Sunday, February 25, 2024

Flung To The Heedless Winds

     1. Flung to the heedless winds
        Or on the waters cast,
        The martyrs' ashes, watched,
        Shall gathered be at last.
        And from that scattered dust,
        Around us and abroad,
        Shall spring a plenteous seed
        Of witnesses for God.

     2. The Father hath received
        Their latest living breath,
        And vain is Satan's boast
        Of victory in their death.
        Still, still, though dead, they speak,
        And, trumpet-tongued, proclaim
        To many a wakening land
        The one availing Name.

        ___________________________________________________
        Notes:
        259 from the Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal
        Text: Acts 7: 59
        Author: Martin Luther, 1523 st. 9
        Translated by: John A. Messenger, 1843
        Titled: Ein neues Lied wir heben an
        Tune: Denby
        Composer: Charles J. Dale, 1904

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Hymn on the Lord’s Sup­per # 57.

O the depth of love divine,
Th’unfathomable grace!
Who shall say how bread and wine
God into us conveys!
How the bread His flesh imparts,
How the wine transmits His blood,
Fills His faithful people’s hearts
With all the life of God!

Let the wisest mortals show
How we the grace receive;
Feeble elements bestow
A power not theirs to give.
Who explains the wondrous way,
How through these the virtue came?
These the virtue did convey,
Yet still remain the same.

How can spirits heavenward rise,
By earthly matter fed,
Drink herewith divine supplies
And eat immortal bread?
Ask the Fa­ther’s wisdom how:
Christ who did the means ordain;
Angels round our altars bow
To search it out, in vain.

Sure and re-al is the grace,
The manner be unknown;
Only meet us in Thy ways
And perfect us in one.
Let us taste the heavenly powers,
Lord, we ask for nothing more.
Thine to bless, ’tis only ours
To wonder and adore.
-- Charles Wesley  A.D.1745

Monday, February 5, 2024

How Great Thou Art -- 2 extra verses

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Additional Verses from the Swedish:
När tryckt av synd och skuld jag faller neder,
Vid Herrens fot och ber om nåd och frid.
Och han min själ på rätta vägen leder,
Och frälsar mig från all min synd och strid.

When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance,
Bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face;
And then in love He brings me sweet assurance:
'My child! for thee sufficient is my grace'.

När jag hör dårar i sin dårskaps dimma
Förneka Gud och håna hvad han sagt,
Men ser likväl, att de hans hjälp förnimma
Och uppehållas af hans nåd och makt.

O when I see ungrateful man defiling
This bounteous earth, God's gifts so good and great;
In foolish pride, God's holy Name reviling,
And yet, in grace, His wrath and judgment wait.