Day: November 24, 2017

Amazing Grace

Backgrounder: The gift of
forgiveness is often appreciated
by those who need it the most.
The Reverend John Newton
experienced this truth firsthand.
After years as a hardened slave
trader, that wretch met Christ
and abruptly turned to defend
the gospel he had long despised.
When it was suggested Newton
retire at age 82 due to poor health,he responded: My memory
is nearly gone, but I remember
two things: that I’m a great sinner,
and that Christ is a great Savior!
British John Newton wrote this
favourite hymn Amazing Grace in
1772 possibly inspired by Eph 2.

Lord, thanks for yr amazing grace
God saved you by his grace when
you believed. And you can’t take
credit for this;it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for
the good things we have done,
so none of us can boast
about it (Eph 2:8-9).

Abba Father, thank you for the
gift of grace, the gift of faith,
salvation and abundant life,
the gift of forgiveness and
restored relationship with You,
the gift of spiritual inheritances
of peace, love, joy and hope,
the gift of spiritual family & most
of all, the gift of Jesus Christ.
The comprehensive gift is truly a
full expression of your generosity
& show how much U care for me.
Isn’t it great to get to be God’s
child and receive his full gift!
I don’t deserve and can never
repay these gifts, but I purpose
to say Thank you!” thro my life
on earth and occasionally singing
Amazing Grace & continue to say
“Thank you!” through all eternity.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Amazing grace! how sweet
the sound
That save a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.

T’was grace that taught my heart
to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord had promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Backgrounder: John Fawcett was
ordained as a Baptist minister &
began ministry at a poor church
in Wingate in northern England.
The small congregation could
only afford to pay him a minimal
salary. After 7 years of ministry,
Fawcett received offer fr affluent
Carter’s Lane Church in London.
As he was saying his farewells
and saw the tears on the faces
of his people, he decided to stay.
Not long afterward, he wrote
this hymn for the congregation at
Wingate. He recognised the bond
of love he knew there was worth
more than any material wealth.

Lord, keep us close together:
Make every effort to keep
yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together
with peace. For there is one body
and one Spirit, just as you have
been called to one glorious hope
for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and
one God & Father (Eph 4:3-6).

Lord, bind us together in love:
You have made us one body and
one spirit. You have called us to
one hope through one Lord, one
faith and one God. The difference
in our backgrounds, experiences
and personalities, should only
enrich us, not divide us. We need
each other in order to live strong
for U. Help us make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit that
You have given us to treasure it,
to protect it and even promote it.
Teach me to love and appreciate
all of my brothers and sisters in
Christ & live with them in peace.
And Lord blest the tie that binds!
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Blest be the tie that binds
Our heart in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims
are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee

Backgrounder:Washington Gladden
believed that Christians should be
involved in the world’s problems.
A journalist turned clergyman,
he crusaded against injustice.
In his various church postings,
he often preached social gospel,
trying to rouse his congregation
to the social and labour problems
that were engulfing the country.
When Gladden wrote this hymn
in 1979, he said the poem
was an honest cry of human
need and the need for divine
companionship. If our friendship
with Jesus does not lead us to
concern for our fellowmen, then
we better check to see how closely
we are walking with the Master.

Lord, we imitate U as Yr children:
Imitate God, therefore in everything
you do, because you are his dear
children. Live a life filled with love
following the example of Christ.
He loved us and offered himself
as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing
aroma to God. But fornication, and
all uncleanness or covetousness,
let it not even be named among u,
as it is fitting for saints (Eph 5:1-3).

Father God, thank you for your
lovingkindness & your great love
towards us, especially through
the gift of your son. We are called
to imitate you as your children;
and to follow example of Christ
by living a life filled with love.
Gracious Lord help us to seek
you always and above all things.
Set our hearts on fire with love
for You Lord: that in its flame we
may love you with all our heart,
with all our mind, with all our soul
and with all our strength so that
obeying you, we may glorify you,
the giver of all good gifts to us.
And Abba, let me walk with Thee!

Lord Jesus, I know that one of
the best ways I can show my love
for you is by loving other people.
Sometimes this is easy; when
I’m with people I like. But please
help me when loving is hard,
when people are just unkind,
when they don’t understand me,
and when I just don’t like them.
Teach me to love as you loved
when you were walking about
in holy land. Teach me to love
as you love everyone & always.
In Your precious name, Amen.

O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love
Teach me the wayward feet to stay
And guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me Thy patience; still
with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet
and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broad’ning way,
In peace that only Thou canst give
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus

Backgrounder: In 1858, churches
throughout Philadelphia united
in a citywide evangelistic effort.
Dudley Tyng, a 29 year old
preacher spoke to 5,000 men
& 1,000 responded to the gospel.
Four days later, however Tyng
was fatally injured in an accident.
As he lay dying, Tyng was still
thinking about the men who had
made decisions for Christ & said:
Tell them to stand up for Jesus.
Presbyterian minister George
Duffield preached next Sunday
on the text: “Stand Therefore”
and in conclusion read a poem
entitled Stand Up for Jesus. A
church member sent the poem to
a newspaper and was published.

Lord, we will Stand Strong in You:
A final word: Be strong in the
Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on all of God’s armour
so that you will be able to
stand firm against all strategies
of the devil (Eph 6:10-11).

Lord, help us to Stand strong in
You and in your mighty power.
Because we have already aligned
ourselves with You by accepting
You as Lord and Savior, the
enemy will wage war against us.
Help us put on the full armor
of God so that we can take our
stand against the devil’s schemes
Teach us to fully understand the
depth of truth, righteousness,
faith, a solid walk with Christ,
salvation, prayer and Your Word.
And grant us your grace to put
on the full armour and to use
them effectively for without
You we can do nothing.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift up His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day:
Ye that are men, now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage ride with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you;
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armour;
Each piece put on with prayer.
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Backgrounder: The author of
this hymn was a blind preacher
and a curio shop owner in
Coleshill England. He carved
ornaments out of ivory or wood
and sold them in his small store.
He also wrote poetry. One day,
when a local preacher stopped
at the store, William Walford,
the blind shop owner, mentioned
that he had composed a poem
in his head. He asked the minister
to write it down for him. Three
years later, that minister visited
the US and gave the poem to the
editor of New York Observer and
was published on 13 Sep 1845.

Lord, help us to pray at all times:
Pray in the Spirit at all times and
on every occasion. Stay alert
and be consistent in your prayers
for all believers everywhere
(Ephesians 6:18).

Lord, thank You that I can have
direct access to You for help
when in need and distress
and has often found relief!!
Teach me to know the presence
of your Spirit within me and to
walk in continual awareness of it.
May you express your heart
through me and pray thro me.
I can’t do this thro my own efforts
but with U nothing is impossible!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour
of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care.
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known;
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By Thy return, sweet hour
of prayer!