Pensive, Doubting, Fearful Heart

 by John Newton

Pensive, doubting, fearful heart, Hear what Christ the Savior says;
Every word should joy impart, Change thy mourning into praise:
Yes, he speaks, and speaks to thee, May he help thee to believe!
Then thou presently wilt see, Thou hast little cause to grieve.

“Fear thou not, nor be ashamed, All thy sorrows soon shall end
 I who heav’n and earth have framed, Am thy husband and thy friend
 I the High and Holy One, Israel’s GOD by all adored;
As thy Savior will be known, Thy Redeemer and thy Lord.

For a moment I withdrew, And thy heart was filled with pain;
But my mercies I’ll renew, Thou shalt soon rejoice again:
Though I scorn to hide my face, Very soon my wrath shall cease;
‘Tis but for a moment’s space, Ending in eternal peace.

When my peaceful bow appears Painted on the wat’ry cloud;
‘Tis to dissipate thy fears, Lest the earth should be o’erflowed:
‘Tis an emblem too of grace, Of my cov’nant love a sign;
Though the mountains leave their place, Thou shalt be for ever mine.

Though afflicted, tempest tossed, Comfortless awhile thou art,
Do not think thou canst be lost, Thou art graven on my heart
All thy walls I will repair, Thou shalt be rebuilt anew;
And in thee it shall appear, What a God of love can do.

 

We are in a Battle, not against flesh and blood

Ephesians 6:10-13, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Onward Christian Soldiers
Words: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1864

Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, 
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle , see, His banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Christians, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!

Like a might army moves the Church of God.
Christians, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided; all one body we:
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish. Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never 'gainst that Church prevail; 
We have Christ's own promise, which can never fail.


Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng; 
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ, the King:
This thro' countless ages men and angels sing.


Onward, Christain soldiers! Marching as to war, 
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
 

Before Their Going to Work

by Charles Wesley

LET us go forth, ’tis God commands;
Let us make haste away;
Offer to Christ our hearts and hands:
We work for Christ to-day.

When He vouchsafes our hands to use,
It makes the labour sweet;
If any now to work refuse,
Let not the sluggard eat.

Who would not do what God ordains,
And promises to bless?
Who would not ’scape the toil and pains
Of sinful idleness?

In vain to Christ the slothful pray:
We have not learn’d Him so:
No; for He calls Himself the Way
And work’d Himself below.

Then let us in His footsteps tread,
And gladly act our part;
On earth employ our hands and head.
But give Him all our heart.

He Abides

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever."--John 14:16

I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way, for the hand of God in all my life I see.
And the reason of my bliss, yes, the secret all is this: that the Comforter abides with me.

Once my heart was full of sin, once I had no peace within, till I heard how Jesus died upon the tree.
Then I fell down at His feet, and there came a peace so sweet. Now the Comforter abides with me.

He is with me everywhere, and He knows my every care; I'm as happy as a bird and just as free.
For the Spirit has control; Jesus satisfies my soul, since the Comforter abides with me.

There's no thirsting for the things of the world--they've taken wings. Long ago I gave them up and instantly.
All my night was turned to day all my burdens rolled away. Now the Comforter abides with me.

He abides, He abides. Hallelujah He abides with me! I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way, for the Comforter abides with me.

Words by: Herbert Buffum, 1879-1939
Music by: D.M. Shanks, 20th c.

Happy Birthday, Augustus Montague Toplady

 "Today (November 4) is the birthday of Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778), the Anglican clergyman who wrote “Rock of Ages,” one of the greatest English hymns ever."

Onward, Christian Soldiers

By Sabine Baring-Gould, 1864.

Read the words to this beautiful hymn. They are so powerful and full of promise. We  have read the end of the book and KNOW what the out come will be! Let us do our part to spread the gospel so God's family will grow and more will join us in our song of victory!

Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, ssee, His banners go!

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; on, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; Christians, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!

Like a mighty army moves the Church of God. Christians, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided; all one body we: one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane; but the Church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never 'gainst that church prevail; we have Christ's own promise, which can never fail.

Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng; blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ, the King: this thro' countless ages men and angels sing.

Stand Firm in the Faith; Be Men of Courage; Be Strong 1 Corinthians 16:13

"Stand up, stand up for Jesus. The trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. Ye that are men, now serve Him, against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose."

by: George Dufield, Jr.

Day by Day

by Lina Sandell

1. Day by day, and with each passing moment,
   Strength I find to meet my trials here;
   Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
   I've no cause for worry or for fear.
   He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
   Gives unto each day what He deems best,
   Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
   Mingling toil with peace and rest.
2. Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
   With a special mercy for each hour;
   All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
   He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
   The protection of His child and treasure
   Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
   "As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
   This the pledge to me He made.
3. Help me then, in every tribulation,
   So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
   That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
   Offered me within Thy holy Word.
   Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
   E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
   One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
   Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

O Church, Arise

Wow, What a Powerful New Hymn.
The lyrics and music are awesome.
(Thank you to Rev. James McDonald for putting this on his blog.
Like Rev. McDonald said, "all it needs is a good tenor to lead.")

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Here is a simple but powerful message in song.

"New" School Year

Last week, after we got unpacked from our vacation, cleaned up the house, we sat down to start a "new" school year. The reason I have new in quotations is because we NEVER stop learning, so our school year never truly has a beginning or ending. We have school seven days a week, 365 days a year. But anyway, we were excited, because we picked up some new books. I found some "old" books that are wonderful. For our language, writing, reading, spelling we are using the McGuffey Readers. The girls really enjoy them. They are fun to read, easy to teach from. We also found a wonderful math program. It is the most practical math program I have found. My girls actually think math is fun now. Before we had many tears and lots of frustration. Now they actually look forward to working in their new book. It is so refreshing to find books that people many years ago used and became successful using them. We are also beginning to learn Latin, with Rosetta Stone. We are also continuing to use our Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home curriculum. Next week, they will begin a class on home finances. They continue to cook, learn new crocheting techniques, sewing, they weekly dehydrate foods, they have learned canning, bread making, etc. But of all these things, we truly love our Worship time that we start our day with. We sing hymns with a cd accompaniment, we work on catechism, read from Proverbs for Parents, and work out of the Joy of Womanhood Bible study. We are also studying Washington State history and geography this year. This is going to be another great time of learning. I am looking forward to all that we will be learning, because as I teach the girls, I learn right along with them.

Lanita's Favorite Hymn

It Is Well With My Soul
by Horatio Spafford

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.