Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way.

From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of one who suffered there for me;

And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess -

The wonders of redeeming love, and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss.

My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

Elizabeth C. Clephane

The Solid Rock

Life is uncertain... Decisions are scary.
Obedience to the Word of God can seem beyond our abilities.
Responsibility is heavy.
Choices and their consequences are serious...
Sometimes God's will is dim and hard to decipher...

But we have an Anchor, sure and steadfast.
I'm glad. Aren't you?

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.

When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear...

It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heaven's all-gracious King" -
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring; -
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

Edmund Hamilton Sears (1810-1876)