In the Cross of Christ I Glory

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

 

When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

 

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

 

- John Bowring

 

Sunday if for Sacred: I Am Coming to the Cross

I am coming to the cross;
I am poor and weak and blind;
I am counting all but dross;
I shall full salvation find.

Refrain 1-4:
I am trusting, Lord, in Thee,
Blessed Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow,
Save me, Jesus, save me now.

Long my heart has sighed to be
Wholly purified within;
Jesus sweetly speaks to me:
“I will cleanse you from all sin.”

Here I give my all to Thee:
Friends and time and earthly store;
Soul and body Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forevermore.

In the promises I trust;
Now I feel the blood applied;
I am prostrate in the dust;
I with Christ am crucified.

Jesus comes! He fills my soul!
Perfected in Him I am;
I am every whit made whole:
Glory, glory to the Lamb!

Refrain 5:
I am trusting, Lord, in Thee,
Blessed Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow,
Jesus saves me, saves me now.

- William McDonald

The Din of Death

Amid the din of a dying world, let us hear Your voice, dear Father. The ruckus of cheap laughs, piercing screams, long wails, and futile words is often filling our hearts just as it is filling our ears. May we not become immune to the cries of this languishing world, but may we also not allow it to drown out Your still, small voice. For, it is only by knowing Your voice that we are moved, but not enticed, by the sounds of the world around us. For You do we wait. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Poems and Prayers

Dear Father God, such aching hurts now crowd our weary souls

Our courage gone, the way is long, and the path is full of holes

Why in Your sovereign plan have You seen fit to choose this way?

Deep despair flows, our sorrow grows, and evil wins the day

O would Your face but reappear, our sadness would be gone

Our weeping would be turned to joy and our sadness into song

Though family fail and foes prevail and friend and lover flee

We see our need, and humbly plead to closer walk with Thee

Both Near and Far

Father, Your word is so near to us yet we are often so far from it. Something within us often does its best to reject Your word’s work in our lives, following instead its own fleshly pleasures. O Father, may we seek to be people of Your word, reading and listening and meditating on it always and applying it to even the most mundane things in our lives. We thank You for this treasure You have given us that draws us to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.