ANCIENT WORDS

          Among all the books ever written, the Bible is absolutely unique. Actually, it is not just a book - it's 66 books. And one of its most remarkable qualities is the complete unity of the overall message despite having forty authors who wrote from three continents over nearly two thousand years.  It maintains a perfect consistency of message.  Its words point unerringly to Christ, whose work on the cross was ordained by God - the true author of the Bible - before the world began.   And while God inspired these authors to pen these words centuries ago, these "ancient words" are still as relevant and powerful today as when they were first written.  And over the years they have survived numerous attacks to destroy them and discredit them.  "Ancient words ever true, changing me and changing you. We have come with open hearts, Oh, let the ancient words impart."  This modern hymn was written by Lynn Deshazo, although many people have attributed it to Michael W Smith who actually popularized it.  DeShazo is a well known author of some of the Church's most loved worship songs, such as "More Precious Than Silver," "Lead Me to the Rock," "Turn My Heart," "Be Magnified," "Be Unto Your Name," "Stand Up and Give Him the Praise," "In Your Presence, O God."  DeShazo has written over 350 songs in a career spanning over 30 years.  She shared the following comments about the writing of this hymn. "I have a couple of songs that were written because the idea was so compelling to me, it wouldn't go away. "Ancient Words" is one of those songs. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more love and appreciation I have for the Bible and for those whom God has used throughout the ages to make it available to me. I suppose that was the true impetus for my writing it."   Reflect upon the words of this contemporary hymn this week as you thank God for His love letter to us.  And may we all be challenged to spend more time reading, meditating and obeying God's Word in the coming days.

1.   Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world

They resound with God's own heart

Oh, let the ancient words impart

Words of Life, words of Hope

Give us strength, help us cope

In this world, where e'er we roam

Ancient words will guide us home

Ancient words ever true

Changing me and changing you

We have come with open hearts

Oh, let the ancient words impart

2.    Holy words of our Faith

Handed down to this age

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world

They resound with God's own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart

Ancient words ever true

Changing me and changing you

We have come with open hearts

Oh, let the ancient words impart

We have come with open hearts

Oh, let the ancient words impart

Listen to it here.    ANCIENT

TRUST HIS HEART

        How do you react when you face the unexpected challenges of life which suddenly appear in our lives and wear us down?  Often, as much as we try, we can't  seem to find the answers or directions.  And, sadly, we often think that God has abandoned us and our reactions can range from panic, to doubt, and often to complaining.  We know that we should trust the Lord, but when you can't see the future or control it yourself, that isn't always so easy. We know verses like Proverbs 3:5,6 and we know that the Lord has never failed us, but we still stumble on, often discouraged and depressed. Unfortunately, I must say, "been there done that."  But we must remember that our God is all-knowing and wise and we should be able to trust His heart.  After all, we are His workmanship.  He has made us and has a plan for our lives. And our God is good and loving and that should even help us more to trust His heart.  The words of this week's song choice were popularized in 1989 by Christian singer-songwriter Babbie Mason who with Eddie Carswell wrote "Trust His Heart". In an interview, Mason said the song was influenced by a North Atlanta pastor who "became inspired by the words that Charles Haddon Spurgeon had coined in his writings, 'God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. And, when you can't trace His hand, you can always trust His heart.'"  God wants you to trust His heart even when you don't understand His plan for your life. Trust HIS heart, not your heart. Trust HIS wisdom, not your wisdom. Trust HIS way not your way.  Know that His heart will never take you where His grace cannot take care of you.  Now, as I write this blog, I realize that it is often easy to give advice to somebody else even when you have not faced the same challenges.   But it is often much more difficult to claim that advice for your life and for the challenges that you are facing during tough times.  "Dear Lord, when the challenges of life come and we are overwhelmed, help us to remember ... we see the present clearly, but you see the first and the last ...  You see the master plan and You hold our future in Your hand ... and when we don't understand, when we don't see Your plan, when we can't trace Your hand ... may we trust Your heart.  Thank you Lord!"

All things work for our good

Though sometimes we don't see 

How they could

Struggles that break our hearts in two

Sometimes blind us to the truth

Our Father knows what's best for us

His ways are not our own

So when your pathway grows dim

And you just don't see Him,

Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

Trust His Heart

He sees the master plan

And he holds our future in His hand,

So don't live as those who have no hope,

All our hope is found in Him

We see the present clearly

But He sees the first and the last

And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,

To someday be just like Him

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

He alone is faithful and true

He alone knows what is best for you

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

When you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

A NEW NAME IN GLORY

          A story is told about a young man who did some work as a consultant  for one of the wealthiest businessmen in town.  As a result he was told that he would be invited to a gala that the businessman was hosting in an expensive restaurant on the top floor of the tallest building in town.  The young man was thrilled because he never expected to be able to enjoy such an event in such an elegant location.  He and his wife prepared to attend and waited for this once in a lifetime experience.  When the night finally arrived, they took the elevator to the top floor.  But when they went to enter they were stopped at the door because the doorkeeper could not find their names written in the guest book.  As it turns out, he had failed to respond to the rsvp and because his name was not found in the book, he and his wife were turned away.  Revelation 20:15 warns us  "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  What a sad event it would be to be turned away from the gates of heaven because you had never accepted Christ and had your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  We have previously shared in this blog about C. Austin Miles (1868  - 1946) who wrote the words to this week's song choice in 1910.  Miles worked as a pharmacist until he left that field and became senior editor and manager at the Hall-Mack Publishing Company where he worked for 37 years.  It is said that he wrote the words to at least 398 songs and the music to at least eight more.  His best known song is probably "In the Garden."  This week's choice is an upbeat song that was often sung by gospel quartets, especially at special events such as camp meetings.  It expresses the joy  and assurance that occurs when we come to Jesus and we are forgiven and made whole.  Then our names are entered in His Book of Life and someday we will enter into His home because we have accepted what He did for us on the cross - Saved by grace!  Is your name written there?  If you've trusted Christ, you can take "mine" out of the chorus and sing it with your own name in its place!

1      I was once a sinner, but I came 

Pardon to receive from my Lord. 

This was freely given, and I found 

That He always kept His word. 

Chorus:

There's a new name Written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!)

And the white-robed Angels sing the story, 

"A sinner has come home." (home, has come home." 

For there's a new name written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!) 

With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, 

Nevermore to roam.

2      I was humbly kneeling at the cross, 

Fearing naught but God's angry frown, 

When the heavens opened and I saw 

That my name was written down. 

Chorus:

There's a new name Written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!)

And the white-robed Angels sing the story, 

"A sinner has come home." (home, has come home." 

For there's a new name written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!) 

With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, 

Nevermore to roam.

3      In the Book 'tis written, "Saved by grace." 

Oh the joy that came to my soul! 

Now I am forgiven, and I know 

By the blood I am made whole.

Chorus:

There's a new name Written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!)

And the white-robed Angels sing the story, 

"A sinner has come home." (home, has come home." 

For there's a new name written down in glory, 

And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 

oh yes, it's mine! (yes, it's mine!) 

With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, 

Nevermore to roam.

Listen to it here      NEW NAME

THANK YOU LORD (TH #24)

TIMELESS HYMN #24 - A special feature where I highlight some of my favorite hymns that I have featured previously in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for your encouragement and challenge. This hymn was originally shared here on November 23, 2008.

          When we come to November we generally think of Thanksgiving Day and then one of the choruses that often comes to mind is "Thank you Lord for saving my soul."  Many of us have sung this familiar chorus for years, especially in prayer meetings.  But many don't realize that the writers, Seth and Bessie Sykes, also wrote three verses to accompany the chorus.  The Sykes were evangelists who were well known in the United Kingdom. Seth was actually a tram conductor but in 1929 he resigned so that he and his wife could travel to mission churches with their barrel organ.  They sang and preached, retelling stories from the Bible with lantern slides.  The Sykes wrote a number of hymns and choruses to use in their services. Seth wrote the lyrics and Bessie usually wrote the music.  This chorus was written in 1940 in a railway carriage between Edinburgh and Glassgo.  It  has been wonderfully used of God and has been translated into more than 70 different languages.  It has been  sung both on radio and television throughout the world.  In an age when it is more common to be bitter, complaining, and self-absorbed, sometimes we often are so guilty of living thankless lives.  Our hearts should be flowing with thanks, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives.  When I led Awana I often had to remind our Awana clubbers that it was appropriate to say "thank you" when they received their awards.  Unfortunately, being thankful isn't natural  and thankfulness is not often taught or modeled today.  But are we really any different?  How often do we forget to be thankful, to friends, family members or especially the Lord?  The scripture says "in everything give thanks". And when we stop and think about what God has done for us, our hearts should be filled with thanksgiving.  Maybe the words of these verses will help remind us of the many things we should be thankful for ... friends, home, mercies, flowers, stars ... but most importantly, our salvation, so rich and free.   Thank you Lord!

1)   Some thank the Lord for friends and home,

For mercies sure and sweet;

But I would praise Him for His grace

In prayer I would repeat:

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(2)   Some thank Him for the flow'rs that grow,

Some for the stars that shine;

My heart is filled with joy and praise,

Because I know He's mine.

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(3)    I trust in Him from day to day,

I prove His saving grace;

I'll sing this song of praise to Him

Until I see His face. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

You can listen to it here      LISTEN