This hymn is based off of Psalm 42.  Each verse speaks of something different, yet God is the center of each verse.  The first verse talks about longing and thirsting for God--the verse ending with "When shall I come and see thy face?"  This is what my newest blog post is about.  The next verse is about God's name.  It's about being jealous for His name when others are mocking it, and the days of praising His name in His courts.  The third verse is about not needing to toil or mourn within because God is our help and He is our hope.  We hope and trust in Him and we praise Him for it.  So, I hope you enjoy this hymn, and I hope that you will continue to thirst for God as the hart thirsts for flowing streams:


As the hart longs for flowing streams, So longs my soul for You, O God. My soul does thirst for the living God. When shall I come to see Your face? My tears have fed me day and night While men have said, “Where is your God?” But I recall as my soul pours dry The days of praise within Your house. Why do I mourn and toil within When it is mine to hope in God? I shall again sing praise to Him; He is my help; He is my God.

  

 We've all sung the Doxology before.  Most of us know it by heart.  Many of us know different tunes to it.  But, I wanted to put this up as the hymn of the week anyway.  Among Christians, there are many things that make us distinct.  Many different denominations.  Many different theologies.  Many different forms of worship and teaching.  The Doxology was written for the purpose of bringing Christians together.  The majority of churches sing the Doxology every Sunday--it is a way that through our differences, all Christians can join and sing this short praise hymn to God.  Isn't that really cool? There is a couple of things that are really good about this hymn.  First, is that all blessings come from God.  "Every good thing comes from the Father of Lights."  It is from God that all blessings come, and He deserves praise from that.  Second, all creatures should praise Him.  Now, when many of us speak of praise, we think singing.  But, most creatures can't sing.  So, how do they praise their creator?  I  think, by doing what they were created to do.  And what are we created to do?  "Fear God and keep His commandments."  This is a comfort to me, because sometimes I have trouble giving God praise through my speech.  I know that another way I can give God speech is by obeying Him.  Thirdly, we should praise all members of the Trinity.  We should praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Something, that is hard sometimes.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading the Doxology and thinking about some of these things in the process! 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below Alleluia Alleluia!
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia!

This hymn is about Jesus.  Jesus the man.  Jesus the Christ.  Jesus the Son of God.  Jesus the KING.  After Jesus ascended into heaven, God the Father made Him ruler over the universe.  Jesus is out King, and He deserves to be crowned King.  This hymn is so cool because it shows us so many things we need to crown Him for.  King. Son of God. Son of Man.  Lord of Life. Lord of Peace. Lord of Love.  Lord of Lords.  But this hymn isn't just about giving Jesus titles of honor, it is about worshiping Him for all He is and has done.  I could spend page after page describing all that this hymn says about Christ (and these are only six of the nine verses), but instead I want you to read over this slowly and see all the things it says about Jesus.  He is much more than just the Son of God who died for our sins.  He is much more, and is doing much more today, as the Lord of Lords, and King through all eternity, "Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast, And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest."  I hope you enjoy this one!

1. Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne. Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity. 2. Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began, And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man; Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast, And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest. 3. Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave, And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save. His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die. 4. Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet. 5. Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side, Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright. 6. Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign, Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain, Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.

How Can I Say Thanks
for The Things You Have Done For Me?
things So Undeserved,
yet You Gave To Prove Your Love For Me;
the Voices Of A Million Angels
could Not Express My Gratitude.
all That I Am And Ever Hope To Be,
I Owe It All To Thee.

To God Be The Glory,
to God Be The Glory,
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done.

With His Blood He Has Saved Me,
with His Power He Has Raised Me;
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done.

Just Let Me Live My Life,
let It be Pleasing, Lord To Thee,
and If I Gain Any Praise,
let It Go To Calvary.

It's simple, yet profound.  It's short, yet says what it needs to.  Many times I know I need to give thanks to God but I just can't express words.  And many times, I know I need to give Him thanks, but I just don't feel like it.  This hymn helps with both.  I only wish I had this mind set in my everyday life.  To God be the Glory.  I especially love the last part.  "Just let me live my life--let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee, and if I gain any Praise, let it go to Calvary."  I hope you think about these things this week....

This is possibly one of the greatest hymns ever written.  Most of you probably know it, and if you don't, you do now!  It is such a full bodied poem and prayer to our great Father.  It is a love song to God, but it also makes requests to God that He be our Battle Shield, our Wisdom, our Vision.  We are blind, living in darkness, yet God is our vision.  I was reading in 1 John today, and it was talking about walking in darkness and light.  This is a plea that God will be our Vision.  As I said earlier, it is also a love song to God, giving Him great glory.  It talks about our relationship with God.  It gives a very truthful and deep picture of all that God is to us.  It is easy to just read these lyrics and go on your way, but spend some time talking to God about these things and asking Him to be to you all that this hymn says He is to us.  If you don't really have time now, wait until you do have some time.  I really hope God blesses you through this hymn.
1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power. 4. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art. 5. High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O ruler of all.