Almighty God, in ages past, great are the works You’ve done
Our fathers told us of Your deeds and of the vict’ries won.

It was not with our swords or might that this became our land
To drive out nations, overcome, You used Your own right hand.

Again I say, no thanks to us, the enemy took flight
You turned your face toward us, O God, and made us your delight.

You are our King, O God, it’s true, You’ve saved us o’er and o’er
Through You we crush our enemies, through Your Name win the war.

We do not trust in sword or bow to save us from our foe
In God we boast continually, to Him our thanks we owe.

But now all that is in the past, it seems that things have changed
Our armies go to battle still but from You we’re estranged.

We turn back in defeat from them, our goods they take as spoil
Like sheep to slaughter, we are led, our troops, disgraced, recoil.

You’ve sold Your people for a dime, we are the laughingstock
Covered in shame and sore disgrace, oppressed by all their talk.

What we don’t understand at all is why You’ve turned away
When we’ve been faithful in our hearts, our feet not gone astray.

We’re broken, wand’ring, near to death, but You we’ve not forgot
We have not turned to other gods. You know our deepest thought.

It is for Your sake we are chased and killed the whole day long
We are like sheep to slaughter led, tho’ we’ve done nothing wrong.

Awake now from Your slumber, Lord, please do not hide Your face
Can You not see our desp’rate need, afflictions, and disgrace?

Body and soul lie in the dust. Rise up, come to our aid
In lovingkindness do redeem, for unto You we’ve prayed.

© 2014 J Dan Small

I waited patient for the Lord,
He bowed to hear my cry;
He saw me resting on his word,
And brought salvation nigh.

He raised me from a horrid pit,
Where mourning long I lay,
And from my bonds released my feet,
Deep bonds of miry clay.

Firm on a rock he made me stand,
And taught my cheerful tongue
To praise the wonders of his hand,
In a new thankful song.

How many are thy thoughts of love!
Thy mercies, Lord, how great!
We have not words nor hours enough,
Their numbers to repeat.

I’ll spread his works of grace abroad;
The saints with joy shall hear,
And sinners learn to make my God
Their only hope and fear.

When I ‘m afflicted, poor, and low,
And light and peace depart,
My God beholds my heavy woe,
And bears me on his heart.

These first six verses were penned by Isaac Watts in 1719.
Jeremiah Small, with the help of some friends –(Greg Wilbur, Nathan Clark George) – put a tune to it which you can see/hear by clicking the link below.

The one who trusts the Lord is blest
Who won’t rely on man
Both proud and liar he detests
Delighting in God’s plan.

Blood sacrifice and offering
Is not what You desire
You do not look for what I bring
Great penance don’t require.

My ears You’ve pierced and I have heard
Behold, I come to You
Of me it’s written in Your Word
Your will I love to do.

You’ve set Your law within my heart
Your mercies let me see
Your lovingkindness now impart
Your truth to protect me.

My sins pile up above my head
And evils now abound
My heart is failing and I dread
The foes who now surround.

Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me
Make haste to drive them back
In great confusion may they flee
And turn from their attack.

Let those who seek You sing for joy
To have You on their side
Your saving pow’r their songs employ
“The Lord be magnified.”

These seven verses are my attempt to convey the remaining parts of Psalm 40 to a similar rhyme and metre. © 2014 J Dan Small

 

Preserve me, God, in You I hide
My Refuge and my Lord
I have no good at all but You
My Portion and Reward.

As for the saints upon the earth
They are my heroes, too
The truly great ones I regard
I treasure them like You.

All those who rush to other gods
much sorrow fills their plate
I will not speak their names at all
Their sacrifices hate

O Lord, You’re all I ever want
Your blessings are so great
You set me in a pleasant place
How rich is my estate.

I bless the Lord who counsels me
He’s such a faithful Guide
My heart instructs me in the night
Unmoved, He’s at my side.

That’s why my heart is filled with joy
And rests in You always
In Sheol my soul will not dwell
Nor will it see decay.

But You lead me in paths of life
Your presence such joy brings
Pleasures forevermore I’ll find
At Your right hand, O King!

© 2014 J Dan Small

O Lord, what kind of man can dwell
Upon Your holy hill?
Within the tents of righteousness
Are those who do Your will

Walk with integrity each day
In all your ways do right
And let your heart speak only truth
Do not your neighbor smite.

You mustn’t slander with your tongue
Nor gossip ‘bout your friends
Never admire the wicked man
Nor covet what offends.

Honor all those who fear the Lord
Consider it great gain
Keep every promise that you make
Though it may cause you pain

When loaning money to the poor
No int’rest should you make
And ne’er against the innocent
a bribe to harm should take.

The one who lives like this, you see
Forever will stand firm
And with the Lord on high can dwell
Who all His ways have learned.

© 2014 J Dan Small

“There is no God” the fool believes
In his corrupted mind
They fill their lives with vile deeds
No goodness will you find

From heav’n the Lord surveys the sight
Looking for those not flawed
Just one who understands what’s right
Or in his heart seeks God.

But altogether man has strayed
There’s no one who does good
Turning aside to their own ways
They wouldn’t if they could.

Do these vile men not know at all
The trouble that they’re in?
Upon the Lord they do not call
Nor think about their sin.

They eat God’s people up like bread
Forgetting that he sees
The truth is they are in great dread
God hears the righteous pleas.

Although the afflicted make their plans
The wicked try to thwart
But as a refuge our Lord stands
The righteous to support.

From Zion’s hill salvation comes
God’s children hear His voice
Delivering all His captive sons
All Israel can rejoice.

© 2014 J Dan Small

O Lord, how long will You forget and hide Your face from me?
How long must my heart agonize and sorrow daily see?
How long will enemies afflict? Consider, hear my plea
Help me to see real hope, O Lord, lest I should cease to be.

If You don’t rescue they will say, “We won!” and shout with glee
When I am shaken they rejoice and victory foresee
But I have trusted in Your love, my heart You have set free
I sing because, O Lord, with me You have dealt bountifully.

© 2014 J Dan Small

Help, O Lord, what can we do?
The godly are all gone
The faithful can no more be found
Among the sons of men.

Instead, the lying hordes abound
With double tongues and hearts
Cut off their flatt’ring lips, O Lord
Their tongues that boast so loud.

“With our own tongues we will prevail
“Our words make us supreme
“Who’s lord o’er us? They mock and taunt
“We’ll have it our own way.”

But watch out now, here comes the Lord
He heard the needy pleas
He sees the oppression of the poor
And will for them arise.

You yearn for safety and relief
I’m coming, says the Lord
And you can count on what I say
Yes, trust My every word.

Like silver in a furnace tried
And tested seven times
My promises to you are true
They’re pure and must endure

When vileness on earth is praised
The wicked proudly strut
But from this generation, Lord
Protect us evermore.

© 2014 J Dan Small

It is the Lord in Whom I trust
How can you say to me
Run for your life, or like a bird
Up to the mountain flee?

Indeed the wicked bend their bow
The upright to pursue
And when foundations are destroyed
What can the righteous do?

The Lord on High sits on His throne
Examining their ways
The wicked, who love violence
With brimstone He repays

Behold, the wicked ones, He hates
And judgment is their place
The Lord loves righteousness instead
The upright see His face.

© 2014 J Dan Small

For the past 20 or more years we’ve made Valentine’s Day our family “gift-exchange” celebration (instead of doing it at Christmas).  We haven’t always been able to do it on the 14^th but it’s been a fun tradition.

As it turns out, this year I get to plan a romantic Valentine’s escape just with my bride of 37+ years!!  And not just anywhere!  We’re going to New York City.  And the Metropolitan Opera.

I haven’t been the greatest Romeo so I’m really thankful I get this chance to “make up” for years of neglect!!

Yes, I’m scheduled for a pre-exam with the doctor who heads up the clinical trial on Tuesday, Feb 11.  If all goes well I’ll be having a thorough exam (biopsy, ekg, bloodwork, etc) on the 13^th.  If all goes well with that, I’ll be a Panobinostat guinea pig hoping to prove that this new medication CURES primary myelofibrosis.

Meanwhile, I’m so grateful to be free of pain in the spleen.  I have had to start a new series of antibiotic for a cough that borders on pneumonia.  I’m also able to get in some computer work and administrative support at the Refuge!!  What a change!

Enjoying LIFE!

J. Dan

Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.  Philippians 1

At the risk of making you dizzy on the roller coaster of my health updates, I am pleased to report that over the past two weeks a) my white blood cell count has dropped from 265,000 to 16,000.  (normal is around 10,000); b) I have been completely free of pain; c) my appetite has steadily increased; d) I am able to spend 6+ hours a day thinking, writing, consulting.

And, we’re going to New York (early Feb).  The doctor there is mystified by my new improvements and wants to see me in person before officially signing me on to the Prime study –part of the evaluation will include another bone marrow biopsy which may reveal that the system is starting to work again (only attributable to a miracle).  It may not, but, I can’t imagine why I feel better today than I have for eight months.

So, pray with thanksgiving today!

J Dan Small