Songs/Poems of Praise and Worship # 3

We Give Thee but Thine Own

~William W. How~

We give thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our firstfruits give.

O hearts are bruised and dead,
And homes are bare and cold,
And lambs for whom the Shepherd bled
Are straying from the fold.

To comfort and to bless,
To find a balm for woe,
To tend the lone and fatherless
Is angels' work below.

The captive to release,
To God the lost to bring,
To teach the way of life and peace
It is a Christ-like thing.

And we believe Thy Word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee.
_______________________

New Year 1945

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 - 1945)

With every power for good to stay and guide me,
Comforted and inspired beyond all fear,
I'll live these days with You in thought beside me,
And pass, with You, into the coming year.

The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening:
The long days of our sorrow will endure.
Father, grant to the soul Thou hast been chastening
That Thou hast promised - the healing and the cure.

Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
Even to the dregs of pain, at Thy command,
We will not falter, thankfully receiving
All that is given by Thy loving hand.

But, should it be Thy will once more to release us
To life's enjoyment and its good sunshine,
That we've learned from sorrow shall increase us
And all our life be dedicate as Thine.

Today, her candles shed their radiant greeting:
Lo, on our darkness are they not Thy light,
Leadintg us haply to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine e'en our darkest night.

When now the silence deepens for our harken:
Grant we may hear Thy children's voices raise
From all the unseen world around us darkening
Their universal paean, in Thy praise.

While all the powers of Good and and attend us;
Boldly we'll face the future, be it what may.
At even,and at morn, God will befriend us,
And oh, most surely on each new year's day!
_______________________

I Take, He Undertakes

~A. B. Simpson~

I clasp the hand of Love divine,
I claim the gracious promise mine,
And add to His my countersign,
"I take" - "He undertakes."

I take Thee, blessed Lord,
I give myself to Thee,
And Thou, according to Thy word,
Dost undertake for me.

I take salvation full and free,
Through Him who gave His live for me,
He undertakes my all to be,
"I take" - "He undertakes."

I take Him as my holiness,
My spirit's spotless, heavenly dress,
I take the Lord, my righteousness,
"I take"- "He undertakes."

I take the promised Holy Ghost,
I take the power of Pentecost,
To fill me to the uttermost,
"I take" - "He undertakes."

I take Him for this mortal frame,
I take my healing through His Name,
And all His risen life I claim,
"I take" - "He undertakes."

I simply take Him at His word,
I praise Him that my prayer is heard,
And claim my answer from the Lord,
"I take" - "He undertakes."