Good Hymnody: Chief of Sinners Though I Be

Posted: January 24, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Hymns | Tags: | Leave a comment

1 Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me; Died that I might live on high, Lived that I might never die. As the branch is to the vine, I am His and He is mine.

2 Oh, the height of Jesus’ love, Higher than the heav’ns above, Deeper than the depths of sea, Lasting as eternity! Love that found me–wondrous thought! Found me when I sought Him not.

3 Only Jesus can impart Balm to heal the wounded heart, Peace that flows from sin forgiv’n, Joy that lifts the soul to heav’n; Faith and hope to walk with God In the way that Enoch trod.

4 Chief of sinners though I be, Christ is all in all to me; All my wants to Him are known, All my sorrows are His own. He sustains the hidden life Safe with Him from earthly strife.

5 O my Savior, help afford By Your Spirit and Your Word! When my wayward heart would stray, Keep me in the narrow way; Grace in time of need supply While I live and when I die.

Text: Willim McComb 1793-1873, alt.

An Excerpt from Luther’s A Simple Way to Pray

Posted: January 24, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Quotes | Tags: | Leave a comment

Third, I confess and acknowledge my great sin and horrible thanklessness, that I have violated the Festival Day so disgracefully my whole life long and so terribly despised His Word. I have been so lazy, and felt so filled with His Word that I just have not felt like hearing it and thought I did not need it. I have not truly desired it and I have not given thanks for it. I have also allowed my dear God to preach to me in vain and have let the precious treasure go and stomped on it. Out of purely divine goodness, He has put up with all this from me and has not stopped continuing to preach to me and to call for my soul’s salvation, despite my sin. He has done this with all fatherly, divine goodness and faithfulness. All this gives me great sorrow, and I plead for grace and forgiveness.

Luther, Martin (2012-11-19). A Simple Way to Pray (Kindle Locations 258-259). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.

 

Great Hymnody

Posted: January 14, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Hymns | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Not What These Hands Have Done (LSB 567)

1 Not what my hands have done Can save this guilty soul; Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole.

2 Not what I feel or do Can give me peace with God; Not all my prayers and sighs and tears Can bear my awful load.

3 Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin; Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within.

4 Thy love to me, O God, Not mine, O Lord to Thee, Can rid me of this dark unrest And set my spirit free.

5 Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak; Thy pow’r alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break.

6 I bless the Christ of God, I rest on love divine; And with unfalt’ring lip and heart I call this Saviour mine.

Text by Horatius Bonar, 1808-89