Come, Immanuel - a lament

 A few weeks back, while talking about Christian hymns with a friend, I mentioned that most Western believers sing very few laments. It is often a missing piece in our worship. This evening, I came again across this favorite hymn, re-arranged by a friend - as a lament. It slides beautifully into that void, helping us to mourn as we consider our need for a Savior.

 O come, O come, Immanuel...

re: the dark before dawn

  Saying 'It's always darkest before the dawn' makes nearly as much sense as saying, 'You always find something the last place you look for it.' Of course you do... you don't keep looking after you find it, and if it got even darker, then it wouldn't be getting lighter, aka dawning!

  Alternately, despair.com has a different approach to this...

  However, this brings to mind one of my most recent favorites, Andrew Peterson's "The Burning Edge of Dawn."

I've been waiting for the sun

To come blazing up out of the night like a bullet from a gun

Till every shadow is scattered, every dragon's on the run

Oh, I believe, I believe that the light is gonna come

And this is the dark, this is the dark before the dawn...

This is the storm, this is the storm

The storm before the calm

This is the pain, the pain before the balm

This is the cold, the cold

It's the cold before the warm

These are the tears, the tears before the song

This is the dark

Sometimes all I see is this darkness

Well, can't you feel the darkness

This is the dark before the dawn.

The Blest Man - Isaac Watts (Psalm 1)

     Psalm 1

     Issac Watts

Blest is the man who shuns the place

Where sinners love to meet;

Who fears to tread their wicked ways,

And hates the scoffer's seat;

But in the statutes of the Lord

Hath placed his chief delight,

By day he reads or hears the Word,

And meditates by night.

He like a plant of gen'rous kind,

By living waters set,

Safe from the storms and blasting wind,

Enjoys a peaceful state.

Green as the leaf and ever fair

Shall his profession shine,

While fruits of holiness appear

Like clusters on the vine.

Not so the impious and unjust;

What vain designs they form!

Their hopes are blown away like dust,

Or chaff before the storm.

Sinners in judgement shall not stand

Amongst the sons of grace,

When Christ the Judge, at His right hand

Appoints His saints a place.

His eye beholds the path they tread,

His heart approves it well,

But crooked ways of sinners lead

Down to the gates of hell.  

Sing to:

  "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"

  "Amazing Grace"

  "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed"

Hidden in My Heart

  While I frequently recommend authors, books or poems, I don't believe I've recommended a music cd on here before.  I've even posted thoughts on what the New Testament says about music.  But today is a good time to recommend a set of excellent cds.  We were given the first Hidden in My Heart right before our first daughter was born.  We loved it!  Calming truths of Scripture put to lullaby music.  

 Well, this week we found out that just as we are expecting our second daughter, they have released a second volume.  So, now we are finding out if we will love this one as much as we loved the first one.

You can listen through the cds on their pages, Scripture as poem and lullaby...

Lord of the Harvest! It is Right and Meet

Better known for writing "The Church's One Foundation", Samuel Stone also wrote this hymn which I found to be a profitable read.  Some of the later verses are particularly Scripture-filled; I highlighted the verses that resonated most with me.

Lord of the harvest! it is right and meet
That we should lay our first-fruits at Thy feet
With joyful Alleluia.

Sweet is the soul’s thanksgiving after prayer;
Sweet is the worship that with Heav’n we share,
Who sing the Alleluia!

Lowly we prayed, and Thou didst hear on high—
Didst lift our hearts and change our suppliant cry
To festal Alleluia.

So sing we now in tune with that great song,
That all the age of ages shall prolong,
The endless Alleluia.

To Thee, O Lord of Harvest, who hast heard,
And to Thy white robed reapers giv’n the word,
We sing our Alleluia.

O Christ, who in the wide world’s ghostly sea
Hast bid the net be cast anew, to Thee
We sing our Alleluia.

To Thee, eternal Spirit, who again
Hast moved with life upon the slumbrous main,
We sing our Alleluia.

Yea, West and East the companies go forth;
“We come!” is sounding to the South and North;
To God sing Alleluia.

The fishermen of Jesus far away
Seek in new waters an immortal prey;
To Christ the Alleluia.

The Holy Dove is brooding o’er the deep,
And careless hearts are waking out of sleep;
To Him sing Alleluia.

Yea, for sweet hope new-born—blest work begun—
Sing Alleluia to the Three in One,
Adoring Alleluia.

Glory to God! the Church in patience cries;
Glory to God! the Church at rest replies,
With endless Alleluia.
- by Samuel J. Stone   

Northern Lights' song

Here's a song that is being given away free. It's full of good reminders. Also, some of the Heart Conference sessions were outstanding; I particularly enjoyed some of Dr. Jordan's.

"Who is on the Lord's side?" text

I noticed the words to this song tonight and they are quite excellent. I don't think I've ever seen the last verse before.

by Frances R. Havergal

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, victory is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band,
In the service royal, let us not grow cold;
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!

Link to a favored song

"In God's Green Pastures Feeding" is a song that my dad taught us a long time ago. Today I looked for and found a link to it online, but while they did have a verse that I didn't know, they also didn't have the last verse which I know. Ah well, still nice to find an old favorite.

1. In God's green pastures feeding by His cool waters lie;
   Soft in the evening walk my Lord and I,
   All the sheep of His pasture
   Fare so wondrously fine; His sheep am I.
   
• 
  
• Sisters: Waters cool,
  Brothers: In the valley;
  Sisters: Pastures green,
  Brothers: On the mountain,
  Sisters: In the eve...ning
  Brothers: In the evening
  Everyone: Walk my Lord and I
  
• Sisters: Dark the night,
  Brothers: In the valley,
  Sisters: Rough the way,
  Brothers: On the mountain,
  Sisters: Step by step...
  Brothers: Step by step.
  Everyone: My Lord and I.
• 
  
2. Through the streets of the city in the darkness of the night,
   Far from the fold, He heard my lonely cry.
   Now I sit at His table in the palace of light;
   His sheep am I.

3. Oh, do you know the Savior who has died for His sheep?
Know of His cleansing power, His power to keep?
He's a wonderful Savior and He loves you and me.
Are you His sheep?

An old song that was brought to mind from my reading in Philippians this morning. I've adjusted a few of the words so it's closer to the way I remember it.

Running In The Steps

A lot of people think that they've attained to the height of Christian grace
They thinking that being a Christian is easy and no big thrill
But the Christian life in Jesus is something like running a race
And you're not living for the Lord if You're standing still

Forgetting those things that are behind
And reaching for the things before
Pressing toward the mark of the prize of God
I'm running like I've never run before
Counting everything I won but loss
Conforming to His will
I'm running in the steps, Running in the steps
I'm running in the steps of the Lord.

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Here is a hymn that I heard for the first time this morning. This text is very powerful and well worth the time it takes to consider the words.

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

by Anne Steele (1706-1778)

1. Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel

2. But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust

3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner's prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there

4. Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

At this Christmas season, we consider many things. But when we think of the fullness of God that was born as that helpless baby for the purpose of dying an excrutiatingly painful death to give us full atonement with God, what else can we say. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Consider this text by Philip Bliss.

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Worshiping while sacrificing

I was reading Gen. 22, Abraham sacrificing Isaac today; I was struck again by Abraham's saying "we will go and WORSHIP and then we will come again." He was going to sacrifice his son. So I was reminded of the song that I heard a while back: When praise demands a sacrifice. Ponder the words.

The call to go to Mount Moriah came to Abraham
But the offering placed before the Lord was not a lamb
He bound His only son and when the knife was raised
A sacrifice became the price of praise.

CHORUS
When praise demands a sacrifice, I'll worship even then
Surrendering the dearest things in life
And if devotion costs me all He'll find me faithful to His call
When praise demands a sacrifice.

The call to go to Calvary came to God's own son.
An altar waited for the lamb He would become
His hands reached up to Heaven as the cross was raised
And with His life He paid the price of praise

REPEAT CHORUS

God hears the words of praise we lift, yet I have found.
He's honored more by what I am willing to lay down.

REPEAT CHORUS