FINALLY HOME

Don Wyrtzen

          We've probably all had the experience of being on a long trip or vacation.  We've enjoyed ourselves and there are often some things we hate to leave, but we know that we must.  Then we begin the long trip home.  Sometimes it goes smoothly but often there are problems - traffic jams, detours, delayed flights, missed connections, flat tires and things we've never expected and we are weary.   But finally we reach our destination - home.  It is where we belong.  And that is so much like our eternal journey.  Now we are pilgrims here, but this isn't our real home.  And there are things here that we enjoy, especially family members and friends.  But eventually life leads us to our final destination - our eternal home.  And the final journey might be rough with illness, physical difficulties, worries, heartaches, disappointments and probably even pain.  But then comes the anticipated conclusion - we're finally home.  And musician Don Wyrtzen pictured that moment with his exciting words, "Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven, Of touching a hand, and finding it God's, Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial, Of waking up in Glory, and finding it Home."  What an amazing experience that will be.  Wyrtzen pictures this life as a restless, tempestuous sea, and that is a good description of this life, especially in light of current events.  And believers do look forward to that day when we will be with Jesus.  But if you are like me, sometimes you wander how the final journey will be.  Will it be quick like it was for my mother who was killed in an accident and like it was for my father who died of a heart attack?  Will it be long as it was for my mother-in-law who suffered for months or as some friends who suffered for years in nursing homes.  We have no idea how our journey will be, but we do know that the Lord will be with us to comfort us and strengthen us and guide us to our final home.  He has promised never to leave us or forsake us and He keeps His promises.  Someday we will be finally home and what a day that will be!  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!  It is very unusual situation when I actually know the composer of a hymn featured here, but we have had the honor of being with Don Wyrtzen many times over the years at the Pinebrook Bible Conference.  We have heard him in concert and enjoyed his music and his teaching.  He is gifted and humble. He has arranged or composed over 400 anthems and sacred songs.  Over two million of his musicals and cantatas have been sold.  But this week's featured song has to be one of his finest.  Take time this week to think about the words and the truth of the message that they share. Live in anticipation of that day when you step on shore and find it heaven.  I trust that you have put your faith in what Christ has done for you on Calvary and that you have the assurance that one day you too will finally be home where Christ today is preparing a place for you.

(1)     When alarmed by the fury of the restless sea,

Towering waves before you roll,

At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,

Though fear and conflict seize your soul

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven

Of touching a hand, and finding it God's

Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial

Of waking up in Glory, and finding it "Home"

(2)     When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,

Oh how lonely death can be,

At the end this long tunnel is a shinning light,

For death is swallowed-up in Victory, (Victory!)

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven

Of touching a hand, and finding it God's

Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial

Of waking up in Glory, and finding it "Home"

Finally Home!  

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

GLAD DAY

          Over the years I have often heard older believers express their hope that Jesus would return today.  The older I become, the more that has become my daily hope.  As our bodies wear out and as we begin to tire of the problems of this world, it is a special comfort and joy to know that Christ has promised to return to take us home to be with Him.  And the words of this week's hymn should ring in our hearts and minds, "Jesus may come today, glad day!, glad day!.  And I would see my Friend, dangers and troubles would end, if Jesus would come today!"  That truth should stir your heart and encourage you.  The hymn was written in 1910 by Henry Ostrom (1862-1941), a Methodist minister, who apparently was associated with the Moody Bible Institute starting in 1921.  Little can be found about his life and I am guessing he might have been a rather quiet person because he wrote under a pseudonym because he felt freer to use his songs in evangelistic meetings if he didn't draw attention to himself as the author. This song made its first public appearance at a conference of the Siebert United Evangelical Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Some hymnals show the author as George Walter Whitcomb, Ostrom's pseudonym.  I couldn't find anything about what inspired him to write this hymn, but he may have been influenced by 1 Peter 5:4,  "When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."  He knew that day will certainly be a glad day.  And he knew that while he waited there was no need to be anxious for soon he would see Jesus, His Lord.  Scripture tells us to live with this expectation.   Colossians  3 says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Now some may say that fixing your heart and mind on heaven is just an escape from the painful realities of earth, but not according to the Bible.  When our hearts are fixed on things above, as Joni Eareckson Tada has said, "it really, really lightens my load down here on earth. The pain and paralysis always seem to pale in comparison. That's because heaven is the place where both pain and paralysis will be in my rear view mirror. So I'm like Jesus – for the joy that was set before Him He endured His cross. And I say the same: for the joy of heaven set before me I will daily bear my cross gladly."  And as the song says, there will be a crowning day when the Lord has crowns to give to his faithful ones.  Now we don't know when that day may be, but as the second verse says "I may go home today!"  What a blessed thought.  But in the meantime, the fourth verse encourages us to be faithful today.  We need to be busy telling others why we love Him so well.  Are we ready and prepared if He should call us home today?  If you, too, are weary and burdened with the cares of this world, then set your hope on heaven and set your heart and mind on things above, for a crown awaits you there.  Remember, Jesus could come today!  Glad day!  Glad day!

1      Jesus may come today,

Glad day! Glad day! 

And I would see my Friend;

Dangers and troubles would end

If Jesus should come today.

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

I'll live for today, nor anxious be,

Jesus my Lord I soon shall see;

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

2      I may go home today,

Glad day! Glad day!

Seemeth I hear their song;

Hail to the radiant throng!

If I should go home today.

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

I'll live for today, nor anxious be,

Jesus my Lord I soon shall see;

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

3      Why should I anxious be?

Glad day! Glad day!

Lights appear on the shore,

Storms will affright nevermore,

For He is "at hand" today.

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

I'll live for today, nor anxious be,

Jesus my Lord I soon shall see;

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

4      Faithful I'll be today,

Glad day! Glad day!

And I will freely tell

Why I should love Him so well,

For He is my all today.

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

I'll live for today, nor anxious be,

Jesus my Lord I soon shall see;

Glad day! Glad day!

Is it the crowning day?

Sing along with this hymn here.  LISTEN

SEND THE LIGHT

        Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1931) grew up on a farm in Iowa and experienced all the hard work that is part of that life.  He taught himself to play the family's reed organ as a teenager. At age seventeen he left home and began organizing singing schools.  He became well known for his playing and composing and traveled around the country, finally moving to San Francisco   He had a great love for Sunday schools, and although he was writing hymns, he also wrote many, many songs for the Sunday School Department. He published 24 books of music for both the Sunday school classes and the evangelistic ministry. These songs were used in many great revivals.  Mr. Gabriel considered his first successful sacred song to be "Send The Light." This hymn, written in 1890, is considered to be one of the best missionary hymns ever written.  It was written while he was serving as music director of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, in San Francisco, CA.  There the Sunday School superintendent asked him for a missionary hymn for Easter Sunday to highlight the Golden Offering, their special missionary offering.  In response Gabriel wrote this song. A visiting missionary heard it and loved it so much that he carried it back east with him.  As a result, the hymn became immediately popular. Growing up I remember that this hymn was sung at almost every missionary conference that I attended.  In 1912, Gabriel moved to Chicago, IL and began working with Homer Rodeheaver's publishing company. From then on he supported himself writing hymns.  He is known to have written over 7,000 hymns and 38 Christmas cantatas.  The words of "Send the Light" remind us that as Christians we live in a world of sinners, "among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life" (Phil. 2:15-16).  And we are told to  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).  And in the first verse of his song Gabriel reminds us that "there are souls to rescue, there are souls to save."   And we need to send the light to those living in this dark world.   In the second verse Gabriel talks about hearing the Macedonian call.  Acts 16:9-10 explains that term.  "A vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them".  And we, too, are called to spread the light of the gospel.  Mark 16:15 commands us to   "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature".   And part of this command is also to also support other servants of Christ who are doing this through our prayers, and by our gifts, our "golden offerings", which extend the light of the gospel to other places where, perhaps, we are unable to go.  So are we busy sending the light?  Are we active in praying, giving and going?  The last verse reminds us not to grow weary in doing this.  There are so many in our neighborhoods, in our places of employment, in our country and around the world who need the light and message of the gospel.  Let us be serious and about the work of sending the light.

1.     There's a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave,

"Send the light! Send the light!"

There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,

Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;

Let it shine from shore to shore!

Send the light, and let its radiant beams

Light the world forevermore!

2.     We have heard the Macedonian call today,

"Send the light! Send the light!"

And a golden off'ring at the cross we lay,

Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;

Let it shine from shore to shore!

Send the light, and let its radiant beams

Light the world forevermore!

3.     Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,

"Send the light! Send the light!"

And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,

Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;

Let it shine from shore to shore!

Send the light, and let its radiant beams

Light the world forevermore!

4.     Let us not grow weary in the work of love,

"Send the light! Send the light!"

Let us gather jewels for a crown above,

Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;

Let it shine from shore to shore!

Send the light, and let its radiant beams

Light the world forevermore!

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

HE HIDETH MY SOUL (TH1)

          TIMELESS HYMNS - I have been writing this blog weekly since 2008 and have attempted to avoid repeating hymns during that time.  But there are many of my favorites that have been shared in the early years and have been missed by many of you who have joined this blog in recent years.  And I believe that some of these need to be repeated because of their powerful messages.  So I am beginning a new feature which I am calling Timeless Hymns and about once a month I will repeat a revised and updated blog that has been shared here before.  I hope that you will be encouraged and helped by this special feature.  And here is the very first of this new feature.

HE HIDETH MY SOUL  (October 26, 2008)  "I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by." Exodus 33:22.  Years ago we visited Stone Mountain, in Georgia, and there we saw the impressive carving in the mountain that took many years to complete.  We were told how it was so large that when storms suddenly developed, the workers would just walk into the eyes or other parts of the carving for protection.  There was safety for them in the "cleft of the rock".  The great blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), never saw this rock that gave the workers protection from the storms, but she knew of the real Rock, Jesus Christ, who protected and kept her. William J. Kirkpatrick is said to have written the music for many of the poems that Fanny wrote.  But in this case it is said that the tune apparently came first.  He gave her the tune and asked her to put words to it and, with Exodus 23:22 and her own life experiences as a background, she penned in 1890 these words. And over many years they have comforted and encouraged so many of us during our storms of life.  Fanny wrote and published thousands of beautiful hymns, many that are still sung today. Regarding her plight in life, she wrote the following words:  "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."  What an amazing perspective.  Personally I have not dealt with any physical problems as serious as permanent blindness, but the last two years have been challenging for me.  Three major surgeries, two additional hospitalizations, and a rare blood condition that has been very difficult to cure have made me more dependent than ever on my wonderful Savior. He daily hides me in the depths of his love and covers me there with His hand.  That has been my experience and hope.  When my computer comes on it shows a beautiful picture of a mother dove protecting her two babies with her wings. Accompanying it are the words from Psalm 91:4, "He will cover you with His feathers.  He will shelter you with His wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection."  Is this your experience and testimony?  It should be and could be if you put your trust in Jesus.  We live in a desperate and evil world but there is One who will protect us and keep us and take our burdens upon Him, while giving us the strength we need for our day.  What a wonderful Savior!

1      A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, 

A wonderful Savior to me;

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 

that shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

2     A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, 

He taketh my burden away;

He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,

He giveth me strength as my day.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 

that shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

3     With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,

And, filled with His fulness divine,

I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God,

For such a Redeemer as mine!

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 

that shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

4     When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise

To meet Him in clouds of the sky,

His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,

I'll shout with the millions on high.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 

that shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

Here are two excellent renditions of this Timeless Hymn for you to enjoy.

LISTEN 1

LISTEN 2

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

          Happy New Year!  As we begin 2017 today, I find it so hard to believe that another year has passed by so quickly.  Maybe that is a sign of getting old.  Many families have traditions for New Year's Day celebrations.  I look forward to the day because our extended family traditionally meets together to enjoy pork and sauerkraut . I guess that may be a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.  But a new year brings new opportunities, new challenges and maybe even a chance to start over.  There is the tradition of making new resolutions for the new year.  These often include goals to lose weight, exercise more, complete some project or do some good deeds.  But most resolutions are soon forgotten as the weeks go by.  But what about making some spiritual resolutions and asking the Lord to help you meet them?  A great one might be to experience a closer walk with the Lord during the coming year.  And a good reminder of that might be the song that I have chosen for this blog to start the new year, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee".  It is interesting since the precise author of this popular song is unknown.  Some evidence strongly suggests that it dates back to southern African-America churches of the nineteenth century, possibly even prior to the Civil War.  Some African American histories recall slaves singing a song about walking by the Lord's side as they worked in the fields.  But as is true for numerous hymns, knowing where it came from, while interesting, is not as important as the message of the hymn itself.  The anonymous composer expresses feeling "weak" living in a world of "wrong", a world of toils and snares with no human to share one's burdens.  I imagine at various times most of us could echo those thoughts.  The only way to be "satisfied" is by invoking Jesus who is "strong" and by walking closely beside Him. It is the daily close walk with Christ that leads one to become more Christlike.   The composer asks two rhetorical questions. "If I falter, Lord, who cares?" and "Who with me my burden bears?"  The response to both is "None but Thee".  As is the case with many hymns, the final verse talks about heaven, with the prayer "guide me gently, safely o'er to thy shore."  James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you."  May 2017 be a year that each of us draw nearer to God and experience a closer walk with the Lord. "Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be."

1.      I am weak, but Thou art strong,

Jesus, keep me from all wrong,

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

2.      Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

3.       When my feeble life is o'er,

Time for me will be no more,

Guide me gently, safely o'er

To Thy kingdom's shore, to Thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN