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

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!)

Is there a heart that is waiting,
Longing for pardon today?
Hear the glad message proclaiming,
Jesus is passing this way.

Is there a heart that has wandered?
Come with thy burden today;
Mercy is tenderly pleading,
Jesus is passing this way. [Refrain]

Is there a heart that is broken?
Weary and sighing for rest?
Come to the arms of the Savior,
Pillow thy head on His breast. [Refrain]

Come to thy only Redeemer,
Come to His infinite love;
Come to the gate that is leading
Homeward to mansions above. [Refrain]

Refrain
Jesus is passing this way,
This way, today;
Jesus is passing this way,
Is passing this way today.

Fanny Crosby, 1894
Read Luke 19:1-10

(I don’t think we grasp how ready, how willing Jesus is to receive us when we have sinned, when we have strayed. It is important to remember that Jesus doesn’t treat us like WE would treat us. Let’s strive to show others that love.)

Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently home,
When life’s toils are ended,
and parting days have come;
Sin no more shall tempt me,
Ne’er from Thee I’ll roam,
If Thou’lt only lead me, Father,
Lead me gently home.

Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently home,
In life’s darkest hours, Father,
when life’s troubles come;
Keep my feet from wand’ring,
Lest from Thee I roam,
Lest I fall upon the wayside,
Lead me gently home. [Refrain]

Lead me gently home, Father,
Lead me gently home,
In temptation’s hour, Father,
when sore trials come;
Be Thou near to keep me,
Take me as Thine own,
For I cannot live without Thee,
Lead my gently home. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Lead me gently home, Father,
lead me gently,
Lest I fall upon the wayside,
Lead me gently home.

Will L. Thompson, 1879
Read Isaiah 33:20-22

(It is common for hymnwriters in the nineteenth century to write longingly of our home in heaven, and this one begins that way. But in later stanzas he pleads for God to bring him back when he wanders. Keep my feet from wand’ring, Lest from Thee I roam, Lest I fall upon the wayside. We are arrogant and foolish if we believe ourselves immune to the temptation to wander from God’s good graces. Lord protect us and keep us close to You!)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin– oh, the bliss of this glorious tho’t:
My sin not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so,” it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford, 1873
Read Psalm 42:1-11

(Perhaps you know the story behind the hymn. Spafford, his wife and his four daughters were to travel to Europe. Business concerns delayed Spafford and he sent his family ahead. In the North Atlantic the ship collided with another and sank in twelve minutes. His wife was rescued. His daughters were not. Spafford wrote the hymn on the voyage to be reunited with his wife, This was in 1873. Two years earlier in 1871, he had lost nearly everything in the Chicago fire. In 1880, he and his wife lost their son. Spafford’s faith was not theoretical. It was a fierce faith with an unwavering eternal perspective. May we all cling to the truth that “it is well with my soul.” If it is not well, Jesus stands ready and willing to save.)

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant;
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels!

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye bright hosts of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest![Chorus]

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

Chorus:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

John Francis Wade, c. 1743, translated by Frederick Oakley, 1841
Read Psalm 95:1-7

(“O Come All Ye Faithful” reminds us that worship is central to Christmas. Joy is there. Peace is real. But worship is our response. May your Christmas be full of wonder and worship!)

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains;
And the mountains in reply,
Echo back their joyous strains.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem, and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King.

See within a manger laid Jesus,
Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior’s birth.

Chorus:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Traditional French Carol, 18th century
Read Isaiah 9:2-7

(“Angels We Have Heard on High” captures the joy and worship in the angels’ message. Freedom from the bondage of sin is possible at last. God has come down to make it happen. When we grasp that truth, jubilee doesn’t begin to capture it!)