Not What My Hands Have Done

So much to write about, so little time!


Nathan Clark George
First, I wanted to write a bit about the award-winning singer/songwriter, Nathan Clark George. My brother in law got me his latest CD (Rise in the Darkness) as a Christmas present and wow, what a refreshing, original sound! His music sweetly honors Christ and is rich in Scripture and family life (he and his wife Patsy have 4 children). One song deals with their loss of a child due to miscarriage and has been special to Aimee and I, who also have two children lost to us on earth but who are with the Lord. You can listen to NCG's music on his website. I'd encourage you to check it out (in fact if you register you can even get access to a "member site" where you can get free instrumental downloads!)

Not What My Hands Have Done
My favorite song on Rise in the Darkness is "Not What My Hands Have Done". This Christ-centered, meditative hymn was written by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) and it's beautiful. Here are the words ...

1. Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers,
And sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

2. Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee
Can rid me of
This dark unrest,
And set my spirit free!

3. Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save Thine,
No other blood will do,
No strength save that,
Which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

4. I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart,
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt,
I bury in His tomb
My unbelief,
And all my fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.

5. I praise the God of grace,
I trust His truth and might
He calls me His, I call Him mine,
My God, my joy, my light
’Tis He Who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives
I love because
He loveth me,
I live because He lives!

Here is a short article about Horatius Bonar on the 9 Marks website. Please read and learn from this godly man!

Finally, indulge me in a quick note of congratulations to Mark Mangino and the amazing FedEx 2008 Orange Bowl Champion Kansas Jayhawk Football Team! What a season!

Go KU! (Their basketball team ain't bad either!)