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

There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave, “Send the light! Send the light”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light!
Send the light!

We have heard the Macedonian call today, “Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light!
Send the light!

Let us pray that grace may ev’rywhere abound, “Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christ-like spirit ev’rywhere be found,
Send the light!
Send the light!

Let us not grow weary in the work of love, “Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light!
Send the light!

Chorus:
Send the light, the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

Charles Gabriel, 1890
Read Acts 16:9-10

This hymn reflects the missionary fervor that hit in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, if we don’t personally go the mission field, the hymn assures us there is still work to do.

Let us lay a golden offering at the cross (give sacrificially to evangelism and missions).
Let us pray (for the expansion of the gospel, that it would spread everywhere).
Let us keep at it. This is no time to slack off and let someone else carry the burden. The need is urgent and time is short.

How do you support evangelism and missionary work?

Day is dying in the west,
Heaven is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.

Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us, who seek Thy face,
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh. (Refrain)

While the deepening shadows fall,
Heart of Love, enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend. (Refrain)

When forever from our sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise,
And shadows end. (Refrain)

Refrain:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of Thee!
Heaven and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord Most High!

Mary Lathbury, 1878
Read Psalm 92:1-5

“Day Is Dying” can be classified as a vesper hymn, calling us to end our day with worship. While it’s not unusual for us to say a prayer at bedtime, perhaps we might swing the focus from our day and our needs to praising God for who He is and His mighty works. That is fitting no matter what time of day.

When Jesus comes to reward His servants,
Whether it be noon or night,
Faithful to Him will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?

If, at the dawn of the early morning,
He shall call us one by one,
When to the Lord we restore our talents,
Will He answer you, “Well done?” [Refrain]

Have we been true to the trust He left us?
Do we seek to do our best?
If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,
We shall have a glorious rest. [Refrain]

Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching,
In His glory they shall share;
If He shall come at the dawn or midnight,
Will He find us watching there? [Refrain]

Refrain:
O can we say we are ready, brother?
Ready for the soul’s bright home?
Say, will He find you and me still watching,
Waiting, watching when the Lord shall come?

Fanny Crosby, 1876
Read Matthew 25:1-13

In the US Code of Military Justice, a soldier caught sleeping at his post can be punished with a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay, and confinement for up to a year. During wartime, death sentences have been handed down for dereliction of this critical duty. Jesus doesn’t call us to guard duty exactly, but we are called to be about His business and anxiously awaiting His return. Let’s work to ensure we are found faithful and busy carrying out the commission He’s given us. Let’s encourage each other to be ready as well.

When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies,
my silent spirit sighs:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
When evil thoughts molest,
with this I shield my breast:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

In heav’n’s eternal bliss
the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
The pow’rs of darkness fear,
when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let earth’s wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Let air and sea and sky,
from depth to height, reply:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Be this th’eternal song,
through all the ages on:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

German author unknown; Edward Caswall, translator, 1854; Edward Bridges additional translation, 1899.
Read Psalm 119:164-168

“When Morning Gilds the Sky” was new to me, but as I read it, I was struck by the commitment to praise Jesus, to find a reason to praise Jesus in every situation. All times of day. When my brain won’t settle down so I can sleep. When times are hard, and joy is hard to find. Praise Jesus. The writer finishes like many psalms do with a call for all creation to offer its praise the Creator. May we follow his call in the final stanza to make praising Jesus the center of our lives.

Another year is dawning:
Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee;
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,
Of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning:
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee.

Frances Havergal, 1874
Read Psalm 65:1-13

In a season of resolutions, this hymn is convicting. Self-improvement is thrown aside for greater devotion and service to God. But it also reminds us we have another year to experience God’s grace and mercy and faithfulness. He knows what lies ahead and will walk through all of it with us. With this in mind, let’s resolve to be ever more aware of God’s hand at work in our lives and around us. May we be ready to give Him the praise for it.

The first Noel, the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Full rev’rently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord,
That hath made heav’n and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Author unknown, first printed in 1823
Luke 2:1-20

No one knows who wrote “The First Noel.” Davies Gilbert included it in Some Ancient Christmas Carols with nine stanzas and that seems to be the first appearance of the carol in print. Nowell is the English spelling, while Noel is French. Both come from the Latin natalis, which means birth. We could quibble about the second stanza implying that the shepherds followed the star … which they didn’t do, but the bulk of the hymn is about the wise men. And in some ways the wise men represent us. Foreigners to Israel, whom God delivered the message of salvation to. Then motivated by the overwhelming reality of that message they were motivated to go worship and bring offerings to the savior and King. Stanza 6 calls us to be like the wise men. Let us worship and praise the Lord who created us and then saved us! Merry Christmas!