Death, Do Not Threaten; You Are Mine

 

For Noreen, a dear sister and friend in Christ

8 6 8 6 8 6

Tune: Brother James’ Air

 

Death, do not threaten; you are mine,

My servant you shall be;

Christ showed in flesh with pow’r divine

Your death upon the tree;

He left you lying in the grave,

And now He lives for me!

 

So you may take the ones I love,

And give me tears and pain;

My heart is fixed on Christ above,

I do not mourn in vain;

When heav’n and earth will pass away,

His promise will remain! 

 

All flesh is grass and like a flow’r

Will fade and wilt away,

Except the flesh that had the pow’r

Sin’s wages here to pay,

And like a lily bloomed again

On Easter’s glorious Day! 

 

He is the first-fruits of the life

That I by faith have known,

And after this short earthly strife,

He will not be alone -

From dust and ash will rise again

All whom He calls His own.

 

So come, death, press now from my heart

Tears that I gladly sow;

My suffering here can but impart

Joys that my ears will know,

When to my eyes that God has dried

Christ will His glory show! 

            4/30/19