Sunday's Hymn

Oops. I put this together earlier and then forgot to publish it.

Here’s one of John Newton’s Olney Hymns, a collection of hymns mostly written by Newton, but also including a few done by William Cowper.

This is a hymn about the thaw of spring (which we don’t have yet, but I trust is coming some time before September) and the thaw of the heart of stone—two springs thaws worked by God.

Hymn 89

The thaw.

The ice and snow we lately saw,
Which covered all the ground;
Are melted soon before the thaw,
And can no more be found.

Could all the art of man suffice
To move away the snow,
To clear the rivers from the ice,
Or make the waters flow?

No, ’tis the work of GOD alone;
An emblem of the pow’r
By which he melts the heart of stone,
In his appointed hour.

All outward means, till he appears,
Will ineffectual prove;
Though much the sinner sees and hears,
He cannot learn to love.

But let the stoutest sinner feel
The soft’ning warmth of grace;
Though hard as ice, or rocks, or steel,
His heart dissolves apace.

Seeing the blood which JESUS spilt,
To save his soul from woe,
His hatred, unbelief, and guilt,
All melt away like snow.

Jesus, we in thy name entreat,
Reveal thy gracious arm;
And grant thy Spirit’s kindly heat,
Our frozen hearts to warm.

Here’s a PDF file of the Olney Hymns.

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Turn Back, Turn Back at Conjubilant with Song
• Lord’s Day 10, 2009 at The Thirsty Theologian
• I’ve Anchored in Jesus at The Happy Wonderer
• The Second Sunday in Lent at Nova Scotia Scott
• Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim at Hiraeth
• Arise, My Soul, Arise at Fieldstone Cottage
• What Can Wash Away My Sin? at Tapestry of Graces
• Just As I Am at joythruChrist
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: What Kind of Confession Do You Make?
• Update: Psalm 73 at Mumma’s Place

Have you posted a hymn today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

Saturday's Old Photo

I brought some more of my dad’s photos home to scan and now I have new incentive to resurrect the Saturday’s Old Photo posts.

This photo was taken somewhere on a trip from Minnesota to Kansas for Christmas 1974.  From left to right is my dad, my mom, my sister, me, and the young man I would later marry.

The van belonged to my future husband. We used it for the trip because it was roomy enough for all of us to ride in comfort. And it would actually have been comfortable if it’d had a better heater. Perhaps the chilly ride is the explanation for my dad’s Russian look.

I am 19 years old, the same age my youngest son is right now. Before Christmas is over, I will be engaged, and the coming June, I will be married.

My kids find that strange. They can’t imagine taking on the responsibility of marriage so young, and while we were still students. I never regretted it, even for a second. Extended adolescence, you know, is overrated.

Weekend Sale at Monergism Books

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Offer good everywhere and ends Sunday March 8th, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.