There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold
But one was out on the hills away
Far off from the gates of gold;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care
Lord, Thou has here Thy ninety and nine,
Are they not enough for Thee?
But the Shepherd made answer,
This of mine Has wandered away from me
And altho the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find my sheep,
I go to the desert to find my sheep.
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed thru,
‘Ere He found His sheep that was lost;
Far out in the desert He heard its cry,
‘Twas sick and helpless and ready to die,
‘Twas sick and helpless and ready to die.
Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That marks out the mountain’s track?
They were shed for one who had gone astray
‘Ere the Shepherd could bring him back
Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?
They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn,
They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.
But all thru the mountains, thunder-riv’n
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
Rejoice, I have found my sheep;
And the angels echoed around the throne,
Rejoice for the Lord brings back his own,
Rejoice for the Lord brings back His own.
By Elizabeth C. Clephane
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast unmeasured boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love–
Leading onward, leading homeward,
To Thy glorious rest above!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o’er them from the throne!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
‘Tis an ocean full of blessing,
‘Tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus–
‘Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to Thee!
By Samuel Trevor Francis
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” ~Ephesians 2:4
Far away in the depth of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
What treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul;
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll.
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul.
And I know when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Author of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing,
In that heavenly kingdom shall be.
Ah soul! are you here without comfort or rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your friend ‘ere the shadows grow dark;
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above;
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.
By Warren D. Cornell
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4: 7