Devotion for Friday, July 29 (The Great Hymns Week)

Lift High the Cross

Refrain:
Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore
his sacred Name.

Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God. Refrain

All newborn soldiers of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Refrain

So shall our song of triumph ever be: 

praise to the Crucified for victory! Refrain

Devotion for Thursday, July 28 (The Great Hymns Week)

All Glory, Laud and Honor (Kings College, Cambridge)

Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, Redeemer, King!
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David's royal Son,
who in the Lord's Name comest,
the King and Blessed One. Refrain

The company of angels
are praising thee on high;
and mortal men and all things
created make reply. Refrain

The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before thee we present. Refrain

To thee before thy passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted,
our melody we raise. Refrain

Thou didst accept their praises;
accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
thou good and gracious King. Refrain

Devotion for Wednesday, July 27 (The Great Hymns Week)

Beautiful Savior (Quartet)

1 Beautiful Savior, King of creation, 

Son of God and Son of Man! 

Truly I'd love Thee, truly I'd serve thee, 

Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown. 

2 Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, 

Robed in flow'rs of blooming spring; 

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; 

He makes our sorr'wing spirit sing. 

3 Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, 

Bright the sparkling stars on high; 

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer 

Than all the angels in the sky. 

4 Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man! 

Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, 

Now and forevermore be Thine! 

Devotion for Tuesday, July 26 (The Great Hymns Week)

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, 
a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod
and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe
has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might
he arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.

No strength of ours can match his might!
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
God's only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.

Though hordes of devils fill the land
all threat'ning to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand;
they cannot over-pow'r us.
Let this world's tyrant rage;
in battle we'll engage!
His might is doomed to fail;
God's judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.

God's Word forever shall abide,
no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fight by our side
with weapons of the Spirit.  
Were they to take our house,
goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away,
they cannot win the day.
The kingdom's ours forever!

Devotion for Monday, July 25 (The Great Hymns Week)

Since I did secular songs with a religious message last week, I thought I would do the "great hymns" this week.  Undoubtedly, I will miss some that you consider great.  I am picking my favorites.  I hope that the words of these hymns bring you close to God this week.

Amazing Grace (Bagpipes)

1. 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.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
   And grace my fears relieved;
   How precious did that grace appear
   The hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
   I have already come;
   ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
   And grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
   His Word my hope secures;
   He will my Shield and Portion be,
   As long as life endures.
5. 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.
6. John Newton (published 1779)

Devotion for Friday, July 22 (Secular Music Week)

I conclude the week with what I have called the greatest hymn of the 20th century: "I Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For" by U2.

Again, I hear God singing the beginning of this song to the world.  It speaks to God's commitment to us and what God has done, and continues to do.  It also speaks to the heartbreak that God feels with the continuation of suffering, pain, war, struggle and sin in our world.  Certainly, God hasn't found what God is looking for yet ...

The final verse is our response ... our belief in what God has done and then our agreement that there is more to do in our world to get it close to the kingdom of God.

We are now in this together -- God and the faithful!

I Still Haven't Found What I Am Looking For

U2

Song and Video

I have climbed highest mountains

I have run through fields

Only to be with you

Only to be with you

I have run, I have crawled

I have scaled the city walls

Said it was

Only to be with you

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I have kissed honey lips

Felt the healing in her fingertips

It burned like fire

This burning desire

I have spoken with the tongue of angels

I have held end of the velvet

It was warm in the night

I was cold as a star

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I believe in kingdom come

When all the colors were bleeding as one

Bleeding the one

Yes, I’m still running

He broke the bounds, he loose the chains

Carried the cross of my shame

Broke my shame

You know I believed it

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

Devotion for Thursday, July 21 (Secular Music Week)

Of course I have to have some country music.  Here's an oldie but goodie from Billy Dean, "You Don't Count the Cost".  I hear this as speaking to the in-breaking of the kingdom of God in many and varied ways.  For me it is speaks to the reality of discipleship.

You Don't Count the Cost

Billy Dean

Song and Video

It happens to a mother when she is giving birth

Her heart is filled with joy while her body's filled with hurt

She holds her baby close to her, despite the pain he caused

When it comes to love, you don't count the cost

It happens to a soldier, fighting for his home

Fear wells up inside him and yet he still goes on

Even though he knows he may be the next to fall

When it comes to love, you don't count the cost

You don't count the heartache, you don't count the sacrifice

And all that counts is what you feel inside

It doesn't really matter what is gained or what is lost

When it comes to love, no you don't count the cost

It happens all around us, each and every day

Someone's giving all they got for someone else's sake

If you ever doubt it just think about the cross

When it comes to love, you don't count the cost