How Deep the Father’s Love

This hymn we played at church tonight really struck me.  I’m in awe of the juxtaposition of our total sinful guilt and our total redemption through Christ’s merit.

I’m also inspired that this hymn was written only fifteen years ago.  I had feared that we forgot how to write eloquent, deep, theologically complex songs a century or more ago.

How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give his only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart-

His wounds have paid my ransom.

Words and Music © 1995 Stuart Townend

O, Praise Him!

I’m in awe of how amazing it is to be loved and cherished by a God who knows and inspires everything. I really needed some encouragement after a tough day today, and got a really uplifting email out of the blue from a friend.

I figured that C. had just called her, but there was actually no ‘cheating’ involved- she had no idea how much I needed the encouragement, just moving at the impulse of God’s love. God used inauspicious human means to remind me that I matter, however improbably, to him.

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!