BOW THE KNEE

 

          Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:9-11)

          All people, whether they are believers or unbelievers, will one day acknowledge Jesus as Lord. The reference to knees bowing implies an act of submission and worship. Every person will one day acknowledge the authority of Jesus Christ and give him the honor and respect he deserves. But bowing the knee should be a daily act of worship.
          I found that there are actually two songs with the same title. Both songs have a good biblical message. Both are true.
          As Christ followers we need to recognize who God is. He IS King of all the ages and He alone deserves our worship. It is also true that this God who is high and lifted up is one that we can trust on our journey through life, even when you don't understand the purpose of His plan. The writer reminds us of a truth that we need to hang onto -  don't forget we live by faith and not by sight – see 2 Corinthians 5:7.
          Bowing the knee means entire submission. Yielded, soft, flexible. It is a strange salvation that knows nothing about daily submission to Christ Jesus the Lord.  Bowing the knee means willing service. Bowing the knee means obedience.  Bowing the knee means yielding, no longer resisting God, repenting.  Bowing the knee means ownership. If He is my Lord He owns me lock, stock and barrel.  In simple words, to "bow the knee" means, having a soft, yielded, very flexible approach towards God – so that He need not push or prod you to do His will, His way! No matter if He is chastening you, or just instructing you, you yield and accept His work in your life!
          When you want to yield and give in to temptation – bow the knee   When you feel depressed under life's pressure – bow the knee.   When you feel like getting angry and staying angry, don't yield to anger… bow the knee!   When you struggle with memories and find it easy to just quit… bow the knee! Bowing the knee allows the Lord to bless you and your life unhindered by your efforts – no pride.  Bowing the knee allows the Lord to protect you. You are depending on His power, not yours. This is how you find the secret place of the most high! The first step to experiencing His protective power, is you bowing 
          As Christ followers we need to recognize who God is. He IS King of all the ages, and He alone deserves our worship.   It is also true that this God who is high and lifted up is one that we can trust on our journey through life even when you don't understand the purpose of His plan. 
            Wherever you are today – rejoicing in the goodness and greatness of God or struggling to understand the heart of the Father – stop long enough on your spiritual journey to bow your knee.

What a privilege to come into God's presence

Just to linger with the One who set me free.

As I lift my eyes and see His awesome glory.

I remember who He is and bow the knee.

Bow the knee

Bow the knee

He is King of all the ages

Bow the knee

God alone on His throne

See Him high and lifted up

and bow the knee.

Kneel before Him

All adore Him

As you live to love Him more

Bow the knee.

In His hands He holds

the power of creation.

With His voice He spoke,

and all things came to be.

Yet He hears each simple prayer

I bring before Him

When I humbly seek His face

and bow the knee.

Bow the knee

Bow the knee

He is King of all the ages

Bow the knee

God alone on His throne

See Him high and lifted up

and bow the knee.

Kneel before Him

All adore Him

As you live to love Him more

Bow the knee.

Bow the knee

Bow the knee

He is King of all the ages

Bow the knee

God alone on His throne

See Him high and lifted up

and bow the knee.

Kneel before Him

All adore Him

As you live to love Him more

Bow the knee.

 

Listen to the one version here.   BOW

I LOVE YOU LORD

          This worship chorus is simple and expresses the deep, sincere thoughts of one's heart.  I love you Lord and I lift my voice to worship you.  And our desire should be that our worship may be sweet in the Lord's ears and that He might accept our feeble efforts as a sweet, sweet sound. Oh, that this might be true.

          These words penned by Laurie Klein (née Brendemuehl, 1950) in 1976 are some of the most widely recorded in all of contemporary Christian worship.

          Klein, a native of Wisconsin, displayed musical talent and interest at a young age. Encouraged by her mother, she learned to play piano, autoharp, and guitar. She started writing songs at age 16, the first one titled "Loving Unconditionally." At age 24, she met and married Bill Klein while at Central Oregon Community College. Their life was simple and difficult, as they started a family with no money to spare. Laurie described "I Love You, Lord" as "a gift from heaven" – as the lines flowed effortlessly, one after the other

          Klein was a young mother, living in a small camper while her husband attended college. Isolated in the Oregon wilderness, she had no community, no nearby friends, and no local church body to call home. Making things worse, she did not drive, so she could not go visit friends or family who lived farther away than walking distance. Her loneliness drove her to invest more fully in her daily time of devotion to God. The song rose out of her daily quiet time in the morning before her toddler woke up. The words tumbled out of her mouth as she was quietly playing guitar. Recognizing that they had some merit, she quickly wrote them down

           Later, she sang the song for her husband, who suggested she play it for a local pastor and some musicians. The song found its way to Jack Hayford's Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and was recorded by several musicians of the budding Christian music scene, including Buck and Annie Herring (2nd Chapter of Acts). The song gained greater recognition

          There is something very honest about this song, something that continues to resonate, quietly, through the forests and deserts, hilltops and valleys of life. There is something theologically rich about it—the central ethic of our faith: love of God. Even when we don't feel it. Even when God is silent. Maybe that's when God is listening. May our words be a "sweet, sweet sound" in that ea r.

 

I love You, Lord

And I lift my voice

To worship You

Oh, my soul, rejoice

Take joy, my King

In what You hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound

In Your ear

Listen to it here.  SWEET

THEN CAME THE MORNING

          Do you ever imagine what it would have been like to walk in the shoes of one of the Bible characters?
          Sometimes we forget that they were human and faced the daily challenges of life that affect us.  Doubts, fears and worries were parts of their lives.  They didn't know what tomorrow would hold, just as we don't.

          It must have been a very difficult time for the disciples to accept the sudden loss of their close friend and teacher.  Suddenly He was gone.  What would they do?  How would they go on?
          And that is the situation that this song addresses.  The song was written by Chris Christian, an American songwriter who won four Grammy awards and was nominated for seven Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. But it was the Bill Gather Trio's version that made the song famous.

          "Then Came the Morning" is simply a song about Jesus, the all-mighty and loving God, rising from his death. Aside from the song being a conveyance of the Lord's mercies and Christ's resurrection, it is also a song about the birth of Christians during that particular morning Jesus came back to life.  As the world's Savior, the resurrection of Jesus has given us the hope that things will be better. 

          Although the tune starts with a gloomy vibe, it ends with an upbeat feeling, giving the song an edge for being unique and catchy, making it one of the most listened-to gospel songs today.  
          Believers can't help but get excited with the message that ends this great song. "Then came the morning, Shadows vanished before the sun, Death had lost and life had won, For morning had come." Hope reigns for all believers.

          Yes, morning has come.  Rejoice! 

They all walked away, nothing to say

They'd just lost their dearest friend

All that He said, now He was dead

So this was the way it would end

 

The dreams they had dreamed were not what they'd seemed

Now that He was dead and gone

The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail

How could a night be so long?

 

Then came the morning

Night turned into day

The stone was rolled away

Hope rose with the dawn

 

Then came the morning

Shadows vanished before the sun

Death had lost and life had won

For morning had come

 

The angel, the star, the kings from afar

The wedding, the water, the wine

Now it was done, they'd taken her Son

Wasted before His time

 

She knew it was true, she'd watched Him die too

She'd heard them call Him just a man

But deep in her heart she knew from the start

Somehow her Son would live again

 

Then came the morning

Night turned into day

The stone was rolled away

Hope rose with the dawn

 

Then came the morning

Shadows vanished before the sun

Death had lost and life had won

For morning had come

Then came the morning

Shadows vanished before the sun

Death had lost and life had won

For morning had come

For morning had come

Listen to this inspiring song here.   MORNING

 

GRACE GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN

 This is a feature where once each month 

I share one of my personal favorite hymns.        

 

           "Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe."  What a beautiful truth for each believer.  This truth is what makes this one of my very favorite hymns.
          The words find a scriptural basis in Paul's teaching of justification by faith in Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

          Julia Harriette Johnston (1849-1919) was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and a mother who was a poet. She began writing when she was nine years old but really started writing verse in high school. Later she authored many books on Christian missions and missionaries, along with about 500 hymn texts, many of which were published in her books. She was faithful to the ministries of the church, serving in Sunday school for 41 years and also as president, for two decades, of the Presbyterian Missionary Society, an organization founded by her mother. 

          In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the suffrage movement was intensifying in the United States. It was a time when women in many denominations were in the paradoxical position to spread the Good News, but had to be remain quiet while doing it. However, there were women hymn writers, such as Johnston, who decided to ignore this and wrote hymns as social, religious, and biblical commentary. This hymn is a commentary on Romans 5, particularly on Romans 5:20b, which says: "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." 

           In this great hymn Johnston contrasts the theme of God's abundant grace - manifest through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - with "our sin and our guilt" (stanza one), our "sin and despair" (stanza two), and our "dark stain" (stanza three).  The words remind the sinner that despite what has happened in the person's life, God's grace has wiped away all sin through the death of Jesus.  

          In the second verse she uses the imagery of the "sea waves cold" to describe the effects of sin. While the sinner may indeed be drowning in the vast, bleak, cold ocean with no hope in sight, the grace that poured out on the sinner is greater and deeper than anything else and it leads the sinner "to the refuge, the mighty cross." It does not matter what has happened or what the sinner has done; God's love is greater and is graciously given to those who believe.

          Personally, I love the words of the refrain which sum up the message and impact of grace.  It will pardon and cleanse and it is greater than all our sin.  Marvelous, infinite and matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe.  I pray that you have experienced this grace in your life and that your heart is overflowing with the wonder of God's great grace.  And, if you haven't, then the final verse is an invitation for you

 

1.     Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,

Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin

 

2.     Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin

 

3.     Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;

What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;

Whiter than snow you may be today.

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin

 

4.     Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe,

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin

 

Listen to it here.     GRACE

HE TOOK MY SINS AWAY - (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A regular feature in which I choose a previous hymn blog, revise it and post it again.  This one was first posted in 2014          

 

          At times I can't help but wonder if the topic of sin has become politically incorrect in many churches today.  It doesn't seem to be a topic that is discussed or even sung about too often anymore. Maybe we have become too concerned about offending people or making them feel uncomfortable. 

          But sin is a central part of the gospel, the message of the church.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  The wages of sin is death.  And God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

          There is no other experience in life that is more important than accepting God's free gift of forgiveness for our sins, a gift which has been made possible only by the death of Jesus on the Cross.  When that personal decision is made, our sins are forgiven.  They are taken away and removed from us, as far as the east is from the west.  And we are dressed in the righteousness of Christ.  What a powerful and amazing transformation, from being dead in sin to being forgiven and dressed in His righteousness.  And that experience should put a song of joy in our lives.  Daily we should celebrate the assurance that He took our sins away.  

          And that realization must be what led Margaret Harris (1865-1919) to pen the words of this week's featured gospel song.   Margaret was a member of the Iowa Holiness Association. She and her husband, songwriter John Harris, were active in holiness revivals and camp meetings. She played the organ to accompany the duets she sang with her husband.   She is said to also have been an effective speaker.  

          The other familiar song that she wrote is I Will Praise Him.  The words of this week's choice seem to be the personal testimony of her conversion experience.  She came to Jesus bearing her load of sin.  They made her weary, worn and sad.  But Christ met her and took all her sins away, releasing her from the condemnation under which she had lived and giving her perfect peace.  

          Is this also your testimony?  I certainly hope that you have met the Savior and accepted His free gift of salvation.  If you have, then join me this week in testifying that He took your sins away.  May that realization put a song in your heart each day.

 

(1)    I came to Jesus, weary, worn, and sad.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

And now His love has made my heart so glad,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(2)    The load of sin was more than I could bear.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

And now on Him I roll my ev'ry care,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(3)    No condemnation have I in my heart,

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

His perfect peace He did to me impart,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(4)    If you will come to Jesus Christ today,

He'll take your sins away, He'll take your sins away,

And keep you happy in His love each day,

He'll take your sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

 

IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING

          Are you happy serving the Lord?  Does the joy of the Lord flood your heart as you live and work for Him? Or do you, like so many believers, get weary in well doing and lose that happiness?
          If we will submit to Him and follow Him in loving service, we can experience the "peace and joy that nothing else can bring."  That is the message of this old hymn.
          In 1912 two brothers created this simple song about the joy of serving the Lord.  They say that we must yield our all to Him, all of our gifts and talents we must gladly bring.  And to His guiding hand we must always cling.

          Apparently, many believers miss this truth since so many appear to live unhappy lives without joy.  What about you?

          Alfred Ackley (1887-1960) wrote hundreds of song lyrics but only a few tunes. His brother, Bentley DeForrest Ackley (1872-1958), focused on writing melodies. He traveled with his father and his father's band. He also served as pianist for evangelist Billy Sunday. He compiled more than 3,000 tunes.
          So, the question for us today is this: are we really "happy in the service of the King.

               Listen to it here.  HAPPY

1.  I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring,

In the service of the King.

Refrain:

In the service of the King

Ev'ry talent I will bring;

I have peace and joy and blessing

In the service of the King.

2.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

Through the sunshine and the shadow I can sing,

In the service of the King. 

[Refrain]

3.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

To His guiding hand forever I will cling,

In the service of the King. 

[Refrain]

4.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

All that I possess to Him I gladly bring,

In the service of the King.

 [Refrain]

THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

            "They'll Know We Are Christians", also known as "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" or "We Are One in the Spirit" is a song by Catholic priest Peter Raymond Scholtes (1938-2009).  The title of the song originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christian believers of the early church: "Behold, how they love one another."
          The song is based on the scripture John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another."

          Now salvation can not be earned or purchased.  It is a gift of the Father who is the only One who really knows who belongs to Him. However, this scripture from the book of John, gives us one of the characteristics that can be observed  in Christians – love for one another.

             Peter Scholtes, a Catholic priest serving at St. Brendan's parish on the South Side of Chicago in 1966, penned this song when he could not find a suitable song to accompany a series of ecumenical and interracial events for which the youth choir he led was to sing. Like many songs coming out of the popular folk music of the 1960s, it connected to the societal upheaval of the decade. Scholtes's text connected the faith story of young people disillusioned with the landscape of American culture.
          Scholtes later left the priesthood, married, and had an active life in the public sector, where he was an author and international consultant with a focus on helping "businesses engage employees' talents more fully, humanely, and effectively".  The song's popularity later earned it the title "anthem of the Jesus Movement". In retrospect, Scholtes's song, along with other selections associated with the music of the Jesus People, helped establish guitar as the primary instrument for worship in the growing contemporary worship model. 
          Now the question for us this week should be, if we claim to be a Christian, does our life model a real love for others, despite their color, or culture, or attitudes, habits or treatment of us.  And does our life model praise for the Father, to Christ Jesus, His only Son, and to the Spirit who makes us one.
          And are we known as a Christian by our love?
          

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

And we pray that all unity will one day be restored. 

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;

And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.

And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

You can listen to it here.    LOVE
 

LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS

  This is a feature where once each month I share one of my personal favorite hymns.

 

        It is difficult to choose my very favorite hymn, but "Like A River Glorious" certainly ranks as one of my top favorites.  I especially love to hear it sung by a congregation or an ensemble without any instruments.  

          It does have great harmony, but more importantly, the words always speak to my heart.  In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah.  Now, I admit that I struggle with the words of the second verse ... not a surge of worry ... for I am a worrier.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest.  

          One of my best memories is the congregation singing this at my mother's memorial service, following her death in an automobile accident.  It was a time when our family received the peace that only God could give. And singing these words helped us understand what God was doing for us.

          In the midst of challenging, difficult and frustrating life circumstances, Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 18790) experienced peace that only God can give, that peace that passeth all understanding.  The English poet and hymn writer was vacationing in the south of Wales in 1876 and caught a severe cold.  It was accompanied by inflammation of the lungs. Hearing how ill she was, and that she might die, she replied, "If I am really going, it is too good to be true." Her friends were amazed at how peacefully she received this information. She did survive that illness, and later that year she wrote this beautiful hymn. And the words that she penned have encouraged believers ever since.  Frances was very frail in health and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 42. Her dying words were "Come, Lord Jesus, come and fetch me." She had that peace that truly "passeth all understanding". 

           In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope and peace is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah. And if you are in Christ, you are safe. "Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand." There are foes; there are traitors, but they cannot stand up against His grace and His power.  And we are protected in the hollow of His hand. Now, that doesn't mean they won't ever make our life challenging, but Christ is always with us and His Spirit guides us.  

            Now, I admit that at times I do struggle with the words "not a surge of worry", for sadly I often struggle with worry and anxiety.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest. That celebrates the sovereignty of God who is the blessed controller of all things. Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you"  …  "Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest  Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest."

          Are you facing difficult trials?  Do you have heavy burdens?  Then rest upon Jehovah and experience His rest and peace.

 

(1)   Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

 

(2)   Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.    Refrain

 

(3)   Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

Listen to it here.      LISTEN