Before the Throne of God Above

Apologies for delaying a week getting this one up. I did write last week, but I didn't get my musings up to the blog. Here's from last week and you'll see this weeks in another entry dated today.

The Shepherding the Staff conference is something Dawn and I look forward to more and more the longer we are connected with it. Dave Bullock’s worship leadership has become a model for inclusiveness for me that I learn from and am encouraged by every year. While I don’t go with the goal of bringing back new worship materials, that is often a byproduct of the conference.
This year, one of the songs used in worship is a beautiful old hymn written by Charitie Bancroft in 1863. I hope to find the music sometime soon so we can use it here.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Aren’t you glad that God uses old stuff as well as new? Timeless truth lasts; and I’m sure there’s some stuff being written right now that will be used into the next century and beyond. I love that! I’ll talk about that a little later.
That’s enough to think about for now …

Morris