Category: Lyric Print

Take Heart for Christ Is Near

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January 2, 2026

6:33 am

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Lyric Print, Music, Songwriting

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Purple Mountains

2025 was a difficult year. My Dad had been battling cancer for several years and in January we learned that it had spread and it might be near to the time when God would call him home. I knew that some rough trials were ahead in the new year. We didn’t know how long or how short those trials would be, but we did know that God is good. God was orchestrating all events and would accomplish His will and do what was best for Dad and for our family.

My Dad and I shared a love for John Bunyan’s book, The Pilgrim’s Progress.  One of the obvious lessons that Bunyan conveys in the book is that this life a journey. It’s not our destination.It is not a place where we settle in to stay. This life is a pilgrimage where we look to Christ and press on.  We are traveling from a sinful, fallen world (a City of Destruction) to a better place—a glorious place (the Celestial City)—to heaven where we shall be forever with our Lord and Savior. 

In kindness God keeps short the time we spend here. The journey is often hard and dangerous. We face trials and battle sin. We must resolve to press on and walk by faith. But compared to eternity, this life is but a vapor.  And while there are many wonderful things in this life—family, church, friends, and a multitude of other blessings—here we are simply sojourners. For those who are trusting in Christ, God has promised to bring us safely to the end of our journey, to bring us home to be with Him. And He has promised that as we make this journey He will never leave us or forsake us.

As I a thought of my Dad completing his journey—God using the trial of cancer to wean him from this life and usher him safely to his destination at home with Christ—I set out to write a song. I wanted the song to encourage my Dad, to hearten and preach to myself, and to share with family and friends. I finished the song in May 2025 and saved it to sing for my Dad on Father’s Day. 

I didn’t know then that only a few days later, Dad’s health would quickly decline and he would be in hospice care—and 10 short days later God would call him home. I sang the song more times while I sat with my Dad as he neared the end of his journey.

It was a great comfort to me to see my Dad end his journey well. He had a strong faith and heartfelt compassion for family, friends, and those who were caring for him. Though trials, tears, and even great loss come upon us, we need not fear or lose heart. Our faithful God is near us and guides us every step of our journey. 

Take Heart for Christ Is Near

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”  (John 10:27–30).

Here in this world
We live each day
Yet as sojourners
Christ leads us on
To glory and
Our destiny assures

Each day may bring
Its joys and pains
Yet by faith we know
God holds us in
His loving hands
He will not let us go.

This journey leads to glory
Take heart and do not fear
Our Shepherd’s with us always
Take heart for Christ is near

Though days grow dark
The pathway dim
Yet the Lord still reigns
So walk by faith
Stay in the fight
For this our God ordains

Though victory seems
A distant dream
Yet it is assured
Keep watch, believe
Cease not from prayer
For God will keep His Word

This journey leads to glory
Take heart and do not fear
Our Shepherd’s with us always
Take heart for Christ is near

A little while
We must endure
Yet the dawn is near
When darkness fades
And we shall see
God’s glory bright and fair.

Though trials come
And tears rain down
Yet we lift our praise
For one day soon
We all shall be
At home with Christ always

This journey leads to glory
Take heart and do not fear
Our Shepherd’s with us always
Take heart for Christ is near

He’s with us now and always
Take heart for Christ is near

Words and Music ©2025 Kenneth A Puls

For my Dad who finished his journey and is now home with Christ in glory

This song is featured on the Upcoming EP: 
“Take Heart for Christ Is Near”
Hymns and Songs for the Journey to Glory 
Coming January 9, 2026

WORDS: Ken Puls, May 24, 2025
MUSIC: Ken Puls, May 24, 2025
THEME: Christ’s Presence and Guidance through Life’s Journey 
Words and Music ©2025 Kenneth A Puls

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this song.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Pressing On We Journey

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March 9, 2017

6:33 am

1 Comment on Pressing On We Journey

Hymn, Lyric Print, Music for Worship

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Seek the Light

Those who follow my blog know that one of my favorite books is John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. I have read it numerous times and am writing a commentary on the book, A Guide to John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. On occasion, I have woven the themes and imagery from Bunyan’s allegory into hymns I have written. These include “Looking Always Unto Jesus,” “Come Enter By the Narrow Gate” and “A Prayer for Pilgrims.” This new hymn also draws from Bunyan’s work.

In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches us not to be anxious for tomorrow, but to place our trust in Him, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:25–34).

We will never find joy and contentment in this life apart from Christ and His righteousness. There are two great enemies of joy and contentment: regret and worry. Regret keeps us from joy in the present by fixating on the past—which we cannot change and is over. Worry keeps us from joy in the present by fixating on the future—which we cannot control and is uncertain. The gospel sets us free from both. We trust Christ, knowing that our sins are forgiven and our future rests in the hands of a loving and merciful God. We can press on in new mercies every day knowing that He will provide all we need to reach our journey’s end.

Pressing On, We Journey

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Christ our greatest treasure,
He our highest aim!
Christ our deepest comfort,
Him we now acclaim!
By His death, He saved us,
By His life, we live.
To the King of glory,
All our lives we give.

Pressing on, we journey,
Christ we now confess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

Rescued from destruction,
Told to seek the light;
Pulled up from the mire,
Fitted for the fight.
Christ, in every instance
Guides us in the Way,
Graciously providing
Mercies every day.

Pressing on, we journey,
Pilgrims we progress,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

Fret not for tomorrow,
Fear not past regrets.
He heals every sorrow,
Sure the course He sets.
All these things are added,
What to eat and wear;
All our needs provided,
By His loving care.

Pressing on, we journey,
Joys we now possess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

We long for that day when
We’ll see face to face
Christ, the King of Glory,
Full of truth and grace.
But until that moment,
Finally He descends,
We will ever seek Him,
Faithful to the end.

Pressing on, we journey,
Hope we now express,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness

Words ©2017 Ken Puls

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune WYE VALLEY for classical guitar.

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My Soul What Truth Consoles You?

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February 13, 2017

6:33 am

3 Comments on My Soul What Truth Consoles You?

Hymn, Lyric Print, Music for Worship

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Light on the Path

Last month we had the privilege at Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral of hearing from Conrad Mbewe. On New Year’s Day 2017 Dr. Mbewe, who serves as Pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, preached a message from John 3:16 entitled “God’s Indescribable Love.” He encouraged us to begin the new year with our souls “anchored deep” in the unfailing love of God in Christ.

Sometimes the verses we think we know best are the ones we can learn from the most. That is certainly true of John 3:16. Anytime we are under the preaching of God’s Word, we need to listen intently, and even more so when the passage is familiar and we think we know what the preacher is going to say. Scripture is an inestimable and inexhaustible treasure. We need to hear it expectantly (even parts we think we know) and let it dwell in us “richly” (Colossians 3:16).

This hymn is my reflection on the verse and the message. The love of God that He has given us in His Son is a sure fortress that shelters us through every storm and trial.

My Soul What Truth Consoles You?

For God so loved the world,
that he gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

My soul, what truth consoles you?
For hope, where can you run?
For God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son,
And everyone believing,
Though wrecked by sin and strife,
In Him can never perish,
But have eternal life.

My soul, when life confounds you,
Look up to Christ above!
The floods of fear can’t reach to
The heights of His great love.
If clouds around me darken,
I know I will endure,
For I have life eternal;
In Christ I rest secure.

So come, my soul, and worship,
Give praise to God and sing!
There is no firmer promise
To which you now can cling.
Through every storm and trial,
My soul He’ll safely keep.
Within the love of Jesus,
My soul is anchored deep.

Words ©2017 Ken Puls

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn.

Download a free Lyric Print (PDF) of the words to this hymn.

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