Day: November 25, 2017

I Surrender All

Backgrounder: Van De Venter
was a teacher by profession & an
artist at heart. After evangelistic
meetings, friends saw his gifts
in counselling and urged him to
become an evangelist. For five
years he wavered between his
love for art and God’s calling to
evangelistic ministry. He later
recalled: “I surrendered all.
I became an evangelist and
discovered down deep in my
soul a talent unknown to me.”
A few years later, Van De Venter
remembering that decisive
moment wrote this hymn.

Lord, we will surrender to You:
I once thought these things were
valuable, but now I consider them
worthless because of what Christ
has done. Yes, everything else
is worthless when compared
with the infinite value of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake
I have discarded everything else,
counting it all as garbage, so that
I could gain Christ (Phil 3:7-8).

Lord, I surrender to you & come
into my heart in a deeper way.
Jesus, You are Lord of my life and
I purpose to hold nothing back.
I surrender all to you: my health,
my family, my resources,
occupation and relationships.
I surrender my success and
failures, my choices and my will.
I surrender to You the promises
I have kept and those I have
failed to keep. I surrender my
weaknesses & strengths to You.
I surrender my entire life to You
the past, present and the future.
I surrender my emotions, fears
and insecurities. In sickness
and in health, I belong to you.
Receive my will & all that I have;
for I purpose to Surrender All.
Grant me Your grace, for this
is sufficient for me, for apart
from you I can do nothing.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Love Divine, All Love Excelling

Backgrounder: Charles Wesley
(1707-1788) was a prolific
hymn writer of the 18th century.
Most of his writings were done
while riding on horseback
to his evangelical meetings.
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
was first published in a collection
of hymns for those that Seek
Redemption in the Blood of Christ
The opening line was a play on
John Dryden’s poem “Fairest Isle,
All Isles Excelling” The hymn
is written around a progression
of thoughts: prayer for the
Holy Spirit, praying for the return
of our Lord and prayer for the
finalization of his new creation.

Lord, we will purpose to live
life with an eternal perspective:
For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we’re eagerly waiting
for Lord Jesus Christ to return as
our Saviour. He will take our weak
mortal bodies and change them
into glorious bodies like his own,
using the same power with which
he will bring everything under
his control Phil 3:20-21).

Lord, You created us so that
we’ll have relationship, walking
with You; and You have also put
eternity in their hearts (Ecc 3:11).
Help us to Pay careful attention
how we walk, not as unwise
people but as wise-making the
most of the time (Eph 5:15-16).
For You delay the end of the
world so that more people will
come to repentance & be saved.
Help us live with an eternal
perspective, focusing on things
that will last. Help us be diligent
in our spiritual walk and maintain
intense love for each other.
Help us to walk this life with
wisdom, have right priorities and
be free from earthly distractions.
Help us to live out Christ-centred
so that we can be salt of the
earth and light of the world.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe O breathe Thy loving spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray & praise Thee without ceasing
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

Backgrounder: Henry Van Dyke
wrote this poem in 1907 while
staying at the home of Williams
College president Harry Garfield.
He was serving as a guest preacher
at Williams in Berkshire Mountains
of Massachusetts at the time.
He was so moved by the beauty
of God’s creation that he wrote
this hymn of joy. The next
morning he handed the poem
to the college president. Here
is hymn for you, he said. Your
mountains were my inspiration.
It must be sung to the music
of Beethoven’s Hymn to Joy.
And so it has been ever since.

Lord, we will Rejoice & Adore You:
Always be full of joy in the Lord.
I say it again – rejoice …
Don’t worry about anything;
Instead pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and
thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts & minds as
u live in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:4-7).

Dear Lord, help us to not be
anxious or worry about anything:
Help me pray & intercede instead.
And drive the dark of doubt away.
Enable me to lift up praise in
the face of whatever facing me.
Help me to bring every concern
before U and leave it at Your feet.
Fill me with Your peace that
passes all understanding so that
my heart & mind will be guarded.
Fill us so that we indeed be the
Wellspring of the joy of living;And
we sing this triumph song of life!
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs
before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin & sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Centre of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Backgrounder: Joseph Scriven
was a man who had experienced
the friendship of Jesus through
a life filled with personal tragedy.
When Scriven was a young man
in Ireland, his fiancée accidentally
drowned the evening before
their wedding. Soon after this,
he set sail for Canada.He seemed
destined to live his life alone with
Jesus as his only close friend.
Scriven never intended to publish
this hymn. He wrote the words
to accompany a letter to his
mother, who was ill in Ireland.
He had no material resources
to send her – only a reminder
that the most perfect of friends,
Jesus himself was nearby.

Lord, we pour our burdens to U:
Don’t worry about anything,
instead pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and
thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace
will guard your heart and mind
as you live in Christ Jesus.
(Phil 4:6-7).

Lord, help me not to be anxious
or worry about anything. Help
me to pray or intercede instead.
So here’s my need; I give it to U.
Enable me lift up in praise and
worship of whatever facing me.
Help me to refuse to think of
the racing thoughts. Instead,
help me to bring every concern
before you & leave it at your feet.
Help me to focus on Jesus Christ
and on his power and sufficiency.
Fill me with Your peace that
passes all understanding so that
my heart & mind will be protected
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take & shield thee
Thou wilt find a solace there.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Backgrounder: Few believers truly
love the cross of Christ. For though
it offers great deliverance, it also
demands great sacrifice. Isaac
Watts was deeply disappointed
with the hymns of his day, which
failed to inspire his parishes to
genuine worship and holy living.
His dissatisfaction led him to
compose more than 600 hymns,
designed to call his congregation
to a deeper knowledge & worship
of God. This hymn was written in
1707 for use in communion service.

Lord, we Deficate ourselves to U:
I once thought these things were
valuable, but now I consider them
worthless because of what Christ
has done… For his sake I have
discarded everything else,
counting it all as garbage,
so that I could gain Christ and
become one with him (Phil 3:7-9)

Lord Jesus, from the hymn, we
realise the cross is not only a holy
cross, but also a “wondrous” cross.
On this undignified & cruel object,
the wooden cross, placed between
another two which bore the bodies
of criminals, we do not have a
criminal but the “Prince of Glory”.
Why should THE Prince of Glory,
die on such a symbol of ignominity?
If anyone deserved to be exalted
it’s this Prince of Glory who chose
to die in such humility. And so
I pour contempt on all my pride.
The blood flowing from His head,
hands and feet becomes mingled
with sorrow and love. It becomes
sorrow for the pain and suffering;
and also of love because He bore
this for each and everyone of us.

Father God, the wonder and the
seriousness of Christ’s sacrificial
death cause us to contemplate.
What shall we offer to You God
in grateful appreciation for Your
gracious gift? All that we are
and have is but a small offering
in return for such a great love.
So, help us to truly choose you.
And to open ourself to whatever
You want to do in our life to fit
with Your character & purposes.
For Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm
me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands,
His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.