SWEETLY RESTING

          Sometimes life can be very hard. Difficult trials and problems can hit us so suddenly.  Often they are physical challenges that come so unexpectedly.  Sometimes financial downturns and losses overwhelm us.  Relationship problems can be draining and so difficult to deal with.  Now in this age we can add the fear of terrorism which can strike almost anywhere and at any time. We live turbulent lives and there is little earthly protection from these storms and blasts.  Today people yearn for peace and rest.  But, there is only one true source of peace and that is in the true Rock, Christ Jesus. "These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace" (John 16.33). This week's hymn choice speaks of a longing for peace. Stanza one says that we can have safety.  Stanza two says that we can have rest. Stanza three says that we can have love, while stanza four says that we can have security. We can have all of these only by resting in the blessed Rock of Ages. These words were written in 1875 by Mary Dagworthy Yard James (1810-1883).  Born in Trenton, NJ, she joined the Methodist church at age 10, married in 1834, and had a son who became a minister. Back when she was 13 years old, James began teaching Sunday school in the Methodist Episcopal church. She became a prominent figure in the Wesleyan Holiness movement, often leading meetings at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and elsewhere. She wrote about 50 hymns.   Now I have not been able to find out what led her to pen these particular words, but I would assume, like most of us, she faced some very difficult storms in her life.  Possibly this is her testimony of the peace that she received when she hid her life in the rifted rock, Christ Jesus.  Many other familiar hymns share this same theme ... He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock ... On Christ the solid Rock I stand ... Rock of Ages, cleft for me ... O safe to the Rock that is higher than I ... Jesus is the Rock of my salvation.  These are just a few that express the same picture of experiencing Christ's peace and safety.  There is no better foundation to build our lives upon. Hopefully the words of this hymn will encourage you as this week you face the challenges and storms of life.  Flee to the Rock for peace and protection.  In times of stress and difficulty we need to be reminded of the blessings that we can have when in the Rifted Rock we are "sweetly resting."

1.    In the rifted rock I'm resting,

Safely sheltered I abide;

There no foes nor storms molest me,

While within the cleft I hide.

Now I'm resting, sweetly resting,

In the cleft once made for me;

Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

I will hide myself in Thee.

2.    Long pursued by sin and Satan,

Weary, sad, I longed for rest;

Then I found this heav'nly shelter

Opened in my Savior's breast.

Now I'm resting, sweetly resting,

In the cleft once made for me;

Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

I will hide myself in Thee.

3.     Peace which passeth understanding,

Joy the world can never give,

Now in Jesus I am finding,

In His smiles of love I live.

Now I'm resting, sweetly resting,

In the cleft once made for me;

Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

I will hide myself in Thee.

4.    In the rifted rock I'll hide me,

Till the storms of life are past;

All secure in this blest refuge,

Heeding not the fiercest blast.

Now I'm resting, sweetly resting,

In the cleft once made for me;

Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

I will hide myself in Thee.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

DOWN IN THE VALLEY

        "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou are with me; Thy rod and They staff they comfort me."  (Psalm 23:4)   This very familiar verse is quite often read at funerals when the walk through the valley of death is fresh in our minds.  And, unless the Lord comes first, it is a valley that each of us will eventually travel.  But it isn't the only valley that we will experience in our lives.  Many of us will travel through valleys of pain, disappointment, declining health, economic stress, family problems, trials and persecution, anxiety and depression, rejection, loneliness, failure, loss and the many difficult challenges that are part of life.  At those times we need to claim the second part of Psalm 23:4, "...I will fear no evil; for Thou are with me; Thy rod and They staff they comfort me."  Knowing that we will all experience valley journeys, the words of this week's hymn choice remind us that we can go through them with our loving Savior who will guide us and protect us as we follow Him.  The words of this hymn were written by William Orcutt Cusing (1823-1902).  We have shared in this blog before about him since he is also the author of "Hiding In Thee," "When He Cometh,"  "Under His Wings," and  "The Name of Jesus".  After many successful years in the pastorate, he lost his power of speech. In this time of despair, he prayed, "Lord, give me something to do for Thee."  His prayer was answered, and it seemed as though God gave him the unusual gift of writing songs originally intended for Sunday School. He is said to have written over 300 songs.  Concerning this week's song, Cushing said  "I wrote this hymn in 1878. Longing to give up all for Christ who had given His life for me, I wanted to be willing to lay everything at His feet with no wish but to do His will, to live henceforth only for His glory. Out of this feeling came this hymn.  It was written with the prayer and the hope that some heart might by it be led to give up all for Christ. Much of the power and usefulness of the hymn, however, is due to Mr. Robert Lowry, who put it into song."  In this song Cushing reminds us in the first stanza that we must follow Him when times are good.  In stanza 2 he suggests that we must follow Him when times are bad.  Stanza 3 suggests that we must follow Him at all times, through the valleys as well as upon the mountains of life.  The chorus continues to emphasize the importance of following Jesus everywhere He leads us.  Are you presently traveling through one of those difficult valleys?  If you are, then claim the truth of this hymn.  With His hand to lead us safely in the path which He has trod, we can walk with the Savior and follow Him where ever He may lead.  What a comfort to experience that even in the darkest of valleys. Follow on!

1.     Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,

Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;

Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,

Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

2     Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,

Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;

With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear,

Dangers cannot fright me if my Lord is near.

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

3     Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep,

Close beside my Savior would my heart ever keep;

He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod,

Up to where they gather in the rest of God.

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!

Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

I WILL PRAISE HIM

          "With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him." Psalm 109:30 NASB.  It is easy for most of us to get excited about so many things - our favorite athletic teams, our children and grandchildren, our newest possessions, our achievements, our vacations.  And we generally enjoy sharing these things with anyone who will listen.  But shouldn't we get more excited about what the Lord has done for us?  Shouldn't His praise continually be part of our conversations?   Today few people remember Margaret Jenkins Harris (1865-1919).  No great biographies have been written about her.  Mrs. Harris and her husband John were both active in the American revival and camp meeting scene of their day. Both were able speakers, and both were musicians and song writers as well. Margaret Harris frequently played the organ to accompany herself and her husband as they sang duets in meetings. But millions of people have been impacted by a hymn she wrote in 1898.   In this hymn, "I Will Praise Him," she recalled the moment when she realized the presence of sin in her life. This truly was a horrible realization, but it drove her to seek God's forgiveness.  She wrote, "When I saw the cleansing fountain open wide for all my sin, I obeyed the Spirit's wooing, when He said, 'Wilt thou be clean?'"   She recognized that sin had burdened and bogged her down. "Though the way seems straight and narrow, all I claimed was swept away; my ambitions, plans and wishes, at my feet in ashes lay."   But God sent the fire of His Spirit to change her life. She described how "the altar of my heart was set aflame."   We can feel how she overflowed with gratitude: "I shall never cease to praise Him, glory, glory to His name! Blessed be the Name of Jesus! I'm so glad He took me in; He's forgiven my transgressions, He has cleansed my heart from sin."  The chorus of this hymn is a powerful call  and reminder to us to praise God: "I will praise Him! I will praise Him! Praise the Lamb for sinners slain; give Him glory, all ye people, for His blood can wash away each stain."  Her hymn originally had five stanzas, but many hymn books only use the first four. The original fifth stanza said:

In the crowning day soon coming,

May I see my glorious King;

Join the mighty swelling chorus,

Make His highest praises ring.

But early on this verse was replaced with a Trinitarian closing, perhaps by the author herself. This new verse seems to be a fitting conclusion to the song which refers to the Holy Spirit in verse one, to Christ in verse four, and perhaps to God the Father in verse three.   Today, there are many things that can occupy our time and conversation, but nothing is more important than praising God. If you have experienced the same life changing experience as Mrs. Harris, then do not be silent or take it for granted. Continually thank Him and praise Him for all that He has done for you.     "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him" (Exodus. 15:2).

1.     When I saw the cleansing fountain

Open wide for all my sin,

I obeyed the Spirit's wooing,

When He said, "Wilt thou be clean?"

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.

2.     Though the way seems straight and narrow,

All I claimed was swept away;

My ambitions, plans and wishes,

At my feet in ashes lay.

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.

3.     Then God's fire upon the altar

Of my heart was set aflame;

I shall never cease to praise Him

Glory, glory to His Name!

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.

4.     Blessed be the Name of Jesus!

I'm so glad He took me in;

He's forgiven my transgressions,

He has cleansed my heart from sin.

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.

5.     Glory, glory to the Father!

Glory, glory to the Son!

Glory, glory to the Spirit!

Glory to the Three in One!

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.

Listen to a congregation singing it here.  LISTEN1

or to a Gaither group singing it.  LISTEN2

IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL (TH#9)

          TIMELESS HYMNS - A special feature where I highlight some of my favorite hymns that have been featured previously in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for your encouragement and challenge.  This hymn was first shared on November 27, 2009.

          "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."  (Galatians 5:22)   The Christian life should be one that experiences these attributes. And that is our Father's desire for us. However, as long as we are still on our journey through this foreign land, believers will continue to experience trials, heartaches, tears, separations, and disappointments which are a normal part of our pilgrim journey. And at times these experiences will be so very hard to face and bear. And often we find ourselves complaining and asking "why?". I think that question is probably the one most often asked by believers. And yet we know that God is always with His children and He knows all of our cares. And we know that He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. And sometimes it takes us time to recognize and apply these truths and experience the supernatural peace that only He can give. Then the sun shines through the clouds once again. As my grandfather used to say, we just need to "keep looking up!".  There will be a time, hopefully very soon, when we shall understand fully. The encouraging prospect in the hymn is weighing the trials and troubles of today against the boundless and eternal blessings of eternity. Then we will testify, as Esther Kerr Rusthoi (1909-1962), the writer of this week's hymn, has, "It will be worth it all when we see Jesus". Rusthoi was an author, poet, composer, singer, and evangelist.  She suffered from ill health and died at the age of 53, so she probably knew well the trials of this life which were so  hard to bear.  So believer, if today you find yourself in one of those impossible situations of life, look to Jesus, knowing that He is with you and in control and one day soon your trials will seem so small when you are finally with Him.  Since this is a Timeless Hymn rewrite of my previous blog on this hymn, I should note that of all of the approximate 500 hymn blogs I have written, this one has received the most responses, by far, from my readers.  The words of this hymn certainly have had an impact on so many lives over the years.  Just remember that "one glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!"

(1)      Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

(2)      Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;

But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

(3)      Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,

We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;

We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Listen to the words and music here. LISTEN