Expressing Our Faith

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Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

05/28/2024

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O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer's praise!
The glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace.
Charles Wesley wrote a lot of hymns (an understatement since some estimates place his total at around 7,000). As you might expect with a prolific writer/composer, many are good, about as many aren't so good, and some are brilliant. Imagine Christmas without Hark! The Herald Angels Sing or Easter without Christ the Lord Is Risen Today. 
Wesley's great hymn that summarizes his faith - intellectually and personally - is O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. The verses that Charles wrote, which we rarely sing, come before "O for a thousand tongues to sing," our opening words to the hymn. They are littered with the words, "I" and "my." 
Wesley wrote how Christ filled his soul with peace. "Twas then I ceased to grieve; my second, real, living life, I then began to live.
Then with my heart I first believed, believed with faith divine,
power with the Holy Ghost received to call the Savior mine. I felt my Lord's atoning blood close to my soul applied; me, me he loved, the Son of God, for me, for me he died!" 
We aren't all songwriters or poets. Words come easy to some and not to others. But when you think about the difference that Christ has made in your life, what words would you use to describe the experience? If you're struggling, look up one or two of Wesley's hymns (in addition to "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," I would also recommend "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" and "And Can It Be That I Should Gain") and re-cast Wesley's 18th-century English in your own words.  
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Have a blessed day!
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O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer's praise!
The glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace.
Charles Wesley wrote a lot of hymns (an understatement since some estimates place his total at around 7,000). As you might expect with a prolific writer/composer, many are good, about as many aren't so good, and some are brilliant. Imagine Christmas without Hark! The Herald Angels Sing or Easter without Christ the Lord Is Risen Today. 
Wesley's great hymn that summarizes his faith - intellectually and personally - is O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. The verses that Charles wrote, which we rarely sing, come before "O for a thousand tongues to sing," our opening words to the hymn. They are littered with the words, "I" and "my." 
Wesley wrote how Christ filled his soul with peace. "Twas then I ceased to grieve; my second, real, living life, I then began to live.
Then with my heart I first believed, believed with faith divine,
power with the Holy Ghost received to call the Savior mine. I felt my Lord's atoning blood close to my soul applied; me, me he loved, the Son of God, for me, for me he died!" 
We aren't all songwriters or poets. Words come easy to some and not to others. But when you think about the difference that Christ has made in your life, what words would you use to describe the experience? If you're struggling, look up one or two of Wesley's hymns (in addition to "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," I would also recommend "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" and "And Can It Be That I Should Gain") and re-cast Wesley's 18th-century English in your own words.  
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Have a blessed day!
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