NO HIGHER CALLING. - "classic chorus"

            There are a few choruses that continue to come back to my mind at various times when either I have a perplexing need or I am burdened for a friend who is facing a challenging situation.  There are times like this that I am reminded of my need to fall at the feet of Jesus and seek His face.
            These times also remind me of the honor that is mine to do this.  I am reminded of His glory and mercy and my need to worship Him.

            "No Higher Calling" is a powerful and inspiring song often sung by Promise Keepers that touches the hearts of many with its profound lyrics and captivating melody. This song holds a deep meaning that resonates with listeners, reminding them of their purpose and calling in life.

            The opening lines, "Down at Your feet, oh Lord, is the most high place," set the tone for the entire song. It humbly acknowledges that God is the highest authority and that surrendering to Him is the way to find our true purpose. It emphasizes the importance of putting our trust in Him and seeking His guidance in all aspects of our lives.  
          As the song progresses, it speaks of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, reminding us of His unconditional love and the redemption that is available to all who choose to follow Him. It encourages us to embrace this love and dedicate our lives to His service, proclaiming that "there is no higher calling, no greater honor than to bow and kneel before Your throne."
            While the specific inspiration or story behind the song is not readily available, the essence of the song aligns with the core teachings of Christianity. The lyrics reflect the biblical truth that God deserves our highest praise and worship. It is likely that the song was birthed out of a desire to express adoration and surrender to God in a profound and meaningful way.   
          Psalm 95:6 (NKJV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."  Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV): "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
            

Down at Your feet, Oh Lord, 

is the most high place; 

in Your presence, Lord, 

I seek Your face, I seek your face. 

 There is no higher calling, 

no greater honor 

than to bow and kneel 

before Your throne. 

I'm amazed at Your glory, 

embraced by Your mercy, 

Oh Lord, I live to worship You. 

You can listen to it here.       CALLING

 

 

WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM

          Have you ever been struck by the beauty of a colorful sunrise or sunset?  Did you ever think that this could be the setting of the Lord's return?  This was the situation which stirred Dottie Rambo to compose this week's song.
           Rambo and a fellow musician were leaving their motel for a seven-mile trip to the sight of a concert when suddenly they saw an unusually beautiful sunset. She said there were "colors that I had never seen in my lifetime." She thought of the wonderful prospect of Jesus, "coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matt. 24:30).  The Lord said "be still I want to give you something special."  It was all she could do to drive as she began to compose the words during those seven miles, He allowed her to write this beautiful song.
          The first time that Sandi Patti heard this song was on a demo tape and she was immediately mesmerized by it.  She played the demo for her arranger, David Clydesdale at their next meeting. They were sitting at her little spinet piano, talking about that song.  And while they sat there, he started adding the orchestration. Two hours later, it was done.  He wrote it right there on the spot and the next day the musicians were playing it.
          Rambo was an American gospel singer and songwriter.  She was a Grammy winning solo artist and multiple Dove award winning artist.  She wrote more than 2,500 songs.
          At age eight, she started writing songs while sitting on a creek bank near her Morganfield, Kentucky home.  She had the support of her mother and father, and by age ten she was singing and playing country music cover tunes on a local radio program.   At twelve years old, she became a born-again Christian and made a commitment to write and sing Christian music. The decision turned out to be pivotal in more than one way; it did not sit well with her father who gave her an ultimatum – give up Christian music or leave. She left home and went on the road, with her first engagement being at a church in Indianapolis, Indiana. She formed a trio called the Gospel Echoes and traveled throughout the midwestern and southern United States. Along with ex-husband Buck and daughter Reba, she later formed the award-winning southern Gospel group, The Rambos.
            On May 11, 2008, while on her tour bus heading to Texas for a Mother's Day concert, Rambo's tour bus crashed, killing her instantly. The crash took place in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. The other 6 passengers survived with injuries, including her manager Larry Ferguson and his family.
          This song reminds us of that glorious time when Christians will finally see the Lord face to face when they are raptured and taken home.  Now I must admit that I think Rambo mixes some facts of the Lord's rapture and His second coming.  But that doesn't change the effect we will experience when we finally behold him face to face. And, that could even happen today.  Are you ready?
          Listen to it here.   BEHOLD HIM

The sky shall unfold

Preparing His entrance

The stars shall applaud Him

With thunders of praise

The sweet light in His eyes, shall enhance those awaiting

And we shall behold Him, then face to face

O we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him

Face to face in all of His glory

O we shall behold Him, yes we shall behold Him

Face to face, our Savior and Lord

The angel will sound, the shout of His coming

And the sleeping shall rise, from there slumbering place

And those remaining, shall be changed in a moment

And we shall behold him, then face to face

We shall behold Him, o yes we shall behold Him

Face to face in all of His glory

We shall behold Him, face to face

Our Savior and Lord

We shall behold Him, our Savior and Lord

Savior and Lord!

 

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS

This is a feature where once each month 

I share one of my personal favorite hymns.

 

          All of us go through periods when we feel all alone and think nobody seems to care.  The problems seem so heavy and we wish that we just had somebody who could help us through the fog that we face.  The difficult times in which we live have brought new, heavy tensions -   unemployment, bills, mortgages, illnesses, family struggles, fears, terrorism, loss of freedoms, uncertainty - heavy burdens to bear.  

          And every year we start afresh hoping that things will change for the better.  But we live in a sinful world where problems are not going to vanish even if we make good "resolutions".  

          A hymn by John Peterson (1921– 2006) has often been a comfort to me when I have faced these seemingly "impossible" pressures.  Incidentally, back when I used to sing solos, this was the first hymn that I sang with a taped background - in fact it was the first time any soloist used a background tape in our church.  So it does have a special meaning for me

          Mr. Peterson wrote this hymn in the early years of his ministry.  Here is his account of how it was written. "At one time I had a fairly responsible position with a well-known gospel ministry. One day a supervisory position opened up in my department. I was led to believe that I was to be promoted to this position. I was thrilled and challenged by the prospect of a new job. But I was by-passed, and a man from the outside was brought in to fill the position.  There followed days of agonizing heart searching. It was all I could do to keep from becoming bitter. 

          One night I had occasion to spend an evening with the man who was brought in for "my" position. For some reason or other, though otherwise a very pleasant fellow, that night he became quite caustic in some of his remarks to me; and I was deeply hurt.   Later that evening, after returning home, I was sitting in our living room thinking about the events of the past days and about the bitter experiences of that evening. I began to feel very alone and forsaken. Suddenly, I sensed the presence of the Lord in an unusual way and my mind was diverted from my difficulties to His faithfulness and sufficiency. 

          Soon the thought occurred to me that He fully understood and sympathized with my situation.  In fact, no one could ever completely understand or care as did He. Before long, the idea for the song came and I began to write."  Since then. this hymn and its truth have been a special comfort to me as well as to untold scores of believers. 

         Yes, Jesus is a friend who will never leave us or forsake us.  He is our only true friend.  May the words of this song encourage you during the days ahead.  Cast your every care on Him.

 

1.     No one understands like Jesus.
He's a friend beyond compare;
Meet Him at the throne of mercy;
He is waiting for you there.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

 

2.     No one understands like Jesus;
Ev'ry woe He sees and feels;
Tenderly He whispers comfort,
And the broken heart He heals.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

 

3.     No one understands like Jesus
When the foes of life assail;
You should never be discouraged;
Jesus cares and will not fail!
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

 

4.     No one understands like Jesus
When you falter on the way;
Tho' you fail Him, sadly fail Him,
He will pardon you today.
No one understands like Jesus
When the days are dark and grim;
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--
Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

 

Listen to this beautiful hymn sung here.    

 

A solo   LISTEN1

A choir   LISTEN2