Annual required viewing.
Annual required viewing.
Found Sovereign Ruler Of The Skies via Getty Music, who seem to be featuring it after having been recorded by the Foto sisters a few years ago.
I’m not sure how the copyright on the music is from 2022, while this original rendition was posted on May 2020.
It’s a lovely and thoughtful adaption of older hymn lyrics and I’m glad the Gettys are giving it a wider platform.
The lyrics:
1.
Sovereign Ruler of the skies!
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Your hand,
All events at Your command.
2.
His decree, who formed the earth,
Fixed my first and second birth;
Now my life Him to owe
Where He leads me I will go
Chorus
Ever Faithful
Ever True
Keep my heart to only You
Since I cannot part from Thee?
Sovereign Ruler ever be
3.
Plagues and deaths around me fly,
Till He bids, I cannot die:
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love thinks fit.
4.
Times the tempter’s power to prove,
Times to taste a Savior’s love:
All must come, and last and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.
Chorus.
5
He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.
Chorus.
6
Thee, at all times, will I bless;
Having Thee, I all possess;
Since I cannot part from Thee?
Sovereign Ruler ever be
Words: John Ryland (1753–1825), Gaylyn Foto, Katelyn Foto, and Jonathan Monk
Music: Katelyn Foto and Gaylyn Foto
© 2022 Getty Music and Foto Score Musie (BMI) (admin. by Music Services.org)
Arrangement: / © 2020 Foto Score Music (BMI) / Kevko Music (BMI) (admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC) / MeKinney Music, Lid. (BMI (admin. by Music Services) / Kent Hooper Music (ASCAP)
Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 27
72.
Q. Does merely the outward washing with water itself wash away?
A. No; for only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins.
73.
Q. Then why does the Holy Spirit call baptism the water of rebirth and the washing away of sins?
A. God does not speak in this way except for a strong reason. Not only does he teach us by Baptism that just as the dirt of the body is taken away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and Spirit of Christ; but more important still, by the divine pledge and sign he wishes to assure us that we are just as truly washed from our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water.
74.
Q. Are infants also to be baptized?
A. Yes, because they, as well as their parents, are included in the covenant and belong to the people of God. Since both redemption from sin through the blood of Christ and the gift of faith from the Holy Spirit are promised to these children no less than to their parents, infants are also by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the Old Covenant by circumcision. In the New Covenant baptism has been instituted to take its place.
How easy to believe the good plans God promises are the plans we have for ourselves that we think are good.
The growth of faith is to set our plans aside and wait for God’s plans to be revealed.
From Scotty Smith at Heavenward.
“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not harm, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“I know the plans I want from you, Lord” says Me. “It’s a story of minimal pain and disruption, and plenty of creature comforts, but not to the point of being grandiose. A life in which I’m surrounded by amiable, non-codependent, flexible, fun people—believers and non-believers. Then I want to go to sleep one night and wake up in heaven.” 1st Self 3:16
Lord Jesus, sometimes I just need to write out my “wish list” and compare it to your perfect plans. You are our Master, not our masseuse—our King, not our concierge. Your plans for us are good even when they’re not easy. Wherever your will takes us, your grace will sustain us. Our future is pregnant with unimaginable hope, and we are securely in your heart and hand.
And right now—by your Word, Spirit, and circumstances of your own choosing, you are making us like yourself. It’s a “plan” that involves the pain of exposure that we might grow in the wonders of your love. Though it hurts, burn away our dross, selfism, autonomy, and unbelief we carry as remainders of our sinful nature. It will take glorification to make us completely like yourself, but we sincerely want to become more and more like you before that Day.
Jesus, free me and my friends to see more and more of your beauty, in every season and circumstance of life. Grant us grace to trust your heart when we don’t understand your hand. Our greatest peace is grounded in your acceptance of us, and your astonishing love and great delight in us. Humble and gentle us. So Very Amen.
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