WHEN LOVE SHINES IN

          After days of gloomy weather and storms, there is something very exciting that happens when you wake up to beams of beautiful sunlight streaming through your windows. What a change this can make in your spirit and attitude.  It gives you fresh motivation and enthusiasm to get up and go out to face the day.  But there is even a greater and more important impact to our lives when the love of Christ breaks through and floods your soul.  Then we gain a new appreciation for His love and what He has done for us.  Our hearts come alive with praise and thanksgiving and we gain a new perspective about our challenges and concerns.  Things appear so different to us in the light of His love and presence. We also gain an attitude of love and concern for our fellowmen.  How important it is to allow God's love to shine into our lives which will never remain the same once we experience His love and learn to share God's love in word and deed each day. Believers are not known simply because they do good deeds. They do good works because they have experienced the supernatural love of Christ.  Carrie Breck (1855-1934) conveyed these truths in this week's hymn which she wrote in 1874.  The mother of five children, Mrs. Breck was a homemaker who wrote poetry in her spare moments. She was not at all musical, but she had a clear sense of rhythm and is believed to have written about 375 hymns.  She said "It was a great joy to me, and, as opportunity offered, I penciled verse under all sorts of conditions - over a mending basket, with a baby in arms, and sometimes even when sweeping or washing dishes, my mind moved to meter",  This week's song provides a joyful testimony to the transforming power of the love of God. When we turn to the Word of God, we find God's love - both in us and through us - to be a subject that is referred to again and again.  Meditate on these words this week and thank God for what He did to you when His love shone in and filled your soul.

1      Jesus comes with pow'r to gladden,

When love shines in,

Every life that woe can sadden,

When love shines in.

Love will teach us how to pray,

Love will drive the gloom away,

Turn our darkness into day--

When love shines in. 

Chorus:

When love shines in,

When love shines in,

How the heart is tuned to singing,

When love shines in,

When love shines in,

Joy and peace to others bringing--

When love shines in! 

2      How the world will grow with beauty,

When love shines in,

And the heart rejoice in duty,

When love shines in.

Trials may be sanctified,

And the soul in peace abide,

Life will all be glorified--

When love shines in.  Chorus

3      Darkest sorrow will grow brighter,

When love shines in,

And the heaviest burden lighter,

When love shines in.

'Tis the glory that will throw

Light to show us where to go;

O the heart shall blessing know--

When love shines in.

When love shines in,

When love shines in,

How the heart is tuned to singing,

When love shines in,

When love shines in,

Joy and peace to others bringing--

When love shines in!

4      We may have unfading splendor,

When love shines in,

And a friendship true and tender,

When love shines in.

When earth's vict'ries shall be won,

And our life in heav'n begun,

There will be no need of sun--

When love shines in.  Chorus

Listen to it here.  LISTEN