INTRODUCING ABNER!

This week I will be speaking at a youth retreat led by Sammy Bueno. Please pray for Sammy, myself, the volunteers, and the 40 students who will be attending this camp as we worship and study God’s Word together. Pray with me that hearts will be changed and turned to Christ this weekend. Because I won’t be there with you, my friend Abner Ramirez will be stepping in to lead worship on Sunday morning.

Abner has led worship for us in the past and he is very gifted and passionate about Jesus. He regularly leads worship for the hispanic congregation and I pray that you are excited to welcome him and worship with him. What a blessing that we have so many servants who love to minister through music at our church!

Abner wanted to share this with you all this week:

I’d like to remind the church that we’re called to “give thanks to the LORD for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136:1) We should give thanks to our LORD wether we are currently experiencing His goodness and blessings or are facing trials or tribulations. We ought to love and praise Him for: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬‬) And . . . “If God is for us, who is against us?” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬) His lovingkindness towards us is the result of His deep Fatherly love towards us, His children. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1)‬‬

Please pray for Abner as he prepares this week with his team, and I encourage you to prepare your own hearts for our fellowship together on Sunday.

SONGS THIS SUNDAY

As usual, here are the songs we’ll be singing this Sunday, which you can listen to on Youtube or Spotify. If you aren’t sure how to access these please reach out to me and I’ll help you as much as I can. I encourage you to listen to these songs as often as you can this week.

Click Here For SPOTIFY

Click Here For YOUTUBE

Songs:

1. Forever
2. Our God
3. Make Me Glad
4. He Will Hold Me Fast
5. How Deep The Father’s Love For Us

*If you would like to look at the lyrics for these songs, please click here*

HE WILL HOLD ME FAST

One of the songs we’ll be singing this week is a retuned version of a hymn called, “He will hold me fast.” The original hymn was written by Ada Habershon and Robert Harkness in 1906. Harkness, a pianist, wrote to Ada Habershon after having a conversation with a young convert who “expressed the fear that he would not be able to hold out.” He asked Ada to send some verses and lines relating to “keeping the power of Christ.” As Harkness was listening to a sermon he noticed a phrase written by Ada that read “He will hold me fast.” The melody came to him at that moment and he finished the song during the sermon. 

*For a full article on the origin of this song click here. 

Verse 1
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast

Verse 2
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

Chorus
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast

Verse 3
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast

Verse 4
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

Verse 5
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast

Verse 6
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
‘Til our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last!

What amazing truth! If salvation was up to us to hold onto, surely we all would fail and lose our hope. But Christ will hold us fast. Though our love grows cold, though we sin and fail, Christ never fails and his love never grows cold. We are his delight, precious to him and he will never let us go. We were purchased by his blood and the price has been paid in full, forever. His promises will last forever, and he is faithful to do it. We will be raised with him to life forevermore when our faith is turned to sight. My hope is that you are filled up, encouraged, and joyful as you meditate on this glorious song that reminds us of our hope in Jesus. 

Can’t wait for Sunday!