Month: November 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.

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!