Humble Home

The Temple of the Soul

Thus saith the high and lofty One,

Inhabiting eternity;

Earth is My footstool, Heaven My throne,

What temple will ye build for Me?

Restore Me now Mine own.

Behold the temple of My choice;

My dwelling is the humble soul;

To make the broken heart rejoice,

The wounded spirit to make whole;

Then hearken to My voice.

Here, O Thou high and lofty One,

Bow down Thine heavens to dwell with me;

Here plant Thy footstool, raise Thy throne,

Rebuild Thy fallen sanctuary;

I yield Thee back Thine own.

Behold the temple of Thy choice,

Eternity within my soul;

Now make the broken heart rejoice,

The wounded spirit now make whole;

Lord! I have heard Thy voice.

..from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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What Price A Soul?

The Soul

What is the thing of greatest price,

The whole creation round?

That, which was lost in Paradise,

That, which in Christ is found.

The soul of man,--Jehovah's breath!

That keeps two worlds at strife;

Hell moves beneath to work its death,

Heaven stoops to give it life.

God, to reclaim it, did not spare

His well-beloved Son;

Jesus, to save it, deign'd to bear

The Sins of all in One.

The Holy Spirit sealed the plan,

And pledged the blood divine,

To ransom every soul of man;

That price was paid for mine.

And is this treasure borne below

In earthly vessels frail;

Can none its utmost value know,

Till flesh and spirit fail?

Then let us gather round the Cross,

This knowledge to obtain,

Not by the soul's eternal loss,

But everlasting gain.

..from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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Heavenly Unity

The Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace

The glorious universe around,

The heavens with all their train,

Sun, moon, and stars, are firmly bound,

In one mysterious chain.

The earth, the ocean, and the sky,

To form one world agree,

Where all that walk, or swim, or fly,

Compose one family.

God in creation thus displays

His wisdom and His might,

While all His works with all His ways

Harmoniously unite.

In one fraternal bond of love,

One fellowship of mind,

The saints below, and saints above,

Their bliss and glory find.

Here, in their house of pilgrimage,

Thy statutes are their song;

There, through one bright eternal age,

Thy praises they prolong.

Lord, may our union form a part

Of that thrice happy whole,

Derive its pulse from Thee the Heart,

Its life from Thee the Soul.

--from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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Denial

The Guilt and Folly of Denying God

"There is a God," all Nature cries,
All Knowledge proves "there is a God:"
"There is no God," the Fool replies,
Whose heart is duller than the clod.

The grateful clod, refresh'd with rains,
Pours flowers along its Maker's path;
But the Fool's heart a Fool's remains,
Untouch'd by love, unmoved by wrath.

And yet the wretch himself deceives;
While fiends believe, and trembling fly,
He trembles though he disbelieves;
And conscience gives his life the lie.

Can guilt, can madness further go?
Yes, his who God in works denies,
Whose creed saith "Yes," whose life says "No:"
Am I more holy, just, and wise?

My soul, sink down in shame and grief;
So fair without, so foul within;
Thy faith is specious unbelief,
Thy righteousness, self-righteous sin.

O God! Thou art, Thou surely art,
And those who truly seek Thee find;
Put Thou Thy laws into my heart,
In mercy write them on my mind.

Light in Thy light I long to see,
Thy glory in Thy goodness trace;
Ah! then reveal Thy Son in me,
Through faith may I be saved by grace.

..from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

God All In All

God All In All

Hail, all hail, the King of kings!

On His throne of sovereignty,

By whose will, whose word, all things

Are, and were, and yet shall be.

Hail Him, all that move and breathe,

On His throne of Providence;

To His family beneath,

Life and health diffusing thence.

Hail Him on His throne of grace,

God our Father reconciled,

Changing, from our fallen race,

Many a foe into a child.

Hail Him on His throne of light,

O'er His family above,

From the beatific sight,

Sending peace, and joy, and love.

Hail, all hail, the King of kings,

When on earth He deigns to dwell,

Heaven into the soul He brings,

God with us, Immanuel.

Come, O come! and for Thy throne,

King of kings, each heart prepare;

Reign triumphant, reign alone,

Lord of lords, for ever there.

..from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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God of Nature, God of Grace

 The Glory of God in Creation

The God of nature and of grace

In all His works appears;

His goodness through the earth we trace,

His grandeur in the spheres.

Behold this fair and fertile globe

By Him in wisdom plann'd;

'Twas He who girded, like a robe,

The ocean round the land.

Lift to the arch of heaven your eye

Thither His path pursue;

His glory, boundless as the sky,

O'erwhelms the wondering view.

How excellent, O Lord, Thy name

In all creation's lines!

Spread through eternity, Thy fame

With rising lustre shines.

These lower works, that swell Thy praise

High as man's thoughts can tower,

Are but a portion of Thy ways,

The hiding of Thy power.

O shouldst Thou rend aside the veil,

And show thy dwelling-place,

The souls which thou hast made would fail

'Twere death to see Thy face.

Can none behold that face and live?

Yea, sinners may draw near:

The Lord is kind, and will forgive,

His love shall cast out fear.

Millions amidst His presence stand,

Who feel, while they adore,

Fulness of joy at His right hand,

And pleasures evermore.

--from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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God Spoke

God the Creator

Praise the High, the Holy One!

God o'er all, the first, the last:

For He spake, and it was done;

He commanded, it stood fast.

At His word, from darkness light,

Harmony from discord broke;

Weakness started into might,

Beauty out of dust awoke:

Fire and water, air and earth,

Heard His voice and hush'd their strife:

Death itself, by wondrous birth,

Grew the parent of all life.

Plant and flower, and herb and tree,

Sprang spontaneous from the sod;

Sun and moon, and land and sea,

Day and night, beheld their God.

Fishes, fowls upon the wing,

Beasts, and all that creep or fly,

Every breathing, moving thing,

Peopled forest, flood, and sky.

But while all was fair and good,

All accordant to His will,

None their Maker understood,

Mind and thought were wanting still.

God, His glory to display,

With His image crown'd the whole,

Breath'd His Spirit into clay,

And made man a living soul.

Hallelujah, praise the One

God o'er all, the first, the last:

For He spake, and it was done;

He commanded, it stood fast.

--from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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Beginnings and Endings

The Creation and Dissolution of all Things

In the beginning, God said "Be!"

And all things were,--heaven, earth, and sea:

God, in the end, once more will say,

"Perish!" and all shall pass away.

But Thou, O Lord! for ever art:

The orb of Thine eternity

Is one great whole, without a part;

Past, present, future, meet in Thee.

Convinced of sin, my soul would bend

Before Thee in the lowest dust;

Yet to Thy Throne by prayer ascend,

With trembling awe and childlike trust.

O look in loving-kindness down

On a frail worm with Thee at strife;

Eternal death were in Thy frown,

Thy smile will be eternal life!

--from Sacred Hymns and Poems by James Montgomery

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Holy, Holy, Holy Lord

Photo credit: LifeHouseDesign

Hymn 1

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of Hosts! when heaven and earth,
Out of darkness at Thy word
Issued into glorious birth,
All Thy works before Thee stood,
And Thine eye beheld them good,
While they sang with sweet accord,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!

Holy, Holy, Holy! Thee,
One Jehovah evermore,
Father, Son, and Spirit! we,
Dust and ashes, would adore;
Lightly by the world esteem'd,
From that world by Thee redeem'd,
Sing we here with glad accord,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!

Holy, Holy, Holy! All
Heaven's triumphant choirs shall sing,
When the ransom'd nations fall
At the footstool of their King:
Then shall saints and seraphim,
Hearts and voices swell one hymn,
Round the Throne with full accord,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!

--from Sacred Poems and Hymns by James Montgomery

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Big, Bad World

Photo credit: Tjflex2


Hideaway

Sometimes I just want to hide away,
Escape the dangers of the everyday,
Avoid life's stresses that come my way...

Sometimes.

Sometimes I wish I could disappear,
Post a big sign that says "Out of here,"
Live somewhere without worry or fear...

Sometimes.

But You have called me to live in light,
Swim in the rapids, fight the good fight,
Live and walk worthily in your sight.

But sometimes,

It's just...
So...
Hard.

HELP!

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Eye-Opener

Photo credit: jeffreyhollis


The Visual Feast

Rich russet and gold,
Bright scarlet and green,
Changes we behold
Or those yet unseen,

The Great God of love
Chooses to bestow
These gifts from above
For all men below.

Yet are we grateful
For the joys we view
Or blindly prideful
And think them our due?

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The Mediator

Photo credit: "†OnlyByGrace&qu ot;

The Mediator

by Hans Sachs


O Christ, true Son of God most high,

Thy name we praise for ever;

Whoe'er to Thee for help doth cry

Shall find Thee fail him never;

'Tis Thou wilt plead,

Thou intercede

With God, for us who need Thy prayers so sore:

Thy bitter strife

Hath wrought us life,

And Thine be thanks and praise for evermore!


To Thee the Father giveth now

All power in earth and heaven;

Sin, Satan, Death to Thee must bow,

All fetters Thou hast riven,

Bade fear to cease,

And made our peace,

That now to God we dare our hearts outpour:

Thy bitter strife

Hath wrought us life,

And Thine be thanks and praise for evermore!


Fulness of grace is in Thy Word;

The Life, the Truth, the Way

To life eternal art Thou, Lord;

To Thee alone we pray,

Who didst appear

A servant here

To bear the sin that crushed the world before:

Thy bitter strife

Hath wrought us life,

And Thine be thanks and praise for evermore!


--from Christian Singers of Germany
by Catherine Winkworth

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No More Despair

Photo credit: Dainis Matisons

No More Despair

by Heinrich Frauenlob

Now will I nevermore despair of heaven,

Since it is Thine, my Father, who hast given

Thy glorious kingdom to the poor indeed.

Yea, mighty God, since Father is Thy name,

Christ for my brother I may dare to claim,

And He for all my sins will help me plead.

A brother's truth to us He swore

When on Himself He took humanity,

For us alone that form He wore,

For us alone hung high upon the Tree.

Look in what cruel sorrows there He pined!

Dear Lord, I bid thee call those woes to mind,

And, brother-like, entreat Thy Father, who is mine,

To give me, too, my lot in that blest heritage of Thine.


--from Christian Singers of Germany
by Catherine Winkworth

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Bonds of Compassion

Photo credit: roy_mac_an_iarla

Alas for my sorrow!

My heart is in pain;

Where is hope for the morrow

To whom now complain?

O God, take compassion

On me lying low,

And comfort, O comfort me,

Through Thine own woe.


Keenly regretful,

I call to my mind

How we are forgetful,

How He is so kind!

Who gladly, yet painfully,

Yielded His breath,

Only to ransom us

Ever from death.


Where shall I find Him,

Him dearest to me,

Who let His foes bind Him

That we might be free?


--from Christian Singers of Germany
by Catherine Winkworth

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The Appeal

Thou Heavenly Lord of Light,

Guide us with grace and might

To Thine own realm, to be

Forever like to Thee.

Lord Christ, from heaven above

Send us Thy Father's love,

That we to heaven may go,

Nor suffer the least woe.


--from Christian Singers of Germany
by Catherine Winkworth

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The Wanderer

Photo credit: Nemo.H

HYMN 7


"In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." -- Isaiah 30:15.


With a heart full of anxious request,

Which my Father in heaven bestowed,

I wandered alone, and distressed,

In search of a quiet abode.

Astray and distracted I cried, --

Lord, where would'st Thou have me to be?

And the voice of the Lamb that had died

Said, Come, my beloved, to ME.


I went -- for He mightily wins

Weary souls to His peaceful retreat --

And He gave me forgiveness of sins,

And songs that I love to repeat;

And oft as my enemies came,

My views of His glory to dim,

He taught me to trust in His name,

And to triumph by leaning on Him.


Made pure by the blood that He shed,

My heart in His presence was free;

I was hungry and thirsty -- He fed;

I was sick, and he comforted me;

He gave me the blessing complete --

The hope that is with me today,

And a quiet abode at his feet,

That shall not be taken away.


--from Hymns and Meditations by Ann L. Waring

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Streams From Zion

Photo credit: BamaWester

HYMN 5


"I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground." -- Isaiah 44:8.


Source of my spirit's deep desire

For living joys that shall not perish,

The patient hope Thy words inspire,

Still let Thy tender mercy cherish.


On Thee my humbled soul would wait,

Her utmost weakness calmly learning,

And see Thy grace its way create,

Through thorns and briers which Thou art burning.


Gladly my inmost heart would know

The love that now it faintly traces,

And see the streams from Zion flow

O'er all its waste and desert places.


And still I hope -- O not in vain!

I know, this holy seed possessing,

Thou wilt come down like gentle rain,

And make the barren ground a blessing.


--from Hymns and Meditations by Anna L. Waring

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His Embrace in Solitude

Photo credit: AgniMax

HYMN 4


"I, even I, am He that comforteth you." -- Isaiah 2:12


Sweet is the solace of Thy love,

My Heavenly Friend, to me,

While through the hidden way of faith

I journey home with Thee,

Learning by quiet thankfulness

As a dear child to be.


Though from the shadow of Thy peace

My feet would often stray,

Thy mercy follows all my steps,

And will not turn away;

Yea, thou wilt comfort me at last,

As none beneath Thee may.


Oft in a dark and lonely place,

I hush my hastened breath,

To hear the comfortable words

Thy loving Spirit saith;

And feel my safety in Thy hand

From every kind of death.


O there is nothing in the world

To weigh against Thy will;

Even the dark times I dread the most

Thy covenant fulfill;

And when the pleasant morning dawns

I find Thee with me still.


Then in the secret of my soul,

Though hosts my peace invade,

Though through a waste and weary land

My lonely way he made,

Thou, even Thou, wilt comfort me --

I need not be afraid.


Still in the solitary place

I would awhile abide,

Till with the solace of Thy love

My heart is satisfied;

And all my hopes of happiness

Stay calmly at Thy side.


--from Hymns and Meditations by Anna L. Waring

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The One Needful Thing

Photo credit: Grant MacDonald

HYMN 3

"If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." -- John 14:14.


My prayer to the promise shall cling --

I will not give heed to a doubt;

For I ask for the one needful thing,

Which I cannot be happy without.


A spirit of lowly repose

In the love of the Lamb that was slain,

A heart to be touched with his woes,

And a care not to grieve Him again --


The peace that my Savior has bought,

The cheerfulness nothing can dim,

The love that can bring every thought

Into perfect obedience to Him --


The wisdom his mercy to own

In the way he directs me to take, --

To glory in Jesus alone,

And to love, and do good for His sake.


All this Thou hast offered to me

In the promise whereon I will rest;

For faith, O my Savior, in Thee,

Is the substance of all my request.


Thy word has commanded my prayer,

Thy Spirit has taught me to pray;

And all my unholy despair

Is ready to vanish away.


Thou wilt not be weary of me,

Thy promise my faith will sustain,

And soon, very soon, I shall see

That I have not been asking in vain.


--from Hymns and Meditations by Anna L. Waring

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Source of My Life's Refreshing Springs

Photo credit: hiskinho

Not long ago I discovered the poetry of the shy, Welsh hymn-writer, Anna Waring. Simple yet polished, her poetry has the power to touch hearts in a way that rivals the works of more popular writers. A great sermon could be preached from the truth contained in the last stanza of today's poem alone. May this week's selections from Anna's pen bless you as much as they bless me.

HYMN 2


"Thou maintainest my lot." -- Psalm 16:5.


Source of my life's refreshing springs,

Whose presence in my heart sustains me,

Thy love appoints me pleasant things,

Thy mercy orders all that pains me.


If loving hearts were never lonely,

If all they wish might always be,

Accepting what they look for only,

They might be glad, but not in Thee.


Well may Thy own beloved, who see

In all their lot their Father's pleasure,

Bear loss of all they love, save Thee,

Their living, everlasting treasure.


Well may Thy happy children cease

From restless wishes prone to sin,

And, in Thy own exceeding peace,

Yield to Thy daily discipline.


We need as much the cross we bear,

As air we breathe, -- as light we see;

It draws us to Thy side in prayer,

It binds us to our strength in Thee.


--from Hymns and Meditations by Anna L. Waring

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