According to Lilies

The Blog of Joshua Hughes, Worship Minister at Four Oaks Community Church.

<< Previous Page   Next Page >>

August 11, 2009

Marriage Retreat

Recently Katie and I got away for a few days to celebrate our fourth anniversary and to take part in a do-it-yourself marriage retreat.  Some friends in the church were kind and generous to provide a place for us to get away, and Reagan had a grand time hanging out with my parents and Aunt Jessica.  The materials we used for the retreat are produced by 9marks ministries, and it was a rich time for us.  You can get get the materials here.  I can’t recommend it highly enough.  I was amazed by how many of the questions in the materials I had never asked before, or hadn’t in a long time.  I was freshly aware of my responsibility to contend for my family and to care for my wife with intentionality. 

As I’ve heard Pastor Paul Gilbert say many times, we will either take our cues for how we relate to one another in marriage from the world or from God’s word.  I was provoked by our time away to move more toward the latter.  Husbands, even if it’s not possible to get away for a night or two, I’d highly recommend reading over the document linked on the 9marks site and consider how you might more intentionally care for the wife God has given you to love, protect and cherish. 

Tags:

posted by Joshua Hughes

August 11, 2009

Sunday Preview, 8/16/09

This week we will examine Luke 9:23-27, and the command of Jesus for his followers to take up their cross and follow him. 

I will be leading our time of singing.  We will exalt the glory of Christ’s sacrifice for us with the song, “The Glories of Calvary” and “The Power of the Cross.”

Let’s consider the cross in our families this week, then do so together as a church family on Sunday!

The Glories of Calvary
by Steve and Vikki Cook

Lord, You’re calling me to come
And behold the wondrous cross
To explore the depths of grace
That came to me at such a cost
Where Your boundless love
Conquered my boundless sin
And mercy’s arms were opened wide

My heart is filled with a thousand songs
Proclaiming the glories of Calvary
With every breath, Lord how I long
To sing of Jesus who died for me
Lord, take me deeper
Into the glories of Calvary

Sinners find eternal joy
In the triumph of Your wounds
By our Savior’s crimson flow
Holy wrath has been removed
And Your saints below
Join with your saints above
Rejoicing in the Risen Lamb


© 2003 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).


The Power of the Cross
by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

Chorus:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

Final Chorus:
This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

© 2005 Thankyou music

Tags:

posted by Joshua Hughes

August 04, 2009

Sunday Preview, 8/9/09

This Sunday we will continue our study of Luke’s gospel.  We will look again at Luke 9:18-27, focusing our attention on verses 21-22 and the question, “Why the cross?”  We will close our meeting be taking the Lord’s Supper as a church family.

For our time of singing, we will mix things up a bit and have a small acoustic band comprised of myself, Doug Jernigan and Amanda England.  Doug and I will share leading duties, and Amanda will play violin.  We will respond to truth of the cross by singing, “Hosanna” and one of my favorite hymns, “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.” 

Hosanna
by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
When we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your kingdom, broken lives are made new, You make all things new

© 2005, 2006 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music | Thankyou Music | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
by William Cowper

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day
And there have I though vile as he
Washed all my sins away

Dear dying lamb Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more

E’er since, by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing Thy power to save

Public Domain

Tags:

posted by Joshua Hughes

<< Previous Page   Next Page >>