Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us

A friend passed away unexpectedly this week. Chris Massung was a couple of years younger, two years shy of 60. Too soon to go, but she was ready...not wishing for it, but ready. A couple of weeks ago she came over for coffee, which turned into lunch and our spending most of the day together. I'll cherish that visit forever. I have that good memory and no regrets; I'm so lucky in that. During our visit we talked and laughed at the trauma of me turning 60. Shaking our heads and wondering how and when this happened. We were young moms with school age children just the other...?...decade or two! But it didn't seem that long, it really doesn't seem that long ago.

The day Chris passed and for days after we had glorious sunny weather. A blessing after a long stretch of rain and cloudy, dreary days. The sunshine reminded me...she is not here, she's with Jesus, the love of her life. And we are left to mourn our loss. Her husband is beside himself with grief, as are her children and grandchildren. May they find solace in The Lord of Glory.


We sang this beautiful hymn at church on Sunday. The tune is fabulous, if you're inclined Google the title and have a listen on You Tube and read these words along. When we sang the first verse in church I caught my breath at this -- He has freely given countless blessings --not only to the good, but to those who are unthankful and evil as well. And I was ever so grateful upon reading/singing those words, knowing that sometimes I am among the unthankful, and fearing that possibly I am sometimes one of the evil ones. Perish the thought!

Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us By: Eliza S. Alderson

 

Lord of glory, you have bought us with your lifeblood as the price,

Never grudging for the lost ones, that tremendous sacrifice;

And with that have freely given blessings countless as the sand

To the unthankful and the evil with your own unsparing hand.

Grant us hearts, dear Lord, to give you gladly, freely of your own.

With the sunshine of our goodness melt our thankless hearts of stone

Till our cold and selfish natures, warmed by you, at length believe

That more happy and more blessed ‘tis to give than to receive.

Wondrous honor you have given to our humblest charity

In your own mysterious sentence, "You have done it all to me."

Can it be, O gracious Master, that you deign for alms to sue,

Saying by your poor and needy, "Give as I have given to you"?

 

Yes, the sorrow and the sufferings which on every hand we view

Channels are for gifts and offerings due by solemn right to your;

Right of which we may not rob you, debt we may not choose by pay

Lest that face of love and pity turn from us another day.  

 

Lord of glory, you have bought us with your lifeblood as the price,

Never grudging for the lost ones that tremendous sacrifice.

Give us faith to trust you boldly, hope, to stay our souls on you;

But, oh, best of all your graces, with your love our love renew.

 

 

I'm looking forward to seeing my friend, Chris, and all my other loved ones who have gone on ahead...to where Jesus has prepared a place for us. That hope is the essense of my faith.