A Word of Grace

Why should I feel discouraged?Why should the shadows come?Why should my heart be lonelyAnd long for heav’n and home,When Jesus is my portion?My constant Friend is He:His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me;His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy—I sing because I’m free—For His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.

Under His wings I am safely abiding.Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me.He has redeemed me, and I am His child.Refrain:Under His wings, under His wings,who from His love can sever?Under His wings my soul shall abide,safely abide forever.2 Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!Often when earth has no balm for my healing,there I find comfort, and there I am blest. [Refrain]3 Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me.Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore. [Refrain]

1 For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Refrain: Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise. 2 For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]3 For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain] 4 For yourself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given, agent of God's grand design: peace on earth and joy in heaven.

All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful:The Lord God made them all.Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,He made their tiny wings. 

We bid thee welcome in the nameof Jesus, our exalted Head,Come as a servant, so he came,And we receive you in His stead.

Oh, that the Lord would guide my waysto keep his statutes still!Oh, that my God would grant me graceto know and do his will!Order my footsteps by your Wordand make my heart sincere;let sin have no dominion, Lord,but keep my conscience clear.Assist my soul, too apt to stray,a stricter watch to keep,and should I e'er forget your way,restore your wand'ring sheep.Make me to walk in your commands—'tis a delightful road—nor let my head or heart or handsoffend against my God.

1. Of the Father's love begotten,Ere the worlds began to be,He is Alpha and Omega,He the source, the ending He,Of the things that are, that have been,And that future years shall see,Evermore and evermore.2. At his word the worlds were framèd;He commanded, it was done:Heav’n and earth and depths of ocean,In their threefold order one;All that grows beneath the shiningOf the moon and burning sun—[Evermore and evermore.]3. He was found in human fashion,Death and sorrow here to know,That the race of Adam’s children,Doomed by law to endless woe,May not henceforth die and perishIn the dreadful gulf below—[Evermore and evermore.]4. O that birth forever blessèd,When the virgin, full of grace,By the Holy Ghost conceiving,Bore the Savior of our race,And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,First revealed his sacred face—[Evermore and evermore.]

Depth of mercy, can there beMercy still reserved for me?Can my God His wrath forbear?Me, the chief of sinners, spare?"Whence to me this waste of love?"Ask my Advocate aboveSee the cause in Jesus' faceNow before the throne of graceI have long withstood His graceLong provoked Him to His faceWould not harken to His callsGrieved Him by a thousand fallsThere, for me, the Savior standsShows His wounds, and spreads His handsGod is love, His grace so freeDepth of mercy, there for meI my Master have deniedI afresh have crucifiedAnd profaned His hallowed namePut Him to an open shameJesus speaks and pleads His bloodHe disarms the wrath of GodNow my Father's mercies moveHe receives me with His love

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that we to judge thee have in hate pretended? By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted! Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee! 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee. Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered; the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered. For our atonement, while we nothing heeded, God interceded.

Not what these hands have donecan save this guilty soul;not what this toiling flesh has bornecan make my spirit whole.Not what I feel or docan give me peace with God;not all my prayers and sighs and tearscan bear my awful load.Thy work alone, O Christ,can ease this weight of sin;Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,can give me peace within.Thy love to me, O God, not mine,O Lord, to Thee,can rid me of the dark unrest,and set my spirit free.Thy grace alone, O God, to me can pardon speak;Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break.I bless the Christ of God;I rest on love divine;and with unfalt'ring lip and heart,I call this Savior mine.

Creation sings the Father’s song;He calls the sun to wake the dawnAnd run the course of day,Till evening comes in crimson rays.His fingerprints in flakes of snow,His breath upon this spinning globe,He charts the eagle’s flight,Commands the newborn baby’s cry.Hallelujah!Let all creation stand and sing:“Hallelujah!”Fill the earth with songs of worship,Tell the wonders of creation’s King.Creation gazed upon His face;The ageless One in time’s embrace,Unveiled the Father’s planOf reconciling God and man.A second Adam walked the earth,Whose blameless life would break the curse,Whose death would set us freeTo live with Him eternally.Creation longs for His return,When Christ shall reign upon the earth;The bitter wars that rageAre birth pains of a coming age.When He renews the land and sky,All heaven will sing and earth replyWith one resplendent theme:The glory of our God and King.

Give to the winds your fears,Hope, and be undismayed;God hears your sighs and counts your tears;God shall lift up your head.Thru' waves and clouds and stormsHe gently clears the way.Wait now this time, so shall this nightSoon end in joyous day.Leave to his sov'reign swayTo choose and to command;So shall you wond'ring, own his way,How wise, how strong his hand.Far, far above your thoughtsHis counsel shall appear,When fully he the work has wro'tThat caused your needless fear.

When my heart is filled with fearLike a stormy skyJesus says “be not afraid”He is at my sideThere’s a rock where I can goKeeps me safe and this I knowDeep within my troubled soulJesus calms the stormWhen my thoughts are tossed and turnedLike a raging seaI will listen to His voiceHe will comfort meWhen I feel the shame of sinLike a crashing wave My Redeemer rescues meBy His grace I’m savedHe who rules the wind and wavesSoon will come againOh take courage little heartEvery storm will end

Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

God of our fathers, whose almighty handLeads forth in beauty all the starry bandOf shining worlds in splendor through the skies,Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.Thy love divine hath led us in the past,In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;Thy true religion in our hearts increase,Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,Lead us from night to never-ending day;Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

I am weak but Thou art strong;Jesus, keep me from all wrong;I'll be satisfied as longAs I walk, let me walk close to Thee.Just a closer walk with Thee,Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,Daily walking close to Thee,Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Use me, O my gracious Savior,Use me, Lord, as pleaseth Thee;Nothing done for Thee so lowlyBut is great enough for me.

Wash me in the Savior's bloodMake me pure without withinCleanse my heart and set me freeFree from guilt and free from free from sinFree from guilt and free from sinDark the stain I cannot hideStain of my sin my guilt to proveGuilt my own and foolish pridePride the reason for my sinPride the reason for my sin 

I lay my sins on Jesus,the spotless Lamb of God;He bears them all, and frees usfrom the accursed load;I bring my guilt to Jesus,to wash my crimson stainswhite in His blood most precious,till not a spot remains.

How happy every child of grace,Who knows his sins forgiven!"This earth," he cries, is not my place,I seek my place in heaven:A country far from mortal sight,Which yet by faith I see,The land of rest, the saints’ delight,The heaven prepared for me."O what a blessed hope is ours!While here on earth we stay:We more than taste the heavenly powers,And antedate that day,We feel the resurrection near,Our life in Christ concealed,And with His glorious presence hereOur earthen vessels filled.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die!Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I? Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,And it told Thy love to me;But I long to rise in the arms of faith,And be closer drawn to Thee.Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,To the cross where Thou hast died;Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Take Thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray,Give us the mind of Christ each passing day;Teach us to know the truth that sets us free;Grant us in all our thoughts to honor Thee.

Still, my soul be stillAnd do not fearThough winds of change may rage tomorrowGod is at your sideNo longer dreadThe fires of unexpected sorrowGod, You are my GodAnd I will trust in You and not be shakenLord of peace renewA steadfast spirit within meTo rest in You alone

When waves of affliction sweep over the soulAnd sunlight is hidden from view,If ever you’re tempted to fret or complain,Just think of His goodness to you.Refrain:Just think of His goodness to you;Yes, think of His goodness to you;Though storms o’er you sweep,He is able to keep;O think of His goodness to you

Every morning that breaksThere are mercies anewEvery breath that I takeIs your faithfulness provedAnd at the end of each dayWhen my labors are throughI will sing of Your mercies anewWhen I’ve fallen and strayedThere were mercies anewFor you sought me in loveAnd my heart you pursuedIn the face of my sinLord, You never withdrewSo I sing of Your mercies anewAnd Your mercies, they will never endFor ten thousand years they’ll remainAnd when this world’s beauty has passed awayYour mercies will be unchangedAnd when the storms swirl and rageThere are mercies anewIn affliction and painYou will carry me throughAnd at the end of my daysWhen Your throne fills my viewI will sing of Your mercies anewI will sing of Your mercies anew

Christ, the sure and steady anchorIn the fury of the stormWhen the winds of doubt blow through meAnd my sails have all been tornIn the suffering, in the sorrowWhen my sinking hopes are fewI will hold fast to the anchorIt shall never be removedChrist, the sure and steady anchorWhile the tempest rages onWhen temptation claims the battleAnd it seems the night has wonDeeper still then goes the anchorThough I justly stand accusedI will hold fast to the anchorIt shall never be removedChrist, the sure and steady anchorThrough the floods of unbeliefHopeless somehow, O my soul, nowLift your eyes to CalvaryThis my ballast of assuranceSee His love forever provedI will hold fast to the anchorIt shall never be removedChrist, the sure and steady anchorAs we face the wave of deathWhen these trials give way to gloryAnd we draw our final breathWe will cross that great horizonClouds behind and life secureAnd the calm will be the betterFor the storms that we've enduredChrist, the shore of our salvationEver faithful, ever trueWe will hold fast to the anchorIt shall never be removed

What a fellowship, what a joy divineLeaning on the everlasting armsWhat a blessedness, what a peace is mineLeaning on the everlasting armsLeaning, leaningSafe and secure from all alarmsLeaning, leaningLeaning on the everlasting armsWhat have I to dread, what have I to fearLeaning on the everlasting arms?I have blessed peace with my Lord so nearLeaning on the everlasting armsLeaning, leaningSafe and secure from all alarmsLeaning, leaningLeaning on the everlasting arms

O help us, Lord! each hour of needthy heavenly succour give;help us in thought and word and deedeach hour one earth we live. O help us, when our spirits bleedwith contrite anguish soreand when our hearts are cold and dead,O help us, Lord, the more

How long, O Lord, shall I complain,Like one that seeks his God in vain?How long my soul thine absence mourn,And still despair of thy return? How long shall my poor troubled breastBe with these anxious thoughts opprest?If thou withhold thy heavenly light,I sleep in everlasting night. Hear, Lord, and grant me quick relief,Thy mercy now shall end my grief;For I have trusted in thy grace,And shall again behold thy face.

Out of the depths, I cry to YouIn darkest places, I will callIncline Your ear to me anewAnd hear my cry for mercy, Lord. Were you to count my sinful waysHow could I come before Your throne?Yet full forgiveness meets my gazeI stand redeemed by grace alone. I will wait for You, I will wait for YouOn Your Word, I will relyI will wait for You, surely wait for You'Til my soul is satisfied.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,Striving to please Him in all that I do;Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,This is the pathway of blessing for me. Refrain:O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;Such love constrains me to answer His call,Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Your harps, ye trembling saints,Down from the willows take;Loud to the praise of love divineBid ev'ry string awake. Though in a foreign land,We are not far from home;And nearer to our house aboveWe ev'ry moment come. His grace will to the endStronger and brighter shine;Nor present things, nor things to come,Shall quench the grace divine. When we in darkness walk,Nor feel the heav'nly flame,Then is the time to trust our God,And rest upon his Name.

Earthly pleasures vainly call me;I would be like Jesus;Nothing worldly shall enthrall me,I would be like Jesus. Refrain:Be like Jesus - this my song,In the home and in the throng;Be like Jesus, all day long,I would be like Jesus.

Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,in ev'ry part with praise,that my whole being may proclaimthy being and thy ways.Not for the lip of praise alone,nor e'en the praising heart,I ask, but for a life made upof praise in ev'ry part.

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted'Mid the raging storms of time;Its pages burn with the truth eternal, And they glow with a light sublime. Chorus:The Bible stands tho' the hills may tumble,It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;I will plant my feet on its firm foundation, For the Bible stands, The Bible stands.

Take the name of Jesus with you,Child of sorrow and of woe.It will joy and comfort give you,Take it then where'er you go.Precious name, O how sweet!Hope of earth and joy of heaven;Precious name, O how sweet!Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

Make me a servantHumble and meekLord let me lift upThose who are weakAnd may the prayerOf my heart always beMake me a servantMake me a servantMake me a servant today

Spread, O spread, almighty word,spread the kingdom of the Lord,where the breath of God has givenlife to people meant for heaven. Tell them how the Father's willmade the world, and keeps it still;how his only Son he gaveall from sin and death to save. Tell of our Redeemer's love,who, for ever to removeall the guilt that on us lies,gave himself as sacrifice.

Amazing grace, how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind, but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace, my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed Through many dangers, toils and snaresWe have already come'Twas grace that brought us safe thus farAnd grace will lead us home 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

Jesus, where'er your people meet,there they behold your mercy seat;where'er they seek you, you are found,and ev'ry place is hallowed ground. For you, within no walls confined,are dwelling in the humble mind;such ever bring you where they come,and going, take you to their home.

Jesus, Savior, great Example,Pattern of all purity,I would follow in thy footsteps,Daily growing more like thee.More like thee, more like thee;Savior, this my constant prayer shall be—Day by day, where'er I stay,Make me more and more like thee

Faith of the martyrs, living stillin spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;oh, how our hearts beat high with joywhene’er we hear that glorious word!Faith of the martyrs, holy faith,we will be true to thee till death. The martyrs chained in prison cellswere still in heart and conscience free,and bless’d would be their children’s fateif they, like them, should die for thee!

The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth; and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me. In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me; thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy cross before to guide me. Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth; and oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth! And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever

He’s the shelter in my storm.He’s the shade when I am worn.He’s the shield in my griefwhen there’s no relifeHe’s the Shepherd of my soul Bless the Lord, O bless the Lord.Bless the Shepherd of my soul.In the pasture sweet, in the valley deep,bless the Shepherd of my soul. He receives me when I call.He restores me when I fall.He pursues when I sin,though I’ve fled from Him.He’s the Shepherd of my soul.He’s the Lamb whose blood was shed.He’s the lifter of my head.He rewards me with rest—first in life, then death;He’s the Shepherd of my soul.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,Much we need Thy tender care;In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,For our use Thy folds prepare:Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,Be the guardian of our way;Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,Seek us when we go astray:Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,Hear, O hear us when we pray;Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Jesus the shepherd of my soulAll of my needs suppliesBy living waters gives me restKeeping me by His sideBringing my wandering spirit backWhen I forsake His waysLeading me for His mercy's sakeIn paths of truth and grace Jesus the shepherd of my soulWhen in the valley deepDeath like a shadow hides my wayStill You are leading meI will not fear the darkest hourFaithful You will remainComforting with Your rod and staffDriving my fears away Jesus the shepherd of my soulKeeping me from all harmEver until He leads me homeSafely into His armsWhen I behold Him face to faceThen I will look and seeGoodness and mercy from His handSurely have followed me When I behold Him face to faceThen I will look and seeGoodness and mercy from His handSurely have followed meSurely have followed me

Be strong and valiant for the truth,Resist the tempter’s luring pow’r;Shun all the avenues of sin,And trust in God each day and hour. Be strong, and firmly trust,In God through every test;Be true, and fearless stand,And with His grace and strength be blest. 

Jesus draw me ever nearerAs I labour through the storm.You have called me to this passage,And I'll follow, though I'm worn. May this journey bring a blessing,May I rise on wings of faith;And at the end of my heart's testing,With Your likeness let me wake. Jesus guide me through the tempest;Keep my spirit staid and sure.When the midnight meets the morning,Let me love You even more. Let the treasures of the trialForm within me as I go -And at the end of this long passage,Let me leave them at Your throne.

Hear the voice of our Commander standing firm,Holy pilgrims, take the armor, standing firm;Shod in gospel preparation,Sword and helmet of salvation,Meekly hold the true position, standing firm. Fear not, brethren, firm and true,Whate’er thy foe may be;Jesus fought the battle through,And gives to us the victory.