abide with me

1. one of my most favorite hymns....it was my anthem and solace in the days following our daughter's death...i sang it hurting and aching and mad. i printed the words out and had them posted all over our house. 

years later, i would sing it through many more trials. and losses. and hurt.

sunday, i sang, with tears falling as usual...in new storms and trials and beamed and smiled and sang, hurting but with joy...as i realized that times and circumstances change, people change, seasons do change. BUT our God does not. His Truth does not. our loving and faithful and merciful God of Truth and Freedom and Hope does not change.....

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3. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
4. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
5. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
6. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
7. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

OH SWEET grace, is that precious Truth of a song!!