Himself

October 24, 2010 at 7:26 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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I was away for a week on somewhat of a vacation with limited internet access. I’ve enjoyed some time with family and friends, some beautiful fall weather and scenery and local attractions. I will write more about this during the week. I’ll give you a heads up; if you are ever near Cleveland, Ohio take the time to visit the West Side Market. You won’t be dissapointed. Plus if you get the chance to sit by a fire on a cool fall evening with some family and friends take advantage of it. I almost forgot how fun that can be. Toasting marshmallows and/or making smores can be fun too.

This old hymn  by Simpson is a favorite of mine. Simpson was a man that was radically changed by the power of God. He was not afraid to live by his convictions and faith. He trusted God to lead and provide for ministry. He went against the status quo in the church. He reached out to the forgotten or overlooked people. He was not afraid of difficulty or hardship and trusted a miracle working God. I hope you enjoy this hymn and take the time to learn a little about A. B. Simpson.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow laborer)

Romans 15:13; 2 Peter 3:18

Himself, Sunday’s Hymn

By A. B. Simpson (1843-1919), sung in 6/8 time

1.      Once, it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word; Once His gift I wanted, Now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

(Refrain) All in all forever, Jesus will I sing; Everything in Jesus, And Jesus everything.

2.      Once ‘twas painful trying, Now ‘tis perfect trust; Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost! Once ‘twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast; Once ‘twas constant drifting, Now my anchor’s cast.

(Refrain)

3.      Once ‘twas busy planning, Now ‘tis trustful prayer; Once ‘twas anxious caring, Now He has the care; Once ‘twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says; Once ‘twas constant asking, Now ‘tis ceaseless praise.

(Refrain)

4.      Once it was my working, His it hence shall be; Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me; Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One; Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

(Refrain)

5.      Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He’s mine; Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine; Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail; And my hopes are anchored Safe within the vail.

(Refrain)

Power from on High

October 16, 2010 at 10:47 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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I may not take the time to post tomorrow so I thought I would give you a good old hymn today. It would be well worth the time to learn about A. B. Simpson if you don’t know anything about him. He was quite the godly man. Some of the hymns he wrote are hard to sing but they have good words. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13

Power from on High

By A. B. Simpson, sung in 2/2 time

1.      Gracious Heavenly Father, Hear Thy people’s cry; See us! How we languish! Help us ere we die! Send us by Thy Spirit Power from on high.

(Refrain) Power, power, power from on high, Send us by Thy Spirit Power from on high.

2.      Oh, how long we struggle! Oh, how hard we try! Helplessly we labor, Helplessly we sigh Till Thy Spirit gives us Power from on high.

(Refrain)

3.      Send divine conviction, Bring salvation nigh: Curcify and quicken, Save and sanctify. Blessed Spirit, bring us Power from on high.

(Refrain)

4.      As the heavenly sunshine Bringing summer nigh, As the showers that water Deserts parched and dry, Quickening Spirit, bring us Power from on high.

(Refrain)

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

October 10, 2010 at 5:15 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

By Charles Wesley, sung in 3/2 time

1.      O for a thousand tongues to sing, My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace.

 2.      Jesus! The name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease, ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘Tis life and health and peace.

3.      He breaks the pow’r of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.

 4.      Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, Your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come; And leap, ye lame, for joy.

 5.      My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread thro’ all the earth abroad, The honors of Thy Name.

Years ago when I was a young Christian and started listening to Christian radio stations there were only two to choose from where I lived. One station was fm and the other was am. I used to set my clock radio to the fm station and during the week the early morning disc jockey would play loud marching music to help people walk up. I think he would also play the sound of a rooster every now and then too. He was very energetic and talkative and some people probably didn’t like it. But I did! I kind of miss it every now and then, but I am a morning person.

Today’s hymn reminded me of those early mornings back in the day. To me each individual line builds in volume and intensity. And all the lines together build in volume and intensity. The instruments are playing and the singers are singing and together they are leading the people in praise of Almighty God! How could you not want to sing out loud and strong to the great God who has saved your soul?

I hope you offer up your voice in praise to God today. Think about the work He did to save you. Think about all that He has forgiven you. Take all your cares and worries and lay them at His feet because He cares for you. O what a great God and Father we have who watches over us.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13

Psalm 33:20-22

(20)We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. (21)In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy Name. (22)May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

October 3, 2010 at 6:39 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Sunday’s Hymn

(11)But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You. (12)For surely, O LORD, You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

What a way to wake up and begin your day. Pray and thank God for who He is, read a Psalm of praise and an old hymn of praise. It is good to know Jehovah God as Father God through being forgiven and purchased by the blood of the Lamb (God the Son) and to be baptized into the body of Christ and sealed for eternity by God the Holy Spirit. Not three gods, but One God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is better known as the Trinity. There is some mystery to this. No man can fully explain this. But I believe it and rest in it.

Here is a second short hymn of praise known as the Doxology. Some churches will sing this after the offering is taken and a prayer of thanks is given. It is in 4/4 time and can be sung at any time.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-servant)

Romans 15:13

Praise Him! Praise Him!

By Fanny J. Crosby, sung in 6/8 time

1.      Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest arch angels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy name! Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children; In His arms He carries them all day long.

(Refrain) Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! ever in joyful song!

2.      Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer! For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died. He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation – Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified. Sound His praises! Jesus, who bore our sorrows; Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong!

(Refrain)

3.      Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever. Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King! Christ is coming, over the world victorious; Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong!

 (Refrain)

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

September 26, 2010 at 6:44 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Sunday’s Hymn – Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

This hymn is by Robert Robinson and is sung in 3/4 time.

1.      Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise His name – I’m fixed upon it – Name of God’s redeeming love.

2.      Hither to Thy love has blest me; Thou has bro’t me to this place;

And I know Thy hand will bring me Safely home by Thy good grace.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand’ring from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger, Bo’t me with His precious blood.

3.      O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.

Here is an example of another good old hymn. I have good memories of the piano and organ playing together with the trumpet, french horn, flute and saxophone. It seems that as we came to the end of every verse people’s voices got louder and louder. There is almost something like a calm powerful confidence as you sing it. Think about yourself and Almighty God and what He has done to reach you and save you and secure you. How can you not sing humbly and yet confidently about our great God?

I hope you have a great day of worship and serving the Lord. I hope you understand that service is a part of worship. If you have any questions check out the Hebrew word for worship. We are to be participants in worship, not just spectators.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill

Romans 15:13

Romans 5:6-11

(6)You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (7)Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. (8)But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(9)Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! (10)For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through His life! (11)Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received reconciliation.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

September 18, 2010 at 9:41 pm | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Great Is Thy Faithfulness

This is Sunday’s hymn a day early

The Lord’s compassions are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

This hymn is by Thomas O. Chisholm, copyright 1923 and sung in 3/4 time.

1.      Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou as been Thou forever wilt be.

(Refrain) Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2.      Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

(Refrain)

3.      Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow – Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

(Refrain)

I hope this old hymn encourages you today. God is faithful even if we sometimes forget that. Cast your cares upon Him. Praise Him even when you don’t feel like it. Watch and wait for Him to move in your behalf. God bless you.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 50:23

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

September 12, 2010 at 7:07 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Sunday’s Hymn

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:2)

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

By Henry F. Lyte

Sung in 3/4 time

1.      Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To His feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Ever more His praises sing. Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Praise the everlasting King!

2.      Praise Him for His grace and favor To our fathers in distress; Praise Him, still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless. Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Glorious in His faithfulness!

3.      Father-like, He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows. In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Widely yet His mercy flows.

4.      Angels in the height, adore Him; You behold Him face to face. Saints triumphant, bow before Him; Gathered in from every race. Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia! Praise with us the God of grace!

Only Trust Him

August 29, 2010 at 7:46 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Only Trust Him

This hymn was written by John H. Stockton and is sung in 4/4 time.

1.      Come, every soul by sin oppressed – There’s mercy with the Lord, And He will surely give you rest By trusting in His Word.

(Refrain) Only trust Him; only trust Him. Only trust Him now. He will save you; He will save you. He will save you now.

2.      For Jesus shed His precious blood, Rich blessings to bestow; Plunge now into the crimson flood That washes white as snow.

(Refrain)

3.      Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way, That leads you into rest; Believe in Him without delay And you are fully blest.

(Refrain)

Ask anyone who has repented of their sins toward God and turned in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21) how they now feel and you will probably get a lot of different answers. Ask the saved, sanctified child of the Most High God how he feels singing this song and he will probably tell you that he can’t sing it loud enough or with enough feeling to express the joy that comes from being in Christ.

We can argue about which comes first in the mind and heart of an individual, faith or regeneration? Or does regeneration come first then faith? What should be in the heart, mind, soul and voice of every blood purchased, redeemed child of God is joy for the forgiveness of sin and the blessing of eternal life with Christ in the presence of God (Rom. 5:1-5).

Then there should be a desire that others (sinners) would come to know God’s love and mercy that only comes through the forgiveness of sin. There is only one way to God. That way involves repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust that He loves you and trust that He has the power to forgive you. Only trust Him now.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

August 22, 2010 at 7:50 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a comment
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Sunday’s Hymn

Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Have you fully surrendered to the Lord? Typically this song has been used as an invitation to come forward to the altar at the close of a service. But I think it could be used during your morning devotional reading as a prayer of praise and surrender. Maybe submission might be a word some would rather use instead of surrender. Regardless of the word you choose, you must surrender or submit your life to Almighty God. He is GOD and there is no other.

I hope you have a good day of service and worship to the Lord,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; 8:28

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

By Adelaide A. Pollard

1.      Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.

2.      Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today. Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

3.      Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray. Power all power surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4.      Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always living in me!

Sweet Hour of Prayer

August 15, 2010 at 6:54 am | Posted in hymns | 1 Comment
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Sunday’s Hymn

 (1 John 5:14-15)

(14)This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15)And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.

Don’t forget to spend some time on Sunday mornings reading your Bible, praying and studying God’ Word. Sometimes Christians skip the discipline of devotion on Sunday mornings because they will be attending church. Don’t be like the average Christian. Spend that quality alone time with God and remember to pray (intercede) for your pastor, all the people who serve others at your church on Sunday mornings and for unsaved visitors to be invited and to attend your church. Pray that your church would be an example of God’s transforming power to your community.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 50:23

Sweet Hour of Prayer

By William W. Walford

1.      Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father’s throne Make all my wants and wishes known: In seasons of distress and grief My soul has often found relief And oft escaped the tempter’s snare By they return, sweet hour of prayer.

 2.      Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, Thy wings shall my petition bear To Him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless: And since He bids me seek His face, Believe His Word, and trust His grace, I’ll cast on Him my every care And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

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