Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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

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Close to Thee

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Close to Thee title graphic

Thou, my everlasting portion,
More than friend or life to me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
Nor for fame my pray’r shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me through the vale of shadows,
Bear me o’er life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.

Fanny Crosby, 1874
Read Psalm 73:23-28

(What is our greatest ambition? Success? Fame? How different would the world be if all of us who named the name of Christ had as our greatest ambition to live close to Jesus? What sins and heartache would we avoid? What mercy and grace could we extend? What stops us? I think we know the answers.)

Awake My Soul Stretch Every Nerve

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Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,
and press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands your zeal,
and an immortal crown,
and an immortal crown.

A cloud of witnesses around
holds you in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
and onward urge your way
and onward urge your way.

For God’s all-animating voice
still calls us to the race;
And God’s own hand still gives the prize
with never-ending grace,
with never-ending grace.

O Savior, shown the way by you,
I have my race begun;
And, crowned with victory, at your feet
I’ll lay my honors down,
I’ll lay my honors down.

Philip Doddridge, 1755
Read Hebrews 11:39-12:2

(Athletic competition makes a good metaphor for our Christian calling. We need endurance. Courage. Commitment. But we are not in the race alone. Instead of competitors, we race alongside teammates and coaches. The prize is real, and it will be awarded by the Lord Himself. Let’s run, not so we can achieve glory for ourselves, but so we have a greater crown to turn and give the One who gave Himself for us.)

He Is Not Here, But Is Risen

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Oh, day of awful story—
Jesus is dead!
Sad end to hope of glory—
Jesus is dead!

A weary night of weeping—
Jesus is dead!
A night that knew no sleeping—
Jesus is dead! [Refrain]

A day in sorrow dawning—
Jesus is dead!
A sad and gloomy morning—
Jesus is dead! [Refrain]

Refrain
Behold the stone is rolled away!
And shining ones have come to say:
He is not here, but is risen!
He is not here, but is risen
The night of death is past and gone—
Arise, and greet the glorious morn!
He is not here, but is risen!
He is not here, but is risen!

Daniel Whittle, 1885
Read Luke 24:1-7

(What a stunning change! The gloom. The sadness. The despair. Suddenly in one moment transformed to utter elation and joy. Almost like when we found Jesus. Jesus promised in John 14:19, that because He lives we shall live also. He lives! There is no doubt. Celebrate it once more! He is not here, but is risen! Hallelujah!)

Wonderful Words of Life

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Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven: [Chorus]

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever, [Chorus]

Chorus:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Philip Bliss, 1874
Read John 6:64-69

(Words matter. We know that the words a child hears impact the rest of their lives. God, in His holiness could rightfully offer only words of judgment and condemnation. Instead, He offers words of grace, mercy and invitation. Pardon and peace to all. Remember the day you heard those words for the first time. Share that with someone.)

Savior, More than Life to Me

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Savior More than Life to Me title graphic

Savior, more than life to me,
I am clinging, clinging, close to Thee;
Let Thy precious blood, applied,
Keep me ever, ever near Thy side.

Through this changing world below,
Lead me gently, gently as I go;
Trusting Thee, I cannot stray–
I can never, never lose my way. (Chorus)

Let me love Thee more and more
Till this fleeting, fleeting life is o’er;
Till my soul is lost in love
In a brighter, brighter world above. (Chorus)

Chorus:
Every day, every hour,
Let me feel Thy cleansing pow’r;
May Thy tender love to me
Bind me closer, closer, Lord to Thee.

Fanny Crosby, 1875
Read Psalm 63:1-8

(When times are difficult, we discover what we truly hold most dear, and what we actually rely on for strength. If we are not clinging to Christ, we soon discover what a bad idea it is to put faith in anything else. The second stanza begins, “Through this changing world below.” Thanks be to God that HE is unchanging.)

PS – We just marked 5 years of posting these old hymns for Wednesday worship. Five years! I never thought I would be able to fill much more than two years. My only rules for choosing the hymns are that they must be public domain and at least a hundred years old. I discovered lots of new ones for sure but more often, I’ve revisited hymns I’ve known for years. Someday I’ll run out I’m sure, but at least not before 2022. We have a rich heritage in music, one worth celebrating! More than that, we have a great Lord and Savior, one deserving of our praise,

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

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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! [Refrain]

O near to the Rock let me keep,
If blessings or sorrow prevail;
Or climbing the mountainway steep,
Or walking the shadowy vale. [Refrain]

Refrain:
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!

Erastus Johnson, 1871
Read Psalm 18:31-34

(In difficult times, when things are uncertain, we have an unchanging God who invites us to shelter under His wings. I am so thankful for the tender love of God who loves us, cares for us and doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He is the Rock of our salvation!)

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