Saturday
Nov032012

Sunday Hymn: We're Marching to Zion

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

Refrain

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
Religion never was designed,
To make our pleasures less,
To make our pleasures less.

Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But favorites of the heavenly King,
But favorites of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

The God that rules on high,
And thunders when He please,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas,
And manages the seas.

This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our Love;
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
To carry us above,
To carry us above.

There we shall see His face,
And never, never sin!
There, from the rivers of His grace,
There, from the rivers of His grace,
Drink endless pleasures in,
Drink endless pleasures in.

Yea, and before we rise,
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should constant joys create,
Should constant joys create.

The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.

—Isaac Watts

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

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.

Friday
Nov022012

Status Report: November

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Drinking…a cup of hot chocolate.

Longing…for a quiet day. I had a busy home again this afternoon, and while I love the company, I could use one day to catch up on things and get myself organized again.

Liking…that I managed to clean a few rooms today despite the interruptions.

Reading…is one reason I need a day off. I want to get back to the books I’ve started and not finished, like Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves, Family Vocation by Gene Veith, and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.

Wishing…the dog’s foot would hurry up and heal. It’s getting better, but it’s such a slow process. My son and I both miss taking him on walks, and I’m also tired of changing his bandages every day and giving him his antibiotics and painkillers.

Thinking...that having a dog can be expensive.

Enjoying…looking after little Natalie one day a week. She’s walking now, and she doesn’t sleep much. It’s all I can do to keep her out of trouble, but it’s fun, fun, fun. She loves dolls and books and wearing interesting pieces of clothing, like Grandma’s scarves. 

Anticipating…the Christmas season. Is it too early for that? 

Also anticipating…the day when I am all done with the dental implant process I started back in February. It’s been long but I’m seeing the finish line.

Hoping…to do some sewing soon, too. I love to sew. Last spring I got a new sewing machine, which I used right away for a couple of projects, and I’ve sewed nothing since. 

Thanking…my Father for a full life, for abundance of provisions, and for peace.

Suggesting…that if you’re on Twitter, you used the #novemberthanksgiving hashtag to tweet things you’re thankful for this month.

Going...to pick up the local paper now so I can plan my grocery shopping trip tomorrow.

Copying…Lisa.

Friday
Nov022012

Counted Righteous in Christ

I’ve posted at Out of the Ordinary today on one of the practical implications of being counted righteous in Christ.

Because God counts me righteous in Christ, I am free to see my sin as it is without despairing. I have no need to minimize it; I can confess my sin honestly because it does not change how God sees me. It does not change my standing before God. Christ’s righteousness gives me the joyful relief that comes from knowing that, because of Christ, I bear no shame.

Read the whole post.