THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD

One of the most vital and fundamental themes of Christianity that often seems to be missing in modern churches today is the blood of Jesus.  The blood is vital and necessary because the Scripture tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.  It was Jesus who came to this earth and shed His blood at Calvary, making our salvation possible.  He willingly was the perfect Lamb, the sacrifice for our sins, and without that sacrifice we would be eternally lost.  But unfortunately it is often no longer consumer friendly to share a message that emphasizes blood.  The modern church attender gets turned off by that so sermons and music avoid that topic.  And yet, without the blood, the church has no relevant message to share to a lost world.  It is the power in the blood that frees us from the burden of sin and gives us victory and power for living.  There is wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus.  And the text of this week's choice clearly proclaims that message.  The text was written and the tune was composed both by Lewis Edgar Jones (1865-1936).  Graduating from Moody Bible Institute in the same class with well-known revival evangelist Billy Sunday, Jones became active in YMCA work which he did for the rest of his life.  Hymn writing was his hobby, and in his spare time he produced quite a few songs that were published.  His most famous song, "There Is Power in the Blood," was produced while Jones was attending a camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park, MD, in 1889.  I trust that you have been redeemed by the power of the blood of the Lamb.  May we never forget the importance of it and the sacrifice that was involved.  May we ever be thankful that Christ did this for us.  Be reminded of that power as you think upon these words this week.

(1)    Would you be free from the burden of sin?

There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;

Would you o'er evil a victory win?

There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the blood of the Lamb;

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the precious blood of the Lamb.

(2) Would you be free from your passion and pride?

There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;

Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;

There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the blood of the Lamb;

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the precious blood of the Lamb.

(3) Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?

There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;

Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;

There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the blood of the Lamb;

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the precious blood of the Lamb.

(4) Would you do service for Jesus your King?

There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;

Would you live daily His praises to sing?

There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the blood of the Lamb;

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r

In the precious blood of the Lamb.

This week I am providing two links for this song.  Here is the first one, done in an upbeat manner.    LISTEN 1

This second one is done by the Gather group if you prefer their style.   LISTEN 2

TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS

Sometimes when things are repeated to us so often they begin to lose their impact.  For example, as seniors mature they often tell the same stories to us, over and over again. And, while we continue to politely listen to them, our minds wander and the details become less interesting to us.  For those of us who have grown up in a Christian environment, could the same thing happen to us with the Gospel?  We have just concluded the Christmas story and most of us have heard this story over and over again, throughout our lives.  Does it still excite us and stir us like it did when we first heard it?  Does the Gospel message grip us as it used to?  Truly, as believers, we should never tire of the stories of Jesus.  We should long to hear them over and over and be continually thrilled by who He was, what He did and His love for each of us.  I imagine that was the desire of Fanny Crosby who penned the words in 1880. The music was added by John R. Sweney.  There really isn't a particular event that seems to have motivated the blind hymn writer to write these words.  It is known that she learned to play multiple musical instruments, write poetry, speak publicly, and organize missionary works in poverty-stricken urban areas in the U.S. We know that even among all the positives in her life, there were also many disappointments, including, in 1880, when Crosby had apparently separated from her husband, Alexander Van Alstyne.  That year she chose to live in a slum in Manhattan, apparently choosing this path as part of a recommitment to better serve the poor in domestic missionary work.   Living in a slum, helping the poor, she focused attention not on herself and what she could do, but instead on Him.  The words of this hymn sound like someone sharing the Gospel with the needy, despised and afflicted, who were without hope.  There's a chance that some of these poor folks were among the first to hear and appreciate her poem put to music. What's a group that's struggling to survive day-to-day looking for?  Someone who shares their pain, who also overcame, someone they could understand.  Now I have no idea if this is really what motivated the writing of this hymn, but we, too, need to have this story written on our hearts.  Maybe we need a new vision of who Jesus is.  As you review these words this week, ask the Lord to stir you, to renew you and to create a passion for sharing His story and His love to others.  May the sweetest story ever told impact your life daily.

(1)     Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus,

Sang as they welcomed His birth.

"Glory to God in the highest!

Peace and good tidings to earth."

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

(2)    Fasting alone in the desert,

Tell of the days that are past.

How for our sins He was tempted,

Yet was triumphant at last.

Tell of the years of His labor,

Tell of the sorrow He bore.

He was despised and afflicted,

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

(3)    Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,

Writhing in anguish and pain.

Tell of the grave where they laid Him,

Tell how He liveth again.

Love in that story so tender,

Clearer than ever I see.

Stay, let me weep while you whisper,

Love paid the ransom for me.

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

You can listen to this hymn here.    LISTEN

AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD

Last week many churches around the world celebrated Epiphany, a Christian festival held on January 6 in commemoration of the coming of the Magi, the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. In the Eastern Church it is the  commemoration of the baptism of Christ. This festival day falls on the twelfth day after Christmas, and for some denominations it signals the conclusion of the twelve days of the Christmas season.  While the wise men are often pictured in the traditional nativity scenes, they probably actually arrived long after the birth of Christ.  It is interesting that this week's hymn choice is a traditional Christmas carol that shares the journey of the wise men. The words were actually written by William Chatterton Dix, on January 6, 1859, while he was ill in bed. Most British hymn writers in the nineteenth century were clergymen, but Dix (1837-1898) was a notable exception.  Born in Bristol, England, the son of a doctor,  his career was spent mostly in insurance. But he had a life long passion for writing lyrics for hymns and carols. The music was composed by the German musician Conrad Kocher (1786-1872). The same melody is used in the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth."  Using Matthew 1: 1-11 as his theme, Dix likens the journey of the wise men who came to worship the Christ to our own Christian pilgrimage. He emphasizes this by using the pattern  "as they - so may we." Stanzas 4 and 5 are a prayer that our journey on the "narrow way" may bring us finally to heaven where Christ is the light (Rev. 21:23) and where we may perfectly sing his praise. What a challenge for us in our daily walk and what a glorious hope that we have of a final destination where all is perfect.  I am always sad when Christmas is over and the beautiful traditional carols are put away for another year.  So here is one more chance to meditate on a meaningful carol and hopefully apply it to our lives.  May we be led to the Savior, may we daily seek His mercy seat, and may we give Him our costliest treasures - all that we are and have.

(1)   As with gladness, men of old

Did the guiding star behold

As with joy they hailed its light

Leading onward, beaming bright

So, most glorious Lord, may we

Evermore be led to Thee.

(2)   As with joyful steps they sped

To that lowly manger bed

There to bend the knee before

Him Whom Heaven and earth adore;

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

(3)   As they offered gifts most rare

At that manger rude and bare;

So may we with holy joy,

Pure and free from sin's alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

(4)   Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;

And, when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

(5)   In the heavenly country bright,

Need they no created light;

Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun which goes not down;

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our King!

Listen to and sing along with this presentation of this hymn.  LISTEN

Here is a special presentation of the hymn by a group of children.  CHILDREN

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

I have been looking for a special choice to start out the new year and I have finally decided to go a slightly different direction and feature a very familiar chorus instead of the usual hymn.  This chorus has been sung, usually with hand motions, by children for many years.  And while we usually associate it with children, I think it has a profound message for each of us, especially as we start 2014.   "This Little Light of Mine" was written by composer and teacher Harry Dixon Loes (1895–1965). Loes, studied at the Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music and was a musical composer and teacher who wrote, and co-wrote, several other gospel songs. The song has entered the folk tradition, first being collected by John Lomax in 1939. Often thought of as a Negro spiritual, it does not, however, appear in any collection of jubilee or plantation songs from the nineteenth century.  The song may take its theme from Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heaven." Or, it may refer to the words of Jesus in Luke 11:33, where he said, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." Or, it may be based on Matthew 5:14–15, where Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."  Light is a powerful force that can penetrate the darkness.  One of our neighbors, a block away from our house, often leaves a light at the rear of his property on all night.  Even from that distance, that small light shines through our front windows and lights up our front room and hallway.  In the darkest night this small light, a block away, provides enough light in our house that we can navigate around our house without turning on any of our lights.  One small light can penetrate the darkness.  And so in this chorus we are challenged, as the scripture tells us, to let our light shine and penetrate the darkness of this sinful world that we live in.  May our desire during the coming year be to let our light, as little as it may seem, shine for Jesus.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

(1)     This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

(2)     Hide it under a bushel, No!

I'm gonna let it shine

Hide it under a bushel, No!

I'm gonna let it shine

Hide it under a bushel, No!

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

(3)     Don't let Satan blow it out

I'm gonna let it shine

Don't let Satan whoosh it out

I'm gonna let it shine

Don't let Satan whoosh it out

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

(4)     Shine all over my hometown

I'm going to let it shine.

Shine all over my hometown

I'm going to let it shine,

Shine all over my hometown

I'm going to let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

(5)     Let it shine till Jesus comes

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine till Jesus comes

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine till Jesus comes

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Here's a chance to sing along with the music and if you aren't too embarrassed, do the motions as you sing.      LISTEN