JESUS LOVES ME

          The very first Christian song that most children learn is "Jesus Loves Me."  If one were to conduct a poll of preschoolers about their favorite Christian songs, this very simple, but precious song would still probably be near the top of their favorites. Yet few people know that this song began life not as a song but as a part of one of 1860's best-selling novels.  Anna Warner (1827–1915) was well aware of the coming of the war between the states. She lived near the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Every Sunday Anna taught Bible classes to the cadets. She fully comprehended the importance of leading each of them to Jesus. With an urgency brought about by a nation on the brink of dividing, sharing Christ's love became her mission in life. With her sister Susan she also wrote several novels, using the pseudonym Amy Lothrop. In 1860 the sisters' Say and Seal' became one of the country's best-selling work of fiction.  But the book quickly passed from the public's fancy.  However, thanks to one very special scene on but a single page, the essence of the book and of Anna's faith would live for decades after 'Say and Seal' and Anna herself would be forgotten. In one chapter a child lay dying. Nothing could be done to ease his pain or give him a second chance at life. As his ultimate fate grew nearer, the novel's focal character, Mr. Linden, attempted to comfort the small boy.  Looking into the child's eyes, he slowly recited a poem that began, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."  It is said that these simple lines also moved thousands of readers to tears. It quickly became one of the most beloved poems of the era.  One of the scores of readers who memorized the poem was William Bradbury, a teacher of voice and organ. A lover of children's voices, as well as a proponent of music education in both school and church, Bradbury allowed the child in his own heart to spring forth when writing the simple musical notes for "Jesus Loves Me." Then, to fully complete the work, he added the now familiar refrain.   Later David Rutherford McGuire added stanzas two and three. Today few know of the writings of Anna Warner or recognize the name of William Bradbury, but almost everyone knows this song. Children and adults of all races and even millions outside the Christian faith can sing "Jesus Loves Me." It  is the foundation on which many children come to know the love and sacrifice of the Lord who inspired it. And this message is often what keeps them singing the gospel throughout their lives.  The song  claims Christ's devotion to me, but how can that be true? As a sinner, wouldn't the holy God despise me? Thankfully, the song is not hopeful delusion but rather sound, biblical theology. While God hated my sin, His love for me compelled Him to give up His beloved Son.  Jesus, God the Son, loved us so much that He died a terrible death to pay the just penalty for our sins (John 3:16).  Meditate on this amazing truth this week and be reminded of the simple but powerful truth that Jesus Loves You.

1.     Jesus loves me! This I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

2.    Jesus loves me! This I know,

As He loved so long ago,

Taking children on His knee,

Saying, 'Let them come to Me.'

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

3.   Jesus loves me still today,

Walking with me on my way,

Wanting as a friend to give

Light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

4.    Jesus loves me! He who died

Heaven's gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

5.    Jesus loves me! He will stay

Close beside me all the way;

Thou hast bled and died for me,

I will henceforth live for Thee.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

WHEN I CAN READ MY TITLE CLEAR

         How well I remember the excitement when after years of renting, we were finally able to purchase our own home.  But for many years it really wasn't our own because the bank held the mortgage.  And monthly we paid back part of that debt until the day that the title to our home was finally ours.  Of course the bills went on for things like taxes, repairs, electricity, water, sewage, heat and all of that which  is part of home ownership.  My father-in-law used to say that you never own the home, the home owns you.  And I think he was right.  But I have received a title, free and clear, to another home, a perfect one which needs no upkeep.  I didn't have to earn it or purchase it, I received it as a gift the day I accepted Christ as my Savior.  The entire price was paid by Jesus when He died on the Cross of Calvary for my sins.  And I don't have to make any payments to maintain it, and even it  I wanted to, I couldn't.  It is all part of my heavenly inheritance.  And that is a much more valuable title than I could ever have or hope to have.  The great hymn writer, Isaac Watts (1674-1748), in 1707 captured this idea when he penned the words to this old hymn.   He called the hymn "The Hope of Heaven Our Support Under Trials on Earth." That reassures us that the opening line was not intended to cast doubt on the destiny of the child of God. It's not as though Watts was saying that he hasn't been able to "read his title clear" yet. Rather, it's in effect, "Because I'm able to read my title clear in God's Word, day by day."   In his first verse Watts shares about that mansion in the sky and how someday he would say farewell to every fear on earth and wipe his weeping eyes as he entered his eternal home.  In the second verse he shares about the fiery darts of Satan and how those who have the assurance of God's love can smile at Satan's rage, knowing that we can resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7).  The third verse refers to the cares and sorrows of this life which can come like a wild deluge against us. However, those who have assurance from God receive the living hope through Christ of an inheritance in heaven (1 Pet. 1.3-5).  And finally, verse four refers to the rest that will be part of our life in heaven even though through this life our souls often become weary (Galatians 6:9).  What a marvelous title and inheritance we have.  Whatever God has planned for His people in heaven, I am sure that we will spend rejoicing in it for all eternity "When I Can Read My Title Clear."

1    When I can read my title clear

to mansions in the skies,

I'll bid farewell to every fear,

and wipe my weeping eyes;

and wipe my weeping eyes,

and wipe my weeping eyes,

I'll bid farewell to every fear,

and wipe my weeping eyes.

2     Should earth against my soul engage,

and fiery darts be hurled,

then I can smile at Satan's rage,

and face a frowning world;

and face a frowning world,

and face a frowning world,

then I can smile at Satan's rage,

and face a frowning world.

3    Let cares, like a wild deluge come,

and storms of sorrow fall!

May I but safely reach my home,

my God, my heaven, my all;

my God, my heaven, my all,

my God, my heaven, my all,

may I but safely reach my home,

my God, my heaven, my all.

4    There I shall bathe my weary soul

in seas of heavenly rest,

and not a wave of trouble roll

across my peaceful breast;

across my peaceful breast,

across my peaceful breast,

and not a wave of trouble roll

across my peaceful breast.

You can listen to a special a capella version produced by one singer here.  LISTEN

IN THE GARDEN OF MY HEART

          On several of our trips to Wisconsin, we were able to enjoy visits to Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. Here there are 16 acres of all types of beautiful gardens.  Not only are these well maintained gardens very beautiful, but they are peaceful and relaxing.  I often wish that I could spend more time there walking, reflecting and talking to the Lord. Hymn writers have often used pictures, including gardens, to represent the spiritual lessons they want to share.  Some examples of that which I have shared in my blogs include "In The Garden", "The Beautiful Garden of Prayer" and "Thy Word is Like A Garden Lord". Haldor Lilenas (1885-1949), who wrote over 4,000 hymns, also chose a garden to picture our time of fellowship with the Lord.  He talks about times of sacred communion  with the Lord in the garden of our heart.  It can be a place and time of comfort and rest, shut away from the earth's strife.  But there is a problem with gardens.  At our house we have trouble with weeds that so easily grow in the midst of our flowers and if we don't work to eliminate and control them, the beauty of our gardens is lost.  And if we don't get enough rain or if we don't water them, they often shrivel and die.  It takes work to maintain beautiful gardens.  And the very same can be said about the garden of our heart. We need to work to avoid  and eliminate the "weeds".  And we need to spend time there in fellowship with the Lord.  We need to share with Him and listen to Him.  Do we forget to spend time in the Word?  Do we forget to take time with God and allow the garden of our heart to wither. Do we let negativity linger, allowing it to take root in our heart? Do we dwell on the rejection from a friend?  Are we allowing something to take root in this precious garden?  Think about this during the coming week.  May the garden of your heart be a place of sweet communion with the Lord.

1. There's a sacred and hallowed retreat,

Where my soul finds a fellowship sweet,

Where the Lord of my life I may meet,

In the garden of my heart.

In the cool of the day He walks with me,

In the rose bordered way He talks with me;

In love's holy union,

And sacred communion,

In the garden of my heart.

2. There is naught can disturb or molest,

There my spirit finds comfort and rest,

And my soul is no longer distressed

In the garden of my heart. 

In the cool of the day He walks with me,

In the rose bordered way He talks with me;

In love's holy union,

And sacred communion,

In the garden of my heart

3. Shut away from earth's strife and its din,

And protected from soul staining sin,

For my Savior is dwelling within,

In the garden of my heart. 

In the cool of the day He walks with me,

In the rose bordered way He talks with me;

In love's holy union,

And sacred communion,

In the garden of my heart

4. There the dove of sweet peace always sings,

And my faith ever trustingly clings;

And the chime of sweet happiness rings

In the garden of my heart.
In the cool of the day He walks with me,

In the rose bordered way He talks with me;

In love's holy union,

And sacred communion,

In the garden of my heart

Because this is not a very familiar hymn and because it is seldom sung today, it has been very hard to find a video of it. But  at least here is one that you can listen to.  LISTEN

HEARTACHES (TH#21)

 TIMELESS HYMN #21 - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith - HEARTACHES  - originally shared on January 25, 2009
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         During my college days I had the opportunity to sing with a gospel quartet called "The Gospel Four".  We sang each Sunday morning on the radio for 15 minutes, each Sunday night before the evening message, and once in awhile at other churches and programs.  Two of the members were a generation older than I was and the third was about ten years older.  It was a special experience with great memories.  However, four of us younger fellows formed a second group.  We loved to sing but didn't get the opportunity very often to sing in public.  We just enjoyed being together and blending our voices in harmony.  One of the songs that we loved to sing was "Heartaches".  I guess that during those years we all thought that we had heartaches and we probably did.  But as young men we rarely thought about the heavy heartaches that we would probably all face later in life.  But as I've  personally faced many during recent years, the Lord has often brought back the words of this song and I often find myself singing them to myself.  Now I am the only one of the four men still living but I if I think about it, I can still hear the others harmonizing as we sang these comforting words.  But heartaches are a part of our lives and they were what brought about the writing of these words by A. H. Ackley (1887-1960).  Ackley was not only a Presbyterian pastor in the United States, but a skilled musician, master of the cello, and a hymn writer with about 1,500 songs to his credit.  In the early 1930's Ackley dealt with a family in which, to the continual grief of his parents, their son lived a wild and wicked life. Crimes he committed eventually landed him in prison for many years. The heartaches he caused possibly led to the early death of his mother. Unfortunately, there was no happy ending for him ... no repentance and rest in the Lord.   "Kick him into the street!",  advised a neighbor, when the young man was still living at home. "I can't," said his father. "He's my son, and I love him."  Together, Ackley and the father prayed earnestly for the salvation of the prodigal. One evening after the sorrowing father left him, Ackley wrote this song called simply Heartaches.  And over the years many have been touched by the words that he penned that night.  Maybe his words will help comfort you as you experience the heartaches that are part of our life here on this earth.

(1)   When your heart is aching, turn to Jesus,
He's the dearest Friend that you can know;
You will find Him standing close beside you,
Waiting peace and comfort to bestow.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,
Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

(2)   There is joy for every troubled sorrow,
Sweet relief for every bitter pain,
Jesus Christ is still the great Physician,
No one ever sought His help in vain.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,

Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

(3)   Jesus understands, whate'er the trouble,
And He waits to heal your wounded soul.
Will you trust His love so strong and tender?
He alone can make your spirit whole.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
Go to Him today,
Do it now without delay.
Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,
He will take your heartaches all away.

Listen to it here     LISTEN