Tuesday 11 August 2009

Wonderful words

I love singing at Church. Some people say that singing together is not something people like to do these days. I suppose that might be true for some people. Personally, I think the act of singing does something for us in a physical, biochemical way, which then opens up our ability to praise God more deeply within our souls. I like both traditional hymns and modern praise songs. We sang the following hymn last Sunday at one of the two churches where I am placed. I love these words:

There's a wideness in God's mercy
like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.

There is no place where earth's sorrows
are more felt than in heaven;
there is no place where earth's failings
have such kind judgment given.
There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed;
there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head.

For the love of God is broader
than the measure of man's mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful,
we should take him at his word;
and our life would be thanksgiving
for the goodness of the Lord.

Frederick William Faber, 1862

2 comments:

  1. I was very struck by this hymn a few weeks back which really got me thinking. isn't that funny? We both noticed the words.
    See http://hrht-revisingreform.blogspot.com/2009/05/is-there-perfect-hymn.html

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  2. Wow, that is funny/strange, Rachel, how we both posted about that hymn. I'm sure there is great truth in those words.

    In looking at your profile, I think we have a lot in common (in addition to our love for the Lord, faith and mission), in terms of books and films we like. Who knows - one day we might meet in the course of our work.

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