On Grace, Worship And Love

I was blessed to remember this hymn.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear!

What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

O what a peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!

- Joseph Scriven, "What A Friend We Have in Jesus," 1855.

C.f. Jesus' words to his disciples:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

- John 15:16f

On Longing, Satisfaction, And Love

My soul today is thirsting for living streams divine,
To sweep from highest Heaven to this poor heart of mine;
I stand upon the promise, in Jesus’ Name I plead;
O send the gracious current to satisfy my need.

Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the shouts I can’t control;
Comes the love Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.

- A.I. Zelley and Henry L. Gilmour, "Like A Mighty Sea"

On Worship And Theology Of The Cross

May the words of Christ be on hearts and on our lips. Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his 1life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24f).

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me

Still all my song would be nearer, my God, to thee

- Sarah F. Adams (1805-1848)

On Holiness, Glory And The Trinity

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

- Reginald Heber, "Holy, Holy, Holy," 1826.

On The Glory of Christ

1 Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!


Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!


Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels 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. 



3 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!


Heavenly 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,


Power and glory unto the Lord belong.

- Fanny J. Crosby 1869, comp. Chester G. Allen, "Praise Him!"

On The Glory Of Christ

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 forever,

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.

- Charles Wesley (1707-1788), "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"

On Good Hymns For Jesus, Our Worthy God and Saviour

To God be the glory, great things He hathdone;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life, an atonement for sin,
And opened the lifegate, that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer, the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!

- Fanny J. Crosby, "To God Be The Glory," (1820-1915)

On Perseverance

I need reminders:

Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the cross,in the cross,

Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and Mercy found me;

There the bright and morning star

Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day,

With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait

Hoping, trusting ever,

Till I reach the golden strand,

Just beyond the river.

- Frances J. Crosby, "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,"1869.

On The Love Of God

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul!

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

- Alexander Means, "What Wondrous Love Is This?"

On War And Worship

Experience has a way of refining (not defining) theology. To experience suffering has a way of reascending the reality that theology is far more than an assortment of theory. And, that faith is no mere, mental ascent. It is one thing to understand, beleive and agree the Jesus' words:

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it."

- Luke 9:23ff

Yet, it is another thing all together to have faith that leads to trust and obedience in times of trial and tribulation. I may agree with Jesus, for the sake of Him being God (and therefore He is infinitely true, good, beautiful, holy and loving), yet I may wince during times where I must literally deny myself. My flesh is weak. It is selfish and it struggles to deny Jesus of my devotion. My flesh seeks my comfort; it cheapens His suffering on the cross. To only be the inner, spiritual man. How much humility and mercy did the Jesus Christ my Lord live and die in the flesh. Sadhu Sundar Singh's anthem encourages me to press on:

The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me
No turning back, no turning back.