Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Forgotten Verses

On By BrianIn Holidays, Hymns

Here are some forgotten verses from another Christmas carol:

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.

“It Came Upon The Midnight Clear”
Edmund H. Sears
Written in 1849
As found in the Cyber Hymnal

Christmas Collection

On By BrianIn Holidays, PASSION Collections1 Comment

Here are some good posts for Christmas:

Jesus Isn’t Threatened by Your Christmas Gifts – Tim Challies

10 Ways to Be a Christian this Christmas – Kevin DeYoung

How to Show Your Kids Grace This Christmas – Jessica Thompson (Crossway)

3 Ways to Become a Christmas-Loving Pastor – Ronnie Martin (TGC)

Forgotten Verses

On By BrianIn Holidays, Hymns

Here are some more more forgotten verses from another familiar Christmas carol:

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

“O Come All Ye Faithful”
John F. Wade
Written around 1743
As found in the Cyber Hymnal

Forgotten Verses

On By BrianIn Holidays, Hymns

Yesterday I started a week-long feature sharing forgotten verses from some of our favorite Christmas carols.  Here is the second installment:

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
Charles Wesley
Written in 1739
As found in the Cyber Hymnal

Why He Came

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes2 Comments

whychristcameIn Christ’s first coming, He implemented a rescue plan conceived in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. He did not come to promote holiday cheer, boost end-of-year sales, or serve as the central figure in a nativity scene. He came to save sinners.

– Joel Beeke & William Boekestein in Why Christ Came

Forgotten Verses

On By BrianIn Holidays, Hymns1 Comment

Every year we sing numerous Christmas carols from our hymnal at church.  But often our hymnal only has a few select verses included.  So this week I want to feature some forgotten verses from some of our favorite Christmas carols.  Here is the first:

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.

“Angels From the Realms of Glory”
James Montgomery
Written 1816-1825
As found in the Cyber Hymnal

Reflections on I Samuel 28-31

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

In our passage today we see two men, two battles, and two outcomes.  Observe:

  • Sin and judgment – When God wouldn’t answer him, Saul again took matters into his own hands and sinned by going to a medium. The medium calls up Samuel who delivers the pronouncement of God’s judgment – Saul and his sons will die in the coming battle.  When God doesn’t respond as you want, do you take matters into your hands?
  • Obedience and blessing – David finds that an enemy has taken away his wives. He first turns to God and finds strength in the Lord (30:6).  He then seeks God’s direction and follows it – and rescues his wives.  Where do you turn first in calamity?  Are you following God’s direction?

Reflections on I Samuel 25-27

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

David continues to hide from Saul.  Observe:

  • Responding to evil – David prepares to respond to Nabal’s evil with more evil, but later David responds to Saul’s evil with good again. Why do suppose David responds to Nabal’s evil differently than Saul’s evil?  When is it easier for you to respond to evil with good?  Harder?  Why?
  • Lord’s anointed – Even though Saul had rejected God and God had rejected Saul, David refused to stretch out his hand against Saul because God had made Saul king. God in his providence still determines who will lead our government today – even those who don’t follow God.  Is your attitude toward your leaders like David’s attitude?