Hymns #26 - Blest Is the Man, Forever Blest

This old hymn by Isaac Watts (Psalms of David, 1719) goes well with our Bible reading this week, which included Psalm 51.

Blest Is the Man, Forever Blest

Blest is the man, forever blest,
Whose guilt is pardoned by his God;
Whose sins with sorrow are confessed,
And covered with his Savior’s blood.

Blest is the man to whom the Lord
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
And not on works, but grace relies.

From guile his heart and lips are free;
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith sincere.

How glorious is that righteousness
That hides and cancels all his sins,
While a bright evidence of grace
Through his whole life appears and shines!

Hymns #25 - The Bible Stands

The Bible Stands

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

Refrain

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

The Bible stands like a mountain towering
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

Refrain

The Bible stands and it will forever,
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

Refrain

The Bible stands every test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove and to make it mine.

Refrain

(Words by Haldor Lillenas)

Hymns #24 - Meeting in the Air (Happy Birthday, Mom!)

Happy 78th Birthday, Mom!  This will be your best ever as you celebrate it with Jesus in heaven!

Meeting in the Air

How it thrills our hearts with rapture
As we feel the hour is nigh,
When the voice of the archangel
Shall resound throughout the sky,
And the dead in Christ, upspringing,
With the living saints shall be
Caught away from all earth’s shadows
To a glad eternity!

Refrain

O the meeting in the air!
O the meeting in the air,
With the blessèd King of glory
In our bridal garments fair!
O the meeting in the air!
O the meeting in the air,
With the loved ones and the lost ones
Evermore united there!

Oft the weary miles divide us
From the friends we cherish so,
And the look from eyes that love us—
How we miss where’er we go!
And sometimes the grave has hidden
One whose face was very dear—
O what joy once more to meet them
When the Master shall appear!

Refrain

O the hope of His appearing—
How it lights the dreary way,
How it girds our souls with courage
For the “little while” we stay!
For it cannot be much longer
Till the Bridegroom calls us home;
Surely, surely He comes quickly!
Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

Refrain

(Words by Daniel B. Towner)

Hymns #23 - In the Sweet By and By

In the Sweet By and By

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain

In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Refrain

To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.

Refrain

(Words by Sanford F. Bennett)

Hymns #22 - The Unclouded Day

The Unclouded Day

O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.

Refrain

O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded day,
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away,
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.

Refrain

O they tell me of a King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.

Refrain

O they tell me that He smiles on His children there,
And His smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again
In that lovely land of unclouded day.

Refrain

(Words by Josiah K. Alwood)

Hymns #21 - Beyond This Land of Parting

Beyond This Land of Parting

Beyond this land of parting, losing and leaving,
Far beyond the losses, darkening this,
And far beyond the taking and the bereaving
Lies the summer land of bliss.

Refrain

Land beyond, so fair and bright!
Land beyond, where is no night!
Summer land, God is its Light.
O happy summer land of bliss.

Beyond this land of toiling, sowing and reaping,
Far beyond the shadows, darkening this,
And far beyond the sighing, moaning and weeping,
Lies the summer land of bliss.

Refrain

Beyond this land of sinning, fainting and failing,
Far beyond the doubtings, darkening this,
And far beyond the griefs and dangers befalling,
Lies the summer land of bliss.

Refrain

Beyond this land of waiting, seeking and sighing,
Far beyond the sorrows, darkening this,
And far beyond the pain and sickness and dying
Lies the summer land of bliss.

Refrain

(Words by Mary B. Slade)

To My Beloved Husband - Happy Anniversary!

Dear D.,

Hard to believe we've been married 31 years today!  God has been so good to us!!!!  Things have not always been easy, but He brought us through them all.

It's always fun to remember the night you proposed.  Dad had flown us and Mom to Louisiana so I could meet your family.  One night while we were there we went for a walk on a levee by the Mississippi River.  A snake crossed our path, but it didn't bother us (smile).  We returned to your parents' house engaged to be married, and it's been an adventure ever since.

Taking a trip to West Virginia with you last year was so special; I'm very glad (and thankful) we have the opportunity to get away again this year.

Thank you for loving me and putting up with me all these years.  Please forgive me for not realizing and appreciating that more.

All my love,

C.

Hymns #20 - Behold the Throne of Grace

Behold the Throne of Grace

Behold the throne of grace,
The promise calls us near,
There Jesus shows a smiling face
And waits to answer prayer.

That rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round we see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all prevailing plea.

My soul ask what thou wilt,
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since His own blood for thee He spilt,
What else can He withhold.

Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and pow’r can bless;
To praying souls He always grants,
More than they can express.

Since ’tis the Lord’s command,
My mouth I open wide;
Lord open Thou Thy bounteous hand,
That I may be supplied.

Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and Thy love;
I ask to serve Thee here below,
And reign with Thee above.

Teach me to live by faith,
Conform my will to Thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.

If Thou these blessings give,
And wilt my portion be;
Cheerful the world’s poor toys I leave,
To them who know not Thee.

(Words by John Newton)

Hymns #19 - Loved One, Farewell

Loved One, Farewell

Birds are rejoicing,
O’er hill and dell;
Hushed is thy voicing,
Sweeter that fell.
Friend of our happy days,
Brother of prayer and praise,
Thine own sweet music says,
Loved one, farewell!

Thou hast ascended,
Where angels dwell;
Where, earth songs ended,
Heav’n’s anthems swell.
Safe, all the saints among,
Blest with the praising throng,
Singing the new made songs,
Loved one, farewell!

Salvation’s story
Then thou wilt tell;
Triumphs of glory,
Thy voice shall swell.
Rest thou, oh, friend so dear,
Thy precious Savior near,
Where God shall wipe each tear,
Loved one, farewell!

Safe from thee turning,
Grief’s tones will knell;
Hard, hard the learning,
God doeth well!
Till, be it soon or late,
Up, at the pearly gate,
We meet, oh watch and wait,
Loved one, farewell!

(Words by Mary B. Slade)