My friend the UndergroundPewster did an interesting posting on "Christian Maintenance" in which the subject of losing, finding, and maintaining our first love, that love for God, was the primary theme. Our love can never match His, nor can our words ever hope to express this love. Of all the hymns that might relate to this notion, this is the first that came to mind.
"The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever."
Sir Henry Williams Baker 1821-1877
"Baker was the son of Vice Admiral Henry Loraine Baker. He attended Trinity College at Cambridge, was ordained in 1844, and became assistant curate at Great Hockesley, near Colchester, Essex. In 1851, he became Vicar of Monkland Priory Church in Herefordshire, England, where he served most of his life. Upon his father’s death in 1859, Baker assumed the family baronetcy. From 1860 to 1877, he was editor-in-chief of the Anglican Hymns Ancient and Modern, and contributed hymns, tunes, and translations. This historic hymnal sold 60 million copies."(From Cyberhymnal posted at Hymnary).
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