SPIRIT OF GOD DESCEND UPON MY HEART

Today so many Christians seem to either over emphasize or else under emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit in lives today. Before He left to return to heaven, Jesus promised to send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, because He knew that we would need the Spirit daily. Without the daily work of the Spirit in our lives we would be in serious trouble. We are engaged in a spiritual battle with a foe that seeks to destroy us and our testimony. We need the Spirit to protect us and to guide us and to teach us and to comfort us. Daily we should be dependent upon Him to experience the victorious Christian life that God wants us to have. This morning, in both of our worship services, my wife, Dianne, played, as an offertory, a beautiful piano arrangement of an old hymn of the church. This is hymn is a prayer which recognizes our need of the presence of the Spirit in our lives. May this be our daily prayer.

(1) Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;

And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

(2) Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

(3) Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?

All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.

I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:

O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

(4) Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

One holy passion filling all my frame;

The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,

My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

I'VE ALWAYS SEEN THE FATHER IN YOU

This week I've decided to take a little different approach and not feature one of the old hymns of the church. Instead I want to share a rather new song that I heard for the first time this week. It really spoke to me and I felt that on Father's Day I had to use it in honor of both my father and my brother. My brother was a godly father who had seen the heavenly Father through our earthly father. There are always things that you will wish that you had said to your parents while they were still alive. So if your dad is still living, please call him or visit him today since you don't know how many more Father's Days you may have to do so. And, if your dad has been a godly example to you, thank Him for that example. Godly fathers are a special gift from God. You can read more about my feelings and reactions by going to my public blog and reading today's entry that mentions this song. I don't know if Mark Lowry actually wrote this song, but he has recorded it. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a link that would allow you to listen to it. So here is what I wish I could share today with dad.

Thank you dad for showing me the Father,

I see His love in everything you do.

Like a clear reflection in the water,

I've always seen the Father in you.

Through the years you've painted me

the picture of a heavenly father I could see.

His loving ways became so familiar

because dad you made the Father real to me.

Thank you dad for showing me the Father,

I see His love in everything you do.

Like a clear reflection in the water,

I've always seen the Father in you.

You sang the grand old hymns and read the story.

Every night you prayed on bended knee.

Following your steps I've seen the Father,

And His amazing grace now lives in me.

Thank you dad for showing me the Father,

I see His love in everything you do.

Like a clear reflection in the water,

I've always seen the Father in you.

IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE

When I was growing up I didn't care for some of the older more formal hymns that were sung.  I liked hymns with some pep and back-time, some harmony, and words that really ministered to my needs as a young man.  I admit that this week's hymns was not one of my favorites then.  But as I've grown older and realized how helpless I really am without the leading and guidance of an Almighty Creator, I've learned to think much more about the truth of the words in this hymn.  I've begun to learn how important it is to be reminded of the great attributes of our loving, Almighty God.  I am thrilled and comforted that He is all knowing, all powerful, and always present no matter where I might be.  Now this is one of my favorites.  This week's hymn is a powerful hymn of worship that should make us fall at His feet in awe and reverence.  He is not "the man upstairs" or "our buddy".   He alone is God!  The theme of the hymn is based on I Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever". "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" was first published in Hymns of Christ and Christian Life, (1876). The text was altered by the author and published in W. Garrett Horder's Congregational Hymns. (1884).   May your heart be gripped with awe and amazement as you worship Him by singing these words today.

(1)     Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

(2)   Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

(3)   To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

(4)    Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All laud we would render; O help us to see

'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

LOVE FOUND A WAY

On Friday we led one of the monthly hymn sings at Pinebrook Bible Conference.  I think this was the 14th sing that we've led over the past few years.  The theme I chose for this month was "Love, Wonderful Love".  In June we often think of weddings and love - in fact on Tuesday we celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to many of you who may also have June anniversaries.  But the love of a husband and wife, as special as it may be, pales in comparison to God's love.  It was not very hard at all to find a variety of great hymns on the subject of love.  Many express wonder, praise and thanks for God's great love to us.  Others talk about our response of love to Him.  It would be easy to spend a few months just choosing these hymns as the hymn of the week. This week I've chosen an older one, written in 1915 by Avis M. Christiansen, that is seldom sung anymore.  But it is a great reminder of what God's wonderful love means to me and what it cost Him.  So meditate upon these words and join in praising our great God for His great love shown to those of us who are unworthy of it.

Wonderful love that rescued me, sunk deep in sin,

Guilty and vile as I could be—no hope within;

When every ray of light had fled, O glorious day!

Raising my soul from out the dead, love found a way.

Refrain

Love found a way, to redeem my soul,

Love found a way, that could make me whole.

Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,

Love found a way, O praise His holy Name!

Love brought my Savior here to die on Calvary,

For such a sinful wretch as I, how can it be?

Love bridged the gulf 'twixt me and Heav'n, taught me to pray,

I am redeemed, set free, forgiv'n, love found a way.

Refrain

Love found a way, to redeem my soul,

Love found a way, that could make me whole.

Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,

Love found a way, O praise His holy Name!

Love opened wide the gates of light to Heav'n's domain,

Where in eternal power and might Jesus shall reign.

Love lifted me from depths of woe to endless day,

There was no help in earth below; love found a way.

Refrain

Love found a way, to redeem my soul,

Love found a way, that could make me whole.

Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,

Love found a way, O praise His holy Name!

Listen here       LISTEN