Birthday's and Funerals

“Sing to Him, sing Psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”

Psalms 105:2


Sitting in our hotel room listening to the sound of the waves breaking on the shore as I look out our balcony that overlooks the pier and sandy beach of our favorite vacation spot on the West Coast a song by Casting Crowns comes to mind, its titled “Glorious Day.” Yet the interesting thing is, the reason that song comes to mind is I am thinking about and preparing for a memorial service I am doing back home in just a few hours. Sitting at your favorite vacation spot can give almost anyone a reason to say its “A Glorious Day” but the real reason any of us can say or sing “A Glorious Day” is because of Jesus! It makes no difference if its your birthday or your funeral, because of Jesus both can be a glorious day!

The song “Glorious Day” takes the simple Gospel message of God’s love for us and the depth He went to save us and put it to song in such a way that everyone who sings it can know and remember the Gospel account of what Jesus has done for us no matter where you might be or whatever situation you find yourself in today. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus life for yourself as they are a beautiful way to start the day, any day as we set our minds to meditate on things that true and are pure and lovely and praise worthy (Philippians 4:8). The lyrics to this now oldie but goodie go like this,

“Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day”

Doesn’t that just want to make you sing? There you have it loved one, the gospel message in just six lines, theologically accurate and so beautifully put to music too. I love how the song ends as well. It goes on to sing,

“One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine”

Yes, friend, Jesus is coming back, and it might just be today! As one who believes in the imminent return of Christ, I can’t wait for the sound of that trumpet, because on that day I along with everyone who has ever and is eagerly awaiting His appearing will get to see our Saviors glorious face. Yes, beloved of God, that will be a wonderful day and is why we can say today is going to be a glorious day because we are one day closer than when we first believed!

Here are the words to the song “Glorious Day” by Casting Crowns. May you sing them today with the knowledge that living He loved you, and dying He saved you!

Glorious Day

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine (song ends)


“so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

Hebrews 9:28

I LOVE YOU!