Wednesday, January 13, 2016

weary, working, burdened one

Weary, working, burdened one,
Wherefore toil you so?
Cease your doing; all was done
Long, long ago.

[Ira D. Sankey, "It is Finished!" hymn]

Monday, January 11, 2016

Psalm 130 (From the Depths of Woe)

From the depths of woe I raise to Thee
The voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication;
If Thou iniquities dost mark,
Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before Thee?
O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth;
Our works, alas! Are all in vain;
In much the best life faileth;
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might,
And live alone by mercy
And live alone by mercy

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
On Him my soul shall rest, His word
Upholds my fainting spirit;
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience
I wait for it with patience

What though I wait the live-long night,
And ’til the dawn appeareth,
My heart still trusteth in His might;
It doubteth not nor feareth;
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed;
And wait ’til God appeareth
And wait ’til God appeareth

Though great our sins and sore our woes
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our upmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He,
Who will at last His Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow
From all their sin and sorrow.

[Martin Luther]

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

compelled by grace to cast my lot

In the shadow of the glorious cross
Compelled by grace to cast my lot 
I’ll discard the loss and bear your name 
Forsaking all for your own fame
Your hymn of grace sung over me 

Abounding forth in glorious streams 
My thirst is quenched by you my Lord 
Sustained am I redeemed restored 
Sustained am I redeemed restored

Hallelujah, Hallelujah 

When death’s dark shadow’s at my feet
When I am plagued by unbelief 
You place my hands into your side 
By precious blood identified 
By precious blood identified 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah 

These crowns I’ve clenched with fisted hands 
I cast them down before the throne 

Of Christ my God the worthy lamb 
Christ crucified, the Great I AM 
Christ crucified, the Great I AM 
Christ crucified, the Great I AM 

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Sojourn, "In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross"]

in each sister and brother

If God comes down to earth through [the] Son made flesh, then we ascend toward heaven through Jesus present in each sister and brother for ...