Every Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." He rules the world with truth and graceAnd makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousnessAnd wonders of His loveAnd wonders of His loveAnd wonders wonders of His love We are all fascinated by the afterlife and the eternal state. What will it be like? Will we recognize other people? What will ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." No more let sins and sorrows growNor thorns infest the groundHe comes to make His blessings flowFar as the curse is foundFar as the curse is foundFar as far as the curse is found All people know that this world isn't as it is supposed to be. While not everyone may not know why, we all have an intuitiv...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Joy to the earth the Savior reignsLet men their songs employWhile fields and floodsRocks hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joyRepeat the sounding joyRepeat repeat the sounding joy Sin guarantees so much yet delivers so little. The author of Hebrews refers to this truth as "the fleeting pleasures of ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Joy to the world the Lord is comeLet earth receive her KingLet ev'ry heart prepare Him roomAnd heav'n and nature singAnd heav'n and nature singAnd heav'n and heav'n and nature sing Joy to the World is the Christmas carol that wasn't written for Christmas. Based off of Psalm 98, the famed hymnist Isaac...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Joy to the world the Lord is comeLet earth receive her KingLet ev'ry heart prepare Him roomAnd heav'n and nature singAnd heav'n and nature singAnd heav'n and heav'n and nature sing Joy to the World is the Christmas carol that wasn't written for Christmas. Based off of Psalm 98, the famed hymnist Isaac...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Pardon for sinAnd a peace that endurethThy own dear presenceTo cheer and to guideStrength for todayAnd bright hope for tomorrowBlessings all mineWith ten thousand beside At the end of his gospel the Apostle John writes of his subject, "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every on...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Summer and winterAnd springtime and harvestSun moon and starsIn their courses aboveJoin with all natureIn manifold witnessTo Thy great faithfulnessMercy and love On one side of the coin is the statement that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (cf. Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7). On the oth...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Great is Thy faithfulnessO God my FatherThere is no shadowOf turning with TheeThou changest notThy compassions they fail notAs Thou hast beenThou forever wilt be Immutability. That's a fancy theological word that refers to God's unchangeableness. Other words we could use would be sameness, stability, ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Great is Thy faithfulnessGreat is Thy faithfulnessMorning by morningNew mercies I seeAll I have neededThy hand hath providedGreat is Thy faithfulnessLord unto me It wouldn't be expected, but compared to a number of other hymns considered classics, Great Is Thy Faithfulness is fairly new. Written by Th...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Let every creature rise and bringThe highest honours to our KingAngels descend with songs againAnd earth repeats the loud amen When receiving fawning praise from the crowds of Jerusalem, Jesus during his triumphal entry was asked by the Pharisees to tell the people to quiet down. Jesus answered them, ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Blessings abound wherever He reignsThe prisoner leaps to lose His chainsThe weary find eternal restAnd all the sons of want are blest God's love is so bountiful and so obvious that the Apostle John can write the words, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). The highest expression of that love is found at the cro...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." People and realms of every tongueDwell on His love with sweetest songAnd infant voices shall proclaimTheir early blessings on His name One of the greatest evidences of man's fallen condition is our natural pride. By our very nature, we walk around thinking we are independent and self-sufficient when n...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." To Him shall endless prayer be madeAnd princes throng to crown His headHis name like sweet perfume shall riseWith every morning sacrifice How much is enough? This question is often a vexing question to the Christian conscience as we rightly recognize that God is entitled to everything we are and do. H...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Jesus shall reign where'er the sunDoes His successive journeys runHis kingdom stretch from shore to shoreTill moons shall rise and set no more This month at RCC we celebrate our annual Missions Conference and our hymn for the month has been chosen to reflect such a theme. Based off of Psalm 72, Jesus ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for reposeI will not I will not desert to its foesThat soul though all hell should endeavor to shakeI'll never no never no never forsake In Latin the words are recorded as "Et tu, Brute?" Translated into English it says, "You too, Brutus?" So are thought to be the fi...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lieMy grace all-sufficient shall be thy supplyThe flames shall not hurt thee I only designThy dross to consume and thy gold to refine "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). With these words Joseph explains his worldview and h...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Fear not I am with thee O be not dismayedFor I am thy God I will still give thee aidI'll strengthen thee help thee and cause thee to standUpheld by My gracious omnipotent hand "But for the grace of God there goes John Bradford." So wrote the English Reformer John Bradford who coined the familiar idiom...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Be still my soul the hour is hast'ning onWhen we shall be forever with the LordWhen disappointment grief and fear are goneSorrow forgot love's purest joys restoredBe still my soul when change and tears are pastAll safe and blessed we shall meet at last How long is forever? How long is eternity? It can...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Be still my soul when dearest friends departAnd all is darkened in the vale of tearsThen shalt thou better know His love His heartWho comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fearsBe still my soul thy Jesus can repayFrom His own fullness all He takes away One of the worst feelings we experience as humans is...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Be still my soul thy God doth undertakeTo guide the future as He has the pastThy hope thy confidence let nothing shakeAll now mysterious shall be bright at lastBe still my soul the waves and winds still knowHis voice who ruled them while He dwelt below One of the marks of a great author is when they p...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Be still my soul the Lord is on thy sideBear patiently the cross of grief or painLeave to thy God to order and provideIn ev'ry change He faithful will remainBe still my soul thy best thy heav'nly FriendThrough thorny ways leads to a joyful end Last month we saw a hymn that was based off of Psalm 46, a...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." A mighty fortress is our GodA sword and shield victoriousHe breaks the cruel oppressor's rodAnd wins salvation gloriousThe old satanic foeHas sworn to work us woeWith craft and dreadful mightHe arms himself to fightOn earth he has no equal Though there are a number of verses to A Mighty Fortress, this...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." That word above all earthly pow'rsNo thanks to them abidethThe Spirit and the gifts are oursThru Him who with us sidethLet goods and kindred goThis mortal life alsoThe body they may killGod's truth abideth stillHis kingdom is forever "At the end of the day" "When all is said and done" "What it all add...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." And tho' this world with devils filledShould threaten to undo usWe will not fear for God hath willedHis truth to triumph thru usThe prince of darkness grimWe tremble not for himHis rage we can endureFor lo his doom is sureOne little word shall fell him C.S. Lewis famously wrote in his classic The Scre...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Did we in our own strength confideOur striving would be losingWere not the right Man on our sideThe Man of God's own choosingDost ask who that may beChrist Jesus it is HeLord Sabaoth His nameFrom age to age the sameAnd He must win the battle Psalm 46 was a favorite of Martin Luther, the Reformer who w...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." A mighty fortress is our GodA bulwark never failingOur helper He amid the floodOf mortal ills prevailingFor still our ancient foeDoth seek to work us woeHis craft and pow'r are greatAnd armed with cruel hateOn earth is not his equal "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise." So wrot...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Crown Him the Lord of loveBehold His hands and sideRich wounds yet visible aboveIn beauty glorifiedNo angel in the skyCan fully bear that sightBut downward bends each burning eyeAt mysteries so bright "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Sac...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Crown Him the Lord of lifeWho triumphed o'er the graveAnd rose victorious in the strifeFor those He came to saveHis glories now we singWho died and rose on highWho died eternal life to bringAnd lives that death may die The title "Lord" is used quite a bit in the church and in Christian circles. And ri...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Crown Him with many crownsThe Lamb upon His throneHark how the heavenly anthem drownsAll music but its ownAwake my soul and singOf Him who died for theeAnd hail Him as thy matchless KingThrough all eternity "and on his head are many diadems" (Revelation 19:12). With these words the Apostle John tried ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." No condemnation now I dreadJesus and all in Him is mineAlive in Him my living HeadAnd clothed in righteousness divineBold I approach th'eternal throneAnd claim the crown through Christ my ownAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for me We've noted before in another Hymn of the Month ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Long my imprisoned spirit layFast bound in sin and nature's nightThine eye diffused a quickening rayI woke the dungeon flamed with lightMy chains fell off my heart was freeI rose went forth and followed TheeAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for me In Acts 12 we read of a time the...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." He left His Father's throne aboveSo free so infinite His graceEmptied Himself of all but loveAnd bled for Adam's helpless race'Tis mercy all immense and freeFor O my God it found out meAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for me What is the greatest miracle ever? Perhaps the splitti...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." 'Tis mystery all th'Immortal diesWho can explore His strange designIn vain the firstborn seraph triesTo sound the depths of love divine'Tis mercy all let earth adoreLet angel minds inquire no moreAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for me Mystery is one of the hallmarks of Christia...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." And can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Savior's bloodDied He for me who caused His painFor me who Him to death pursuedAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for meAmazing love how can it beThat Thou my God shouldst die for me In 1707 Charles Wesley was born into a large fa...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." High King of heavenWhen vict'ry is wonMay I reach heaven's joysO bright heaven's SunHeart of my own heartWhatever befallStill be my visionO Ruler of all There is a common misconception that the Christian life is the "blessed" life. While it certainly is not wrong to say that, what is often wrong is ho...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Riches I heed notNor man's empty praiseThou mine inheritanceNow and alwaysThou and Thou onlyBe first in my heartHigh King of heavenMy treasure Thou art "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). With these words Jesus sums up an important reality of the human heart. Wh...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Be Thou my wisdomBe Thou my true WordI ever with TheeAnd Thou with me LordThou my great FatherI Thy true sonThou in me dwellingAnd I with Thee one One of the most famous pictures Jesus drew for our minds is found in John 15 where Jesus talks of the vine and the branches. He says, "I am the vine; you a...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Praise to the LordO let all that is in me adore HimAll that hath life and breathCome now with praises before HimLet the amen sound from His people againGladly forever adore Him The English word "worship" means "worth-ship", or "to ascribe worth." When we worship our Lord we are proclaiming how valuabl...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Praise to the Lord Who doth prosperThy work and defend theeSurely His goodness and mercy here daily attend theePonder anew what the Almighty can doIf with His love He befriend thee Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (besides Christ) opens his book of Ecclesiastes with this question: "What does man g...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Praise to the Lord Who over all thingsSo wondrously reignethShelters thee under His wingsYea so gently sustainethHast thou not seen how thy desires ever have beenGranted in what He ordaineth How big is God? Our children sing, "My God is so big; so strong and so mighty; there's nothing my God cannot do...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Praise to the Lord the AlmightyThe King of creationO my soul praise HimFor He is thy health and salvationAll ye who hear now to His temple draw nearPraise Him in glad adoration Joachim Neander was born in 1650 in Bremen, Germany, which means that he lived in the aftermath of the Reformation. His testi...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Before the Throne of God Above only originally included three verses. Vikki Cook wrote a fourth verse in the 1990's, but it is so rarely sung that we are instead going to consider an overview of this treasured song today. In 2007 Bob Kauflin wrote of how this song came to be on his blog. The first tim...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Behold Him there the risen LambMy perfect spotless righteousnessThe great unchangeable I AmThe King of glory and of graceOne with Himself I cannot dieMy soul is purchased with His bloodMy life is hid with Christ on highWith Christ my Saviour and my GodWith Christ my Saviour and my God With the third v...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." When Satan tempts me to despairAnd tells me of the guilt withinUpward I look and see Him thereWho made an end to all my sinBecause the sinless Saviour diedMy sinful soul is counted freeFor God the Just is satisfiedTo look on Him and pardon meTo look on Him and pardon me Perhaps one of the greatest str...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Before the throne of God aboveI have a strong and perfect pleaA great High Priest whose name is LoveWho ever lives and pleads for meMy name is graven on His handsMy name is written on His heartI know that while in heav'n He standsNo tongue can bid me thence departNo tongue can bid me thence depart Bef...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." When we've been there ten thousand yearsBright shining as the sunWe've no less days to sing God's praiseThan when we first begun What is the meaning of life? Contrary to the common picture of finding a guru on a mountaintop to get an answer to such a question, the Bible makes it very clear that the pu...
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Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Through many dangers toils and snaresI have already come'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus farAnd grace will lead me home If anyone knew of "dangers, toils, and snares," it would have been John Newton. He saw, experienced, and caused a lot of suffering during his days aboard slave-trading ships. Whe...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." The Lord has promised good to meHis Word my hope securesHe will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures "You're only as good as your word" is an adage almost all of us have heard. It is meant to inspire trustworthiness and dependability. It has proven itself true time and time again as we see ...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed We usually think of fear as being a bad thing. We all have our particular "phobias" that plague us in life. However, biblically speaking, fear can be a bad thing and sometimes...
Keep ReadingEvery Friday in 2015 we consider a verse from our "Hymn of the Month." Amazing grace how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost but now am foundWas blind but now I see Some of the most famous words ever penned in the English language begin with "Amazing grace." Written in the 1770's by former slave ship captain John Newton, Amazing Grace is widely cons...
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