"...I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,'
and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
(Matthew 17:20 NKJV)
As we continue our theme of Nature, I would like you to consider the tiny
mustard seed. The photo at the bottom of this post shows mustard seeds. They are, individually,
about the size of the head of a dressmaker's pin.
Throughout
the Bible we can read of God using lowly items (in man's estimation) to do or
exemplify great things.
For
example:
A spoken word - the earth and heavens were created (Genesis 1-2)
A leader's rod - awe-inspiring miracles in Egypt (Exodus 4-14)
A simple red rope - salvation from Jericho's destruction (Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-23)
An army of only 300 men - conquered over 135,000 men (Judges 7)
A leather sling and a smooth stone - an enemy giant is felled (1 Samuel 17)
Faith as a mustard seed - can move mountains (Matthew 17:20)
A mustard
seed is tiny, but it is known to have great tenacity. Tenacity means persistence,
determination, perseverance. I have heard that a mustard seed can grow and develop in the harshest of
conditions. They are hearty and their determination to sprout will in many ways
"move mountains." They will crack the great rocks that they are
growing up through. They will lift and crack concrete that has been set over
them in their determined pursuit of development.
You may
feel small in comparison to the seemingly mountainous obstacles you face in
your path, but God encourages you to keep trying, to keep trusting, to keep
growing! He is near to you and wants you to lean on Him (James 4:7-8).
Let your
faith be like the determined mustard seed. Take root in the gospel of Christ
and drink nourishment from the bottomless wells of God's love and provision.
Seek the SON, lift your face toward Him!
This
makes me think of the lovely passage in Psalm 27; verse 8 says, "When You said,
"Seek My face", my heart said to You, "Your face Lord, I will
seek.""
Continue to seek the Lord's face this week. Let your perseverance and determination to do
God's will fuel your continuing development as a Christian. Flourish in your faith! Be a tenacious
mustard seed!!
"As
you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and
built up in Him and established in the faith,
as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
Good morning! I've chosen a new theme for the next few weeks: Nature. This week, as trees are once again flourishing, plants are growing daily in our gardens, and the birds and bunnies are abundant in our hedgerows, we will consider how Nature magnifies God and how it declares His greatness?
"The
heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech or language
Where their voice is not heard.
Their sound has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tent for the sun,
Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat."
(Psalm 19:1-6 NKJV)
As small
children, our very first understanding of God comes from our joy of nature -
the feel of the cool grass under our toddling feet, the bright endless sky, the
squint-causing sunshine, the soft breezes that carry bubbles and dandelion fuzz
in swirls around us, and the feel of oh-so-fluffy, furry soft animals.
All of it
declares the greatness of the Master Creator. All of nature magnifies God to us!
"For
since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made,
even His eternal power and
Godhead [deity]..."
(Romans 1:20 NKJV)
Step
outside this week, or sit where you can look out a window, and appreciate the
beauty God has created. Let it tell you of His mighty power and His wondrous
creativity!
All of
creation declares God's greatness. We, as part of God's creation - the part He
declared as "very good" (Genesis 1:31) - should make use of EVERY opportunity
to magnify Him to others!
For the final hymn in our "Sing and Make Melody in Your
Heart" series I have selected a song that is a plea we all should be making to God, a plea for purity:
"Purer
In Heart, O God"
(written by Fannie E C Davison, 1877)
Purer
in heart, O God, help me to be;
May I devote my life wholly to Thee
Watch Thou my wayward feet;
Guide me with counsel sweet;
Purer in heart, help me to be.
Purer in
heart, O God, help me to be;
Teach me to do Thy will most lovingly.
Be Thou my friend and guide;
Let me with Thee abide;
Purer in heart, help me to be.
Purer in
heart, O God, help me to be;
That I Thy holy face one day may see.
Keep me from secret sin;
Reign Thou my soul within;
Purer in heart, help me to be.
All I
could find out about the writer of this song was her life span: 36 years (1851 - 1887). This song is known to have been written in 1877,
when she was 26 years old.
A sincere
prayer, a plea for purity of heart. Seeking God and asking His help. Simply beautiful.
"Behold
what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called
children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know
Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we
shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure." (1 John 3:1-3 NKJV)
Do you
have this hope? Are you a child of God? If so, purify yourself!
purify-
it is a verb, an action - a daily action, sometimes a moment to moment action.
It means to make/keep pure, to continually remove anything that pollutes or
contaminates. A conscientious heart is needed to keep watch always.
What can
pollute our hearts? The all-encompassing answer - SIN. The more problem specific answer - anything that tempts you or turns your
attention from God and godly behaviour. I'll list a few:
~ Lust/Pornography: It. Is. Everywhere. Let's keep it simple. If you are married,
your husband is the only person you have the right to look at (or think about)
in any state of undress. Period. Do not allow yourself to see (or think about)
someone's nakedness in reality, in a book, OR on a screen. God has blessed you
with the gift of marriage, don't disregard it or disrespect it, honour it!
If you are NOT married, there is NO ONE in this world whom you have a right to
be viewing (or thinking about) in any state of undress, in reality, in a book,
OR on a screen. It's just that simple. Sexual temptation is one of the
strongest tools the devil has in his toolbox. Be diligent about your purity in
this matter. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Ephesians 5:1-7, and consider Matthew 5:27-30 (not a command only for men).
~ Filthy
Language/Swearing: If it's in your heart, it will come out of your mouth. Don't
let it in. Turn off the reel/streaming/TV. Stop the conversation. If it is in your heart
already, begin purifying your heart, determine daily to remove it from your thoughts (Psalm 19:14). Please read
Colossians 3:1-17 and Ephesians 4:29-32.
~ Complaining: Complaining is a way of life in North America. The world
allows you to believe that it shows your acute awareness of your surroundings
and your supposed rights. We complain about everything. Sarcastic humour is everywhere. Did you know that when you complain you bring yourself down, you
bring others down, and you disobey God? Read Philippians 4:14-15.What can you
do instead of complaining?"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in
everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
~ Anger: Anger/agitation can
make us spew complaints. We are to be very careful of our anger. The only rightful
anger is that of defending God and His word if it is being blasphemed, but that
type of anger does not lose its rational thought, it does not lose control; it
is under complete control and appropriate and allows our words/behaviour to be in check (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Colossians 4:5-6). So
if your anger does not fit that description, purify your heart of it. Stop and get it under control. Work daily at it. Some verse to study: Psalm 4:4-5, Ephesians 4:26-27,
James 1:19-20, Colossians 3:1-17, also consider Proverbs 29:11.
~ Jealousy: Jealousy and coveting what others have/get is another problem area that spurs on
complaints. Are your resentful of the work you have to do? You finish your “paying
job” and you have another whole day’s worth of work waiting for you: tidying up
the house/yard, making dinner, washing the dishes, doing the laundry… you see
your husband and family lounging on the couch waiting for their evening meal
and you start complaining how you’re the only one who does any work in the
house, nobody appreciates you, etc. etc. If jealousy-based complaining is your
weakness, pause in your complaining and consider ALL that you have: a
functioning body and mind, a husband and/or family to love, food to serve them,
amenities to make your life easier. Take the time to read and really think on
James 3 and 4 this week. Read and re-read those two chapters and add in Psalm
73. Pray that God would help you overcome your compulsive complaining and develop a heart that is pure in its praise and appreciation of God's gifts and blessings!
Trust in
God. He will give you the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:18). Trusting in His goodness, His rightness, and His hope He has given you
will help you to keep yourself pure in heart every day.
"Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and
He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your
hearts, you double-minded... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He
will lift you up." (James 4:7-8,10 NKJV)
A simple song that reminds us of a vitally important part of our
daily life - giving of thanks to the Lord.
There are
33 verses throughout the Bible that include the term "give thanks." In Psalm 107 alone, it shows up 5 times in this way: "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful
deeds for men." In every case, the thanks is directed to the Lord.
"Now
let the weak say, "I am strong""
Paul recounts his pleading three times to the Lord for a "thorn in the
flesh" to be removed, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Jesus answered Paul in
this way, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect
in weakness."
How does Paul respond to this?"Therefore most gladly, I
will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak then am I
strong." (NKJV)
When we wholly lean on God in our physical troubles, He shows us His strength
and upholds us and helps us. He makes us strong and able to endure!
"Let
the poor say, "I am rich""
James instructs us to not show partiality toward people. In Chapter 2, verse 5
he reminds, "Listen, my beloved brethren; has God not chosen the poor of
this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of heaven which He
promised to those who love Him?"
"Let
the sick say, "I am whole""
Similar to the account of Paul and his physical ailment, we need to be able to
look past the temporary and see the big picture. If you are a Christian, a
child of God, you are whole. God has made you whole - spiritually. Your body
may fail, but it is only a tent/jar/vessel for your soul. Focus on keeping your
soul healthy and whole by reading, studying, and applying God's word and being
thankful to Him for the hope we have through Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10)!
"Let
the bound say, "I am free""
"For you are all sons of God though faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-29) This neutralizes/does away with every "class" the world has ever
created to categorize/separate people - religious, social, and gender. God sees
His children. He has told us to see fellow Christians as brothers and sisters.
Equal. Joint heirs (Romans 8:16-17).
All of
these statements can be boldly declared because the Lord has provided us with strength (Ephesians 6:10-18), riches (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 2:6-7), wholeness (1 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 3 John 2), and freedom (Acts 2:38, Romans 6, Galatians 5:22-23, "against such there is no law")!
"The
LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad." (Psalm 126:3 NKJV)
I
encourage you to give thanks to the Lord this week - in abundance! He has blessed
us with so much, let's show appreciation for it!
"The
LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart safely trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
and with my song I will praise Him."
(Psalm 28:7 NKJV)
Fill your
heart up with praise and thanksgiving and join in singing with understanding!
As we continue with the "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series, the
song I have selected for this week asks us a question:
"Is
It For Me, Dear Savior?"
(by Frances R. Havergal, 1871)
Is it for
me, dear Savior, Thy glory and Thy rest,
For me, so weak and sinful? Oh, shall I be so blessed?
Chorus:
O Savior, my Redeemer, what can I but adore,
And magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore?
Is it for
me, Thy welcome, Thy gracious "Enter in."
For me They "Come, ye blessed", for me so full of sin?
(Chorus)
O Savior,
precious Savior, My heart is at Thy feet;
I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet.
(Chorus)
I'll be
with Thee forever, and never grieve Thee more;
Dear Savior, I must praise Thee, and love Thee evermore.
(Chorus)
This song
is written from the perspective of someone who is 'poor in spirit' (Matthew
5:3). They recognize their need for a Saviour ("me, so weak and sinful")
and with humble hearts they joyfully praise God for the gracious gift He freely gives
("...what can I but adore and magnify and praise Thee and love Thee
evermore," consider Ephesians 2:1-13).
God wants
us to recognize our need for Him. He wants us to seek Him and find Him (Acts
17:26-27), and that takes humility on our part! God wants us to humbly submit
to His will, acknowledging His love and care shown through His
commands. God does not want us to see ourselves as worthless rags, constantly
wondering if He hears our prayers or if we are worthy of His time and/or
blessings. I have heard true humility defined as, "not thinking less of
yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Humility is not berating
ourselves continually, it is thinking more of God and His goodness and giving Him all the glory for the blessings you receive!
God wants
us to joy in Him! He wants us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Does a plant that refuses to lift its
head toward the sun grow and flourish as it should? Lift your face to God, trust in His
love, trust in His forgiveness when you repent of your sins, trust in His
ability to help you and "make all things work together for good"
(Romans 8:28).
I
especially like that third stanza of this song:
"O Savior, precious Savior, My heart is at They feet;
I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet"
What does
it mean to "bless" God? We often think of blessed meaning "happy or joyfully content" - and it does mean that when Jesus
teaches the beatitudes in Matthew 5, but in this case, when used toward God
(ex: Ephesians 1:3), 'bless' means to "eulogize" - 'to speak
beautiful words (about).'
As
Christians, we are to bless God. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Focus on the thought
repeated in verses 6, 12, and 14: "to
the praise and the glory of His grace" (v.6), "to the praise of His glory" (vv.12, 14). Also read and consider 1 Peter 2:9.
We are to
speak beautiful words about Him! We are to give Him praise, we are to give Him
the glory! How can we do that if we consider ourselves worthless? How can we
declare His greatness and the depths of His love, if we refuse to delve into
them ourselves?
So when
you sing this song and you wonder, "Is it for me? Is the dear Saviour's
glory and rest for me?" Let your mind and heart answer with a resounding
"YES!!! It is for me!!" And let your heart pour out its praise and
appreciation for God's love, mercy, and grace!! Let your mind and mouth fill
with beautiful words to speak about God and declare His wonderful goodness!
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!!
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."
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!!
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!
The song I have selected this week asks a question: How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts? It is a teaching song (to us) as well as a declaration of the
wondrous beauty of God's truth - the Bible!
How
Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?
(written by Isaac Watts in 1719)
How shall
the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean,
To keep the conscience clean.
Tis, like
the sun a heav'nly light
That guides us all the day,
And through the dangers of the night
A lamp to lead our way,
A lamp to lead our way.
The word
is everlasting truth,
How pure is every page!
That holy book shall guide our youth
And well support our age,
And well support our age.
This hymn
is based on several passages found in Psalms 119. Look at these wonderful
verses:
"How
can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
For Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You."
(Psalm 119:9-11 NKJV)
"Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
(Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
"You
are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old
that You have founded them
forever."
(Psalm 119:151-152 NKJV)
I
encourage you today to make time to read the whole of Psalm 119. It is a
wonderful psalm of joyful submission to God's word, and a song of depending on
God and His faithfulness for help! Please read it!
Consider
the last verse of the hymn:
God's
word is everlasting truth, how pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth and well support our age.
1 Peter
1:25 states "the word of the Lord endures forever." In Psalm 119:89 the psalmist declares, "Forever, O LORD, Your word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations." All generations! We've already read verses that declare the benefits of seeking God in our youth and
applying His instruction as we develop but we need to remember that we also have support in our older
years; God does not forget us, His word does not fail us. His instruction grows
in value and His teachings result in increasing wisdom, so we in turn can encourage a new
generation to seek Him!
Look at
this picture of old age:
"The
righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."
(Psalm 92:12-15 NKJV)
God is
good and greatly to be praised!! Encourage
the young to seek Him! Encourage the old to trust in Him! No matter your age, secure your heart to Him!! Only in
Him do we have the Lamp and the Light that can guide our way! Please read
Psalm 119 this week and sing this hymn with understanding!
This week in our 'Singing and Making Melody' series I've
selected a hymn that declares a willingness to continue to trust in God no
matter what happens in life: "It
Is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873
Horatio
Spafford was a prominent American lawyer who, invested in significant properties
in Chicago in the 1860s, and then lost a sizable amount of his investment in
the Great Fire of Chicago of 1871.
Two years later, wanting to take a family vacation in Europe, knowing his
preacher friend, Dwight L. Moody, would be preaching in England in the Fall,
planned the trip accordingly. Due
to business demands Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters,
Anna "Annie" (11), Margaret Lee "Maggie" (9), Elizabeth
"Bessie" (5), and Tanetta (2), ahead of him, planning on joining them
a short time later.
On November 22, 1873, while sailing across the Atlantic, an iron sailing vessel
struck the ship Anna and her daughters were on. 226 people lost their lives,
including all four of the Spafford children. Anna sent a telegram to Horatio
stating, "Saved alone."
It was while Horatio sailed across the Atlantic himself to be with Anna that he
thought of these words; as he followed the same course and traveled over the
waters where his daughters perished, this hymn was shaped and written.
When
peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well, with my soul."
Chorus: It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul), It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His own blood for my soul. [Chorus]
My sin - O the bliss of this glorious tho't! - My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Chorus]
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend - Even so, it is well with my soul. [Chorus]
(as
written in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs",
Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productions LLC)
Could you
write a hymn to the Lord after such tragedy?
Mr. Spafford never turned his back on the Lord. It seems that he leaned on him
even more heavily for help and comfort. We can learn much from this!
Consider
these words found in Habakkuk 3:17-19:
"Though
the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labour of the olive may fail,
and the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
and there be no herd in the stalls -
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD
God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."
(NKJV)
We have a
Lord who can sympathize with our struggles and troubles (Hebrews 4:14-15). He
tells us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). This is a true statement - a real promise of help!
Almost nine years ago, I lost my Mom very suddenly (of a heart attack), she was only 65
years old and had just had a clean bill of health from her cardiologist. But on
a Sunday afternoon in late April, after worshiping with the brethren and going
out to lunch with a few of them, my Dad & Mom returned home. My Mom went
into the house, walked to the fridge to put the bottle of communion juice away,
turned to put her slippers on and collapsed, never to open her eyes in this world
again.
Within a couple hours of this happening, we arrived home (we live four hours south of my parents), and were met by my Aunt & Uncle and cousin, who
accepted the role of bearing the heartbreaking news to my family (and my
siblings).
I went with my husband and daughters to worship service that evening and was
embraced by my spiritual family there (the church is a wonderful blessing from
God!) and spent most of rest of the night praying to God.
I asked Him to help our family, to help and be near my Dad who was 4 hours
away, in the house by himself, in shock at the loss of his wife of 47 years. I
praised God for the blessing of my Mom - I had her for 41 years - I am blessed!
I thanked Him for her love and gentleness and her example in following Him in
her walk as a Christian. He blessed me with moments of sleep and when I would
wake I would again ask for help, praise Him, and thank Him.
Through Him, Mom had hope. Through Him, I have hope. I will one day stand
again, shoulder to shoulder with my Mom as we, together, join with all the
others who have 'gone on', to sing God's praises!
I, and my family, faced the next several days with a peace that was
indescribable! That's what the peace of God is - see Philippians 4:6-7 - it
surpasses understanding and it guarded our hearts and minds!!
Thanks be
to God for His indescribable gift!!
God's
promises are REAL!! He is faithful to keep them!! Never
turn from Him! Always, and with all your being, turn to Him!! Lean on Him,
receive help, comfort, peace, grace, and mercy from Him in your time of need!
Think on
Habakkuk 3:17-19 today. Thank God for His faithfulness! Thank Him for His care and provision in good times and bad! Sing the song selected for this week with understanding. Declare for yourself that, no
matter what happens in this life, because you wholly trust in God "It Is Well With Your Soul."
