Of the Father’s Love Begotten – Repost

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December is upon us, so it’s only right to post some Advent/Christmastide songs! Today is one I reposted a couple of years ago, but is one of my favourites since I discovered it. “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, which is a beloved Christmas hymn that poignantly expresses the eternality of the Son of God and his divinity and coequality with the Father and the Spirit. It serves as a reminder that Jesus is the promised and long-awaited for Messiah who brings redemption to the world. It was originally written in the 4th Century by Marcus Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (commonly known as Prudentius) – it was then translated into English in the mid 19th Century1. Below are some of my favourite renditions; enjoy!

Of the Father’s love begotten
‘Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race,
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.

This is he whom seers and sages
Sang of old with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now he shines, the long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore.

Let the heights of heav’n adore him,
Angel hosts his praises sing,
Pow’rs, dominions bow before him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev’ry voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

1https://medium.com/congregational-song/hymn-analysis-of-the-fathers-love-begotten-c702fb643ffb#:~:text=%E2%80%9COf%20the%20Father’s%20Love%20Begotten,brings%20redemption%20to%20the%20world.

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Christ Our Shepherd

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Today’s song comes from Kenwood Baptist Church’s music ministry in Louisville, Kentucky USA. I love a well written song based on Psalm 23, and I’m sure you’ll love this one too; enjoy!

Christ our Shepherd, ever good and glorious 
giving to His flock good land to graze.
In His pasture we will want for nothing, 
near the waters He will keep us safe.
He restores us with His loving presence, 
goodness and mercy for all our days.
He delivers us from darkest places 
to the pasture of unending grace.

Christ our Shepherd will bind up the wounded, 
giving strength to all the weak and frail.
Straying sheep He has pursued and rescued,
He will hold us in his tender care.
We will feast within His house forever,
free from all harm of the enemy. 
We will drink the cup of life abundant 
in the pasture where He reigns as king.

Christ our Shepherd died to save His lost ones, 
laying down His life of His accord.
See our shepherd on the cross to claim us; 
we may live because His blood was poured.
Rising, He will lead to life eternal; 
our every sin, every grief He bears.
He has broken every bond that held us,
freed to live within His pasture fair.

Christ our Shepherd He will go before us, 
listen to His voice He knows your name.
Through the darkest valley He will bring us,
rod and staff to guide the narrow way.
We are His, oh what a joy to follow
till every tear He has wiped away.
Christ our Shepherd He will lead us homeward 
to the pasture of unending days.  

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Psalm 103

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Today is a rewrite of Psalm 103 to melody, written by Brit Matt Searles on his album “Psalms for Congregations, Vol 1”. He has written new songs to melodies that are familiar to congregations, this one being Come Thou Fount. This song is not on YouTube, but can be enjoyed on Spotify or Bandcamp (link below). I’m sure you’ll be blessed by this one, enjoy!

Bless the Lord, my inmost being
Lift up high his holy name
Bless the Lord, all that’s within me
Ponder all his deeds of grace
He forgives our great transgression
Heals and lifts us from the grave
Crowns our life with love and mercy
Satisfies us all our days

He brings justice for the needy
Makes them rise on eagle’s wings
He made known his ways to Moses
Shows to Israel his deeds
He is merciful and gracious
Slow to anger, rich in love
He will turn aside his anger
Shower blessings from above

For as high as highest heaven
Is the Lord’s unending love
Far as East is from the West, he
Has removed our sins from us
Like a Father to his children
He is merciful to us
Shows compassion in our weakness
He remembers we are dust

As for man, we bloom and flourish
Like a flower of the grass
Then we wither, then we perish
All our days so quickly pass
But God’s love for those who fear him
Will endure from age to age
For our children and their children
Those who walk in all his ways

He has set his throne in heaven
All his purpose to fulfil
Bless the Lord, O you his angels
You who do his sovereign will
Bless the Lord all you his servants
You who tremble at his word
Bless the Lord, all of creation
O my soul now bless the Lord  

https://mattsearles.bandcamp.com/track/psalm-103

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My Grace Is Sufficient For Thee

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Today is another hymn from John Newton to read. This one is based 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Speaking of Christ’s power, he writes in his diary in Movemener 1775 “Yesterday I read over again, the Narrative of my life formerly published. It revived in my mind O Lord, the remembrance of my vileness and of thy mercies. Strange that I am no more affected with my own story. Oh soften this heart: it is ice, it is rock, without thy gracious influence. I am thine. Help me, save me. Speaking last night on the character of Byends I was straitened in my views of the subject. I have reason to believe and acknowledge, that without thy continual influence I can do nothing, and that thou dost assist in times and ways when I am least aware. O let me have no byends. Let me always act in a spirit of simplicity and godly sincerity and aim in all things at thy glory.”1 I hope this is an encouragement to you this week and is is to me; enjoy!

Oppressed with unbelief and sin,
Fightings without, and fears within;
While earth and hell, with force combined,
Assault and terrify my mind:
 
What strength have I against such foes,
Such hosts and legions to oppose?
Alas! I tremble, faint, and fall;
Lord, save me, or I give up all.
 
Thus sorely pressed, I sought the Lord,
To give me some sweet cheering word;
Again I sought, and yet again;
I waited long, but not in vain.
 
Oh! ’twas a cheering word indeed!
Exactly suited to my need;
“Sufficient for thee is my grace,
Thy weakness my great power displays.”
 
Now I despond and mourn no more,
I welcome all I feared before;
Though weak, I’m strong; though troubled, blessed;
For Christ’s own power shall on me rest.
 
My grace would soon exhausted be,
But his is boundless as the sea;
Then let me boast, with holy Paul,
That I am nothing, Christ is all.

1https://www.johnnewton.org/Articles/371300/The_John_Newton/2013_redesign/Hymns/OH_Book_1/OH_Book_1.aspx

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Christ is Risen, He’s Risen Indeed!

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Today’s hymn is an Easter song from the Gettys. This is one you’ll want to be singing all year round and not just at Easter; enjoy!

How can it be the One who died
Has borne our sin through sacrifice
To conquer every sting of death?
Sing, sing “Hallelujah!”

Refrain
Christ is risen, He’s risen indeed!
Oh sing “Hallelujah!”
Join the chorus sing with the redeemed:
Christ is risen, He’s risen indeed!

For joy awakes as dawning light
When Christ’s disciples lift their eyes.
Alive He stands, their Friend and King:
Christ, Christ He is risen! [Refrain]

Where doubt and darkness once had been,
They saw Him and their hearts believed;
But bless’d are those who have not seen,
Yet sing “Hallelujah!” [Refrain]

Once bound by fear, now bold in faith,
They preached the truth and pow’r of grace
And pouring out their lives they gained
Life, life everlasting. [Refrain]

The power that raised Him from the grave
Now works in us to powerfully save
He frees our hearts to live His grace
Go tell of His goodness. [Refrain]

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Through All the Changing Scenes of Life

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Today’s beautiful hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 34 by Nahum Tate (1652–1715) and Nicholas Brady (1659–1726) for the New Version of the Psalms (1696). The words to this one are a lovely meditation to start the week with and I’m particularly fond of the last stanza; enjoy!

Meter: 8.6.8.6

Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.

Of his deliv’rance I will boast,
till all that are distressed,
from my example comfort take
and lay their griefs to rest.

O magnify the LORD with me,
exalt his holy name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.

The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliv’rance he affords to all
who in his promise trust.

O taste and see that he is good;
experience will decide
how blest are they, and only they
who in the LORD confide.

Fear him, you saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make serving him your sole delight,
your wants shall be his care.

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They Lack No Friends Who Have Thy Love

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This week’s hymn comes from Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter (1615-1691). It’s both a hymn of thankfulness for and encouragement of Christian fellowship – thoughts that are very fitting to have after the Lord’s Day. I hope this hymn stirs in you a desire to build relationships with and pour into other Christians as your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, giving thanks to God for bringing you into his family; enjoy!

Meter: 8.8.8.8

They lack not friends who have thy love,
and may converse and walk with thee,
and with thy saints here and above,
with whom for ever I must be.

In the blest fellowship of saints
is wisdom, safety, and delight;
and when my heart declines and faints,
it’s raisèd by their heat and light.

As for my friends, they are not lost;
the several vessels of thy fleet,
though parted now, by tempests tossed,
shall safely in the haven meet.

Still we are centred all in thee,
members, though distant, of one Head;
in the same family we be,
by the same faith and spirit led.

Before thy throne we daily meet
as joint-petitioners to thee;
in spirit we each other greet,
and shall again each other see.

The heavenly hosts, world without end,
shall be my company above;
and thou, my best and surest Friend,
who shall divide me from thy love?

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Update and Unlimited Grace

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Hi friends, a little update with the blog. I’m so glad that many of you comment and message me to say how helpful and encouraging these hymns are to you! However at the moment there is a lot going on in my home life, as well as the fact that I’m trying to use my spare time to complete a theological course my church offers. This means it’s been difficult for me to have these posts ready each day. Therefore at the moment, I’m switching to providing a hymn for the week, and will post/email out every Monday to help you start the week with biblical encouragement.

This week’s song comes from Grace Worship, the worship ministry of Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Peoria, Illinois. The song is written by the worship leader Kevin King with Bryan Chappell, former pastor and President of Covenant Theological Seminary, based upon the book Bryan wrote called Unlimted Grace: The Heart Chemistry That Frees from Sin and Fuels the Christian Life. I hope you enjoy this one!

From glory unbounded
Beyond time and space
The angels adored Him
With infinite praise
Yet He who formed heaven
Faced hell for our sakes
His cross was the call of
Unlimited grace

Refrain
Glory glory Hallelujah
Jesus Christ has saved my soul
Though I once stood as a sinner
For me blood was shed
Yes His love has bled
Now I stand in unlimited grace

The will of the Father
Cupped death for Christ’s taste
A grave hewn from stone
Buried sin in His place
The Spirit unvanquished
Crushed hell in that space
His cross was the cost of
Unlimited grace [Refrain]

My life though unworthy
Brings joy to His face
And gifts that He’s given
I offer in praise
For all my transgressions
His suffering laid waste
His cross now my cause of
Unlimited Grace [Refrain]

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Jesus With Your Church Abide

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Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Benson Pollock (1836-1896), a curate in the Anglican Church. He was most successful as a writer of metrical litanies, which we have today. I’ve included a version by my favourite music group, Emu Music. Enjoy!

Jesus, with thy church abide;
be her Saviour, Lord, and Guide,
while on earth her faith is tried:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Keep her life and doctrine pure;
grant her patience to endure,
trusting in thy promise sure:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she one in doctrine be,
one in truth and charity,
winning all to faith in thee:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she guide the poor and blind,
seek the lost until she find,
and the broken-hearted bind:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Judge her not for work undone,
judge her not for fields unwon,
bless her work in thee begun:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Save her love from growing cold,
make her watchmen strong and bold,
fence her round, thy peaceful fold:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May her lamp of truth be bright,
bid her bear aloft its light
through the realms of heathen night:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Arm her soldiers with the cross,
brave to suffer toil or loss,
counting earthly gain but dross:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she holy triumphs win,
overthrow the hosts of sin,
gather all the nations in:
we beseech thee, hear us.

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One There Is Above All Others

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Today’s hymn comes from my favourite hymn writer, John Newton. This one tells of the value and blessing of calling Jesus our friend, a friend like no other. I hope you can call yourself a friend of Jesus today; enjoy!

Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7

One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother’s,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!

Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

Men, when raised to lofty stations,
often know their friends no more;
slight and scorn their poor relations
though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
those whom He redeemed with groans.

When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another,
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.

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