MY HOME SWEET HOME

          Many of us have wonderful memories of our home while we were growing up.  We remember the safety and warmth of those days and the love of our parents and family.  There was something special about home and I guess at times we may even wish that we could live those days once again.  But we can't.  My home where I lived while growing up has been sold.  Mother and dad and my brother are now in heaven.  All that I have now are the wonderful memories.  And if you don't have such memories, you probably at east have had experiences of vacations and trips and the joy of again coming home.  Home is where you belong.  Home is a special place.  But as we travel as pilgrims through our days here on earth, we should have a longing for our future home in heaven - a place that is being prepared for us where we will be with Jesus and where there will be no more pain or suffering.  It will be a place of eternal joy. "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Revelation 21:23).  Rev. N. B. Vandall (1896 - 1970)  recognized the longing for heaven when in 1926 he penned the words of "My Home Sweet Home".  He was an evangelist with the Church of the Nazarene and was converted to Christ at a camp meeting in Ohio in 1920.  He also wrote the song "After" ("After the toil and heat of the day".)  In his second stanza of this week's hymn choice, Rev. Vandall noted two of the joys that await us in the heavenly city. First, we will be reunited with loved ones who have gone before (I Thessalonians 4:17; 2:19). And, second, we will participate with them in a ceremony of worship and praise described in the book of Revelation (Rev. 4:10-11). The final stanza reflects upon the brevity of this human life. Our pilgrim journey will soon end and believers will move on to our new home.  That is certainly an important event for the unsaved to  consider. Will your future home be the sweet home of heaven?  That is a choice which you must make today while you still can.   Will we see you in that beautiful, beautiful home with Him who loved you so?  I certainly hope so.

1.     Walking along life's road one day,

I heard a voice so sweetly say,

"A place up in heav'n I am building thee,

A beautiful, beautiful home."

Home, sweet home, home, sweet home –

Where I'll never roam!

I see the light of that city so bright  –

My home, sweet home.

2.     Loved ones upon that shore I'll meet,

Casting their crowns at Jesus' feet;

I'll worship and praise Him for evermore

In my beautiful, beautiful home

Home, sweet home, home, sweet home –

Where I'll never roam!

I see the light of that city so bright –

My home, sweet home..

3.     Life's day is short – I soon shall go

To be with Him who loved me so;

I see in the distance that shining shore,

My beautiful, beautiful home.

Home, sweet home, home, sweet home –

Where I'll never roam!

I see the light of that city so bright –

My home, sweet home.

Listen to it here.     HOME

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

        Those of us who are believers and have lived our lives in the United States have seldom faced any real opposition or persecution for our faith.  Over the years Christianity has generally been accepted or at least tolerated here.  But in recent years things have begun to change as the culture has begun to adopt and support numerous non-Biblical principles.  And Christians who object to these are called intolerant, bigoted and divisive.  Sometimes it is now very hard to take a stand. for the truth of the Bible.  But we shouldn't be surprised for Paul talked about this many years ago in 1 Corinthians 1:18- 24. "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."  This week's song reminds us of the world that we live in but also of God's great faithfulness and love for us.  He bore pain, ridicule and persecution for us as He went to Calvary to provide our redemption and our eternal life with Him.  How then can we not boldly stand for and with Him and not be ashamed?   "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. "  Romans1:16.  Is that verse your testimony and experience?

1.     We're an anchor for those who are hurting

Seems we're a harbor for those who are lost

And sometimes its not always easy bearing Calvary's cross

We've been ridiculed by those who don't know Him

Sometimes we're mocked by those who don't believe

Still I love standing up for my Jesus

'Cause of all that He's done for me

(Chorus]

That's why I am not ashamed of the gospel

The gospel of Jesus Christ

No, I am not afraid to be counted

But I'm willing to give my life

See I'm ready to be

All He wants me to be

Give up the wrong for the right

No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

2.     For every moment His hand has held mercy

And for all the love that He's shown all my life

A simple thanks doesn't say how I'm feeling

I get tears in my eyes

So as for me, I've made up my mind to keep on believing

In the One who's been so faithful

I'm not out to please this whole world around me

I've got my mind on eternity

(Chorus]

That's why I am not ashamed of the gospel

The gospel of Jesus Christ

No, I am not afraid to be counted

But I'm willing to give my life

See I'm ready to be

All He wants me to be

Give up the wrong for the right

No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

I've got too much behind me

To let this world blind me

To some He's just a name

But to me, He's my everything

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ

No, I am not ashamed of the gospel

Oh, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Listen to it here     NOT ASHAMED

HE'S BEEN FAITHFUL

          While there is always a danger of living in the past, sometimes it is important to look back and remember how God was always there when you needed Him.  He is a faithful God and being reminded of how He has been faithful to you can be an encouragement as you face the challenges of tomorrow.  He has promised never to leave us or forsake us and He never has.  He has promised to lead us and provide all that we need, and He always has. This was the experience of Carol Cymbal, especially as she and her husband Jim established a ministry in a tough inner-city neighborhood in New York City.  Despite being shy and never learning to read music, she wrote many great Gospel songs while leading the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  But life was filled with many difficult challenges for them. The Cymbalas prayed and praised and preached their way through a personal two-year nightmare. Their teenage daughter Chrissy had turned her back on the God they loved and served so faithfully. And before her daughter's dramatic return to the Lord, Carol wrote "He's Been Faithful".  Carol refers to it as "a song of hope born in the midst of my pain".   While hurting deeply, Carol said that her song "became like a balm to my heart, strengthening me once again." The words she wrote during that time helped her to move forward. Although her daughter had not yet come back to the Lord, Carol could praise Him for His loving faithfulness in her own life.   Later, when Chrissy showed up at home and fell to her knees begging forgiveness, the truth of Psalm 119:90 ("Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.") became real to Carol. God is faithful not just to our generation, but to all generations! Carol also experienced in a new way a line of her own song that has blessed so many: "What I thought was impossible, I've seen my God do!"  Are you facing some impossible situations?  Then remember how God has worked in your life over the years and how, as a loving Father, He will continue to be faithful to you as you trust Him.  Meditate on these powerful words of Carol's testimony and remember that this should also be your testimony.

In my own suffering

Through every pain every tear

There's a God who's been faithful to me

When my strength was all gone

When my heart had no song

Still in love He's proved faithful to me

Every word He's promised is true

What I thought was impossible

I've seen my God do

He's been faithful

Faithful to me

Looking back He's love and mercy I see

Though in my heart I have questioned

And failed to believe

He's been faithful, faithful to me

When my heart looked away

The many times I could not pray

Still my God was faithful to me

The days are spent so selfishly

Reaching out for what pleased me

Even then God was faithful to me

Every time I come back to Him

He is waiting for open arms

And I see once again

He's been faithful

Faithful to me

Looking back He's love and mercy I see

Though in my heart I have questioned

Even failed to believe

Yet He's been faithful, faithful to me

Listen to it here.    LISTEN

BE THOU MY VISION (TH#26)

 TIMELESS HYMN #26 - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith originally shared on January 6, 2013..

          When beginning a new year, many folks like to make resolutions for the year ahead.  They vow to lose weight, to exercise more, to follow a budget, to get out of debt, to spend more time with loved ones, and a variety of other interesting goals.  Unfortunately, many of these resolutions are quickly broken or forgotten as the weeks pass.  But for those who do have the discipline to follow through, their lives can be enriched and improved.  Whether you make resolutions or not, let me suggest that this week's hymn choice might be an appropriate prayer or goal for your spiritual life during 2019.   St. Patrick (385-461 AD) as a missionary was a man zealous for the things of God.  Among other things, he chose to defy a king's edict that restricted the lighting of candles on Easter Eve. The king had decreed that no one was allowed to light any fires until a pagan spring festival was started by the lighting of a fire on Slane Hill. But Patrick decided to honor God in spite of  the threat of death. It is said that the king was so impressed with Patrick's brave devotion that he let him continue his missionary work unhindered.   An 8th century monk, Dallan Forgaill, penned the words to Be Thou My Vision, as a tribute to St. Patrick's loyalty to God. The hymn was translated from Irish to English in 1905 by Mary E. Byrne. In 1912, Eleanor H. Hull arranged the song into the verses most commonly found in English hymnals today. The music to accompany the lyrics is an ancient Irish folk tune called Slane.  The words of each verse are powerful reminders of what our desires as Christians should be each day of our lives. They would make good goals for each of us. Meditate carefully on each verse this week and make them your prayer today and throughout 2019.  May He indeed be your Vision.

(1)   Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

(2)   Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

(3)   Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

(4)   Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

(5)   High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Listen to it being sung here.   BE THOU