Sunday, October 28, 2007

I beheld the King in His beauty,
In His glorious majesty shine;
He held out the golden scepter,
I knelt in His presence Divine.
My soul was filled with emotion,
As upward I glanced as He smiled,
And said in tender compassion,
“What is thy request, My child?”

My lips could no longer be silent,
My heart its longing outpoured,
O Savior! I want to be like Thee—
No other request have I, Lord—
I want to love Thee supremely,
My heart, filled with Thy praise,
More tender, gentle, and loving,
The fallen I might he1p raise.

More sympathy for the discouraged,
More love for Thy children, too,
I long to be filled with Thy Spirit,
This heart of mine flowing through.
Not I; but only Thou, Lord,
Shine through my life each day,
Leading the wanderer back to the stream,
That washes all sin away.

I read in the Word that Jesus,
The debt for sin had paid,
There on Calvary’s mountain
The sacrifice had been made.
“It is finished,” said Christ, my Redeemer,
And I need no longer to wait,
That I might have life “more abundant,”
He suffered without the gate.

One night in the dear old chapel,
With the saints of God so near
I knelt at the cross of Jesus,
The place to me most dear.
I tarried there for power,
Of the Holy Ghost above,
Who carried my soul on the billows,
Of that boundless ocean of love.

I had made my reconsecration,
Of all I knew to give,
When the Spirit sweetly whispered,
“This parcel wilt thou receive?”
I looked and behold, ’twas from Jesus,
“Your Future,” He said to me;
From my heart ‘rose an “Amen, Jesus,
I give it all to Thee.”

I looked at the parcel He gave me,
And saw ’twas “Instructions Sealed,”
And only as I should need them,
Would their contents be revealed.
There surely would be some surprises,
As I open them one by one,
But I’ve given my all to Jesus,
Saying, “Thy will be done.”

As my all was laid on the altar,
The fire of Heaven came down;
The Holy Ghost filled the temple,
My heart was no longer my own.
I went on my way rejoicing,
As happy as mortal could be,
No thorns did I find in my pathway,
Though roses were blooming for me.

So charmed was I with my treasure,
My heart was singing all day;
Unseen by me were the storm clouds,
That were hovering over my way.
The skies had been gathering blackness:
Shadows were growing deep,
I found some thorns in my pathway,
And the road was rough and steep.

Then, in the lowering darkness,
I knelt a moment to pray,
“O! Precious, loving Savior,
Can it be that I have lost my way?
Surely I’ve wandered from Thee,
Thy way cannot be so hard.”

My heart was filled with sadness,
And my body was racked with pain,
For affliction had fastened upon me,
And life seemed all in vain.
I prayed that this cup of sorrow
From me might pass away;
Yet—only Thy will, my Savior,
With me, Lord, have Thy way.

I prayed, but the heavens were silent,
No answer to me was given,
But ere I became discouraged,
I heard a voice so loving;
I listened and, lo! ’twas Jesus,
In tones so sweet and mild,
Said, “Open the parcel I gave thee,
Take courage, My trusting child.”

My strength was renewed like the eagles
Though my eyes were dim,
I read in the deepening twilight
This message received from Him:
“In the furnace of sore affliction,
Behold I have chosen thee.
From thy heart all dross must vanish,
If My image I there would see.”

Like a dream the past came before me,
I now remember my prayer,
I had prayed to be like Jesus,
His likeness I wanted to bear.
Ah, yes! If I would be like Him,
His suffering I, too, must share,
For only he that endureth,
A crown of glory shall wear.

So onward I’ll go rejoicing!
I’ll trust where I cannot trace,
His presence is ever with me,
Though clouds may hide His face;
Some day the veil will be lifted,
Some day faith will be sight,
By His grace—in those pearly mansions,
I shall walk with Him in white.

by PrIsCiLLa