Thursday, June 18, 2026

Jesus, Hold My Hand

1
As I travel through this pilgrim land
There is a friend who walks with me
Leads me safely thru the sinking sand
It is the Christ of Calvary
This would be my pray'r, dear Lord, each day
To help me do the best I can
For I need Thy light to guide me day and night
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand
2
Let me travel in the light divine
That I may see the blessed way;
Keep me that I may be wholly thine
And sing redemption's son some day;
I will be a soldier brave and true
And ever firmly take a stand,
As I onward go and daily meet the for,
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.
3
When I wander thru the valley dim
Toward the setting of the sun,
Lead me safely to a land of rest
If I a crown of life have won;
I have put my faith in thee, dear Lord,
That I may reach the golden strand
There's no other friend on whom I can depend,
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.
REFRAIN
Jesus, hold my hand
I need Thee every hour
Through this pilgrim land
Protect me by Thy power
Hear my feeble plea,
O Lord, look down on me,
When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Albert E. Brumley



Isaiah 41:13
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Luke 23:33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Job 6:2-4
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2 Timothy 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

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.

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

If We Never Meet Again

1

Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey

And perhaps we’ll never meet anymore

Till we gather in heaven’s bright city

Far away on that beautiful shore

2

O so often we are parted with sorrow

Benedictions often quicken our pain

But we never shall sorrow in heaven

God be with you till we meet again

3

O they say we shall meet by the river

Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky

And they say we'll be happy in heaven

In the wonderful sweet by and by

REFRAIN

If we never meet again this side of heaven

As we struggle through this world and its strife

There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven

By the side of the river of life

Where the charming roses bloom forever

And where separations come no more

If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore


Lyrics: Albert Brumley

This is another song with an alto lead (I can hear you, Cleffie).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu34xlZt4-4&list=RDbu34xlZt4-4&start_radio=1

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Monday, June 15, 2026

A Beautiful Prayer

 1  

In the Bible we read of a beautiful prayer,  

A prayer sent to heaven above;  

It was prayed by a heart that was laden with care,  

And filled with such wonderful love.  

2  

You can catch the sad tone of His voice as he said,  

"Thy will not my own must be done;"  

As a lamb to the slaughter He soon must be led  

To die as the Crucified One.   

3  

As he prayed there alone in such deep agony,  

It was a most beautiful prayer;  

Just to think His great heart was all broken for me,  

That He my great sorrow must share. 

Refrain:  

When the Savior was praying,  

In the garden of Gethsemane,  

He said, "loving Father,  

If you will, let this cup pass from me;"  

I know He was thinking  

Of the anguish death would bring to His own,  

How deep was His sorrow,  

When Jesus was praying alone.

    

Author: Luther G. Presley (1887–1974)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqg7xNY1lQ&list=RDEMOqv1okK_8NEocukl0biy5g&start_radio=1&rv=2TT1FmJkjEU

This song has an alto lead on the refrain, which I always hear in my grandmother's voice.


 Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder… 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Hide Me, Rock of Ages

1

O thou blessed rock of ages (Rock of Ages I am)

Trusting now dear Lord in thee (Dear Lord, in thee I’m trusting)

Keep me till my journey's ended (Journey’s ended, keep me)

Till thy blessed face I see

2

Keep me when the storm clouds gather (storm clouds gather, keep me)

Till the sun comes shining thru (comes shining thru the shadows)

Keep me till my work is over (work is over, keep me)

Till I bid this world adieu.

3

When my journey is completed (is completed, Savior)

And there's no more work to do (no work to do, O blessed)

Savior guide my weary spirit (weary spirit to that)

Happy land beyond the blue.

REFRAIN:

Hide me, O blest Rock of Ages (Ages, Rock of Ages, hide me)

Till Thy blessed face I see (Thy face I see in glory)

When the storm around me rages (Round me rages, blessed)

Rock of Ages, hide thou me


Author: Brantley C. George

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ntf00-rpH8&list=RD0ntf00-rpH8&start_radio=1

When I was growing up I attended a little country church in Watervliet, Michigan. It was a small congregation, but filled with good singers. There was one man in our congregation who had the deepest bass voice I've ever heard. A lot of the songs in our songbooks featured either an alto or bass "lead" on the refrain. This song was one of them. Every time I hear it, I think of Chet Linville.


For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. ~Psalm 31:3

* * *

The phrase "Rock of Ages" does not appear in the Bible, although there are many instances in scripture that use the word "rock" to describe God and Jesus. The concept of being hidden in the rock brings to mind this passage from 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: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Saturday, June 13, 2026

We'll Work Till Jesus Comes

 

O land of rest, for thee I sigh!
When will the moment come
When I shall lay my armor by
And dwell in peace at home?
To Jesus Christ I fled for rest;
He bade me cease to roam,
And lean for comfort on His breast
Till He conducts me home.
I sought at once my Savior's side, 
No more my steps shall roam;
With Him I'll brave death's chilling tide,
And reach  my heav'nly home.
Chorus:
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
And we'll be gathered home.

Author: Elizabeth Mills



Friday, June 12, 2026

Nearer, My God, to Thee

 1 
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Author: Sarah Flower Adams



Genesis 28
1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughers of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 
6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughers of Canaan; 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
 

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Take Time to Be Holy

 1
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.


Author: William D. Longstaff



TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY
Leviticus 20:7-8
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.

HELP THOSE WHO ARE WEAK
1 Thessalonians 5
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

FEED ON HIS WORD
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

SPEND MUCH TIME IN SECRET
Matthew 6:6
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.

BY LOOKING TO JESUS LIKE HIM THOU SHALT BE
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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