Today I have been incredibly humbled as I consider my Christian conversion 30 years ago this July 11th. I was 18 and just out of high school when I was, by grace, born again by the Spirit of God. Perhaps I will post a short testimony in the days ahead.

But now, on this day, I pause in awe of this great God of wonders, who pardons the sins of men, and draws us in to feast on fellowship with Him! Praise the Lord with me — with this great hymn of wonder and praise!

How sweet and awesome is this place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

Here every bowel of our God
With soft compassion rolls;
Here peace and pardon bought with blood
Is food for dying souls.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

pdb