The Church in the Wildwood

 

The Church in the Wildwood

If you have grown up in a small church, then you know what church family means. Everyone knows each other and prays together. The potlucks are spectacular and the worship is filled with the Holy Spirit. My first church building was small, and we grew in numbers to where expansion was necessary. It doesn’t matter how small or how big your church building or your church family is. What matters is, can you find Jesus there. Do you have such a relationship with Him that you can feel His presence beside you? If not, you need to examine yourself and where you worship to see what is missing.

Lyrics by William S. Pitts, arranged by William S. Pitts

“There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood, no lovelier spot in the dale; No place is so dear to my childhood as the little brown church in the vale.

Oh, come to the church in the wildwood, to the trees where the wildflowers bloom; Where the parting hymn will be chanted, we will weep by the side of the tomb.

How sweet on a clear Sunday morning, to list to the clear ringing bell; It tones so sweetly are calling, oh, come the church in the vale.

From the church in the valley by the wildwood, when day fades away in the night, I would fain from this spot of my childhood wing my way to the mansions of light.

Come to the church in the wildwood, Oh, come to the church in the vale.”

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Who is on the Lord's Side?

 

Who is on the Lord’s Side?

Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of deceit, defeat and worldly ways? Then you are on satan’s side. He has designs and strategies to turn you against God. God gives us our weapon and that is His word, written down for us in the Bible. Our strategy is to let God do the fighting for us. God has already promised a victory. By the call of mercy, By His grace divine, we are on the Lord’s side.

Lyrics by Frances R. Havergal, arranged by John Goss

“Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helper’s other lives to bring? Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go? By Thy call of mercy.

Not for weight of glory, not for crown and palm, enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm; But for love that claims lives for whom He died; He who Jesus names must be on His side. By Thy love constraining.

Jesus, Thou has bought us, not with gold or gem, but with Thin own lifeblood, for Thy diadem; With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee, Thou has made us willing, Thou has made us free, by Thy grand redemption.

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the King’s own army none can overthrow; Round His standard ranging, victory to secure; For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure, joyfully enlisting.

By Thy grace divine, we are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are Thine.

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Trust and Obey

 

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord we don’t have to worry about anything. He is right there with us and carries our burdens for us. If we place our worries in God’s hands, He knows what we need and sees what we are facing. Trust Him, obey Him and you will see that He is good at keeping His promises. His love for us never fails.

Lyrics by John H. Sammis, arranged by Daniel B. Towner

“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.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear, can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil He does richly repay; Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or 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.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Amen.”

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True-Hearted, Whole-Hearted

 

True -Hearted, Whole-Hearted

“By grace you have been saved through faith. And that is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 ESV. God gives us this grace because of our faithfulness and loyalty to Him. Through baptism we become His child and therefore we are obedient to His words and put Him first before our desires and needs. It is not our will, but God’s, will we desire.

Lyrics by Frances R. Havergal, arranged by George C. Stebbins

“True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal, King of our lives by Thy grace we will be; Under the standard exalted and royal, strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.

True-hearted, whole-hearted, fullest allegiance yielding henceforth to our glorious King; Valiant endeavor and loving obedience, freely and joyously now would we bring.

True-hearted, whole-hearted, Savior, all glorious! Take Thy great power and reign there alone, over our wills and affections victorious, freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.

Peal out the watch-word! Silence it never! Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free; Peal out the watch-word! Loyal forever, King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.”

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To the Work!

 

To the Work!

There is always something to do, and always a need to be fulfilled. Look around and there are homeless, hungry, lonely, bereaved people. There are people who rely on you and there are people you rely on. God has given each of us a task to do and we must do it with all our might. God will give us the strength and wisdom to do any task He puts before us. We do all of it to the glorification of God our Father.

Lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, arranged by William H. Doane

“To the work! To the work! We are servants of God, let us follow the path that our Master has trod: With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed; To the fountain of life let the weary be lead; In the cross and its banner our glory shall be, while we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”

To the work! To the work! There is labor for all; For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall; And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be, in the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free.”

To the Work! To the work! In the strength of the Lord, and a robe and a crown shall our labor reward. When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be, and we shout with the ransomed, “Salvation is free.”

Toiling on, toiling on, toiling on, toiling on; Let us hope, let us watch, and labor till the Master comes.”

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Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

 

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Are you ashamed to say you are a Christian? Are you afraid to tell others of the Lord? If you are afraid of what others think, then consider how God thinks when you won’t share His word or let others know that you are a follower of His. He loves you so much and cares for you in so many ways that it quenches His Holy Spirit when you don’t show your love for Him to others. “And He said to them (apostles) go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15. Let us be bold and speak up, proclaim that you are a Christian and be proud of it.

Lyrics by Isaac Watts, arranged by Thomas A. Arne

“Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, to help me on to God?

Sure, I  must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage Lord; I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy word.”

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The Banner of the Cross

 

The Banner of the Cross

You have a Bible, Lift it up. It is our banner of the cross. It is the one thing that defeats our enemies and instructs us on how to win the battles. We are soldiers of the Lord. Our banner is our flag to Christianity. It is our guidance to the golden streets of heaven. Lift up your banner and our enemies will soon disappear and we will see Christ, not on the cross but on His throne in Heaven.

Lyrics by Daniel W. Whittle, arranged by James McGranahan

“There’s a royal banner given for display to the soldiers of the King; As an ensign fair we lift it up today, while as ransomed ones we sing.

Though the foe may rage and gather as the flood, let the standard be displayed; And beneath its folds, as soldiers of the Lord, for the truth be not dismayed!

Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell, make the glorious tidings known; Of the crimson banner now the story tells, while the Lord shall claim His own!

When the glory dawns tis drawing very near it is hastening day by day, then before our King the foe shall disappear, and the cross the world shall sway!

Marching on, marching on, for Christ count everything but loss! And to crown Him King, toil and sing beneath the banner of the cross!”

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