Worth Repeating - We Rest On Thee

We Rest on Thee

"We rest on thee" - our shield and our defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."

Yea, "in thy name," O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear name, all other names above:
Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

"We go" in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."

"We rest on thee" - our shield and our defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors - we rest with Thee, through endless days.

Edith Cherry, ca. 1895

2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Ephesians 6:11-12  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Texas Memories - Sunset Storm of May

 

Beyond the sunset’s radiant glow
There is a brighter world, I know,
Where golden glories ever shine,
Beyond the thought of day’s decline.

Josephine Pollard

Tennessee Memories - Brown Iris

The birds upon the tree tops sing their song;

The angels chant their chorus all day long;

The flowers in the garden blend their hue,

So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you praise Him too?

Author unknown

Iris

The Thousand Word Project - Sweet Flowers Are Blooming

Sweet flowers are blooming in God’s sight,
Created by His word,
Beneath His heav’n of sunny light,
By spring’s quick pulses stirred.

Through sky blue depths the larks do sing:
Their music fills the air;
What is it makes their voices ring
With gladness everywhere?

Matilda B. Stevenson

Engelmann Daisies

Christ Ever Lives

 

Christ Ever Lives

...he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25

Christ ever lives!

What joy th' assurance gives:

He lives, and lives no more to die,

My present portion—future joy —

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul relieves

From all anxiety and fear;

On Him I roll my every care—

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul receives,

And glories in its risen Lord,

Alike on earth, in heaven, adored—

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

This truth my soul believes;

Farewell, then, sorrow, doubt, and woe,

I sing with triumph while below

He ever lives!

Christ ever lives!

And blessed triumph gives,

To all who on Himself rely;

For them upon the throne on high

He ever lives!

Albert Midlane

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 

Deep Are the Wounds that Sin Has Made

 

Deep Are the Wounds

that Sin Has Made

Deep are the wounds that sin has made;

Where shall the sinner find a cure?

In vain, alas, is nature’s aid,

The work exceeds all nature’s power.

Sin like a raging fever reigns,

With fatal strength in every part;

The dire contagion fills the veins,

And spreads its poison to the heart.

And can no sovereign balm be found,

And is no kind physician nigh,

To ease the pain, and heal the wound,

Ere life and hope forever fly?

There is a great Physician near;

Look up, O fainting soul, and live;

See, in His heav’nly smiles appear

Such ease as nature cannot give!

See, in the dying Savior’s blood,

Life, health, and bliss, abundant flow!

’Tis only this dear, sacred flood

Can ease thy pain, and heal thy woe.

Sin throws in vain its pointed dart,

For here a sovereign cure is found,

A cordial for the fainting heart,

A balm for every painful wound.

Anne Steele

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A Secret Sorrow - A Poem

 

A Secret Sorrow

I have a secret sorrow,
A grief deep down inside,
Where large and heavy burdens,
In tiny places hide.

There are no doors nor windows
To meet another's eye,
For no one understands it,
Except my Lord and I.

The times of bitter anguish,
With Him alone I spend,
For in this place of suffering,
He is my only Friend.

And here I fight great battles
With deadly, inner foes;
Yet all the raging conflict,
None other truly knows.

But, oh, what consolations!
What comforts rare and sweet,
Christ gives His careworn children,
Where peace and sorrow meet!

What largeness of security,
To stand within God's hand,
That formed the mighty mountains,
And all the heavens spanned!

To think! The King of glory,
At God's right hand on high,
Is filled with tender pity,
For such a one as I.

By Mary Van Nattan Stephens

Psalm 103:13 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. 

Texas Memories - January Sunset

Evensong is hushed in silence,
And the hour of rest is nigh;
Strengthen us for work tomorrow,
Jesus, Son of God most high!
Thou who in the village workshop,
Fashioning the yoke and plough,
Didst eat bread of daily labor,
Succor them that labor now.

We are weary of life-long toil,
Of sorrow, and pain, and sin;
But there is a city with streets of gold,
And all is peace within.

John Purchas

My Jesus, As Thou Wilt

My Jesus, As Thou Wilt!

My Jesus, as thou wilt!
O may thy will be mine;
Into thy hand of love
I would my all resign.
Through sorrow, or through joy,
Conduct me as thine own;
And help me still to say,
"My Lord, thy will be done."

My Jesus, as thou wilt!
If needy here and poor,
Give me thy people's bread,
Their portion rich and sure.
The manna of thy Word
Let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail,
My Lord, thy will be done.

My Jesus, as thou wilt!
Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope
Grow dim or disappear.
Since thou on earth hast wept,
And sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with thee,
My Lord, thy will be done.

My Jesus, as thou wilt!
All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene
I gladly trust with thee.
Straight to my home above
I travel calmly on,
And sing, in life or death,
"My Lord, thy will be done."

By Benjamin Schmolck
Translated by Jane Borthwick

Luke 22:41-42 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Thousand Word Project - Warm and Comforting

Come in from the cold and cuddle up,
The warmth of home is best.
A warm quilt and warmer cup,
And then a time for rest.

MES

The New Year - A Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

The New Year

Dear Lord, as this new year is born
I give it to Thy hand,
Content to walk by faith what paths
I cannot understand.

Whatever coming days may bring
Of bitter loss, or gain,
Or every crown of happiness;
Should sorrow come, or pain,

Or, Lord, if all unknown to me
Thine angel hovers near
To bear me to that farther shore
Before another year,

It matters not. My hand in Thine,
Thy light upon my face,
Thy boundless strength when I am weak,
Thy love and saving grace!

I only ask, loose not my hand,
Grip fast my soul, and be
My guiding light upon the path
Till, blind no more, I see!

Martha Snell Nicholson

Psalm 17:5-7 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee...

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

Comfort My People

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 

He's Helping Me Now

He's helping me now--this moment,

Though I may not see it or hear,

Perhaps by a friend far distant,

Perhaps by a stranger near,

Perhaps by a spoken message

Perhaps by the printed word;

In ways that I know and know not

I have the help of the Lord.

He's keeping me now--this moment,

However I need it most,

Perhaps by a single angel,

Perhaps by a mighty host,

Perhaps by the chain that frets me,

Or the walls that shut me in;

In ways that I know or know not

He keeps me from harm and sin.

He's guiding me now--this moment,

In pathways easy or hard,

Perhaps by a door wide open,

Perhaps by a door fast barred,

Perhaps by a joy withholden

Perhaps by a gladness given;

In ways that I know and know not,

He's leading me up to heaven.

He's using me now--this moment,

And whether I go or stand,

Perhaps by a plan accomplished

Perhaps when he stays my hand,

Perhaps by a word in season

Perhaps by a silent prayer;

In ways that I know and know not,

His labor of love I share.

--Annie Johnson Flint

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Thank and Praise Jehovah's Name

Thank and Praise Jehovah's Name

Thank and Praise Jehovah’s Name;
For His mercies, firm and sure,
From eternity the same
To eternity endure.

Let the ransomed thus rejoice,
Gathered out of every land,
As the people of His choice,
Plucked from the destroyer’s hand.

Let the elders praise the Lord,
Him let all the people praise,
When they meet with one accord,
In His courts on holy days.

Praise Him, ye who know His love;
Praise Him from the depths beneath;
Praise Him in the heights above;
Praise your Maker all that breathe.

For His truth and mercy stand,
Past, and present, and to be,
Like the years of His right hand—
Like His own eternity.

- James Mountain

Revelation 7:11-12  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Texas Memories - Golden Rod and Liatris

 

The golden-rod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orchards
With fruit are bending down.
The gentian's bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
In dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.
The sedges flaunt their harvest,
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook.

Excerpt from September by Helen Hunt Jackson

Summer - A Poem

Summer

The long, long days of summer,

The sunny days are here;

The ripening grain is bending,

The air is soft and clear.

O God, Thy tender mercies

Like evening dews descend;

Thou givest rain and sunshine,

On Thee our hopes depend.

The glowing heat at noontide,

The hush of evening’s calm,

Remind us of Thy presence,

To Thee we raise our psalm.

In life’s fair summer weather,

Oh, may we look to Thee;

And when the storms o’ertake us,

Our refuge Thou shalt be.

Julia H. Johnston

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 74:16-18 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Summer Suns Are Glowing

 

Summer suns are glowing

Over land and sea;

Happy light is flowing,

Bountiful and free;

Everything rejoices

In the mellow rays;

Earth’s ten thousand voices

Swell the psalm of praise.

God’s free mercy streameth

Over all the world,

And His banner gleameth,

By His church unfurled;

Broad and deep and glorious,

As the heaven above,

Shines in might victorious

His eternal love.

Lord, upon our blindness

Thy pure radiance pour;

For Thy lovingkindness

We would love Thee more;

And when clouds are drifting

Dark across the sky,

Then, the veil uplifting,

Father, be Thou nigh.

We will never doubt Thee,

Though Thou veil Thy light;

Life is dark without Thee,

Death with Thee is bright;

Light of light, shine o’er us

On our pilgrim way;

Go Thou still before us

To the endless day.

William W. How

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Psalm 4:6  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Isaiah 60:1-2  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Tennessee Memories - Spectacular Evening

From every stormy wind that blows,

From every swelling tide of woes,

There is a calm, a sure retreat:

'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

Hugh Stowell

Worth Repeating - On Calvary We've Adoring Stood

On Calvary We've Adoring Stood

On Calvary we've adoring stood,

And gazed on that wondrous cross

Where the holy, spotless, Lamb of God

Was slain in His love for us;

How our hearts have stirred at that solemn cry,

While the sun was enwrapt in night,

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

Most blessed, most awful sight.

Our sins were laid on His sacred head,

The curse by our Lord was borne;

For us a victim our Saviour bled,

And endured that death of scorn;

Himself He gave our poor hearts to win--

(Was ever love, Lord, like Thine!)

From the paths of folly, and shame, and sin,

And fill them with joys divine.

We've watched by the tomb where our Saviour lay

When he entered the gloomy grave;

And by death the power of death might slay

And His lambs from the lion save.

Oh! glorious time when the Victor rose!

He liveth, no more to die;

He hath bruised the head of our mighty foes,

For us was His victory!

The gates of heaven are opened wide,

At His name all the angels bow;

The Son of man who was crucified

Is the King of glory now:

We love to look up and behold Him there,

The Lamb for His chosen slain;

And soon shall His saints all His glories share,

With their Head and their Lord to reign.

And now we draw near to the throne of grace,

For His blood and the Priest are there;

And we joyfully seek God's holy face,

With our censer of praise and prayer.

The burning mount and the mystic veil,

With our terrors and guilt, are gone;

Our conscience has peace that can never fail,

'Tis the Lamb on high on the throne.

By James G. Deck, 1807- 1884

From Hymns For the Little Flock, No. 212

Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Suffering and Rest

Suffering and Rest

My Saviour! I can think of Thee,
And rest upon Thy Name,
Through changing scenes Thou leadest me
But Thou art still the same.
When I am feebler than a child,
Too faint to lift a cry,
Thy strength is with me all the while,
I know that Thou art nigh.

O precious Lord! I hear Thy voice,
In accents soft and sweet,
When wearied is my aching head,
And worn my willing feet.
I lay me down in peace and sleep,
In safety I abide,
My hand in Thine, Thou still dost keep,
Thou'rt watching by my side.

Lord Jesus! it is sweet to pause
And be alone with Thee,
To feel, shut out from all beside,
That Thou art all to me.
'Tis joy to know Thou wilt complete
The work Thou hast begun,
And Oh! how comforting and sweet
The rest when work is done.

by Hannah K. Burlingham

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

New Year, Same God

As we begin a new year there is comfort in knowing that our lives and our futures are safe in the hands of Almighty God. We have no need to fear if we are His own children in Jesus Christ. The way ahead may look cloudy and uncertain, the questions may arise often as to how things will go. He is not limited by that. He is already there, working for our good and His glory. He is the same unchanging God He has always been.

 

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not...

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: