Altar of Acknowlegement

"[Jacob] bought a parcel of a field... for an hundred pieces of money.  And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel [God, the God of Israel; אל אלהי ישראל] (Genesis 33:19,20).  "The LORD is round about His people from henceforth even forever" (Psalm 125:2).  "Give not... thy ways to that which destroyeth kings" (Proverbs 31:3).  "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

As we reflect upon the year  

And thus acknowledge how God led,

We rightly raise an altar here

And trust Him for the year ahead. 

Acknowledging that we are His,

So glad that He is in control,  

We praise the Lord for who He is

And what He did to save our soul. 

We give to Him our glad surrender

Beneath the shadow of His wings,

Acknowledging our great Defender

Is Lord of lords and King of kings! 

Lord, at this altar here with You,

Acknowledging Your sacrifice,

We consecrate ourselves anew

As those You purchased with a price.  

Preserved and Prevailed

"Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [prevailed with God; יִשְׂרָאֵל]... Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God; פְּנוּאֵל], for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Genesis 32:28,30).  "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:8).  "He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).  "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).        

When God called Jacob Israel

Who wrestled with Him face to face,  

He was preserved at Peniel,

For he prevailed by God's grace. 

Our help is likewise from the Lord

Who made the heaven and the earth,

Extending grace as His reward,

Promoting us with second birth. 

What grace is this which has preserved

Such sinners who deserve God's wrath,

To give them blessings undeserved

And shield them along their path? 

O Lord, when You were sacrificed,

You thus preserved us and prevailed

As our Passover and our Christ

With grace and truth that never failed! 

Jehovah my Judge

"The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another... [though] no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee... The God of Abraham... judge betwixt us" (Genesis 31:49-53).  "Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens... Our eyes wait upon the LORD our God" (Psalm 123:1,2).  "Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD" (Proverbs 29:26).  "He that judgeth me is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:4). 

The Lord is judging every thought

That motivates my words and deeds. 

My God can see, though man does not,

And in this confidence He leads. 

My eyes are lifted to the Lord,

The Judge of all humanity. 

His gladness is my heart's reward;

It matters not who else may see. 

Though many seek the ruler's favor,

My judgment comes from God alone,

Who gave Himself to be my Savior

And ransomed me to be His own. 

Jehovah, Judge of all my ways,

Examine me and purge my heart,

Reviving me with grateful praise

For countless blessings You impart.  

Happy in His House

"God remembered... God hearkened... God hath taken away my reproach" (Genesis 30:22,23).  "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1).  "They that seek the LORD understand all things... Happy is the man that feareth [the Lord] always" (Proverbs 28:5,14).  "For we are laborers together with God... ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9). 

There is a glad experience

To which the saved can all relate: 

It is the day that one repents,

When heaven's angels celebrate! 

The Lord has hearkened to our voice;

Our sin's reproach He took away.

How rightly do we now rejoice

To go into His house today! 

How happily we seek Him here

With brethren who exalt our Savior,

Who worship Him in godly fear  

And thank Him for His saving favor.  

Lord, in this happy habitation

Among the household of Your own,

We marvel at Your great salvation

And magnify Your name alone.  

Presently Praising

"NOW will I praise the LORD" (Genesis 29:35).  "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1,2).  "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth... Be wise... Be thou diligent" (Proverbs 27:1,11,23).  "NOW we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). 

The past is gone; the future waits. 

The time called NOW is ours to use. 

Yet NOW, like steam, evaporates,

And time we waste is time we lose.

Now is the time to lift our eyes

And give to God our heartfelt praise. 

Now is the time we should be wise

And diligent in all our ways. 

Since we have now received God's Spirit

Who shows the Gospel that God gave,

We pray for those who yet may hear it

And plead with those whom God may save. 

O Lord, we praise you presently

For all the blessings You endow! 

As we approach eternity,

We thus redeem the time called now.