Sunday's Hymn: 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, Thus says the Lord!

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

—Lou­i­sa M. R. Stead

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

• Let the Children Hear the Mighty Deeds at Field Stone Cottage
• Be Still My Soul at Jam and Books
• What a Saviour at The Happy Wonderer
• O Worship the King at Rosemary at Home
• Lord’s Day 23 at Tried With Fire 
• A Sunday Psalm: The Treasury of David - Psalm 5:1-2 at Theology for Girls
• Lord’s Day 23, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Faith Alone - June 3, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: About those “Honest Doubts … “

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

This Week in Housekeeping

I posted the term panentheism four years ago and thought I’d update the entry because there’s been a bit of discussion about it lately in my little corner of the internet. Most of the discussion centers around Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts, with some criticizing her alleged “panentheism.” 

My tentative take on it all is this: You know how the term “gnosticism” is sometimes used for a belief system that shares one or two elements with full-fledged gnosticism? I think something similar might be happening with panentheism. [Tim Challies is careful to say only that her mysticism sometimes seems “to border on the view that the divine exists within and extends to all parts of nature (a teaching known as panentheism).”] 

I’m no expert, but as I understand it, if Voskamp is saying that the being or essence of God exists in the material world, then that’s panentheism. If she’s saying that the material world exists because God is actively causing it to exist, and that’s the sense in which he is “in everything,” then that’s orthodoxy. I am open to correction, so please, if you know better, help me out.

I don’t know which of the above she’d agree with. I haven’t read the book and probably won’t because I find her writing style a bit difficult and I already have a long list of books I want to read. But even if I did read it, I’m not sure I’d know on which side of the line above she stands because her writing is poetic and not the sort of things that can be pinned down precisely doctrine-wise.

Enough of that. Here’s what I updated in my theological term entry on panentheism:

panentheism

• Added a link to Part Two of Norman Geisler’s Panentheism. 
• Added a link to Panentheism from Elwell Evangelical Dictionary.
• Added related terms aseity, creation ex nihilo, omnipresence, open theism.

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful, first of all, for baby Amelia, my newest granddaughter. She’s growing and developing as she should. She’s a mostly contented baby, sleeping five hours for one stretch last night. All those things are good gifts from our good Father.

I’m thankful that my garden is mostly in and I can catch a breather. Between the new baby coming, an extra dog boarding with me, a trip to Vancouver, and the spring yard and garden work, I’ve been overwhelmed. But God is good, helping me manage it all and now giving me a few less busy days to rest up. Once the forecast freezing nights are past, I’ll plant the seedlings and all the garden planting work will be finished. 

I’m thankful that the lawn is greening and the May Day tree will blossom soon. I’m thankful for indoor plumbing and hot baths for soaking.

I’m thankful the God upholds the universe, and that his word of power brings the sun and rain and seasons. I’m thankful that he delegated the tending of his creation to us, a job that he helps me fulfill through the gardening work I love. 

I’m thankful that God hears our prayers.