Songs on a "Sunday" - The Mind of Christ

More and more I realize that the Christian life is really all about what is in this song - having the mind of Christ. And the things mentioned are truly of Christ's mindset.

The Mind of Christ

To receive when others reject,

To treat each one with true respect,
To shield when others throw stones, 

To be with one who's all alone,
To think and choose to see the very best,
To live like this is nothing less than to possess...
The mind of Christ, my highest goal.
The Lord's delight, the desire of my soul.

The Father's heart will always guide my life if I will have in me the mind of Christ.

To build up when others tear down,

To seek the lost until they're found,

To give grace where it's needed most,

Rejecting pride when others boast,

To sacrifice my all without regret,

To live like this is nothing less than to possess...
The mind of Christ, my highest goal.
The Lord's delight, the desire of my soul.

The Father's heart will always guide my life if I will have in me the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ, my highest goal.
The Lord's delight, the desire of my soul.

The Father's heart will always guide my life if I will have in me the mind of Christ.

Songs on a Sunday: The Promise

Sometimes we as Christians have a tendency to get mad at God. We get disappointed, hurt, angry, and bitter because we think God didn't keep His promises. We shake our fists in His face, cry, yell, pout, whine, and fume in anger because we believe that the Holy God of this Universe has dared to let us down.

It boils down to our expectations for God in our lives. This song reminds me to have realistic expectations and not to be angry at God when He doesn't fulfill things we believe He should do especially when He never actually promised them. Remembering the things that He actually did promise makes those promises even more precious.

The Promise

I never said that I would give you silver or gold.

Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold.

But I did say you'd never walk through this world alone.

And I did say, "Don't make this world your home."

I never said that fear wouldn't find you in the night.

Or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight.

But I did say I'd be right there by your side.

And I did say I'll always help you fight.

  
'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep.

My grace will be sufficient in every time of need.

And My love will be the anchor that you can hold onto.

This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you.

I never said that friends would never turn their backs on you.

Or that the world around you wouldn't see you as a fool. 

But I did say like me you'll surely be despised.

And I did say my ways confound the wise.

I didn't say you'd never taste the bitter kiss of death

Or have to walk through chilly Jordan to enter into rest.

But I did say I'd be waiting right on the other side.

And I did say I'll dry every tear you cry.

 
'Cause you know I made a promise that I've prepared a place.

And some day sooner than you think you'll see Me face to face.

And you'll sing with the angels and a countless multitude.

This is the promise, this is the promise I've made to you.

 
So just keep on walkin', don't turn to the left or right.

And in the midst of darkness, let this be your light -

That Hell can't separate us and you're gonna make it through.

This is the promise, this is the promise I made to you.

Songs on a Sunday: Blessings

I have only heard this song a couple times, but it never fails to touch me deeply. I pray that it will be a blessing to those who take the time to read it.

Blessings

by Laura Story

We pray for blessings. We pray for peace,

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.

We pray for healing, for prosperity.

We pray for Your mighty Hand to ease our suffering.

And all the while You hear each spoken need.

You love us way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.

We doubt Your goodness. We doubt Your love,

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.

And all the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us and darkness seems to win,

We know the pain reminds this heart that this is not, 

This is not home. It's not our home.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights 

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments and the aching of this life,

 Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life, the rain, storms, the hardest nights 

Are Your mercies in disguise?

To me, "Blessings" questions what we are willing to endure in order to know God. It asks the hard questions about whether or not it's really worth it to know God deeply if the only ways to do that are painful. It asks us to ask ourselves if we can choose to see God's greater good in the hard times of this life. Each time I hear its questions, I can't help but think that He IS worth the pain and hardship. If trials and tears are what it takes to know Him, they are still such a small price to pay. 

"Blessings" also reminds me that we should rejoice "in all things" and thank Him in all situations. Because often the trials we face are really gracious opportunities to know Him better and merciful chances to shine brighter for Him than we ever could have done in "good" times. 

The rain is still a blessing, if we only have enough faith to see it.

Songs on a Sunday: Anything That Costs Me Nothing

I heard this song for the first time in church today. The message really struck me because it was David's actual desire. He truly did not want to give God something that was free and easy. Yet it seems to me, that what we all want today is to give God the least that we can possibly get away with and still please Him. What has happened to the desire to please God no matter what the cost?

Anything That Costs Me Nothing

An offering of highest price, a servant whom the Lord can use. 

I will not offering anything that costs me nothing. 

I'll place before Him nothing less than my very best. 

And if I am called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ.

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

To serve Him is my goal. How could I withhold? 

Whatever's mine He's given me, it's not my own, but His alone. 

Whatever He requires, that is my desire. 

Whatever He may need from me I'll pay the cost, gain or loss. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing. 

I'll place before Him nothing less than my very best. 

And if I'm called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

And if I am called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

Songs on a Sunday - Day by Day

Day by Day

by Lina Sandell

As is true with so many of the hymns that deeply touch our hearts, Day by Day was written after personal tragedy touched the life of the author, Lina Sandell of Sweden. Her fragile health throughout most of her childhood led to her being especially close to her father. She often spent all day with him in his study rather than playing with children her own age. When she was the same age as me, only 26, she took a trip with her beloved father. As they were sailing, due to an unexpected lurch, her father fell overboard and drowned while she watched helplessly from the boat.

Lina had already written a few songs before this tragedy, but overtime, she became known as the Swedish Fanny Crosby due to the outpouring of her heart into about 650 songs. She was especially known for writing songs that spoke of having simple, childlike faith and trust in her loving Lord and Heavenly Father. Day by Day was translated into English by Andrew Scroog sometime in the early 1900's.

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best—

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

Songs on a Sunday - A Greater Yes

For the last couple of years this song has been very special to me. You might even say that it has been my "life's song" for the last couple of years. I would have shared it sooner, but I actually thought I had already done so and checked back this week and realized that I had not.

I recently came across a quote that kind of sums up the message of the song - “God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God's refusals are always merciful -- 'severe mercies' at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot (emphasis my own)

A Greater Yes
by Marcia Henry

Verse 1

It starts with a desire, planted deep within your heart.
You pray in faith, and wait for God to move.
Time passes and you wonder,
Does He hear me when I call?

Should I even have prayed that prayer at all?

 Chorus

You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer.
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God. If He says, "No"… You're still blessed;
There must be a greater yes.

Verse 2

There comes a time when child-like faith
Must graduate to trust.
Trials come and you're convinced you're on your own.
But the Teacher's often silent
While you're in the hardest test.
But He'll answer when it's time with what is best.
 

Chorus

You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer.
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God. If He says, "No"... You're still blessed;
There must be a greater yes.

Sometimes God will answer - just like we prayed.
Then other times what's on His mind
Is a better plan, another way, a greater yes.

Chorus

You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer.
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God. If He says, "No"… You're still blessed;
There must be a greater yes.

Songs on a Sunday - I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I haven't done a Songs on a Sunday post in a while because I hadn't had any new songs just jump out and squeeze my heart lately. But even though it wasn't sung in church today, my sister was randomly singing this song today and it caught my attention. Read the words; they are very encouraging!

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

by Ira Stanphill in 1950

Verse 1

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Verse 2

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Verse 3

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood. 

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Songs on a Sunday - National Anthem

Today being the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks I thought it fitting that the song for today be our National Anthem. After all, one of the most immediate effects they had was a unity and patriotism that was sadly far too short lived.

Many of us know the words to the first verse (and many celebrity singers apparently don't even know those) but the words to the rest of the song are possibly even more moving than the first verse.

National Anthem

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Songs on a Sunday - The Love of God

This has long been one of my favorite hymns. While the whole song is special, the third verse is my favorite. It apparently inspired Fred­er­ick Leh­man to write the rest of the song. He says of the third verse, "Since the lines had been found pen­ciled on the wall of a pa­tient’s room in an in­sane asy­lum af­ter he had been car­ried to his grave, the gen­er­al opin­ion was that this in­mate had writ­ten the epic in mo­ments of san­ity." It was discovered to be an adaptation of a portion of the Jewish poem Had­da­mut, writ­ten in Ara­ma­ic in 1050 by Meir Ben Isaac Ne­hor­ai, a can­tor in Worms, Ger­ma­ny.

The adapted portion from Haddamut reads as follows:

Were the sky of parchment made,
A quill each reed, each twig and blade,
Could we with ink the oceans fill,
Were every man a scribe of skill,
The marvelous story
Of God’s great glory
Would still remain untold;
For He, most high
The earth and sky

Created alone of old.

The Love of God

Verse 1

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Verse 2

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Refrain

Verse 3

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. 

 

Refrain

Songs on a Sunday - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Today's song is very appropriate for me today because I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes a good friend, how to be a good friend, why we need friends, and why friends come and go in our lives. Little thoughts about friendship have even been mentioned in passing in many of the messages I have heard lately. The whole subject of friendship is something I would like to tackle one day, but for today this song expresses what is on my heart. I know that these old hymns may be "old hat" to many of us, but really read the words. It's easy to skim over them because they are so familiar, but truly they contain such precious truths!

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 although it was published anonymously for nearly 30 years. The original version apparently contained a fourth verse that I had never heard before but have included here.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

 

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Songs on a Sunday - He Leadeth Me

With all of the focus lately in the preaching at church, my own thoughts, and even here on my blog I thought that this song was especially appropriate. When you think about it, it is one of the most comforting songs.

I found Joseph Gilmore's (the author) own description of how he came to write this song. I always think a song means more to me when I know the background so I am going to share it here. 

As a young man who re­cent­ly had been grad­u­at­ed from Brown Un­i­ver­si­ty and New­ton The­o­lo­gic­al In­sti­tu­tion, I was sup­ply­ing for a cou­ple of Sun­days the pul­pit of the First Bap­tist Church in Phil­a­del­phia [Penn­syl­van­ia]. At the mid-week ser­vice, on the 26th of March, 1862, I set out to give the peo­ple an ex­po­si­tion of the Twen­ty-third Psalm, which I had giv­en be­fore on three or four oc­ca­sions, but this time I did not get fur­ther than the words “He Lead­eth Me.” Those words took hold of me as they had ne­ver done be­fore, and I saw them in a sig­ni­fi­cance and won­drous beau­ty of which I had ne­ver dreamed.

It was the dark­est hour of the Ci­vil War. I did not re­fer to that fact—that is, I don’t think I did—but it may sub­con­sciou­sly have led me to real­ize that God’s lead­er­ship is the one sig­nif­i­cant fact in hu­man ex­per­i­ence, that it makes no dif­fer­ence how we are led, or whi­ther we are led, so long as we are sure God is lead­ing us.

At the close of the meet­ing a few of us in the par­lor of my host, good Dea­con Watt­son, kept on talk­ing about the thought which I had em­pha­sized; and then and there, on a blank page of the brief from which I had in­tend­ed to speak, I pen­ciled the hymn, talk­ing and writ­ing at the same time, then hand­ed it to my wife and thought no more about it. She sent it to The Watch­man and Re­flect­or, a pa­per pub­lished in Bos­ton, where it was first print­ed. I did not know un­til 1865 that my hymn had been set to mu­sic by Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry. I went to Ro­ches­ter [New York] to preach as a can­di­date be­fore the Se­cond Bap­tist Church. Go­ing in­to their cha­pel on ar­riv­al in the ci­ty, I picked up a hymn­al to see what they were sing­ing, and opened it at my own hymn, “He Lead­eth Me.”

He Leadeth Me

Verse 1

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Verse 2

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

 Verse 3

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

Verse 4

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

Songs on a Sunday - God's Been Good

This song is relatively new to me. I think I heard it first about 2 years ago. Parts I can relate to wholeheartedly. It touches the raw places where only God can see. Other parts I look forward to understanding someday. Overall, it's just one of those songs that speaks to me and its beauty gives me "goosebumps." Hope that it's a blessing to you too!

 

God's Been Good

 

Verse 1

Lately I've been looking back, along this winding road
To the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known.
I know it may sound simple, but it's more than a cliche.
There's no better way to tell you, than to say...

Chorus
God's been good, in my life.
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams 

when I go to sleep each night.
And though I've had my share of hard times, 

I wouldn't change them if I could.
'Cause through it all, God's been good.

Verse 2
Times replay and I can see that I've cried some bitter tears.
But I've felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears.
You see I've had more gains than losses and I've known more joy than hurt.
As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved...
 

Chorus

God's been good, in my life.
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams 

when I go to sleep each night.
And though I've had my share of hard times, 

I wouldn't change them if I could.
'Cause through it all, God's been good.

 
Verse 3
For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend.
His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end.
I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is,
But the best way I can say it is this...

Chorus

 God's been good, in my life.
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams 

when I go to sleep each night.
And though I've had my share of hard times, 

I wouldn't change them if I could.
'Cause through it all, God's been good.

Songs on a Sunday - Lean on Me

I chose this song this week because I have felt the way it describes many times. Maybe I am alone in this, although I rather doubt it. There have been times that I have looked around and wondered if anyone cared that my heart was breaking. There where days when I wondered if anyone understood how alone, miserable, or overwhelmed that I felt.

When I could manage to hide the pain from everyone, I would be relieved because I didn't want anyone to see it. But yet my very success also made me even more sad. I mean, shouldn't everyone have SOMEONE that is close enough to look past the facade and see the hidden tears? 

This song reminds me that I do have Someone, and so could everyone else as well. Even when your friends leave you feeling neglected, uncared for, or simply left out God is still there. Even when your family is too far away or too busy to notice, God still knows. Even when people unknowingly say exactly the wrong thing and it pierces your heart, God understands that anguish. Even when you have so much going on that you feel as though you are drowning, God is there to offer His hand to pull you up out of the stormy seas of life.

My prayer today is that this song will be a blessing and encouragement to all who read it, as it has been to me.

Lean on Me

When no one cared about me, if I should live or die,

When no one bothered asking, why I go alone and cry,

When burdens got so heavy that I could not face the day,

Then I'd feel His arms around me and hear Him gently say,

“Lean on Me when you have no strength to stand.

When you feel you're going under, hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on Me when your heart begins to bleed.

When you come to the place that I'm all you have – you'll find I'm all you need.”

When the road ahead looks rugged and the path is getting steep.

I feel that I can't make it and my heart begins to weep.

Then I turn to see who's comin' to join me in the way.

And I see that it's my Saviour and I hear Him gently say,

“Lean on Me when you have no strength to stand.

When you feel you're going under, hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on Me when your heart begins to bleed.

When you come to the place that I'm all you have – you'll find I'm all you need.”

Songs on a Sunday - Channels Only

Considering how much money the music industry generates every year, the love of music must be a fairly universal part of us humans. I love music personally. The way it flows, the rhythm, the way it can move you body, soul, and spirit... all of it combines into something special and unique.

I thought that I would set aside Sundays for posting and discussing my favorite songs.

The first song I have chosen is "Channels Only." It's an old but beautiful hymn that speaks deeply to me. Because of the way it rolls off of your tongue, I always want to sing it with a little bit of an Irish accent because it just seems to lend itself to the soft and lilting melody.

I had heard it before, but it became precious to me the summer I worked at the Bill Rice Ranch. It was the theme song for all of the devotions held for the girl workers that summer. Perhaps it  became so precious to me because it went so well with what God was teaching me that summer - that the smallest, insignificant, behind-the-scenes jobs are still serving Him when done for His glory to accomplish His work.

Channels Only

How I praise Thee, precious Savior, That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me That I might Thy channel be.

Refrain:

Channels only, blessèd Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.

Just a channel full of blessing, To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation All Thy loving message sound.

Refrain

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me, A clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no power but as Thou givest Graciously with each command.

Refrain

Witnessing Thy power to save me, Setting free from self and sin;
Thou who boughtest to possess me, In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

Refrain

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water From our inner self may flow.

Refrain

Verse 1-2: Speak to me of the blessing of salvation and tell that God saves us for a purpose - to be His channel, a vessel He can use to pour His blessings out on others. Verse 3-5: Speak to me so eloquently of God's enabling power, how we cannot accomplish anything on our own, and that in serving Him by serving others we will find enough strength for ourselves as His power flows through us. It speaks of consecration and surrender. Refrain: Speaks to me of unselfishness and humility. We are nothing special, just a vessel He uses to pour out His blessings on others, but look at what does flow through us! His wondrous power!