SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND UPON MY HEART

This lovely hymn is my prayer today:

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Hast thou not bid us love thee, God and King?

All, all Thine own - soul, heart and strength and mind.

I see Thy cross - there teach my heart to cling;

O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; 

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear - 

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

One holy passion filling all my frame.

The baptism of the heav'n-descended Dove - 

My heart an altar and Thy love the flame.

Text:  George Croly                 Music:  Frederick C. Atkinson

An Ancient Hymn

The Trial of Jan Hus

Even before I read the thrilling fictional work Crushed Yet Conquering I was impressed by Jan z Hus (John Huss) and the stand he took for the Gospel of Christ.

Last year our family purchased a CD of A capella hymns from ancient to the classics of the late 1700s. One of the beautiful hymns is Hus’ To Avert From Men God’s Wrath which is set to the oldest Moravian hymn known. This slow and beautiful song has an even more powerful message. I know now why the Roman Catholics couldn’t stand him.

To avert from men God’s wrath,
Jesus suffered in our stead;
By an ignominious death
He a full atonement made;
And by His most precious blood
Brought us, sinners, nigh to God.

That is the first of 4 verses included on this CD, and all of them have a powerful Gospel message contained therein.

I am fascinated by the way God uses ordinary people, who are courageous enough to stand on God’s Word alone!

Although, we would not necessarily agree with everything that Jan z Hus stood for from a theological perspective, he and others like him (Tyndal specifically) blazed a trail with their ashes for what would later become known as the Prostestant Reformation, and would produce such men as Luther, Calvin and Zwingli.

His testimony reminds me of these verses:
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:32-38

A New Year

In light of the changing of the calender :), I thought I'd post a hymn that we sang on Sunday (Dec. 30, '07) regarding the commencement of a New Year.

Another Year is Dawning
Francis R. Havergal (1836-1879)

1. Another year is dawning! Dear Father let it be, In working or in waiting, Another year with Thee; Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast, Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest.

2. Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace; Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face; Another year of progress, Another year of praise, Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

3. Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love; Another year of training For holier work above. Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be On earth, or else in heaven, Another year for Thee. Amen.

A beautiful reminder of what our year(s) should be. Full of love, and service for our dear Master and Saviour.

God bless you richly this year!

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

This evening as I was listening to John MacArthur preach on the "ugliness of Christmas", which is his current series, he closed out the program with this compelling hymn. I hope that you will find it as stirring as I did. You can find his current series The Best of Christmas Here

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy Joseph Hart (1712-1768)
"Come… take the water of life freely". Rev. 22:17

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love, and pow’r
2. Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome, God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance, Every grace that brings you nigh.
3. Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth Is to feel your need of Him.
4. Come, ye weary, heavy laden, Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better, You will never come at all.

Refrain: I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior, O, there are ten thousand charms.

Text: Joseph Hart; Refrain, source unknown
Music: Traditional American melody; Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835

Taken from: The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration