Being renewed day by day

2 Corinthians 4 New International Version

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this Image result for Corinthians 4 16 -17treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak,14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Excelling Love

Ephesians 3 New International Version

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] 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.

The Hymn “Love Divine all Loves Excelling” as we all know is one of these hymns that is frequently picked for a wedddings just as “The Lord’s my Sheperd” is frequently used for funerals.

My hymn book has verses of scripture above each hymn and Ephesians 3 V19 is the verse that appears above this particular hymn.

Sins Forgiven

Luke 7:44-50

44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”See the source image

The Bible has several references on the subject of Forgiveness. One of them being the above and I suppose one of the most common ones.

As humans for some of us the act of forgiveness is not easy, we can indeed find it very hard to forgive someone how has done wrong by us or upset us in some way.

Jesus speaks of a woman washing his feet with her tears and hair, he also mentions that she anointed his feet with ointment and because of this her sins were forgiven .

Let us learn to be as forgiving as humanly possible throughout the whole year. Forgiveness is not a something that comes easy to some people,  these people need to find that inner strength from the Lord.

Outstretched Arms

4 His huge outstretched arms protect you – under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. 5 Fear nothing – not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, 6 Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. 7 Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. 8 You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses.

Glorious Joy – 1 Peter 1:8

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8 (NLT) Peter writes to encourage early Christians exiled in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who were facing persecution. His central message is to […]

Glorious Joy – 1 Peter 1:8

Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5 New International Version (NIV)

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Personally I had never heard of this hymn or the tune attached to it. The tiune is a tune called ‘None of Self’

O the bitter shame and sorrow
that a time could ever be,
when I let the Savior’s pity
plead in vain, and proudly answered:
All of self, and none of thee!

Yet he found me: I beheld him
bleeding on the accursèd tree,
heard him pray: Forgive them, Father;
and my wistful heart said faintly:
Some of self and some of thee!

Day by day his tender mercy,
healing, helping, full and free:
sweet and strong, and ah! so patient,
brought me lower, while I whispered:
Less of self and more of thee!

Higher than the highest heaven,
deeper than the deepest sea;
Lord, thy love at last hath conquered;
grant me now my supplication:
None of self and all of thee!

Wonderful Words

“Wonderful Words of Life” was written in 1874 by Philip P. Bliss, a gifted composer and evangelist whose music shaped the gospel hymn tradition. Bliss was deeply involved in revival meetings across the U.S., often collaborating with evangelists like Dwight L. Moody and Major Daniel Webster Whittle2.

✍️ Origins and Purpose

  • Bliss composed the hymn for a Sunday School paper called Words of Life, published by Fleming H. Revell in Chicago.
  • The hymn was designed to be simple, repetitive, and memorable, making it ideal for teaching children and congregations by rote.
  • Its lyrics emphasize the beauty, hope, and spiritual nourishment found in Scripture—“Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life.”

🚂 Tragic Turn

  • Just two years after writing the hymn, Bliss and his wife Lucy tragically died in a train derailment in 1876.
  • Their legacy was carried on by fellow musicians like James McGranahan, who continued performing Bliss’s hymns at revival meetings.

📚 Musical Legacy

  • The hymn gained widespread popularity through inclusion in Gospel Hymns No. 3 (1878) and Sacred Songs and Solos No. 2 in Britain.
  • Its enduring appeal lies in its gentle melody and uplifting message, often used in worship to evoke reflection and joy.

Philip P. Bliss left behind a remarkable legacy of gospel hymns that continue to resonate with congregations and choirs around the world. Here are some of his most beloved and widely sung works:

🎵 Notable Hymns by Philip P. Bliss

Hymn TitleTheme / MessageYear
Almost PersuadedUrgency of salvation and decision-making1871
Hold the FortSpiritual perseverance and encouragement1870
Hallelujah, What a Saviour!Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and triumph1875
Let the Lower Lights Be BurningEvangelism and guiding others to safety1871
Whosoever WillInvitation to salvation for all1870s
Jesus Loves Even MePersonal assurance of Christ’s love1871
I Will Sing of My RedeemerJoyful testimony of salvation1876
Free from the Law, O Happy ConditionGrace over legalism1870s

Many of these hymns were published in the Gospel Hymns series, co-edited with Ira D. Sankey, and became staples in revival meetings across the U.S. and Britain2.