Dear Brothers and Sisters, Prayer will be held at the Brown Barn.

Be saturated with this – the goodness of the Lord. The kindness of the Lord is expressed in a multitude of ways and as we will see in the final verses of chapter 35, where we see that the Lord makes a highway for his people – a highway where the travelers are making their way in the journey with everlasting joy on their heads. This week, as we are focusing on Isaiah Chapter 35:8-10, we must see it in its wider context where, instead of a barren wasteland (chapter 34), the glory of God will transform the desert of your life to a garden, 35:1-2; where the people of God will strengthen one another, v3-4; where the power of God will work, where sight is given to the blind, hearing to the deaf, healing for the lame and singing for those who could not even speak v5-6a, and streams flowing in the desert, v6b-7. Now we continue to see even more of the blessings that fall upon those who follow Christ. There is a highway for them – “the highway of holiness,” where those who walk on it, the redeemed, are being sanctified and protected, while they sing “with everlasting joy on their heads.” Also, notice carefully the way that the people of God sing. Let’s live this out in all our singing together – self consciously aware of the beauty of what we are doing and the passion it is designed to create in us as we sing.

Sunday afternoon teaching on Elder Qualificaton: In view of our recommendation of Mike Davenport for the office of elder, and in preparation of the congregation for discerning his appointment, Jason Dohm will be coming to Hope to deliver a message on elder qualifications on Sunday afternoon.

We will be singing the following Songs on Sunday, With Everlasting Joy on Our Heads:

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He, Whose Word cannot be broken
Formed thee for His own abode:
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.

See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint, while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t’assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear
For a glory and a cov’ring,
Showing that the Lord is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night and shade by day,
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which He gives them when they pray.

Savior, if of Zion’s city
I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy Name:
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion’s children know.

Psalm 45:1-10
(tune “Not What My Hands Have Done”)
My heart doth overflow,
A goodly theme is mine;
My eager tongue with joyful song
Doth praise the King divine.
Supremely fair thou art,
Thy lips with grace o’erflow;
His richest blessings evermore
Doth God on thee bestow.

Now gird thee with thy sword,
O strong and mighty one,
In splendid majesty arrayed,
More glorious than the sun.
Triumphantly ride forth
For meekness, truth, and right;
Thine arm shall gain the victory
In wondrous deeds of might.

Thy strength shall overcome
All those that hate the King,
And under thy dominion strong
The nations thou shalt bring.
Thy royal throne, O God,
For evermore shall stand;
Eternal truth and justice wield
The sceptre in thy hand.

Since thou art sinless found,
The Lord, thy God confessed,
Anointeth thee with perfect joy,
Thou art supremely blessed.
Thy garments breathe of myrrh
And spices sweet and rare;
Glad strains of heav’nly music ring
Throughout thy palace fair.

Amid thy glorious train
Kings’ daughters waiting stand,
And fairest gems bedeck thy bride,
The queen at thy right hand.
O royal bride, give heed,
And to my words attend;
For Christ, the King, forsake the world
And ev’ry former friend.

And Can It Be
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain;
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace,
Humbled Himself because of love
And bled for all His chosen race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For, O my God, it found out me.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray –
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

No condemnation now I dread
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach th’eternal throne
And claim the crown, thro’ Christ my own.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
Dear refuge of my weary soul, on Thee, when sorrows rise,
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, my fainting hope relies.
To Thee I tell each rising grief, for Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief for every pain I feel.

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail, I fear to call Thee mine;
The springs of comfort seem to fail, and all my hopes decline.
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee? Thou art my only trust;
And still my soul would cleave to Thee, though prostrate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face, and shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sov’reign grace be deaf when I complain?
No, still the ear of sov’reign grace attends the mourner’s prayer;
O may I ever find access to breathe my sorrows there.

Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;
With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet.
Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;
With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet.

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom