Sunday Praise

Howcan I express my love for you, Lord jesus?

As a teenage boy I gave my heart to you and you have never left me nor forsaken me.

In the midst of my pride, arrogance, poor judgement and willfull sin, you gave yourself for me and to me.

You died a horrible physical death for me. I stood guilty before a perfect, omnicient, omnipotent, omnipresent, righteous God and you interceeded for me, paying my sin debt.

You bore the humiliation, the physical pain, the beatings and the piercing of your crown of thorns and the terrible nailing to the cross for my sake.

You were forsaken by the Father while you took my sin on your shoulders and thus provided for me that gift of gifts, eternal life.

In life I will serve you in gratitude. In life I will give myself for you. In life I will testify to your goodness, your greatness, and to your neverending mercy and grace.

As death draws ever nearer, as it does with us all, I will praise you with all my strength. As long as you leave me here on this earth, I will follow you. And when I draw my final breath, I pray it will be to praise your name.

When I behold the place you have prepared for me, as I realize its everlasting joy, and as I present to you the crown you have afforded me, I will shout, "If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now."

My Jesus, I Love Thee
by William R. Featherston

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love Thee in life; I will love Thee in death
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.
And say when the deathdew lies cold on m brow,
"If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight;
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.