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!

Hymn of the Week

Here's a song that struck me the other day.  I think it would make a good song for a missions theme.  Our goal as we reach out to the world around us is to show the compassion of Christ to those that need it.  And at the same time we are worshiping because we are emulating Christ and His servanthood (Mark 10:45).

Compassion Hymn

There is an everlasting kindness  

You lavished on us 

When the Radiance of heaven Came to rescue the lost; 

You called the sheep without a shepherd 

To leave their distress

For your streams of forgiveness 

And the shade of Your rest.    

And with compassion for the hurting, 

You reached out Your hand 

As the lame ran to meet You 

And the dead breathed again; 

You saw behind the eyes of sorrow 

And shared in our tears, 

Heard the sigh of the weary, 

Let the children draw near.    

CHORUS 

What boundless love, 

What fathomless grace 

You have shown us, O God of compassion! 

Each day we live 

An offering of praise 

As we show to the world Your compassion.     

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary 

And gazed on Your face 

At the thorns of oppression 

And the wounds of disgrace,

For surely You have borne our suffering 

And carried our grief 

As You pardoned the scoffer 

And showed grace to the thief.    

How beautiful the feet that carry 

This gospel of peace 

To the fields of injustice 

And the valleys of need— 

To be a voice of hope and healing, 

To answer the cries 

Of the hungry and helpless 

With the mercy of Christ.  

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend 

Copyright © 2008 Thankyou Music