Amazing Grace

Recently our Sunday morning messages have been on salvation!

The more I try to plumb the depths of God's amazing love and grace

that purchased the gift of salvation to pay the sinner's debt

 for all who repent and believe and thus receive it,

the more I marvel at how impossible it is

to fully comprehend amazing grace! 

or how impossible it is to believe without repenting

or repent without believing!

Heb.4:16

 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2 Cor. 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, 

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

There's Not A Friend Like The Lowly Jesus

You could confound us with the crumbs that fall 'neath The King's chair

But you invite us to sit at Your table, saved by grace

No judgement from the mercy seat that Calvary laid bare

As all who repent and believe become Your dwelling place

You could condemn us but instead You, sinless, became sin

So that through You we might become 'the righteousness of God' 

Not by works lest we boast; salvation, none can earn or win

It is a gift, a gift that leaves believers/receivers humbly awed 

Then, who is qualified to cast judgment's first stone, pray tell

For there is no one righteous, no, not one, we, debtors all

To grace, the grace that saves us from eternity in hell

When truly, truly on Your Name above all names, we call   

You know our hearts, you hear our prayers, You know that we are dust

The recompense that we deserved You bore, once and for all 

You are good, holy, merciful, compassionate and just

Your everlasting love abides as kingdoms rise and fall 

Once, I was a prodigal child squandering love and life 

Once You left the ninety and nine in the fold, to find me

Amazing grace, agape I gaze where redemption runs rife

You reconciled your rebel child and set my doomed soul free 

The crumbs that fall from Your table, would be too good for me

But you invite me to sit down, beloved and justified

By Your amazing grace; I, once condemned have been set free

And clothed in robes of righteousness that only You provide

Janet Martin

Amazing Grace 

Rom.5:6-11

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,

 Christ died for the ungodly. 

 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, 

though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood,

how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, 

how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 through whom we have now received reconciliation.

A Long Joy-Song or Before The World Began

John 17:1-5

“Father, the hour has come. 

Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 

2 For you granted him authority over all people 

that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, 

the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory 

I had with you before the world began...

***

Someday we will enter eternity,

where there will be no time constraints on our joy song!

where poetry won't be criticized for being 'too wordy' or long,

and where no words will be needed

to worship our Saviour!

Hallelujah!

ready? Set...Go!!

The past weekend had many 'glad' moments

but all pale in comparison to the reason for the Easter-season!

This was the Easter sunrise!

(I would have loved to do this post on Easter morning but

dinner-prep and early church service kept me hopping!)

He makes me glad; no eloquence of loving speech can tell

Salvation’s joy, blood-bought; enough to cheer my soul full-well

Wonder confounds thought’s finite scope; awe utters ‘what is man

That Triune God would anchor Hope before the world began?’

He makes me glad; praise He from whom redemption’s wellsprings roar

When I confess my sin, mercy remembers it no more

Though I have played the harlot and Judas, He loved me so

Though my sins were as scarlet; He has washed me white as snow

He makes me glad; I shall not want because at Calvary

He bore the cross, its gore and taunt and sword, to set me free

Obedient to death, to prove the power of His Name

He rose again; He overthrew death and hell’s hopeless claim

He makes me glad; joy bids me sing in awed humility

O death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory

Thanks be to God who gives us victory through Jesus Christ

Who saw beyond the agony of his Son, sacrificed

He makes me glad; God knew His will would prosper in His hand

And only Jesus could fulfill salvation’s grim demand

He saw the Light of life proclaimed through horrors humbly braved

The power of the only name whereby man can be saved

The Name above all names, the King of kings and Lord of lords

Jesus! Sin’s outpoured offering God’s gift of grace affords

He makes me glad; though oft we grieve this world’s darkness-filled boast

For all who repent and believe receive the Holy Ghost

He makes me glad for what eye has not glimpsed nor ear yet heard

Nor entered into human hearts the things God has prepared

For all who love Him, truly love with heart, soul, strength and mind

Whose affections are set above this world’s vain glory-grind

He makes me glad; though all else fails God is not overthrown

He is not mocked, His truth prevails; by fruit the tree is known

And though many are sick and weak, by His goodness unstirred

He looks with favour on the meek who tremble at His word

He makes me glad; though oft I rue the tempter’s cunning vice

Accomplishing mad blindness to salvation’s purchase price

Not of silver or gold but blood; the precious blood of He

Who satisfied the wrath of God through love’s divine decree

He makes me glad, though often love makes me too sad to laugh

He understands the tear-filled trove I lift on their behalf

So many Gospel-unshod feet, no faith to make them whole

Fearless, though unprepared to meet the Saviour of their soul

He makes me glad; goodness and mercy follow me always

His comfort strengthens tenderly and fills my heart with praise

For He has made me glad; my prayer, my joy cries ‘what is man

Oh God, You knew the cross was there before the world began’

© Janet Martin

Eph.1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 

4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world

 to be holy and blameless in His presence. 

In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ,

 according to the good pleasure of His will, 

to the praise of His glorious grace,

 which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

1 Pet.1:18-19

For you know that it was not with perishable things 

such as silver or gold that you were redeemed 

from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,

 but with the precious blood of Christ,

 a lamb without blemish or defect.

Jesus Paid It All 

In The Light of Salvation

What a weekend of events I was blessed to be part of, 

in roles both of serving and being served through/with our church family!

I am so thankful for fellow-believers who lovingly understand and forgive 

my imperfections and love me because of the love of Christ!

Hallelujah🙏

On Saturday I was part of a team that served food to men 

who gathered for encouragement and instruction, 

as they strive to be spiritual leaders and servants of God

 in their homes, church, community, etc. 

yummy fresh fruit, bundt and coffee cake buffet for the morning refreshments,

...and then I TOTALLY forgot to take pictures of lunch!

***

Fellow-believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Just as in any family, we don't all see eye to eye in everything

but as we cherish and marvel at the grace of God,

through His gift of salvation, He helps us to forgive

and love one another!

We cannot love as we ought, while clinging to grudges,

and hope, while doing so, to reap the benefits/blessings of God's grace.

After professing to receive the gift of saving grace, the redemption

 that pardons the penalty of sin, through the precious blood of Christ,

pray we do not we refuse grace/forgiveness to our fellowman.

Grace to our fellowman is not approving of, or excusing brokenness, sin, etc.

but it is a willingness, in light of God's mercy and faithfulness

to love one another and to trust Him to work in each of our lives 

as we humbly pray for and encourage each other. 

How much we miss firstly, of joy of  the Lord

 and then also of loving each other,

 if we allow bitterness to bind our wounds,

rather than forgiveness! 

Matt.18:21

21 Then Peter came to Him and said,

 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, 

and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, 

but up to seventy times seven.

 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king 

who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, 

one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 

25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, 

with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 

26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 

‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 

27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, 

released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants 

who owed him a hundred denarii; 

and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,

 ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 

29 So his fellow servant fell down [a]at his feet and begged him, saying,

 ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [b]all.’ 

30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done,

 they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,

 ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 

33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, 

just as I had pity on you?’ 

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers 

until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you 

if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [c]his trespasses.

***

I/We cannot cling to grudges against those who wrong me/us, yet

Assume the One who judges will forgive me/us, and forget

Each bitter accusation, as God pardons you and me

In the light of salvation loses its validity 

I/we cannot harbour grievances that foster futile strife

Yet claim the gift of righteousness and everlasting life 

Redemption's transformation triumphs where mortal might fails 

In the light of salvation love petitions and prevails 

I/we cannot guard an idol of reasons to sustain spite

Yet boast faith's rich reward with all who have fought The Good Fight 

The God of all creation provides hope in Christ alone

In the light of salvation none are fit to cast a stone  

© Janet Martin

CityAlight ~ Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me (Lyrics)

What a foretaste of glory yesterday, as voices united to sing this hymn of worship...

Fortune of Fear

Today's devotion from the book Consolation

by Chas. E Cowman

"We all started somewhere at some point in our journey as a believer'

was my dad's reply a few months ago when I asked him to pray

for someone who, as yet, has not taken the first step of faith.

How often since then, those words have encouraged me not to give up

in lifting my loved ones to God in prayer,

whether it is for the first, sacred, genuine step of confessing that we are a sinner

and need Jesus as our Saviour, 

or in the ups and downs that follow repentance and belief.

On Sunday, the pastor closed his message with encouragement,

reminding us the Christian life is a course of ups and downs,

feeling near to God on some days and on others days

wondering why He doesn't feel so near.

He encouraged us to cling to the truth of a changeless God,

who, no matter how we feel steadfastly abides with us,

So then, he reminded us to abide in the Vine so we may live a fruitful life

for apart from Him we can do nothing.

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,

and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Proverbs 3:7:

"Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil"

Matt.10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Heb.10:31

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is impossible to truly love or follow God until we truly fear Him;

Until He who loved us so much He gave His Son/himself

to break the curse of sin, so all who believe

will never perish but have everlasting life...

 until this Holy God confounds our utter thought

as we try to fathom His love, mercy and holiness

we will fail to live the Christian life.

As our reverence/fear for God grows,

so grows our love.

Ps.103:11

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

 (read the whole glorious chapter of Ps.103 HERE)

Lord let not faith be warped by sight

Nor trust, by understanding

But let the fear of Thee delight

My will with Thy commanding

And let devotion not be swayed

By ups and downs of living

Lord, keep my want-prone wonder stayed

Beneath Thy cross, life-giving

And woo me, not with worldly creed

Or fortune's vain ovation/persuasion 

But, help me pay more earnest heed

To Thee, Rock of salvation

That I may gain a heart of love

Of wisdom's priceless treasure

And grow in grace and knowledge of

Thee, one true God, forever

Amen

Janet Martin

Ps.62:2

He only is my rock and my salvation;

 He is my defense; 

I shall not be greatly moved.

Rock of Ages

For The Sacred Sake of Souls...

Greed, coupled with unscrupulous savvy

 can accrue great worldly wealth,

but at what cost?!

Love, coupled with fear of God

will, through humble generosity

  accrue great heavenly treasure

of unfathomable gain!! 

Which 'wealth' do we pursue?

Who consumes our thought?

Who thrills our soul?

With the word TARIFF weighing on many minds

aren't you SO thankful for Who IS,

FOREVER FAITHFUL/TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE.

You Are Mine

No Friend Like Jesus

All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus

Lest care for temporary gain dictates what we pursue

Lest prayer is a pious refrain or Duty's daily due

Lord, lest we lose faith's fervent love and let it grow lukewarm

With minds set, not on things above, but on earth's fleeting charm 

Lord, for the sacred sake of souls, lest ease becomes a snare

Let trouble take its holy toll to waken us to prayer

Lest we grow blind and deaf and numb to Thy kind faithfulness

Lest heart and soul and mind become consumed with worldliness

Dear Lord, lest pride and greed take root and thus choke out Good Seed

Let trouble waken us to fruit, known by thought, word and deed

Let it expose selfish footholds that grieve You, Holy God  

Lord, for the sacred sake of souls, do not withhold love's rod

Lest our mouth Your praise extols with heart cold and afar

Lord, for the sacred sake of souls, remind us who You are

You are the hope of humankind, You died and rose again!!

All who call on your Name will find rest for their souls, amen 

And You alone know what it takes to make our love more true

You know, tis for Soul's Sacred Sake; trouble draws us to You

Janet Martin

  

Originally I was going to share 

only the last verse of the chapter below

but the whole chapter is so timely and comforting

I changed my mind 🙏💗

Ps.138 NKJV

The Lord’s Goodness to the Faithful

A Psalm of David.

 I will praise You with my whole heart;

Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,

When they hear the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

For great is the glory of the Lord.

6 Though the Lord is on high,

Yet He regards the lowly;

But the proud He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

You will stretch out Your hand

Against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

8 The Lord will [a]perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

White as Snow or Triumph's Reservoir

Genesis 15:1

...Fear not,  Abram, (Janet, and all who believe.)

I am Thy Shield and Thy exceeding great reward.

Prayer is the greatest power-source in the universe.

Why do we so often settle for something/someone less

than the Best?!! 

Through God's Word and humble prayer we, through Him,

become who He created us to be

We will never be all we or others wish us to be...

Until/unless we have been crucified with Christ and

'it is no longer I but Christ in me'

then we can be infinitely more

 than thought humanly possible,

not to please people,

but, by and to the honour and glory of God!

The 'more' Christ works in us

may never be applauded by the masses

or perhaps, often times, even noticed...

Such as

The private victory over temptation,

The bridled tongue, 

The second mile,

The altar of sacrifice,

The yielded will, (oft-repeated)

The peace that God alone grants

to all who fear Him and seek/strive 

to live in obedience to His commandments...

The sacred fulfillment of 'Love one another'

The joy, gloriously, mysteriously complete

though we sorrow/suffer,

The power to truly and completely forgive!

...but God knows

and keeps a precious record

of our earthly relationship with Him,

until, some day when we will see Him face to face;

Jesus Christ, our salvation, who through His shed blood,

though our sins were like scarlet

He washed us white as snow!

Isa.1:16-20

Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.[a]

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land;

20 but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Read the whole dire chapter HERE

***

Imagine if snow was scarlet, like sin, instead of white, like redemption!!!

How glorious its whiteness suddenly seems! 🙏

When the groan of Intercession yields no dramatic reply

When our sorrowful confession does not move the earth and sky

When the evidence of Seeing challenges Faith's Things Hoped For

'Christ in us', instills faith's being with whispers to trust Him more

God, whose faithfulness and justice vexes logic's rationale  

Will fulfill his every promise; never slack or forgetful 

He beholds The Precious Many, ignorant of Calvary 

(It is not his will that any should perish eternally)

Love, beyond all comprehension bore death's cross in our stead 

God, rich in mercy's compassion, gave His Own to pay sin's debt

He is ever interceding, for all who call on the Lord

He, both shield and faith's exceeding, everlasting great reward, 

Love, beyond all comprehension holds eternity at bay

Love, whose scarlet intervention washes sin's cursed stains away

White as snow, Redemption's River courses, bridging death's dark rift 

Would that all would trust the Giver of Salvation's sacred gift

 

Then, though groans of Intercession yield no visible reply

When our sorrowful confession does not move the earth and sky

When the evidence of needing challenges Faith's Things Hoped For

'Christ in us', transforms faith's pleading into Triumph's Reservoir 

© Janet Martin 

Blessed be the Fountain of Blood (Lyrics Only)

Alan Jackson-Blessed Assurance (Lyrics)

Like Raindrops on a Garden

Roses in waiting...

A few glimpses at today's inspiration

Thanks to devotions from the book Consolation

 mentioned HERE

Matt. 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

 who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

***

Forbid sorrow's tears should harden the plot where thought's power flows

But like raindrops on a garden, let it grow compassion's rose

Let their sacred torrent soften the places not tender yet

Let it seep to deeps that often we ignore, secrete, forget 

Forbid grief to blind perception as love's bitter dregs we taste

Or to wallow in depression like a garden laid to waste

But to shoulder sorrow's anguish like a soldier of the cross

Rather than flounder or languish in a labyrinth of loss

Forbid sorrow's reason reckons, only earth-side's view, so dim

Never hearing He who beckons mourners to call/fall upon Him

Never growing in Grief's Garden anything but hopeless gloom

Letting sorrow's teardrops harden the plot where roses would/could/should bloom 

Our Father, up in Heaven, hallowed be Thy perfect Name

Pray, through sorrow we are driven to the One from whence we came

Pray, through grief our eyes are opened to Time's Very Fleeting Nod

Till our grip on earth is loosened by a tighter hold on God 

Who can understand our suff'ring better than God, rich in love 

He who through Sin's Final off'ring left no merit yet to prove 

 He who purchased our pardon and bore sorrow's climax knows

Tears, like raindrops on a garden, are but watering Love's Rose  

© Janet Martin 

Also inspired by today's Daily Bread devotion HERE 

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Fernando Ortega

A Most Glorious Reminder or Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice

From Streams in the Desert Vol. 2

Our greatest reason to rejoice resounds like bells that peal

Across a worldwide countryside with unaffected zeal

To rally in the battlefield and playground of the heart

A reinvigorated hymn of praise ‘how great Thou art’

Our greatest reason to rejoice transcends the dust of days

Reviving on devotion’s wick, worship’s rekindled blaze

Thanksgiving humbles human-natured Want, and rebukes pride

That blinds us to the Greatest Gift only God can provide

Our greatest reason to rejoice delights the deepest woe

He cheers and calms our fears with peace, this world can never know

Bidding faith not to falter in the face of ridicule

For time can never alter what this world can never rule

Our greatest reason to rejoice is Trustworthy and True

God will not fail, if we but ask, He will courage renew

And we will find, if we but seek, His Ever-Present Voice

If we knock He unlocks Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice

The critic cannot cheapen it, nor scoffer quench its vim

Our greatest reason to rejoice no doom or gloom can dim

But in the darkest hour, when Death unleashes its roar

And in the darkest hour when Death swings ajar its door

Our Greatest Reason to Rejoice increases all the more

© Janet Martin

Come, Gracious Spirit-Simon Browne 1720

1. Come, gracious Spirit, heav’nly Dove,
   With light and comfort from above;
   Be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide,
   O’er every thought and step preside.
2. The light of truth to us display,
   And make us know and choose Thy way;
   Plant holy fear in every heart,
   That we from God may ne’er depart.
3. Lead us to holiness, the road
   Which we must take to dwell with God;
   Lead us to Christ, the living Way,
   Nor let us from His pastures stray.
4. Lead us to God, our final rest,
   To be with Him forever blest;
   Lead us to Heav’n, its bliss to share,
   Fullness of joy forever there.

Lord, as we repent and believe

And then your greatest gift receive

Let Your Power and Glory pour

Through each soul's endless reservoir

To fill each gifted breath we draw

With worship's everlasting awe

Amen

Gale-worthy Grounding

Devastation and disaster are part of this life

and sometimes sadly, seems the only way

 for God to really get our attention.

Somehow, when life unfolds smoothly we

are more apt to slip into selfish complacency rather

than call on Him.

When we dwell only on grief's wounds 

that loss of loved ones inflicts

sorrow can be almost unbearable!

However, when we remember and think on the believer's gain, 

where death is but the door to faith's inheritance

what comfort God's promises bestow.

John 11:25

25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. 

Do you believe this?”

My friend gifted me a beautiful book

knowing how much I love the books

Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley

This book, by the the same author, Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman 

is entitled Consolation... and I love it!

It is a collection of daily devotions

of consolation and encouragement...

(And the pretty, handmade brooch pinned to my bookmark ribbon

was a gift as well from a sweet and super-talented artist

 in my Sunday School class 💝💖)

Yesterday's devotion was esp. ministering to me

and may be to you as well, 

as our hearts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in LA.! 

As I pondered where to begin

to find the beginning of true hope, joy and peace

as I began to trace one truth

it always joined to another...

Faith, without a firm foundation when life’s gales begin to blow

Will be devoid of duration; like a ship tossed to and fro

Hope, without faith’s expectation anchored in redeeming love

Flaps it wings; determination on its own is not enough

Joy without hope’s secure anchor; Jesus, who forgives our sin

When met with bereavement’s rancor, has no Comforter within

Peace, without joy’s Awesome Author, (whose gift of salvation saves)

Cannot be; because no other Voice can calm dread’s wind and waves

Trust, without God’s peace to buffer trouble’s billows undeterred

Cannot bear what it must suffer without guidance from God’s Word

Love, without Trust’s full surrender, is a bud, eager to burst

With incomparable splendor of the One who loved us first

Faith, hope, joy, peace, trust and love; what better bulwark can there be

By the grace of God quite enough to pray ‘be it unto me’

Quite enough to be enough though hell's fury should be unfurled 

Upon the Rock of Jesus' love Faith's Footing overcomes the world  

© Janet Martin

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 / through whom we have gained access by faith 

into this grace in which we stand. 

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. / 

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, 

because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ...

Colossians 1:5
the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, 

of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, / 

and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,

 reserved in heaven for you, / 

who through faith are shielded by God’s power 

for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises,

 let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit,

 perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, 

without which no one will see the Lord.

How Firm a Foundation

 

Lyrics...

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

3

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

4

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

5

“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove

My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”

6

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

Author (attributed to): R. Keen (1787); Author: K. (1787); Author (attributed to): George Keith (1787)