Fear not the storm...

Fear not the storm, it brings healing in its wings, and when Jesus is with you in the vessel, the tempest only hastens the ship to its desired haven.  -Charles Spurgeon Image

If you do not worship God seven days a week...

If you do not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him on one day a week. There is no such thing known in heaven as Sunday worship unless it is accompanied by Monday worship and Tuesday worship and so on.   -A.W. Tozer

But for the Cross of Christ...

 

But for the Cross of Christ 

-Bryan Fowler

Vs 1

What is the truth

That ever anchors me

Amidst the waves of all my guilt

That Christ has shed

His blood and pardoned me

At the cross, at the cross

Vs 2

He bore my sin

I bear His righteousness

Oh what a glorious exchange

The wrath of God

Laid on the spotless Lamb

Oh what grace, oh what grace

Chorus

Behold the cross

There is no greater love

Heaven’s Son

Laid down His life for us

Oh my soul would be lost

With no hope to find

But for the cross of Christ

Vs 3

How do I walk

With humble confidence

I look to Christ Who is my peace

He sealed my hope

And my inheritance

At the cross, at the cross

Vs 4

When I am weak

And stumble into sin

There is an ever-flowing stream

His cleansing blood revives my soul again

Oh what grace, oh what grace

Vs 5

One day I’ll stand

Before the King of Kings

One day I’ll see Him face to face

For Jesus rose

Death lost its bitter sting

Christ has won! Christ has won!

The Light and Glory of the Word...

The Spirit breathes upon the word,

And brings the truth to sight;

Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

A glory gilds the sacred page,

Majestic like the sun;

It gives a light to every age,

It gives, but borrows none.

The hand that gave it still supplies

The gracious light and heat;

His truths upon the nations rise,

They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,

For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day.

My soul rejoices to pursue

The steps of Him I love,

Till glory break upon my view

In brighter worlds above.

-William Cowper

O Lord our God, Who has called us to serve You...

O Lord our God,

Who has called us to serve You,

In the midst of the world’s affairs,

When we stumble, hold us;

When we fall, lift us up;

When we are hard pressed with evil, deliver us;

When we turn from what is good, turn us back;

And bring us at last to Your glory.

-St. Alcuin 

True Christianity brings with it a daily cross in this life...

We must not conceal from ourselves that true Christianity brings with it a daily cross in this life, while it offers us a crown of glory in the life to come. The flesh must be daily crucified. The devil must be daily resisted. The world must be daily overcome. There is a warfare to be waged, and a battle to be fought. All this is the inseparable accompaniment of true religion. Heaven is not to be won without it. Never was there a truer word than the old saying, “No cross, no crown!” If we never found this out by experience, our souls are in a poor condition.  -J.C. Ryle

My God, how endless is Thy love!

My God, how endless is Thy love!

Thy gifts are ev’ry ev’ning new;

And morning mercies from above

Gently distill like early dew.

 

Thou spread’st the curtains of the night,

Great guardian of my sleeping hours;

Thy sov’reign word restores the light,

And quickens all my drowsy pow’rs.

 

I yield my pow’rs to Thy command,

To Thee I consecrate my days;

Perpetual blessings from Thine hand

Demand perpetual songs of praise.

-Isaac Watts

I thirst, Thou wounded Lamb of God...

I thirst, Thou wounded Lamb of God,

To wash me in Thy cleansing blood,

To dwell within Thy wounds; then pain

Is sweet, and life or death is gain.

 

Take my poor heart, and let it be

For ever closed to all but Thee!

Seal Thou my breast, and let me wear

That pledge of love for ever there.

 

How blest are they who still abide

Close shelter’d in Thy bleeding side;

Who life and strength from thence derive,

And by Thee move, and in Thee live!

 

What are our works but sin and death,

Till Thou Thy quick’ning Spirit breathe?

Thou giv’st the power Thy grace to move—

O wondrous grace! O boundless love!

 

Hence our hearts melt, our eyes o’erflow,

Our words are lost: nor will we know,

Nor will we think of aught, beside

“My Lord, my Love is crucified.”

-Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

We Too Have Overcome...

 

We Too Have Overcome 

CityAlight

V1

Take heart where there is trouble

This world belongs to Him

Rely upon the words of Christ the King

He said there would be trials

But He has overcome

The battle is the Lord’s and He has won

V2

Take heart where there is failure

Where sin fights for a hold

Rely upon the power of His blood

There is no condemnation

For Jesus paid it all

So praise the God of mercy, oh my soul

CHORUS

On the cross He stormed the prison

By His death He broke the bars

When He rose He freed

His children from the dark

And He bound the great deceiver

And He leads me in His love

Praise God,

in Christ we too have overcome

V3

Take heart where there is sorrow

In sickness and in death

Rely upon the peace that He has sent

He promises a future

Where joy will never cease

And there I know a home awaits for me

CHORUS

On the cross He stormed the prison

By His death He broke the bars

When He rose He freed

His children from the dark

And He bound the great deceiver

And He leads me in His love

Praise God,

in Christ we too have overcome

BRIDGE

He is risen and He reigns

It is finished it is done

So take heart

He has overcome

Yes the victory we need

Is the victory He won

So take heart

He has overcome

In Christ

We have overcome

CHORUS

Jesus! Where’er Thy people meet...

Jesus! where’er Thy people meet,

There they behold Thy mercy-seat;

Where’er they seek Thee, Thou art found,

And every place is hallow’d ground.

 

Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few!

Thy former mercies here renew;

Here to our waiting hearts proclaim

The sweetness of Thy saving name.

-William Cowper

Holiness comes not of blood...

Holiness comes not of blood—parents cannot give it to their children: nor yet of the will of the flesh—man cannot produce it in himself: nor yet of the will of man—ministers cannot give it you by baptism. Holiness comes from Christ. It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine.  -J.C. Ryle Image

He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure...

He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.  ...Thomas à Kempis 

Prayer and a holy life are one...

Prayer and a holy life are one. They mutually act and react. Neither can survive alone... We are in danger of substituting churchly work and a ceaseless round of showy activities for prayer and holy living. A holy life does not live in the closet, but it cannot live without the closet. If, by any chance, a prayer chamber should be established without a holy life, it would be a chamber without the presence of God in it. ...E.M. Bounds 

Prayer and the Word are inseparably linked...

“Prayer and the Word are inseparably linked; power in the use of either depends upon the presence of the other. The Word gives you a subject for prayer. It shows you the path of prayer, telling you how God would have you come. It gives you the power for prayer—courage in the assurance that you will be heard. And it brings you the answer to prayer as it teaches what God will do for you. On the other hand, prayer prepares your heart to receive the Word from God himself, to receive spiritual understanding from the Spirit, and to build faith that participates in its mighty working.” -Andrew Murray

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God...

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.   ...Brother Lawrence

All to Honour Jesus...

 

All to Honour Jesus 

CityAlight

V1

Father, may I serve like my Saviour

Give me eyes to see what you see

Teach my sinful heart to be humble

Help me be your hands and feet

V2

Father, may I love like my Saviour

As He had compassion on me

May I work for justice and mercy

For the ones in greatest need

CHORUS

God of love would you lead me

Take this heart, make it holy

Help me serve

through the strength of Christ

All to honour Jesus with my life

All to honour Jesus with my life

V3

Father, may I tell of my Saviour

How He offers hope for the lost

Help me share the grace and forgiveness

That he showed me at the cross

CHORUS

God of love would you lead me

Take this heart, make it holy

Help me serve

through the strength of Christ

All to honour Jesus with my life

All to honour Jesus with my life

BRIDGE

Praise my Saviour for His mercy

Praise the Servant King

All to Jesus be the glory

All to honour Him

Praise my Saviour for His mercy

Praise the Servant King

All to Jesus be the glory

All to honour Him

All to honour Him

CHORUS

God of love would you lead me

Take this heart, make it holy

Help me serve

through the strength of Christ

All to honour Jesus with my life

All to honour Jesus with my life

Heavenly Father, may You grant us to comprehend Your holy Word...

Heavenly Father, may You grant us to comprehend Your holy Word according to Your divine will, that we may learn from it to put all our confidence in You alone, and withdraw it from all other creatures; moreover, that also our old man with all his lusts may be crucified more and more each day, and that we may offer ourselves to You as a living sacrifice, to the glory of Your holy name and to the edification of our neighbor, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. -Zacharias Ursinus

My Father, gird me still with Your presence...

My Father, gird me still with Your presence, 

both by day and by night. 

By day, teach me to remember my weakness,

and by night tell me where lies my strength.

By day, point me down to Gethsemane,

and by night lead me up into the mount of transfigured glory.

By day show me the burden,

and by night reveal to me the crown,

so shall my days and nights be girded about with You.

-George Matheson

Little did they dream...

Little did they dream, as they bound the fatal wood upon His shoulder, by whose power that tree was made to grow, and from whom the beings who bore Him to the death, drew their existence. So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, He created the tree upon which He was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood!

Oh the depth of Jesus' love to sinners! 

-Octavius Winslow

Sinners, are you poor?

Sinners, are you poor? Christ has gold to enrich you.

Are you naked? Christ has royal robes, 

and white clothing to clothe you.

Are you blind? Christ has eye-salve to enlighten you.

Are you hungry? Christ will be manna to feed you.

Are you thirsty? He will be a well of living water to refresh you.

Are you wounded? He has a balm under his wings to heal you.

Are you sick? He is a physician to cure you.

Are you prisoners? He has laid down a ransom for you.

Ah, sinners! 

Tell me, tell me, is there anything in Christ 

to keep you from believing? No.

Is there not everything in Christ 

that may encourage you to believe in Him? Yes. 

-Thomas Brooks  Image 

O Love of God, descend into my heart...

O Love of God, descend into my heart;

Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling,

And scatter there Your cheerful beams.

Dwell in the soul that longs to be Your temple;

Water that barren soil overrun with weeds and briars

And lost for lack of cultivating.

Make it fruitful with Your dew.

Come, dear Refreshment of those who languish;

Come, Star and Guide of those who sail amidst tempests.

You are the Haven of the tossed and shipwrecked.

Come now, Glory and Crown of the living,

As well as the Safeguard of the dying.

Come, Sacred Spirit;

Come, and make me fit to receive You.

-Augustine

Lord, you know what distracted hearts we have...

Lord, you know what distracted hearts we have, O give us self-recollection; you know what hard, dead hearts we have, O touch and awaken us! You know how we yet resist your Word and our lower nature is reluctant to bow to your scepter; therefore, O Lord, show forth your power; send your Spirit on high to work among us, to make our hearts submissive, and ourselves capable of living in true union with you, our salvation, and of yielding totally to your grace. Amen.  

-Gerhard Tersteegen

As for Me and My House...

 

As for Me and My House 

 Keith and Kristyn Getty, Cochren & Co.

Vs 1

Oh, choose you this day whom you will serve

The kingdom of heaven or the powers of earth

Has He not spoken? Have you not heard?

There is but one true God

Vs 2

The God of our fathers set us free

His Son paid the price for our covenant peace

Through generations His mercy speaks

We trust in one true God

Chorus

As for me and my house, we will serve, serve the Lord

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord our God

Vs 3

This house is the Lord’s and all within

May we be pleasing and holy to Him

Joined by His Spirit His people sing

Great is the one true God

Oh, great Is the living God

Chorus

As for me and my house, we will serve, serve the Lord

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord our God

Bridge

Oh, praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit now in us

Let every heart and every tongue

Praise the one true God

(repeat)

Chorus

As for me and my house, we will serve, serve the Lord

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord our God

(repeat)

We think that Paradise and Calvary...

We think that Paradise and Calvary,

         Christ's cross, and Adam's tree, stood in one place;

Look, Lord, and find both Adams met in me;

         As the first Adam's sweat surrounds my face,

         May the last Adam's blood my soul embrace.

   -John Donne

Prayer is the most important thing you do...

Begin to realize more and more that prayer is the most important thing you do; and that you can use your time to no better advantage than to pray whenever you have an opportunity to do so, either alone or with others, while at work, while at rest, or while walking down the street. Anywhere!   ...O. Hallesby

Take Up Your Cross, The Saviour Said...

 

 Take Up Your Cross, The Saviour Said

1 Take up your cross, the Saviour said,

if you would my disciple be;

Deny yourself, the world forsake,

and humbly follow after me.

2 Take up your cross; be not ashamed!

Let not disgrace your spirit fill; 

For God himself endured to die

upon a cross on Calvary's hill.

3 Take up your cross, which gives you strength,

which makes your trembling spirit brave:

'Twill guide you to a better home

and lead to vict'ry o'er the grave.

4 Take up your cross, and follow Christ,

nor think till death to lay it down;

For only they who bear the cross

may hope to wear the glorious crown.

Hear the Hallelujahs Roar

 

 Hear the Hallelujahs Roar 

CityAlight

V1

The whole earth it is longing

And waiting for the dawn

When we will see Christ come again

And worship Him as Lord

V2

The night will fade behind us

We’ll walk in endless days

Beside our God who dwells with us

As glory fills our gaze

CHORUS

A song of praise is rising

From every tribe and tongue

O hear the hallelujahs roar

To Christ the worthy one

V3

No guilt shall hold us fearful

Our tears will be no more

We’ll run and not grow weary then

Our strength will be restored

CHORUS

A song of praise is rising

From every tribe and tongue

O hear the hallelujahs roar

To Christ the worthy one

V4

But still, we will remember

The cross that He embraced

His blood that made us worthy heirs

Our great redeemers grace

V5

No captive held in slavery

No hunger no more strife

And death has lost its fatal sting

For all we’ll know is life

CHORUS

A song of praise is rising

From every tribe and tongue

O hear the hallelujahs roar

To Christ the worthy one