The Valley

I have been through the valley of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;

But the “God of all comfort” was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and the sunshine,
Our souls need both sorrow and joy;
So He places us oft in the furnace,
The dross from the gold to destroy.

When He leads through some valley of trouble,
His powerful hand we can trace;
For the… Continue reading →

The New Year

I do not know, I cannot see
What God’s kind hand prepares for me,

Nor can my glance pierce through the haze
Which covers all my future ways;

But yet I know that o’er it all
Rules He who notes the sparrow’s fall.

I know the Hand that hath me fed
And through the year my feet hath led;

I know the everlasting arm
That hath upheld and kept from harm.

 … Continue reading →

Prayer Before Her Execution

O merciful Father,

my hope is in thee!

O Gracious Redeemer,

deliver thou me!

My bondage bemoaning,

with sorrowful groaning,

I long to be free;

Lamenting, relenting

and humbly repenting,

O Jesu, my Saviour,

I languish for thee!

– Mary, Queen of Scots