All Praise to Thee (Repost)

All praise to Thee, eternal Lord,
clothed in a garb of flesh and blood.
Choosing a manger for Thy throne, 
while worlds and worlds are Thine alone.

A little child, Thou wast our guest,
yet in Thy love our hearts find rest.
Humble and lowly was Thy birth, 
that we might rise to heaven from earth.

All this Thy love for us hath done,
by this our love to Thee is won.
For this we tune our cheerful lays 
and shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

fpn/1969
This was written as a song. For a copy of the music, contact Joyce


Artwork: "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622, from Wikimedia Commons

Our Matchless Lord (Repost)

Royalty, born in a stable
with no regal robes to wear.
Wrapped in bands, oft used as grave clothes.
He would die, our sins to bear.

Paradox beyond explaining
that the highest of the high
chose to live in flesh among us,
learning what it is to cry.

Strategy of God, victorious,
subtle enemies to foil;
ruthless tyrants thus evading,
identified with men of toil.

Sinless spirit - human body -
with no taint of sin or guile,
demonstrating that one human
did live justly all the while.

Prophecies of old fulfilling,
so precisely - not a few
giving details of his coming -
life, death, resurrection, too.

Mystery - that his great power
so transforms a sinful soul,
changing lives from loss to profit,
untamed drives to self-control.

Destiny? There's no more guessing.
Heaven and earth shall both be new.
Christ came down to live among us.
We shall rise when life is through.

fpn 12/82




Photo by Ryan Graybill on Unsplash

I Will Sing of the Mercies

Words and Music by James H. Filmore 
arranged by Frank P. Nickel for The Nickel Family Singers

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, 
I will sing, I will sing.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, 
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations.

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, 
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

Printed with permission as song #3 in Sing and Give Thanks.
Recorded on LP 161: Songs of Faith and Promise, side one.
For a copy of the printed music, contact Joyce.



Picture: sourced online

All Praise to Thee

All praise to Thee, eternal Lord,
clothed in a garb of flesh and blood.
Choosing a manger for Thy throne, 
while worlds and worlds and Thine alone.

A little child, Thou wast our guest,
yet in Thy love our hearts find rest.
Humble and lowly was Thy birth, 
that we might rise to heaven from earth.

All this Thy love for us hath done,
by this our love to Thee is won.
For this we tune our cheerful lays 
and shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

fpn/1969
This was written as a song. For a copy of the music, contact Joyce


Picture: "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622, from Wikimedia Commons

Oh Lord My God

Oh, Lord, my God, the source of true fulfillment,
the sum and substance of abundant life!
My peace of mind, my joy and deep contentment
within a world of turmoil and of strife.

My drive, my hope, my fondest expectation
when pressures mount and those about give way.
My wisdom, righteousness and full redemption,
the Christ of God, who died sins penalty to pay.

Oh, Lord, my God, through Jesus Christ my Saviour,
the great “I AM,” majestic in Thy ways.
My coming King, with power and great glory;
be Thou exalted, Lord, most worthy of all praise!

fpn/undated



Picture: depositphotos.com #3214681, standard license

The Strength of My Life

The Lord is my light
and I will walk with confidence.
He is my salvation,
from every foe, my sure defence.

The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
Of whom shall I be afraid?

The Lord is my light
and He commands the victory.
Though a host assail me, 
at His rebuke, they turn and flee.

The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
Of whom shall I be afraid?

The Lord is my light
and I will praise His holy name.
Enter His pavilion
and there His mighty deeds proclaim!

The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
The strength of my life!
Of whom shall I be afraid?

fpn/January 1987

This poem is set to music. If you would like a copy, contact Joyce.



Photo Credit: Joyce Rempel, taken at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Ucluelet, BC, Canada

The Lordship of Jesus (The Clear Choice)

We all now have the option
of being saved from hell
and making sure of heaven,
where saints in glory dwell.
For Christ came to this planet
sin’s penalty to pay,
and when our hearts receive Him,
He’ll own us on that day.

How can some vainly reason
that heaven’s their reward,
while choosing to regard Christ
as Saviour, but not Lord?
Will heaven have two classes
of sinners, saved by grace—
the one, ascribing Lordship,
the other, second place?

Consider well, my neighbor,
that heaven begins right now.
But only if sincerely
in penitence we bow.
’Tis total trust in Jesus,
confessing Him as Lord,
that makes us fit for heaven,
according to God’s Word!

fpn/1992



Picture: depositphotos.com #10697185, standard license

Human Faults

“Great soul—but for one thing.”
(Perhaps there could be two!)
Some folks do seem so nice
by what they say and do.
But should they open up
and honestly confess,
we’d learn they have their faults
and weaknesses, no less.

The heroes in the books
of fiction, which we read,
seem somewhat more than life
the total truth’s not said.
And even history books
don’t always merit trust.
There’s slant and prejudice
toward those returned to dust.

Our heroes we admire
and praise them to our friends;
our children we instruct
to reach for similar ends.
But caution is the need
when heroes we exalt;
their image can be marred,
we may discover fault.

Our Lord’s the only One
in whom no sin was found;
our guilt was laid on Him;
He paid on Calvary’s mound.
Let’s place our trust in Him
for mercy on Him call;
with angels join in praise
and crown Him Lord of all.

fpn/November 1984



Picture: depositphotos.com #11543428, editorial license

Who is Passing the Plate?

The response to our Lord’s great commission,
so oft is “too little—too late!”
Would we possibly do more if Jesus
were passing the offering plate?

Just a glimpse of those hands with the nail scars
inflicted by force of a mall,
should cause me to give all I can give
since I know that he gave me His all!

fpn / undated



Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #22520023, standard license

Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
Text by Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf
Translated by Frank P. Nickel, 1992

Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
my confidence and glorious dress,
my password through the pearly gate
and to the joys that there await.
The innocent, all holy Lamb
impaled upon the cross of shame,
the Christ, my Lord, who saved my soul,
Him I confess; He made me whole!

Agreed that Jesus’ blood by far
excels all earthly goods there are;
in heaven settled, so it stands,
and satisfies the low’s demands.
With firm determination now,
while in this evil world below,
I shall confess the precious Blood
which purchased all of us for good.

O blessed Christ, the undefiled,
yet born on earth, a human child
to pay redemption’s price for me
and all on earth, may be set free.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son
eternally of the Three-In-One,
the glorious King, let mercy flow
on all who choose to humbly bow!




Photo Credit: Deposit Photos #146445611, Standard License

Our Matchless Lord

Royalty, born in a stable
with no regal robes to wear.
Wrapped in bands, oft used as grave clothes.
He would die, our sins to bear.

Paradox beyond explaining
that the highest of the high
chose to live in flesh among us,
learning what it is to cry.

Strategy of God, victorious,
subtle enemies to foil;
ruthless tyrants thus evading,
identified with men of toil.

Sinless spirit - human body -
with no taint of sin or guile,
demonstrating that one human
did live justly all the while.

Prophecies of old fulfilling,
so precisely - not a few
giving details of his coming -
life, death, resurrection, too.

Mystery - that his great power
so transforms a sinful soul,
changing lives from loss to profit,
untamed drives to self-control.

Destiny? There's no more guessing.
Heaven and earth shall both be new.
Christ came down to live among us.
We shall rise when life is through.

fpn 12/82