These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Faith of our fathers! we will strive
To win all nations unto thee,
And thro’ the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then be truly free:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life;
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Frederick William Faber, 1849
Read Proverbs 3:1-10

(Faith is a heritage that is passed down, if not from our biological parents, certainly from those who have gone before us. If you were fortunate to have had an example of faith in your home growing up, give thanks to God for that. If not, resolve with God’s help, to leave a godly heritage and legacy. In any case, commit to be true to that holy faith no matter what.)

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More hymns of faith:
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
I Would Be True

Throw out the Life-Line across the dark wave!
There is a brother whom some one should save –
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the Life-Line, his peril to share?

Throw out the Life-Line with hand quick and strong –
Why do you tarry, why linger so long?
See, he is sinking! O hasten today,
And out with the Life-Boat! away, then away! [Chorus]

Throw out the Life-Line to danger-fraught men,
Sinking in anguish where you’ve never been;
Winds of temptation and billows of woe
Will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow. [Chorus]

Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,
Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;
Haste then, my brother – no time for delay,
But throw out the Life-Line and save them today. [Chorus]

Chorus:
Throw out the Life-Line!
Throw out the Life-Line!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the Life-Line!
Throw out the Life-Line!
Someone is sinking today.

Edward Ufford, 1888
Read Jude 20-23

(This hymn reminds us of the urgency of sharing the gospel. If we saw someone drowning, none of us would walk away and wait for a better opportunity. Don’t wait. You have the life-line. Throw it out.)

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Read more…
Don’t You Care

The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed;
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.

Thru the valley and shadow of death tho’ I stray,
Since Thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.

In the midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?

Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above:
I seek by the path which my forefathers trod,
Thru the land of their sojourn, Thy kingdom of love;
Thru the land of their sojourn, Thy kingdom of love.

James Montgomery, 1822
Read Psalm 23

Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms, have been a source for hymnwriters over the centuries. This hymn is one of many inspired by the 23rd Psalm. The hymnwriter’s parents died as missionaries in the West Indies while he was in boarding school. His hymn was written just a few years before his death and reflect a lifetime of faith.

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Read more…
Being Shepherded
Be the Sheep

The morning light is breaking,
The darkness disappears;
The sons of earth are waking
To penitential tears;
Each breeze that sweeps the ocean
Brings tidings from afar
Of nations in commotion,
Prepared for Zion’s war.

See heathen nations bending
Before the God we love,
And thousand hearts ascending
In gratitude above;
While sinners, now confessing,
The gospel call obey,
And seek the Saviour’s blessing,
A nation in a day.

Blest river of salvation,
Pursue thine onward way;
Flow thou to every nation,
Nor in thy richness stay;
Stay not till all the lowly
Triumphant reach their home;
Stay not till all the holy
Proclaim, ‘The Lord is come!’

Samuel Francis Smith, 1832
Read Isaiah 61:1-11

(This hymn gives a hopeful vision of people receiving the blessing of salvation in huge numbers. Perhaps we don’t see these numbers in North America or Europe, that does not mean the gospel has lost its power to change lives. Across the Southern Hemisphere many are receiving Jesus. May we do all we can to keep that “blest river of salvation” flowing to every nation.)

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Here’s another morning hymn
When the Morning Comes

The Son of God goes forth to war,
a kingly crown to gain;
his blood-red banner streams afar:
who follows in his train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
triumphant over pain,
who patient bears his cross below,
he follows in his train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye
could pierce beyond the grave,
who saw his Master in the sky
and called on him to save:
like him, with pardon on his tongue
in midst of mortal pain,
he prayed for them that did the wrong:
who follows in his train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
on whom the Spirit came,
twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
and mocked the cross and flame:
they met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
the lion’s gory mane;
they bowed their necks the death to feel:
who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
the matron and the maid,
around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
in robes of light arrayed:
they climbed the steep ascent of heav’n
through peril, toil, and pain:
O God, to us may grace be giv’n
to follow in their train.

Reginald Heber, 1812
Read Revelation 19:11-21

(Regardless of your views on eschatology, that is, end times, we cannot argue that the picture of Christ the Warrior King on the white is an awe-inspiring one. And it is our privilege as believers to be counted among those in His army. Whether in battle at the end of the age or in daily struggle with the enemy let’s be faithful to our commission and obedient to our Commander.
This weekend in the United States, we pause to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives on the battlefields of this world. May they rest in peace.)

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Here are some other hymns you may like:
Onward, Christian Soldiers

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Anonymous or C.H. Woolston, around 1900
Read Matthew 19:13-15

(This is one of the first songs we learn at church, but that doesn’t make it any less profound. Jesus does not prefer any group over another. He does not prefer any status or station above another. He loves all. This means the rich and powerful as well as the poor and powerless. We are to go and do likewise.)

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