Monday, October 19, 2026

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

1  

We read of a place that’s called heaven,  

It’s made for the pure and the free;  

These truths in God’s Word He hath given,  

How beautiful heaven must be.  

2  

In heaven no drooping nor pining,  

No wishing for elsewhere to be;  

God’s light is forever there shining,  

How beautiful heaven must be. 

3  

Pure waters of life there are flowing,  

And all who will drink may be free;  

Rare jewels of splendor are glowing,  

How beautiful heaven must be.  

4  

The angels so sweetly are singing,  

Up there by the beautiful sea;  

Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing,  

How beautiful heaven must be.     

Refrain:  

How beautiful heaven must be,  

Sweet home of the happy and free;  

Fair haven of rest for the weary,  

How beautiful heaven must be.

  

Author: Mrs. A S. Bridgewater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aRNSjoHdKI&list=RD8aRNSjoHdKI&start_radio=1


 "fair haven of rest for the weary"  
Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  

Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

    "God's light is forever there shining"  

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.  

 "pure waters of life there are flowing"  

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.    

 "rare jewels of splendor"  

Revelation 21:19-21 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.    

 "the angels so sweetly are singing"  

Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.    

 "sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing"  

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  

Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:  

Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Sunday, October 18, 2026

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

1   
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound  and time shall be no more,  
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;  
When the saved of earth shall gather  over on the other shore,  
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.  
2   
On that bright and cloudless morning  when the dead in Christ shall rise,  
And the glory of his resurrection share;  
When his chosen ones shall gather  to their home beyond the skies,  
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.  
3   
Let us labor for the Master  from the dawn till setting sun;  
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.  
Then when all of life is over  and our work on earth is done,  
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.     
Refrain:  
When the roll is called up yonder,  
When the roll is called up yonder,  
When the roll is called up yonder,  
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
  

Author: James M. Black (1893)    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LjZfjuOASs&list=RD_LjZfjuOASs&start_radio=1


1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.    

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Farther Along

1  

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder,  

Why it should be thus all the day long;  

While there are others living about us,  

Never molested though in the wrong.  

2  

When death has come and taken our loved ones,  

It leaves our home so lonely and drear;  

Then do we wonder why others prosper,  

Living so wicked year after year.   

3  

Faithful till death said our loving Master,  

A few more days to labor and wait;  

Toils of the road will then seem as nothing,  

As we sweep through the beautiful gate.  

4  

When we see Jesus coming in glory,  

When He comes from His home in the sky;  

Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,  

We'll understand it all by and by.    

Refrain:  

Farther along we’ll know all about it,  

Farther along we’ll understand why;  

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,  

We’ll understand it all by and by.

  

Author: W. B. Stevens   

This was the quintessential Church of Christ funeral song when I was growing up.

Here rendered by the Peasall Sisters -- the sweetest rendition of this song that you'll ever hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1dVxCa77sI&list=RDk1dVxCa77sI&start_radio=1 


John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.    

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.    

Psalm 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. 18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.    

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Thursday, October 15, 2026

Hallelujah, We Shall Rise

1 

In the resurrection morning,  

When the trump of God shall sound,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

Then the saints will come rejoicing  

And no tears will e’er be found,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise.  

2   

In the resurrection morning,  

What a meeting it will be,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

When our fathers and our mothers,  

And our loved ones we shall see,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

3   

In the resurrection morning,  

Blessèd thought it is to me,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

I shall see my blessèd Savior,  

Who so freely died for me,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

4   

In the resurrection morning,  

We shall meet Him in the air,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!  

And be carried up to glory,  

To our home so bright and fair,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah! we shall rise!     

Refrain  

We shall rise, Hallelujah!  we shall rise! Amen!  

We shall rise! Hallelujah!  

In the resurrection morning,  

When death’s prison bars are broken,  

We shall rise, Hallelujah!  We shall rise.  


Author: J. E. Thomas  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9P5VdY9ZBk&list=RDz9P5VdY9ZBk&start_radio=1

I can't help it -- these Gaither videos feel like coming home.

  

 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

A Wonderful Savior

1  

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,  

A wonderful Savior to me.  

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,  

Where rivers of pleasure I see.  

2  

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord;  

He taketh my burden away.  

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved;  

He giveth me strength as my day.   

3  

With numberless blessings each moment he crowns,  

And filled with his fullness divine,  

I sing in my rapture,“Oh, glory to God  

For such a Redeemer as mine!”  

4  

When clothed in his brightness, transported I rise  

To meet him in clouds of the sky,  

His perfect salvation, his wonderful love,  

I’ll shout with the millions on high.    

Refrain:  

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock  

That shadows a dry, thirsty land.  

He hideth my life in the depths of his love,  

And covers me there with his hand. 

 

 Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbhzH41V49c&list=RDGbhzH41V49c&start_radio=1

Exodus 33:17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

It Is Well With My Soul

1  
When peace, like a river,  attendeth my way,  
When sorrows like sea billows roll;  
Whatever my lot,  Thou hast taught me to say,  
It is well, it is well with my soul.  
2  
Though Satan should buffet,  though trials should come,  
Let this blest assurance control,  
That Christ hath regarded  my helpless estate,  
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.  
3  
My sin—oh, the bliss  of this glorious thought!—  
My sin, not in part but the whole,  
Is nailed to the cross,  and I bear it no more,  
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!  
4  
And Lord, haste the day  when the faith shall be sight,  
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;  
The trump shall resound,  and the Lord shall descend,  
Even so, it is well with my soul.    
Refrain:  
It is well with my soul,  
It is well, it is well with my soul.
  

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873    

Here's something a bit different than usual -- a contemporary interpretation based on this hymn, with heartwarming video scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GwS8Rl98nY&list=RD9GwS8Rl98nY&start_radio=1


Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.    

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:    

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.    

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.


Sunday, October 11, 2026

Wonderful Peace

1   
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight  
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;  
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls  
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.  
2  
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,  
Buried deep in the heart of my soul;  
So secure that no power can mine it away,  
While the years of eternity roll.  
3   
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,  
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;  
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,  
And His glory is flooding my soul.  
4   
And methinks when I rise to that City of peace,  
Where the Author of peace I shall see,  
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing,  
In that heavenly kingdom shall be:   
5   
Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest,  
Marching down the rough pathway of time?  
Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;  
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime.     
Refrain:  
Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,  
Coming down from the Father above;  
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,  
In fathomless billows of love.
  

Author: W. D. Cornell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76cchtSVgkk&list=RD76cchtSVgkk&start_radio=1

 Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.