1. Hymn: How Great Thou Art

Hymn: How Great Thou Art

Author: Carl G. Boberg (1859-1940)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
    consider all the works thy hands hath made,
    I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
    thy pow‵r throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

2. 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.

3. 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!

3. Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Author: Warren W. Wiersbe (1929-2019)

    It is God's will that the marriage union be permanent, a lifetime commitment. There is no place in Christian marriage for a “trial marriage”, nor is there any room for the “escape-hatch” attitude: “If the marriage doesn't work, we can always get a divorce”.

    For this reason, marriage must be built on something sturdier than good looks, money, romantic excitement, and social acceptance. There must be Christian commitment, character, and maturity. There must be a willingness to grow, to learn from each other, to forgive and forget, to minister to one another. The kind of love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 is what is needed to cement two lives together.

    God has put “walls” around marriage, not to make it a prison, but to make it a safe fortress. The person who considers marriage a prison should not get married. When two people are lovingly and joyfully committed to each other - and to their Lord - the experience of marriage is one of enrichment and enlargement. They grow together and discover the richness of serving the Lord as a team in their home and church.

Read: Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3.

Action assignment: Ask God to help you toward a greater grasp of the biblical view of marriage and not let your philosophy be tainted by the modern, worldly view.

2. Devotional: The Never-Failing God

The Never-Failing God

Author: Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

    What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

    "I will in no wise fail thee"—not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I have listened to this say-so of God’s, then let me listen again.

    "Neither will I in any wise forsake thee." Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out—can I hear God’s say-so in these things?

    We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.

1. Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Author: Helen H. Lemmel (1863-1961)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
    No light in the darkness you see?
    There’s light for a look at the Savior,
    And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Through death into life everlasting
    He passed, and we follow Him there;
    Over us sin no more hath dominion–
    For more than conqu‵rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
    Believe Him and all will be well:
    Then go to a world that is dying,
    His perfect salvation to tell!

4. Hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Hymn: What a Friend We Have In Jesus

Author: Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1886)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
    All our sins and griefs to bear!
    What a privilege to carry
    Everything to God in prayer!
    O what peace we often forfeit,
    O what needless pain we bear,
    All because we do not carry
    Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
    Is there trouble anywhere?
    We should never be discouraged;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Can we find a friend so faithful,
    Who will all our sorrows share?
    Jesus knows our every weakness;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
    Cumbered with a load of care?
    Precious Saviour, still our refuge;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
    Take it to the Lord in prayer:
    In his arms he‵ll take and shield thee,
    Thou wilt find a solace there.

3. A Quote from T. Austin-Sparks (4)

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2. Devotional: The Characteristic of the Prophet Is Always Love

The Characteristic of the Prophet Is Always Love

Author: A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

    We were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us (1 Thessalonians 2:8). 

    If evangelical Christianity is to stay alive she must repudiate the weaklings who dare not speak out, and she must seek in prayer and much humility the coming again of men of the stuff prophets and martyrs are made of! 

    God will hear the cries of His people as He heard the cries of Israel in Egypt. And He will send deliverance by sending deliverers. It is His way among men. 

    A characteristic of the true prophet has always been love. The free man who has learned to hear God's voice and dared to obey it has felt the moral burden that broke the hearts of the Old Testament prophets, crushed the soul of our Lord Jesus Christ and wrung streams of tears from the eyes of the apostles. 

    The free man has never been a religious tyrant, nor has he sought to lord it over God's heritage. It is fear and lack of self-assurance that has led men to try to crush others under their feet. These have had some interest to protect, some position to secure, so they have demanded subjection from their followers as a guarantee of their own safety. 

    But the free man—never; he has nothing to protect, no ambition to pursue and no enemy to fear. For that reason he is completely careless of his standing among men. Whether accepted or rejected he will go on loving his people with sincere devotion, and only death can silence his tender intercession for them!

1. Hymn: God Will Take Care of You

Hymn: God Will Take Care of You

Author: Civilla D. Martin (1866-1948)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
    God will take care of you;
    Beneath His wings of love abide,
    God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you,

Through every day,

Over all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

2. Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
    God will take care of you;
    When dangers fierce your path assail,
    God will take care of you.

3. All you may need He will provide,
    God will take care of you;
    Nothing you ask will be denied,
    God will take care of you.

4. No matter what may be the test,
    God will take care of you;
    Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
    God will take care of you.

3. Hymn: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

Hymn: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

Author: Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    "Come unto Me and rest;
    Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
    Thy head upon My breast."
    I came to Jesus as I was,
    Weary and worn and sad;
    I found in Him a resting place,
    And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    "Behold, I freely give
    The living water; thirsty one,
    Stoop down, and drink, and live."
    I came to Jesus, and I drank
    Of that life-giving stream;
    My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
    And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    "I am this dark world‵s light;
    Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
    And all thy day be bright."
    I looked to Jesus, and I found
    In Him my Star, my Sun;
    And in that light of life I‵ll walk,
    Till traveling days are done.

2. Devotional: Rearing A Godly Generation

Rearing A Godly Generation

Author: W. A. Criswell (1909–2002)

We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation 

to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and 

His wonderful works that He hath done (Psalm 78:4).

    In my reading, I came across the autobiography of Henry C. Mabie, who was for many years the illustrious secretary of the American Board of Foreign Missions for the American Baptist Convention. In his autobiography he said, "When I was four years old, my mother took me to a mission meeting. I could not understand what the missionary was saying. I did not know the language he used. I could not understand what he was talking about. But there was something that the missionary said that moved my mother, and I saw her take the gold ring off her finger and give it to missions. I was only four years old. That was my introduction to God’s purposes for the world."

    What we do in front of our children is indelible. When we teach them in the love, nurture, and admonition of the Lord, God works with us, and the repercussions of it are found in every area of human life. So in the dedication of our homes, our lives, our prayers, and our faithful response, we shape the children and the young people of today. They will be our preachers, deacons, superintendents, and teachers of the next generation. God bless and help us as we consecrate our efforts to that holy and heavenly assignment!