My Heart Is Full of Joy: for Elizabeth Grace

I would like to dedicate this hymn to my newest niece, Elizabeth Grace, born to Paul and Bethany.  Thank God for such a wonderful gift.  I pray that she comes safely to the washing of rebirth.

I would like a tune for this and am asking Stephen Van Der Hoek to try his hand at it.  I wrote it while listening to Bach's Wachet Auf cantata.  It is loosely based on Psalm 45.  

Heavenly Jerusalem Descending

My heart is full of joy and so I sing

To Christ the holy Lord and gracious King,

Whose lips speak free forgiveness to the poor,

And lifts them up to honor evermore.

He comes at last in judgment her to claim,

For whom he took on flesh and suffered shame,

For whom he gave his life and poured his blood,

Whom now He leads before the throne of God.

Who is this virgin fair and beautiful,

Whose robes are brighter than the whitest wool,

From whom the Bridegroom can’t remove his gaze,

Who sings in joyful tones her Savior’s praise?

This is the princess, chosen by his grace,

Who once was lost in sin and in disgrace,

Until Christ washed her with His Spirit’s bath,

And clothed her with the robes she wore by faith.

With gladness and rejoicing see her come

To make in Heaven her eternal home,

One flesh with Him who formed her from His side,

To live forever as His holy Bride.

No longer does she long her Lord to see,

For she beholds Him in His majesty,

And faith and hope she gladly lets depart,

For love eternal whelms within her heart.

We sing and wait in faith and hope and love;
So lift, O Lord, our hearts to things above,
Where we will know You as we now are known,
And worship You as King upon Your throne.