“…as we sing Messiah’s birth…”¹

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

— Isaiah 11:1 —

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow’ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter, [continue reading…]

Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He
Of the things that are and have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore. [continue reading…]

With steady pace the pilgrim moves
Toward the blissful shore,
And sings with cheerful heart and voice,
“‘Tis better on before!”

His passage through a desert lies,
Where furious lions roar;
He takes his staff, [continue reading…]

O ye who tread life’s pilgrim away
With weary heart and sore,
Find hope and comfort in the thought—
’Tis better on before.

Though circumstances adverse be,
And scanty be your store,
Be patient; brighter days will come—
’Tis better on before.

Though you may be beset by foes
Who wound you o’er and o’er, [continue reading…]

And He arose, and rebuked the wind,
and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still.”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

— Mark 4:39 —

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
and meted out heaven with the span,
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?

— Isaiah 40:12 —

Our God hath given promise,
And His grace for this hath planned:
His child shall rest securely
In the hollow of His hand.

Chorus:
Let come what may — or wave, or tempest—
“Peace, be still!” ‘tis His command;
My soul is held in peace eternal
In the hollow of His hand. [continue reading…]

When the gloomy shadows gather ‘round your way,
And the clouds of sorrow hide the sun’s bright ray,
Keep your faith unshaken, tho’ all ills combine;
When the days are darkest, that’s the time to shine.¹

Chorus:
That’s the time to shine, that’s the time to shine,
Let your faith and courage glow with light divine;
That’s the time to shine, that’s the time to shine, [continue reading…]

The Elixir

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything
To do it as for Thee.

To scorn the senses’ sway,
While still to Thee I tend,
In all I do be Thou the Way,
In all be Thou the End. [continue reading…]

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret
shall reward thee openly.

— Matthew 6:6 —

Lord, I have shut the door;
Speak now the word
Which in the din and throng
Could not be heard.
Hushed now my inner heart;
Whisper Thy will,
While I have come apart,
While all is still. [continue reading…]

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. [continue reading…]

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.¹

There everlasting Spring abides,
And never-withering flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea, divides [continue reading…]

There comes to my heart one sweet strain,
A glad and a joyous refrain,
I sing it again and again:
Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.

Chorus:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift [continue reading…]

Rejoice ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing!

Bright youth and snow-crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song, [continue reading…]