For Sunrise Hope and Sunset Calm

For sunrise hope and sunset calm,
and all that lies between,
For all the sweetness and the balm
that is and that has been,
For comradeship for peace in strife,
and light on darkened days;
For work to do and strength for life
we sing our hymn of praise.

But O, we press far, far above
these gifts of pure delight,
And find in Thee, and in Thy love
contentment infinite.
O Lord, beloved, in whom are found
all joys of time and place,
What will it be when joy is crowned
by vision of Thy face?

- by Amy Carmichael

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
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Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On thee, when sorrows rise;
On thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting Hope relies.
To thee, I tell each rising grief,
For thou alone canst heal;
Thy word can bring a sweet relief,
For ev'ry pain I feel.

But oh! when gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call thee mine;
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline.
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust,
And still my soul would cleave to thee,
Tho' prostrate in the dust.

Hast thou not bid me seek thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sov'reign grace
Be deaf when I complain?
No, still the ear of sov'reign grace
Attends the mourner's pray'r;
Oh, may I ever find access
To breathe my sorrows there.

Thy mercy seat is open still;
Here let my soul retreat,
With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet.
Thy mercy seat is open still;
Here let my soul retreat,
With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet.

- by Anne Steele

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
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Best of Because He Lives 2025

These are the most popular posts I posted here in 2025.
A few posts you may have missed, so check them out.

- Spine Labels - Set 87
- Bible Verse Graphics
- Johannes Tauler's Sermons in English - Sermon 1
- Lord God, To You We Give All Praise
- Spine Labels - Set 90

Happy New Year, dear readers!

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
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My reading recommendations. My merch store. My Etsy store.

Lord God, To You We Give All Praise

Lord God, to you we give all praise,
with grateful hearts our voices raise
that angel hosts you did create
around your glorious throne to wait.

They shine with light and heav'nly grace
and constantly behold your face.
They heed your voice, they know it well;
in godly wisdom they excel.

They never rest nor sleep as we;
their whole delight is but to be
with you, Lord Jesus, and to keep
your little flock, your lambs and sheep.

The ancient dragon is their foe;
his envy and his wrath they know.
It always is his aim and pride
your Christian people to divide.

As he of old deceived the world
and into sin and death has hurled,
so now he subtly lies in wait
to undermine both Church and state.

A roaring lion, round he goes,
no halt nor rest he ever knows;
he seeks the Christians to devour
and slay them by his dreadful pow'r.

But watchful is the angel band
that follows Christ on ev'ry hand
to guard his people where they go
and break the counsel of the foe.

O Lord, awaken songs of praise
for angel hosts that guard our days;
teach us to serve you and adore
as angels do forevermore.

- by Philipp Melanchthon, translated by Paul Eber

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Rest From Longing and Desire

Rest from longing and desire
O thou weary heart!
Dost thou ween thy choice has been
Not the lower but the higher,
Thine the better part?

And therefore dost thou long with bitter longing
From the day dawn to the night.
For the holiness, the rest of His beloved
Who walk with Him in white?

Thou art wearied with the striving and the yearning
For the crown that thou wouldst win;
Thou hast learnt but thine immensity of weakness,
But the mystery of thy sin.

Beloved, the Lord spake to me in comfort
When thus it was with me—
“Wert thou cast all alone upon thy mantle,
All alone upon the sea—
Nought round thee but immensity of waters,
No strength in thee to swim,
How, seeing only God in Heaven above thee,
Wouldst thou cast thyself on Him?”

Therefore thank Him for thy helplessness, beloved,
And if thou needs must long,
Let it be but for the rest of utter weakness,
In the Arms forever strong.

Long only that He make thee bare and empty—
Take all that is thine own,
Thy prowess, and thy strength, and thine endeavour,
And leave thee God alone.

In the stillness of that peace the work is ended
By Him, and not by thee;
The end of His desire and His longing
To see thee stand in stainless white before Him
Is that which needs must be.

- by Johannes Tauler, translated by Frances Bevan

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As the Bridegroom to His Chosen

As the bridegroom to His chosen,
As the king to His realm,
As the keep unto the castle,
As the pilot to the helm,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.

As the fountain in the garden,
As the candle in the dark,
As the treasure in the coffer,
As the manna in the ark,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.

As the ruby in the setting,
As the honey in the comb,
As the light within the lantern,
As the father in the home,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.

As the sunshine in the heavens,
As the image in the glass,
As the fruits up in the fig tree,
As the dew upon the grass,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.


- by Johannes Tauler, translated by Frances Bevan

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Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now!

Lord Jesus Christ, be present now,
our hearts in true devotion bow,
your Spirit send with grace divine,
and let your truth within us shine.

Unseal our lips to sing your praise,
our souls to you in worship raise,
make strong our faith, increase our light,
that we may know your name aright.

Until we join the hosts that cry,
"Holy are you, O Lord Most High!"
And in the light of that blest place
fore'er behold you face to face.

Glory to God the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessed Trinity,
be praise throughout eternity!

- Wilhelm II, Duke of Sachs-Weimar; translated by Catherine Winkworth

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Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Infant holy, infant lowly,
for His bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story,
tidings of the gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you.

- attributed to Piotrowi Skardze; translated by Edith M. G. Reed

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What does it look like to follow Jesus? I’ve written a book that walks through the Letter of 1 John and offers practical guidance for spiritual growth. Buy it here!

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All the Way My Savior Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me–
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me–
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for ev'ry trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me–
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

- by Fanny Crosby

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Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
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Who Has Seen the Wind?

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

- by Christina Rossetti

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If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching
or cool one pain,
or help one fainting robin
unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

- by Emily Dickinson

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Jesus, Still Lead On

Jesus, still lead on
till our rest be won.
And, although the way be cheerless,
we will follow, calm and fearless;
guide us by Your hand
to our Fatherland.

If the way be drear,
if the foe be near,
let not faithless fears o'ertake us,
let not faith and hope forsake us;
for, thro' many a woe,
to our home we go.

When we seek relief
from a long-felt grief–
when oppressed by new temptations,
Lord, increase and perfect patience.
Show us that bright shore
where we weep no more.

Jesus, still lead on
till our rest be won;
Heav'nly Leader, still direct us,
still support, console, protect us,
till we safely stand
in our Fatherland.

- by Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf; translated by Jane Borthwick

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If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee.
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee,
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

Only be still and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And all-deserving love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him Who chose us for His own.

He knows the time for joy, and truly
Will send it when He sees it meet.
When He hath tried and purged thee thoroughly
And finds thee free from all deceit;
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.

Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That He whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to everything.

All are alike before the Highest.
'Tis easy to our God, we know.
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving.
So do thine own part faithfully.
And trust His word; though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee —
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

- by Georg Neumark, translated by Catherine Winkworth

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More and More Like You

Lord, change my heart from deep within
Oh purify me once again
Renew my mind to love your truth
Make me more and more like You

More and more like You
More and more like You
Do whatever you must do
To make me more and more like You

Lord, cause my will to choose Your ways
In each temptation that I face
Until your glory's shining through
Make me more and more like You

Lord, now I rest in Your great love
Secure in Your own righteousness
Because Your Spirit's work of grace
Makes me more and more like you

- More and More Like You by the Galkin Evangelistic Team

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Complete in Thee

Complete in Thee! no work of mine
May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee! no more shall sin,
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee--each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Saviour! when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

- Complete In Thee by Aaron R. Wolfe

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O Thou in Whose Presence

O Thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
on whom in affliction I call;
my comfort by day, and my song in the night,
my hope, my salvation, my all.

Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep,
to feed them in pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
or alone in this wilderness rove?

O why should I wander an alien from Thee,
or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice, when my sorrows they see,
and smile at the tears I have shed.

He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
and myriads wait for His word;
He speaks and eternity, filled with His voice,
re-echoes the praise of the Lord.

Dear Shepherd! I hear, and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice;
restore and defend me, for Thou art my All,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.

- by Joseph Swain

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I Sing to Thee with Voice and Heart

I sing to Thee with voice and heart,
Of all my joys the well;
I sing, that, what I know Thou art
My lips to all may tell:
That Thou a fountain art of grace,
With blessings richly stored
For all, in ev'ry time and place,
This well I know, O Lord.

Cheer up, faint heart, rejoice and sing,
All anxious fear resign;
For God, the sov'reign Lord and King,
Is Thy God, even thine:
He is thy portion, He thy joy,
Thy life, and light, and Lord;
Thy counselor when doubts annoy,
Thy shield and great reward.

In restless thoughts or dark despair
Why spend the day and night?
On Him who loves thee cast thy care;
He makes our burdens light:
Did not His love, and truth, and pow'r
Watch o'er thy childhood's day?
Hath He not oft, in threat'ning hour,
Turned dreaded ills away?

His wisdom never plans in vain,
Ne'er falters, or mistakes;
All that His counsels wise ordain
A happy ending makes:
Upon thy mouth, then, lay thy hand,
And trust His guiding eye;
Thus, firm as rock, thy feet shall stand,
Now and eternally.

- by Paul Gerhardt; translated by Frances Elizabeth Cox

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Psalm 115 from the Scottish Psalter

Not unto us, Lord, not to us,
but do thou glory take
Unto thy name, ev'n for thy truth,
and for thy mercy's sake.

O wherefore should the heathen say,
Where is their God now gone?
But our God in the heavens is,
what pleased him he hath done.

Their idols silver are and gold,
work of men's hands they be.
Mouths have they, but they do not speak;
and eyes, but do not see;

Ears have they, but they do not hear;
noses, but savor not;
Hands, feet, but handle not, nor walk;
nor speak they through their throat.

Like them their makers are, and all
on them their trust that build.
O Isr'el, trust thou in the Lord,
he is their help and shield.

O Aaron's house, trust in the Lord,
their help and shield is he.
Ye that fear God, trust in the Lord,
their help and shield he'll be.

The Lord of us hath mindful been,
and he will bless us still:
He will the house of Isr'el bless,
bless Aaron's house he will.

Both small and great, that fear the Lord,
he will them surely bless.
The Lord will you, you and your seed,
aye more and more increase.

O blessed are ye of the Lord,
who made the earth and heav'n.
The heav'n, ev'n heav'ns, are God's, but he
earth to men's sons hath giv'n.

The dead, nor who to silence go,
God's praise do not record.
But henceforth we for ever will
bless God. Praise ye the Lord.

- Psalm 115, The Scottish Psalter

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Best of Because He Lives 2022

These are the most popular posts posted here in 2022.
A few posts you may have missed, so check them out.

- March
- Protestant Reformation - Martin Luther
- Protestant Reformation - Martin and Katharina Luther
- Protestant Reformation - John Wycliffe
- Psalm 121
- Tolkien and Middle Earth

Happy New Year, dear readers!

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Psalm 46 from the Scottish Psalter

God is our refuge and our strength,
in straits a present aid;
Therefore, although the earth remove,
we will not be afraid:

Though hills amidst the seas be cast;
Though waters roaring make,
And troubled be; yea, though the hills,
by swelling seas do shake.

A river is, whose streams do glad
the city of our God;
The holy place, wherein the Lord
most high hath his abode.

God in the midst of her doth dwell;
nothing shall her remove:
The Lord to her an helper will,
and that right early, prove.

The heathen raged tumultuously,
the kingdoms moved were:
The Lord God uttered his voice,
the earth did melt for fear.

The Lord of hosts upon our side
doth constantly remain:
The God of Jacob's our refuge,
us safely to maintain.

Come, and behold what wondrous works
have by the Lord been wrought;
Come, see what desolations
he on the earth hath brought.

Unto the ends of all the earth
wars into peace he turns:
The bow he breaks, the spear he cuts,
in fire the chariot burns.

Be still, and know that I am God;
among the heathen I
Will be exalted; I on earth
will be exalted high.

Our God, who is the Lord of hosts,
is still upon our side;
The God of Jacob our refuge
for ever will abide.

- Psalm 46, The Scottish Psalter

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