To Live a Hymn

Yesterday I attended the funeralof my friend's father-in-law.He was 65. Then, I attended a visitation for another friend's son-in-law.He was 34. There my friend told me how my sister Lucy's picture hangs near her sewing machineso she remembers to pray for me and Lucy's family.(for irregular visitors here; my sister lost her life suddenly when she was hit while riding her bicycle last Sept.) Lucy was 55. When someone we love passes away it brings an end toconversations, activities, dreams and plans once fondly shared.But it flings wide the renewed invitation to dredge the deeps ofwhat truly matters, above all! And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor.13:13 Faith in the finished work of the cross!Hope through Jesus' resurrection!so we may know God's lovethat surpasses knowledge! 1 Cor.15:16-1916 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. John 11:25-2625 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Do the above verses not ignite or rekindle a desireto live the reflection of belief/faith?!to live a hymn of hope?!to live the light of love?!! To live a hymn of love for TheeO Lord, let this our motive beTo yield Want’s will to Thy commandTo trust the leading of Thy HandAnd not with human wisdom tryReason’s demand to satisfyBut without fail, to find enoughWhere these abide; Faith, hope and love To live a hymn to worship TheeNo matter what the cost may beTo know, no matter what our lotTis cradled in Divine ForethoughtWhere, once for all, Thy sacrificeSuffered and covered pardon’s priceSo, we would always find enoughWhere these abide; Faith, hope and love To live a hymn of humble aweO Lord, to delight in Thy lawAnd then to fill Time's bar of daysWith open-handed, thankful praiseRather than loot of fleeting pelfThat cannot appease gods of SelfLord, overflow hearts with enoughWhere these abide;Faith, hope and love To live a hymn of joy in TheeWith faith and hope's expectancyWithout a dearer purpose thanTo love you first, then fellowmanTo lay before Thy throne of graceEach tear that treads the soul or faceEach prayer learning to find enoughWhere You provide Faith, hope and love © Janet Martin Eph.3:14-2114 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Read the full glorious chapter of 1 Cor.15 1 Cor.15:50-5850 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[] 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?”[] 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Below, the last paragraphs of yesterday's and today's devotions fromStreams in the Desert Vol.2 ...and last but not least, my most listened to song of 2024...