get out of our house without God's help and strength and supernatural power at work in us and around us.  This song was one of the ways I could remind myself of that and plead with God for Him to show me His power at the same time.  And as always, He did indeed come through!!!

Not By Might

Zechariah 4:6 “…'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.”

Exodus 9:16 “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”   

(Chorus)           It’s not by my might

                                It’s not by my power

                                But by your Spirit, oh Lord Almighty

                                It’s not by my strength

                                It’s not by my wisdom

                                But by your grace I stand

David didn’t slay Goliath

‘Cause he was good at throwing stones

Gideon didn’t win the battle

By strength of his own

The walls of Jericho fell by your hand

As your people walked by faith

Moses didn’t set the people free

Peter didn’t walk on water

Your people never won the victory

But by your Spirit’s power

                Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief

                In my weakness show me your power

                You have raised me up so that

                I might proclaim your name

                In all the earth

M. Ens  7.16.10

Mark 9:23-24  " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Day 3