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 slumbering 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 trembling 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.

Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with tears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, Oh pray that holy manna may be scattered 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."

--lyrics by George Atkins

So Sweet to Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
--Proverbs 3:5-6

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

--words by Louisa M. R. Stead

All I Have is Christ

Sovereign Grace has put out a lot of good Christian music with strong biblical lyrics. All I Have is Christ is by far my favorite song by them, written by Jordan Kauflin and performed by NaBand. It is a powerful representation of the testimony of one who has been forgiven by God and has had their life changed. I'm always reminded of the work that God did in my life to change me from who I was to who I am today. I want to show you the lyrics and if you want to listen to the song click here.

All I Have is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

Considering Heaven: Some Lyrics

I guess as kind of a "final" post for talking about meditating on Heaven I wanted to post some lyrics from songs about Heaven. There are many I could put, but here are just a few that I really liked.

"We shall all behold the King, and His holy praises sing,
Till the heav’nly arches ring, in that happy world above.
Nor shall sin e’er enter there, neither doubtings or despair,
Shall corrupt those mansions fair, in that happy world above.
Saints and angels in one throng, praise their King in rapturous song,
And the lofty strains prolong, in that happy world above."
--"That Happy World Above" by J.M. Huston

"Sweet paradise! my future home,The place of all the free;
Where never-fading flowers bloom—I long to dwell in thee.
Sweet paradise! where we shall meet, and with our Savior reign,
Beyond the final judgment seat, where comes no sinful stain.
Sweet paradise! no night can fall on thy resplendent shore;
Celestial day shines over all, and shall forevermore.
Sweet paradise! oh, joys untold! ’Tis there I long to fly,
Where worlds of pleasure will unfold, where man shall never die."
--"Sweet Paradise" by Barney E. Warren

"Sweet place; sweet place alone!
The court of God most high,The heaven of heavens, the throne Of spotless majesty!
O happy place! When shall I be, my God, with Thee,To see Thy face?
No tears from any eyes drop in that holy choir,
but death itself there dies, and sighs themselves expire.
There should temptations cease, my frailties there should end.
There should I rest in peace In the arms of my best friend."
--"Sweet Place" by Samuel Crossman

"The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The King there in His beauty, without a veil is seen
It were a well spent journey, though seven deaths lay between
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove,
And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love;
I’ll bless the hand that guided, I’ll bless the heart that planned
When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Soon shall the cup of glory wash down earth’s bitterest woes,
Soon shall the desert briar break into Eden’s rose;
The curse shall change to blessing the name on earth that’s banned
Be graven on the white stone in Immanuel’s land.

They’ve summoned me before them, but there I may not come,
My Lord says “Come up hither,” My Lord says “Welcome home!”
My King, at His white throne, my presence doth command
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land."
--"The sands of time are sinking" by Anne Cousin

Love of Every Love the Best

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. --Ephesians 2:1-10


O the Deep, Deep, Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!


O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!


O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

--S. Trevor Francis

Heaven Song

I would pretty much recommend Phil Wickham's music to anyone. I just recently got his album, "Heaven and Earth", and I have enjoyed it very much. It is a passionate and creative album that has been helpful to me in lifting my gaze to heaven, the gospel, and the beauty of God's plan. Here are some lyrics from the album...


"Heaven Song"

You wrote a letter and You signed Your name
I read every word, read it page by page
You said that You'd be coming
coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
in the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels
and sing my heaven song

I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
Well done my child enter in, in rest
As tears of joy roll down my cheek
Oh it's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams

The Glory of Christ in Christmas

I've never been a big fan of most Christmas music. I get tired of the familiar tune of "Jingle Bells" or the mid-1900's style rock versions of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and even "Silent Night." But as I get older (though I'm only 22) and see more and more of the beauty of the gospel I find that there are songs that I could sing any time of the year and find great joy.

So I thought it would be fun to write out some of the great less-remembered lines from Christmas songs/hymns. Like last week I would love additions to this short list.

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth. (Hark the Herald Angel Sing)

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! (O Holy Night)

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. (Come Thou Long Expected Jesus)

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. (Angels We have Heard on High)

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found. (Joy to the World)

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Discussions that last

Last week I was watching “A night of eschatology” on Desiring Gods website. The 4 panelist's Doug Wilson, Sam Storms, Jim Hamilton and John Piper (I count him even though he was the host because he did offer a little discussion). It is a wonderful discussion on the millennium where 3 guys are sharing their views and thoughts on scripture and their end time views. There was actually a bit of heated discussion that happened as certain scriptures turned up and each person had a different interpretation of it and how it is effected by other passages.


Listening to the discussion it made me curious what it would be like if these guys didn't “get along” as well as Augustus Toplady and John Wesley. Toplady and Wesley both disagreed on the issue of Calvinism. Toplady was known to have said “I believe him to be the most rancorous hater of the gospel-system that ever appeared on this island” about Wesley. That phrase was what reminded me of the debate on the dg website due to the heated discussion. The main differences is that these guys all seemed to be very loving and civil toward each other afterwards

In the disagreement's that Wesley and Toplady had, Toplady wrote an article about Gods forgiveness, meaning for it to be a jab at Wesley. He wrote;

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee,
Let the water and the blood,
from Thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
save from wrath and make me pure.

Such a wonderful song that was birthed from a disagreement over scriptures. I can't wait to see what comes from the round table discussion at Bethlehem Baptist. If nothing else it has made me look closer into scriptures that I never paid close attention to, and to praise God that He gave us the drive to study His inspired word close enough that we even care about these issues.

Even though these types of things can be devastating to our views at times if we are shown to be incorrect... isn't that the goal anyways, to be closer in His image and humbled?

All that was said to basically tell you how this song came to mind for sharing this morning.


Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.