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7.2.2009 - Thinking of Moving...

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

Posted a new Wednesday Hymn over here...

(it will get prettier, I promise )

 

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1.17.2007 - Jesus Paid It All

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

   
This is the last hymn we sang for special music with my sister and her husband- it's a powerful one (not the singing, but the words!) and it was a blessing to sing, I pray it will be a blessing to be heard.  Click the title to listen, if you right-click and open in new window, then you can leave the words up to follow along- unless you have this one committed to memory!  It's a good one to 'know by heart'.

Jesus Paid It All


I hear the Savior say, "Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all."
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow'r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim-
I'll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save," My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.

Elvina M. Hall, 1820-1889

    Truly, He has paid it ALL!  Truly, ALL to Him I owe!
    ali
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11.29.2006 - Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

Brethren, We Have Met to Worship...

(my husband and I are the couple on the right...)
    This is the song we sang on the first night of the Revival meetings we had at church a couple weeks ago.  Sylvia thought it would be so fitting to open the meetings- we have met to worship... slightly cheesy, but totally true!  We had an adorable 12 year old piano player- I hope my little ones can play like that some day- thanks, K****, we appreciate your accompanying us!
    You can listen here, enjoy, and I hope it is a blessing to you!
    (if you right-click on the link, you can open it in another window, minimize that window and listen while following the words in this window... just a suggestion... enjoy)

Brethren, We Have Met to Worship
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.

Brethren, see poor sinners round you
Slumb'ring 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.

Sisters, will you join and help us?
Moses' sister aided him;
Will you help the trmbling 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.

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.

words by George Atkins, 19th century;
music by William Moore in 1825.
   
    Enjoying them,   
    because of Him,
    ali

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10.18.2006 - More Love to Thee

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

More Love to Thee
More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved,
Sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek-
Give what is best;
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!


Let sorrow do its work,
Send grief and pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers,
Sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me,
More love, O Christ to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath
Whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry
My heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee,
More love to Thee, More love to Thee!

Elizabeth Prentiss, 1818-1878


    More love to Thee, my Jesus, that is my plea- I want to love You more, I need to know You more!  Lord, help me to seek Thee alone, and yes, please give what is best- not what I want, but what I need, what You know is best, and may I be not only content but happy with that.  And Lord, while I don't wish for any more sorrow, grief, or pain, than is necessary and is Your will, I do wish to learn all that I can from what I go through- my circumstances are used by You to shape and mold me, may my shaping and molding ever be more like the image that You want me to be and less of what I want myself.  And lastly, Lord, while I hope for many more years of breath to live for You and be used by You (especially in the training up of the children You have blessed us with to be useful in Your service) whenever that last breath comes, may it be full of Your praise- may I endeavor to live in such a way so that my last moments aren't filled with regrets, but rather with praise and thanks to You.
    I do love You, Lord.  And I am comforted daily, resting in the knowledge that You love me too.  Thank You, ali
 
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6.14.2006 - Let the Lower Lights Be Burning

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

  I really appreciate this hymn- One of my favorite places to visit while growing up was the Split Rock Lighthouse, along the North Shore of Lake Superior (one of Minnesota's most beautiful areas, in my opinion).  I love the symbolism in this hymn- the lights of the lighthouse give us direction and warn of us the rocks- lest we crash in the night... the light of the Father's love and mercy is our one true lighthouse, but we are also lights for others- at least we should be...

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning
Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His lightouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.


chorus
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.


Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.

chorus
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!
Some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to reach the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.

chorus
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876

  Oh Father, may my life be one of those lower lights, burning brightly along the shore- may my light help some other 'sailor' along the way move closer to the harbor,  ali
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6.5.2006 - A Christian Home

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

  Our second son (6 years olds, almost 7...) was baptized this past Sunday! 


  It was so sweet, I'm one happy Momma!  He got saved two summers ago, just before turning 5.  And while I know that he may not understand everything there is to understand about the christian life and the christian walk (who does? Not me, I'm still learning every week!), I know he understands what salvation is, why he needed to be saved, and what it is he needed to be saved from.  He had spent a few weeks asking some very probing questions for a 4 year old and I could tell he was really grasping things and under as much convictions as a 4 four old can be under... but every time I would talk with him and explain the gospel to him in straight simple terms for a child to understand and then ask him if he wanted to be saved, he would give a mmmmm.... not yet... and run off and play.  Then one morning he came downstairs and announced that he got saved the night before!  Apparently, he couldn't get to sleep and got to talking to his big brother... who led him to the Lord!  His dad and I were ever so slightly disappointed that we couldn't be the ones to lead his little heart home, but so pleased to know that our older son was/is equipped to do such a thing!  I'd like to think we must be doing something right, but I feel so inadequate and just have to say 'it's the Lord!'


 
  Well, Jaron has been growing in his faith and turning out to be quite a spiritually minded young man, a child who is convicted when he's done wrong- to the point of coming and confessing without ever being caught... that's convicting to me!



  My husband and I once again joined forces and voices with my sister and her soon-to-be husband to sing one of my favorite hymns in honor of his baptism.  It's called A Christian Home and the words are absolutely the cry of this wife and mother's heart. 

A Christian Home
O give us homes built firm upon the Savior,
Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide;
Where every child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho days be dark and grim.

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to every tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor-
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

Amen! Amen! and Amen!!!

Listen here


(My husband and I are the couple on the right...)
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5.24.2006 - How Can it Be?

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

My husband and I sang this hymn with my sister and her fiance during the recent revival meetings at our church.  I meant to post it last week, but it was just too crazy around here to post anything!
(My sister is the soprano, I'm singing alto, her fiance is on tenor, and my husband sang bass... listen) (Oh yeah, I don't have a picture of this one, because, well, it would've looked rather silly to hold up a backwards camera in the middle of the song and snap a picture of us while we were singing... I guess we should've handed the camera to somebody... oh well...)

How Can it Be?
O Savior, as my eyes behold  The wonders of Thy might untold,
The heav'ns in glorious light arrayed,  The vast creation Thou hast made-
And yet to think, Thou lovest me-  My heart cries out, "How can it be?"

Chorus-
How can it be?  How can it be?
That God shoudl love a soul like me, O how can it be?

As at the cross, I humbly bow  And gaze upon Thy thorn-crowned brow,
And view the precious bleeding form  By cruel nails so bruised and torn,
Knowing Thy suff'ring was for me,  In grief I cry, "How can it be?"

How can it be? How can it be?  Was ever grace so full and free!
From heights of bliss to depths of woe  In loving kindness Thou didst go,
From sin and shame to resue me-  O Love Divine, How can it be?


How can it be, Lord?  That you should love a soul like me is so humbling, I don't deserve it and I know it.   What you did for my family and I, and for the whole world is more than any of us could ever deserve, not with a lifetime of good works.  Thank You ever so much, help me as I strive to never take your grace for granted, ali

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5.24.2006 - Near to the Heart of God

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

This is the hymn my oldest son sang with a young lady from church during the revival meetings we had during my knitting marathon.  What a blessing to see him up there singing his heart out for the glory of the Lord!  What a kid!  It humbles me sometimes (most times) to see how well he's turning out so far (he's only 12, we have the dreaded teen years yet to come...) as I know and freely admit, it is by the grace of God that he is what he is, not by my doing for I seem to fail daily, but God is so good to us!
His Sunday School class has done a special or two over the years, but this was the first time he's sung a duet in front of the entire church.  He has sung with this same young lady at one of the nursing homes we visit, but not at church.  He's played his violin at church before, with his father and I in a family string trio, but he'd never done a vocal special like that, and it really was special, in my humble motherly opinion!

I wish I could figure out how to link to the sound file... can anyone help in that area? (Well, I think I got it working... but it will take you to a window with our family site, you can just use your browser's back button to get back here after listening...)
listen
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God.

Chorus-
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee, 
Near  to the heart of God.

There is a place of  comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release, Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

Cleland B. McAfee, 1866-1944


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4.5.2006 - In the Garden

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

In the Garden

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is tsill on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

 

      Refrain

      And He walks with me,

      And He talks with me,

      And He tells me I am His own,

      And the joy we share as we tarry there,

      None other has ever known.

 

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

within my heart is ringing.

 

      And He walks with me,

      And He talks with me,

      And He tells me I am His own,

      And the joy we share as we tarry there,

      None other has ever known.

 

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho the night around me is falling;

But He bids me go thru the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

 

      And He walks with me,

      And He talks with me,

      And He tells me I am His own,

      And the joy we share as we tarry there,

      None other has ever known.

 

C. Austin Miles 1868-1946

 

This hymn has been one of my favorites ever since the first time I heard it.  I just love the words.  I love gardens.  I love the idea of being alone in the garden with the Lord, listening to His voice, a voice so sweet the birds hush their singing- now that's sweet!

 

Lord, I know You walk with me.  I know You talk with me.  And yes, I know I am truly one of Your own.    Help me to yearn to hear Your voice more each day.  And when my day starts to seem too much for one mother to handle, draw me back to the 'garden' for some sweet fellowship with you- that's just the refreshing I need each day.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

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3.29.2006 - Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

 

Jesus, Savior, pilot me

Over life's tempestuous sea:

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal;

Chart and compass come from Thee-

Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

 

As a mother stills her child,

Thou canst hush the ocean wild;

Boist'rous waves obey Thy will

When Thou say'st to them, "Be still!"

Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea,

Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

 

When at last I near the shore,

And the fearful breakers roar

'Twixt me and peaceful rest

Then, while leaning on Thy breast,

May I hear Thee say to me,

"Fear not- I will pilot thee!"

 

-Edward Hopper 1816-1888

 

 

Life's sea is tempestuous at times, and like the disciples in the little boat being tossed about in the wild sea, we are so easily filled with fear and doubt rather than faith.  It is encouraging to think about our Savior calming saying "Peace, be still" and the wind and the waves obeyed!  He has that same power over the tempests in our lives, in our hearts.  If only we would quickly yield to Him and obey like the wind and the waves!

 

Lord, I confess my lack of faith- so often I try to be the 'captain of my ship' and complain and fret and worry as I am tossed about life's seas.  Please Jesus, Savior, pilot me!  I yield command of this vessel, and as I try to take it back time and again, I pray that You would gently remind me how much more peace there is with You in control.

In Jesus' name,

ali

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3.22.2006 - I Must Tell Jesus

Posted in Wednesday Hymn

I Must Tell Jesus

 

I must tell Jesus all of my trials,

I cannot bear the burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me,

He ever loves and cares for His own.

 

chorus

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

 

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

Make of my troubles quickly an end.

 

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus,

He all my cares and sorrows will share.

 

O how the world to evil allures me!

O how my heart is tempted to sin!

I must tell Jesus, and He will help me

Over the world the vict'ry to win.

 

Elisha A. Hoffman, 1839-1929

 

  This past week has been hard.  I often wonder how unsaved people can make it day to day, bearing all of their burdens alone.  I couldn't do it, I would've snapped long ago if it wasn't for giving my life to the Lord.  Without Him holding me up day by day, I would just fall flat on my face.  And the times when I still manage to fall flat on my face are the times when I am not seeking the Lord first, the times when I try to get through a day in my own strength, which obviously, I have none of!

 

  The Lord doesn't spoil us rotten, though somedays I wish He would!  He lets us experience real trials, real burdens, real pain.  "He all my cares and sorrows will share"  taking those trials, burdens, and pains to Him really does make them easier to bear somehow.

 

  Lord, my prayer life has been inadequate and once again I have been trying to live in my own strength, but I can't.   You know my trials, You know my pains, and I know Your character- I know that You love me more than I can even understand and I just want to rest in that!  Thank You so much for being with me and giving me strength to get though yesterday, and today, I know I can face tomorrow because of You.

ali

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