Of the Week

The words of this hymn were written by William Cowper and were published in 1779 in Olney Hymns.   This poem is a beautiful reminder of how God heals, comforts, cheers, saves, guides, and provides. Sometimes a light surprizes    The Christian while he sings ; It is the LORD who rises    With healing in His wings : When comforts are declining,    He grants the soul again A season of clear shining    To cheer it after rain. In holy contemplation,    We sweetly then pursue The theme of GOD'S salvation,    And find it ever new : Set free from present sorrow,    We cheerfully can say, Ee'n let th' unknown to-morrow    Bring with it what it may. It can bring with it nothing    But he will bear us thro' ; Who gives the lilies clothing    Will clothe His people too : Beneath the spreading heavens,    No creature but is fed ; And he who feeds the ravens, ...

"Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord" was written by David Evans and published in the 1980s. I t is the United Kingdom's third favorite hymn a ccording to a 2013 poll conducted by the BBC program Songs of Praise.  The version in the video below is from The Hymns Album by the Huddersfield Choral Society, Joseph Cullen, and  Darius Battiwalla . The beautiful hymn tells of the awesome presence, glory, and power of God. " Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! " Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Words: William P. Merrill  Music: William H. Walter Singers: Oklahoma Christian University Recorded: October 18, 2013 Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; Give heart and soul and mind and strength To serve the King of kings. Rise up, O men of God! His kingdom tarries long; Bring in the day of brotherhood, And end the night of wrong. Rise up, O men of God! The Church for you doth wait, Her strength unequal to her task; Rise up and make her great. Lift high the cross of Christ; Tread where His feet have trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise up, O men of God! listen here " Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. " 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use Words:  William Hiley Bathurst Music:  Carl Gotthelf Gläser Singers: Oklahoma Christian University Recorded: September 23, 2011 O FOR a faith that will not shrink Though press'd by many a foe ; That will not tremble on the brink Of poverty or woe : That will not murmur nor complain Beneath the chastening rod ; But in the hour of grief or pain Can lean upon its God : A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without ; That, when in danger, knows no fear ; In darkness feels no doubt : That bears unmov'd the world's dread frown, Nor heeds its scornful smile ; That sin's wild ocean cannot drown, Nor its soft arts beguile . . . Lord, give me such a faith as this, And then, whate'er may come, I taste even now the hallow'd bliss Of an eternal home. listen here " the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of...

Words: San­ford F. Ben­nett Music: Jo­seph P. Web­ster Year: 1868 There’s a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way To prepare us a dwelling place there. We shall sing on that beautiful shore The melodious songs of the blessed; And our spirits shall sorrow no more, Not a sigh for the blessing of rest. To our bountiful Father above, We will offer our tribute of praise For the glorious gift of His love And the blessings that hallow our days. In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore; In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore. "And they shall see his face" Revelation 22:4

Words: Erastus Johnson Music: William Gustavus Fischer O sometimes the shadows are deep, And rough seems the path to the goal, And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep Like tempests down over the soul! O sometimes how long seems the day, And sometimes how weary my feet; But toiling in life's dusty way, The Rock's blessed shadow, how sweet! O near to the Rock let me keep, If blessings or sorrow prevail; Or climbing the mountain way steep, Or walking the shadowy vale. O then to the Rock let me fly, To the Rock that is higher than I; O then to the Rock let me fly To the Rock that is higher than I! Click here to listen or download. Below is Ray Walker's congregational version. I prefer to play this video on speed 1.25. You can change this under the video settings. "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me" Psalm 61:2-3 ...

Words:  Katherine Davis Tune name: Ash Grove (a traditional Welsh melody) Let all things now living  a song of thanksgiving  to God the Creator triumphantly raise,  who fashioned and made us,  protected and stayed us,  who guides us and leads to the end of our days.  His banners are o’er us,  his light goes before us,  a pillar of fire shining forth in the night,  till shadows have vanished  and darkness is banished,  as forward we travel from light into light. His law he enforces;  the stars in their courses  and sun in its orbit obediently shine;  the hills and the mountains,  the rivers and fountains,  the deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.  We too should be voicing  our love and rejoicing;  with glad adoration a song let us raise,  till all things now living  unite in thanksgiving:  to God in the highest, hosanna and praise! "Let...

Words: John Fawcett Music: Hans Georg Nägeli Arrangement:  Low­ell Ma­son Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares. We share each other’s woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again. This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way; While each in expectation lives, And longs to see the day. From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free, And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity. "the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness  before God, even ou...

Words: Frances R. Havergal (1872) Music: George Hews (1835) Lord, speak to me that I may speak In living echoes of Thy tone; As Thou has sought, so let me seek Thine erring children lost and lone. O lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wandering and the wavering feet; O feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hungering ones with manna sweet. O strengthen me, that while I stand Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee, I may stretch out a loving hand To wrestlers with the troubled sea. O teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart; And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart. O give Thine own sweet rest to me, That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour. O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord, Until my very heart overflow In kindling thought and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show. O use me, Lord, use even me, Just as Thou wilt, and when, and w...

"No story so divine" Words: Samuel Crossman Published: 1664 Singer: Fernando Ortega Album: Night of Your Return Date: 1995 These are Crossman's words.  Some words and phrases are edited in Ortega's version of the song. My song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me; Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take, frail flesh and die? He came from His blest throne Salvation to bestow; But men made strange, and none The longed for Christ would know: But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend. Sometimes they strew His way, And His sweet praises sing; Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King: Then "Crucify!" is all their breath, And for His death they thirst and cry. Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, He gave the blind their sight, Sweet injuries! Yet they at these Themselves displea...

Prince of Peace, control my will; Bid this struggling heart be still; Bid my fears and doubtings cease; Hush my spirit into peace. Thou hast bought me with Thy blood, Opened wide the gate to God; Peace I ask; but peace must be, Lord, in being one with Thee. May Thy will, not mine, be done; May Thy will and mine be one; Chase these doubtings from my heart; Now Thy perfect peace impart. Savior, at Thy feet I fall; Thou my life, my God, my all! Let Thy happy servant be One for evermore with Thee! "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,  whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" Isaiah 26:3-4

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word; But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings, Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea— Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile; And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee, On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like Thy...

Words: A. Catherine Hankey (1866) Music: William G. Fischer (1869) HymnPod I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true; It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams. I love to tell the story, it did so much for me; And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glor...

Who would true valour see, Let him come hither; One here will constant be, Come wind, come weather There’s no discouragement Shall make him once relent His first avowed intent To be a pilgrim. Whoso beset him round With dismal stories Do but themselves confound; His strength the more is. No lion can him fright, He’ll with a giant fight, He will have a right To be a pilgrim. Hobgoblin nor foul fiend Can daunt his spirit, He knows he at the end Shall life inherit. Then fancies fly away, He’ll fear not what men say, He’ll labor night and day To be a pilgrim.

Words: John Henry Newman (1833); Edward Henry Bickersteth, Jr. (fourth verse) Music:   Lux Benigna (John Bacchus Dykes, 1865) / Sandon (Charles Henry Purday, 1857) / Alberta (William Henry Harris, 1930) Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years! So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on. O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I  Have loved long since, and lost awhile! Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod, Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to ...

Words:  Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel (1752) Translation: Jane Laurie Borthwick (1855) Music:  Jean Sibelius (1899) Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake To guide the future, as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below. Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay From His own fullness all He takes away. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on Whe...