... being disturbed by the moving of His Spirit, as by the wind which comes and goes as it will.




O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels;

[i]Refrain

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord[/i].

God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created;

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above,
‘Glory to God
In the highest’:


[i]For Christmas Day[/i]

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given:
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;


Tune: Adeste Fideles (choice of settings)

[url=http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh234.sht]http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh234.sht[/url]

[url=http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/adeste_fideles.htm ]http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/adeste_fideles.htm [/url]

[url=http://www.billysloan.co.uk/songs/o_come_all_ye_faithful.html]http://www.billysloan.co.uk/songs/o_come_all_ye_faithful.html[/url]




[i]And it came to pass in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child[/i].

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

[i]Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this [will be] the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"[/i]

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

[i]Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them[/i].

(NKJV) Luke 2:1 - 20

... Jesus, and how He always spoke the word given by His Father - our Father - words which will never pass away.




[b]Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Savior of the world was born.
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above,
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the virgin’s Son.

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard th’angelic herald’s voice, “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Savior’s birth
To you and all the nations of the earth;
This day hath God fulfilled His promised Word;
This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.”

He spoke; and straightaway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And Heav’n’s whole orb with alleluias rang.
God’s highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace on the earth and unto men good will.

To Bethl’hem straight th’enlightened shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessèd maid,
Her Son, the Savior, in a manger laid;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts with holy rapture burn.

Like Mary let us ponder in our mind
God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross,
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man’s first heav’nly state again takes place.

Then may we hope, th’angelic hosts among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song.
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display.
Saved by His love, incessantly we sing
Eternal praise to Heav’n’s almighty King[/b].




Tune: Yorkshire
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000264.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000264.htm[/url]




[i]There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"

Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [/i][Num 21: 6 - 9][i], even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

[b]For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God[/b].

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practising evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.[/i]"

(NKJV) John 3:1 - 21

... His word to my heart.




HARK the herald-angels sing
"Glory to the new-born King,
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal Nature say,
"Christ the Lord, is born today!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus our Immanuel here.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Let us Thee, though, lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the Inner Man;
O! to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours and ours to Thine.
Adam's likeness now efface,
Stamp thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.



Tune: Mendelssohn
[url=http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh240.sht]http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh240.sht[/url]




(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 22

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Therefore, whether I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up -- if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

... mild weather, Christmas food and more of His word to my heart.



By cool Siloam's shady rill
how fair the lily grows!
How sweet the breath, beneath the hill,
of Sharon's dewy rose!

Lo! such the child whose early feet
the paths of peace have trod,
whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
is upward drawn to God.

By cool Siloam's shady rill
the lily must decay;
the rose that blooms beneath the hill
must shortly fade away.

O thou, whose infant feet were found
within thy Father's shrine,
whose years with changeless virtue crowned,
were all alike divine.

Dependent on thy bounteous breath,
we seek thy grace alone,
in childhood, manhood, age, and death
to keep us still thine own.



Tune: Belmont
[url=http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/tiaffwb2.htm]http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/tiaffwb2.htm[/url]



Psalm 5:1 To the Chief Musician. With flutes.
A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.


Psalm 8:1 To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath.
A Psalm of David.

O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 [b]Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained [u]strength[/u],
Because of Your enemies,
[i]That You may silence the enemy and the avenger[/i][/b].
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?


Psalm 9:1 To the Chief Musician. To [the tune of] "Death of the Son."
A Psalm of David.

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

7 But the LORD shall endure forever;
He has prepared His throne for judgment.
8 He shall judge the world in righteousness,
And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
[b]For You, LORD, have not forsaken [u]those who seek[/u] You[/b].
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
Declare His deeds among the people.
12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy on me, O LORD!
Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
[b]You who lift me up from the gates of death,
[/b]14[b] That I may tell of all Your praise
In the gates of the daughter of Zion[/b].
I [i]will[/i] rejoice in Your salvation.

(NKJV)

... the good of His word and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, in changing circumstances.




Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness,
Pierce the clouds of sinful night;
Come, O source of sweetest gladness,
Breathe your life and spread your light.

[i]Loving Spirit, God of peace,
Great distributor of grace,
Rest upon this congregation;
Hear, O hear our supplication[/i].

From that height which knows no measure,
As a gracious shower descend;
Bringing down the richest treasure
Man can wish or God can send.

[i]Heavenly Glory, shining down
From the Father and the Son,
Grant us your illumination;
Rest upon this congregation[/i].

Come, O best of all donations
God can give or we implore;
Having your sweet consolations
We need wish for nothing more.

[i]Come with unction and with power,
On our souls your graces shower;
Author of the new creation,
Make our hearts your habitation[/i].



[i]Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)
tr. by John Christian Jacobi (1670-1750)
and Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778)[/i]


Tune: Coblentz
[url=http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/hgdos.htm]http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/hgdos.htm[/url]
[i]Louis Bourgeois (1510-1561)[/i]


(NKJV) Ezra 1:1 - 3
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. [b]Who among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem[/b]'.

Ezra 3:1 - 5 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel in the cities, [b]the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem[/b].

Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, [b]they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, the morning and evening burnt offerings[/b].

They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as written, and the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, [b]and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD[/b].

Then Jeshua, his sons and brothers, Kadmiel, his sons, and the sons of Judah, [b]arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God[/b]: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and [b]giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid[/b].

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. [b]Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and [u]the sound was heard afar off[/u][/b]. :-D

... giving me strength and grace when I needed them, and for fellowship with brethren.



Head of Thy Church triumphant,
We joyfully adore Thee;
Till Thou appear,
Thy members here
Shall sing like those in glory.
We lift our hearts and voices
With blest anticipation,
And cry aloud, and give to God
The praise of our salvation.

While in affliction’s furnace,
And passing through the fire,
Thy love we praise,
which knows our days,
And ever brings us nigher.
We clap our hands exulting
In Thine almighty favor;
The love divine which made us Thine
Shall keep us Thine for ever.

Thou dost conduct Thy people
Through torrents of temptation,
Nor will we fear,
while Thou art near,
The fire of tribulation.
The world with sin and Satan
In vain our march opposes,
Through Thee we shall break through them all,
And sing the song of Moses.

By faith we see the glory
To which Thou shalt restore us,
The cross despise
for that high prize
Which Thou hast set before us.
And if Thou count us worthy,
We each, as dying Stephen,
Shall see Thee stand at God’s right hand,
To take us up to Heaven.



Tune: Lostwithiel [i]not available online[/i].



(NKJV) Daniel 3:14 - 30
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who [is] the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

"Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here."

Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because [b]there is no other God who can deliver like this[/b]." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

... leading me on - hearing my cries, comforting my soul and body with His life - for the gentle entreaties of His love.




The Lord is King! lift up thy voice,
O earth; and all ye heavens, rejoice!
From world to world the joy shall ring,
'The Lord omnipotent is King!'

The Lord is King! who then shall dare
Resist His will, distrust his care,
Or murmur at His wise decrees,
Or doubt His royal promises?

The Lord is King! Child of the dust,
The Judge of the all the earth is just;
Holy and true are all His ways;
Let every creature speak His praise.

He reigns! ye saints, exalt your strains;
Your God is King, your Father reigns;
And He is at the Father's side,
The Man of love, the Crucified.

Come, make your wants, your burdens known;
He will present them at the throne;
And angel bands are waiting there
His messages of love to bear.

One Lord, one empire, all secures;
He reigns, and life and death are yours;
Through earth and heaven one song shall ring,
'The Lord Omnipotent is King!'




Tune: Church Triumphant (First list, 4th last)
[url=http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal6.htm]http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal6.htm[/url]

[url=http://www.billysloan.co.uk/songs/on_jordans_bank_the_baptists_cry.html]http://www.billysloan.co.uk/songs/on_jordans_bank_the_baptists_cry.html[/url]



Psalm 27
4 [b]One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple[/b].
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; [b]he shall set me up upon a rock[/b].
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will [b]I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD[/b].

1 Peter 2
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you should show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:

Psalm 134
1 Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD,
Who serve by night in the house of the LORD !
2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary
And bless the LORD.

Psalm 23
1The LORD my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me -
your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies:
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6 [i][b]Surely[/b][/i] goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD [b]for ever[/b].

... answers to prayer for practical things and, the increase of His kingdom.

Luke 1: 24 - 38
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 'Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.'

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women'. And when she saw, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, 'Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and [b]he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end'[/b].

Then said Mary unto the angel, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?'

And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible'.

And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word'. And the angel departed from her.



Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing,
[b]And triumph evermore[/b];
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains
He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand
Till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command,
And fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He all His foes shall quell,
Shall all our sins destroy,
And every bosom swell
With pure seraphic joy;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up
To their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!



Tune: Gopsal
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0011/x001113.htm ]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0011/x001113.htm [/url]

... giving an opportunity to share testimony of some of His deepest workings, in my past.



My Jesus, my Saviour, Lord there is none like you!
All of my days, I long to praise, the wonders of your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength,
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship you!
Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing! Power and majesty praise to the King!
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name!
I sing for Joy at the works of Your hands. Forever I’ll love you forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you!



Tune: 2nd last 'M' in alphabetical list
[url=http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal5.htm]http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal5.htm[/url]



[i]1 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;
And to You the vow shall be performed.
2 O You who hear prayer,
To You all flesh will come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions,
You will provide atonement for them.
4 Blessed is the man You choose,
And cause to approach You,
That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,
O God of our salvation,
The confidence of all the ends of the earth,
And of the far-off seas;
6 Who established the mountains by His strength,
Being clothed with power;
7 You who still the noise of the seas,
The noise of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples.
8 They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs;
You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.
9 You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
10 You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
And the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;
The valleys also are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, they also sing.[/i]

(NKJV) Psalm 65

... peace in my soul, for answers to prayer, for hope, healing and faith.



How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In every condition, -- in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, --
The Lord, the Almighty, they strength e'er shall be.

"Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

E'en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!"



Tune: How firm a foundation (click on music to listen)
[url=http://www.clparker.com/SH/shbook/shbk16.html]http://www.clparker.com/SH/shbook/shbk16.html[/url]



(NKJV) 1 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor in deceit. [b]But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts[/b].

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness -- God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing [mother] cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but [b]also our own lives, because you had become dear to us[/b]. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for [u]laboring night and day[/u], that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, [u]the word of God, which also [b]effectively works in you who believe[/b][/u]. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. [b]For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost[/b].

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you -- even I, Paul, time and again -- but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also [to see] you -- therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

2 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

[b]Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified [u]in you, and you in Him[/u], according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ[/b].