Draw Me Nearer 02/01/2010

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Many times God seems far away.  When He does, it is so much harder to serve Him and rejoice in life.  We know we are His and that He loves us, but it doesn't fell like it.  It's like we're living in the dark and talking to someone who isn't there, putting our faith in a God who doesn't feel near.  It is during these times--when we feel like turning to something else for protection, love, and happiness, doubting the love we know God has for us--that we should pray, as this hymn writer does, for God to draw us nearer to Him.  He really does love us and we truly are His, and even though we feel far from Him sometimes, He will draw us nearer to Him.  I hope you enjoy this hymn, and I hope that whenever God seems far He will draw you near to Him and give you the strength to carry on and serve Him.

I am thine, oh Lord
I have heard Your voice
And it told Your love to me
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee

Chorus:
Draw me nearer
To the cross where Thou hast died
Draw me nearer
To Your precious bleeding side

There are great depths of love that I cannot know
'Til I cross that narrow sea
And there are heights of joy that I may not reach
Til I rest in peace with Thee

You draw me with Your mercy
You draw me with Your love
You draw me with forgiveness by Your blood
You draw me with compassion
You draw me as a bride
You draw me closer to Your precious side

Draw me nearer
To the cross where Thou hast died
Draw me nearer
To Your precious bleeding side

Consecrate me now to Your service, Lord
By the power of grace divine
Let me soul look up with a steadfast hope
And my will be lost in Thine

 

Call Jehovah Your Salvation 01/04/2010

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This hymn is about God's protection of His people.  One of the main ways Satan attacks us is through fear.  He tries to get us to mistrust God in our situations.  Whether we are facing physical fear of a person, or fear that we won't succeed, or fear of the supernatural, or any other type of fear, never forget that God is there to protect you.  He is holding you under His wing, and nothing...NOTHING...can hurt you without it going through Him first.  He is truly in control of every aspect of your life, and He will truly work everything out for your good.  I hope this hymn gives you some joyful reassurance of God's protection.   

Call Jehovah thy salvation,
Rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
In his secret habitation
Dwell, and never be dismayed:
There no tumult shall alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare,
Guile nor violence can harm thee
In eternal safeguard there.

From the sword at noon-day wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure defence;
Fear not thou the deadly quiver,
When a thousand feel the blow,
Mercy shall thy soul deliver,
Though ten thousand be laid low.

Since, with pure and firm affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection
He will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken, He will save,
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.

 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus 12/23/2009

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This is the season of Advent--the season where we celebrate Christ's birth.  This season we commemorate Jesus' incarnation, and what better way to do that than by a hymn! :-)  Here is one of my favorite Christmas hymns and I think one of the best ever written.  It tells us who Jesus is, why He came, why we need Him, and provides a plea to Him to rule in us alone.  I hope you are blessed by this hymn, and I hope that you have a very blessed Christmas!

Come thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

 

Though Troubles Assail Us 10/04/2009

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You may have noticed that many of the hymns I have picked have to do with God's faithfulness.  From How Firm a Foundation to What E're My God Ordains Is Right to Day by Day and with Each Passing Moment and others.  Well, this one is about God's faithfulness as well.  Many times I forget or don't pay attention to how faithful and loving God really is.  It's amazing considering that God shouldn't even take notice of us.  He is so great and so perfect, yet He takes care of us and delights in serving us.  He is so faithful and provides us with the strength and the faith that we need.  Check out verse five.  It says that we claim no strength of our own and no goodness of our own.  These things God provides for us.  He is our righteousness and He is our strength.  It's so funny how I worry about provision and about other things when it is God who provides.  God knows what's best for me and He actually has the power to give it, yet I for some reason I don't trust?  Would I rather depend on myself who has no strength, who doesn't always know what's best, and who wouldn't have the power to do what is best even if I did know.  The Lord will provide.  The Lord will be faithful.  So, look for these themes as you read this hymn and then pray to God and just ask Him to help you trust Him this week and throughout your life.  Oh, and one more thing...Sit back and enjoy.

1. Though troubles assail us and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail us and foes all unite, Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.” 2. The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed; From them let us learn to trust God for our bread. His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied So long as ’tis written, “The Lord will provide.” 3. When Satan assails us to stop up our path, And courage all fails us, we triumph by faith. He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried, This heart cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.” 4. He tells us we’re weak, our hope is in vain, The good that we seek we never shall obtain, But when such suggestions, our graces have tried, This answers all questions, “The Lord will provide.” 5. No strength of our own and no goodness we claim; Yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great Name, In this our strong tower for safety we hide: The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide.”6. When life sinks apace, and death is in view, The word of His grace shall comfort us through, Not fearing or doubting, with Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, “The Lord will provide.”

 

In Christ Alone 09/27/2009

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This is a pretty popular modern hymn, and quite a good one!  All of the verses are good, but I want you to take a special look at the first verse.  It shares so many truths about Christ.  First, it is in He that we find our hope.  Let's face it...there is no hope in this world.  This world is broken, and we are broken.  No satisfaction can be found in it.  No hope of a better life to come.  Except through Christ.  We have been given a hope.  Isn't that so great?  Through Christ, sin has been broken, and we have been raised to new life.  In Him we can find true satisfaction.  In Him we have hope of a better life to come.  Christ is our hope.  Also, He is the light in this dark world, and the strength through tough times.  I'll deal with this some in my blog post, but these last couple weeks have been a real struggle against Satan.  But, God has granted me the strength to defeat him.  Don't try to fight on your own.  You'll lose.  But, in Christ, you shall be strong.  He is your cornerstone and solid ground.  Never wavering.  A constant help in times of trouble.  Don't doubt Him.  His love for you knows no bounds.  And, through the tough times, He will be a comforter who will grant you peace that passes understanding.  Go in peace.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

 

O Father, You are Sovereign 09/20/2009

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In this life, there is a lot to be anxious about.  There's a lot that can make us worry or make us fear.  We fear for our safety.  We fear for our reputation.  We fear for our salvation.  Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but to go to God with it in prayer.  There is a reason why it is to God that we go with our anxiety: it is because He is sovereign.  He is in control of everything that happens.  Nothing happens that He does not have God's stamp on it.  He is in control.  Everything that happens will be for our good.  This is a great comfort to me--to know that God is in control.  He is in control of creation, as the first verse talks about.  He is in control of people, as the second verse points out.  He is in control of our circumstances, and He will reward us for our striving to please Him, as the third verse points out.  So, we put our trust in Him, for He is in control.  I hope this is a great comfort to you.

O Father, You are sovereign
In all the worlds You made;
Your mighty Word was spoken,
And light and life obeyed.
Your voice commands the seasons
And bounds the ocean’s shore,
Sets stars within their courses
And stills the tempests’ roar.

O Father, You are sovereign
In all affairs of man;
No powers of death or darkness
Can thwart Your perfect plan.
All chance and change transcending,
Supreme in time and space,
You hold your trusting children
Secure in Your embrace.

O Father, You are sovereign
The Lord of human pain,
Transmuting earthly sorrows
To gold of heavenly gain,
All evil overruling,
As none but Conqueror could,
Your love pursues its purpose--
Our souls’ eternal good.

O Father, You are sovereign!
We see You dimly now,
But soon before Your triumph
Earth’s every knee shall bow.
With this glad hope before us
Our faith springs forth anew:
Our Sovereign Lord and Savior,
We trust and worship You!

 

My Jesus, I Love Thee 09/13/2009

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This is such a great worship song to Christ, our Savior and King.  Many times it is hard to find love for a Savior that we can't see.  For a Savior that we can't hear.  But, all we need to do is look at His life, and see why we should love Him.  We love Him because He is our Savior.  We love Him because He first loved us.  And we'll keep on loving Him in this life, and we'll keep on loving Him in the next.  I hope this hymn will help you see why we should love Jesus.  And, afterward, spend a little time telling Jesus why you love Him. 

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

 

Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise 09/06/2009

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You know what I love about this praise hymn?  It really articulates what we are praising God for.  Instead of just saying, "You are worthy of praise."  We are describing God and His attributes--showing why He is so worthy of praise.  I hope you come to understand more and more the attributes of God, and understand more and more the reasons why God is so worthy of praise.  He is so worthy of glory.  So many times, I seek to glorify myself, instead of God.  But, when I stop and think about God, I see there is no comparison between He and I.  He is so worthy of glory; I am not.  I hope you enjoy this hymn, and come to understand more and more why God is so worthy of praise. 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, Almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

 

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners 08/23/2009

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This hymn gives so much great insight into the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is truly a Friend for Sinners, and He, though others may betray us, never will.  And you know what?  He calls us friends too.  Pretty cool to be called a friend of Jesus isn't it?  The second verse of this hymn talks about Jesus as our strength when we are tempted and tried.  And, even though we sometimes fail, He still is our strength.  He is our comforter in sorrow, and our guide through the journey of life, so put your faith in Him!  And, in the last verse, it talks about receiving Christ, and being His.  Well?  Are you Christ's?  Have you received Him?  Put your faith in His death and resurrection?  Is He truly your Savior?  Is He truly your Friend?  I hope the answer is yes.  If it isn't, He is willing right now for you to receive as your Savior, and begin His work in your life as your Friend.        

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Refrain

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Refrain

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Refrain

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

 

Jesus I am Resting, Resting 08/16/2009

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The Christian life can be full of hardships.  And, it's very easy to get anxious and stressed about the Christian life.  I know I do.  And, we do know that our life won't be easy here on earth.  But, there is something that Jesus can give us that helps us through all of this.  Rest.  It is in Him that we are given rest and peace and joy.  For, as we grow in our relationship with Jesus and our knowledge of Him, these trials and hardships don't seem so hard.  Why, because of who Jesus is and what He has done.  His loving heart and His power in our lives gives us peace and comfort as we travel the road of Christianity.  Read this hymn, and I hope it gives you an idea of the rest we can receive in Christ.  Also, strive to get to know Him better.  Read the Gospels, pray to Him, ask Him to draw you into a closer relationship with Him.  He will show you the peace and rest that comes with a relationship with Him.   

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Refrain

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Refrain

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

 

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