Tag Archives: Sabbath

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest – All I have is Christ

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It’s been over a month since I last posted, and it only seemed fitting that I start ‘back at it’ with a Sabbath Rest hymn. One that speaks of the mystery of Christ’s great love for us! May this always be my prayer –
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
“My only boast is You”

Verse 1
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

Verse 2
But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Chorus
Hallelujah!
All I have is Christ
Hallelujah!
Jesus is my life

Verse 3
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
“My only boast is You”

Chorus x3

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI) (adm. at IntegratedRights.com).

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest – Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean

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I cannot tell a lie. I’m a Getty Music Groupie. The songwriting duo of Keith and Kristen Getty, along with their entire team,  publish consistently theologically beautiful hymns. This is their latest – Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean.  This hymn was originally written in the late 1800’s in Wales. Here is a little back story (from the Getty Music website) –
“Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean” has been called the “love song of the Welsh revival” of the 1900s, a revival that spurred the missionary movement to China and more than 100 million Christians there today. It is a rich, poetic reminder of Romans 5, that by his death Christ demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners. In this reacquaintance with the poignant hymn, recorded by Sandra McCracken, Keith & Kristyn Getty, and thousands attending the Sing! conference, two new verses sing the power of Christ’s love in resurrection and our love for him in eternal praise.

LYRICS:
Vs 1
Here is love vast as the ocean
Lovingkindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life, our ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days

Vs 2
On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide
Grace and love like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love

Vs 3
On the morn of resurrection
Mercy filled the thirsty grave
Where the stone of death burst open
Springs of life flowed unrestrained
Love no heart could ever measure
Joy no sorrows will outrun
Rush upon the soul believing
In the risen, reigning Son

Vs 4
Oh this love, vast love of Jesus
Bids us come and drink and live
To this weary world of longing
What more could our Savior give
Now to Christ who fully loved us
And who freed us from our sin
Be all glory and dominion
Everlasting praise to Him

Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise)
PD Text (Rees, Edwards) and Music (Lowry)
New Words and Arrangement by Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty
© 2024 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) and Messenger Hymns (BMI) (all adm at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest – God of Every Grace

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How thankful I am that regardless of what’s happening in my life (or in the country or the world at large), I can rest in the precious truth that my “true & greatest treasure is in You – the God of Grace!

O let not this world of sorrows
Steal my only hope away
For the power of Your gospel
Shines within this jar of clay
In affliction You bring wisdom
That my comforts can displace
How my true and greatest treasure
Is in You the God of grace

Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace

Weary with the weight I carry
Give me wings of faith to rise
For You know each grief that lingers
Through the watches of the night
Surely You have borne our sufferings
At the cross took up our pain
And You lead us on to glory
As we trust You, God of grace

Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace

There’s a dawning hope before us
That I know is soon to break
As I wait upon Your mercy
Which will swallow every ache
Cries of joy and songs of victory
When we enter heaven’s gates
All Your children home together
All with You the God of grace

Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace
Now to the God of every grace
Who counts my tears, who holds my days
I sing through sorrows, sing with faith
O praise the God of every grace
O praise the God of every grace
O praise the God of every grace

Words and Music by Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, and Keith and Kristyn Getty

© 2023 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) – adm. at MusicServices.com // Be Essential Songs (BMI) / BryanFowlerSongs (BMI) – adm. at EssentialMusicPublishing.com

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest – Victory in Jesus!

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I must confess that I cannot recall singing this in my pre-SOWER days. But when you hear this sung by 30 men celebrating recovery from addiction, it stays with you! This hymn has been around for almost 90 years – and it still proclaims truth –
Christ has won the victory!! He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood – He loved me ere I knew him – and all my love is due Him!

Verse 1
I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning
Of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sin,
Christ won the victory!

Chorus
Oh victory in Jesus
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

Verse 2
I heard about His healing
All His miracles revealing
That He alone can save a soul
And set the captive free
I’m happy in His promise
How soon He’s coming for us
And home with Him I’ll sing again:
Christ won the victory!

Verse 3
I’ll tell the old, old story
Till my Savior comes from glory
I’ll tell of all the Lord has done
To set this sinner free
That all who will believe Him
By Faith can still receive Him
And share in that redemption song:
Christ won the victory!

Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)
Words and Music by E.M. Bartlett, Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty

© 1939 Mrs. E.M. Bartlett. Renewed 1967 Albert E. Brumley And Sons. Additional lyrics © 2024 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns (Admin. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Albert E. Brumley And Sons (Admin. by MusicServices.com)

Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest – A Mighty Fortress is Our God!

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For many folks (ok, for most folks) this week is all about Halloween! But older I get, the more I like to focus this last week in October with the anniversary of the Reformation – marking the day Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany (October 31, 1517), and thus the beginning of the Protestant church. This is perhaps the most well known of the hymns that Luther wrote, and this rendition performed outside of The Colosseum in Rome is powerful! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


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 power 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 though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through 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 powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through 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.

A Mighty Fortress filmed by Fountainview Academy as part of The Great Controversy in Rome, Italy.