1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Text written in 1931 by George W. Briggs (1875-1959)
Sung to DARMSTADT, composed in 1679 by Ahasuerus Fritsch (1629-1701), arranged by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
2 Peter 1:19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
V. 1 Christ is the world's true light,
Its captain of salvation,
The daystar clear and bright
Of every man and nation;
New life, new hope awakes
Where'er men own His sway:
Freedom her bondage breaks,
And night is turned to day.
Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
V. 2 In Christ all races meet,
Their ancient feuds forgetting,
The whole round world complete,
From sunrise to its setting:
When Christ is throned as Lord,
Men shall forsake their fear,
To plowshare beat the sword,
To pruning-hook the spear.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Sung to ADELAIDE, composed in 1907 by George C. Stebbins (1846-1945)
Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
V. 1 Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter;
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
V. 2 Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me,
Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord,
Wash me just now,
As in Thy presence
Humbly I bow.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
V. 3 Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary
Help me, I pray!
Power--all power--
Surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me,
Savior divine!
Ephesians 3:17 ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,....
Text written in 1839 by Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871)
Sung to VIGILATE, composed in 1868 by William H. Monk
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
V. 1 Christian, seek not yet repose,
Cast thy dreams of ease away;
Thou art in the midst of foes;
Watch and pray!
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
V. 2 Gird thy heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever, night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one;
Watch and pray!
V. 3 Hear the victors who o'ercame;
Still they mark each warrior's way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim:
"Watch and pray!"
Psalm 119:111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
Sung to the tune WELLESLEY, composed in 1877 by Lizzie S. Tourjee
Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
V. 1 There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.
Luke 19:6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
V. 2 There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;
There is healing in His blood.
Ephesians 3:17-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Text written in 1747 by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Sung to Blaenwern, composed by William Penfro Rowlands (1860–1937)
Psalm 106:4 Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people,
come to my aid when you save them.
Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
V. 1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.
Hebrews 12:2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
V. 2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest;
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Malachi 3:1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Revelation 5:11, 12 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
V. 3 Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Ephesians 5:27 ...and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Revelation 4:10 ...the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne....
Sung to LAUREL Irregular, composed by Fern's brother Dale Wood (1934-2003)
V. 1 Every flow'r that grows,
Every brook that flows,
Tell of beauty God has giv'n for me:
Throughout my life may beauty be
Deep within a heart from sin set free.
Ephesians 3:17 ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,...
V. 2 Gracious Lord above,
Looking down in love,
Guide my thoughts, my life, in my walk with Thee,
That day by day the world may see
Christ, the Lord and Savior, lives in me.
Psalm 52:9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.
Sung to MELROSE LM, composed by Frederick C. Maker (1844-1927)
Acts 10:34, 35 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."
V. 1 Lord of all nations, grand me grace
To love all people, every race,
And in each person may I see
My kindred loved, redeemed by Thee.
Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.
V. 2 Break down the wall that would divide
Thy children, Lord, on every side.
My neighbor's good let me pursue;
Let Christian love bind warm and true.
Hebrews 6:6 ...and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
V. 1 The church has one foundation,
'Tis Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation,
By water and the word;
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Ephesians 4:5 ...one Lord, one faith, one baptism....
V. 2 Elect from every nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Revelation 6:10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
V. 1 I will sing of Jesus' love,
Sing of Him who first loved me;
For He left bright worlds above,
And died on Calvary.
Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Refrain: I will sing of Jesus' love,
Endless praise my heart shall give;
He has died that I might live--
I will sing His love to me.
V. 2 O the depths of love divine!
Earth or heaven can never know
How that sins as dark as mine
Can be made as white as snow.
Refrain
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Ephesians 3:18, 19 ...may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Text written in 1779 by John Newton (1725-1807), with stanza 5 written by John Rees c. 1859
Sung to the tune NEW BRITAIN, from Virginia Harmony 1831
1 Chronicles 17:16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"
Luke 15:6 ....Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
V. 1 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
V. 2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
V. 3 The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Music written by W. B. Bradbury (1816-1868) and Philip Philipps (1834-1895)
Ephesians 6:14, 16 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place....In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
V. 1 O Christian, awake! 'tis the Master's command;
With helmet and shield, and a sword in thy hand,
To meet the bold tempter, go, fearlessly go,
Then stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe.
Joshua 7:8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?
Refrain: Stand like the brave, stand like the brave,
Stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
V. 2 The cause of thy Master with vigor defend;
Be watchful, be zealous, and fight to the end;
Wherever He leads thee, go, valiantly go,
Then stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe.
Refrain
Mark 13:37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’
V. 3 Press on, never doubting, thy Captain is near,
With grace to supply, and with comfort to cheer;
His love, like a stream in the desert will flow;
Then stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe.
Exodus 20:9-11 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
V. 1 Don't forget the Sabbath,
The Lord our God hath blest,
Of all the week the brightest,
Of all the week the best;
It brings repose from labor,
It tells of joy divine,
Its beams of light descending,
With heavenly beauty shine.
Refrain: Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,
Blessed Sabbath day.
Welcome, welcome, ever welcome,
Blessed Sabbath day.
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Revelation 21:6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life."
V. 2 Keep the Sabbath holy,
And worship Him today,
Who said to His disciples,
"I am the living way;"
And if we meekly follow
Our Savior here below,
He'll give us of the fountain
Whose streams eternal flow.
Refrain
Isaiah 58:13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,...."
Ephesians 3:17 ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,....
Text written in 1642 by Georg Weissel (1590-1635), translated in 1855 by Catherine Winkworth
Sung to the tune WAREHAM, composed in 1738 by William Knapp (1698-1768)
Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns."
V. 1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here.
Leviticus 8:9 Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Isaiah 45:21 Declare what is to be, present it—let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past?
Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
V. 2 The Lord is just, a helper tried;
Mercy is ever at His side;
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress.
V. 3 O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
V. 4 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
