WONDERFUL AND MARVELOUS
Today is February 1, and I have decided to join in with the #Write28Days group with Anita Ojeda. My plan is to follow the prompts she gives as much as possible. The prompt for today is the word wonderful. As I thought about it, I thought of a chorus we sang many years ago in youth group, titled Wonderful and Marvelous. I don’t remember the last time I sang it, but the words came right to me.
Wonderful and marvelous is Jesus to me
Sweeter than the honey in the honeycomb is he
Jesus is real
He’ll never fail
I will serve Him now and throughout all eternity
I always enjoyed singing it, not just because it has a catchy tune, but I believed what it said. I still do. Jesus is real, and He has never failed me. Here is an arrangement I found on YouTube that includes a second part.
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, my sins are forgiven. I am free FROM the bonds of sin, because I have been justified (or made righteous) by Christ Jesus. I am free TO grow, flourish and become my true self, abiding in Him.
Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
(Romans 8:33-34)
Surrendering my life to God actually gives me more freedom. I don’t have to try to control everything. It’s out of my hands anyway. Instead, I am free to pursue writing, art, baking and more without fear. Yes, I may fail, but I can also try again or move to something else. Through it all He will be with me.
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S WONDERFUL LOVE
Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35,37-39
We have the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. Pause for a minute and just consider what that means. If you ask me, it is a wonderful and marvelous fact! While here on earth, God is with us, guiding, sustaining and comforting. When this life is over we will still be with Him throughout eternity. What a blessed hope!
When I shared the Wonderful and Marvelous chorus with my husband, it reminded him of a medley we used to sing. It starts off with a chorus. Then with the last word you begin another song and so on until the end. It kind of goes along with the theme of how wonderful Jesus is, our final heavenly home and how we can live while still on this earth.
I am going to be brave and share it with you. When my kids were babies, I remember singing it to them. So think of that as you listen – a mother singing to her babies. Though I’m a little out of practice singing, and may go slightly off key, I hope it will encourage you. Just click on the play arrow below.
I’m linking up with #TeaAndWord, #InspsireMeMonday and the #Write28Days group.
I like how you highlighted that surrendering to God frees us to enjoy so many good things. I recognized all the songs you referenced, and we used to sing one of those “mash-up” choruses as well, but with a few different songs than yours.
I know surrendering sounds kind of counterintuitive to freedom, but that’s how it works, isn’t it? With God we are free. That’s cool you recognized all the songs I referenced! It was fun for me to reminisce and enjoy those older songs. Blessings to you!
Dear Gayl, thank you so much for singing these beautiful choruses! We sang them all too! You’ve brought such a comfort to my heart tonight, remembering the blessing of singing these together so many years ago with loved ones. And Jesus has become even more wonderful and marvelous to me over the years. Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear friend.
Dear Bettie, thank you for your encouragement and your sweet friendship. Yes, it was a blessing to me, too, those years ago singing songs together with others. Blessings, love and hugs right back to you, dear sister! xoxo
I’ve never heard this song before – it’s really catchy and the lyrics are so true!
I’m copying these words of yours as a reminder to myself.
“Surrendering my life to God actually gives me more freedom. I don’t have to try to control everything. It’s out of my hands anyway. Instead, I am free to pursue writing, art, baking and more without fear. Yes, I may fail, but I can also try again or move to something else. Through it all He will be with me.”
Thank you for the inspiration, Gayl! ♥
Thank you, Corinne. It’s probably a pretty old song, and it’s been quite a while since I have heard it. I was actually surprised I found it on YouTube. I’m so glad you were encouraged by this post and the reminder that He is always with us. Blessings to you! I hope to get to your post soon.
That was a beautiful song you sang! And a beautiful post. I always need the reminder of God’s love and strength and awesomeness. Visiting from #write28days 🙂
Amy, thank you for your kind words. I think we all need the reminder of God’s love, especially when we go through hard times. We need to remember that He is with us. Blessings to you!
Gayl, your gifts are many and you graciously share them with us. I’m still struggling with the “I am in control” thing so I needed your reminder of the freedom that comes with surrendering to God! I so appreciate your wisdom that comes through your voice, your words, and your art! Your #write28days neighbor, Cindy
Thank you, Cindy! That “I am in control” thing is really hard, isn’t it? I appreciate your kind comments. Blessings to you, dear friend! xo
Amen, Gayl! So beautifully spoken.
Visiting today from #Write28Days #6
(I thought I linked my landing page but I guess not. I’m going to be fixing it later today)
Thank you, Paula! I didn’t even make a landing page so I linked up my first post. Maybe I’ll find time to make one before the link closes. I’ll try to get over to your blog today. Blessings to you!
I’ve never heard that song before; thank you for sharing it :). Every time I consider something in creation, I think of how wonderful and creative God is (and how much fun the Trinity must have had creating things).
It’s got a catchy tune, doesn’t it? 🙂 Creation does that for me, too, Anita. I never really thought about how much fun the Trinity must have had creating but surely it was! Blessings to you! Saying a prayer for you and Pedro, too. xo
Oh Gayl: what an incredible gift to hear you singing that and just tears thinking of your Stephen now in glory experiencing what you sung over him when he was little. The Word He has us speak (and sing) never returns void, does it?!
It’s taken me till now to come visit because God called me into a deeper abiding in His Word. He had me unsubscribe from all blogs and let Him shut me in with Him and His Word. Today, I saw He was taking healing deeper in me through it: restoring my attachment to Him. It reminded me of the stories my Dad told me of his Mum shutting herself in with his adopted sister for weeks to bond. She was not only given up for adoption but again and again given up on once placed – again and again – because she couldn’t attach healthily and all she did was scream and scream. But my Grandma, with unrivaled patience, got through to her. My Dad said she asked him and his brothers for permission to be absent to them for that time to make it possible. That is the love of God isn’t it? Leaving the ninety-nine for the one. Only He and His patient, gentle love can reach through to the most traumatized of souls.
Thank you, Anna, and I am glad you were blessed by the singing. You’re right, the Word never returns void. And Stephen is experiencing so much joy now.
What a beautiful story of the love and patience of your grandmother! Surely God was with her through it all. How I pray that others who need Him will have people like your grandma to show the unconditional love of God to them.
Blessings to you! xo