Author: theamazingexchange

Your Joy

“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” Hebrews 12:2 TPT

The judgement the crowd
Pronounced against You
The “Crucify! Crucify!”
Was to me due
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

The cut of the whip
That was used on You
That punishment
Was to me due
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

The crown of thorns
Which cut Your head
To bring down pride
Was due me instead
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

The nails that pierced
Right through Your hands
Punishment for sin
That was my inheritance
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

The agony that you endured
As You hung upon the cross
Your body broken like a thief
That was my sin’s cost
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

The shame of being crucified
As a criminal, fully tried
The wages of sin
For which justice cried
Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

Death in this world
And separation from God
Complete death for sin
Was my sin’s due cost
But Your joy in me meant
You took it in my stead

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

With Your resurrection life
Raising You to God’s side
You lifted me with You
One as Your eternal bride
Joyfully, freely, In Your love divine
Your prize for all that You have done!

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

Now I live in Your love divine
Freely dwelling by Your side
You and I, Jesus, one, united
In Your Holy Spirit’s Presence
Filled with joy and love forever
For they are Your very essence

Jesus I am Your joy, Your prize
Reborn to be Your eternal bride
You endured the cross
To have me at Your side

I embrace Your joy, Your Joy in me!
For it gives me life and  strength to be
Your faithful lover, Your pride and joy
God’s child, Your Joy, eternally
One with You, forever free
To live in Your joy, Your joy in me!

A Plea For Justice

God our Father, the true judge,
Grant justice to Your chosen ones
To those who cry out to You
Day and night
Pour out Your Spirit upon us
And answer us promptly
Give full justice to Jesus
That He paid for so dearly

For Jesus carried our weaknesses
Bore the weight of our sorrows
Was pierced for our rebellion
And crushed for all our sins
He bore all our punishment
Took all our condemnation
Bore our death as His
While interceding for us

So my weaknesses and sorrows
Now belong to Jesus
My rebellion and sin
He took to His grave
The condemnation and punishment
Due to all, including me
All died with Jesus at Calvary

God our Father, the true judge,
Grant justice to Your chosen ones
To those who cry out to You
Day and night
Pour out Your Spirit upon us
And answer us promptly
Give full justice to Jesus
That He paid for so dearly

For Your good plan Papa God
Was to give Jesus long life
With many descendants
Who are healed, whole and righteous
Full satisfaction
For all His anguish accomplished
And all of the honours
Of a victory well won

So Jesus resurrection
And His new life eternal
He shares fully with us
Through His victory won
Makes us His descendants
Healed, whole and righteous
Sons and heirs of God’s kingdom
For with Jesus we are One.

God our Father, the true judge,
Grant justice to Your chosen ones
To those who cry out to You
Day and night
Pour out Your Spirit upon us
And answer us promptly
Give full justice to Jesus
That He paid for so dearly

Let Your Kingdom be seen
In all of Your people
In all those who with Jesus
Have now become One
Your health and wholeness
Joy, peace, love and righteousness
Flowing in and through us
For this world’s salvation

God our Father, the true judge,
Grant justice to Your chosen ones
To those who cry out to You
Day and night
Pour out Your Spirit upon us
And answer us promptly
Give full justice to Jesus
That He paid for so dearly

Based on Luke 18:7, Colossians 2:9-15 and Isaiah 53:4-12

The Pieces of My Life

“At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.” Psalms 5:3 TPT

The pieces of my life I bring
To You my God as an offering
I lay them on Your altar of love
And wait for Your fire to fall upon my heart

The fire of Your Presence consumes all the dross
All my sins and failings turned to ash
The gold of Jesus holy life
Purified in me, His glory revealed

The fire of Your Presence fills my new heart
With Your passionate love to receive and impart
Being wrapped and filled with Your love, eternally
Empowers me to love others as You have loved me

From the fire of Your indwelling Presence
You speak to me, bringing peace, joy and gladness
My heart and soul rejoice in Your Essence
You are life and love, joy and transcendence

From the broken pieces of my life
You build a glorious holy temple
All I thought was lost, destroyed or broken
The fire of Your Presence restores, healed and holy!

All the grief and losses I have experienced
All the pain and trials of this life’s journey
Are consumed in the fire of Your Presence
As I’m blessed by Your Presence in me overflowing

The depth of Your honour in loving me
In accepting the sacrifice I bring
Pierce’s through every part of my being
Brining joy and hope, love and healing

In the flame of Your love I rejoice and sing
That You delight in accepting my offering
Filling my heart with the fire of Your Presence
Making me Your temple and holy dwelling place!

Temple

“For indeed, we are the temple of the living God, just as God has said: I will make my home in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 TPT

I praise and thank You Papa God
For You have made my body Your temple
Your holy dwelling place
You have filled me with Your glory
The fullness of Your love and grace

In my heart is Your holy of Holies
Where the fire of Your Presence burns
All that I am, I offer there to You
And You purify me with Jesus’ sacrifice

All that is broken, unclean and unholy
Is consumed by the passion of Your love
I’m cleansed, purified, restored and completed
Resurrected, reborn, filled with Jesus’ life

All that is not of You is consumed
Destroyed in the flame of Your jealous love
The gold that is Jesus Presence in me
Is now my essence, my body, my life

I praise and thank You Papa God
For You have made my body Your temple
Your holy dwelling place
You have filled me with Your glory
The fullness of Your love and grace

Jesus prayers for me are the incense that burns
Before Your Presence day and night
A holy perfume that fills my life
With Your empowering Presence and light

Your Holy Spirit intercedes there for me
With groans and sighs from the depths of His heart
Expressing the depth of my need for You
Your life, Your healing and love to impart

There You raise me to Jesus throne
So I will always be by Your side
Living in Your love and glory
Forever One, eternally Jesus’ bride

I praise and thank You Papa God
For You have made my body Your temple
Your holy dwelling place
You have filled me with Your glory
The fullness of Your love and grace

You have filled me with Your glory
Heaven’s now my home as Your child
All that belongs to Jesus Your Son
You have placed in me, in my new heart

All of Jesus’ sacrifice
All of the works of His powerful life
All of His resurrection power
You have given to me – what amazing love!

Your Holy Spirit, Your Presence in power
You have joined to my spirit as one forever
You’ve sealed me as Your holy child
So that in my life Your glory shines out

I praise and thank You Papa God
For You have made my body Your temple
Your holy dwelling place
You have filled me with Your glory
The fullness of Your love and grace

Every Day Communion

I have handed down to you what came to me by direct revelation from the Lord himself. The same night in which he was handed over, he took bread and gave thanks. Then he distributed it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat your fill. It is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” He did the same with the cup of wine after supper and said, “This cup seals the new covenant with my blood. Drink it—and whenever you drink this, do it to remember me.” Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the story, proclaiming our Lord’s death until he comes. So then, my fellow believers, when you assemble as one to share a meal.. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 33a TPT

Each time in the day
When I stop to eat and drink
I pause to remember
Jesus’ death for me

Saying:
This is Jesus’ body
Broken for me
You took my death Lord
To set me free to be
In Your resurrection life
For eternity

This is Jesus’ blood
Which cleanses me
From guilt and sin
Sets me completely free
To live with You at God’s right hand
For eternity

Whether alone or in community
Each time I eat and drink
I recall Jesus death for me
And Glorify Him for what He achieved

Saying:
This is Jesus’ body
Broken for me
You took my death Lord
To set me free to be
In Your resurrection life
For eternity

This is Jesus’ blood
Which cleanses me
From guilt and sin
Sets me completely free
To live with You at God’s right hand
For eternity

In each meal
Whether large or small
I celebrate Your Presence
For You are my all in all

Saying:
This is Jesus’ body
Broken for me
You took my death Lord
To set me free to be
In Your resurrection life
For eternity

This is Jesus’ blood
Which cleanses me
From guilt and sin
Sets me completely free
To live with You at God’s right hand
For eternity

You Go Before Me

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

From the day that I was planned
You planned to be in my life
Your hands formed me in my mother’s womb
With joy and love in Your Presence light

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

As I grew up in this world
You planned so I would come
To know Your loving Presence
To be saved by Your Glorious Son

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

As I sought to find a partner
You brought me to the one I love
Gave us the blessing of children
As with You we made our home

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

As I sought to find my work
You opened and closed doors
Directed me to where I should be
And where I could best help others

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

Through times of temptation
When I could’ve left Your side
You warned me of the danger
Empowering me to change my mind

I need not be afraid
I need not be discouraged for

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

As I’ve gone through trials
Strife, sickness and alike
You’ve always been there with me
With wisdom, love and renewed life

I need not be afraid
I need not be discouraged for

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

Whenever I’ve struck problems
You’ve been my guiding light
My fortress and provider
My faithful loving God

I need not be afraid
I need not be discouraged for

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

You are My joy and portion
My love and my delight
Your Presence is my saving light
Your voice my treasure and insight

You go before me Papa God
You are with me all my days
You will not fail or leave me
For You are faithful in Your love

Remember Your Covenant

“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed… the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-11 NLT

As Jesus was beaten
Tormented and abused
Cruelly crucified
And entered the grave
It was our weaknesses He carried
Our frailties and sorrows
Our sins and suffering
That weighed Him down

Remember Your Covenant with Jesus O Lord!
Give Him the victory He so dearly paid for!

His head was pierced by thorns
His back torn by the whip
His hands and feet nailed to the cross
His side pierced by the spear
All for our rebellion
Crushed for all our sin
The punishment that should’ve been ours
Fell in our stead, on Him

Remember Your Covenant with Jesus O Lord!
Give Him the victory He so dearly paid for!

When He was beaten
At the hands of the guards
Because He was whipped
Till He could not be recognised
It was for the joy
Of seeing us healed and whole
This was to be His Glory
As His kingdom unfolds

Remember Your Covenant with Jesus O Lord!
Give Him the victory He so dearly paid for!

Because of His offering for sin
Paid on our behalf
Because He went to the grave
And rose again to new life
He made the way
For us all to be God’s child
To be His descendants
Live forever in His Life

Remember Your Covenant with Jesus O Lord!
Give Him the victory He so dearly paid for!

It is Your good plan O God
That we should all be righteous
Not because of what we’ve done
But because of His sacrifice
Give Jesus satisfaction
Prosper all that is in His hands
Give Him joy for all His sorrows
As His Kingdom lives in us.

Remember Your Covenant with Jesus O Lord!
Give Him the victory He so dearly paid for!

Faith

““My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me— we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!” Galatians 2:20 TPT

Jesus had the faith
To be water baptised
Even though to others
It seemed superfluous
But it confirmed His standing
As God’s Beloved Son

Jesus had the faith
To go into the desert
And stay true to God
Through hunger and temptation
And reject the lies
That were satan’s deception

Jesus had the faith
To turn water into wine
And use one child’s lunch
To feed five thousand
For He knew how to call
On God’s abundant provision

Jesus had the faith
To heal the sick
And raise the dead
To life once again
For He knew how to draw on
God’s heavenly kingdom

Jesus had the faith
To calm violent storms
And cast out demons
From the most possessed ones
For He knew His authority
As one of God’s Sons

Jesus had the faith
To free sinners from sin
To announce their forgiveness
Bring them home to God again
For He lived God’s love
As God’s Spirit filled Him

Jesus had the faith
To reject faithless religion
The reliance on rules
And performance restriction
For He knew God’s love
And His power to bring freedom

Jesus had the faith
To bear our accusations
To take on our guilt
To receive our beating
For He knew by His stripes
He could bring us healing

Jesus had the faith
To die our death in the cross
To take the full burden
Of our separation from God
For the joy of seeing
Us made into His siblings

Jesus had the faith
To rise from the dead
And take up His place
As King by God’s side
To rule heaven and earth
With God’s law of love

Jesus had the faith
To become One with us
To share all His power
And all that He is
To make us God’s children
His co-rulers and co-heirs

It’s His faith that I draw on
Through trials and temptations
To stay true to God
In all situations
Empowered by God’s grace
And filled with His Spirit

It’s His faith that I draw on
To live Him each day
To live His kingdom’s rule
To embrace His love’s way
To know I’m by God’s side
Each and every day

God’s Holy People

“This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 1:1 NLT

What is it like Lord
To be your holy people?
Please give me vision to see
How it can include me

God:
My holy people
Are filled with My Presence
Filled with My Love
They shine with My Glory
Changing earth to heaven
Wherever they live or go

The stain of sin does not touch them
They’re as pure as fresh fallen snow
For Jesus’ blood keeps them clean
By His blood they have overcome

Their old, sinful self is dead and buried
Crucified with Christ on the cross
They live now as My Sons and daughters
Full of Jesus’s resurrection power

My holy people
Are filled with My Presence
Filled with My Love
They shine with My Glory
Changing earth to heaven
Wherever they live or go

They have no interest in earthly glory
They leave behind earthly power
Money and possessions have no hold on them
For all they need I provide

They live in the joy of serving
To see others made whole and alive
To bring all in love to My Kingdom
To care for each person as My child

My holy people
Are filled with My Presence
Filled with My Love
They shine with My Glory
Changing earth to heaven
Wherever they live or go

They give to all, My forgiveness
They give to all, My love
They bring healing and restoration
My salvation’s rule

They seek to restore this planet
So it can grow and thrive
Providing a home and food
For all that is alive

My holy people
Are filled with My Presence
Filled with My Love
They shine with My Glory
Changing earth to heaven
Wherever they live or go

In this world they’ll be crushed and broken
Some even martyred and died
Rejected, abused and slandered
Because of the love they bear for my Son

But nothing will stop them from loving
No one can take them from My arms
Together we’ll live Jesus’ victory
For Jesus this world, has overcome

My holy people
Are filled with My Presence
Filled with My Love
They shine with My Glory
Changing earth to heaven
Wherever they live or go

Loving Difficult People

Suppose you have a difficult person to deal with in your workplace or somewhere else and you want some ideas on how to dealt with that. Here are some suggestions:

I want to say up front that these things do NOT mean you should stay in a situation where another person is being violent or seriously abusive. Nor do I in any way suggest that reporting violent and abusive people to the relevant authorities is not needed. Nevertheless even if you are coming out of a very abusive situation these things will still help.

Start by looking at this other difficult person not as a problem but as a gift to you so you can learn how to live more fully in peace, love and forgiveness.

Instead of seeing them as the enemy, trying looking for the strengths in them that could be the foundation of a good relationship between the two of you.

Do not assume they are out to get you. Start from the belief that they are simply a hurt and damaged person themselves, acting in way that they think will protect them from further hurt because that is what the overwhelming majority of badly behaved people are. They simply do not have the skills to deal with their own hurts in an appropriate manner.

Then ask God/Jesus to impart to you the desire and power to forgive this other person, forgive everything negative they have said and done.

It might be worth making a list or collection of those negative things or and then destroying them as you pronounce forgiveness for them.

If these negative incidents are replaying in your mind, do something with it in your mind like painting with a bucket of Jesus blood or nailing it to the cross with His hands and watching it die with Him. And I would keep doing that until the past did not bother me.

I would also take every opportunity I had in further contact with that person to announce they were forgiven as soon as possible or even before they had a chance to do or say anything. You could do that in your mind, quietly out loud so no one else can’t hear it, or if it seems suitable, say it out loud to their face. That will free you from having your future determined by your past interactions with that person

Secondly I would ask Jesus to to use His resurrection power to replace those bad interactions with blessings for both myself and the other person. I like to ask Him to show me what those blessings are.

Thirdly I would meditate daily on Jesus to receive His love, peace and forgiveness. I would ask Him to show me what they look and feel like, how I should receive them today, and how He would envisage me using them to bless others today.

This is so that I can carry that peace, love and forgiveness within me and overflowing from me and release it in my workplace (or indeed wherever I am) to change the atmosphere. I might even choose to wander around my the place where I interact with the difficult person quietly saying “I release peace/love/forgiveness”, or get symbols of those things to put in their, or even donate coffee cups with those words written on them to the tea room. Whatever seems appropriate or Jesus suggests.

I can’t guarantee doing these things will stop the problem person behaving badly but I can guarantee it will release the person who chooses to practice them from constantly living in the adverse effects of the bad behaviours of others.

Jesus spent most of His ministry dealing with difficult people, troubled people and abusively religious people, yet they were not able to diminish the love, peace and forgiveness He live in and gave out. He can give the same grace to you.