O Father, We Are Yours

I want to share a song with you that my sister and I have been working on.  Sarah is a wonderful poet who has written many poems in her own private worship.  She has shown me a few of them which I hope to set to music soon.

In October, I sent Sarah the chorus of this hymn text and asked if she would write a poem based on John 13-17 to go with it.  A couple weeks later, she wrote back with these three stanzas.  I've written a tune for it but unfortunately I am not able at this time to upload audio...maybe later!

May you be encouraged--as I believe the disciples were by Christ's departing words to them--in your earthly pilgrimage as you fight the spiritual battle knowing that Christ is strong and His strength is in you!  May we all be challenged this coming year to testify of the Father revealed in Jesus Christ.

O Father, We Are Yours

O Father, we are Yours, to Christ we now belong,

And in this earthly pilgrimage we are weak, but You are strong!

Entrusted with Your Word, we have a message to proclaim,

And though the world reject us, keep us faithful to Your name!

Chorus:

By Your truth sanctify

Our hearts to testify

Of the Father shown,

In the Son made known:

Of the love of Jesus Christ!

We dwell in hostile land, with evils all around,

Relentless is our enemy, this life a battle ground;

Protect us, Father, by Your truth and keep our eyes on You,

And to the One Who sent us may our hearts be every true!

Oh may our hearts be one in purpose and in love,

Reflecting that which You Yourself have shown us from above;

That by our unity we might bear witness to the truth,

And of Your love in Jesus to the world we might be proof.


Edit:

Alright, I figured out one way to get the audio on here for you... it's not ideal but it'll do for now.

Right click on this link and open it in a new tab/window, then you can look at the text as the music plays.  Thanks for bearing with me as I figure this out!

Christmas Hymn from Getty/Townend

As you take time this year to wonder at the mystery of Christ's birth and all that the incarnation means, I hope it causes your heart to swell with gratitude and awe at the mystery of God's plan for our redemption!  Keith Getty and Stuart Townend have written a hymn text that captures the mystery of Christ's birth as the "mighty Prince of Life shelters in a stable."

Take a moment to reflect on this text and praise God that the "babe in Bethlehem" is in truth "the Lord of history" born for your eternal salvation!


Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God's salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev'ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother's breast,
Vuln'rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way,
And by His blood He'll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst'ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist'ry.