Our Savior's Birth

I enjoy making Christmas cards and some years I write a poem for them.  Two years ago I wrote this poem and last Christmas decided to put it to music.  I had to change the words a bit to get it to all fit and this is the result.

Even after all these years of hearing the Christmas story I am still amazed at God’s salvation plan.  How He sent His Son as a tiny Babe to earth just for us. How much He loved us - wretched creatures that we are – to give His only Son to bear the weight of our sins and the penalty that goes with sin, so that we may live!

Our Savior’s Birth

Who would have thought that a God so great,

Would care for man in his sinful state?

And who would have thought one so helpless and small,

Would be the best love gift, the greatest gift of all?

Who would have thought two from Galilee,

Would be chosen for Jesus’ family?

And who would have thought that a baby so small,

Would one day become the Savior of all?

Who would have thought that angels would sing,

To herald the birth of the newborn King?

And who would have thought that shepherds first to hear,

Would spread the glad tidings both far and near?

Who would have thought that the kings from afar,

Would find the new king by fol’ing a star?

And who would have thought the Christ Child they’d see,

When they offered their gifts on bended knee?

And our God made a way to redeem fallen man.

He gave His own Son as His redemption plan.

So spread the news far and wide o’er the earth.

And gladly celebrate our dear Savior’s birth.

And gladly celebrate our Savior’s birth!

Written 12/16/2013

The picture in the video was taken by one of my many sisters (Carol Wieland).  She lives in Vermont and gets much more snow than we get in central NJ!

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Precious Lamb

I Corinthians 11:23b-28

23b…Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:

24 And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.

25 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.

We hear these words every time we partake in Communion – the celebration of the Last Supper.  I have heard them so often, that most times it goes in one ear and out the other, and I don’t really spend much time reflecting on the meaning of these words.  I pray that we all take some time to ponder these words.

Dying on a cross, bearing our sins, His body wounded, His blood shed for me.  Thank You, Precious Lamb, for Your atoning work on the cross.

This song is a little different as it has a part for tenors to sing - the words inside the parentheses.  In order to make the words fit, I did not include words to the echo in the video.

Precious Lamb of Calvary

Precious Lamb, (o precious Lamb) Who died for me, (Who died for me)

There on the cross, (there on the cross) of Calvary. (of Calvary)

From all of my sins, (all of my sins) to set me free. (to set me free)

Precious Lamb (precious Lamb) of Calvary. (of Calvary)

Precious Blood, (o precious Blood) ‘twas shed for me. (‘twas shed for me)

My soul to cleanse, (my soul to cleanse) o’er death victory. (death victory)

From His wounded side, (His wounded side) a river flowed. (a river flowed)

Washed away, (washed away) my guilty load. (my guilty load)

Precious Body, (precious Body) ‘twas broken for me, (broken for me)

Wounded, beaten, (wounded, beaten) such great agony. (great agony)

For all of my guilt, (all of my guilt) He took the blame. (He took the blame)

My sin-sick soul, (sin-sick soul) with love to reclaim. (with love to reclaim)

Precious Savior, (precious Savior) His life He gave, (His life He gave)

For a lost world, (for a lost world) for sinners to save. (sinners to save)

Defeating death, (defeating death) the grave conquering, (grave conquering)

Precious Lamb, (precious Lamb) He’s our Risen King! (our risen King!)

Written 8/31/2014

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Fear Thou Not

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

During my devotions I was reading through the book of Isaiah.  When I got to chapter 41, and read verse 10, a song started forming.

With all that is occurring in the world today, it is easy to be overwhelmed with fear.  Famine, drought, Ebola, wars, suicide bombers, etc.  But we need not fear, for we have a God that is more powerful than any force here on earth.  He is always with us.

Fear Thou Not

Fear Thou not, fear thou not, for I am with thee.   

Be not dismayed, be not dismayed, for I am Thy God.  

I will help thee, yeah I will strengthen thee.  

I will uphold thee with my righteous right hand.

Fear Thou not, fear thou not, for I have redeemed thee.

I have formed thee, I have formed thee, for thou art Mine.

I have ransomed thee, I have called thee by name.

I have loved thee, I am the Lord thy God.

Fear thou not, fear thou not, for I will be with thee,

When thou passest, when thou passest, through the deep waters,

And through the rivers, they’ll not overflow thee.

Thou shall not be burned, when thou walkest through fire.

I am the Lord, Lord thy God, I am the Holy One.

That ye may know, that ye may know, believe I am He.

Before me there was no other God formed.

Neither shall there be any after Me.

I am the Lord, Lord thy God, the Holy Creator.

I have made thee, I have made thee, for My Own Glory.

I have blotted out all thy transgressions.

I will remember thy sins no more.

Is 41:10

Is 43

Written 9/7/2014

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Two Hearts Entwined

Genesis 2:24

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

When my nephew got married this past summer, I wanted to write a song about marriage.  I haven’t done this before – pick a topic and write a song.  But as I started thinking about what I wanted the song to say, this song came into being.

Two Hearts Entwined

Two hearts entwined,

Two become one.

God has brought us together,

To each other we will cleave.

For better or for worse, in sickness and in health,

Whether rich or whether poor,

We both have each other.

So now as we pledge,

Our undying love,

Each promise to honor,

Until death do us part.

With our God as our Head,

May we bring Him glory.

He’ll be there to guide us through,

As we cherish each other.

Two hearts entwined,

Two beat as one.

God has joined us together.

None can separate us.

None can separate us.

 Written 7/5/2014

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Precious Name

1 Peter 2:6

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

Usually when composing a new hymn, a phrase starts going through my mind and a tune forms.  This time the tune started going through my head and I had to come up with words. 

Since Jesus is very important to me, I decided to write about Him.  He has such a powerful name, a name above all names.  And at that most precious Name, every knee shall bow!

Precious Name

Jesus, oh my Jesus, how I love you so.                          

Jesus, You are with me everywhere I go.                      

You loved enough to die for me, this I know.                                  

Forever I will praise Your Holy, precious Name.           

Jesus, to this dark and wicked earth You came.

Dying on a cross, all sinners to reclaim.

For my wretched wickedness, You took the blame.

Hallelujah, how I love Your most Precious Name!

Jesus, You’re the One Who took my guilt away.

Over me all sin has lost its dreadful sway.

Now I’m looking forward to the coming day,

Where face to face I’ll get to praise Your Holy Name.

Written 4/11/2014

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