By Our Love, Nathan and Christy Nockles

TV show host Oprah Winfrey

Americans are seen around the world as people who live like the self- absorbed TV character J.R. Ewing of Dallas fame. Another old TV show, Dynasty (note the word nasty) portrays us to the world as money grubbing, adulterous, deceitful and wealthy fat cats. A Saudi-raised Pastor living here writes "inter-national marketing of our movies and TV programs paints a lurid picture of American life for the Third World. Viewers get their ideas of American life from The Dukes of Hazard, Dallas and Baywatch, so they assume that illicit sex, fast cars, guns, and intrigue are the norm here. They are not."

"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car." - G.K. Chesterton

How I wish we would always live so that our love, reflecting Christ, would shine!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35

Lyrics:
Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit,
there's much to be done...
We will come reaching,
out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!

The time is now Come Church arise...
Love with His hands See with His eyes...
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love...

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now,
set your hearts above
You will be reaching,
long after we’re gone,

And they will know you by your love!

Supporting Scriptures:
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right." James 2:8

"He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:27-31

"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4:21

Rest Of My Life, David Meese

This joyous and happy music by David Meese makes me think of Psalm 96:1 - "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth." It is about new birth in the Lord; He gives us a kind of heart transplant. It is also a new praise worship song to our family. Meese's childhood was tragic in many ways, but God has restored him and is using him! (see My Father's Chair, December, 2010) With an violent, drug and alcohol-addicted father, he became rebellious and destructive, but his Heavenly Father rescued him as Rest Of My Life (screen below) testifies wonderfully!

Here is a link to the story/testimony aired on Focus on the Family: http://listen.family.org/daily/A000002819.cfm

Lyrics:
Lord, you mercy came, and it made me sing
With all my heart
Blessed be the name of the One who brings
Such a fresh new start

Ah, now the air smells clean
And the grass looks green, the sky looks bluer
Than I have ever seen
You have made my sweetest dream come true

And I want to live for you
For the rest of my life, for the rest of my life
And I want to give to you
All the rest of my life, all the rest of my life

Lord, You've proved again, You're love extends
To the deepest need
When I hit the end, You're love begins
And from there you lead

Lead through an open door
To a golden shore... a royal kingdom
Where my heart explores
And the more I learn, the more I sing

And I want to live for you
For the rest of my life, for the rest of my life
And I want to give to you
All the rest of my life, all the rest of my life

Supporting Scriptures:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Revelations 3:8

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

O Lord, You're Beautiful, Keith Green

Keith and Melody Green shared Christ's compassion for the needy, as Keith invited people off the streets to live with them at their home, which over time became a community of 7 homes filled with 70 people.

"My life was radically changed by that experience." noted Jerry Bryant, the first pastor there, regarding Green's heart for God's people. "If he read it in the Scripture, he didn't see any reason not to do it," continued Bryant. "When he became a Christian, he saw where Jesus said to feed the poor and minister to those in need, so he opened his home and started inviting people to live with him."

He said he would have come to know Jesus earlier if it hadn't been for people who called themselves Christians living double lives.

On July 28, 1982, at the age of 28, Keith and two of their young children, Josiah and Bethany, were in a small plane crash and went to be with Jesus. Although Keith was one of America's best-selling Christian musicians and songwriters, recording 5 albums in his lifetime with over 1.5 million in distribution, Keith considered himself first and foremost a servant of Jesus. He often said that when he died he only wanted to be remembered as having been worthy to bear the name of "Christian".

I want to share some very important things he said about idolatry (his words have been prophetic) in future posts. He has been used to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ into so many lives. This song is the original version, while M.W. Smith's version (yesterday's post) is quite different. Lyrics:
Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with Holy fear.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, you're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Supporting Scriptures:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

“Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” Song of Solomon 6:10

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1: 12-16

O Lord, You're Beautiful, M.W. Smith

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness" Psalm 29:2

“Who is this…fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars?”

Song of Solomon 6:10

The only problem with Michael W. Smith's gorgeous work is that it doesn't last 20 minutes. Keith Green originally wrote the song in a much different, but definitely anointed version. I will post it tomorrow, God-willing! May we continue to praise and look at our beautiful Savior after the music here stops.

Lyrics:
Oh Lord, you're beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord you're beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Oh Lord

Oh Lord, you're beautiful
Yes you are
Oh Lord Yes you are

Supporting Scriptures:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

“Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” Song of Solomon 6:10

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1: 12-16

Guard your Heart, Steve Green

When we were traveling last fall, we came back with some pretty amazing pictures. Those of the windows especially delighted and fascinated me. An old English proverb states that, "The eye is the window to the soul."

The Matthew 6:22 tells us, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." So what does 'single' mean? Barnes commentary says this:
"A man crossing a stream on a log, if he will look across at some object steadily, will be in little danger. If he looks down on the dashing and rolling waters, he will become dizzy, and fall. So Jesus says, in order that the conduct may be right, it is important to fix the affections on heaven. Having the affections there - having the eye of faith single, steady, unwavering - all the conduct will be correspondent." How true!

So how do we keep our eyes 'single'?
The Bible tells us to "guard your heart for it is the well-spring of life."

Steve Green's Guard Your Heart is not just for children (remember the old Sunday School song of 'be careful little eyes what you see?'). We nee this at any age. It is the loving warning of a just and loving God! This would be a great song to sing along with your children, supporting it with the Word of God below.

Lyrics:
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see

What appears to be harmless glance?
Can turn to romance
And homes are divided
Feelings that should never have been
Awakened within
Tearing the heart in two

Listen, I beg of you
Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don't trade it for treasure
Don't give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It's high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

The human heart is easily swayed
And often betrayed at the hand of emotion
You dare not leave the outcome to chance
You must choose in advance
Or live with the agony
Such needless tragedy

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don't trade it for treasure
Don't give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It's high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

Supporting Scriptures:

I love the NLT which is a paraphrase: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Jeremiah 17:9

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live..." Deut. 30:19

"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." Prov.22:3

Hallelujah Chorus, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir/Bonhoeffer

"In New York they preach about virtually everything, only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ~1930

"[The Union seminary students] talk a blue streak without slightest substantive foundation, and with no evidence of any criteria...they are unfamiliar with even the most basic questions. They become intoxicated with liberal and humanistic phrases, laugh at the fundamentalists..."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ~1930

One of the greatest influences on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's adult life was a visit to the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem district of New York City. He had come to the U.S. from pre- WWII Germany seeking to find an 'alive church'. "Bonhoeffer had no idea what he was walking into at the Union Seminary, but the bloody battle royale between the liberals and the fundamentals was in full swing in 1930...One notable exception, however, was in the 'negro churches'." There in the distressed African American community, Dietrich would see the full power of the Word of God manifested under the preaching of Pastor Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Eric Metaxas, author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, continues, "Starving from the skim milk at Union (seminary), Bonhoeffer found a theological feast in this N.Y. African American church that spared nothing." (see Now Let Us Come Before Him and The Mark Of A Man, Jan 2011, for more on Bonhoeffer's life)

1965 photo - 25 years after Bonhoeffer's 6 month in New York

What you will hear below is much like the music Bonhoeffer experienced and loved. My husband and I heard the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir back in the early days of my coming to faith in Jesus (80s). We were impressed with the teaching of the Word and the powerful singing! It went deep, bringing a longing to be filled with the joy of God from the inside out! This may not be your style or cultural background, but if you don't find yourself joining in on the worship, your kindling may be wet! If you love Handel's Messiah, as I do, this should be great fun.


Lyrics:

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
To receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Wo-o-o-o-rthy
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood

Men:
Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto Him, be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
And to the Lamb

All:
Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto Him, be unto Him
That seated upon the throne

Men:
O That seated upon the throne
All:
That seated upon the throne
Men:
Blessing, honor, glory, and power be unto

All:
The Lamb

Solo: Ha -
All: Blessing and honor
Solo: Lelujah
All: Blessing honor and power
Solo: Ha aaaaaaaaaa
All: Wisdom and strength and glory

Solo: Lelujah

All; Hallelujah Hallelu

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [2x]

Men: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halle halle
Hallelujah

For the Lord God omnipotent r-e-i-gneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, halle – e- e- lujah
The kingdom of our Lord
And of his Christ [X2]
And He shall reign for ever and ever [2X]

Solo: King of Kings
All: for ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: and Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Solo: King of Kings
All: For ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Solo: King of Kings
All:For ever and ever,
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah

Halle – lu jah

Supporting Scriptures:
"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain!”Revelations 5: 11-12

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"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelations 7:9-12
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"Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelations 11:15

The Lord Is My Light (Ps.27), Eden's Bridge/ Darlene Rose story, part 1

Russell and Darlene Deibler as young missionaries.
After Russell died, she married Jerry Rose.

"The beatings, the starvation and the solitary confinement never broke her. "I never cried in front of them," said Darlene Deibler Rose of her Japanese captors in World War II. "But as soon as everyone went away, I cried buckets." Mrs. Rose, 84, who moved to Chattanooga this year with her husband, Jerry, served as a missionary in New Guinea. She was there with the Christian Missionary Alliance from 1938 to 1942, and again after the war in what is now Papua New Guinea, from 1949 to 1978. In between, she was imprisoned for three years on the island of Celebes, now Sulawesi."

If any of this sounds intriguing, you must read the perspective-changing book, Evidence Not Seen, by Darlene Rose! It is probably, arguably, our family's favorite read (there will be more books that I want to share in time). I am holding an old copy of the book on my lap. It energizes me to think of the power of the Word of God. Her favorite Scripture, Psalm 27, memorized from childhood, sustained her through the most harrowing cruelties. She writes,

"One of the young Dyak students was tortured at the Kempeitai headquarters prison. He was completely innocent of any subversive activities, but by then the damage was done. He suffered intense pain, but he was one of those God could trust with pain. He could still praise his glorious Lord and forgive those who caused his death--for he died shortly thereafter of his internal injuries...I could be the next victim. At such times as this, I took refuge in God's Word, especially Psalm 27...I remembered Dr. Jaffray's injunction: "Lassie, whatever you do, be a good soldier for Jesus Christ." I prayed that God would help me. The hearings--for my first interrogation was the first of many--lasted an hour, two hours, sometimes longer. All the questions were relative to my alleged espionage activities. What contact had I had with the American military personnel? What knowledge did I have of Morse code? Who were my superiors? Where had I been groomed to become a spy? Where did I get my radio? They tried to brainwash me into thinking I had been used by the Americans to spy for them and that the Americans had betrayed me to the Japanese. They would be lenient if I confessed, they said, but I knew that in times of war spies were beheaded. I gritted my teeth and vowed, God helping me, that they would never break me. This experience was repeated every few days for the next month and a half. I never knew when they would call me to the hearing room again.In desperation, I poured my heart out to the Lord. "O Lord, I just can't go through another one. I can't Lord, I just can't. When there were no more tears to cry, I would hear him whisper, "But, my child, my grace is sufficient for you. Not was nor shall be, but it is sufficient." Oh, the eternal, ever-present, undiminished supply of God's glorious grace!"

Here is Psalm 27 set to Celtic music by Eden's Bridge.
Darlene's relationship with Jesus along with Psalm 27 are what carried her through it all.

Lyrics:
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

When men advance against me
And all my foes surround me,
They will stumble and fall, stumble and fall.
Though all the world besiege me,
And war break out against me,
I am sure in the Lord, sure in the Lord.

And in the day of trouble,
I'm safe within His dwelling,
He will hide me, He will hide me.
My head will be exalted
So far above my enemies,
I will sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord.
There is one thing that I ask of the Lord
For the days of my life;
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life.
To gaze on His beauty,
Seek Him in His temple.

The Mark Of A Man Of God, Steve Camp/Bonhoeffer

Today's music is about great men of God, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer can be counted among them. He is one of my heroes. He worked tirelessly to rouse the dead and dying church in Germany, and finally went abroad to America to raise the alarm, and hopefully, find a believing community.You will be swept away by the timeliness of Eric Metaxas' book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. It reveals the courage, wisdom, and selflessness of this man of God as well as his courtship. He warned the world then, and he is warning us again through his life's work. Let us take heed in light of where we are as a lethargic church and morally bankrupt nation today!

Hitler leaving the Marine Church in Wilhelmshaven, 1931. It was a picture widely used in Nazi propaganda. Many in the church who had supported the church's embrace of Nazism realized too late that the Nazi support of morality and Christianity was a very thin facade indeed.

Singer/songwriter Steve Camp's The Mark Of A Man Of God is complimented with photos of the great heroes of the church. It describes exactly how Bonhoeffer lived his short life.We need fathers, husbands, and sons to "brace up like a man." Job 40:7 (see Job Suite by Michael Card/Dec 2010). I especially love the words of the TAG at the end of the lyrics!
Lyrics:
A godly man is such a rarity today So many start, strong and true, and quickly fall away - A godly man will take his stand he can't be bought or sold - Hand to the plow, he won't look back though other hearts turn cold - He keeps the faith and keeps his conscience clear He lives this life of grace through all his years

chorus:
The mark of a man of God is what he's faithful to,
and what he's fleeing from and what he's fighting for -
the heart of a man of God is what he daily pursues,
his family, friends, the Word, the church and worship of the Lord -
The godly man daily takes up the cross of Christ
and faithfully follows Him as a living sacrifice.
He’s not ashamed of the gospel, his sufficiency's in Christ
The power of integrity is the passion of his life
Instead of reckless faith, he has proven that his faith works
The ultimate priority, the Master's plan for the church
Saved without a doubt because his first love is the Lord
And the gospel according to Jesus is the truth he would die for

(chorus)

Bridge He lives his life to teach the Word, in season and in not
For he fears more than any man, the approval of his God
He lovingly, yet firmly leads those placed within his care
The power of his ministry is that he is a man of prayer

(chorus)

Tag The godly man takes a young Timothy like me and teaches me to run the race to carry on this life of grace He sets the mark and we keep the pace with this man of God.

Supporting Scriptures:
"The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away." Matthew 13:20-21

"Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9: 62

"Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10: 38-39

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service." Romans 12:1

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Corinthians 6:18

Now Let Us Come Before Him/Bonhoeffer

I am reading the New York Times bestseller Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy--A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich by Eric Metaxas. I can hardly put it down! Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a very exciting figure to many people in light of how he lived and died for his convictions in attempts to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. He was a great man of faith in Jesus Christ and determined to live radically in the will of God--even to the point of death.

Metaxas explores how the 'church of Luther' had shockingly weakened so much that it had capitulated to Hitler by the 1930s. How did it get to such a state? The true gospel (summed up by Bonhoeffer as 'costly grace') had gradually been perverted and replaced by 'cheap grace'. This is that there is a kind, jolly God who just loves and forgives everyone, so it doesn't matter how one lives. Legalism also grew and meant that God loved you because you were disciplined and pulled yourself together, living a good life.

While just a boy of thirteen, Dietrich's brother Walter was killed fighting for Germany in WWI. It devastated the whole family, but it served to mold Dietrich into the man he would become. His mother was a capable woman deeply in love with her husband, her family, and her Savior. She frequently lead singing in their home. That last evening of the year, 1918-19, they sang Paul Gerhardt's New Year's Eve hymn "Now let us go singing and praying, and stand before our Lord, Who has given our life strength until now." His family and his times readied him to stand up to incredible evil with a passion for Truth and a commitment for justice on behalf of those who were targeted by this evil, the Jews.NetHymnal is a great site to obtain the history of thousands of hymns, ancient and recent, including Now Let Us Come Before Him which the Bonhoeffers sang that night... The link is http://nethymnal.org/htm/l/nlucbhim.htm You can immediately hear the melody and see the lyrics. It was put into English in 1867, but the Bonhoeffers would have sung it in the old German text of Gerhardt.

Paul Gerhardt--1653

Lyrics:
Now let us come before Him,
With song and prayer adore Him,
Who to our life hath given
All needed strength from Heaven.

The stream of years is flowing,
And we are onward going,
From old to new surviving
And by His mercy thriving.

In woe we often languish
And pass through times of anguish
Of wars and trepidation
Alarming every nation.

As mothers watch are keeping
O’er children who are sleeping,
Their fear and grief assuaging
When angry storms are waging.

So God His own is shielding
And help to them is yielding.
When need and woe distress them,
His loving arms caress them.

O Thou Who dost not slumber,
Remove what would encumber
Our work, which prospers never
Unless Thou bless it ever.

O God of mercy, hear us;
Our Father, be Thou near us;
Mid crosses and in sadness
Be Thou our Fount of gladness.

Supporting Scriptures: This video of Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing contains the entire 91st Psalm in text. (music only in a fantastic arrangement by Paul Cardall, pianist)

"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4
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"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 33-39

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"The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers." Deuteronomy 30:9

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"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth." Hebrews 11:13