Hi friends! Apologies that I have not been able to get a post out to you in the last couple of weeks. Pregnancy and sickness as well as the usual responsibilities have pre-occupied me! But the Lord still reigns.

Did you know that the site has now over 500 lovely, Christ exalting songs and hymns? That’s enough to make our own hymnal! Over the next few weeks I’ll be including some reposts of hymns that I love and I’m sure you’ll love too. This beloved one originally comes from Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel, a German Lutheran nun (1697-1797). Our pastor shared it recently with our congregation after the death of a beloved sister. I’m sure this one will be a comfort to you also in your trials; enjoy!

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly friend
Thru’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! your God does undertake
To guide the future as he has the past;
Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he lived below.

Be still, my soul! when dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shall you better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul! your Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul! the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still my soul! when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

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Today’s hymn is written by Daniel W. Whit­tle in 1883, and is one I came across whilst reading Lisa Hughes’ book ‘Unmet Expectations‘. When encouraging believers with the truth that our trials will not last forever, she says “Eventually lifelong trials will end, and pain, sorrow, and difficulty will cease. Yet we can be assured that their sanctifying effects on earth will go with us into heaven. “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:3–4). No more sorrow from deferred hopes, no more suffering, sin, or pain, for on the day we leave our earthly shell, we will be transformed. And then, we will see Jesus, our dear Saviour”¹. She then includes a stanza to this hymn. I hope this encourages you as it did me!

Sons of God, be­lov­ed in Je­sus!
O the won­drous word of grace;
In His Son the Fa­ther sees us,
And as sons He gives us place.

Refrain
Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
And it doth not yet ap­pear what we shall be;
But we know that when He shall ap­pear;
We know that when He shall ap­pear,
We shall be like Him, we shall be like Him,
For we shall see Him as He is.

Blessed hope now bright­ly beam­ing,
On our God we soon shall gaze;
And in light ce­les­ti­al gleam­ing,
We shall see our Sav­iour’s face. [Refrain]

By the pow­er of grace trans­form­ing,
We shall then His im­age bear;
Christ His pro­mised word per­form­ing,
We shall then His glo­ry share. [Refrain]

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¹Lisa Hughes, Unmet Expectations, page 328.

Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Haweis (1734–1820), The collection of hymns this comes from was dedicated to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, who loved hymns and was a patreon of Methodism; Haweis was one of her chaplains. This hymn was beloved by Henry Martyn (1781–1812), an Anglican missionary to India and Turkey. In his journal he wrote recalled the lyrics to this hymn when faced with persecution¹. Enjoy!

O thou from whom all goodness flows, 
I lift my soul to thee; 
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, 
Good Lord, remember me. 

When on my aching, burdened heart 
My sins lie heavily, 
Thy pardon grant, new peace impart: 
Good Lord, remember me. 

When trials sore obstruct my way, 
And ills I cannot flee, 
O let my strength be as my day: 
Good Lord, remember me. 

If, for thy sake, upon my name 
Shame and reproach shall be, 
All hail reproach, and welcome shame! 
Good Lord, remember me. 

If worn with pain, disease, or grief, 
This feeble frame should be, 
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief: 
Good Lord, remember me. 

When, in the solemn hour of death, 
I wait thy just decree, 
Be this the pray’r of my last breath: 
Good Lord, remember me.

¹hymnologyarchive.com/o-thou-from-whom-all-goodness-flows

Today’s hymn comes from German poet Georg Neumark (1621-1681) and translated by Catherine Winkworth. Neumark lived during the time of the Thirty Years’ War, when social and economic conditions were deplorable. He had personal trials as well. On his way to Königsberg to study at the university, traveling in the comparative safety of a group of merchants, he was robbed of nearly all his possessions. During the next two years he spent much of his time looking for employment. He finally secured a tutoring position in Kiel, and afterwards wrote this hymn¹. John Piper says it’s one of his favourites because “the words express hope in the worst of times because of an absolutely sovereign and merciful God².” I hope you enjoy this one!

If thou but suffer God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

He knows the time for joy
And truly will send it when he sees it meet,
When he has tried and purged thee, duly
And finds thee free from all deceit.
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.

Think not that God has thee forsaken
When sorrow crowns your acts of care,
Nor that he sleeps and cannot waken
While evil prospers everywhere.
Each recompense will have its hour.
God sets the times with truth, with love and power.

All are alike before the Highest;
‘Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

¹hymnary.org/person/Neumark_GC
²desiringgod.org/interviews/john-pipers-favorite-hymn

Today’s song comes from Matt Merker, Laura Story, and Jordan Kauflin. It’s an adaption of the older “Come Ye Disconsolate” by Thomas Moore and Thomas Hastings which I have posted previously. Do you lay your burdens onto Jesus as he invites us in Matthew 11:28-29? I hope you do dear friend. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this acoustic version!

Come unto Jesus, all you who are weary;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, broken and needy;
Come unto Jesus, mighty to heal.

​Joy of the comfortless, Light for the straying,
Hope of the penitent, Peace in our strife;
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying:
“My yoke is easy, my burden is light.”

Refrain​
Come unto Jesus,
Come unto Jesus.
Lay down your burdens, He is enough;
Come unto Jesus, rest in His love.

​Come taste the Bread of Life, broken for sinners;
Drink from the cup of His promise made sure.
Feast at His table as sons and as daughters;
Grace overflowing is yours evermore.

​Come now and follow Him, this life forsaking;
All that was gain, count as nothing but loss.
Trade all this world for His kingdom unfading;
Come unto Jesus, take up your cross;
Come unto Jesus, take up your cross;
Life everlasting He offers to us.

You may need to head to Youtube directly to listen to this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfOF-fE5PDw

Today’s hymn is from John Logan (1748-1788), a minister in Scotland who also was a historian. This hymn is clearly inspired by 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 about those who have died in the Lord. I hope it can give you some encouragement hope today. Enjoy!

Take comfort, Christians, when your friends
in Jesus fall asleep;
their better being never ends;
why then dejected weep?

Why inconsolable, as those
to whom no hope is giv’n?
Death is the messenger of peace,
and calls the soul to heav’n.

As Jesus dy’d, and rose again
victorious from the dead;
so his disciples rise, and reign
with their triumphant Head.

The time draws nigh, when from the clouds
Christ shall with shouts descend,
and the last trumpet’s awful voice
the heavens and earth shall rend.

Then they who live shall changed be,
and they who sleep shall wake;
the graves shall yield their ancient charge,
and earth’s foundations shake.

The saints of God, from death set free,
with joy shall mount on high;
the heav’nly hosts with praises loud
shall meet them in the sky,

Together to their Father’s house
with joyful hearts they go;
and dwell for ever with the Lord,
beyond the reach of woe.

A few short years of evil past,
we reach the happy shore,
where death-divided friends at last
shall meet, to part no more.

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Today’s hymn is by Fanny Crosby, and the title very succinctly sums up what this hymn will do for you. Enjoy!

We know not the trials before us,
But Jesus takes thought for them all,
And trusting the aid of His counsel,
We never, no, never can fall;
We know not the trials before us,
Or what on the morrow may be,
But sweet is the soul cheering promise,
My grace is sufficient for thee.

Refrain
Then cleave to the Savior, cleave to Him,
Whatever the conflict may be,
Remember the soul cheering promise,
My grace is sufficient for thee.

We know not the trials before us,
But why; should we tremble or fear?
The arm of the Lord will protect us,
The ark of His mercy is near;
We know not the trials before us,
Or what our temptations may be,
But stronger than death is the promise,
My grace is sufficient for thee.

Refrain

We know not the trials before us,
The sorrows and cares we shall meet,
But O there’s a refuge in Jesus,
Though surges may break at our feet;
How blessèd that refuge forever
Where safe from the storm we shall be,
The password to life is the promise,
My grace is sufficient for thee.

Refrain

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In 1541 the Turkish army was threatening to take Vienna and the German rulers called for special prayers for safety from these Islamic forces. Martin Luther responded to this request by writing the original German text (“Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort”) for a prayer service in Wittenberg. Convinced that the church was threatened not only by the Turkish army of Sultan Suleiman but also by the Roman Catholic Pope, Luther originally made reference to the Pope and Turkish army, but it was later altered to all enemies of the Word. The English translation by Catherine Winkworth was published in her Chorale Book for England in 1863¹. A great hymn to meditate on during a time of persecution and suffering. Enjoy!

Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would seek to overthrow your Son
and to destroy what he has done.

Lord Jesus Christ, your pow’r make known,
for you are Lord of lords alone;
defend your Christendom that we
may sing your praise eternally.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
send peace and unity on earth;
support us in our final strife
and lead us out of death to life.

¹hymnary.org/text/lord_keep_us_steadfast_in_your_word

“Immanuel’s Land” or “The Sands of Time Are Sinking,” was written by Anne Ross Cousin from Roxburghshire in Scotland and was first published in 1857 in The Christian Treasury. Mrs. Cousin was the wife of a pastor in the Free Church of Scotland. Her hymn is based on a collection of letters written by Samuel Rutherford (1600–1661), a Scottish pastor who was also from Roxburghshire and represented Scotland in the Westminster Assembly, helping to write the Westminster Confession of Faith. By 1630 the Church of Scotland had begun to decline in doctrine and was seeking to impose many Anglican traditions on the Reformed churches. Twice Rutherford was charged with treason due to his non-conformity to the Church of England. The second time was in 1660 with the death of Oliver Cromwell, the end of the Commonwealth, and the restoration of Charles II as king, and Rutherford was on his deathbed. It is recorded that his dying words were “Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s Land.” It was this quote that stirred the heart of Anne Ross Cousin almost two hundred years later to set the words of Rutherford into a hymn¹. Enjoy!

The sands of time are sinking;
the dawn of heaven breaks;
the summer morn I’ve sighed for,
the fair sweet morn awakes;
dark, dark has been the midnight,
but dayspring is at hand,
and glory, glory dwelleth
in Emmanuel’s land.

The King there in His beauty
without a veil is seen;
it were a well-spent journey,
though trials lay between:
the Lamb with His fair army
on Zion’s mountain stands,
and glory, glory dwelleth
in Emmanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain,
the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted;
more deep I’ll drink above:
there to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
and glory, glory dwelleth
in Emmanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment,
but her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
but on my King of grace;
not at the crown He giveth,
but on His piercéd hands;
the Lamb is all the glory
of Emmanuel’s land.

¹founders.org/articles/the-sands-of-time-are-sinking/

Today’s hymn is another the Olney Hymns, first published in 1779, and is written by William Cowper. The hymn is based on the beautiful prophecy of Isaiah 60:15-20, spoken to God’s people in exile. It was noted by JR Watson that Cowper’s hymns feel like they are written by a fellow struggler, and that is true of this hymn – yet there is hope with eyes of faith. I hope you read and meditate on this one with eyes of hope today. Enjoy!

Hear what God the Lord has spoken 
“O my people, faint and few 
Comfortless, afflicted, broken 
Fair abodes I build for you 
Thorns of heartfelt tribulation 
Shall no more perplex your ways 
You shall name your walls Salvation 
And your gates shall all be Praise” 

There, like streams that feed the garden 
Pleasures without end shall flow 
For the Lord, your faith rewarding 
All His bounty shall bestow 
Still in undisturbed possession 
Peace and righteousness shall reign 
Never shall you feel oppression 
Nor hear the voice of war again 

See no more your sun’s descending 
Waning moons no more shall be 
But your griefs forever ending 
Find eternal noon in me 
God shall rise, and shining o’er you 
Change to day the gloom of night 
He, the Lord, shall be your glory 
God, your Everlasting Light

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