"If you have not received something from God that you want very badly, realize that the decision to withhold that thing from you has been made by the One who loved you so much that He gave His Son for you. Surely, such a God is most happy to freely give you all things truly needful for your eternal good. It must be, then, that God is withholding that thing from you because it is not ultimately in your best interest to have it right now. He is seeking to do a richer work and thereby impart to you some greater good that can only come to you through the absence of the thing that you desire. Hence, you must view the withholding itself as a gift from an all-wise God who knows how to love you better than you know how to love yourself, and you must open your heart to the greater good that He is seeking to impart to you.

Additionally, remember that God gave His Son for you and delivered over His Son to suffer to the fullest extent in order to save you and make you His child. Therefore, if the Father were to withhold anything from you that is essential to your eternal good, such withholding would be an insult to His Son. Hence, you can rest assured that God is giving you all things truly needful for your ultimate good, not simply because He loves you, but also because He loves His Son who suffered so much for you.

We are “for us” and so is God. But God is more intelligent and wise in His actions “for us” than we would ever be toward ourselves. If we had full sovereignty, we would destroy ourselves (& others) in the way we went about giving ourselves everything that we thought we needed. So let us thank God for what He gives us, and let us thank Him for what He withholds from us, knowing that His choices toward us are always best and will always redound to His greatest glory and our greatest good." (from Milton Vincent's sermon, "What Shall We Say to These Things?", preached March 4, 2012)

“Everlasting God”
“Eternal Praise”
“I Stand Amazed”
“Glorious Day”
“Revelation Song”
Offertory: “I Need Thee Every Hour”

“I was wrong, but so were you.”
“I was wrong, but you were the cause.”
“If I was wrong, I’m sorry.”
“If I hurt you, I’m sorry.”
“I was wrong, but I was having a bad day. Plus, my dad dropped me on my head when I was a child, etc.”
“OK, OK, OK! I’m sorry. Gosh!”
“I was wrong. I sinned. I’m such an idiot. I don’t know why God doesn’t change me.”
“I was wrong. I sinned. I hope you’ll forgive me.” (Doesnt' require an answer)

“I was wrong. I sinned. Will you forgive me?”

Use these songs in family worship if you wish in preparation for the Lord's Day.  We will be introducing a new song this Sunday called "Glorious Day."  You can click on the titles below to be taken to another webpage where you can hear the songs.  Hope this is a help to you.

“Your Great Name We Praise  (Immortal, Invisible)”
“Now to the King Eternal ”
Bread: “I Stand Amazed ”
Cup: “Glorious Day ”
“You are the Way ”
Offertory:  “Grace Unmeasured ”

“Across the Lands”
“Behold Our God”
“Pass Me Not”
“The Church’s One Foundation”
“You Alone Can Rescue”
Offertory: “His Forever”

Take some extra time if you can to listen to and sing the new song with your family.

Call to Worship:
     “O Worship the King”
     “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
Confession of Sin:
     “Give Us Clean Hands”
Contemplation of the Gospel:
     “You Alone Can Rescue” 
     "The Father’s Love "
Offertory: 
     “Grace Unmeasured”

http://www.armchair-theology.net/living-the-bible/learning-worship-from-the-idolaters-sports-fanatics/

Very interesting blog I was directed to by Tim Challies (http://www.challies.com).  I wonder which will be the more "worshipful" settings:  Sunday morning church services or Sunday afternoon Superbowl parties?

Dear Cornerstone:

Below is the list of songs we will sing this Sunday.  You can click on the song titles to be taken to another webpage to listen to the songs.  I chose these songs partially in light of the sermon passage (Romans 8:29 ff.) and partially for communion.  Perhaps you could listen to these songs and sing them during family worship in preparation for Sunday.  You may also want to spend some time reading Romans 8:29-39 (although Milton could change directions by Sunday).

I have also included a few songs we are thinking about introducing over the next few months.  Let me know what you think: mikeb@cornerstonebible.org .

  This Sunday’s Worship Music:

“His Name Is Jesus”
“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)”
Bread:  “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted”
Cup: “His Forever”
“We Will Remember”
Offertory:  “Grace Unmeasured”

Possible New Ones:
“Glorious Day”
“Come Praise and Glorify”
“My Hope Is in You”