The month of February is a month when we think of Valentine's Day and love. So I've chosen to repeat a hymn which talks about real love - the love of God our Father. Many of the old hymns used pictures of storms and seas to convey messages of salvation, safety, and protection provided by the Lord. Sometimes the pictures are of lighthouses, lifelines, shelters, rocks, or sinking experiences. One of my favorite is this week's hymn which shares of God's love to us when we were far from the peaceful shore and sinking in sin. It was then that His love lifted us. We were so unworthy and not deserving of being rescued, but in His love He did rescue us and now we are safe in Him. That is real love. "But God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. But while the hymn talks about being saved while sinking in sin, it is also a reminder that when we face the storms of life and feel like we are sinking, in His love He rescues us again. And we are safe. The words to this hymn were penned in 1912 by James Rowe. During his lifetime, Rowe claimed to have written more than 19,000 song texts. Rowe and his friend Howard Smith created "Love Lifted Me" in Saugatuck, Connecticut, and sold the copyright to Charles Tillman, who transferred it to Robert Coleman in 1915 for one hundred dollars. According to Rowe's daughter: " I can see them now, my father striding up and down humming a bar or two, and Smith playing it and jotting it down. The two huddled together, working line by line, bar by bar, composing this hymn in tandem." The words were jotted down by James Rowe, and the music was hammered out at the piano by Smith whose hands were so twisted from arthritis that his friends wondered how he could play the piano at all. When they finished, the world had "Love Lifted Me." Rowe reminds us of the "redemption from sin by our Saviour" in the first verse The second verse shows "the change in our walk as we owe Him our song, our service, our whole heart." The last verse is a "witness to the lost." And the hymn also reminds us that we need to live in His presence and continually sing His praises. Are you doing that today? Amazingly, He has lifted us!
(1) I was sinking deep in sin,
Far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within,
Sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea,
Heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me,
Now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
(2) All my heart to Him I give,
ever to Him I'll cling
In His blessed presence live,
ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true,
merits my soul's best songs,
Faithful, loving service too,
to Him belongs.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
(3) Souls in danger look above,
Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love,
out of the angry waves.
He's the Master of the sea,
billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be,
be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Listen to it here. LISTEN
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