Singing in the Night

I heard my Savior singing
And wondered what inspired
Such notes of prayer and praises,
But when I had inquired
I found that He was walking
To where He’d weep and pray
Before He was arrested
When Judas would betray.

Then I heard Paul and Silas
Sing praises through the night
And wondered what great blessing
Had kept them up and bright,
But following their voices
Led down into the jail –
I found them bound and beaten
Where blood had marked their trail.

I learned that singing praises
Is not just for that day
The sun is shining brightly
And everything’s my way;
It’s for the deepest valley,
The darkest painful night
When clouds and rain confuse me
And nothing’s going right.

Lord, make me more like Jesus,
Like Paul and Silas, too,
Who, in the dark of midnight
Sang songs of praise to You,
So all the things that happen
Can’t stop my song of praise
For You are always worthy
On dark and sunny days.

Christina Joy Hommes

Jesus Our Example
The Fruit of the Spirit

When Jesus lived among us,
A man like you and me,
He set a pure example
Of what we all should be:

His love was deep and perfect,
His joy and peace complete,
His patience was amazing,
His gentleness was sweet,

His goodness was unspotted,
His faith held all along,
His meekness was unfailing,
His self-control was strong.

So when we stop and wonder,
‘How do these virtues look?’
We’ve just to look to Jesus
And read His living Book.

He’ll show us by His pattern
How Christians ought to live,
Then, by His Holy Spirit,
The strength and grace He’ll give.

Christina Joy Hommes

“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

God’s Gifts of Grace and Love

Dear Father, for Your many gifts
That show Your grace and love
I want to thank You, for I know
You send them from above.

For food and clothes, for where I live,
For sunshine and for rain,
For music, beauty, knowledge, words,
For happiness and pain,

For friends and loved ones, home and church,
For friendship, love, and care,
For bonds in Christ, for fellowship,
For memories we share,

For Jesus Christ who died for me,
For pardon through His Name,
For peace, salvation, life that lasts,
For grace that I can claim,

For these and more I bring to You
A heart that’s full of praise.
I see through each Your grace and love
That brighten all my days.

Christina Joy Hommes

O Thank the Lord

O thank the Lord for He is good,
His mercy is unfailing;
His strength and wisdom mean His cause
Is evermore prevailing.

O praise the Lord for all His grace,
We cannot find its edges;
His words are truth – He cannot lie –
He always keeps His pledges.

Exalt the Lord for He is kind –
A Shepherd always caring;
His thoughts toward us are filled with joy
And tender love unsparing.

O sing to God for He is great
In holiness and glory;
Begin today, for endless years
Cannot exhaust the story.

Christina Joy Hommes