River Song

A Christian's Journey


You are invited to join together
with 
our Birdie Lane family for a

time of singing and celebrating

our incredible "River Song" ~

our Journey with Jesus on this

River of Life!


~~~


At the home of John & Sue Paris

404 Birdie Lane

("The end of the lane!")

[DAY], [MONTH] [DATE]

__:__ - __:__ PM


Important Note

We don't have to be able to sing to

be a part of THIS "production!" Together

we just make a "joyful noise!"

(Psalm 100:1)


~ BUT fair warning ~

If Broadway should get wind of it,

we'll ALL be heading to a

New York stage!

~ Songs for the Journey ~

Ol' Man River C (L-G)

"Ol' Man River" is from the 1927 musical, Show Boat. Written by Oscar Hammerstein II and composed by Jerome Kern, the song compares the hardships of African Americans to the Mississippi River's seemingly endless flow.


© T.b. Harms, T.b.  Harms Co.

(Let's sing together the refrain:)


Ol' man river

Dat ol' man river

He mus' know sumpin'

But don't say nuthin'

He jes' keeps rollin'

He keeps on rollin' along

(____ will read these lyrics:)


Dere's an ol' man

Called de Mississippi

Dat's de ol' man

Dat I'd like to be!

What does he care

If de world's got troubles?

What does he care

If de land ain't free?


He don't plant taters,

He don't plant cotton,

An' dem dat plants'em

Is soon forgotten,

But ol'man river,

He jes' keeps rollin' along.


You an'me

We sweat an' strain,

Body all achin'

An' rack'd wid pain,

Tote dat barge!

Lif' dat bale!

Git a little drunk

An' you land in jail.


Ah gits weary

An' sick of tryin'

Ah'm tired of livin'

An' skeered of dyin',

But ol' man river,

He jes'keeps rolling' along.


Let me go 'way

From the Mississippi,

Let me go 'way

From de white man boss;

Show me dat stream

Called de river Jordan,

Dat's de ol' stream

Dat I long to cross.


Ah, gits weary

An' sick of tryin'

Ah'm tired of livin'

An' skeered of dyin',

But ol' man river,

He jes'keeps rollin' along!

(Let's sing again the refrain:)


Ol' man river

Dat ol' man river

He mus' know sumpin'

But don't say nuthin'

He jes' keeps rollin'

He keeps on rollin' along

There Is a Balm in Gilead C (E-G7)

"There Is a Balm in Gilead" is a traditional African American spiritual dating back to at least the 19th century. The balm of Gilead is a prophetic picture of Jesus. Just as the people of Judah were told by God that the balm of Gilead could save them, the same could be viewed of Jesus as the balm of Gilead. His blood on the cross and willingness to give His life for us mirrors that of a healing balm that can heal our "sin-sick soul."


In Jeremiah 8:20-22 (ERV) God says: "And the people say, 'Harvest time is over. Summer is gone, and still we have not been saved.' My people are hurt, so I am hurt. I am too sad to speak. Surely there is some medicine in Gilead. Surely there is a doctor in Gilead. So why are the wounds of my people not healed?"

(refrain)

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul


(1st verse)

Sometimes I feel discouraged

And deep I feel the pain

In prayers the holy spirit

Revives my soul again

(to refrain)


(2nd verse)

If you can't pray like Peter

If you can't be like Paul

Go home and tell your neighbour

He died to save us all

(to refrain)

Like a River Glorious   C (C)

The Bible says: "And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds." Philippians 4:7 (ERV)

Like a river glorious

Is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious

In it's bright increase

Perfect yet it floweth

Fuller every day

Perfect yet it growth

Deeper all the way


(chorus)

Stayed upon Jehovah

Hearts are fully blessed

Finding as he promised

Perfect peace and rest


(2nd verse)

Every joy or trial

Falleth from above

Traced upon our dial

By the Sun of Love

We may trust him fully

All for us to do

They who trust Him wholly

Find Him wholly true

(to chorus)

Room at the Cross   (_)


(chorus)

There's room at the cross for you!

There's room at the cross for you!

Though millions have come

There's still room for one!

Yes there's room

At the cross for you!


(1st verse)

The cross upon which Jesus died

Is a shelter in which we can hide

And its grace so free

Is sufficient for me

And deep is its fountain

As wide as the sea

(to chorus)


(2nd verse)

The hand of my Savior is strong

And the love of my Savior is long

Through sunshine or rain

Through loss or in gain

The blood flows from Calvary

To cleanse every stain

(to chorus)

Open Your Heart   C (E)


Open your heart

And let him in

He will remove

All your sorrow and sin

He may not pass

Your way again

So open your heart

And let him come in

Take his hand

Take his nail-scarred hand

Let him show you the way

Jesus will be

Your dearest friend

So open your heart

And let him come in

Into My Heart


Into my heart

Into my heart

Come into my heart

Lord Jesus

Come in today

Come in to stay

Come into my heart

Lord Jesus

Just As I Am   C (C)


Just as I am

Without one plea

But that thy blood

Was shed for me

And that thou bidst me

Come to thee

O Lamb of God

I come

I come

Peace Like a River   C (E-G7)

"Peace Like a River" is another African-American spiritual with an unknown author and origin. It was passed down orally.

I've got peace like a river

I've got peace like a river

I've got peace like a river

In my soul

I've got peace like a river

I've got peace like a river

I've got peace like a river

In my soul


I've got joy like a fountain

I've got joy like a fountain

I've got joy like a fountain

In my soul

I've got joy like a fountain

I've got joy like a fountain

I've got joy like a fountain

In my soul


I've got love like an ocean

I've got love like an ocean

I've got love like an ocean

In my soul

I've got love like an ocean

I've got love like an ocean

I've got love like an ocean

In my soul


I've got peace like a river

I've got joy like a fountain

I've got love like an ocean

In my soul

I've got peace like a river

I've got joy like a fountain

I've got love like an ocean

In my soul

Security   C (C)


More secure

Is no one ever

Than the loved ones

Of the Savior

Not yon star

On high abiding

Nor the bird in

Home nest hiding

I'll Live for Jesus   C (G)


I'll Live for Jesus

Day after day

I'll Live for Jesus

Though come with may

The Holy Spirit

I will obey

I'll Live for Jesus

Day after day

In Your Presence   C (hC)


In your presence

In your presence

In your presence

I belong

"Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."


The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a summarized series of 107 questions and answers designed to teach the core tenets of the Christian faith. It was published in 1647 by the Westminster Assembly.

Day by Day   C (E G7)


Day by day

And with each passing moment

Strength I find

To meet my trials here

Trusting in

My Father's wise bestowment

I've no cause

For worry or for fear

He whose heart

Is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto

Each day what he deems best

Lovingly

It's part of pain and pleasure

Mingling toil

With peace and rest

Jesus Never Forgets!   C (E)


Jesus never forgets!

Jesus never forgets!

His love is free to all

Who will walk with Him

For Jesus never forgets!

The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power   (s)


The blood that Jesus shed for me

Way back on Calvary

The blood that gives me strength

From day to day

It will never lose its power


(chorus)

It reaches to the highest mountain

It flows to the lowest valley

The blood that gives me strength

From day to day

It will never lose its power


(2nd verse)

It soothes my doubts

And calms my fears

And it dries all my tears

The blood that gives me strength

From day to day

It will never lose its power

(to chorus)

Until Then   C (G)


My heart can sing

When I pause to remember

A heartache here

Is but a stepping stone

Along a trail

That's winding always upward

This troubled world

Is not my final home


(refrain)

But until then

My Heart Will Go On singing

Until then

With joy I'll carry on

Until the day

My eyes behold the city

Until the day

God calls me home


(2nd verse)

The things of earth

Will dim and lose their value

If we recall

They are borrowed for a while

And things of earth

That caused the heart to tremble

Remembered there

Will only bring a smile

(to refrain)

Bless the Lord   (s)


(chorus)

Bless the Lord Oh my soul

And all that is within me

Bless His holy name

Bless the Lord Oh my soul

And all that is within me

Bless His holy name


(verse)

He has done great things

He has done great things

He has done great things

Bless His holy name

(to chorus)

Holy Holy


Holy holy

Holy holy

Holy holy

Lord God Almighty

And we lift our hearts

Before You

As a token of our love

Holy holy

Holy holy

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!   C (C)


Oh come let us adore him!

Oh come let us adore him!

Oh come let us adore him!

Christ the Lord!

Jesus I Am Resting Resting   C (G)


Jesus I am resting resting

In the joy of what Thou art

I am finding out the greatness

Of thy loving heart

Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee

And thy beauty fills my soul

For by Thy transforming power

Thou hast made me whole


(refrain)

Jesus I am resting resting

In the joy of what Thou art

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart


(2nd verse)

Oh how great Thy loving kindness

Vaster broader than the sea

O how marvelous Thy goodness

Lavished all on me

Yes I rest in thee Beloved

Know what wealth of grace is Thine

Know thy certainty of promise

And have made it mine

(to refrain)

Joy! Joy!   C (G)


Joy! Joy!

My heart is full of joy!

Joy! Joy!

My heart is full of joy!

My Savior dear

Is ever near!

That's the reason why

My heart is full of joy!

Isn't He Wonderful     F (A,Bb)


Isn't He Wonderful

Wonderful

Wonderful

Isn't Jesus my Lord Wonderful

Eyes have seen

Ears have heard

It's recorded in God's word

Isn't Jesus my Lord Wonderful

I'm So Happy   C (H-C)


I'm so happy

And here's the reason why

Jesus took my burdens all away

Now I'm singing

As the days go by

Jesus took my burdens all away

Once my heart was heavy

With a load of sin

Jesus Took the load

And gave me peace wthin

My heart and now

Now I'm singing

As the days go by

Jesus took my burdens all away

For God So Loved the World   C (G)


For God so loved the world

He gave his only Son

To die on calvary's tree

From sin to set me free

Someday He's coming back!

What Glory that will be!

Wonderful his love to me!

Higher than the Hills   C (G)


Higher than the hills

Deeper than the sea

Broader than the sky above

Is my Redeemer's love for me

To the cross of shame

Jesus freely came

Bearing all my sin and sorrow

Wondrous love!

I love Him


I love Him

I love Him

Because He first loved me

And purchased my salvation

On Cal-vry's tree

Come, Thou Fount   (s - flats)


Come Thou Fount

Of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise His name! I'm fixed upon it!

Name of God's redeeming love


Hitherto Thy love has blessed me

Thou hast brought me

To this place

And I know Thy hand will bring me

Safely home by Thy good grace

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wondering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Bought me with

His precious blood


(Prone to wander)

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart O take and seal it

Seal it for thy courts above

In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified


In my life Lord

Be glorified

Be glorified

In my life Lord

Be glorified today


In my home Lord

Be glorified

Be glorified

In my home Lord

Be glorified today


In your church Lord

Be glorified

Be glorified

In your church Lord

Be glorified today

May Jesus Christ Be Praised   C (E)


When morning gilds the skies

My heart awaking cries

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Alike at work and prayer

To Jesus I repair

May Jesus Christ be praised!


Does sadness fill my mind?

A solace here I find

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this

May Jesus Christ be praised!


(When evil thoughts molest)

When sleep her balm denies

My silent spirit sighs

May Jesus Christ be praised!

When evil thoughts molest

With this I shield my breast

May Jesus Christ be praised


Be this, while life is mine

My song of love divine

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing this eternal song

Through all the ages long

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Day is Dying in the West   C (C)


Day is dying in the west

Heav’n is touching earth with rest

Wait and worship while the night

Sets her evening lamps alight

Through all the sky


(Chorus)

Holy holy holy

Lord God of Hosts!

Heav’n and earth are full of Thee!

Heav’n and earth are praising Thee

O Lord most high!


Lord of life beneath the dome

Of the universe Thy home

Gather us who seek Thy face

To the fold of Thy embrace

For Thou art nigh


While the deepening shadows fall

Heart of love enfolding all

Through the glory and the grace

Of the stars that veil Thy face

Our hearts ascend