Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Seize the Moment – Day 1075
Today’s song focus will be
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Hymn 135
Galatians 6:14 (NASB95)
“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
This ancient hymn was written by Isaac Watts in 1707, creating a hymn to be sung that would go along with the sermon of the day with this theologically based song. As we are in the season of Lent, we will focus on the songs that point us to the whole reason we recognize this season. We will reflect on how Jesus would be fulfilling what had been foretold by the prophets of old. Jesus knew that the time was approaching when He would have to give the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind…His life!
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on the link below:
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
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Hymn: Take Up Your Cross & Follow Jesus
Seize the Moment – Day 1068
Today’s song focus will be
Take Up Your Cross & Follow Jesus
Matthew 16:24 (NASB95)
“ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Performed by the fabulous and renowned Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in 1990 and written by Jane Johannson Knoedler & Steve Millikan, this moving ballad challenges the believer to follow after Christ unashamedly. When Jesus spoke to His disciples, he was telling them that it was not going to be an easy task and they would have to set aside their own wants and desires and follow Him with everything they got.
Take up your cross and follow Jesus Take up your cross every day
Don’t be ashamed to say that you know Him
Count the cost, take up your cross and follow Him
We need to once again wake up and realize, just like last week’s challenge, that this is a daily choice. Counting the costs ahead of time and determining in our hearts and minds that we are going to follow after Jesus, no matter what, is what we have to do.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Take Up Your Cross & Follow Jesus
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Hymn: Great I Am
Seize the Moment – Day 1061
Today’s song focus will be
Great I Am
Exodus 3:14 (NASB95)
“ God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
In the Hebrew language, ‘I Am’ is Yahweh (YHWH), the holiest of names for God in the Old Testament. This name is in the present tense, showing that God is personal and desires to have a real relationship with mankind. In 2011, Jared Anderson felt an ache, an urgency to be a part of the great big story of what God is doing, wanting to be a part of the action and not sitting on the sidelines observing, but truly participating. He wanted the church to feel like they are joining with the hosts of heavens as we declare our worship to the Almighty God.
Hallelujah, holy, holy God Almighty, the great I AM
Who is worthy, none beside Thee, God Almighty, the great I AM
We need to wake up to the fact that this is a daily choice that each of us has to make. We choose to be happy or mad. We choose to be joyful or sad. We choose to be good or bad. That’s why we need to choose to start our day by worshiping the One who had given us life, and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Great I Am
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Coffee Talk 2023
Coffee Talk
COMMUNION:
It starts with communion! It is our practice here at FBC to bring everyone together on the first Sunday of the month and take communion together. But this should not be the only time that we do this. What about when you are having your coffee and toast during your morning devotion time? Or when you have a lunch with a friend? Or when you have friends over for dinner? Or how about when we have our church pitch-in or picnic? All of these could be and should be a time of communion.
During this time today, we want you to imagine that you have been invited by the King to sit at God’s table and to be served by the King, because that is what Jesus did with the disciples at the Last Supper. Even though it was His dinner party that was set up by two of his disciples (Luke 22), Jesus was the One who served the disciples by washing their feet, which also reflected His future role as Savior by granting them forgiveness of sins. Right now, Tina and I want you to take a moment and close your eyes as you imagine Jesus, kneeling at your feet, and washing them and think about how you would feel.
This is the One who’s relationship sets the standard for all other relationships. He has given each of us a holy invitation…a sacred Sacrament bidding to leave the cares and chores of this life and enter a special place with Him. While we are taking these elements as a group, it does not negate the fact that He did all this just for you. He is meeting you here at the table. But He is not going to force you to participate. He wants you to remember what each of these elements represent: The Bread is His body which was broken for you and me; and the cup is the new covenant in His precious blood that was poured out, not just shed, for each of us, fulfilling the prophesy of Jeremiah 31 that was repeated in Hebrews 8:10-12:HH
“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
Prepare to take the elements:
Luke 22:19 The Bread
“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:20 The Cup
“After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. “
COFFEE TALK:
We are sharing first what the Bible says, and then giving you some practical applications, most of which have been a part of our lives. This is not the “In my day, blah, blah, blah” type of talk, but wanting to remind each and every one of you of what the Bible has laid out as our instructions of best practices for our lives. And it requires an investment of what each and every one of us has an equal amount of…TIME!
- Time with God one on one
- Time with our spouse & with God
- Time with our family with God
- Time with our friends with God
I. Time with God one on one
From the beginning, God desired to commune and spend time with His creation, made in His image. It was only when sin entered the picture that things changed. Mankind had to offer up sacrifices to atone for their sins. But God desired to restore that relationship, so He sent His Son to be the ultimate Sacrifice.
Now, the only thing we had to do was chose to surrender our hearts and lives to Him. He told us to love Him with all our heart, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This was not a one and done type of thing, but rather us understanding that we have to spend time with God to understand how we are to love Him and others completely.
Ephesians 4:1b & 5:2
“…lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
Matthew 4:4
“The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
II. Time with our spouse & with God.
Quality vs Quantity (changes per season of your life)
Ephesians 5:21-22
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.”
Romans 12:10
“Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.”
III. Time with our Family & with God
Romans 14:12-13
“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
We are in no way condemning or pointing fingers. We had our own missteps…BUT GOD, rich in mercy and grace!
Proverbs 22:6
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.”
Deuteronomy 11:19
“Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”
IV. Time with friends and with God
Ephesians 4:3-4
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”
- Iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17)
- Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)
- Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Galatians 6:1-2
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Hebrews 13:16-17
“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.”
Tina and I have taken this task of sharing God’s Word to heart. We know that we will be held accountable to God for all that we have said today. But, since we have shared God’s Biblical truths with you, you can no longer say “I didn’t know.” We challenge you to take Ephesians 4 & 5 this week and dig in deeper to see all the other things that we are and are not supposed to be doing as a Child of God. Take time to listen to the heart of the Father and follow what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do.
You can listen to this message by clicking below:
You can watch this time of sharing by clicking HERE.
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Hymn: Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me
Seize the Moment – Day 1054
Today’s song focus will be
Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me
Hymn 132
Galatians 2:20 (NASB95)
“ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Similar to the times of the writing of some of our favorite hymns, there is some question as to what defines a true hymn? Is it the music style, the instruments used, or the rhyming of the lyrics. Something could be said for all of these, but I find that when you are taking the lyrics from scripture, you can never go wrong. Such is the case of this modern hymn written in 2018 by Johnny Robinson, Rich Thompson and Michael Farren. These men write their songs with a commitment to the authority of Scripture, a personal relationship with Jesus, and a focus on mission, sharing the gospel both home and abroad.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwc2d1Xt8gM
Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me
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Hymn: King of My Heart
Seize the Moment – Day 1047
Today’s worship song focus will be
King of My Heart
Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Written in 2015 by John and Sarah McMillan, this modern-day hymn is a declaration, giving praise to the goodness of God and that He is our refuge and salvation. With all that is going on in our world, it is easy to lose our focus. This song brings us back to the facts that God is with us and greater than all the evil that may be around us. He is good, faithful, and will never let us down.
Let the King of my heart be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from, Oh, He is my song…
We need to wake up to that fact that God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good…even when we may not be feeling it. Like Katie told us last week, we need to get on our faces before God and declare to ourselves and believe that He is trustworthy and good!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
King of My Heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh, He is my song
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh oh, He is my song
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh, He is my song
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You’re never gonna let me down
And You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You are good, oh oh
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
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Hymn: How Great is Our God
Seize the Moment – Day 1040
Today’s worship song focus will be
How Great is Our God
Hymn 130
Psalm 104:1 (NASB95)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty”
While living in Austin, Texas in 2004, Chris Tomlin was reflecting on Psalm 104 as it declared the greatness, splendor and majesty of God. His desire was to create a song that was more than a three month hit, but rather a lasting song of praise to the most high God. He began singing parts of the scriptures, creating the basis of the song “How Great is Our God”. He shared the song with his friends Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash, who helped him to add the bridge and fine tune the song.
How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God
And all will see how great, how great is our God.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
How Great is Our God
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Hymn: Goodness of God
Seize the Moment – Day 1033
Today’s hymn focus will be
Goodness of God
Hymn 129
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NASB95)
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
Written in 2018, this song of worship and declaration of the faithfulness and goodness of God came to Jenn Johnson while she and her husband Brian were amid an adoption process of a baby boy, who would be their fourth child. Her heart welled up with praise as she reflected on where God had brought them and where He was taking them. She shared the song with her husband, and fellow songwriters Ed Cash, Jason Ingram and Ben Fielding. It was recorded by Bethel Music on the VICTORY album in 2019.
Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
As we begin this new year, we need to wake up and fuel the fire that brings forth our heartfelt worship. I encourage you to surround yourselves with nothing but Christian music until the end of the month. Seek Him first in everything each and every day! It will change your life!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Goodness of God
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Hymn: The Love of God
Seize the Moment – Day 1026
Today’s hymn focus will be
The Love of God
1 John 4:9 (NASB95)
“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”
Written in 1917 by Frederick M. Lehman, the song was inspired after attending a church service where he had heard a powerful sermon on the love of God. Facing challenging times after his business had failed, he was working on a farm boxing oranges and lemons. During one of his breaks, he sat down on a crate and wrote these words on a scrap piece of paper. The last stanza was inspired by a poem found in a prison cell, but actually turned out to written by a Jewish poet in 1050 A.D.
O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure, the saints’ and angels’ song.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
The Love of God
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
it goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.
The wand’ring child is reconciled
by God’s beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole,
and priceless pardon won.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.
and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
when those who here refuse to pray
on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
grace will resound the whole earth round—
the saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]
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Hymn: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Seize the Moment – Day 1019
Today’s hymn focus will be
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
John 10:2-3 (NASB95)
“But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
This hymn was written in 1836 and attributed to Dorothy A.Thrupp. Born in London, she grew up a very modest person, but loved writing stories and songs for children’s magazines. It was put to music by William Bradbury and has appeared in over 1000 hymnals.
But there is a story tied to this song is of Ira Sankey, the famous song leader for D.L. Moody. One Christmas Eve in 1876 while riding a steamboat, he was asked to sing. He sang this hymn, and the song touched a rough looking character who stepped forward and asked how he could find that shepherd. God had brought it around full circle, because this same man had heard Ira sing this song back in 1862 when Ira was a Union Soldier, and the rough character was a Confederate soldier hiding in the woods.
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare
As we begin a new year, we need to wake up and ask the Savior to lead us each and every day, because we never know whose life we might be able to touch and change for eternity.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
https://hymnary.org/text/savior_like_a_shepherd_lead_us
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee.
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
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Christmas Hymn: Mary Did You Know
Seize the Moment – Day 1012
Today’s Christmas hymn focus will be
Mary Did You Know
Luke 2:19 (NASB95)
“ ‘But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.’”
Mark Lowry began writing the lyrics in 1984 to one of the most popular Christmas songs. When asked to create a musical program for Living Christmas Tree, Lowry spent time pondering the person of Mary, posing all the questions that are written in the song. Seven years later, he contacted Buddy Greene to help write the music. A few weeks later, they got the music into the hands of Michael English, who sang it and included it on the album he was making at that time.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day
walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy
will save our sons and daughters?
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Mary Did You Know?
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Christmas Hymn: Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light: [Refrain]
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star: [Refrain]
Read more...
Christmas Hymn: Adore
Seize the Moment – Day 998
Today’s Christmas hymn focus will be
Adore
Psalm 95:6 (NASB95)
“ Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Written in 2013 by UK Worship Artists Graham Kendrick & Martin Chalk, it later became the featured title song of Chris Tomlin’s Christmas album in 2016. Graham stated that he was inspired by one of the greatest Christmas carols, “O Come Let Us Adore Him”, when Martin started playing the music for this song and it had the word adore in it. He went on to say, “It very simply just tells the story of God made flesh and enables us to respond to it.”
Adore, o come let us adore. O come let us adore Him
The Lord, worship Christ the Lord. Let all that is within us, adore!
As we are halfway through the advent season, we need to wake up to the fact that we can’t just assume that the world knows what Christmas is all about. God sent this precious gift to us to give to others. It is up to us to share the blessed hope of God’s amazing grace that came to earth that night in a manger. And His name is Jesus!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Adore
Humbly you came
God of all creation
Here with us
In a starlit manger
Emmanuel
Light of the world
Here to save
Come let us adore
Oh come let us adore him
The Lord, worship Christ, the Lord
Let all that is within us
Shepherds bow low
Angel voices sing of peace on earth
What have I to offer
To heaven’s King
I’ll bring my life, my love, my all
Come let us adore
Oh come let us adore him
The Lord, worship Christ, the Lord
Let all that is within us
Adore
Peace on earth, here with us, joy awakening
At your feet we fall
Adore
Come let us adore
Oh come let us adore him
The Lord, worship Christ, the Lord
Let all that is within us
Adore
Read more...
Christmas Hymn: Angels We Have Heard On High
Seize the Moment – Day 991
Today’s Christmas hymn focus will be
Angels We Have Heard On High
Hymn 123
Luke 2:13-14 (NASB95)
“ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Inspired by the French Christmas Carol “Les Anges dans nos campagnes” (translated means ‘the angels in our countryside’) James Chadwick did not specifically translate, but rather drafted a new set of lyrics that stay true in reflecting the original theme. The new version was shared in 1862 and quickly became popular in Western England. He did maintain the music of the original French song.
The hymn’s theme is a Nativity narrative taken from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, starting with the moment the angels appeared to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem and the instructions on how they will find the Christ Child.
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains
During this advent season, we need to wake up and purpose in our hearts that each and every day we will proclaim glory to God in the highest and allow our lives to reflect His light and love in everything we do and say.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Angels We Have Heard On High
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song? [Refrain]
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]
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Table of Blessings! 2022
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
You can listen to this service by clicking below:
You can watch this service by clicking HERE.
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Hymn: We Gather Together
Seize the Moment – Day 977
Today’s hymn focus will be
We Gather Together
Hymn 121
Psalm 100:4 (NASB95)
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”
Once again, I find myself without much of a voice due to a recurring ear infection. But that is not about to stop me from bringing God praise. In addition to this phone call, tomorrow morning we will be encouraged as a church through the testimonies of three families, giving praise to God for what He has done in and through their lives this past year.
Today’s hymn was written in the 16th century by an anonymous Dutch author to encourage their fellow congregants to worship and give God praise. During this time, the church was being oppressed by a Spanish rulership and they wanted religious freedom. In the late 1800’s, the hymn entitled “Prayer of Thanksgiving” was translated into English by Theodore Baker, a musicologist from New York who had studied in Leipzig, Germany. It was then published as a traditional Thanksgiving hymn in 1894.
It can be found in our hymn book as hymn 561.
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens, His will to make known.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
We Gather Together
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.
Whose kingdom calls all to the love which endures.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:
You, Lord, were at our side; all glory be yours!
And pray that you still our defender will be.
Let your congregation escape tribulation:
Your name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
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Hymn: Make Room
Seize the Moment – Day 963
Today’s Modern day hymn focus will be
Make Room
Romans 6:13 (NLT)
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
Written in 2020 by Community Music’s husband and wife team Lucas Cortazio and Evelyn Heideriqui , along with writers Josh Farro and Bekah White, created this song as a prayer for God to take His rightful place, demonstrating that it is up to us to open up and allow Him access to our hearts and lives. This song glorifies God while pleading with both believers and non-believers to lay down their lives in total surrender. It is only of our own free will that this can happen because God is a gentleman and does not force His way, but lovingly calls us to surrender to Him, making Him Lord of our lives.
And I will make room for You to do whatever you want to,
to do whatever you want to.
And I will make room for You to do whatever you want to
To do whatever You want to.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Make Room
Here is where I lay it down
Every burden, every crown
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
Here is where I lay it down
Every lie and every doubt
This is my surrender
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to, oh
Have Your way, have Your way, Jesus, oh
We surrender all, we surrender all, Jesus
Have Your way, Jesus, have Your way, Jesus
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better
Oh Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better, Jesus
Oh Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better, Jesus
Your way is better
Shake up the ground of all my tradition
Break down the walls of all my religion
Your way is better
Oh Your way is better
Here is where I lay it down
You are all I’m chasing now
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
Here is where I lay it down
You are all I’m chasing now
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
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Train to Live on Mission – Week 34
Battle Drill #34:
Building up Heart & Mind
Pastor Jerry shared last week about learning resilience, and that it is more than just being tough and having a ‘thick skin”, learning from the example of Paul’s life and skills. Today I would like to take follow up on that thought and take us through the fundamentals that this resilience comes out of… the building up of your heart and mind.
Proverbs 24:3-5, 10-12
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.
I. It starts with the heart, for the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
It takes a heart of integrity! Look at King David! It was said of him:
Psalm 78:72
“He shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them”
His son, King Solomon wrote:
Proverbs 4:23
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
A. Know the field manual: He Weighs the Heart
Romans 10:9-10
“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for [a]God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4
“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
God uses the Word to measure
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
B. Importance of Training Together: It Brings Unity
ILLUS: “Don’t Lose Heart” by Steven Curtis Chapman
It is the home of your hope and faith
2 Chronicles 30:12
“The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.”
Acts 4:32-33
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”
C. Seek the Commander’s Approval: More than just good intentions
1 Tim. 1:5
“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Heb. 10:22
“ let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Benefit: God will guard your heart
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 24:3-5
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.
A. Know the field manual: Set your mind
ILLUS: On the line of scrimmage – no flinching
Romans 8:5
Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 26:2
“Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.”
B. Importance of Training Together: We Need Each Other!
ILLUS: Things we can’t go without: Air/3 minutes; Water/3 days; Food/3 weeks; Fellowship/3 months.
Starts having impact on our overall well-being.
Human touch inspires positive thinking & expands trust, reduces social anxiety & stress, boosts immune system & lowers blood pressure.”
In an article published in a secular psychology magazine, the writer stated:
“It’s ironic that during a highly contagious pandemic where our immune systems are being the most stressed, we are being deprived of something (human touch) that is so essential to our body’s function.” *
How the early church started
Acts 2:42
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Philippians 2:5 (ESV)
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 10:24-25
“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
C. Seek the Commander’s Approval: Put God first!
Proverbs 24:12
“If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?”
ILLUS: Reading or hearing the instructions.
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17,23-24
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father… Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
How do we Live on Mission? K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly)
You can listen to the message here:
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
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Hymn: Blessed Be Your Name
Seize the Moment – Day 956
Today’s hymn focus will be
Blessed Be Your Name
Psalm 34:1 (NASB95)
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
This modern-day hymn was written by Matt & Beth Redman, who also have written songs we sing like “The Heart of Worship”, “Your Grace Finds Me”, and “10,000 Reasons”. In September 2001, they were visiting in California just after 9/11 occurred. They saw the effects that it was having on people and churches and the brokenness that was being felt. As they visited churches, they heard the powerful messages of pastors expressing the pain of the nation and God’s heart for His people, but there seemed to be a lack of songs that gave people a voice in worship. They were inspired to write this hymn to give a voice to the lament, but also reflect in Whom our hope of victory is placed.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.
We need to wake up to the fact that God is with us in every season of our lives, even those times that may seem dark and sad. When we remember that the sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes with the morning, we can trade the sadness for gladness.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Blessed Be Your Name
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Hymn: Like a Mighty Sea
Seize the Moment – Day 949
Today’s hymn focus will be
Like a Mighty Sea
Hymn 117
John 4:14 (NASB95)
“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Growing up in the church, Tina and I remember some of the hymns by page number that were being called out during a service or because they were a family member’s favorite. Today’s hymn is such a song, as it was HYMN 215 “Like A Mighty Sea”, which was Tina’s grandpa’s requested hymn.
Written in 1900 by Henry J. Zelley, a Taylor University Graduate, and put to music by Henry Lake Gilmour, this hymn serves as a call to salvation and as a reminder of where the source of life comes from, which is the throne of God. Every parched and thirsty soul is invited to plunge beneath the waves of His never-ending love and grace.
Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea, comes the love of Jesus
sweeping over me
The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol, comes the love of Jesus
sweeping o’er my soul
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Like a Mighty Sea
To sweep from highest heaven to this poor heart of mine;
I stand upon the promise, in Jesus’ name I plead;
Oh, send the gracious current to satisfy my need.
Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the shouts I can’t control;
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.
That come to bring refreshing down from the throne above;
The earnest of the shower, just now to us is giv’n,
And now we wait, expecting the floods of grace from heav’n. [Refrain]
The floodtide of salvation, with pow’r to cleanse from sin;
It’s surging through my being and takes my sin away,
It keeps me shouting glory! through all the happy day. [Refrain]
A torrent of salvation in saving, cleansing pow’r:
I hear the billows surging, I see them mount and roll;
Oh, glory, hallelujah! they’re sweeping through my soul. [Refrain]
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Hymn: Take My Life
Take My Life
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
The original hymn was written in 1876 by Frances Havergal. The daughter of an Anglican minister, she was referred to as the ‘consecrated poet’, striving to live her life that was fully dedicated to Christ, always sensitive to the needs of others. She gave the hymn a sense of prayerful petition by starting each verse with the compulsory verb of “take”.
In May of 2013, Chris Tomlin and Louie Gigglio put a modern twist on the hymn, making sure to keep the integrity and meaning of the verses, while adding a new chorus that reiterated the consecration and personal commitment to the Lord. Like Frances, these two men convey the message of the song with strong conviction and invitation for others to do the same.
Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Take My Life
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
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Hymn: Come People of the Risen King
Seize the Moment – Day 935
Today’s hymn focus will be
Come People of the Risen King
Hymn 115
Philippians 2:11 (NASB95)
“ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This song is a wonderful call to worship written by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townsend in 2008. Much like to hymns of the past, they took us through progressive steps as to why we are to express our praise, inviting us in the process with them, calling us to declare God’s grace and mercy and how we are to express our gratitude and consecration to Him.
Using a melody style that is reflective of the times is also something that the hymn writers of old used to do. It helps to make the song memorable so we can walk away with that song in our hearts. We are being invited to come and rejoice in the gospel, no matter where we are in this life.
Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, o Church of Christ, rejoice!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Come People of the Risen King
[Verse 1]
Come, people of the risen King
Who delight to bring Him praise
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the morning star of grace
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in
[Refrain]
Rejoice, rejoice
Let every tongue rejoice
One heart one voice
Oh, church of Christ rejoice
[Verse 2]
Come those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night
Come those who tell of battles won
And those struggling in the fight
For His perfect love will never change
And His mercies never cease
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace
[Verse 3]
Come, young and old from every land
Men and women of the faith
Come those with full or empty hands
Find the riches of His grace
Over all the world His people sing
Shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries through every age
Our God is all in all
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Hymn: Glorious Day
Seize the Moment – Day 928
Today’s hymn focus will be
Glorious Day
“ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
In 2009, Mark Hall, the frontman and songwriter for Casting Crowns, wrote the music for a glorious old hymn. He took the strong lyrics of this hymn that depicted the life of Christ, a hymn he grew up on and rearranged it because people were not singing it much anymore.
The original hymn, ‘One Day’ was written by John Wilbur Chapman who was born in Richmond, Indiana. Written about 1908, he was a passionate evangelist, he wrote this hymn to provide a memorable way to share the gospel.
Both of these men wanted this message to be declared loud and clear:
Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sin far away
Rising He justified freely forever; One day He’s coming, O glorious day!1 Peter 2:24dkl
O glorious day!
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Glorious Day
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Hymn: Great is the Lord
Seize the Moment – Day 921
Today’s modern day hymn focus will be
Great is the Lord
Hymn 113
Psalm 145:3-4 (NASB95)
“ Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
In 1982, Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie were active members of a church in Nashville TN where he also led worship. During that season of their lives, they would often sit together at night, open up the scriptures and allow God to inspire their hearts. One night, God took them to the above passage. While she wrote a few lines, he played the melody, and they saw them come together practically at the same time.
The next Sunday, he taught the song to the congregation of Belmont Church, and they were greatly moved to a spirit of worship, lifting their voices in praise as they sang this song.
Great is the Lord, He is holy and just, by His power we trust in His love
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true, by His mercy He proves He is love
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Great is the Lord
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Hymn: Faith is the Victory
Seize the Moment – Day 914
Today’s hymn focus will be
Faith is the Victory
Hymn 112
1 John 5:4 (NASB95)
“ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
John Yates was known for his beautiful poetry, first being published in the local paper, then soon thereafter in Harper’s Bazaar and other national magazines. He was a shoe salesman by trade but served as a lay preacher in the Methodist church. In 1878, his faith was severely tested when his wife and two sons died within a week of each other after an outbreak of diphtheria.
He later remarried and shared poems and messages of faith in the promises of God and how He supplies the victory. In 1891, he sent the words to this hymn to Ira Sankey who was the song director for the D.L. Moody evangelistic campaigns. He wrote the music for this hymn that is still sung today.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O, glorious victory that overcomes the world!
We need to wake up and take hold of this glorious promise of God! He is the one who will give us the victory, for He has overcome the world.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
Faith is the Victory
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n;
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.
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