Tag: #hymns

May Jesus Christ Be Praised

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My husband is a champion sleeper. He can doze off almost any time in any place. In the words of famous television detective, Monk, “it’s a blessing, and a curse.”

            I, on the other hand, have an ongoing battle with sleep. Some nights it comes easily to me. Some nights, despite my exhaustion, sleep evades me. My mind rolls over the cares of the day, unfinished tasks and creative ideas that could wait until morning — but won’t. I often crawl back out of bed to write things down or wrap up loose ends.

            There are other sleepless nights that I believe are God-ordained. What’s on my mind are people; people with physical, financial and spiritual needs. I begin to pray.

A prayer warrior, I am not. I seldom pause during the day to stop and have a nice, long chat with my Heavenly Father. So our nighttime conversations, when the house is quiet and all the distractions are silenced, are a haven. I pray for family and friends. I pray for our church and pastor. I pray for our nation and its leaders. I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ living with the realities of harsh persecution and the dire lack of essential needs.

And I praise God. I praise Him for offering His Son, Jesus, as a sin sacrifice. I praise Him for His ongoing care and provision; a roof over my head, clothes on my back and daily bread (plus so much more). I praise Him for adopting me as His own child and preparing a place for me to live with Him for all eternity. With that praise comes a peace that allows me to drift off to sleep.

I’m not a morning person, so I seldom wake up giving praises to Jesus “as morning gilds the skies,” as this beautiful hymn suggests in its opening lines. Instead, I find myself clinging to these words from a later stanza:

When sleep her balm denies, My silent spirit sighs; May Jesus Christ be praised;

When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast: May Jesus Christ be praised.

Morning, evening, throughout the day — all are the best time to praise our Savior. As the King James Version puts it in Psalm 22:3, God “inhabits the praise” of His people. It invites Him to dwell among us. It brings Him the glory He is due.  In this act of gratitude, we find ourselves blessed, encouraged and filled with the joy of the Lord.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.  (1 Chronicles 16:28-29)

One Clear Midnight

In many churches, Advent observances are underway. Congregants are being reminded of the events leading up to Christ’s birth, events which fulfilled Old Testament prophecies pointing God’s people to the promised Messiah.

But most people of Jesus’ day missed the signs. Oh, there were a handful that came to worship Him as He lay in a humble cattle stall; the shepherds who heard the angels’ proclamation. There were a few who honored Him as King of Kings; wise men who followed a star to bring Him costly gifts. And, of course, Mary and Joseph knew His true lineage.

But most people who encountered Jesus rejected Him. They did not believe He was the Messiah. They did not follow and worship Him. They did not recognize Christ as the One God sent to offer the ultimate sin sacrifice for all time.

Things haven’t changed. Now, as then, most people who encounter Jesus reject Him. They sing the carols and mark the celebration of His birth with empty traditions but they fail to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. This should not come as a surprise. The Bible makes it clear in Matthew 7:13-14 that we must

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Jesus did not preach an inclusive gospel. His love called people out of the darkness of their sinful ways, their pursuit of other gods, into the light of one key truth, simply stated in John 14:6:

“I [Jesus] am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.”

Emmanuel became flesh and dwelt among us for one purpose; to become our salvation for this life and all of eternity. If you’re hope is not securely grounded by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to God’s glory alone, you are on that narrow path that leads to destruction. Seek God earnestly through prayer (just talking to God) and reading the Bible (ask God to help you understand it). He promises this in Jeremiah 29:13.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

The prophecies surrounding Christ’s birth have been fulfilled. But the prophecies pointing to Christ’s return are still being fulfilled in our day. Most don’t know or believe the signs. Even if they recognize them, many don’t take them seriously. But one day Christ will come back; not as a humble baby but as a conquering King. He will gather up His children, those who pursued the narrow way to life, and take them to their eternal home where peace and joy will reign forevermore.

For lo the days are hastening on, by prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.

                                    It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

                                    Edmund Sears

Bring Them In

As a child, I always looked forward to missionaries visiting our little country church. They brought glimpses of the world to our doorstep and stories of the marvelous things God was doing around the globe, often in remote places.

When our pastor introduced a missionary on Sunday morning, I could hardly wait for the Sunday evening service. The missionary would be back with slides from their field; a tropical jungle, an intriguing Alaskan village, or an urban locale and the faces of the people who lived there. There would be stories; about people receiving medical care, children getting an education, or churches being planted and lives being transformed by God as the missionary became the hands that served and the feet that brought Good News. And there would be a table in the foyer; with unusual musical instruments, traditional clothing or works of art to help us understand the unique ways of each culture.

Then we’d sing the songs we always sang when the missionaries came: Send the Light, Bringing in the Sheeves, and We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations. It instilled in me an early understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:1-3) and we have a God-given assignment to “go into all the world and preach the preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15).

There was a time I thought God would open the door for me to be a full-time missionary, but He took my life a different direction. Still, my desire to see God’s Word reach the remotest parts of the world lives on. My respect and admiration for those who give up life’s conveniences and comforts to serve in strange, new places is unending. I pray God will protect and strengthen His people wherever they may be working as His ambassadors to a lost world. And I pray their work, whatever it is, will be fruitful.

Out in the desert hear their cry, Out on the mountains wild and high;

Hark! ‘tis the Master speaks to thee, “Go find my sheep where-e’er they be.”

Bring them in, bring them in, Bring them in from the fields of sin;

Bring them in, bring them in, Bring the wand’ring ones to Jesus.

  • Bring Them In, Alexcenah Thomas

A Prayer for Strength

When this hymn was first translated from Welsh to English, the translator aptly titled it “A Prayer for Strength.” This beautiful hymn written by William Williams, which we now know as “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” is indeed a prayer for strength to face our journey through this life.

The imagery is largely taken from the Israelites’ miraculous deliverance from Egypt to the Promised Land, a journey that involved 40 years of wandering through barren lands where they were wholly dependent on God for their daily bread and water. When the day finally came to cross the Jordan River, God delivered them safely to Canaan — as He promised He would.

We all face different challenges as we wander through our individual deserts. No two journeys are the same. Yet, we are on the road together, facing setbacks and hurdling obstacles, sometimes succumbing to sin and other times overcoming it, as we travel through life.

Along the way, God intends for us to rely on Him, our great Jehovah, to provide all our needs; spiritual, emotional and physical. We look to God for daily guidance, daily strength, because we are weak and needy people. Each breath we take is evidence that God is sustaining us.

“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.” (Isaiah 40:29)

God’s provision often comes through His people, fellow pilgrims who support us along the way. We need each other! While no one has walked our specific path, others have walked parallel paths. Others have overcome. From a place of victory, they can offer us words of hope and encouragement, bind up our spiritual, physical and emotional wounds, and help provide our pressing needs.

“Therefore, encourage and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

The day is coming when we will each stand on the brink of death. For those who have their hope wholly in Christ, who understand they can enter God’s kingdom based only on the faith and reliance on God’s grace and Christ’s sin sacrifice on the cross, a peaceful eternity in the presence of our Savior is waiting. God will welcome us to our forever home.

“But according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”  (2 Peter 3:13)

For those apart from Christ, eternal judgement waits.

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

Is your hope for salvation in Christ alone? As long as the Lord sustains you, as long as you draw breath, you can come to Him with a repentant heart, and surrender to Him as your Savior and Lord, and He will rescue you, in His mercy, from eternal judgement (1 John 1:9). You can join the pilgrim journey to God’s eternal peace.

Like a River Glorious

Photo Copyright: www.godponderings.com

Some days I sense God calling me away to a peaceful place. A place without internet service, cellphone signal or traffic noise. A place with minimal human activity. A place where I can focus on the Word, and prayer, and writing – without distractions. One advantage of living in the boondocks is that such places are readily accessible.

A root beer-toned river twists its way around a low island dotted with sneezeweed, goldenrod, fleabane and wild asters. It gurgles as it rushes downhill, stumbling over rocks and bumping haphazardly into a downed tree before going on its merry way. The river’s voice settles my soul as it carries my cares away.

“Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you discovered, by necessity, God’s perfect peace? Several years ago my cousin and his son were helping us remodel our house. They were truly God’s gift to us! Ben and I were coming home with a load of lumber when the trailer started swaying. At first, I wasn’t overly concerned. But when the trailer started pulling the truck all over the road, in traffic, I knew we were in trouble.

I should have panicked. I should have been terrified. Instead, an inexplicable, supernatural peace washed over me. Ben was doing everything in his power to get the situation under control. I remember putting my hand on his shoulder and saying, “You’re doing a great job!” Where did that come from? The only possible answer is the Sunday School answer: Jesus.

“Over all victorious in its bright increase.”

In the end, we did a 180 across both lanes of traffic and came to rest on the shoulder – unharmed. Praise God, no one else was harmed either. Surely, God’s angels were encamped around us! Kind drivers stopped and helped us pick up the lumber strewn across the road and we were on our way again, at a slower pace.

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever. For in Yahweh, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

I lose sight of this promise, at times. My mind is on everything but my Peace-Giver. I’m preoccupied with finances and work and household duties and family. I hit the floor running in the morning without pausing to meditate on God and His marvelous works, without committing my daily concerns to my Lord. When I get frazzled and fretful, God reminds my I have neglected the One who gives perfect peace.

“Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day. Perfect, yet it growth deeper all the way.”

God’s peace is always perfect. It’s never lacking. But the more we put our trust in it, the more we experience it, the deeper and fuller it seems, like a river growing and deepening as it makes its way to the sea.

Whatever has you unsettled today, whatever is eating at you, whatever has you distracted or preoccupied, I pray you will rest in these words from Psalm 46:10;

“Cease striving and know that I am God.”

When you struggle, refocus on the only One who can bring you rest.

“Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest; Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”

I Know Whom I Have Believed

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I remember liking this hymn as a child. Part of it was the lilting tune. Mostly, it was the sense of security and confidence it instilled in me. There were, and still are, many things I don’t understand about my faith.

While we walk with God through our days here on earth, there are spiritual unknowns. As 1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part…” Our minds, limited by time and space and our frail human frames, cannot fully comprehend why our holy God even cares about us, or how Christ’s righteousness is imputed to our sinful selves.

Like the hymnwriter, we don’t fully understand how the Holy Spirit works. We know that He leads us, intercedes for us, and convicts us – but how? How to we come to recognize that still small voice? Without dangling our toes too deeply into the predestination vs. free will debate, why are some compelled to follow Christ, while others turn their backs on Him? What is God’s role and what is our role in becoming conformed to the image of His Son? (Romans 8:29)

We can’t know what the future holds. God ordained all our days before any of them came to pass (Psalm 139:16) but we aren’t privy to how they will play out; whether our lives will be filled with extraordinary joy, devasting sorrow or our expected share of ups and downs.

And the greatest unknown of all is when Christ will return in great power and glory, revealing Himself to the world as the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. Perhaps it will be in our generation. Perhaps many more generations will eagerly await His return.

“… but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.” (! Corinthians 13:10). However, the day is coming when we will leave this world behind and join Christ in heaven, where we will be perfected. Then, we’ll be able to see everything clearly. It will all make sense. All our questions will be answered.

After recounting all the things he doesn’t know, D.W. Whittle (the writer) uses the chorus to affirm what he does know:

“But ‘I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him, against that day.’”

Other than the “but,” this hymn chorus is an exact quote of 2 Timothy 1:12, taken from the King James Version. It is a statement of confident expectation. If we have put our faith in Christ alone for our salvation, we can say with certainty we know who we believe. We know what God has already done for us – bringing us into His family when we were undeserving and calling us to live to His glory.

We have a confident expectation that God is storing up all those things we’ve done to His glory for the day we meet Him in eternity. No sacrifice we’ve made has escaped His notice. No tear we’ve shed has been lost. No service we’ve rendered with the right motives will be unrewarded. When our focus is on “glorifying God and enjoying Him forever” we store up treasures in heaven.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”                                                                                                         (Revelation 22:12)

I Love to Tell the Story

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Do you have a favorite story – one you tell over and over again?

I have one. In fact, I just told it earlier today.

My husband and I come from quite different backgrounds. He’s a city kid. I’m a country kid. His extended family would fit in a large living room. My extended family would need a convention center. He grew up in a home that didn’t prioritize church. I grew up in a home that seldom missed a Sunday.

My husband’s family gathered for a reunion a few years ago. As folks were telling of days gone by, someone told the story of family members who had run liquor during the prohibition. When they finished, I put my hand on my husband’s shoulder and said in a serious tone, “My people were praying for your people.”

We laughed then, and have laughed many times since, over that moment (seriously though, it’s probably true). Maybe your favorite story is funny, like mine. Maybe it’s a cute story about something your child or pet did, an exciting story about something adventurous you did, or an amazing story about something miraculous God has done. We’re eager to relay our stories because of the impact they had on our lives.

Our stories also give others a glimpse of who we are at the core. It can be unnerving to let people see what’s inside us.

I think that’s why I’m sometimes reluctant to tell the story that changed my life. What will people think of me if they know what’s most important to me? It’s THE story. I wanted – needed – to hear it. So, what makes me think other people don’t?

It’s the one about Jesus, and how He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin, so I could stand in God’s presence purified and righteous.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

It’s the story about how God adopted me and called me His own, even though I’ve never done anything to deserve it.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  (Romans 8:15)

And how one day, when I die or Christ returns (whichever comes first), I’ll go and live with Him forever in a place that He’s preparing for me.

In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.  (John 14:2-3)

I hope this is your story, too. And I hope you have more courage to tell it than I sometimes do. It’s a story that can bring hope to people in despair, peace to people wracked by all sorts of conflict, and joy to those who’ve known too much sorrow. It’s a timeless story with the power to transform lives.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love; I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true, it satisfies my longing as nothing else can do.

(I Love to Tell the Story by A. Catherine Hankey)