NOW I BELONG TO JESUS

Some of my best memories growing up were the weeknight prayer meetings which used to be well attended by believers.  My favorite part of those gatherings was the testimony time when most of those attending would share and thank the Lord for what He had done for them.   These were often times of encouragement for many of us, especially as we heard how God was answering prayer.  But in between those testimonies folks would, as the Lord led them, start choruses and we would all join in singing them.  One chorus that I remember that was a favorite was "Now I Belong To Jesus".  It was a reminder that because of His great sacrifice for us, and His grace and mercy, that we indeed were His and in turn He was ours - an amazing personal relationship.  And that relationship is eternal.  But seldom did we sing the verses that also share a powerful message.  His love is eternal and nothing can sever it.  Once we were lost without any hope but He left heaven and came to earth to provide our salvation.  And joy should flood our souls since Jesus has saved us.  And we belong to Him.  The words were penned by Norman Clayton whose hymns we have featured in this blog before.  The ninth of ten children, Clayton  was converted at the age of six.  He became church organist at 12 and kept the role of church organist the rest of his life.  Clayton's profession was in the building industry, but he also created his own publishing house, Gospel Songs, which was later absorbed into the Rodeheaver Company.  In 1942 he was working with Jack Wyrtzen's Word of Life organization, providing music for both the radio broadcasts and crusade meetings.  He composed the tune Ellsworth that year, and wrote the words for this fine gospel song about a year later.  He had the habit of writing the music before the words. He made it a lifelong practice to memorize Scripture and tried, each time he wrote the words of a song, to be sure that its message was clearly biblical. Clayton wrote hundreds of hymns and they were singable, musically sweet and tender of sentiment.  They reflected his evangelical emphasis, focused on the saving work of Christ and the relationship with God through Him.  This emphasis is certainly emphasized in this week's hymn choice.  Hopefully, as you read the words of Clayton's hymn this week, you will be reminded of the special personal  relationship that believers have with the Lord Jesus.  Nothing can compare with that.  May joy flood your soul as you thank Him for making this a reality ... not just for the years of time alone, but for eternity!

(1)    Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,

From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,

He gave His life to ransom my soul;

Now I belong to Him; 

Now I belong to Jesus,

Jesus belongs to me,

Not for the years of time alone,

But for eternity.

(2)    Once I was lost in sin's degradation,

Jesus came down to bring me salvation,

Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,

Now I belong to Him; 

Now I belong to Jesus,

Jesus belongs to me,

Not for the years of time alone,

But for eternity.

(3)    Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,

Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me

His precious blood, He came to redeem,

Now I belong to Him; 

Now I belong to Jesus,

Jesus belongs to me,

Not for the years of time alone,

But for eternity. 

You have two choices to listen to this hymn.

CHOICE 1

Here is a men's trio singing it.

CHOICE 2

FAITH IS THE VICTORY

Unfortunately we have all grown up knowing and experiencing the tragedy of war .  If you are old enough you will recall Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea and maybe even World War II.  And around the world we see new nuclear threats like North Korea and Iran and terrorism which threatens to engulf all of us.  But sometimes we fail to recognize that we are in a more serious war - a spiritual war that has been going on even before Creation.  We have an enemy, Satan, who the Bible says is like a lion seeking whom he may devour.  And we see the results of his attack as Christians are murdered, persecuted, and forced to flee their homes as they are attacked by militant Islam around the world.  But even more dangerous to us are the Satanic attacks on things like marriage, the family, God's Word and our personal lives.  And, unfortunately, Christians often live without even being aware of these attacks.   But God inspired Paul to warn us about them and to share in Ephesians 6 the spiritual armor that we are given to face, in God's strength, our spiritual foe.  And chief among these items is the "shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one".  I John 5:4 informs us that "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." By this means, believers are protected and equipped to face Satan, the enemy of our souls. It was John Henry Yates (1837-1900) who picked up this theme and wrote the words to this week's hymn choice.  Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) composed the melody. At about the age of twenty, Yates began writing poetry at the solicitation of his mother, and very soon his ballads and hymns were printed and sung all over the land. Yates was also a shoe salesman, a newspaper editor, and hardware store manager, until becoming a pastor in 1886. It was after this that he met Ira Sankey, D. L. Moody's song leader.  Sankey urged Yates to spend more time writing gospel hymns.  Yates later sent the musician several song-poems he'd written, and this week's hymn was one of them. Sankey, a Civil War veteran, captured the mood of the song well with a tune that seems to mimic the galloping hooves of a troop of soldiers.  So, dear friend, as you review the words of this hymn may you be reminded of the spiritual battle in which we are fully engaged.  But let us be confident that our faith and trust in the Lord, equipped with the spiritual armor, will carry us on to victory.  Faith is the victory which overcomes the world.

(1)     Encamped along the hills of light,

Ye Christian soldiers, rise.

And press the battle ere the night

Shall veil the glowing skies.

Against the foe in vales below

Let all our strength be hurled.

Faith is the victory, we know,

That overcomes the world

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(2)    His banner over us is love,

Our sword the Word of God.

We tread the road the saints above

With shouts of triumph trod.

By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath,

Swept on o'er every field.

The faith by which they conquered death

Is still our shining shield.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(3)    On every hand the foe we find

Drawn up in dread array.

Let tents of ease be left behind,

And onward to the fray.

Salvation's helmet on each head,

With truth all girt about,

The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread,

And echo with our shout.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(4)    To him that overcomes the foe,

White raiment shall be giv'n.

Before the angels he shall know

His name confessed in Heav'n.

Then onward from the hill of light,

Our hearts with love aflame,

We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,

In Jesus' conqu'ring Name.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD

It is strange how our mind sometimes recalls incidents that happened to us decades before and have since been forgotten.  As I began to prepare this blog my mind went back to when I was a youngster and was having great difficulty memorizing the memory verse for the week.  The verse was James 4:8, "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you."  I struggled with this simple verse probably because I didn't have any idea what was meant by "drawing nigh".  But as my parents tried to explain the meaning to me it all began to make sense and it has since become one of those verses which I've never forgotten.  It has also become much more meaningful to me as I've grown older and experienced the truth of the verse.  James 4:8 may have been part of the truth that guided Cleland Boyd McAfee (1866 - 1944) to write these words in 1903. But like so many of the great hymns, it was born out of tragic circumstances. McAfee, an American theologian and Presbyterian minister, suffered the loss of two infant nieces to diphtheria. At that time McAfee was preacher and choir director of the campus Presbyterian church at Park College, Parkville, Mo. His daughter described the account in her book, Near to the Heart of God. Hymnologist William J. Reynolds quotes the account: "The family and town were stricken with grief. My father often told us how he sat long and late thinking of what could be said in word and song on the coming Sunday. So he wrote the little song. The choir learned it at the regular Saturday night rehearsal, and afterward they went to Howard McAfee's home and sang it as they stood under the sky outside the darkened, quarantined house. It was sung again on Sunday morning at the communion service.  And in the years since it has been a real comfort to many of us who have learned that we need to "draw nigh" to the blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, who is always there to comfort us and cheer us and guide us.  What a privilege to go to that place of quiet rest, of comfort sweet, of full relief, near to the heart of God.  Maybe the events of your life are pressing you for that help.  Then draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you.  He is always there to meet you when you seek Him.

(1)    There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

(2)    There is a place of comfort sweet,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where we our Savior meet,

Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

(3)    There is a place of full release,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

PRAISE YOU

Generally we devote this blog to reviewing older hymns or gospel songs.  But sometimes there are newer songs or praise choruses that just speak to me and I can't ignore featuring them.  I have two praise choruses that have become my favorites, even though I never hear them sung anymore in church.  But both speak to my personal desire to  glorify the Lord with my life in all that I do.  The first one, "Glorify Thy Name" was featured in my blog on November 23, 2011.  It is a prayer sharing our love of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and our desire to glorify them throughout the earth.  My second favorite is this week's choice that was written by Elizabeth Goodine and Carol Cymbala.  It is a prayer that has been recorded by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  I know nothing about the actual background of its writing, but it may have been based on the prayer of the psalmist found in Psalm 119:175,  "Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me."  Or maybe it was based on Psalm 71, 5 - 8.  "O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O LORD, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!  My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long."  The words of this chorus are so simple but so powerful and meaningful.  We come to the Lord with a simple prayer, "In everything I do, let my life, O Lord, praise you."   And the chorus repeats our praise to the Lord, "Praise you, paise you, let my life, O lord, praise you."  What a beautiful and simple prayer.  Hopefully it is your prayer that your life might bring praise to the Lord.  For that should be our only motivation for our lives.  All other things should be secondary to that desire.  May this simple melody and prayer guide all that you do during the coming days, for truely, He alone, who gave us our lives, is worthy to be praised.  Praise you, praise you!

(1)     Lord I come to you today,

With a simple prayer to pray.

In everything I do,

let my life O Lord praise you.

Praise you, praise you,praise you

let my life, praise you

praise you, praise you, praise you

let my life, O lord praise you

(2)     Lord you formed me out of clay,

and for your glory I was made.

Use this vessel as you choose.

Let my life O Lord praise you

Praise you, praise you,praise you

let my life, praise you

praise you, praise you, praise you

let my life, O lord praise you

Listen to it being sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.    LISTEN

HE TOOK MY SINS AWAY

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 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

WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT BY AND BY

So many of the hymns that we have featured here over the years have shared the fact that our lives here on earth are filled with trials, and challenges and problems.  And often we question why we must encounter these difficulties.  And many times the answers just don't come.  But someday they will be revealed.  We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."  And it is with that knowledge ,and the peace that God alone can give, that we move on. "By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home,we'll tell the story how we've overcome, for we'll understand it better by and by."  Charles Tindley was born near Berlin, Maryland, in July of 1851, the son of a free mother and slave father. His mother passed away when Charles was only four, and a year later he was separated from his father. When he became old enough to work, he was hired out to work with slaves, although his status as "freeborn" was recognized. In his teens he taught himself to read and acquired a fair amount of liberal-arts and theological education, largely through correspondence courses. After having been ordained a Methodist minister, he returned as pastor to a church he had previously served as janitor. Eventually he built the church he headed, in Philadelphia, from some 200 parishioners to a membership of over 12,000 in the 1920s. He wrote some 45 hymns, generally to accompany his own sermons, in almost all cases composing the tunes as well as the words.  After bearing eight children, his wife Daisy, passed away in 1924, the very day the congregation entered the new sanctuary for the first time.  Initially struggling with her death, he would later explain, "one day I will understand it better by and by".  And so his hymn reminds us of that hope that someday the reasons for our trials and struggles will be revealed and we will fully see and understand their purposes in our lives.  May that realization and hope encourage you this week as you face the challenges in your daily path.  I've included all four verses of Tindley's writing, but the last two are probably the best known today and are usually the ones chosen by those who sing this song.

(1)     We are tossed and driv'n on the restless sea of time;

Somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;

In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away,

We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

(2)  We are often destitute of the things that life demands,

Want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;

We are trusting in the Lord, and according to God's Word,

We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

(3)   Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand

All the ways that God could lead us to that blessed promised land;

But He guides us with His eye, and we'll follow till we die,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

(4)    Temptations, hidden snares often take us unawares,

And our hearts are made to bleed for a thoughtless word or deed;

And we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,

But we'll understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

WHY SHOULD HE LOVE ME SO?

Recently my pastor spoke on Matthew 5:44 - 45,  " But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."  He concluded his message by challenging each of us to think of someone who we might classify as an enemy, somebody who has treated us unfairly, someone whom we can't stand to be around.  Then he asked us to pray for that person regularly during the coming week.  Now most of us don't have a problem thinking of people who would fit that description.  We all have folks who have hurt or mistreated us.  They may have ridiculed us or even persecuted us for our beliefs.  There are those who just upset us by their presence.  But pray for them?  As hard as that may seem, that is what Jesus challenged us to do.  And He set the example for us when He left all the beauty and riches of heaven to come to this earth to die for our sins.  And the scripture reminds us that we have all sinned and come short of His glory.  And while we were yet sinners, He came and died for us.  We certainly didn't deserve it at all.  Ephesians 2:4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved."  And how often I have questioned why He would ever do this for me.  And I can't come up with a single answer except that it was His great love, a love unmatched by any other action in history.  And probably it was this overwhelming question that drove Robert Harkness (1880 - 1961) to pen this question and put it to music in 1924.  In 1902, evangelist R. A. Torrey, and his song leader, Charles Alexander, were conducting revivals in Australia. Harkness, a local author, composer, and musician, attended a service. He met the two and soon became Alexander's pianist. Not long after that, under the influence of Torrey's preaching, Harkness was converted. He made several round-the-world tours with them. He became well known for his radio program, "The Music of the Cross," and his correspondence course, "Evangelistic Piano Playing." Not the least, he wrote over 2,000 hymns and Gospel songs. In the later part of his life, Harkness and his wife conducted many sacred concert tours throughout North America, England, Scandinavia and the Continent. He returned to Australia and his home city of Bendigo seven times. On each occasion he gave sacred concerts and played hymns tunes on his father's foundry whistles. A feature of the concerts was his invitation to the audience to suggest a text to which immediately he would compose and play a tune.  The verses in this week's hymn emphasizes the substitutionary nature of Christ's death, the suffering involved in Christ's death, and the purpose of Christ's death.  As you meditate upon the words of this hymn this week, may your love for the Lord be rekindled as you ponder why He would do this for you.

(1)    Love sent my Savior to die in my stead;

Why should He love me so?

Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led;

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should my Savior to Calvary go?

Why should He love me so?

(2)    Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin;

Why should He love me so?

He suffered sore my salvation to win;

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should my Savior to Calvary go?

Why should He love me so?

(3)    O how He agonized there in my place;

Why should He love me so?

Nothing withholding my sin to efface;

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so?

Why should my Savior to Calvary go?

Why should He love me so?

You can listed to it here.   LISTEN