Conference Highlights, pt. 1

So last week was the conference...in case some of you missed that...somehow. It was such a rich time. Such sweet fellowship. Wonderful lectures (some of them were particularly wonderful). Excellent singing (did Lily and I ever mention that it's like a piece of heaven...at least as far as our simple imaginations can fathom?). I will speak for myself: the conference was such a rich blessing from the Lord's hand.

But, you guys know that when something is "that good" I tend to pour every detail into one post and it goes on for forever and you probably never read the whole thing anyway :) And I mean, really, we've got 3-4 days of incredible wonderfulness to share. So, because we want you to read our posts and feast on all this good stuff with us, we're gonna do a series of posts.

Lily is at the Ligonier Conference this week so she'll do all her posting next week...right, Lily?

Who knows how long this series will last. But, I want to start by posting some of the hymns (and psalms) that were so good. Maybe you're thinkin' "whatever!" But ya know what? I have sung all of these before and some of the words just really hit me like they never have before. Some of them I've memorized since I got home and they're such wonderful reminders throughout the day. I mean, you just can't beat this: sittin' in traffic bein' reminded that "All flesh shall see the token That His word is never broken." So, the first hymn:

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning 'neath their sorrow's load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved his anger
He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day
Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever-springing gladness.

For the herald's voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet him,
And the hills bow down to greet him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain;
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o'er earth is shed abroad;
And all flesh shall see the token,
That his word is never broken.