O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

(photo by me)

 

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

 

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

~ George Matheson

I love the line in the first verse that says, "I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be." What a beautiful picture of surrending one's life completely to God's will, allowing Him to choose how one's life is best to be spent.

Here is Love

Photo credit - photo taken by me on Sanibel Island

Here is love, vast as the ocean,

Lovingkindness as a flood,

Jesus, Prince of Life, is dying,

Life for us is in His blood.

O, what heart can e're forget Him?

Who can cease His praise to sing?

Boundless love, forever cherished

While the heav'ns with music ring.

On the mount of crucifixion,

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers,

Poured incessant from above,

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kiss a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,

Love Thee, ever all my days;

Let me seek Thy kingdom only

And my life be to Thy praise;

Thou alone shalt be my glory,

Nothing in the world I see.

Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,

Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me

By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;

And Thy grace my need is meeting,

As I trust in Thee, my Lord.

Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring

Thy great love and power on me,

Without measure, full and boundless,

Drawing out my heart to Thee.

~ William Rees

This was a beautiful hymn used during the Welsh Revival of 1904.

The Lord IS good!

photo credit

The Lord is good

Tell it wherever you go,

The Lord is good

Tell it that others may know;

Tell of His blessings and

Tell of His love,

Tell how He's watching

From Heaven above:

The Lord is good

Tell it wherever you go.

 - Alfred B. Smith

Remember to reflect on God's goodness today. Not just how He has been good to you in easy times, but especially how He was good to you during the difficult times and brought you through. I find that when I remember His faithfulness to me in the past, I learn to trust Him more with my present and future.

Where is a Gideon?

I have heard this song before, but I heard it again this past Sunday in our church, and was reminded again why I like this song. I know that the best example in Scripture for us to follow is Christ's example, but I think we can learn a lot from other Bible characters, even if they did make some mistakes that are recorded for us. Gideon at least started off right and did mighty things for the Lord, and this song is about those times he stood for the Lord and for the right. Does it seem sometimes like there are not many Christians who are willing to take a stand for Christ? It is easy to get discouraged, looking at the world around us. Things were tough in Bible times as well, and have been throughout all of history. God is still looking for men and women and even children who are willing to take a stand for truth and what's right. You and I can still make a difference in our world, and be that light that shines, piercing the darkness.

This is a day when idols are worshiped,

Even God's people are trapped in their snares.

Good men have fallen, standards have shaken -

Where is the answer? Who even cares?

Where is a Gideon? Where is the man

Who'll be a leader, and follow God's plan?

Where is God's champion? Who'll be the one

To stand like Gideon? I'll be that man!

Where is a man who gives up ambition,

Worldly desires are all set aside!

Where is the man, though lowly be service,

Who's satisfied only in Him to abide?

Where is a Gideon? Where is the man

Who'll be a leader and follow God's plan?

Where is God's champion? Who'll be the one

To stand like Gideon? I'll be that man!



Little is Much

In the harvest field now ripened

There's a work for all to do.

Hark! the voice of God is calling,

To the harvest calling you.

Does the place you're called to labor

Seem so small and little known?

It is great if God is in it,

And He'll not forget His own.

Chorus

Little is much when God is in it;

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There's a crown and you can win it

If you'll go in Jesus' name.

~ Mrs. F.W. Suffield

photo from free pixels

Giving thanks when it's easy, and when it's not

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

"Thanks to God," words by August L. Storm.

August L. Storm, a worker for the Salvation Army, was a young man in his 20's when he wrote this hymn.

He decided to thank God not only for the good things, but also for the difficult things. Several years later, Storm was stricken with a condition that left him a cripple, but he continued to have a thankful heart in spite of his disability.

Taken from Hymn History

photo from free pixels

Anxiety

All Your Anxiety

Is there a heart o'er bound by sorrow?

Is there a life weighed down by care?

Come to the cross- each burden bearing,

All your anxiety - leave it there.

No other friend so keen to help you,

No other friend so quick to hear;

No other place to leave your burden,

No other one to hear your prayer.

Come then at once - delay no longer!

Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;

You need not fear a disappointment -

You shall find peace at the mercy seat.

CHORUS

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat - leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

 - Words and music by Edward H. Joy

photo from free pixels

Peace

Blessed Quietness

Joys are flowing like a river,

Since the Comforter has come;

He abides with us forever,

Makes the trusting heart His home.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

What assurance in my soul,

On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,

How the billows cease to roll.

The words remind me of the Bible story of Jesus asleep in the boat while his disciples desperately tried to fight a raging storm. They had Jesus with them the whole time, but they forgot about Him. Instead of trusting, they panicked. Those fearful moments must have been horrible. But so unnecessary, because they were never in any danger since the Master was with them. His simple yet commanding words remind us of His awesome power - "Peace, be still." I love how the Bible records that immediately the wind and the waves obeyed Him. I wish I could have been there to see the change that took place - from raging tempest to beautiful calm.

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