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

Up to the bountiful Giver of life,
Gathering home! gathering home!
Up to the dwelling where cometh no strife,
The dear ones are gathering home.

Up to the city where falleth no night,
Gathering home! gathering home!
Up where the Savior’s own face is the light,
The dear ones are gathering home. [Refrain]

Up to the beautiful mansions above,
Gathering home! gathering home!
Safe in the arms of His infinite love,
The dear ones are gathering home. [Refrain]

Refrain
Gathering home! Gathering home!
Never to sorrow more, never to roam.
Gathering home! Gathering home!
God’s children are gathering home!

Mary B. C. Slade, 1876
Read Luke 14:15-24

The day is coming, make no mistake, when God will gather us all together to Him for a great feast, a banquet that defies imagination. What a day that will be! Hymns like this one encourage us to fix our eyes there, on our inheritance, rather than the discouraging things going on around us. It’s a reminder that this world is not our home.

Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;
Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;
With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear,
Danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near. [Refrain]

Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep,
Close beside my Savior would my soul ever keep;
He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod,
Up to where they gather on the hills of God. [Refrain]

Refrain
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

W. O. Cushing, 1878
Read Matthew 8:19-22

It is no small thing to decide to follow Jesus. He even admonished us to count the cost. The road is not easy, but we never walk it alone. With that promise and the destination firmly in mind, let’s vow, like the hymnwriter, to follow Jesus no matter what.

In the harvest field there is work to do,
For the grain is ripe, and the reapers few;
And the Master’s voice bids the workers true
Heed the call that He gives today.

Crowd the garner well with its sheaves all bright,
Let the song be glad, and the heart be light,
Fill the precious hours ere the shades of night
Take the place of the golden day. [Refrain]

In the gleaner’s path may be rich reward,
Tho’ the time seems long, and the labor hard;
For the Master’s joy, with His chosen shared,
Drives the gloom from the darkest day. [Refrain]

Lo! the Harvest Home in the realms above
Shall be gained by each who has toiled and strove,
When the Master’s voice, in His words of love,
Calls away to eternal day. [Refrain]

Refrain
Labor on, labor on,
Keep the bright reward in view,
For the Master has said
He will strength renew;
Labor on till the close of day.

C. R. Blackall, 1870
Read John 4:35-38

We no longer live in an agrarian society, but even on a small family farm, harvest time means all hands on deck. It is the highest priority and work continues as long as there is daylight. The evening meal is often postponed so the work can continue. There is a narrow window of time to accomplish the work. Now two thousand years removed from Jesus’s words, we’ve lost the sense of urgency. Pray we recover that sense of immediacy and purpose.

I have a song I love to sing,
Since I have been redeemed,
Of my Redeemer, Savior, King,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a Christ who satisfies,
Since I have been redeemed,
To do His will– my highest prize,
Since I have been redeemed.[Chorus]

I have a witness bright and clear,
Since I have been redeemed,
Dispelling ev’ry doubt and fear,
Since I have been redeemed.[Chorus]

I have a home prepared for me,
Since I have been redeemed,
Where I shall dwell eternally,
Since I have been redeemed.[Chorus]

Chorus:
Since I have been redeemed,
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in His name;
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in my Savior’s name.

Edwin O. Excell, 1884
Read 1 Peter 1:13-21

How much better are things now that Christ’s blood has been accounted to us! The only reasonable response is to glory in His name. Take a moment and consider the riches of God’s mercy and the benefits that we enjoy because of Jesus Christ. Then consider what we have yet to experience. That prompted Mr. Excell to write a hymn. What will you be moved to do?

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains He had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heaven,
Saved by His precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has He loved,
And we must love Him, too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.

Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, 1948
Read Luke 23:26-43

Before I read the lyrics, I thought “There’s a Green Hill” was a missions song. Instead, it’s a hymn clearly expressing that gospel message we carry. The gospel is simple and uncomplicated and perhaps we need an occasional reminder. It’s just Jesus on a green hill, dying in our place.

Lord, I hear of showers of blessing,
Thou art scattering full and free;
Showers the thirsty land refreshing;
Let some drops now fall on me;
Even me, even me,
Let some drops now fall on me.

Pass me not, O God, my Father,
Sinful though my heart may be;
Thou mightst leave me, but the rather;
Let Thy mercy light on me;
Even me, even me,
Let Thy mercy light on me.

Pass me not, O gracious Savior,
Let me live and cling to Thee;
I am longing for Thy favor;
Whilst Thou’rt calling, O call me;
Even me, even me,
Whilst Thou’rt calling, O call me.

Pass me not, O mighty Spirit!
Thou canst make the blind to see;
Witnesser of Jesus’ merit,
Speak the Word of power to me;
Even me, even me,
Speak the Word of power to me.

Have I been in sin long sleeping,
Long been slighting, grieving Thee?
Has the world my heart been keeping?
O forgive and rescue me;
Even me, even me,
O forgive and rescue me.

Love of God, so pure and changeless,
Blood of Christ, so rich and free;
Grace of God, so strong and boundless
Magnify them all in me;
Even me, even me,
Magnify them all in me.

Pass me not; but pardon bringing,
Bind my heart, O Lord, to Thee;
Whilst the streams of life are springing,
Blessing others, O bless me;
Even me, even me,
Blessing others, O bless me.

Elizabeth Corder, 1860
Read Isaiah 44:1-8

I think my favorite verse is the next-to-last one:
Love of God, so pure and changeless,
Blood of Christ, so rich and free;
Grace of God, so strong and boundless
Magnify them all in me;

May that be our prayer.