May 12, 2019 · 6:10 am

God’s Grace is Enough!

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'” – 2 Corinthians 12.9a

Several months ago I retired from full-time vocational ministry. My wife and I moved from California back to Texas. All this because of a gnawing thorn in my flesh, a weakness I possess. My health and my pride. I say my pride because I was not relying fully on the sufficient grace of our Lord. I was trying to fix things in my life and ministry and not fully relying on the all sufficient grace of our Lord.

Through this, the Lord reminded me of His power, how it is made perfect even when I am not strong. That even in my weakness, He proves to be greater and stronger. Praise the Lord! The Apostle Paul, later in this verse (2 Cor. 12.9) states, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

I guess that is what I am doing here today. To boast about my weaknesses. To confess, I am not strong. I am simply a human being who is greatly and desperately depended on the Lord for salvation and strength. In the end, if all I have is God’s grace, then it is enough, because in it, when I am weak my God is strong and His grace is enough!

Grace and Peace to all by the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit!

“GOD’S GRACE IS ENOUGH”
by Glenn Tatum 2019

LINKS: Chord Chart   MP3

How marvelous your grace O God
Sufficed in every way
Deposit richly through Christ’s own blood
Our debt, our sin, He paid

Once we were lost and dead in sin
Cut off from hope and God
Where sin increased, God’s grace still more
From heaven like a flood

(CHORUS)
How marvelous, how wonderful
To know that God’s grace is enough
How marvelous, how beautiful
To know that God’s grace is enough 

How marvelous Your grace O God
It satisfies our needs
Through all our trials we can trust
In the Sovereign who redeems

Come learn to rest, come be supplied
By Christ, who guards our soul
Come taste and see, be satisfied
In Him and be restored

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March 4, 2014 · 11:32 am

REPOST – Worship, Walk & Witness Scripture Memory Songs

This is a repost blog from February 1, 2014:

WORSHIP, WALK, WITNESS is NorthCreek Church’s mission. This threefold mission statement is to encourage the members and attenders at NorthCreek to gather together to worship the Lord, to walk with Lord through discipleship and service, and to be a witness through evangelism and missions.  This year as I stated in my last post, our church staff thought it would be good for our congregation to review this mission statement by memorizing scripture verses each month that reflect this three fold mission.
I have put to music, as I have done in years past, all twelve verses and recorded so far six songs. Below is a sneak peek to help get you started on memorizing as I finish up the next six songs. Also, the link to NorthCreek’s webpage where you can view all twelve verses for the year and their theme.

NORTHCREEK SCRIPTURE MEMORY PAGE: (Click Here)

   2014 SCRIPTURE SONGS & MUSIC LEAD SHEETS:

  • January – Psalm 67:4-5 (Worship) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • February – Proverbs 3:11-12 (Walk) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • March – 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (Witness) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • April – Psalm 96:9-10 (Worship) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • May – Proverbs 4:25-27 (Walk) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • June – John 10:16 (Witness) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • July – Psalm 100:1-3 (Worship) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • August – Romans 12:9-10 (Walk) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • September – Romans 10:14-15 (Witness) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • October – Ephesians 3:20-21 (Worship) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • November – 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Walk) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • December – Revelation 7:9 (Witness) – (mp3) – (pdf)

You can also download and view from the Box.net app to right of this post by clicking on the 2014 Scripture memory file located in the app.

I pray that these verses and songs will benefit you as you abide in the Word of God and walk in such a way that you bring glory to His name through your worship, walk and witness.

Grace and Peace – Glenn Tatum

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February 8, 2014 · 5:49 pm

“Christ Arose”

Growing up in church and then later, as a music minister, on every Resurrection Sunday morning (Easter) it was inevitable that we would sing the hymn, “Lo in the Grave He Lay.”  You know this Easter hymn as the one that starts off slow and very somber and then like thunder clapping in the sky we burst forth on that morning with the chorus, “up from the grave He arose…”. We don’t sing this one much anymore in our church. I like the mixture of the mentioning of Christ’s sacrificial atonement on the cross followed by the exuberant chorus that announces His victory over sin and death. The death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ; this is the gospel. This is the good news. As the Apostle Paul would quote Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14, “‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”  1 Corinthians 15:54b-57 NASB.  I take comfort with great hope in knowing that death will be Christ’s final enemy. At the end of all things Christ will “put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death” 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 NASB. What hope we have in Christ. Hallelujah! Christ arose!

I was reminded of this hymn while preparing a song list for the upcoming Resurrection service in April. And so, I looked around in my music sources to see if anyone had done a modern arrangement of this hymn. I could not find one. So, on Thursday I wrote a new melody for the hymn and added some alternate words to go with the chorus. Friday I recorded it so I could have a listening track for our worship team. I decided today to share it with you. By the way, the hymn was written originally by Robert Lowry (1826-1899) in 1874.

“CHRIST AROSE”  (mp3)  (pdf-Lead sheet)
Words by Robert Lowry (1874)
Additional Words and Music by Glenn Tatum

Verse 1:
Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!

Verse 2:
Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus my Savior,
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus my Lord!

Chorus: (original words in parenthesis)
Up from the grave He arose,
Triumphing o’er His foes (with a mighty triumph o’er His foes)
A Victor over death’s domain, (He arose a Victor from the dark domain)
Our Savior, Christ, forever reigns (and He lives forever, with His saints to reign)
(Repeats)
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Verse 3:
Death cannot keep his prey,
Jesus my Savior,
He tore the bars away,
Jesus my Lord!
(Repeats)

Chorus:

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February 1, 2014 · 9:25 pm

Worship, Walk, and Witness Scripture Songs

WORSHIP, WALK, WITNESS is NorthCreek Church’s mission. This threefold mission statement is to encourage the members and attenders at NorthCreek to gather together to worship the Lord, to walk with Lord through discipleship and service, and to be a witness through evangelism and missions.  This year as I stated in my last post, our church staff thought it would be good for our congregation to review this mission statement by memorizing scripture verses each month that reflect this three fold mission.
I have put to music, as I have done in years past, all twelve verses and recorded so far six songs. Below is a sneak peek to help get you started on memorizing as I finish up the next six songs. Also, the link to NorthCreek’s webpage where you can view all twelve verses for the year and their theme.

NORTHCREEK SCRIPTURE MEMORY PAGE: (Click Here)

   2014 SCRIPTURE SONGS & MUSIC LEAD SHEETS:

  • January – Psalm 67:4-5 (Worship) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • February – Proverbs 3:11-12 (Walk) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • March – 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (Witness) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • April – Psalm 96:9-10 (Worship) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • May – Proverbs 4:25-27 (Walk) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • June – John 10:16 (Witness) – (mp3)  – (pdf)
  • July – Psalm 100:1-3 (Worship) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • August – Romans 12:9-10 (Walk) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • September – Romans 10:14-15 (Witness) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • October – Ephesians 3:20-21 (Worship) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • November – 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Walk) – (mp3) – (pdf)
  • December – Revelation 7:9 (Witness) – (mp3) – (pdf)

You can also download and view from the Box.net app to right of this post by clicking on the 2014 Scripture memory file located in the app.

I pray that these verses and songs will benefit you as you abide in the Word of God and walk in such a way that you bring glory to His name through your worship, walk and witness.

Grace and Peace – Glenn Tatum

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January 18, 2014 · 6:54 pm

New Scripture Songs!

Well hello again.  Let me re-introduce myself.  My name is Glenn Tatum, worship pastor at NorthCreek Church in Walnut Creek, California. I thought I would start out with an introduction because it has been such a long time since I have posted anything here. Let me share a bit why.  After we got back from Israel in June, usually life slows down and I am able to get some creative stuff done. Not so.

I don’t know if many know, but my mom was diagnosed with vascular dementia three years ago. Ministry duties and caring for her kind of took up a lot of creative time this summer. I also did a bit of traveling too.

Then as the fall came around my mom fell, broke her hip, and had hip replacement surgery. The surgery was a success, yet because of her dementia, she did not recover like we wanted her to.  In October I went to Toronto because my one year old grandson had major heart reconstruction (all went very well) while I was gone my mom had a major stroke and passed away just a week after I got back from Toronto. A few weeks later we flew to Texas during the Thanksgiving holidays to have my mom’s memorial service. As if that wasn’t enough, I was preparing for three Christmas productions at our church, followed by a vacation trip to visit my grandson back Canada where we got snowed in from a blizzard.

Writing Scripture Songs

So, you see, I’ve had a bit on my plate. But, the good news is, while being snowed in Canada, I was able to write twelve scripture songs for 2014. The staff at NorthCreek Church thought it would be good for us to revisit our mission motto of Worship, Walk, and Witness as a theme for our scripture memory this year. So the verses this year are centered around each of those actions of our motto. Today, I would like to share the first three scripture verses and songs. I am hoping to finish recording all twelve within the next couple of weeks. You can visit NorthCreek Church’s website for all the scriptures for the year by clicking on this link (2014 Scripture memory verses).

Below are the first three verses and songs. Just click on the links below to view, listen and download the song sheet, mp3, and Scripture passage. All verses are from the New American Standard Bible translation (NASB):

(You can also download the Song Sheet and mp3’s from the Box to the right).

I pray these verses and songs will help you to worship, walk, witness with the Lord in a manner worthy to the calling to which you were called.

It’s good to be back – grace and peace in Christ!

Glenn Tatum

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May 29, 2013 · 6:35 pm

ISRAEL DAY TWO: The Inter-Coastal Highway

Today, we made our way up the Inter-Coastal Highway from Netanya, Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, and the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias). This ancient trade route has been in existence since before the time of Abraham and runs from Egypt through Canaan, up over the fertile crescent (Syria) then down the Euphrates to Ur (modern Iraq). This highway was the most essential vein that brought life and prosperity to three continents (Africa, Europe and Asia). The nation who control this route controlled the heartbeat and blood flow of many nations. The land of Canaan (which is where most of Israel’s history is lived out) is the hub and center-piece of this Inter-coastal trade route. It is in this land that God chose to place Israel. It is this place that God chooses for Himself a nation for Himself to accomplish His will that brings glory to His name forever and ever. God chose the hottest location for this small nation among the giants in history (Egypt, Assyria, Babylonians, Greek and Roman empires). A location that would test Israel’s faithfulness, obedience, and dependence of God to work His will out through them.

The lesson learned from this for all of God’s people is that, God sometimes places His own in impossible situations to test our faithfulness (Abraham) and causes us to depend on Him in every circumstance (Moses & Joshua) by trusting in His ways with our whole heart (David). That even though we may fail Him repeatedly (Judges & Kings), God is still faithful to carry out His promise and purpose (Jesus) bringing salvation to His own (Israel & the Church), all for His glory.

Today, the mission of God was on my mind. From God giving Herod the Great the ability and vision to build Caesarea (a city he built for Caesar Augustus), which becomes later a spring board for missions and the spreading of the gospel to the whole world (Peter and Paul), demonstrating His exclusiveness and power at Mt. Carmel (Elijah and Baal prophets), Jesus declaring Himself as the One who is fulfilling the prophecy of the messiah at Nazareth and Galilee, eventually revealing His divine power and might to all nations in the end at Megiddo (Armageddon) when Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom before the ages to come.

The places we visited today set the stage for some of the greatest stories in the Bible.
947006_10201281598592208_249084135_nCaesarea was the place where Phillip concluded his preaching tour (Acts 8:40), yet it is the place where Paul first started preaching (Acts 9:30). Caesarea was the place that God chose to bring the gospel to gentiles by connecting Peter with Cornelius (Acts 10:1). It was also here that Paul was taken into custody and jailed before being sent to Rome (Act 23:23-33, 27:1) after being heard and tried by King Agrippa and Festus (Acts 25:13).

 

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Mt. Carmel was the stage where the prophet Elijah challenged the Baal prophets to see whose God was the strongest (1 Kings 18-19).

 

 

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Megiddo, which is now a tel, was a strategic city built by Solomon (1 Kings 9:15). King Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Necho (2 Kings 23:29) and Megid do will eventually be the site that will witness the final battle in history, Har-Maggedon (Revelation 16:16). It is interesting to note, that from this site, you can visually see Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Gilboa, and the whole Jezreel valley (which is also known as the plain of armageddon). This place has been the location of 250 historic battles. It is the place where Saul (1 Samuel 29:1) and Josiah met defeat, where Barak won victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4) and Gideon defeated the Midianites Judges 4 and 7).  Even though we didn’t visit Nazareth, we could see it on it’s ridge from Megiddo and driving by it on the way to Galilee. Nazareth was Jesus’ home until he was rejected (Luke 2:39; 4:16, 28-31). It was where Jesus returned after the temptation  (Matthew 4:12). It was also there in the synagogue that Jesus declared Himself to be the fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 4:16; Mark 6:1).

382711_10201281591952042_1897654986_nWe eventually ended the day over looking the sea of Galilee from a vista located on the westside 1500ft over Tiberias.

 

 

Other Photos from today:

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May 28, 2013 · 6:34 pm

Welcome to Israel!

943131_10201274255568637_1272728144_nMy wife (Ann) and I are visiting Israel with 21 people from our church, NorthCreek Church. It’s a ten day tour hosted by my senior pastor, Jon McNeff. Today was all about traveling. We left the bay area from San Francisco International airport on Monday, May 27th and arrived in Tel-Aviv, Israel (the capital of Israel, which is located on the Mediterranean coast) on Tuesday afternoon May 28th. Today, on the Wednesday we plan to explore more of the coastal region of Israel, going north to Caesarea then inland to Galilee to visit Muhraka, the rolling stone tomb and Megiddo, eventually staying the night in Tiberias which is located on the west shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Expectations: I have been asked several times what am I looking forward most to seeing, expecting, or doing. I’d have to say, it’s a bit of a surreal feeling being here. Not in my greatest imaginations would I ever thought I would get to go to Israel. Then again, our God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20).

My expectation would be on different levels – as much as this is a pilgrimage – which I was thinking about all the ones I have read about in the Bible who have traversed this land – Abraham, Jacob, Jesus, Paul and so many others. The journeys they took, pilgrimages of faith being led by the very Word of God. The battles won and lost. The spiritual warfare and ongoing battles over the right of this land. I think of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Essau, Israelites and Philistines, the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and now the modern occupations. There is so much to take in and ponder. I guess in short – in my journey here – I would hope to deepen my walk with Christ. Follow Christ with a greater appreciation and devotion to His Word and put to rest wrestling points of disobedience (i.e. Jacob).

Pray for our travels and health. More to come in the following days!  Grace and Peace.

(Pictures of the coastal plain and the sun setting on the Mediterranean sea.)

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April 18, 2013 · 9:15 am

April 14, 2013 Worship Music Set

Here are the songs and scriptures that we shared last Sunday, April 14th at NorthCreek Church.

Sunday Worship Set: April 14, 2013 – 9 & 11 a.m.

“All Because of Jesus”  (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

“Open Up the Heavens” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

“Let Your Kingdom Come” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

“By Faith” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

“10,000 Reasons -Bless the Lord” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

SCRIPTURE:

April 2013 Memory Verse:  “James 2:10″ – (mp3) (pdf)

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-2

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April 11, 2013 · 7:55 am

Song from Romans 7

13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:13, 24, 25 NASB

I am continuing with my Romans project of writing a song per chapter in Romans. In case you don’t know what my goal is…it is my desire to write songs based on the chapters in Romans, then move on to the other Pauline epistles. This may end up being a life long project, but one, I pray will be fruitful and edifying. Below are lyrics based on Romans 7. I happen to come across a hymn written by Isaac Watts that was once popular in its day, but now obscured through time. I only modified a few words from old english to modern and added a chorus.

The great message about this chapter is that Paul pens into words by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – the struggle we all face as believers. On one end, we are united with Christ through and in His death which positions us in a righteous position before our God, yet…we have this flesh…this nasty wretched flesh nature that wages war against the Spirit. We can all relate as believers that on one end…we so desire to be faithful and live for God daily…yet the very thing we want to do, we don’t do…and the thing we don’t want to do, we do. Paul states it best when he pens…“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

V.1
How sad our state of nature is!
Our sin, how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains

V.2
Hear the voice of sovereign love!
It’s Christ inviting word:
Hear despairing sinners, come,
And trust upon the Lord

CH. (by Glenn Tatum)
Oh give thanks, thanks to God
We have been set free
Through His Son, Son’s own blood
Christ bought us liberty

Oh give thanks, thanks to God
We have been set free
Through His Son, Son’s own blood
Christ bought us liberty

V.3
Our soul obeys the almighty call,
And runs to this relief;
We would believe Your promise Lord;
Oh, help our unbelief.

V.4
A guilty, weak, and wretched worm,
On Jesus arms we fall;
Lord be our strength and righteousness,
Our Savior and our all.

CH. (by Glenn Tatum)
Oh give thanks, thanks to God
We have been set free
Through His Son, Son’s own blood
Christ bought us liberty

Oh give thanks, thanks to God
We have been set free
Through His Son, Son’s own blood
Christ bought us liberty

(by Isaac Watts, 1707, Glenn Tatum ©2013 Living God Hymns)

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April 4, 2013 · 11:27 am

Song list for April 7, 2013@NorthCreek

Here is our song list for April 7, 2013 @NorthCreek Church. This is our monthly communion service and Pastor, Jon McNeff is continuing his series on the Lord’s Prayer. This weeks emphasis…”Thy Kingdom Come.”

SONGS:
     “Come People of the Risen King” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)
     “Rejoice the Lord is King”
     “Jesus Messiah” (itunes)  (Youtube w/Lyrics)
     “Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King” (itunes) (Youtube w/Lyrics)

SCRIPTURE:
     April 2013 Memory Verse:  “James 2:10″ – (mp3) (pdf)
     Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:7-10 (Marriage Supper of the Lamb)

COMMUNION

MESSAGE – Pastor, Jon McNeff

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