Category Archives: Hymns

Time to Worship (Week 2 Wednesday)

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We started around 8:30 after watching a television show. I think we’re getting more and more tempted to push things off, but I’m reminded that I’m head of the family which means it’s my responsibility to make a call to worship. My wife had no problem with that.

We started with two hymns:
#163 I Surrender All
#105 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

We couldn’t get the tune just right with O Come, but it was okay. In “I Surrender All” the verse that says “Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now” stood out most vividly since that was where we were being tempted most yesterday.

As a brief intro, I said to my wife that we’re jumping around a lot just so we can figure out what works and what doesn’t. So far, singing a few hymns and reading scripture and prayer seems to be a proven formula, but we will try reading through a book or having more aids later.

We read James 1:1-18, the second portion of scripture from chapter 5 of How People Change.

We again looked at the four main stages as described by Lane/Tripp:
Heat – Thorns – Cross – Fruit

It is within the situation HEATthat we are either tempted or turn to Christ. So we continued looking at how James encourages the believers to turn to Christ in the midst of deep persecution. Afterwards we talked about what areas we were struggling with and when was HEAT greatest or when we knew that our THORNS were evident.

This was a really good time, we shared with each other and then prayed for one another. Little did I realize that my wife’s biggest time of struggle as of late was also mine. We ministered to one another last night. We also encouraged each other to turn to Christ, bring to him our troubles and fears, bring it to him in prayer.

We concluded with another hymn:
#488 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

The third line of the first verse “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear” is pretty much how we are when we don’t turn to Jesus during times of trial and temptation. We should never be discouraged to take it to the Lord in prayer.

We finished with a time of prayer (small potty break interruption) and then benediction and doxology. This time we sang Glory to God (chinese version). Our girl really liked it and danced with us to finish it off around 9PM.

Time to Worship (Week 2 Tuesday)

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Today, we were tired. We made it quick one. We sang two hymns: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing and something else… need to look back in the hymnal.

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

We confessed that we had not thought about God most of the day and it was during this small time of worship that our hearts were brought back to him.

We read Psalm 88 together. This is one of the darkest Psalms and it ends with the writer alone in darkness with his friends all shunning him.

Striking verses were 1, 9, and 13 which calls out to the LORD for help despite the darkness. I wondered why he would do that. The commentary stated that the Psalmist attributed the situation to God (v. 6, 15, etc.) and that only God could comfort and protect him.

We finished with prayer and again interrupted by potty break and with a benediction and doxology.

Time to Worship (Week 2 Monday)

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We had a little disaster the night before mainly due to failed potty training and exposure to food allergies. But we managed a quick time of worship today (Monday).

Again, after dinner seemed like the best time to have our church time. We sat on the couches and enjoyed one another’s company.

We began by singing two hymns from our church hymnal “To God be the Glory” and “All Creatures of our God and King.”

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

We did pause at the third stanza referring to mother earth. But other than that, I think it was okay…

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

We read the first half of Deuteronomy 6 and discussed impartation of the God’s word to our children. We recalled what we learned in the past week and talked about the sermon on Hell, recalled our blessings and praises for the week.

v. 11-12 “and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD…”

It is our nature to forget God. This was a good time to remember the goodness of our God and his ever present help in time of trouble and our deliverer. We also came to the conviction that unless we knew the word of God, unless we are so steeped in his word and converted by his Spirit that we would be impudent in imparting a faith to our children. We prayed for each other to be such parents who desired after God.

We were interrupted just at the end of the scripture portion by my eldest daughter who needed to go to the bathroom. We both took her, spent a few minutes praying and interceding for our friends and family, for church and various ministries we supported.

We concluded with a benediction and doxology.

Time to Worship (Week 1 Thursday)

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This was a special day for me. Usually we watch The Office around 9PM, but instead, we were in the middle of our family devotional time. I was really glad all our hearts were focused.

We started off with the Sunday School material we were going through entitled How People Change by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp.

We went over the Lesson 4 where it reviews and summarizes the basic components of life.

HEAT – THORNS – CROSS – FRUIT

The HEAT is our situation, whether good or bad, we all go through something.

The THORNS are how we would normally react in such a situation, this is how we “instinctively” react and respond using our wisdom, our insight. Which is poor because it leaves out a major factor.

The CROSS is that major factor. Remembering the CROSS and who God is and how God sees the situation not only changes our hearts but gives us power. We are united with Christ, we have a community to encourage us, we have the power of the Holy Spirit, and we have Heaven in mind.

With this in view and empowering us, we bear FRUIT. FRUIT is how we respond to the situation but with God’s love working through us. This is what we hope to come out of the situation.

We began worship with this in view. We read through 2 Corinthians 1:1-14 where the Apostle Paul was under a great deal of duress. Instead of fleeing, giving up or falling into depression, Paul remembered Christ, remembered God who raised him from the dead, and all these things that he was able to encourage and comfort those around him…. even in the most difficult of situations.

We concluded the time of study with some pointed questions: What are some current situations that is bearing down on us (HEAT)? How are we responding to it in an ungodly way (THORNS)? What do we know about God in this situation (CROSS)? How can we respond in love (FRUIT)?

We sang hymn #271 Come Thou Fount. The last verse really stuck out to me and continues to stick out in my mind.

O to grace, how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee;
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Amen!

Time to Worship (Week 1 Wednesday)

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We were pleasantly surprised with a guest today for dinner. We decided to maintain our pattern of worship.

We began with a hymn Blessed Assurance, scripture reading and concluded with another hymn Grace greater than our sin.

Read Psalm 3 which was preached a few weeks back. v. 3-6 are what stood out to me.

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

Just being reminded that the LORD sustains us really ministered to me. It was a reminder that in the heat and suffering of this world, we have no other but God himself that offers us strength and sustenance.

We concluded with the same hymn from yesterday. The chorus made a deep impression on me especially with all the things that try to overwhelm us.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

Time to Worship (Week 1 Tuesday)

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I was feeling kind of sick today so we had a quick time of prayer and singing.

We sang two hymns:
#117 Grace Greater Than Our Sin
#214 The Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross is one of my wife’s favorite hymns.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross…
Till my trophies at least I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,…
And exchange it some day for a crown.

We had a brief time of intercessory prayer and then concluded with benediction and doxology.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Time to worship (Week 1 Monday)

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After talking about this with my wife, we decided to do a daily devotional/bible study. It has been four years in the making. We have had spurts throughout our marriage, but it kind of quieted down after babies were born and we weren’t fully available all the time. But with our library downstairs, there were some books on family worship. I found this: The Family Worship Book by Terry Johnson.

We followed the outline as described in the book which is similar to a worship service.

Call to Worship - We began with a call to worship around 7PM on the couch with Psalm
Hymn – We tried singing “And can it be” but wasn’t following the notes too well, so we sang “Holy Holy Holy” instead
Confession – We read the Apostle’s Creed together. This was found in the hymnal but was a little bit different from the one we normally recite at church.
Scripture – We read through Psalm 4, this was the scripture preached on Sunday, but because of various distractions we did not remember much of it. The few points we did catch we reiterated and affirmed each other.

v.3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

This was especially significant for me as I recalled my youthful days where I would place myself in a lot of trouble, but God protected me even during my most vulnerable times. It was a good reminder how God has set apart for himself a people. We reminded each other that God cares for his people in a special way, namely the covenant. We encouraged and reminded each other who we are in Christ and our status. This recollection was especially precious during our devotion time.

v.7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

We recalled our pastor saying that grain and wine represented all that we have. But the contrast is quite evident. Even if they abounded, they did not compare to the incredible joy we have as having the Lord in our life.

Prayer – We continued with a time of prayer. Some confession and some intercession and some praise. It was indeed a time to recall the goodness of our Lord.
Benediction - After that came the Aaronic benediction: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Doxology – We concluded with a doxology.

Overall this was incredible. With a few exceptions from our two year old daughter getting fussy (admittedly she was tired) we were able to finish in about 30 minutes. I think singing a song and asking questions during the bible study were very useful. As well as the prayer time. These are “essential” components in my opinion. Prior to intercessary prayer we discussed how we can use what learned to bless others. My wife felt she hasn’t worshiped in a while, so I tried ministering to her in order for her to minister to others.

Keep us in prayer as we test out this family worship time for the next month.

Soli Deo Gloria!