How Glorious the Thought

Today’s song comes from a NCC Collective, a music ministry of Northwest Community Church in Arizona. Regarding their music philosophy, they write: God-centered, Christ-exalting music plays a necessary part in corporate worship. Songs that rehearse the character of God and His gracious redemptive acts inform our minds, stir our hearts, and provide a platform for us to lift our voices in engaging worship. Congregational singing includes two parts. First, we obey God when we worship Him through song (Psalm 149:1). Singing the Lord’s praise is a command for believers to obey with joy! Second, we serve the Lord and one another through singing (Colossians 3:16-17). Congregational singing does not entertain; it provides an opportunity for the saints to glorify God in gratitude and encourage one another in truth1.” Yes and amen! I hope you enjoy this one!

Oh how many years their hearts
Had wandered near and far
Forgetting what their fathers’ God had done
But they were not left in darkness
Only by the kindness
Of their covenant-keeping God
So they waited for His provision
The Son of David their deliverance

How glorious the thought
That the Holy Yahweh, God
Would keep His age-old promise to His chosen ones
That the Lord would bless the nations
Make a way for their salvation
How the prophets longed to see when hope would dawn!
Oh how very glorious the thought!

Oh to have been among the lowly
Shepherds when the holy
Hosts of angels filled the sky
Oh to have heard their voices saying
All those years of waiting
Were over for a child was born that night
Peace on earth, goodwill to all men
For God’s Messiah He had come to them

And how glorious the thought
That the only Son of God
Would put on flesh to live among such fallen ones
That this child would heal the nations
Be the way of their salvation
How with gentleness the hope of all had dawned!
Oh how very glorious the thought!

We rejoice in our Redeemer
Our faith’s perfect keeper
He alone has saved us from our sin
And with boldness we proclaim
That Jesus is His name
That ev’ry sinning soul might yield to Him
Let us press on with great endurance
Until the Lord comes in His radiance

How glorious the thought
That the world will worship God
The day that He returns for all His Faithful Ones
Ev’ry tribe and ev’ry nation
Will declare the Lord’s salvation
How the gates of Hell will quake when that day dawns!

And how glorious the thought
That the Church will dwell with God
He will finish what He’s started in His Chosen Ones
There will be no tears or night
God Himself will be our light
And that Son will never set once it has dawned
Oh how very glorious the thought

1https://nccphx.org/ministries/music/

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Break Forth, O Joyful Heart

Today’s hymn comes from Fanny Crosby, writer of around 8000-9000 under different pseudonyms. Today’s hymn is an encouragement to praise God for all he has done for us; I hope today you can break forth in glorious praise to your Saviour; enjoy!

Meter:

Break forth, break forth, O joyful heart,
And make His goodness known,
Who all thy life, though undeserved,
Such love to thee has shown.

Refrain
Break forth, break forth, O joyful heart,
Break forth, no longer silent be;
Break forth, break forth in grateful praise
To Him who came to ransom Thee.

’Twas Jesus sought my wand’ring soul,
And with a shepherd’s care
He brought me kindly to His fold,
And still protects me there. [Refrain]

He is my advocate with God,
My Savior and my friend,
His mercies new with every morn
Like balmy showers descend. [Refrain]

My soul shall magnify the Lord,
My voice His love proclaim,
And every power within me join
To bless and praise His name. [Refrain]

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Does Jesus Care?

We can often question whether God sees or cares about what we are going through here on earth. Today’s hymn was written to combat that. The hymn writer Frank E. Graeff (1860-1919) was a minister in the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prolific writer of hymns, stories, poems and articles. I hope this hymn can counsel your soul that Jesus does care; enjoy!

Meter: 9.7.10.8 with refrain

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

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Christ Is Sufficient

Today’s hymn is written by Chris Anderson with music by Greg Habegger. Chris Anderson is author of “Theology That Sticks: The Life-Changing Power of Exceptional Hymns” and is one of the leading voices in a call to singing theologically rich songs, and the power of the old hymns. Of this hymn they hope it “beckons believers to drink deeply of Christ and find Him all-satisfying.” I hope you enjoy this one!

Nothing I’ve done could merit God’s grace;
Nothing I’ll do can take it away.
I have one hope, in life and death:
I have been clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

Nothing remains since Jesus has died;
Justice was paid; the Judge satisfied.
Great is my sin; greater His love;
I have been cleansed with Calvary’s blood!

Refrain:
Christ is sufficient! His work is finished! 
He is my faith’s Author and End; 
Christ is enough—my Saviour and Friend!

Nothing I’ve sought on earth satisfies;
I was designed to thirst after Christ.
Beckoned by Him, “Drink and be filled.”
I am content, yet yearn for Him still. [Refrain]

Nothing but Christ can undo the Fall.
He will return to reign over all.
Come to us, Lord; right ev’ry wrong;
Soon the redeemed will join heaven’s song. [Refrain]

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Wherewith, O Lord, Shall I Draw Near

Today’s hymn comes from Charles Wesley, and it is a wonderful meditation on the fact there is nothing we can do to appease the wrath of God, except plead Christ’s blood on our behalf. I hope these words make you thankful for your Saviour today; enjoy!

Meter: 8.8.8.8

Wherewith, O Lord, shall I draw near,
And bow my­self before Thy face?
How in Thy pur­er eyes a­ppear?
What shall I bring to gain Thy grace?

Whoe’er to Thee them­selves ap­prove
Must take the path Thy­self has showed;
Justice pur­sue, and mer­cy love,
And hum­bly walk by faith with God.

But though my life hence­forth be Thine,
Present for past can ne’er atone;
Though I to Thee the whole re­sign,
I on­ly give Thee back Thine own.

What have I then where­in to trust?
I no­thing have, I no­thing am;
Excluded is my ev­ery boast;
My glo­ry swal­lowed up in shame.

Guilty I stand be­fore Thy face;
On me I feel Thy wrath abide:
’Tis just the sen­tence should take place,
’Tis just—but O, Thy Son hath died!

Jesus, the Lamb of God, hath bled,
He bore our sins up­on the tree,
Beneath our curse He bowed His head,
’Tis fin­ished! He hath died for me!

For me I now be­lieve He died!
He made my ev­ery crime His own,
Fully for me He sa­tis­fied:
Father, well pleased be­hold Thy Son.

He ev­er lives for me to pray;
He prays that I with Him may reign;
Amen to what my Lord doth say!
Jesu, Thou canst not pray in vain.

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Where Thou Leadest Me

Today’s song comes from one of today’s most prolific modern day hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Bryan Fowler. I hope you can say with them “I will go wherever you lead me Lord”; enjoy!

Where Thou leadest me
I dare not find complaint
For Thou hast never left
Nor will for all my days
Thy presence is my good
And it shall ever be
I will go where Thou leadest me

Sovereign is Thy hand
To guide me when I’m worn
Thy good and perfect will
Holds fast through every storm
What time I am afraid
My faith looks up to Thee
I will trust where Thou leadest me

Refrain
On the mountain high
Through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me

O Shepherd keep me near
For I am prone to stray
The frailty of my flesh
Seeks refuge in Thy grace
This promise is my peace
My soul is safe in Thee
I will rest as Thou leadest me [Refrain]

Savior light my path
Until that final day
If Thou art Lord of life
Why should I fear the grave?
Proud death has lost its sting
For all eternity
I will rise where Thou leadest me
Home with Christ where Thou leadest me [Refrain]

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Psalm 42: As Pants the Deer

Today’s hymn comes from an unknown author, however the music is written by Gregory Wilbur and sung by Marisa Galdino. Greg has written lots of new songs for the church and I have enjoyed every one I’ve listened to; I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too!

As pants the deer for streams of living water,
So longs my soul, O living God, for Thee;
I thirst for Thee, for Thee my heart is yearning;
When shall I come Thy gracious face to see?

O Lord my God, o’erwhelmed in deep affliction,
Far from Thy rest, to Thee I lift my soul;
Deep calls to deep and storms of trouble thunder,
While o’er my head the waves and billows roll.

Thou wilt command Thy servant’s consolation,
Thy loving-kindness yet shall cheer my day,
And in the night Thy song shall be my comfort;
God of my life, to Thee I still will pray.

Why, O my soul, art thou cast down within me,
Why art thou troubled and oppressed with grief?
Hope thou in God, the God of thy salvation,
Hope, and thy God will surely send relief.

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We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought

Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Benson Pollock (1836-1896). He was edu­cat­ed at Tri­ni­ty Col­lege, Ireland ,where he won the Vice-Chan­cel­lor’s Prize for Eng­lish Verse in 1855. He stu­died me­di­cine in Lon­don, but in 1861 de­cid­ed to take Ho­ly Or­ders in the Anglican Church. He served as cur­ate of St. Luke’s, Leeds; St. Tho­mas’, Stam­ford Hill, Lon­don; and Ho­ly Tri­ni­ty, Bor­des­ley, Bir­min­gham, where his bro­ther, James Sa­mu­el Pol­lock, was vi­car. Then, for the rest of his life, he min­is­tered to the poor at St. Al­ban’s Mis­sion in Birm­ing­ham. Pollock was a mem­ber of the Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern com­mit­tee, and was its chair­man from 1895–961. Below is a traditional as well as a modern rendition; enjoy!

Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8

We have not known thee as we ought,
nor learned thy wisdom, grace and pow’r;
the things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light thy truth to see,
and make us wise in knowing thee.

We have not feared thee as we ought,
nor bowed beneath thine awesome eye,
nor guarded deed and word and thought,
remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know thee near,
and grant the grace of holy fear.

We have not loved thee as we ought,
nor cared that we are loved by thee;
thy presence we have coldly sought,
and feebly longed thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
to feel and own the love thou art.

We have not served thee as we ought;
alas! the duties left undone,
the work with little fervor wrought,
the battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal and give the might,
for thee to toil, for thee to fight.

When shall we know thee as we ought,
and fear and love and serve aright!
When shall we, out of trial brought,
be perfect in the land of light!
Lord, may we day by day prepare
to see thy face and serve thee there.

1hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/o/l/l/pollock_tb.htm

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Come, We That Love The Lord

Today’s hymn comes from Isaac Watts, and was first published in his Hymns & Sacred Songs in 1707; it was later entitled “Heavenly Joy on Earth”. Since then, it has undergone many alterations and revisions, but is still greatly loved1. Enjoy!

Meter: 6.6.8.6

Come, we that love the Lord,
and let our joys be known;
join in a song with sweet accord,
and thus surround the throne.

Let those refuse to sing
who never knew our God;
but children of the heav’nly King
may speak their joys abroad. 

The hill of Zion yields
a thousand sacred sweets
before we reach the heav’nly fields,
or walk the golden streets. 

Then let our songs abound,
and every tear be dry;
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground
to fairer worlds on high.

1hymnary.org/text/come_we_that_love_the_lord_and_let_our

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Cast Thy Burden On The Lord

Today’s hymn comes from an anonymous writer, and was included in Rowland Hill’s Psalms and Hymns collection in 1783, and was entitled, “Encouragement for the Weak”1. This one definitely is an encouragement for the weak and hope it encourages you today; enjoy!

Meter: 7.7.7.7

Cast thy burden on the Lord,
Only lean upon His Word;
Thou wilt soon have cause to bless
His eternal faithfulness.

He sustains thee by His hand,
He enables thee to stand;
Those whom Jesus once hath loved
From His grace are never moved.

Human counsels come to naught;
That shall stand which God hath wrought;
His compassion, love, and power,
Are the same for evermore.

Heaven and earth may pass away,
God’s free grace shall not decay;
He hath promised to fulfill
All the pleasure of His will.

Jesus, Guardian of Thy flock,
Be Thyself our constant Rock;
Make us, by Thy powerful hand,
Strong as Zion’s mountain stand.

1hymnary.org/text/cast_thy_burden_on_the_lord_only_lean_up?extended=true

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