Breathe

Taken in Cade's Cove, TN

Do you ever have one of those moments or even days when you feel like you can't  breathe?  There are times I feel myself almost holding my breath.  While having a large-ish family is a blessing, sometimes I let myself get a little stressed out.  Earlier this morning I was praying and thinking about how I need the Holy Spirit just to come in and take over when the words to this hymn came to mind.  Praying that it somehow blesses you on this day as well.

Breathe on Me
Edwin Hatch


Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
Until my heart is clean;
Let sunshine fill its inmost part,
With not a cloud between.

Breathe on me, breathe on me,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me;
Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,
Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me,
My stubborn will subdue;
Teach me in words of living flame
What Christ would have me do.

Breathe on me, breathe on me,

Holy Spirit, breathe on me;

Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,

Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me, 

Fill me with power divine;

Kindle a flame of love and zeal

Within this heart of mine.

Breathe on me, breathe on me,

Holy Spirit, breathe on me;

Take thou my heart, cleanse every part,

Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me, 

Till I am all thine own,

Until my will is lost in thine,

To live for thee alone.

Breathe on me, breathe on me,

Holy Spirit, breathe on me;

Take thou my heart, cleanse every part, 

Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

Driving up to Cades Cove

Sunshine in My Soul

For the first time in weeks we actually have some sun today!!  Despite the gloom from the past few weeks and the attitude problems I have encountered this morning (yes, we too, have to get a grip on our attitudes in this house), this hymn of testimony has been in my head all morning.  The sun is indeed shining and THE SON shines even brighter!

Sunshine in My Soul by Eliza E. Hewitt, 1887

There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.

O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,
When the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows his smiling face,
There is sunshine in my soul.

There is music in my soul today
A carol to my King,
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The songs I cannot sing.

O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows his smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul. 

There is music in my soul today,
For when the Lord is near,
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flow'rs of grace appear.

O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows his smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul. 

There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope and praise and love
For blessings which he gives me now,
For joys "laid up" above.

O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows his smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul. 

Low

Low in the Grave He Lay

Robert Lowry

Low in the grave he lay, 

Jesus my Savior!

Waiting the coming day, 

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain, 

And he lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah!  Christ arose!

Vainly they watch his bed,

 Jesus my Savior!

Vainly they seal the dead, 

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain, 

And he lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah!  Christ arose!

Death cannot keep his prey,

Jesus my Savior!

He tore the bars away,

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain, 

And he lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah!  Christ arose!

Alas

At the Cross

Isaac Watts, 1707

Alas, and did my Savior bleed,

And did my Sovereign die?

Would he devote that sacred head

For sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity, grace unknown,

And love beyond degree!

Well might the sin in darkness hide,

And shut his glories in,

When Christ the mighty Maker died

For man, the creature's sin.

But drops of grief can never repay

The debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away,

'Tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

Fairest

It's a beautiful spring day here and I was marveling at the sunshine and the birdsong when this hymn came to mind.  Thought I would share it with you.

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus,  Ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son:
Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.


Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, 
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.


Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight
And all the twinkling, starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heav'n can boast.


Beautiful Savior, Lord of all nations, 
Son of god and Son of man!
Glory and honor,
Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be thine!

Abiding

Abiding:  dwelling; remaining; continuing; enduring; waiting


(from Webster's Amercan Dictionary of the English Language--1828)


Our hymn this week was written by Henry Lyte in 1847.  The tune is EVENTIDE by William Monk, written in 1861.


Abide with me;  fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens;  Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!


Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joy grow dim, His glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!


I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Thro' cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!


Hold thou thy cross before me closing eyes;
Shine through  the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heav'ns morning breaks and earth vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!


O, Lord, please dwell, continue, remain and endure in me, with me and for me.  I need Your help, Your changeless Presence, Your guidance and Your direction each and every day, each and every moment.