Tag: Patience
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Hump Day Hymns: Welcome, Sweet Day of Rest
Welcome, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise; Welcome to this reviving breast, And these rejoicing eyes! The King himself comes near, And feasts his saints today; Here we may sit, and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray. One day amidst the place Where my dear God hath been, Is…
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Hump Day Hymns: Christian, Dost Thou See Them
Christian, dost thou see them On the holy ground, How the powers of darkness Rage thy steps around? Christian, up and smite them, Counting gain but loss, In the strength that cometh By the holy cross. Christian, dost thou feel them, How they work within, Striving, tempting, luring, Goading into sin? Christian, never tremble; Never…
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Hump Day Hymns: Come, Lord, and Tarry Not
Come, Lord and tarry not; Bring the long-looked-for day; O why these years of waiting here, These ages of delay? Come, for Thy saints still wait; Daily ascends their sigh: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”: Dost Thou not hear the cry? Come, for creation groans, Impatient of Thy stay, Worn out with these…
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Hump Day Hymns: O Thou from whom all goodness flows
O Thou from whom all goodness flows, I lift my heart to Thee; In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, O Lord, remember me. When with a broken, contrite heart, I lift mine eyes to Thee; Thy name proclaim, Thyself impart, In love remember me. In sore temptations, when no way To shun the ill I…
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Hump Day Hymns: If Christ is mine, then all is mine
If Christ is mine, then all is mine, And more than angels know; Both present things and things to come, And grace and glory too. If Christ is mine, let friends forsake, And earthly comforts flee; He, the full source of every good, Is more than all to me. If Christ is mine, unharmed I…
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Christmas in a train station
One of the crosses that those in pastoral ministry bear, is that we are never able to be with family for the holidays. Holidays are spent with church, with parishioners, with the community of faith. We can certainly celebrate holidays with family, but it is always “Christmas, observed.” For me, Christmas Day is a day…
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Is This What it is Like?
I spent about two and a half hours yesterday over a sausage and pepperoni pizza and a steaming cup of black coffee. I was with another pastor. I, just finishing my first year as a pastor and he, coming into his last year as a pastor. I was able to express some of my pains…
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…God First Loved Us
I had the privilege of administering my first baptism yesterday. It was an infant who was recently born of one of the families in our congregation. It was a wonderful celebration of the sacrament of baptism. The liturgy is beautiful, the child was adorable and dressed in this lovely white dress. She fussed a little…
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A Cross in my Hand
I have a cross which is designed to be held in one’s hand. It was given to me when I was installed as pastor and teacher at my church. It has rounded corners and it is smooth to the touch. It is unfinished and it is designed to absorb the oils from hands over time.…
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Home
Recently, during a rather difficult day, my wife and I were driving back to our flat, and I looked at her and said, “I want to go home.” “We’ll be there soon,” she said. “No,” I said, “my real home.” This, of course, referred to my desire to return to Michigan, the place whence I…
Matthew van Maastricht 