Ah, Grace! The Charming Sound

Adapted from Ira Sankey, Philip Doddridge & Augustus Toplady

(see “Praise! Our Songs and Hymns” #296)

Arrangement copyright 2011 Gary L. Hicks

Ah, grace! The charming sound

Sweet music to my ear;

And with its echo heaven resounds

And all the world shall hear.

‘Twas grace that wrote my name

In life’s eternal book;

‘Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb

Who all my sorrows took.

SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

THIS IS ALL MY PLEA

JESUS DIED FOR ALL THE WORLD

AND JESUS DIED FOR ME.

Grace taught my wandering feet

To tread the heavenly road

And new supplies each hour I meet

While pressing on to God.

SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

THIS IS ALL MY PLEA

JESUS DIED FOR ALL THE WORLD

AND JESUS DIED FOR ME.

Oh, Clap Your Hands (Psalm 47)

words & music by Gary Hicks

copyright 2011 by Gary L. Hicks (music available on request)

Chorus:

Oh, clap Your hands, all you people

Sing a joyful song

Shout unto the Lord Most High!

Oh, clap Your hands, all you people

Sing a joyful song

Shout unto the Lord Most High!

1. Mighty and awesome, Ruler of the earth

King over all the world.

Mighty and awesome, Ruler of the earth

King over all the world.

2. Greatly exalted, Holy is His throne

King over all the world.

Greatly exalted, Holy is His throne

King over all the world.

3. Sing with understanding, Worship and adore

This King over all the world.

Sing with understanding, Worship and adore

This King over all the world.

New Light

December 21st came unwelcomed

here in Frederick, Maryland

the bleak, dreary solstice of winter

our longest night

15 hours and 37 minutes of chilled darkness

the depths of winter, here in our town.

Cold blue blackness

frost and bitter wind

a howling, frozen hurricane

here, in blesséd Yellow Springs.

But in December

every small candle

whispers hope,

every little string of sparkling lights

sings a silent expectation:

The longest night must end sometime,

And that sometime is soon.

Now each new day brings more brightness

Every new week: seven more minutes of fresh daylight

Spring is coming!

Look past white January to pink February

And then to wild, blooming March –

Sun and wind and wonder!

So in the darkness of my anxious nights

When pains and fears and worries hide the sun

When hope seems gone, I still lie down in hope

When faith seems dead, I still rise up with faith

New light has come, and more is soon to come!

Our Father God is not silent –

He even speaks on windy winter nights

He even soothes in frosty darkness

He shouts and thunders with the rising Son

Perfect love and perfect light in Jesus.