Today’s hymn is from the Gettys and Stuart Townend. I first heard of this song from the below recording. It’s a lovely song which expands on God’s self-revelation found in Exodus 34:6: “Then the LORD passed by in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth” (NASB). Enjoy!

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful to all who draw near You,
Hearing the cries of the humble in heart,
Showing the cross they may cling to.
Helpless I come, broken in sin,
Found at the feet of Your mercy.
Father, forgive,
May my sin be remembered no more.

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful through times we have failed You –
Selfish in thought and uncaring in deed,
Foolish in word and ungrateful.
Spirit of God, conquer our hearts
With love that flows from forgiveness;
Cause us to yield
And return to the mercy of God.

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful to keep us from falling,
Guiding our ways with Your fatherly heart,
Growing our faith with each testing.
God speed the day struggles will end,
Faultless we’ll gaze on Your glory;
Then we will stand
Overwhelmed by the mercy of God.

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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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Today’s hymn comes from Isaac Watts, and it tells of our poor and wretched state before Christ, yet his mercy and grace in saving us. Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Enjoy!

How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains.

But there’s a voice of sovereign grace
Sounds from the sacred Word,
‘Come, all despairing sinners, come,
And trust upon the Lord.’

My soul obeys the almighty call,
And runs to this relief;
I would believe Thy promise, Lord,
O help my unbelief.

To the dear fountain of Thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me wash my guilty soul
From crimes of deepest dye.

A guilty, weak and helpless worm,
On Thy kind arms I fall;
Be Thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus and my All.

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Today’s hymn comes from Joseph Hart (1712-1768). His early life, according to his own words which he prefaced to his collection of published hymns, was a mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and attempts to change his life. It was not until 1757 did he realise a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Revelations 3:10. During the next two years many of his most earnest and impassioned hymns were written¹. He also wrote the popular “Come ye sinners, poor and wretched [needy]”. Interestingly before his conversion, he wrote a tract denouncing Christianity called “The Unreasonableness of Religion, Being Remarks and Animadversions on the Rev. John Wesley’s Sermon on Romans 8:32“². Knowing that, this hymn seems even more precious; enjoy!

God’s mercy is for ever sure;
Eternal is his name;
As long as life and speech endure,
My tongue this truth proclaim.

I basely sinned against his love,
And yet my God was good;
His favour nothing could remove,
For I was bought with blood.

That precious blood atones all sin,
And fully clears from guilt;
It makes the foulest sinner clean,
For ’twas for sinners spilt.

He raised me from the lowest state,
When hell was my desert;
I broke his law, and, worse than that,
Alas! I broke his heart!

My soul, thou hast, let what will ail,
A never-changing Friend;
When brethren, friends, and helpers fail,
On him alone depend.

¹hymnary.org/person/Hart_Joseph
²wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hart

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Todays hymn is by Augustus Toplady (1740-1778), an Anglican clergyman and hymn writer who also wrote Rock of Ages. This hymn tell of the free forgiveness we have because of Christ’s blood, which has sealed for us an eternal inheritance and adoption into his family. Enj it this one this Lord’s Day.

A debtor to mercy alone,
of covenant mercy I sing;
nor fear, with Your righteousness on,
my person and off’ring to bring.
The terrors of law and of God
with me can have nothing to do;
my Savior’s obedience and blood
hide all my transgressions from view.

The work which His goodness began,
the arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is yea and amen,
and never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
nor all things below or above,
can make Him His purpose forgo,
or sever my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands
eternity will not erase;
impressed on His heart it remains,
in marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end shall endure,
as sure as the earnest is giv’n;
more happy, but not more secure,
the glorified spirits in heav’n.

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Today’s hymn is by Anne Steele. Born in 1716, she was the daughter of Mr. Wm. Steele, a timber merchant, and pastor, without salary, of the Baptist Church at Broughton, in Hampshire USA. At an early age she showed a taste for literature, but it was not until 1760 that she start to publish her work. In that year two volumes appeared under the title of Poems on Subjects chiefly Devotional under a pseudonym, as well as contributing to other collections. Among Baptist hymnwriters Miss Steele stands at the head, if we regard either the number of her hymns which have found a place in the hymnals of the last 120 years, or the frequency with which they have been sung¹. Enjoy this one!

Thou lovely Source of true delight,
Whom I unseen adore!
Unvail thy beauties to my sight,
That I may love thee more.

Thy glory o’er creation shines;
But in thy sacred word,
I read, in fairer, brighter lines,
My bleeding, dying Lord.

‘Tis here, whene’er my comforts droop,
And sin and sorrow rise,
Thy love, with cheering beams of hope,
My fainting heart supplies.
But ah! too soon the pleasing scene
Is clouded o’er with pain;
My gloomy fears rise dark between,
And I again complain.

Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light!
Oh, come with blissful ray;
Break radiant through the shades of night,
And chase my fears away.

Then shall my soul with rapture trace
The wonders of thy love:
But the full glories of thy face
Are only known above.

¹hymnary.org/person/Steele_A

Today’s hymn was written by Annie Johnson Flint (1866–1932). At a young age Annie would lose both her mother and father, as well as later losing her adopted parents. She also developed arthritis while caring for her adopted parents before their death; this grew steadily worse to the point that she was unable to walk, and she was soon obliged to give up her work as a teacher, followed by three years of increasing helplessness. She visited doctors only to receive the verdict that she would become a helpless invalid. From a young age, she developed a love for poetry, and aspired to be a composer and concert pianist, writing verses that bought much comfort during her hard times. From this grief-stricken life, one marked by great suffering and loss, was born this hymn¹. I like this version from Connie Dever with an added refrain. Enjoy!

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

¹hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2023/09/30/he-giveth-more-grace/

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Writing about the story of this hymn, Keith and Kristyn Getty explains “the new hymn “God of Every Grace” began with a melody and some lyrics from our friend Bryan Fowler. The song spoke of walking through struggle with faith. It spoke of God as the God of every grace, calling us to see even our trials as somehow, mysteriously, serving God’s good purposes according to his good plans. It resonated with us. Alongside Bryan and Matt Boswell, we continued to shape the verses and add the chorus over a couple of months. We felt strongly about keeping the lyric directed to the Lord, personal and honest. The line “all your children home together” was a very moving thought for me as a mother—that desire for a family to be all together again. Only in Christ is this possible.”¹ Enjoy!

O let not this world of sorrows
Steal my only hope away
For the power of Your gospel
Shines within this jar of clay

In affliction, You bring wisdom
That my comforts can displace
How my true and greatest treasure
Is in You, the God of grace

Refrain
Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace

Weary with the weight I carry
Give me wings of faith to rise
For You know each grief that lingers
Through the watches of the night

Surely, You have borne our sufferings
At the cross took up our pain
And You lead us on to glory
As we trust You, God of grace

Refrain

There’s a dawning hope before us
That I know is soon to break
As I wait upon Your mercy
Which will swallow every ache

Cries of joy and songs of victory
When we enter heaven’s gates
All Your children home together
All with You, the God of grace

Refrain

O praise the God of every grace
O praise the God of every grace

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¹gettymusic.com/godofeverygrace

This hymn was written by German court counsellor and lib­ra­ri­an Christian Ludwig Scheidt in the 1700s and translated by Matthias Loy. Loy was the President of the Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, and contributed several original hymns, and translations from the German, to the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. I love this one which continuously tells of God’s grace, and even giving answer to some questions someone may ask. No song for this one, but I’m sure the words alone will bless you. Enjoy!

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No; then this word must true remain:
By grace you too shall heav’n obtain.

By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in his love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
and we are saved by grace alone.

By grace God’s Son, our only Saviour,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
that Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought him from his heav’nly throne.

By grace! O mark this word of promise
When you are by your sins oppressed,
When Satan plagues your troubled conscience,
And when your heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend
God by his grace to you will send.

By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
In tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure,
if grace were not my anchor sure?

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
in Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
for though I know my heart’s condition,
I also know my Saviour’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown,
Since I am saved by grace alone.

By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
So long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
What in his Word our God commands,
What our whole faith must rest upon,
Is grace alone, grace in his Son.

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The author of this song is Julia Harriet Johnston, who was born in 1849 in Salineville, Ohio. Her father was pastor of the First Presbyterian church. She was one of the most prolific hymn writers of her day. She is reported to have composed nearly five hundred hymns or songs, and she also wrote materials for Sunday school children. The hymns that she wrote include, In the Child Garden; O Changeless Word; Saving Grace; There’s a Picture Bright and Fair, and There’s a Sweet and Blessed Story¹.

Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the Refuge, the Mighty Cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a Crimson Tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvellous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

¹christianmusicandhymns.com/2019/09/marvelous-grace-grace-greater-than-our.html

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