O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Sometime last year I became familiar with the group "Indelible Grace". I've provided below a link to their contemporary version of a great traditional hymn on YouTube.


O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Lyrics

1. O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

2. O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshines blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust lifes glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be

Handel's "Messiah"

Yesterday one of my daughters noticed that I was listening to Handel's Messiah during my morning Bible reading. At the time I commented that I never tire of listening to it because it is so incredibly rich with scripture, and how I did not know enough of the 'spiritual' history behind Handel, or his Messiah.

Well, today while doing some on line research on the topic of worship, I was delighted to stumble upon THIS, and thought some of you might find it of interest too!

Hopefully sometime this week I'll have time to download my Messiah CDs to my MP3 player!





(image from wikipedia)

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Christ Shall Have Dominion Over Land and Sea

Christ shall have dominion
Over land and sea,
Earth's remotest regions
Shall his empire be;
They that wilds inhabit
Shall their worship bring,
Kings shall render tribute,
Nations serve our King.

Christ shall have dominion
Over land and sea,
Earth's remotest regions
Shall his empire be;

When the needy seek him,
He will mercy show;
Yea, the weak and helpless
Shall his pity know;
He will surely save them
From oppression's might,
For their lives are precious
In his holy sight.

Ever and for ever
Shall his Name endure,
Long as suns continue
It shall stand secure;
And in him for ever
All men shall be blest,
And all nations hail him
King of kings confessed.

Unto God Almighty
Joyful Zion sings;
He alone is glorious,
Doing wondrous things.
Evermore, ye people,
Bless his glorious name,
His eternal glory
Through the earth proclaim.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord (Psalm 103)

O come, my soul, bless thou the Lord thy maker,
And all within me bless his holy name;
Bless thou the Lord, forget not all his mercies,
His pardoning grace and saving love proclaim.

Bless him for ever, wondrous in might,
Bless him, his servants that in his will delight.

Good is the Lord and full of kind compassion,
Most slow to anger, plenteous in love;
Rich is his grace to all that humbly seek him,
Boundless and endless as the heavens above.

His love is like a father's to his children,
Tender and kind to all who fear his name;
For well he knows our weakness and our frailty,
He knows that we are dust, he knows our frame.

We fade and die like flowers that grow in beauty,
Like tender grass that soon will disappear;
But evermore the love of God is changeless,
Still shown to those who look to him in fear.

High in the heavens his throne is fixed for ever,
His kingdom rules o'er all from pole to pole;
Bless ye the Lord through all his wide dominion,
Bless his most holy name, O thou my soul.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder

Let us love, and sing, and wonder,
Let us praise the Saviour's name!
He has hushed the law's loud thunder,
He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame;
He has washed us with his blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us love the Lord who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies,
Called us by his grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears and gave us eyes:
He has washed us with his blood,
He presents our souls to God.

Let us sing, though fierce temptation
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqueror's crown,
He who washed us with his blood,
Soon will bring us home to God.

Let us wonder; grace and justice
Join, and point to mercy's store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles, and asks no more:
He who washed us with his blood,
Has secured our way to God.

Let us praise, and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high;
Here they trusted him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky:
"Thou hast washed us with thy blood;
Thou art worthy, Lamb of God!"

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Come Thou Fount

Come, thou Fount of ev'ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise,
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God:
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be;
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

All they works with joy surround Thee
Earth and Heaven reflect thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise

Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flowery meadow flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Oh Lord by Thee Delivered

From Psalm 30 (listen HERE)

O Lord, by thee delivered,
I thee with songs extol;
My foes thou hast not suffered
To glory o'er my fall.
O Lord, my God, I sought thee,
And thou didst heal and save;
Thou, Lord, from death didst ransom
And keep me from the grave.

His holy Name remember,
Ye saints, Jehovah praise;
His anger lasts a moment,
His favor all our days;
For sorrow, like a pilgrim,
May tarry for a night,
But joy the heart will gladden
When dawns the morning light.

In prosp'rous days I boasted,
Unmoved I shall remain,
For, Lord, by thy good favor
My cause thou didst maintain;
I soon was sorely troubled,
For thou didst hide thy face;
I cried to thee, Jehovah,
I sought Jehovah's grace.

What profit if I perish,
If life thou dost not spare?
Shall dust repeat thy praises,
Shall it thy truth declare?
O Lord, on me have mercy,
And my petition hear;
That thou mayst be my helper,
In mercy, Lord, appear.

My grief is turned to gladness,
To thee my thanks I raise,
Who hast removed my sorrow
And girded me with praise;
And now, no longer silent,
My heart thy praise will sing;
O Lord, my God, for ever
My thanks to thee I bring.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs ~ There is a Redeemer

There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.

Thank you, O my Father, for giving us Your Son;
And leaving Your Spirit 'til the work on earth is done.

Jesus, my Redeemer, Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain.

When I stand in glory I will see His face,
There I'll serve my King forever in that holy place.

words and music by Keith Green, 1982

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ How Deep the Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross, my sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life--I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no pow'r, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer,
But this I know with all my heart; His wounds have paid my ransom.


words and music by Stuart Townend, 1995 by Thankyou Music

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down:
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
Into ev'ry troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest:
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be:
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav'n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

All hail the power of Jesus' Name

All hail the power of Jesus' Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God
Who from his altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod,
And crown him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel's chosen race,
Ye ransomed of the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
And crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
And crown him Lord of all.

Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To him all majesty ascribe,
And crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall;
We'll join the everlasting song,
And crown him Lord of all.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ "How Sweet and Awful is the Place"

Trinity hymnal, #271


How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?"

Why was I made to hear thy voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ "More Love to Thee, O Christ"

Listen to the tune HERE.

"More Love to Thee, O Christ"

More love to thee, O Christ,
More love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make
On bended knee;
This is my earnest plea,
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to thee,
More love to thee.

Once earthly joy I craved,
Sought peace and rest;
Now thee alone I seek;
Give what is best:
This all my prayer shall be,
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to thee,
More love to thee.

Let sorrow do its work,
Send grief and pain;
Sweet are thy messengers,
Sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me,
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to thee,
More love to thee.

Then shall my latest breath
Whisper thy praise;
This be the parting cry
My heart shall raise,
This still its prayer shall be,
More love, O Christ, to thee,
More love to thee,
More love to thee.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ 'Man of Sorrows'

My favorite hymnal is the Trinity Hymnal (Baptist version) because it has such a huge variety of musically rich and theologically sound hymns--many are very familiar, while some are 'new' to us. My husband recently reminded me that you can listen to the tunes to these hymns HERE .

"Man of Sorrows"

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 heav'n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

When he comes, our glorious King,
All his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ A Mighty Fortress

A Mighty Fortress

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs ~ And Can It Be

Update 07/07/08: When I posted this late Saturday night I failed to provide the alternate verses that correct some theological errors found in the third stanza--it crossed my mind at the time but I failed to follow through. I apologize for my negligence and invite you to read and consider the alternate verses provided in red below.

And Can It Be

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?’

Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Humbled Himself because of love,
And bled for all His chosen race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ~ "Hail, Sovereign Love"

I love this theologically rich hymn! The writer did a magnificent job of establishing the order of God's providence, our condition without God, what God accomplished for us through His Son, and our matchless inheritance because of Christ!

I 'see' myself in this hymn every time I sing it or simply read it (and have highlighted those phrases that remind me of His mercy in my life). Enjoy!

Hail, Sovereign Love

Hail, sovereign love that first began,
The scheme to rescue fallen man;
Hail matchless free eternal grace,
That gave my soul a hiding place.

Against the God who rules the sky,
I fought with hand uplifted high,
Despised the mention of His grace,
Too proud to seek a hiding place.

Enwrapped in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure without a hiding place.

But thus th’ eternal counsel ran,
“Almighty Love, arrest that man!”
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no hiding place.

Indignant justice stood in view,
To Sinai’s fiery mount I flew,
But Justice cried with frowning face,
“This mountain is no hiding place!”

Ere long a heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy’s angel form appeared.
Who led me on with gentle pace,
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place.

On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
That must have sunk a world to hell;
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus became their hiding place.

Should storms of sevenfold vengeance roll,
And shake this earth from pole to pole;
No flaming bolt could daunt my face,
For Jesus is my hiding place.

A few more rolling suns at most,
Shall land me safe on Heaven’s coast.
There I shall sing the song of grace,
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place!

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

We sang this during worship this morning--the highlighted portion really caught my attention and provided a sweet reminder and humble focus in light of where my thoughts have been recently. Talk about water to a thirsty soul...

The Glories of Calvary

Lord, You're calling me to come
And behold the wondrous cross,
To explore the depths of grace,
That came to me at such a cost.
Where Your boundless love
Conquered my boundless sin,
And mercy's arms were opened wide.

Chorus:
My heart is filled with a thousand songs,
Proclaiming the glories of Calvary,
With every breath, Lord how I long
To sing of Jesus who died for me.
Lord, take me deeper
Into the glories of Calvary.

Sinners find eternal joy
In the triumph of Your wounds.
By our Savior's crimson flow
Holy wrath has been removed.
And Your saints below
Join with Your saints above,
Rejoicing in the Risen Lamb.

My heart is filled with a thousand songs,
Proclaiming the glories of Calvary,
With every breath, Lord how I long
To sing of Jesus who died for me.

Lord, take me deeper
Into the glories of Calvary.

by Steve and Vikki Cook ~ Sovereign Grace Music