O Love of God...Horatius Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.


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Brethren, We Have Met to Worship by George Atkins

1. Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

2. Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray and holy manna will be showered all around.

3. Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses' sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

4. Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with tears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, Oh pray that holy manna may be scattered all around.

5. Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He'll call us home to Heaven, at His table we'll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.

How Firm a Foundation...

"How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord"
by "Keen," 1787, alt.

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In every condition, -- in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, --
The Lord, the Almighty, they strength e'er shall be.

3. "Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. "E'en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

7. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!"

HE AROSE! -by Rober Lowry

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


(Refrain)
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose!)
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes, (He arose!)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! (He arose!) He arose! (He arose!)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!


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


(Refrain)
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose!)
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes, (He arose!)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! (He arose!) He arose! (He arose!)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!


(Verse 3)
Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!


(Refrain)
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose!)
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes, (He arose!)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! (He arose!) He arose! (He arose!)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Run from Giant Despair and Doubting Castle, keep Hopeful, remember the Promise!

The enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us has a great weapon. So great a weapon that the 2nd best-selling book of all-time mentions it; Pilgrim's Progress.

The weapon?

Its the ugly Giant Despair!
He's so ugly- and cruel- and scary!
And he's so wicked and mean!
He will hand you a rope, poison, and a dagger and tell you how much better things will be, if you will just use them!

He will drag you to Doubting Castle and shackle you in a prison, and make you want to die. He will drag you through all the bad things in your life- and in everyone else's. He'll make you believe that your prayers only go as high as the floor. He may keep you from food and drink, or keep you from seeing the lovely light of day. He will make you believe that there will never be better days in your future and the misery that you now abide in, will be your permanent stay.

And if you think the ole Giant is something, you must meet the wife! Oh she is a terror! In fact, she's the Queen of Terror and Fear! She has a murderous heart that is very deceitful and evil. She will do all she can to ensure torturous imaginations! You know, the kind that keep you awake and far from peace, rest, and safety!

Now the mystery- Christian sat there- tormented by Giant Despair and his wicked Wife, with a great Promise in his pocket, the whole time! What made him forget it? What kept him from thinking of it when he needed it most?

I suppose it is the power of Despair. It can blind you and confuse you.

Its so important to constantly remind yourself that the Promise is right there- right at your heart- all the time. Listen to Hopeful: *Then said HOPEFUL, "That’s good news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try."*

Don't let him beat you! You have a key! A precious Promise! But don't be defeated, don't give up, for even our Lord felt this heavy creature too. Remember; “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?” As He cried to His Father, so can we cry to Him!

*'I will never leave you, nor forsake you,'
*For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to be, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
*"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil."
*Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
*Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

...Giant DESPAIR, who despises the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:
"Out of the way we went; and then we found
What ‘t was to tread upon forbidden ground:
And let them that come after have a care,
Lest heedlessness makes them, as we to fare;
Lest they, for trespassing, his prisoners are,
Whose castle’s ‘Doubting’ and whose name’s DESPAIR."

For unto us....

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

By: Charles Wesley


Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my god and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of your name.

The name of Jesus charms our fears
And bids our sorrows cease,
Sings music in the sinner’s ears,
Brings life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.

Look to the Lord, who did atone
For sin, O fallen race.
Look and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all our sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb has made us whole.
His soul was once an offering made
For every human soul.

To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever given
By saints below and saints above
The Church in earth and heaven.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY FELLOWSHIP...

WOO HOO! Our order from Scripture Memory Fellowship came today!

Everyone was so excited! I let them see all of their prizes, and then re-collected them to put up until they earn the prizes! They get to keep the memory books and each child has a set amount of Scriptures to learn per week. At the end of 4 weeks, they get the first prize! (Unless they can go faster!) Then a second prize is awarded 4 weeks after that, upon memorization of the next set. At the end of 12 weeks, the final prize is awarded! And the program is complete!

SMF, also offers a special camp every summer for memorizers. Those who have completed the program get to come for HALF price!

*********

How many verses do they have to learn per week?

Well, for the programs that I picked:

7yr old- 2 verses per week

8yr old- 3 verses per week

10yr old- 3 to 5 per week

12yr old- 6 to 7 per week

14yr old- 9 per week

17yr old- 12 per week

As you can see, it will be work!

Visit Scripture Memory Fellowship for more details and to enroll your family!

Remember- all ages can join!

TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND

Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

What rush of alleluias fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation and all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes a thousandfold repaid!

O then what raptured greetings on Canaan’s happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle, that brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless, nor widows desolate.

Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, then take Thy power, and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heaven Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come.

Chief of Sinners by William McComb

Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died that I might live on high,
Died that I might never die;
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His, and He is mine.

O the height of Jesus’ love!
Higher than the Heaven above;
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lasting as eternity;
Love that found me—wondrous thought!
Found me when I sought Him not!

Jesus only can impart
Balm to heal the smitten heart;
Peace that flows from sin forgiven,
Joy that lifts the soul to Heaven;
Faith and hope to walk with God
In the way that Enoch trod.

Chief of sinners though I be,
Christ is all in all to me;
All my wants to Him are known,
All my sorrows are His own;
Safe with Him from earthly strife,
He sustains the hidden life.

O my Savior, help afford
By Thy Spirit and Thy Word!
When my wayward heart would stray,
Keep me in the narrow way;
Grace in time of need supply
While I live and when I die.

WATCH AND SEE!

One Scarred Hand.....

This song has continued to bless my heart for years. It was a regular 'special' in the church that I attended when I first got saved, years ago.
It is a blessing to know, that the brokenness of our lives today CAN BE MENDED!
Praise His Name!

FAITHFUL SHEPHERD, FEED ME

FAITHFUL SHEPHERD, FEED ME
by
Thomas B Pollock



Faithful Shepherd, feed me
In the pastures green;
Faithful Shepherd, lead me
Where Thy steps are seen.

Hold me fast, and guide me
In the narrow way;
So, with Thee beside me,
I shall never stray.

Daily bring me nearer
To the heav’nly shore;
Make my faith grow clearer,
May I love Thee more.

Hallow every pleasure,
Every gift and pain;
Be Thyself my treasure,
Though none else I gain.

Day by day prepare me
As Thou seest best,
Then let angels bear me
To Thy promised rest.

Stuck in today?

Snow, cold, sickness, etc got you home-bound today?
Here's a great site for some old-fashioned preaching!
You can listen and watch entire sermons!
Just click on the blue links.

FAR OFF, O GOD, AND YET MOST NEAR

by Henry H Barber

Far off, O God, and yet most near,
Unseen, yet shining clear in all,
Thy presence moves, Thy ways appear,
In system’s rise and sparrow’s fall.

Thy purpose through the ages ran,
Thy Word Thy prophets bore abroad,
Thy love became a Son of Man,
To make men with Him sons of God.

Our eyes Thy loveliness discern,
Where nature weaves Thy wondrous dress,
And in sweet human lives we learn
The beauty of Thy holiness.

Our lives within Thy being stand,
Our sciences omniscience prove,
Thy law is but Thy clasping hand,
Thine order is Thy perfect love.

Judgment: Alone with my Conscience

(Moody read this at the close of a sermon called Hell.)
I sat alone with my conscience,

In a place where time was o'er.

And we talked of my former living,

In the land of the evermore.

And I felt I should have to answer,

The question it put to me.

And to face the answer and question,

Throughout an eternity.

The ghosts of forgotten actions,

Came floating before my sight.

And things that I thought had perished,

Were alive with a terrible might.

And the vision of life's dark record,

Was an awful thing to face.

Alone with my conscience sitting,

In that solemnly silent place.

And I thought of a far away warning,

Of a sorrow that was to be mine.

In a land that then was the future,

But now is the present time.

And I thought of my former thinking,

Of the Judgment day to be.

But sitting alone with my conscience,

Seemed Judgment enough for me.

And I wondered if there was a future,

To this land beyond the grave.

But no one gave me an answer,

And no one came to save.

Then I felt that the future was present,

And the present would never go by.

For it was but the thought of a future,

Become an eternity.

Then I woke from my timely dreaming,

And the vision passed away.

And I knew the far away warning,

Was a warning of yesterday.

And I pray that I may not forget it,

In this land before the grave.

That I may not cry in the future,

And no one come to save.

I have learned a solemn lesson,

Which I ought to have known before.

And which though I learned it dreaming,

I hope to forget no more.

So I sit alone with my conscience,

In the place where the years increase.

And I try to fathom the future,

In the land where time will cease.

And I know of the future judgment,

How dreadful soe'er it be.

That to sit alone with my conscience,

Will be Judgment enough for me.

Far from God, Away from Jesus....

by Robert Harkness

Far from God, away from Jesus,
Straying in the paths of sin,
Knowing not God’s full salvation,
Jesus calls you midst earth’s din.
Refrain
Come, ’tis Jesus calls you;
Come, without delay.
He is willing now to save you;
Come, O come today.

Why continue in your roaming?
Jesus bids you come today.
Mercy’s offer still is open;
Why not come without delay?
Refrain
How much longer will you tarry?
How much longer will you roam?
Listen, Jesus calls you to Him;
Will you not at once come home?
Refrain
Can you stay away from Jesus
With eternity in view?
Can you still reject His mercy
When you hear His call so true?
Refrain
You may almost come to Jesus,
But “almost” will never save;
For the soul that “fully” trusts Him
On the cross His life He gave.
Refrain

Father In Heaven, Who Lovest All

by Rudyard Kipling


Father in Heaven, who lovest all,
O help Thy children when they call,
That they may build from age to age
An undefiled heritage.

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth,
That, in our time, Thy grace may give
The truth whereby the nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves alway,
Controlled and cleanly night and day,
That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice.

Teach us to look in all our ends,
On Thee for Judge, and not our friends,
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favor of the crowd.

Teach us the strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak,
That, under Thee, we may possess
Man’s strength to comfort man’s distress.

Teach us delight in simple things,
And mirth that has no bitter springs,
Forgiveness free of evil done,
And love to all men ’neath the sun.

Christ a Redeemer and Friend

written by John Newton


Poor, weak and worthless though I am
I have a rich almighty Friend;
Jesus, the Savior, is His Name;
He freely loves, and without end.

He ransomed me from hell with blood,
And by His power my foes controlled;
He found me wandering far from God,
And brought me to His chosen fold.

He cheers my heart, my wants supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be,
Enthroned with Him above the skies;
O what a Friend is Christ to me!

But, ah! my inmost spirit mourns;
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns:
I’ve been a faithless friend to Him.

Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey;
And often Satan’s lies believe
Sooner than all my Friend can say.

He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate’er I ask:
But I am straitened, cold and dumb,
And count my privilege a task

Before the world that hates His course,
My treach’rous heart has throbbed with shame;
Loath to forego the worlds applause,
I hardly dare avow His Name.

Sure, were I not most vile and base,
I could not thus my Friend requite!
And were not He the God of grace,
He’d frown and spurn me from His sight.

Lovers of Pleasure More Than God... C. Wesley

Lovers of pleasure more than God,
For you He suffered pain;
Swearers, for you He spilt his blood;
And shall He bleed in vain?
-
Misers, for you his life He paid,
Your basest crime He bore:
Drunkards, your sins on Him were laid,
That you might sin no more.
-
The God of love, to earth He came,
That you might come to heaven;
Believe, believe in Jesus’ Name,
And all your sin’s forgiven.
-
Believe in Him that died for thee,
And, sure as He hath died,
Thy debt is paid, Thy soul is free,
And thou art justified.