Hymns, Psalms and Words of Praise to the Saviour together with Choruses which remind us of our youth and a time when life seemed so much simpler.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold.
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hands.
Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause.
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His worthy name.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary.
Most funerals are either sad, very sad or joyful occasions. When I say joyful, I mean if the deceased had invited Christ into their lives during the time they were alive, they are in fact with their Saviour, and if given the chance to return to earth, they would decline. The people left behind are sad and happy at the same time. Sad because the departed one is no longer with them and happy because their loved one is with The Lord. The really sad funerals are the ones where the departed had no time for Christ during their lives, having ignored the message of the Gospel. Their friends and family attend the funeral and sing songs of a religious nature and make out that everything is ok and that the departed one is now out of pain, no longer suffering and now at peace, when nothing could be further from the truth! I recently attended a funeral of someone I had never met in person. It was one of the best funeral services I have ever been to, simply because the Pastor told us that the deceased was a Christian and was with her Saviour. He then went on to preach the Gospel to all who attended the funeral. He urged everyone who had not responded to the message of the Cross to do so without delay. We then sang the following beautiful hymn. I urge you to read the words and meditate on them. They have changed many a life simply because they point to the One who gave His life that we might live.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up in the glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You’ll spread His love
To everyone
You’ll want to pass it on
What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing
The flowers start their blooming
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You’ll want to sing
It’s fresh like spring
You’ll want to pass it on
I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I’ve found
You can depend on Him
It matters not where you’re bound
I’ll shout it from the mountain top
I want the world to know
The Lord of Love
Has come to me
I want to pass it on
I’ll shout it from the mountain top
I want the world to know
The Lord of Love
Has come to me
I want to pass it on
Man of sorrows! What a name.
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Lifted up was He to die;
It is finished, was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring.
Then anew His song we’ll sing
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Oh Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee,
Thou stood in the sinner’s stead,
To bear all ill for me:
A victim led, Thy blood was shed-
Now there’s no load for me.
Death and the curse were in our cup;
O Christ, t’was full for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop;
Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup, Love drank it up –
Now blessing’s draught for me.
Jehovah lifted up His rod;
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God-
There’s not on stroke for me;
Thy tears, Thy blood beneath it flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
The tempest’s awful voice was heard;
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thine open bosom was my ward;
It braved the storm for me;
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred-
Now cloudless peace for me.
For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee;
Thou’rt risen; my bands are all untied,
And now Thou liv’st in me:
The Father’s face of radiant grace,
Shines now in light on me.
This beautiful hymn was written by
Mrs. Anne Ross Cousin (1824-1906)
The Last Words of Samuel Rutherford were written by a Scottish lady named Ann Ross Cousin, and was first published in the Christian Treasury as late as 1857. This highly gifted lady was the daughter of Dr. David Ross Cuendell of Leith, and became the wife of Rev. William Cousin, an honoured clergyman of the Free Church of Scotland. In 1876, a volume was published called “Immanuel’s Land and other pieces” by A.R.C.
Rutherford is the miner who found and furnished the gems, while Mrs Cousin was the skilful jeweller who sorted and arranged them into a *chaplet for a king.
*a wreath or garland for the head.
There is a gate that stands ajar,
And through its portals gleaming
A radiance from the Cross afar,
The Saviour’s love revealing.
O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!
That gate ajar stands free for all
Who seek through it salvation;
The rich and poor, the great and small,
Of every tribe and nation.
O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!
Press onward, then, though foes may frown,
While mercy’s gate is open;
Accept the Cross, and win the crown,
Love’s everlasting token.
O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!
Beyond the river’s brink we’ll lay
The Cross that here is given,
And bear the crown of life away,
And love Him more in Heaven.
O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!
Lydia Odell Baxter 1809-1874
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Continue reading
Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made:
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing so sweetly in the trees.
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.
On that Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great thou art! How great Thou art!
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did the Grace appear,
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
‘Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years.
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we’d first begun.
In times like these you need a Saviour,
In times like these you need an anchor,
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the one,
This Rock is Jesus, The only one,
Be very sure, Be very sure,Continue reading