Brightest and Best

Low at His feet we in humble prostration
Lose all our trouble and sorrow and strife;
There we receive His divine consolation,
Flowing afresh from the fountain of life.

He is our Friend in the midst of temptation,
Faithful supporter whose love cannot fail,
Rock of our refuge, and Hope of salvation,
Light to direct us through death's gloomy vale.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Reginald Heber 1783-1826

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold,
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by his nail-pierced hand--

I've been thinking lately about "Jesus and..."  Am I like that?  Do I need a value-added Savior in order to be content?

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name--

The list above contains earthly things, but I could make a spiritual list... Jesus and a commercial-free Christmas, Jesus and like-minded friends, Jesus and a loving family.  Is Jesus enough if I am forced to live in a world that rejects Him?  I know He is, but do I believe it?

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead--

I have many of these other things, but am I willing to lose them and still worship Christ?

Christ is enough.  I believe it.  I haven't had much testing, though.  I pray that, whatever the future holds, the Lord will teach me that His grace is sufficient.

(Lyrics from "I'd Rather Have Jesus", written by Rhea F. Miller, 1894-1966.)

Others

"Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee."

Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others. 

Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true;
And know that all I'd do for you
Must needs be done for others. 

Let Self be crucified and slain,
And buried deep; and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again,
Unless to live for others. 

And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heav'n's begun,
May I forget the race I've run,
And praise my Lord with others. 

--C.D. Meigs

The Child of Grace

How happy's ev'ry child of grace,
That feels his sins forgiv'n!
This earth, he cries, is not my place,
I seek a place in heav'n:
A country far from mortal sight;
Yet oh! by faith I see
The land of rest, the saints' delight,
A heav'n prepared for me.

A stranger in this world below,
I only sojourn here,
Nor can its happiness or woe
Provoke my hope or  fear;
Its evils in a moment end,
Its joys as soon are past;
But oh! the bliss to which I tend,
Eternally shall last.

To that Jerusalem above,
With singing I'd repair,
While in this vale, in hope and love,
My longing heart is there.
Shall I regret to leave my friends
Here in this world confined?
To Christ, the Lord, my soul ascends;
Farewell to all behind!

O, what a blessed hope is ours,
While here on earth we stay!
We more than taste the heav'nly pow'rs,
And antedate that day.
We feel the resurrection near,
Our life in Christ concealed;
And with His glorious presence here
Our longing hearts are filled.

When He shall more of heav'n bestow,
And bid my soul remove,
And let my trembling spirit go
To meet the God I love,
With rapturous awe on Him I'll gaze,
Who died to set me free,
And sing and shout redeeming grace
In vast eternity!

--Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Ten Thousand Thousand Precious Gifts

I started reading One Thousand Gifts this weekend.  A stanza from the hymn, "Tender Care," sung by loved ones in my very first church, has echoed in my mind since yesterday evening.  I pray for that cheerful heart.

When all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I’m lost
In wonder, love and praise.

Thy Providence my life sustained,
And all my wants redressed,
While in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learned
To form themselves in prayer.

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From Whom those comforts flowed.

When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently cleared my way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravished heart?
But thou canst read it there.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Hath made my cup run o’er;
And, in a kind and faithful Friend,
Hath doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the last a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.

When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou
With health renewed my face;
And, when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I’ll pursue
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide Thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity to Thee
A joyful song I’ll raise;
For, oh, eternity’s too short
To utter all Thy praise!

--Joseph Addison (first published in The Spectator, 1712)

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his arms he'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Saviour, thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded
There will be no need for prayer;
Rapture, praise and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

--Joseph M. Scriven 1819-1886

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,
The motion of a hidden fire,
That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains can reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gate of death--
He enters heav'n with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

No prayer is made by man alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus on th'eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

O Thou by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.

--James Montgomery 1771-1854

Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend,
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinner's dying Friend.
Here I'll sit, forever viewing
Mercy streaming in His blood:
Precious drops my soul bedewing,
Plead and claim my peace with God.

Truly blessed is this station
Low before His cross to lie,
While I see divine compassion
Floating in His gracious eye.
Here it is I find my heaven,
While upon the Lamb I gaze;
Love I much-- I've much forgiven;
I'm a miracle of grace.

Love and grief my heart dividing,
With my tears His feet I bathe;
Constant still in faith abiding,
Life reviving from His death.
May I still enjoy this feeling,
In all need to Jesus go,
Prove His wounds each day more healing,
And Himself more deeply know.

--James Allen (1734-1804)

O Thou from whom all goodness flows,
I lift my heart to Thee;
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me.

When groaning on my burdened heart
My sins lie heavily,
Thy pardon speak, new peace impart,
In love remember me.

Temptations sore obstruct my way,
And ills I cannot flee;
O, give me strength, Lord, as my day,
For good remember me.

Distrest with pain, disease and grief,
This feeble body see;
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief;
Hear and remember me.

If on my face for Thy dear name,
Shame and reproaches be,
All hail reproach, and welcome shame,
If Thou remember me.

--Thomas Haweis (1734-1820)

Unity and Fellowship

Kindred in Christ for His dear sake,
A hearty welcome here receive;
May we together now partake
The joys which only He can give.

May He, by whose kind care we meet
Send His good Spirit from above,
Make our communications sweet
And cause our hearts to burn with love.

Forgotten be each worldly theme,
When Christians meet together thus,
We only wish to speak of Him
Who lived, and died, and reigns for us.

We'll talk of all He did, and said,
And suffered for us here below,
The path He marked for us to tread
And what He's doing for us now.

Thus, as the moments pass away,
We'll love and wonder and adore
And hasten on that glorious day
When we shall meet to part no more.

--John Newton (1725-1807)

Looking Up

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
of the mountains I can't climb

I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
of the oceans raging wild

I will lift my eyes to the Healer
of the hurt I hold inside

I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You.

--Bebo Norman

Star in the East

Aravis selected this in church yesterday. The words are just gorgeous. Our song leader encouraged us to sing the whole thing, saying, "We don't have to be in a hurry." Exactly. Let's settle in and soak up the meaning of Christ coming to Earth.

Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator,
Down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger,
Lo, for His guard the bright angels attend.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him, in slumbers reclining,
Wise men and shepherds before Him will fall.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden, and off'rings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Vainly we offer each earthly oblation,
Vainly with gold we His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Low at His feet we in humble prostration
Lose all our trouble and sorrow and strife;
There we receive His divine consolation,
Flowing afresh from the fountain of life.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

He is our Friend in the midst of temptation,
Faithful supporter Whose love cannot fail,
Rock of our refuge, and Hope of salvation,
Light to direct us thru death's gloomy vale.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Star of the morning, thy brightness, declining,
Shortly must fade when the sun doth arise;
Beaming, refulgent, His glory eternal
Shines on the children of love in the skies.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning!
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizons adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

In my mind tonight, I hear Aunt Essie singing this:

When overwhelmed with doubts and fears,
Great God, do Thou my spirit cheer;
Let not my eyes with tears be fed,
But to the Rock of Ages led.

When storms of sin and sorrow beat,
Lead me to this divine retreat:
Thy perfect righteousness and blood,
My Rock, my Fortress and my God.

When guilt lies heavy on my soul,
And waves of fierce temptation roll,
I'll to the Rock for shelter flee,
And take my refuge, Lord, in Thee.

When called the vale of death to tread,
Then to this Rock may I be led;
Nor fear to cross the gloomy sea,
Since Thou hast tasted death for me.

-- Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

--William Williams, 1745

Green Fields

How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see!
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flow'rs
Have all lost their sweetness to me!
The midsummer sun shines but dim
The fields strive in vain to look gay
But when I am happy in Him
December's as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume
And sweeter than music his voice
His presence disperses my gloom
And bids all within me rejoice
I should, were he always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear
No mortal as happy as I
My summer would last all the year

Content with beholding his face
My all to his presence resigned
No changes of season or place
Would make any change in my mind
While blessed with a sense of his love
A palace, a toy would appear
And prisons would palaces prove
If Jesus would dwell with me there!

--John Newton

Blest are the Sons of Peace

Blest are the sons of peace,
Whose hearts and hopes are one;
Whose kind designs to serve and please,
Through all their actions run.

Blest is the pious house,
Where zeal and friendship meet;
Their songs of praise, their mingled vows,
Make their communion sweet.

Thus, when on Aaron's head,
They poured the rich perfume;
The oil through all his garments spread,
And pleasure filled the room.

Thus on the heavenly hills,
The saints are blessed above;
Where joy like morning dew distils,
And all the air is love.

--Isaac Watts

No More, My God

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. --Isaiah 6:5

No more, my God! I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done;
I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of Thy Son.

Now for the love I bear His name,
What was my gain I count my loss,
My former pride I call my shame,
And nail my glory to His cross.

Yes, and I must and will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus' sake;
Oh! may my soul be found in Him,
And of His righteousness partake.

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne,
But faith can answer Thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done.

--Unknown

To Our Weakness No Stranger

The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

from "O Holy Night", written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure (translated by John Sullivan Dwight)

Reminds me of Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

In The Bleak Midwinter

This poem has been continually in my thoughts this month. My favorite singing version of it is by Jars of Clay-- just the right tempo, straightforward, understated vocal technique, nothing to detract from the beauty of the words:

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

--Christina Rossetti

I Am Made Worthy

An unworthy sinner
Is all that I am
But I am made worthy
By the blood of the Lamb.

from a song by the Primitive Quartet