Sing and Make Melody - Hold To God's Unchanging Hand

    As we continue our "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series, I would like to focus this week on a song that encourages us to cling to God, no matter what. The song I have selected for today is: "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand" written by Jennie Wilson (in 1904) and set to a tune made by F L Eiland (in 1905).

Time is filled with swift transition;

Naught of earth unmoved can stand.

Build your hopes on things eternal;

Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Chorus:

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Build your hopes on things eternal;

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Trust in Him who will not leave you,

Whatsoever years may bring;

If by earthly friends forsaken,

Still more closely to Him cling.

Covet not this world's vain riches

That so rapidly decay.

Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures;

They will never pass away!

When your journey is completed,

If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in glory

Your enraptured soul will view.

    This hymn encourages all to cling to God. Cling to Him, knowing life is frail and temporary; having hope in life eternal through Him. Cling to Him, knowing people in our life can hurt us, but God can heal us. Cling to Him when the world encourages you to accumulate more and more "things"; let your abundance be in your faith and good works (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

    If ever a verse could be described as beseeching - the chorus surely fits this description! "Hold to God's unchanging hand! Build your hopes on things eternal; hold to God's unchanging hand!" The chorus is begging you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)! It earnestly encourages you to trust God; to be assured of His promises and His help!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and comes down from the Father of lights, with 

whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." 

(James 1:17 NKJV)

    This is God's unchanging hand! Cling to it! Hold it! Trust in it!

    God, through the prophet Isaiah, assured Israel of His help when He declared, "Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand... For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:10; 13)

    Today, we too, can be assured of God's help because God is faithful and what He promises He also fulfills. We can trust Him. "All the promises of God through Christ are yes and in Him Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20) - there is no fluctuation or variation - if He said it, it stands - it will be, just as He said it would. His promises are yes. That is God's unchanging hand!

    Let us be like Abraham who "did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20-21).

    Trust that God's hand is unchanging! There is blessing and reward (Hebrews 11:6). There is help (Hebrews 4:16). There is hope (Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25). Cling to Him with your whole heart, mind, and soul!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to listen to the hymn:

Sing and Make Melody - I Stand in Awe

    Good morning! As we continue in our "Singing and Making Melody in Your Heart" series, I've selected a hymn that helps us magnify God:

"I Stand in Awe" 

(Written by Mark Altrogge, 1987)

You are beautiful beyond description,

Too marvelous for words,

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depths of Your love?

You are beautiful beyond description,

Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You;

I stand, I stand in awe of You;

Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of You.

    David proclaims, in Psalm 33:8, "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him."

    I find myself stuttering somewhat (in mind and mouth) when I've reached the limits of my own vocabulary in trying to declare how wonderful God is! I feel like David when he openly stated in Psalm 139:6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."

    How do we comprehend God in all His glory?

    Philippians 4:7 informs us that the peace of God "surpasses all understanding" - but we can experience it! Paul's prayer for the saints in Ephesus was that they, "being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-21). He finishes his prayer with giving praise and glory to God: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

'the love of Christ which passes knowledge'

'filled with all the fullness of God'

'able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think'

    WOW! No matter what lofty level of intelligence humankind can attain, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than that!!

    As we grow in the Lord we begin to comprehend the glory of God and the love of Christ. Throughout our lives we should continue to comprehend more and more as we study and grow in our understanding of His word and in appreciation of His gracious blessings.

Magnificent! Majestic! All glory and praise to our glorious Father!!

    Meditate on the bible verses mentioned today and let prayer and praise flow from your heart! How would you describe God and His glorious attributes? How do you describe Christ's love? Share your descriptions in a comment below!

    With the words of praise in your mind, click on the link and join in singing today's prayerful song!

"Remember to magnify His work, of which men have sung." 

(Job 36:24 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody - Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen

    This week, we will look at a spiritual song that teaches us as we sing:

"Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen"

Written by Albert W T Orsborn (1916) 

Stanzas 2-3 written by George L Johnson (1934)

Let the beauty of Jesus seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity.

May His spirit divine all my being refine;

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When somebody has been so unkind to you,

Some word spoken that pierces you through and through,

Think how He was beguiled, spat upon and reviled,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

From the dawn of the morning to close of day,

In example, in deeds, and in all you say,

Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

    Jesus exemplified the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We need to walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6) so that the fruit of the Spirit can be developed in us as well!

    This song, I believe, is based on 1 Peter 2:18-24. I encourage you to read this passage. I will highlight some of the thoughts written there:

    First, Peter speaks of servants submitting to their master, the kind masters and also the harsh. He says in verse 19, "...this is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." "...when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." (v. 20)

    What?? Why??

    Here's why: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps." (v.21)

• Jesus committed no sin
• There was no deceit (deception/fraud) found in Jesus' mouth
• When Jesus was reviled (criticized in an angry, abusive, and insulting way), He did not revile in return
• When Jesus suffered, He did not threaten
• Jesus committed Himself to "Him who judges righteously"

    Think about that for a moment. Jesus was in the middle of a trial for His life and saw and heard all the hate-filled lies being said about Him and instead of reacting, He committed Himself to the only One who knew the truth - the One who judges righteously - His Father in heaven.

    Do we trust that God knows the truth? Do we trust that He knows our heart and our clear conscience in a matter when we are being accused of wrong? Do we commit to Him in these situations, knowing He is the righteous judge who sees what man does not/cannot?

    Jesus bore our sins on the cross. Why did He do that? Why did He suffer wrongfully?
Why did He silently allow these things to happen to Him?

    So that we, having died to sins (Romans 6:2-4), might live for righteousness!! It was by Jesus’ suffering/death that we have a hope - that we have healing!!

    How do you live for righteousness?

    You follow Jesus' example!

    Though you may face times of struggle and hurt you do not revile nor spit out angry, abusive, insulting words. You do not threaten - nor even think it in your heart! You trust that God sees and God knows, allowing you to be still. You let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you!

    Pray to the One who judges righteously! Ask Him for wisdom and help to live like Jesus, in the beauty and holiness of humble obedience!

    Meditate on 1 Peter 2:18-14 this week and let this song remind you of Jesus' beautiful example and His desire for you to live for righteousness!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody - I Will Wake The Dawn With Praises

We have so much to be thankful for, don't we! As soon as we wake up in the morning, we have already been showered with blessings: life, breath, a new day, eyesight, smell, taste, feelings, touch... innumerable blessings!!

The song I have selected for this week is "I Will Wake The Dawn With Praises" written by Sarah J Fuhrman in 2001.

Dawn and sunset, fierce and joyful,

Each reflects His mighty ways.

With the sea and sky before me,

I will give Him all my praise.

Chorus:

I will wake the dawn with praises!

I will speak His name abroad.

I will worship Him forever,

He my Lord, my only God.

Stars will joy in praises from me;

"Lesser light" will know my voice.

When I give my God His glory,

Night will hear me and rejoice.

Shout His glory, brothers, sisters;

Laud His name and do His will.

Like the sands upon the shoreline

Are the praises due Him still.

(Copyright 2001 Sarah J Fuhrman and Glenda B Schales)

    In the book of Psalms, David declared, "I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth." (Psalm 57:8-11 and 108:1-5)

• To meet each new day with a heart that is "steadfast" (Psalm 57:7 and 108:1), whose constancy is in its gratitude for the Lord. 
• To approach each new day with ready thanksgiving for the blessings you have received upon waking, the blessings you have received that have brought you to this day, and the blessings you trust to receive as you go through your day because you wholly trust in God's promises for help, care, love, and provision. 
• To want to wake even before the day has started to declare God's greatness, thank Him, and give Him the glory due His name 

    What a beautiful way to begin any day!!

    Pause and thank God each day for as many blessings as you can list. May you praise Him for His abiding love and glory and sing this song with love and understanding! 

You can do it! So can I!!