Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Prayer will be held at the Burkes.

On Sunday, Paul will be preaching from the prophesy of Malachi as we conclude our time in Ezra and prepare for Nehemiah. Malachi speaks in the time frame of Ezra and Nehemiah and we would like to understand his prophesy in the context.  Paul writes,

In the book of Ezra, we met two of the three post-exilic prophets, Haggai and Zechariah.    This week we will look at the last of these prophets, Malachi.  Likely a contemporary of Nehemiah, the people are now back in their land, the temple rebuilt and the walls restored, but something has gone terribly wrong.  

Just two generations from the completion of the temple, the “burden” of Malachi reveals that despite God’s incessant love and calls for repentance, the people’s heart was dead cold.  Unlike those who said, “Yes Lord” in Ezra, these people remain unyielding and contentious in their rebellion, instead calling God to account.  But in the midst of terrible decline, we meet a tiny remnant who feared God, loved His ways and encouraged one another.  Overall the day seems dark, but Malachi looks to the dawning of a new day, the coming of the Messiah, the “great King”, and the opening of the way of life to the Gentiles.  Indeed, His name “shall be great among the nations.”

We will be singing these songs

• To God Be the Glory
• Trust and Obey
• Reformation Hymn
• Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
• Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

To God Be the Glory

To God be the glory – great things He hath done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin 

And opened the life-gate that we may go in

   Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! 

   Let the earth hear His voice!  

   Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! 

   Let the people rejoice!

   O come to the Father thro’ Jesus, the Son

   And give Him the glory – great things He hath done

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood

To every believer, the promise of God

The vilest offender who truly believes

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Great things He hath taught us; great things He hath done

And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus, the Son

But purer and higher and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still

And with all who will trust and obey

   Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

   To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share

But our toil He doth richly repay

Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross

But is blest if we trust and obey

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay

For the favor He shows and the joy He bestows

Are for them who will trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go

Never fear, only trust and obey

Reformation Hymn

We will trust God’s Word alone,

Where His perfect will is known;

Our traditions shift like sand

While His Truth forever stands.

We will live by faith alone,

Clothed in merit not our own;

All we claim is Jesus Christ

And His finished sacrifice.

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

We are saved by grace alone –

Undeserved, yet freely shown;

No accomplishment on earth

Can achieve the second birth.

We will stand on Christ alone,

The unyielding Cornerstone;

Nations rage and devils roar,

Still he reigns forevermore!

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

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.

Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

(tune: Jesus What a Friend for Sinners)

Hail, Thou once despised Jesus,

Hail, Thou Galilean King!

Thou didst suffer to release us:

Thou didst free salvation bring.

Hail, thou agonizing Saviour,

Bearer of our sin and shame!

By Thy merits we find favor;

Life is given through Thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,

All our sins were on Thee laid;

By almighty love anointed,

Thou hast full atonement made:

All Thy people are forgiven

Through the virtue of Thy blood;

Opened is the gate of heaven,

Peace is made ‘twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,

There for ever to abide;

All the heav’nly hosts adore Thee,

Seated at Thy Father’s side:

There for sinners Thou art pleading;

There Thou dost our place prepare;

Ever for us interceding,

Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, pow’r, and blessing

Thou art worthy to receive:

Loudest praises without ceasing,

Meet it is for us to give.

Help, ye bright angelic spirits,

Bring your sweetest, noblest lays;

Help to sing our Saviour’s merits,

Help to chant Immanuel’s praise.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our sermon focus on Sunday is Ezra 10:5-44. It is a story of hope, in spite of the sins that have been committed as Schechaniah declares, “yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.”  In this passage, it is revealed how the people who have married pagan wives work through the details of how they are going to proceed in bringing forth fruit in keeping with their repentance. It is one thing to acknowledge your sin, but its another thing to follow through with necessary changes. In verse 5, Ezra calls for an oath to be taken to follow through. Then in verse 6, Ezra retires to a private place to mourn and to fast. There is urgency, and yet there is a careful process that took 3 months to complete. It was necessary for wisdom to be applied to some complex situations. The question is… where are we in our processes of repentance? All of us have things we need to move upon and to bring forth fruit in keeping with our repentance. Is there anything we are delaying?

Prayer will be held at the Noah’s

Here is a neat refresher on family worship by Joel Beeke.

Also, check out Defending Marriage, https://defendingmarriage.com/ for updates on the local battle over HB2.

Remember the conference this weekend, “The Aggressive Power of the Christian Church” Hope Baptist is doing this as a joint effort in collaboration with the NCFIC and JeremiahCry. We start at 6:30pm on Friday. There is a men’s prayer time at 6:15am on Saturday and a mens breakfast immediately following. If you would like to attend the men’s breakfast, please let Alan Hillman know as we need a number to plan for food. 

The Songs we will be singing on Sunday,

• Come Thou Almighty King
• Holy, Holy, Holy!
• Reformation Hymn
• Ancient Words
• Amazing Grace

Come Thou Almighty King

Come Thou Almighty King

Help us Thy name to sing;

Help us to praise.

Father, all glorious, o’er all victorious,

Come, and reign over us, 

Ancient of Days

Come, Thou Incarnate Word

Gird on Thy mighty sword

Our prayer attend.

Come, and Thy people bless

And give Thy word success

Spirit of holiness

On us descend.

Come Holy Comforter

Thy sacred witness bear

In this glad hour

Thou, who almighty art

Now rule in every heart

And ne’er from us depart

Spirit of pow’r

To Thee, great One in Three

Eternal praises be,

Hence evermore;

Thy sov’reign majesty

May we in glory see

And to eternity

Love and adore

Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore Thee

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee

Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy!  Tho’ the darkness hide Thee

Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy – there is none beside Thee

Perfect in pow’r, in love, in purity.

Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea

Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Reformation Hymn

We will trust God’s Word alone,

Where His perfect will is known;

Our traditions shift like sand

While His Truth forever stands.

We will live by faith alone,

Clothed in merit not our own;

All we claim is Jesus Christ

And His finished sacrifice.

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

We are saved by grace alone –

Undeserved, yet freely shown;

No accomplishment on earth

Can achieve the second birth.

We will stand on Christ alone,

The unyielding Cornerstone;

Nations rage and devils roar,

Still he reigns forevermore!

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

Ancient Words

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God’s own heart;

Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Words of life, words of hope

Give us strength, help us cope;

In this world, where e’er we roam

Ancient words will guide us home.

   Ancient words, ever true,

   Changing me, and changing you;

   We have come with open hearts,

   Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith,

Handed down to this age,

Came to us through sacrifice;

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world,

They resound with God’s own heart;

Oh let the ancient words impart.

   Ancient words, ever true,

   Changing me, and changing you;

   We have come with open hearts,

   Oh, let the ancient words impart.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear 

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come

‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me,

His Word my hope secures;

He will my Shield and Portion be,

As long as life endures

When we’ve been there ten thousand years 

Bright shining as the sun

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Prayer is at the Noah home.

On Sunday, we will consider Ezra 8 and Paul Carrington will be preaching. Here is his note regarding our text: “Jerusalem must be undertaken.  In chapter 8, we see a careful and courageous shepherd lay out preparations for the expedition, gathering men and their families to go with him.  The end goal is to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness in Jerusalem.  In weighing the risks of traversing robber infested roads, months on end, is worship really worth it?  Ezra, and the relative few who accompanied him, thought so.

In the same way, our Pilgrim’s Progress from Babylon to the New Jerusalem requires that we navigate “many dangers, toils and snares”.  In the same way, our goal is to worship our Lord face-to-face, not just for a lifetime but for all eternity.

What confidence we can have in our prayer-answering Father, who will bring us safely through.  May we too “humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and our possessions.”  

The songs we are singing on Sunday are, 

• A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
• Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• Abide with Me
• In Christ Alone
• We’re Marching to Zion

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God

A bulwark never failing

Our helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe

His craft and pow’r are great

And armed with cruel hate

On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide

Our striving would be losing

Were not the right man on our side

The man of God’s own choosing

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He –

Lord Sabaoth, His name

From age to age the same

And He must win the battle

And tho’ this world with devils filled

Should threaten to undo us

We will not fear for God hath willed

His truth to triumph thro’ us

The prince of darkness grim

We tremble not for him

His rage we can endure

For lo, his doom is sure:

One little word shall fell him

That word above all earthly pow’rs

No thanks to them abideth

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Thro’ Him who with us sideth

Let goods and kindred go

This mortal life also –

The body they may kill

God’s truth abideth still:

His kingdom is forever

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but Thou art mighty;

Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand;

Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,

Feed me till I want no more,

Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,

Whence the healing stream doth flow;

Let the fire and cloudy pillar

Lead me all my journey through;

Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,

Be Thou still my strength and shield,

Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,

Bid my anxious fears subside;

Bear me through the swelling current,

Land me safe on Canaan’s side;

Songs of praises, songs of praises,

I will ever give to Thee,

I will ever give to Thee.

Abide with Me

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide:

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour;

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless:

Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes:

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee:

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! 

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

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.

   We’re marching to Zion,

   Beautiful, beautiful Zion;

   We’re marching upward to Zion,

   The beautiful city of God.

Let those refuse to sing

That never knew our God;

But children of the heav’nly King,

But children of the heav’nly King,

May speak their joys abroad,

May speak their joys abroad.

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.

Then let our songs abound,

And ev’ry 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.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Do you want to make a difference in your generation? Do you want your life to count for eternity? Our focus this week, Ezra 7:1-10, answers these questions. As we come to Ezra 7, approximately 56 years have passed since the temple was completed as a result of the revival that took place when Haggai and Zechariah preached. God is not finished with His people yet… he now sends Ezra from Babylon to further restore lives in Jerusalem through the ministry of the Word of God. God sends help again… Demonstrating again, how God sends people into our lives to help us along our way, and we too are sent into peoples lives to help them along their journey as we live like Ezra lived when he returned to Jerusalem.

Women’s Mentoring – Wednesday – February 8, 2017, at the Brown’s barn from 10-12 noon. We will be continuing in the book, “Be Still My Soul” by Elisabeth Elliott. Childcare will be provided for preschool children.

Prayer will be held at the Brown’s Barn

Please pray for the marriage retreat taking place in the Brown’s Barn Friday night and Saturday…

The songs are as follows

• Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
• What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine
• He Will Hold Me Fast
• Complete in Thee
• O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee

God of glory, Lord of love

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee

Opening to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness

Drive the dark of doubt away

Giver of immortal gladness

Fill us with the light of day

All Thy works with joy surround Thee

Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays

Stars and angels sing around Thee

Center of unbroken praise

Field and forest, vale and mountain

Flowery meadow, flashing sea

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Call us to rejoice in Thee!

Thou art giving and forgiving

Ever blessing, ever blest

Wellspring of the joy of living

Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother

All who live in love are Thine

Teach us how to love each other

Lift us to the joy divine!

Mortals join the mighty chorus

Which the morning stars began

Love divine is reigning o’er us

Leading us with mercy’s hand

Ever singing, march we onward

Victors in the midst of strife

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life

What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

    Leaning, leaning,

    Safe and secure from all alarms;

    Leaning, leaning,

    Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

He Will Hold Me Fast

When I fear my faith will fail,

Christ will hold me fast;

When the tempter would prevail,

He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold

Through life’s fearful path;

For my love is often cold;

He must hold me fast.

   He will hold me fast,

   He will hold me fast;

   For my Savior loves me so,

   He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,

Christ will hold me fast;

Precious in His holy sight,

He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost;

His promises shall last;

Bought by Him at such a cost,

He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died,

Christ will hold me fast;

Justice has been satisfied;

He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life,

He will hold me fast

‘Till our faith is turned to sight,

When He comes at last!

Complete In Thee

Complete in Thee, no work of mine

Could take, dear Lord, the place of Thine.

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And I shall stand complete in Thee!

   Yea, justified, oh blessed thought!

   And sanctified salvation-wrought!

   Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

   And glorified I, too, shall be.

Complete in Thee, each want supplied,

And no good thing to me denied,

Since Thou my portion, Lord, will be,

I ask no more, complete in Thee!

Complete in Thee, no more shall sin

Thy grace has conquered reign within;

Thy blood shall bid the tempter flee,

And I shall stand complete in Thee!

Dear Savior, when, before Thy bar,

All tribes and tongues assembled are,

Among the chosen I shall be,

At Thy right hand, complete in Thee!

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God our Help in ages past

Our Hope for years to come

Our Shelter from the stormy blast

And our eternal Home!

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Still may we dwell secure

Sufficient is Thine arm alone

And our defense is sure

Before the hills in order stood

Or earth received her frame

From everlasting Thou art God

To endless years the same

A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone

Short as the watch that ends the night

Before the rising sun

O God our Help in ages past

Our Hope for years to come

Be Thou our Guide while life shall last

And our eternal Home

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Can a church change? Can people change? Is there hope for culture change in a church? How about Hope Baptist? Even after patterns of thinking and living are deeply ingrained…? Even for sixteen years? It did happen in the days of Zerubbabel and Joshua. It was a revival. They changed. The old ways and feelings were gone. Selfishness turned to energetic service of the Lord. They got back “on mission.” How did it happen? The Word of the Lord was delivered by two prophets Haggai and Zechariah and the people responded. Their hearts turned back to Him and to the work… and after 16 years of disobedience, they got back to the work of building the temple. And they all lived happily ever after! Not quite. As soon as they started back, the opposition raised its head, proving again that whenever people turn to the Lord, they should expect opposition. This is what we encounter in Ezra 5:3-17. Can a leopard change its spots?  Yes, the Bible tells me so (Jer 13:23).

Wednesday prayer. We are encouraging the church to fast on Wed. We plan to break the fast with a meal together at the church at 6:00. Then, at 7:00 we will begin our prayer meeting.

Sunday night, we will continue our studies in the Baptist Confession focusing on the chapter on Christ the Mediator.

Remember the upcoming conference March 17-18, The Aggressive Power of the Christian Church

The songs we will be singing on Sunday are

• When Morning Gilds the Skies
• Behold Our God
• Be Still My Soul
• Rejoice in the Lord
• It Is Well with My Soul

When Morning Gilds the Skies

When morning gilds the skies,

My heart awaking cries

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Alike at work and prayer

To Jesus I repair;

May Jesus Christ be praised.

When sleep her balm denies,

My silent spirit sighs,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

When evil thoughts molest,

With this I shield my breast,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Does sadness fill my mind?

A solace here I find,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

In heav’n’s eternal bliss

The loveliest strain is this,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

The powers of darkness fear,

When this sweet chant they hear,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Let earth’s wide circle round

In joyful notes resound,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Let air and sea and sky,

From depth to height, reply,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Be this th’eternal song,

Through all the ages on,

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Behold Our God

Who has held the oceans in His hands?

Who has numbered every grain of sand?

Kings and nations tremble at His voice

All creation rises to rejoice

   Behold our God seated on His throne

   Come, let us adore Him

   Behold our King—nothing can compare

   Come, let us adore Him

Who has given counsel to the Lord?

Who can question any of His words?

Who can teach the One who knows all things?

Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?

Who has felt the nails upon His hands?

Bearing all the guilt of sinful man

God eternal, humbled to the grave

Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign

Be Still My Soul

Be still my soul!  The Lord is on thy side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide

In every change He faithful will remain

Be still my soul!  Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still my soul!  Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake

All now mysterious shall be bright at last

Be still my soul!  The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

Be still my soul!  The hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored

Be still my soul!  When change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

Rejoice in the Lord

God never moves without purpose or plan

When trying His servant and molding a man.

Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;

In darkness He giveth a song.

   O Rejoice in the LORD; He makes no mistake,

   He knoweth the end of each path that I take,

   For when I am tried and purified,

   I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;

So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.

I bowed to the will of the Master that day;

Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;

God strengthens His children and purges in love.

My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;

Through purging more fruit I will bear.

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll –

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

   It is well with my soul.

   It is well, it is well with my soul.

Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control –

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate

And hath shed His own blood for my soul !

My sin – O the bliss of this glorious tho’t –

My sin – not in part, but the whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul !

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait;

The sky, not the grave, is our goal.

Oh trump of the angel ! Oh voice of the Lord !

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul !

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;

“Even so” – it is well with my soul !