The Smidgin » hymn

For the Start of a Year

Jim — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:42:01 +0000

Thou Art the Way

Thou art the Way: to thee alone from sin and death we flee;
and he who would the Father seek must seek him, Lord, by thee.

Thou art the Truth: thy Word alone true wisdom can impart;
thou only canst inform the mind, and purify the heart.

Thou art the Life: the rending tomb proclaims thy conquering arm,
and those who put their trust in thee nor death nor hell shall harm.

Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life: grant us that Way to know,
that Truth to keep, that Life to win, whose joys eternal flow.

- George W. Doane (1824)

For the End of a Year

Jim — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:11:47 +0000

A Debtor to Mercy Alone

A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
nor fear, with your righteousness on, my person and off’ring to bring.
The terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do;
my Savior’s obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view.

The work which his goodness began, the arm of his strength will complete;
his promise is yea and amen, and never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now, nor all things below or above,
can make him his purpose forgo, or sever my soul from his love.

My name from the palms of his hands eternity will not erase;
impressed on his heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is giv’n;
more happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in heav’n.

- Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778)

One Year Later

Jim — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 07:05:37 +0000

It is now exactly one year since I started the Smidgin. Last night at the Christmas Eve service we again sang “From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable” and I was reminded of why I like the hymn so much. This year it is the second verse that rings especially true:

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners,
Humble servant in the Father’s hands,
Filled with power and the Holy Spirit,
Filled with mercy for the broken man.
Yes, He walked my road and He felt my pain,
Joys and sorrows that I know so well;
Yet His righteous steps give me hope again -
I will follow my Immanuel!

The words speak for themselves. What a marvelous picture of our Christian faith.

Merry Christmas!