No! I Am His Forever

Gracie’s hymns for this morning are: No, Not One!; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; and I’ve Found a Friend, O Such a Friend.

Just this morning we received word that a dear friend of ours succumbed to the ravaging effects of Covid-19. The final lines of the third song are landing with particular encouragement: What power my soul shall sever? Shall life or death, shall earth or hell? No! I am His forever. Her physical death has done NOTHING to sever her soul from Christ. In that we take comfort.

Lyrics (via hymnary.org)

NO, NOT ONE!, by Johnson Oatman

1 There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one! 
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases– 
No, not one! no, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!

2 No friend like Him is so high and holy–
No, not one! no, not one! 
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

3 There’s not an hour that He is not near us –
No, not one! no, not one! 
No night so dark but His love can cheer us–
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

4 Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven? 
No, not one! no, not one! [Refrain]

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, by Joseph Medlicott Scriven

1 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!

2 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!

3 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.

I’VE FOUND A FRIEND! O, SUCH A FRIEND, by James G. Small

1 I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him;
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.

2 I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own self He gave me.
Naught that I have mine own I call,
I’ll hold it for the giver;
My heart, my strength, my life, my all
Are His, and His forever.

3 I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
So kind and true and tender,
So wise a counsellor and guide,
So mighty a defender!
From Him who loves me now so well,
What power my soul shall sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?
No! I am His forever.