THANK YOU!

The last hymn blog posted here was actually the 400th which I have written since I began this writing journey in 2008.  This blog was started as a hobby and I never expected that it would turn into a ministry that would attract 700 - 800 readers, like you, each week.  I am just an amateur researcher and writer, a retired math teacher, who wants to be used by the Lord in his senior years.  I pray that what I share may challenge and encourage you in your Christian walk.  When it does, I always appreciate comments which you may leave for me.  Thank you for faithfully visiting here each week and for sharing this site with others.  May the Lord bless you!

ARISE MY SOUL ARISE

           For centuries believers have been challenged and encouraged by the hymns of Charles Wesley (1707-1788).   Some believe that he wrote over  6,500 hymns, many of which are still known and sung today.  Others say at least 5,000.  There are those who say that when you take both the quantity and quality of his hymns into consideration that he may be the greatest hymn writer of all times.  Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley.  He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church in Oxford, where he graduated with an M.A.   In 1735, he went with his brother John to Georgia where they were employed as missionaries. He returned to England in 1736 and for many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. On April 8, 1749, he married Miss Sarah Gwynne.  They had four sons and a daughter.  Of all the hymns which he penned, I personally feel that this week's hymn choice, "Arise, My Soul, Arise" is one of the greatest.  It was first entitled "Behold the Man" and published in 1742 in a collection entitled Hymns and Sacred Poems. The words focus on the assurance we find in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice for us, his forgiveness of our sins, and his continual intercession with the Father on our behalf. Wesley alludes to numerous Scripture passages, many from the book of Hebrews, including 10:19-23: "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, the new and living way that he opened to us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience..."  Also Romans 8:34,  "Christ Jesus … is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."  The hymn begins by reminding us to shake off our guilty fears because Jesus, the bleeding sacrifice, stands for us before the throne of God.  And with his blood atoned for all of our sins, He intercedes for us.  The Father hears Him pray for us and we are reconciled, not because of anything we could have done, but because of the blood of Christ shed for each of us.  And, as a result of His interceding, we are His child and we can draw nigh to Him without any fear.  Amazing, miraculous, profound, comforting and true.  I think that if you spend some time this week meditating on the truth and power of Wesley's words, you will develop a stronger understanding and appreciation of what Jesus Christ has done for you.  Then you can join in singing, "with confidence I now draw nigh, and "Father, Abba, Father," cry."

1.     Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;

The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:

Before the throne my surety stands,

Before the throne my surety stands,

My name is written on His hands.

2.     He ever lives above, for me to intercede;

His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:

His blood atoned for all our sins,

His blood atoned for all our sins,

And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

3.     Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;

They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:

"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,

"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,

"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

4.      The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;

He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;

His Spirit answers to the blood,

His Spirit answers to the blood,

And tells me I am born of God.

5.     My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;

He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:

With confidence I now draw nigh,

With confidence I now draw nigh,

And "Father, Abba, Father," cry.

I love this version of this great hymn.  Take time to listen to it this week.   LISTEN

THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OF PRAYER

         You need to see your doctor, but he is on vacation and not available.  You need to consult a surgeon but the first available appointment is three months away.  You want to talk to a friend but it is the middle of the night and you don't want to wake him.  Been there, experienced all those situations.  And it can be discouraging.  But there is one who is always there, 24/7.  He never goes on vacation and He wants to listen and answer.  And He is the only one who can really help our need.  Of course, I am talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.  What a wonderful gift of prayer He has given us and so often we fail to use it to share with Him our needs and the needs of others.  And probably even worse, we often get so involved in our needs that we fail to praise Him and thank Him.  Because of two recent operations, I have had much time lately to share with Him, at all hours of the day and night.  They been refreshing times, maybe even like walking with Him through a beautiful garden on a cool clear day.  We don't know much at all about the author of the lyrics of this week's hymn choice, Eleanor Allen Schroll, 1878-1966.  However she lived in a city with a view of a busy street in front of her and roofs and chimneys behind her.  I have to imagine that she may have been a prayer warrior and despite the views out her window, she could envision spending time with the Savior in a beautiful garden, a garden of prayer.  Maybe she received some inspiration from the story of Christ praying in the garden.  "They came to a place named Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, Sit here while I pray." Mark 14:32.  We really don't know what caused her to write about a garden of prayer.  The tune to this hymn was composed by James Henry Fillmore (1849-1936), a well-known music publisher among churches of Christ and Christian Churches in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.  What a refreshing thought to know that Jesus is always waiting for us to share in prayer and that we can go to Him with our burdens and care.  And He will comfort us, any day, any time.  He bids us to come.  Obviously the figurative language is used throughout the song to help us appreciate better the benefits that are available to us in prayer. Thus, we should seek to go as often as we possibly can to "The Beautiful Garden Of Prayer."

1.     There's a garden where Jesus is waiting,

There's a place that is wondrously fair;

For it glows with the light of His presence,

'Tis that beautiful garden of prayer. 

Refrain:

Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,

Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer;

There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates

To the beautiful garden of prayer. 

2.    There's a garden where Jesus is waiting,

And I go with my burden and care

Just to learn from His lips words of comfort,

In the beautiful garden of prayer. 

Refrain:

Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,

Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer;

There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates

To the beautiful garden of prayer. 

3.    There's a garden where Jesus is waiting,

And He bids you to come meet Him there;

Just to bow, and receive a new blessing,

In the beautiful garden of prayer. 

Refrain:

Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,

Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer;

There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates

To the beautiful garden of prayer. 

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

JESUS NEVER FAILS

          I imagine each of us have experienced the disappointment of being left down by friends.  We have three different friends who were going to help us with different projects at our house.  All three showed up and started the work, promised to return to finish the jobs, but never did.  Because of our heart problems we could not remove snow this winter.  A friend promised to do it for us, but he never showed up to do so.  Friends usually mean well, but they often forget. I guess disappointments are to be expected at times when we depend on the word of humans.  And this week's choice begins with that reminder, "earthly friends may prove untrue".  But fortunately there is "One still loves and cares for you, one who will not fail."  Yes, Jesus never fails.  The author, A. A. Luther, as a child had a burning desire to be a foreign missionary, but that never happened.  Instead the Lord used him to write this simple song which has encouraged millions around the world.  The song was written at Somerset, Kentucky, while he was there with an evangelistic team.  Luther  received a telegram telling him of his son's illness and being rushed to a hospital. There was nothing he could do, no way possible to even get to his son who was 600 miles away.   Worried and homesick, he sat down at a piano and as his "fingers wandered idly", a simple melody developed and the words and the music of the chorus were born.  Afterwards, according to Luther  "When I finished, a peace had settled over my anxious heart. I knew the God who never fails would find the answer and He did, for just then there was a knock at the door and someone came with the news. Word had just been received over the telegraph wire that my son had passed the crisis and all was well."  While Luther thought his simple song was just for him, others heard it and soon it was being used all over the world.  People needed the simple message that Jesus never fails.  "Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails!"   And today we need the same reminder that He is with His children, no matter how "fierce and strong the gale".  He loves us.  He has promised to never leave us - "He is near".  And he has never failed us, and never will.  Be encouraged by this reminder this week.

1. Earthly friends may prove untrue, 

doubts and fears assail;

One still loves and cares for you, 

one who will not fail.

Jesus never fails, 

Jesus never fails; 

Heav'n and earth may pass away, 

but Jesus never fails.

2. Tho' the sky be dark and drear, 

fierce and strong the gale,

Just remember He is near, 

and He will not fail.

Jesus never fails, 

Jesus never fails; 

Heav'n and earth may pass away, 

but Jesus never fails.

3. In life's dark and bitter hour 

love will still prevail,

Trust His everlasting pow'r

Jesus never fails.

Jesus never fails, 

Heav'n and earth may pass away, 

but Jesus never fails.

I have had difficulty finding a video of this song because there is a newer one with the same title that contemporary groups are singing today.  So the choice I give you is not a great one, but it is the best that I could find.   LISTEN

AFTER

          As a parent can you imagine the fear and stress that you would face if your son suddenly ran to you hysterically yelling that his brother had been hit by a car?  That is exactly what happened to Napoleon B. Vandall (1896-1970) one evening while he was reading the newspaper and waiting for his wife to call the family for dinner.  Vandall rushed outside to find that his son who was playing between the sidewalk and the curb had been hit by a car whose driver had lost control.  He had been dragged up the street, was covered with blood and was unable to speak.  He was taken unconscious to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain concussion, a broken leg, a separated shoulder, and a broken collar bone. The surgeon did not have much hope for his survival.  Vandall replied "Doctor, I am sure you will do the very best you can, but you hold out so little hope. I am a World War veteran, having served with the Marines for almost two years, and I've seen some hard things - they said I was tough. But I'm a Christian minister now, and this is my boy and you offer no hope. Please let me stand by and hold his hand and pray while you do what has to be done." The doctor looked him over and then granted his request. For one hour and fifteen minutes, he held on in prayer while they cleaned and sewed up the head wounds. Then they set the broken bones. No opiates were given because of his heart condition. The doctor said, "His heart cannot stand any more and may stop at any time."  Wearily Vandall headed home to comfort his wife.  He then fell on his knees and tried to pray, but words would not come. He remembered saying only, "Oh, God!" He said that hardly had those words been uttered when God came. It seemed to him that Jesus knelt by his side and he could feel His arms around him as He said, "Never mind, my child. Your home will be visited with tribulation and sorrow, but in the afterwards to come, these things shall not be. Your home is in heaven, where tears shall be wiped away."  He then made his way to the piano where he wrote the beautiful song "After"  Incidentally his son did eventually recover.  Vandall's song reminds me of the verse Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  Life can be tough and we often struggle with the cares and toil of everyday living.  Sometimes there seems to be no hope for the problems of the world that we live in.  But Christians do have the hope that one day these troubles nd sorrows will be over and we will see Jesus face to face.  I recently faced the unknown as I was scheduled for open heart surgery.  I really didn't want to leave my family, but I had peace knowing that after this life there is something much better.  May that knowledge and hope fill your heart as you face the toil and heat of the day during the coming week.  Meditate upon and claim these words this week.

1.     After the toil and the heat of the day, 

After my troubles are past, 

After the sorrows are taken away, 

I shall see Jesus at last. 

He will be waiting for me, Jesus, so kind and true. 

On His beautiful throne He will welcome me home 

After the Day is through. 

2.     After the heartaches and sighing shall cease, 

After the cold winter's blast, 

After the conflict comes glorious peace: 

I shall see Jesus at last. 

He will be waiting for me, Jesus, so kind and true. 

On His beautiful throne He will welcome me home 

After the Day is through. 

3.      After the shadows of evening shall fall, 

After my anchor is cast. 

After I list to my glorious peace, 

I shall see Jesus at last. 

He will be waiting for me, Jesus, so kind and true. 

On His beautiful throne He will welcome me home 

After the Day is through. 

As is often the case with older hymns that are not well known, it is hard to find a viideo of them.  But here is one that at least shares the words and melody with 'you.    LISTEN