HIDING IN THEE

        "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah" . Psalms 32:7.  "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."  Psalms 119:114.  William O. Cushing (1823-1902) was a successful pastor for over twenty years in the eastern area of the United States. Following the death of his wife in 1870, ill health forced his retirement from the active ministry. During this time he became intensely interested in hymn writing and wrote more than three hundred hymns, cooperating with such gospel musicians as Ira Sankey, Robert Lowry, George Root, and others. Cushing also had serious trouble with his voice, meaning that he probably could not sing his own hymns out loud, but only in his heart.  Concerning this hymn, Cushing wrote,." It must be said of this hymn that it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart-conflicts and soul-yearnings, of which the world can know nothing. The history of many battles is behind it. But the occasion which gave it being was the call of Mr. Sankey. He said, 'Send me something new to help me in my Gospel work'. A call from such a source, and for such a purpose, seemed a call from God. I so regarded it, and prayed, 'Lord, give me something that may glorify Thee'. It was while thus waiting that Hiding in Thee pressed to make itself known. Mr. Sankey called forth the tune, and by his genius gave the hymn wings, making it useful in the Master's work."  And since 1876 it has been a blessing and an encouragement to scores of people.  We've all experienced, like Cushing, those times of conflict and sorrow, those tempests of life.  But in those times of conflict, when pressed by the foe, we can find the strength and relief we need hidden in the great Rock of Ages.  William Cushing knew personally the sorrows and turmoil of life, but he also knew where he could find safety and rest-in the "blest Rock of Ages."  Hopefully this has been your experience.   When this hymn was first published, the author prefaced it with Psalm 31:2,  "Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me."

1.     O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;

Alone I would perish, undone would I be;

Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

I

2.     In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow's lone hour,

In times when temptation casts o'er me its pow'r;

In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,

Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

3.     How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,

I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;

How often, when trials like sea billows roll,

Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,

Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

Listen to it here.    HIDING

WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW

        Often hymns bring back memories from my childhood, especially some of the old hymns that we no longer sing in church.   I recall prayer meetings when it was common for those in the congregation to start choruses and hymns that were then sung by those in attendance without books or a piano.  The same was true of baptisms held in a river when we would sing as friends were baptized.  And one of those hymns that was sung so often at those times is this week's hymn choice, "I Can Hear My Savior Calling".  This hymn is said to have been written in 1980 by a Ernest W. Blandy.  But the inspiration for this hymn actually began years before at the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus was walking by (see Matthew 4:18-21) He saw two fishermen, Andrew and his brother Peter, throwing their nets into the sea trying to catch their day's supply of fish. Andrew heard Jesus talking to Simon Peter, "Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"  Perhaps Peter thought, "How can we fish for people? We are just plain, simple fishermen putting out our nets in the sea every day, spending many hours by the sea.  Peter might have said, "We can't follow You; we have so many things to do and to take care of. Don't you know we are so very busy?"  But Andrew and Simon Peter found themselves responding as though something inside them quickened their reply. Truly it was the gentle but firm nudge of the Holy Spirit.  Often it only takes a second to know the voice of God!  Immediately, Peter and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus.  Then Jesus saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They both were in a boat mending their nets.  Jesus called out the same words and Immediately both James and John found themselves dropping their nets, and climbing out of their boat. They left their boat and their father, who was also in the boat, and followed Jesus.  And their obedience and sacrifice helped spread the Gospel.  Do we sense that same Holy Spirit inside our own soul calling us, drawing us to "Come and follow Jesus"?  The eternal future of people around the world is affected by the response that Christians make when they hear His voice.  In his simple hymn, Blandy shared several steps in the commitment to follow ... "I can hear my Savior calling"... "I'll go with Him all the way" ... "I'll go with Him through the garden" ... "I'll go with Him to dark Calvary" ... "I'll go with Him through the judgment".  Can you sing those words and really mean them?  Blandy concludes with the promise, "He will give me grace and glory, And go with me, with me, all the way".  What a precious promise and truth to those who respond to His call.  Is He calling you today?  Will you respond "Where He leads me I will follow"?

1.     I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

"Take thy cross and follow, follow Me."

Refrain:

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

I

2.     I''ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I'll go with Him through the waters,

I'll go with Him through the waters,

I'll go with Him through the waters,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way. Refrain

I

3.     I'll go with Him through the garden,

I'll go with Him through the garden,

I'll go with Him through the garden,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way. Refrain

4.    I'll go with Him to dark Calv'ry,

I'll go with Him to dark Calv'ry,

I'll go with Him to dark Calv'ry,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.  Refrain

5.    I'll go with Him to the judgment,

I'll go with Him to the judgment,

I'll go with Him to the judgment,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way. Refrain

6.     He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

He will give me grace and glory,

And go with me, with me all the way.  Refrain

Listen to it here.  I Can Hear

HELP SOMEBODY TODAY

        The story of the Good Samaritan is one that we should study and reflect upon quite often.  Bruised, beaten and in need of help, the injured traveler was passed up by several "good" men, a priest and a Levite, who could have provided him with the help that he needed but chose instead to travel on  But, fortunately there was one who cared and took time to help.  "He had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Luke 10:34.  Now it is so easy for us to be critical of the two who passed him by, but are we really any different?  All around us there are folks who are lonely and hurting and in need of somebody who cares. Oh how they would be helped by a visit, a phone call, a letter, a meal, a helping hand or a word of encouragement.  But what do we do?   Sometimes all we feel and see are our own problems and needs and not those of others, and as it were, we pass them by.  How much better we might feel if we took the time to help others who are in need.  Recently I featured another hymn by Carrie Breck (1855-1934), a homemaker who wrote poetry in her spare moments.  Mrs. Breck must have been very aware of the need to help others and it may have been her own experiences that led her in 1904 to pen the words of this week's hymn choice .  In Matthew 25:35-36 we read, "for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  Then a few verses later we read, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Let me encourage you this week to look around, along life's way, and find someone in need that you can encourage and help.  Not only will they be helped but you will as well. God uses our hands, our feet and our mouths to do His work. Being able to help others is one of our many blessings for which we should be thankful! 

1     Look all around you, find someone in need,

Help somebody today!

Tho' it be little--a neighborly deed--

Help somebody today! 

Chorus:

Help somebody today,

Somebody along life's way;

Let sorrow be ended, the friendless befriended,

Oh, help somebody today! 

2    Many are 'waiting a kind, loving word,

Help somebody today!

You have a message, O let it be heard,

Help somebody today! (Chorus)

3    Many have burdens too heavy to bear,

Help somebody today!

Grief is the portion of some everywhere,

Help somebody today! (Chorus)

4    Some are discouraged and weary in heart,

Help somebody today!

Someone the journey to heaven should start,

Help somebody today! (Chorus)

Because this song is not familiar to many, I was only able to find one good link for it.  And while this link is not a great rendition, it will give you a chance to hear this song if you have never sung it yourself.   LISTEN

I SING THE ALMIGHTY GOD (TH#23)

TIMELESS HYMN  - 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 April 19, 2009.

          In 1715 Isaac Watts (1674-1748) put together a songbook that was a collection of gospel songs for children.  It was one of the most popular collections published in its day and was used with English children for decades.  Watts's Divine Songs is thought to be the first ever hymnal for children.  The only song from his hymnal that remains in common use today is "Praise for Creation and Providence", known today as "I Sing the Almighty Power of God".  When our family used to lead week-long rally Bible schools we always taught a hymn which coordinated with our theme for the week.  We thought then, as we still do today, that there are many great hymns which can teach children, and adults as well, many great Biblical truths.  And kids do remember these hymns as they grow older.  This week's hymn was always one of my favorites of those that we taught.  I especially enjoyed it when we would teach this hymn to the children at Pinebrook, in the middle of the Pocono Mountains.  Singing there about the power that made the mountains rise and the power that built the lofty skies was especially meaningful in that beautiful setting.  The visuals that we used ended with a picture of a satellite to illustrate the last phrase, "and everywhere that man can be, Thou, God, art present there".  Each time that we looked at that visual and sang that phrase I would remember the first Russian cosmonaut who, upon his return from space, said that he had looked everywhere in space and didn't see God.  Poor guy.  Someday he will see God and it most likely won't be an enjoyable experience for him. What a mighty God we serve - Creator and Sustainer of creation.  All powerful and present everywhere.   But even greater than His creation is His gift to is of eternal life with Him. So worship our almighty God today by singing these great words penned many years ago by Isaac Watts..

(1)   I sing the mighty power of God,

that made the mountains rise,

that spread the flowing seas abroad,

and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained

the sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at God's command,

and all the stars obey.

(2)     I sing the goodness of the Lord,

who filled the earth with food,

Who formed the creatures through the Word,

and then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,

wherever I turn my eye,

If I survey the ground I tread,

or gaze upon the sky.

(3)      There's not a plant or flower below,

but makes Thy glories known,

And clouds arise, and tempests blow,

by order from Thy throne;

While all that borrows life from Thee

is ever in Thy care;

And everywhere that man can be,

Thou, God art present there.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN1

Here is another choice dine by one of my favorite groups, Greater Vision   LISTEN2

And a third choice, this by the Hoppers   LISTEN3