Joyful

JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE

by

Henry Van Dyke

Joyful, joyful, we adore You,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,

Op'ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

All Your works with joy surround You,

Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,

Stars and angels sing around You,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Praising You eternally!

Always giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Loving Father, Christ our Brother,

Let Your light upon us shine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

God's own love is reigning o’er us,

Joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

 

Blameless this Second

Can God keep me from stumbling this second? 

Yes. Can He keep me from sin this second?

 Yes. Well, that is the whole of life. 

You cannot live more than a second at a time. 

If God can keep you blameless this second, 

He can do it the next.

 No wonder Jesus Christ said 'Let not your heart be troubled'! 

We do get troubled when we do not remember the amazing power of God. 

~Oswald Chambers

 

Small Things

Most people would succeed in small things, 

if they were not so troubled with great ambitions. 

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Bright and Beautiful

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

by

Cecil Frances Alexander

Refrain:

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

Each little flow'r that opens,

each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings. 

The purple-headed mountain,

the river running by,

the sunset and the morning

that brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,

the pleasant summer sun,

the ripe fruits in the garden:

He made them every one. 

He gave us eyes to see them,

and lips that we might tell

how great is God Almighty,

who has made all things well. [Refrain]

Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

His greatness no one can fathom.

~Psalm 145:3

 

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, 

because God is love. 

~1 John 4:8

 

Humble of Heart

God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments, 

but He is looking for humble instruments 

through whom He can be honored throughout the ages. 

~A.B. Simpson

 

I Belong to Him

Christ has made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue.

 I belong to Him Whom the Angels serve.

~Agnes of Rome

 

Praise Psalm

I will exalt you, my God the King;

    I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

    and extol your name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:1-2

 

Into My Heart

SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART

by 

Rufus H. McDaniel

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought

since Jesus came into my heart!

I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,

since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o'er my soul like sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

I have ceased from my wand'ring and going astray

since Jesus came into my heart!

And my sins which were many are all washed away,

since Jesus came into my heart. [Refrain]

I'm possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,

since Jesus came into my heart!

And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,

since Jesus came into my heart. [Refrain]

There's a light in the valley of death now for me,

since Jesus came into my heart;

And the gates of the city beyond I can see,

since Jesus came into my heart. [Refrain]

I shall go there to dwell in that city I know,

since Jesus came into my heart;

And I'm happy, so happy, as onward I go,

since Jesus came into my heart. [Refrain]

 

People Like Stars

There are people like stars who, without a word and

 often quite unconsciously, illuminate our 

path with a steady shining in the dark. 

~Faith Baldwin

 

Longfellow - Past and Present

Trust no Future, however pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act,— act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God overhead.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

The Lord Has Compassion

The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

~Psalm 145:9