... keeping me in peace.




Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

[i]Refrain[/i]

[i]Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me,
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
Praise his name![/i]

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching a mighty host,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

[i]Refrain[/i]

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

[i]Refrain[/i]



[url=http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=839]http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=839[/url]



(NKJV) Ephesians 2: 8 - 18
For [b]by grace you have been saved through faith[/b], and that not of yourselves; [b]it is the gift of God, not of works[/b], lest anyone should boast. [u]For we are [b]His[/b] workmanship, [b]created[/b] in Christ Jesus for good works[/u], which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [b]But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ[/b].

For [b]He Himself is our peace[/b], who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, [b]having abolished in His flesh the enmity[/b], that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and [b]that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity[/b]. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. [b]For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to [u]the[/u] Father[/b].

... drawing me into His love and His family...... melting my hard heart a little more.



My stubborn will at last hath yielded;
[b]I would be Thine, and Thine alone,
And this the prayer my lips are bringing,
"Lord, let in me Thy will be done[/b]."

[i]Refrain[/i]

[i][b]Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee[/b];
Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee. [/i]

I'm tired of sin, footsore and weary,
The darksome path hath dreary grown,
[b]But now a light has ris'n to cheer me;
I find in Thee my Star, my Sun[/b].

[i]Refrain[/i]

Thy precious will, O conqu'ring Savior,
Doth now embrace and compass me;
All discords hushed, my peace a river,
[b]My soul a prisoned bird set free[/b].

[i]Refrain[/i]

Shut in with Thee, O Lord, for[b]ever[/b],
My wayward feet no more to roam;
[b]What pow'r from Thee my soul can sever?
The center of God's will my home[/b].

[i]Refrain[/i]



[url=http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=383]http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=383[/url]



(NKJV) John 9:35 - 41
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, [b]"[u]Do you believe in the Son of God?[/u]"

He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" [/b] And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." [b]Then he said, "[u]Lord, I believe[/u]!" And he worshipped Him[/b].

And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."

[u]Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard[/u] these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"

[b]Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains[/b].

... continuing to deliver me from all my fears.



Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life's storm and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee!

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee!

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the joy and pleasure, Thine own,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the flock Thy love doth enfold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee!



[url=http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=1050]http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=1050[/url]



(NKJV) Isaiah 40:28 - 31
[b]Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint[/b].

Malachi 3:1 - 3
"Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Malachi 4:2
[b]But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings[/b]...

... continuing to communicate His love to me



MEET and right it is to praise
God, the giver of all grace,
God, whose mercies are bestowed
On the evil and the good;
He prevents his creatures' call,
Kind and merciful to all;
Makes his sun on sinners rise,
Showers his blessings from the skies.

Least of all thy creatures, we
Daily thy salvation see;
As by heavenly manna fed,
Through a world of dangers led;
Through a wilderness of cares;
Through ten thousand thousand snares,
More than now our hearts conceive,
More than we could know, and live!

Here, as in the lion's den,
Undevoured we still remain;
Pass secure the watery flood,
Hanging on the arm of God;
Here we raise our voices higher,
Shout in the refiner's fire,
Clap our hands amidst the flame,
Glory give to Jesu's name.

Jesu's name in Satan's hour
Stands our adamantine tower;
Jesus doth his own defend,
Love, and save us to the end.
Love shall make us persevere
Till our conquering Lord appear,
Bear us to our thrones above,
Crown us with his heavenly love.



Tune: Onida
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/l/w/hlwtrecv.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/l/w/hlwtrecv.htm[/url]

Tune: Oakham
[url=http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/ss/meter/8.7.8.7.D.]http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/ss/meter/8.7.8.7.D.[/url]

Tune: Trusting Jesus (by Ira Sankey)
[url=http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Trusting_Jesus/score/]http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Trusting_Jesus/score/[/url]

Tune: Stanley
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/e/heisgone.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/e/heisgone.htm[/url]



(NKVJ) John 10: 30 - 42
"[b]I and My Father are one[/b]."
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '? "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, [b]though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him[/b]."

Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but [b]all the things that John spoke about this Man were true[/b]."

And many believed in Him there.

... the peace by which He confirms His word to our hearts




'Tis the Church triumphant singing
Worthy the Lamb!
Heaven throughout with praises singing,
Worthy the Lamb!
Thrones and powers before Him bending
Odours sweet with voice ascending
Swell the chorus never-ending
Worthy the Lamb!

Every kindred, tongue and nation,
Worthy the Lamb!
Join to sing the great salvation
Worthy the Lamb!
Loud as mighty thunders roaring,
Floods of mighty waters pouring,
Prostrate at His feet adoring,
Worthy the Lamb!

Harps and songs for ever sounding
Worthy the Lamb!
Mighty Grace o'er sin abounding,
Worthy the Lamb!
By His blood He dearly bought us,
Wand'ring from the fold He sought,
And to glory safely brought us;
Worthy the Lamb!

Sing with blest anticipation
Worthy the Lamb!
Through the vale of tribulation
Worthy the Lamb!
Sweetest notes, all notes excelling,
On the theme for ever dwelling
Still untold though ever telling
Worthy the Lamb!



Tune: Welsh Air
[url=http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=0181]http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=0181[/url]



(NKJV) John 10:1 - 5
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But [b]he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep[/b]. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and [b]the sheep follow him, for they know his voice[/b]. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Hi everyone.

I would like to thank God for this report I saw today. One of our brothers in Pakistan was recently released from prison after 5 years. He had been falsely accused of blasphemy.

The story is here at Voice of the Martyrs

http://www.persecution.com/news/index.cfm?action=fullstory&newsID=396

I also would like to thank God for His grace in my life and for the prayers I believe I have had from people here at SI.

Peace be with you all.

He is risen. He is Lord.

_________________
Christopher Joel Dandrow

... illuminating my understanding



Matthew 27:40
and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the [b]Son of God[/b], come down from the cross."

Mark 15:30
"[b]save Yourself[/b], and come down from the cross!"

Luke 23:37
and saying, "If You are [b]the King of the Jews[/b], save Yourself."

Luke 23:39
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the [b]Christ, save Yourself [u]and us[/u][/b]."

(KJV) Psalm 22:16 - 21
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

John 19:28 - 30
[b]After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, [u]that the Scripture might be fulfilled[/u], said, "I thirst!"[/b] Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put on hyssop, and put to His mouth. [b]So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!"[/b] And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (NKJV)


Psalm 22:22
[b]I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.[/b]


"CHRIST, the Lord, is risen to-day,"
Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say!
Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high:
Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens; thou earth, reply.
Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done;
Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Alleluia!
Lo! the sun's eclipse is o'er,
Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more!
Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell:
Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise,
Alleluia!
Christ hath opened Paradise.
Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King!
Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save;
Alleluia!
Where's thy vict’ry, boasting grave
Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led,
Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head:
Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise,
Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
Alleluia!

King of glory! Soul of bliss!
Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this,
Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove,
Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love.
Alleluia!



Tune: Easter Hymn (Jesus Christ is risen today)
[url=http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal7.htm ]http://www.113.d2g.com/orange-pages/hymnal7.htm [/url]

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

... there is nothing higher than worshipping Him... it is there that we [i]know[/i] Him.



(NKJV) Matthew 4:8 - 11
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." [b]Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "[/b]

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.


John 11:1 - 4, 11 - 15, 20 - 27, 32 - 46
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." When Jesus heard, He said, [b]"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."[/b]

after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. [b]Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.[/b] "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." [b]Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"[/b] [u]She said to Him, "[b]Yes, Lord, I believe[/b] that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."[/u]

Then, [b]when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet[/b], saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" [u]And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?[/u]"

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. [b]Jesus said, "Take away the stone."[/b] Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been [dead] four days." [b]Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone[/b] from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. "And I know that You always hear Me, but [b]because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.[/b]"

Now when He had said these things, [b]He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" [u]And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes[/u], and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."[/b]

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.



Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Saviour;
waiting the coming day,
Jesus, my Lord.

[i]Refrain

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives for ever with His saints to reign:
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose![/i]

Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus, my Saviour;
vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord.

[i]Refrain[/i]

Death cannot keep his prey,
Jesus, my Saviour,
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord.

[i]Refrain[/i]



Tune: Christ Arose
[url=http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=0123]http://www.hymnal.net/cgi-bin/hymns/index?t=h&n=0123[/url]

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

... more light, more love and continuing to unbind my graveclothes.



(NKJV) John 10:16 [Jesus said]
"And [b]other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I [u]must[/u] bring, and they will [u]hear My voice[/u]; and there [u]will be[/u] one flock, one shepherd[/b].

John 11:47 - 53
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year [b]he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and [u]not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God[/u] who were scattered abroad[/b]. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.



The Head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor's brow.

The highest place that heav'n affords
Is His, is His by right,
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And heav'n's eternal Light:

The Joy of all who dwell above,
The Joy of all below
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His Name to know.

To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is giv'n;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of heav'n.

They suffer with their Lord below,
They reign with Him above;
Their profit and their joy to know
The myst'ry of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to him;
His people's hope, His people's wealth,
Their everlasting theme.



Tune: St Magnus (Nottingham)
[url=http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=691]http://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=691[/url]

[url=http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/thtowcwt.htm]http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/thtowcwt.htm[/url]

Tune: Schuler
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000290.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0002/x000290.htm[/url]

[i]Refrain (for Schuler only)

I know that my Redeemer lives!
I know that my Redeemer lives!
I know He lives, my Redeemer lives!
I know He lives, my Redeemer lives![/i]



Romans 8:28 - 32
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are [b]the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified[/b].

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who [b]did [u]not[/u] spare His own Son[/b], but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

1 John 4:19
We love Him because He first loved us.

... Encouragement from the Lord through a sister when I needed it the most! :-)