Rebekah Reports

Thoughts on meals, media, momming and more

“My Victory” by David Crowder

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Ever since my days in Waco, TX, Baylor alum David Crowder’s gritty voice (and appearance, for that matter!) have intrigued me. His sound is different from many in the Christian rock music sphere, and I love it.

Crowder’s recent song “My Victory” might be my favorite of his yet. Somehow he managed to summarize the entire point of Jesus into one little song. Salvation. Grace. The promise of eternal life. It’s all in there.

The song was big around Easter as it’s the story of Jesus dying on the cross, but I’ve heard it a lot on the radio lately, and the lyrics have really stuck with me. So, I wanted to share them for those that might not have heard this song.

“You came for criminals and every pharisee
You came for hypocrites, even one like me
You carried sin and shame the guilt of every man
The weight of all I’ve done nailed into Your hands

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell’s defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

Oh, Your amazing grace, I’ve seen and tasted it
It’s running through my veins
I can’t escape its grip in You my soul is safe
You uncover everything

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell’s defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory

Behold the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin, who takes away our sin
The holy Lamb of God
Makes us alive again
Makes us alive again

Behold the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin, who takes away our sin
The holy Lamb of God
Makes us alive again
Makes us alive again

Oh, Your love bled for me
Oh, Your blood in crimson streams
Oh, Your death is hell’s defeat
A cross meant to kill is my victory.”

A cross meant to kill is my victory. It can be yours too. God can take any life, any experience, anything, even the death of His own Son, and use it for good.

Empowering those ISIS wishes to eradicate – Part 2

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You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” – Matthew 5:43-44

Jeremy Courtney and his organization, Preemptive Love, are doing that exactly. They have taken this Bible verse literally, and they are changing our world. They are bringing literal healing to Iraq – a place that so badly needs healing, and peace, and love.

***If you are just coming across this blog post, I encourage you to go here to read Part 1 first, and then come back.***

Today Jeremy, Ann Voskamp and Jennie Allen held a live stream discussion about what ordinary people like you and I can do to help the Iraqis who have literally lost everything at the hands of ISIS.

You can view their discussion below:

Jeremy has been in Iraq for 10 years in the thick of that country’s violence, and death, and pain, and yet his passion for Iraqis shines through his eyes. He seems unshaken by the scariness of it all. Today he said, “There are worse things than dying.” And let me tell you, he is living that truth out boldly.

As Jeremy and Ann spoke about Preemptive Love’s work in Iraq, the Bible verse above came to mind. I just kept thinking, “YES. THIS is the Gospel. This is the Good News. This is why Jesus came and this was His message.”

Ann and Jeremy are living out Jesus’ words in Matthew. They aren’t just loving the minorities who have been persecuted by ISIS; they are loving ISIS. Let that sink in for a second.

They are loving their enemies.

At one point Jeremy said something about Ann and the attitude she displayed during her recent visit to Iraq that’s also true of himself, “I’m made in the image of God, they’re made in the image of God, and I’m going to help all people made in the image of God.”

It’s true. No matter how much we may want to hate them, the people that make up ISIS are God’s children too. They are beautiful in His sight, and they are in need of forgiveness, and healing , and love just as much I am.

I pray more of us can learn that lesson and live it out. Oh how different this world could be if we did!

So you want to help, but what can you do?

If you’re moved to get directly involved with Preemptive Love, go here to inquire with them as to their staffing needs.

If you’d like to empower an Iraqi woman by making a donation toward a small business grant for her, go here.

If you’d like to make a general donation to Preemptive Love’s work in Iraq, go here.

And of course, the most important thing we can all be doing — pray.