Come, Lord Jesus

Someone asked if our family sings Christmas carols.  We sing the doctrinally sound ones, and they are good for all year long. These beautiful words, sung to the tune of Our Great Savior (one of my favorites!), are rich with meaning:

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free;

From our sins and fears 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 ev'ry 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.

I like that first line, Come, thou long expected Jesus.  Planet earth is getting to be a scary place to live. I am ready for Jesus to come again and set things right!   

The first time he came, only a few knew the King of Kings dwelt here.  When he comes again, the whole world will know about it!

At his first coming his kingdom was not of this world.  When he comes again, he will take his throne in Jerusalem.

The first time he was here, he was lowly, riding on a colt, just, and having salvation. The next time he comes he will be exalted, riding a white horse, and judging and making war in righteousness.  

The first time he came, he wore a crown of thorns.  Next time he will wear a crown of gold.


Jesus first came as the Lamb of God.  His second coming will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 

The first time he came he gave his sinless life's blood for me, so that the next time he comes, he'll be taking me with him! 

God's greatest gift was not just his Son -- it was the blood of his Son!  Jesus did not remain a babe in a manger.  He grew up and accomplished what his Father sent him to do.  He is God Almighty. He died to make things right between you and God.  

What will you do with Jesus?  Will you worship him as a babe in a manger, and then go about your life unchanged, the same as you were before?  Or will you, in repentance, receive him as your King?  If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Come, thou long expected Jesus!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse;

and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; 

and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, 

clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: 

and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: 

and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11-16

Emily's Gregorian Science Fun

Today's science-without-school project:

When I survey the wondrous cross 
on which the Prince of Glory died; 
my richest gain I count but loss, 
and pour contempt on all my pride. 

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, 
save in the death of Christ, my God; 
all the vain things that charm me most, 
I sacrifice them to his blood. 

See, from his head, his hands, his feet, 
sorrow and love flow mingled down. 
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, 
or thorns compose so rich a crown. 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
that were an offering far too small; 
love so amazing, so divine, 
demands my soul, my life, my all. 

1st Day of School

Today we start school.  Already we are behind, because, well, it's amazing what we all can find to do when it's school time.  :D

Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessèd
He’ll prepare for us a place.

Refrain

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Refrain

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

Refrain

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

Jesus Hold My Hand

JESUS, HOLD MY HAND

by Albert E. Brumley

As I travel through this pilgrim land there is a Friend who goes with me.
Leads me safely thro' the sinking sand, it is the Christ of Calvary.
This would be my pray'r, dear Lord, each day to help me do the best I can,
For I need Thy light to guide me day and night, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

CHORUS:

Jesus, hold my hand, I need Thee ev'ry hour,
(Blessed Jesus, hold my hand) (Yes, I need Thee ev'ry hour)
Thru this pilgrim land Protect me by Thy pow'r.
(Thru this land, this pilgrim land ----By Thy saving pow'r.)
Hear my feeble plea, O Lord, look down on me.
(Hear my plea, my feeble plea, Lord, dear Lord, Look down on me)
When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there,
(When I kneel in prayer)
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Let me travel in the light divine that I may see the blessed way;
Keep me that I may be wholly Thine and sing redemption's song some day.
I will be a soldier brave and true and ever firmly take a stand,
As I onward go and daily meet the foe, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

CHORUS

When I wander thru the valley dim toward the setting of the sun,
Lead me safely to a land of rest if I a crown of life have won;
I have put my faith in Thee, dear Lord, that I may reach the golden strand,
There's no other Friend on whom I can depend, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

CHORUS

Hymn from the Heart -- Our Great Saviour

What else could I possibly want or need in a God, but this:

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

CHORUS:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

CHORUS

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

CHORUS

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

CHORUS

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

(A)nd thou shalt know no god but me:
  for there is no saviour beside me.
 Hosea 13:4

Hymn From the Heart - My Hope Is in the Lord

One of the reasons why I love the old songs so much is that most of them were written for congregational singing, NOT for performance or entertainment. That means that even I can sing them!  Most of the oldies have simple chords and meaningful, memorable lyrics that give testimony to who Jesus is and what he has done.  Just about 100% of contemporary Christian music is written for entertainment or performance.  Besides the fact that much of it sounds like carnal love ballads (who is "he"?), or has lyrics that center on the singer or his/her feelings, the music by itself is plain worldly.  Most of that stuff, if it were played in stores, would blend right in with the garbage that we are already made to endure while we are out and about, and no one would know the difference.  I know you all don't agree with my estimation, but that's okay.  Love me anyway.

 ___________________________________________________ 

My Hope Is in the Lord

HOPE, n.   1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.
2. Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense.

Are you going to heaven when you die?  The answer many people give is this, "I hope so."  Hope is a funny word.  It's one of those words which has changed over the years with the English language.  As Noah Webster pointed out in his first definition of the word, "hope" is more than just a wish or a desire. Hope is accompanied by a well-founded expectation, and in the case of a hope of going to heaven, it is founded on the promise of God. 
 

In Titus 1:2, the apostle Paul said of himself that he was "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."   See that?  Paul's hope was in the promise of God.  That is where my hope lies, also.  I don't just hope I am going to heaven.  I know I am, because God keeps his word!  I am resting and secure, not on my own faith, but in HIM!

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

 [...] if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, [then] thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price of all my sin
At Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light
He freely gives.

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress,
My only hope is found in Jesus’
Righteousness.

And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne;
He shows His wounded hands and names me
As His own. (Refrain)

His grace has planned it all,
‘Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.

For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light
He freely gives!

by Noman J. Clayton

Hymn From the Heart -- There Is a Fountain

I love hymns about the blood. True Christianity is a bloody religion.  An innocent animal shed its blood in the garden of Eden.  Abel's offering was a blood offering.  Right from the start of history, the atonement for sin has been through the blood.  There is a red river running through the entire Bible, a picture of the sinless blood that would one day be shed by the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of every man, woman, and child.  For four thousand years God's people offered up to him the blood of bulls and of goats, but the day finally came. Because of that great love wherewith he loved us, the Son of God redeemed us sinners from death and hell with his own blood. That blood he shed was the LAST BLOOD the Father would ever require! That fountain of pure, holy blood that ran from his earthly body was the last sacrifice for sins. Even two thousand years later, the blood of Christ has not lost its power. All my sins are under the blood, never to condemn me again.  Yes, I do love to sing about the blood!

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be 'til I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing thy pow'r to save,
When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave.



...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from ALL sin.
1 John 1:7

Hymn From the Heart -- Jesus Paid It ALL

Look at that, two weeks after I decide to do a weekly post, I forget all about it. LOL! Oh well. Just bear with me. You know, "comfort the feeble-minded."

One of my favorite hymns is Jesus Paid It All.  When my babies were, well, babies, I would sing this to them as a lullaby. It was perfect for humming quietly in my alto joyful noise. (Actually, any song sounds better when I "sing" it softly!) And I love the lyrics. They are so simple, and yet profound, making the statement that while I could do nothing at all to merit God's favor, Jesus did everything that was required for my salvation.  He paid my sin debt at Calvary because even in my sins, he loved me! There was nothing left for me to do, but to receive his death in my place. One day I will stand confidently before God with the blood of Jesus as my pass into heaven. For all eternity I will sing the praises of my wonderful Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, for my salvation is in HIM, and not of works, lest any man should boast. What a wonderful salvation!!

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness....watch and pray
Find in me....thine all in all

Chorus:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin hath left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb

And when before thy throne
I stand in Him complete
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18

 

Hymn From the Heart -- I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Maybe I'll start doing this weekly.  Sometimes a good hymn or spiritual song can do as much for the heart as the scriptures can, especially if the words of the song include lines or ideas from the Word of God.  We have a big collection of song books, and I can hardly resist the impulse to buy another one if I see one at a garage sale.  We sing the same ones over and over again, but there are so many good ones that are unknown!!  This one is a bit of an oldie, but it's still well-known.  In these days of uncertainty, it's a blessing to have a song in my heart.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

Hope that's a blessing to you. We don't know what tomorrow holds, but my Saviour does.  Do you know Him?  He is the only unmoveable foundation, the only object worthy of your faith!

Hymn From the Heart -- All Will Be Well

Many years ago when Alizona was maybe two years old and extra cranky in the back seat of the car, I turned around and suggested she sing for a while. Amazingly she sweetly obeyed me, and sure enough, in a few moments she was back to being her happy little self.  It was a wonderful cure for a sad heart.  And you know what? It works for adults, too.  How many times in the Psalms does David state, after telling about his troubles, that he will sing unto the Lord?  On my crying day last week this tune kept going through my mind.  I only knew the words to the first two lines, so I really couldn't sing it, but even humming a song about the Lord made my heart lighter.  I'm not sure of the title, but here are the words by Mary Bowley:

Through the love of God my Saviour
All will be well;
Free and changeless is his favor.
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed me,
Perfect is the grace that sealed me,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield me,
All must be well.

Though I pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Thine is such a full salvation,
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
Fruitful if in Christ abiding,
Holy through the Spirit's guiding
All must be well.

I expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be  well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On my Father's love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
Or in living or in dying
All must be well.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever:
with my mouth will I make known they faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1