Category Archives: Holiness

For All the Saints ~ Hymn

For All the Saints

For all the saints,
Who from their la­bors rest,
Who Thee by faith
Before the world con­fessed,
Thy name, O Je­sus,
Be for­ev­er blessed.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

Thou wast their rock,
Their fort­ress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their cap­tain
In the well fought fight;
Thou, in the dark­ness drear,
Their one true Light.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

For the apos­tles’
Glorious com­pa­ny,
Who bear­ing forth
The cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the migh­ty
World, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

For the ev­an­gel­ists,
By whose blest word,
Like four­fold streams,
The gar­den of the Lord,
Is fair and fruit­ful,
Be Thy name ad­ored.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

For mar­tyrs, who
With rap­ture kin­dled eye,
Saw the bright crown
Descending from the sky,
And see­ing, grasped it,
Thee we glo­ri­fy.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

O blest com­mun­ion,
Fellowship di­vine!
We feeb­ly strug­gle,
They in glo­ry shine;
All are one in Thee,
For all are Thine.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

O may Thy sol­diers,
Faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints
Who nob­ly fought of old,
And win with them
The vic­tor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

And when the strife
Is fierce, the war­fare long,
Steals on the ear
The dist­ant tri­umph song,
And hearts are brave,
Again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

The gold­en ev­en­ing
Brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faith­ful
Warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm
Of pa­ra­dise the blessed.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

But lo! there breaks
A yet more glo­ri­ous day;
The saints tri­um­phant
Rise in bright ar­ray;
The King of glo­ry
Passes on His way.
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

From earth’s wide bounds,
From ocean’s far­thest coast,
Through gates of pearl
Streams in the count­less host,
And sing­ing to Fa­ther,
Son and Ho­ly Ghost:
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia!

Words: William W. How, 1864.

Communion Hymn

Communion Hymn

Amidst us our Beloved stands,
And bid us view His pierced hands;
Points to His wounded feet and side,
Blest emblems of the Crucified.

What food luxurious loads the board,
When at His table sits the Lord!
The wine how rich, the bread how sweet,
When Jesus deigns the guests to meet!

If now with eyes defiled and dim,
We see the signs but see not Him,
Oh, may His love the scales displace,
And bid us see Him face to face!

Our former transports we recount,
When with Him in the holy mount,
These cause our souls to thirst anew,
His marr’d but lovely face to view.

Thou glorious Bridegroom of our hearts,
Thy present smile a heaven imparts
Oh, lift the veil, if veil there be,
Let every saint Thy beauties see!

Words: C.H. Spurgeon

Church of God, Beloved and Chosen ~ Hymn

Church of God, Beloved and Chosen

Church of God, be­loved and chos­en,
Church of God, for whom He died,
Claim thy gifts, and praise the Giv­er,
Ye are washed and sanc­ti­fied—
Sanctified by God the Fa­ther,
And by Je­sus Christ His Son,
And by God the Ho­ly Spir­it,
Holy, ho­ly, Three in One.

By His will He sanc­ti­fi­eth,
By the Spir­it’s pow­er with­in;
By the lov­ing hand that chast­en­eth
Fruits of right­eous­ness to win;
By His truth and by His pro­mise;
By the Word, His gift un­priced;
By His own blood, and by un­ion
With the ris­en life of Christ.

Holiness by faith in Je­sus,
Not by ef­fort of thine own,
Sin’s do­min­ion crushed and brok­en,
By the pow­er of grace alone;
God’s own ho­li­ness with­in Thee,
His own beau­ty on Thy brow;
This shall be thy pil­grim bright­ness,
This thy bless­èd por­tion now.

He will sanc­ti­fy thee whol­ly;
Body, spir­it, soul shall be
Blameless til thy Sav­ior’s com­ing,
In His glo­ri­ous ma­jes­ty.
He hath per­fect­ed for ev­er
Those whom He hath sanc­ti­fied;
Spotless, glo­ri­ous, and ho­ly,
Is the Church, His chos­en bride.

Words: Francis Havergal, 1873.

Truth for Today #115

Thursday August 29th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

From Vera:

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Karen:

Psalm 124:8

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder ~ Hymn

Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder
~
Let us love, and sing, and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior’s name!
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder,
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame.
~
Let us love the Lord, who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies;
Called us by his grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears, and gave us eyes.
~
Let us sing, though fierce temptations
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqueror’s crown,
~
Let us wonder, grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store;
When we trust in Christ our fortress,
Justice smiles, and asks no more.
~
Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high;
Here they trusted him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky.
~
Hark! the name of Jesus, sounded
Loud, from golden harps above!
Lord we blush, and are confounded,
Faint our praise, and cold our love!
~
Words: John Newton, 1774.

Truth for Today #111

Thursday August 1st

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

Titus 2:11-15

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

From Vera:

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Janc2:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23

From Willow:

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat come, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

From Karen:

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

From Cheryl:

Our ladies’ Bible study discussed this verse this morning:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
~ Psalm 27:1

Before the Throne of God Above ~ Hymn

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Words: Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863

Truth for Today #108

Thursday July 11th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

2 Timothy 3:12-17

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

From Vera:

“He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬-‭4

From Janc:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 143:8

From Karen:

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?

for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Independence Day 2024

On this 4th of July I’ll share again this prayer from the first president of the United States.  A prayer from George Washington’s Prayer Journal.

“O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.

Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the ever lasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred unite us all in praising and glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.”

I’m humbled by this prayer from the first president of the United States. I pray along with it as I ready this post.

The stained glass window with the sun streaming through casting it’s light and color onto the statue of George Washington was taken at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. in May of 2011. Dear had a conference in D.C. and I was able to tag along. The National Cathedral is a must see if you ever travel to D.C.

It is folly to say our nation was not founded on Christian principles. Some would like to blot out this part of our history and remove all evidence of our Founding Father’s faith in the one true God.

Have you ever seen or read the third verse of “The Star Spangled Banner”, our National Anthem?

 O thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Praising God this morning for preserving our nation to this point in history.

Give me this day almighty God the Spirit filled mind to serve thee in the righteousness of your dear Son, Jesus my Lord, whose sacrifice covers my sin repented of and gives me the strength to live in your holiness.  God bless America and keep our land free to worship you in righteousness and truth.

Happy Independence Day, the 4th of July to all my friends and family in the U.S.A.!

Truth for Today #107

Thursday June 27th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

There will not be a Truth for Today post next Thursday, the 4th of July. 

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-10‬ ‭ESV‬

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

From Maristella:

” Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything . Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace , which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

From Leonard:

Psalm 39:7

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

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