I'VE FOUND A FRIEND, OH, SUCH A FRIEND!

          If you have a good friend in this life, you are very fortunate.  Good friends are few and far between.  It is special to have one with whom you can safely share your joys, your sorrows and your prayer needs.  But if you don't have such a friend here, the scriptures remind us, in Proverbs 18:24, that "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother", and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.  And this is the message of this week's hymn, "I've found a friend, oh such a friend, He loved me ere I knew Him." The writer, James Grindlay Small (1817-1888), was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he attended university, studying theology under a Dr. Thomas Chalmers. Small later served as pastor of a church, but it is said that certain peculiarities of speech and manner in the pulpit kept him from being a success there. However, he was a gentle and godly man. Other clergymen recognized his sincerity and ability and he was made clerk of the presbytery. He also published several volumes of poetry.  His first book was "Hymns for Youthful Voices", published in 1859. This hymn, originally called "Jesus the Friend", was probably published four years later in "The Revival Hymnbook", although some say it first  appeared in "Psalms and Sacred Songs" in 1866.  This hymn undoubtedly is the personal experience of its author.  Many a Christian could probably testify that this hymn has either been the means, through the Holy Spirit, of bringing them to Christ, or it has warmed and blessed them as he has journeyed through this cold and heartless world.  In his hymn Small shares how the Lord loves us as our friend.  I especially love the thoughts of the first verse were he reminds us of the important truth  that before we loved Christ, He loved us. Before we even knew Him, or knew about Him, He loved us.  Romans 5:8 reminds us "that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  What great love.  And if we are joined to Him by a bond of eternal love, it stands to reason that the Lord will do everything necessary to guide and protect us, in order to deliver us safely into our eternal home.  Yes, we are His, forever.  I can't help but think of another great hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus!".  What more could we want?  Rejoice in that truth this week.

1     I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!

  He loved me ere I knew Him;

He drew me with the cords of love,

  And thus He bound me to Him.

And round my heart still closely twine

  Those ties which naught can sever,

For I am His, and He is mine,

  Forever and forever.

2     I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!

  He bled, He died to save me;

And not alone the gift of life,

  But His own self He gave me.

Naught that I have my own I call,

  I hold it for the Giver;

My heart, my strength, my life, my all,

  Are His, and His forever.

3.     I've found a friend, O such a friend!

All power to Him is given,

To guard me on my onward course,

And bring me safe to Heaven.

The eternal glories gleam afar,

To nerve my faint endeavor;

So now to watch, to work, to war,

And then to rest forever.

4.     I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!

  So kind, and true, and tender,

So wise a Counselor and Guide,

  So mighty a Defender!

From Him who loves me now so well,

  What power my soul can sever?

Shall life or death, or earth or hell?

  No? I am His forever.

Listen to it sung here.    FRIEND

FAIREST LORD JESUS

        One of the oldest  and most beautiful hymns of the Christian faith is "Fairest Lord Jesus", also sometimes known as "Beautiful Savior".   It has been sung by children and worshippers for centuries and yet very little is known of its origin or history.  It is sometimes called "The Crusaders' Hymn" because of a legend that it was sung by twelfth century German crusaders as they made their journey to fight the Moslems in Palestine.  But many historians dismiss that and feel that any association with the Crusades is completely erroneous. The text is now considered by some to be an anonymous seventeenth century German folk hymn which first appeared in a manuscript dated 1662 from Muenster in Westphalia.  While we don't know who actually wrote the song or when it was written, many different opinions exist.  But, no matter, it remains a classic hymn of worship and praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The hymn is an acknowledgment that Jesus is more precious, more beautiful, more glorious than anything else in the world. It's an ascription of primacy to Jesus Christ above everything in terms of value. It's not unlike the text from Philippians 3:1-11, in which the Apostle Paul says that he counts everything else rubbish in comparison to the greatness of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. This devotional hymn is all focused on the glory of Jesus Christ. There's also an acknowledgment that He's the ruler of all nations, so it's an acknowledgment of His sovereign rule over the world, and that He is the Son of God and Son of man. This goes right back to the earliest confessions of the church that Jesus was fully human and fully divine.   it also expresses the love of the hymn singer to Christ, "Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou my soul's glory, joy, and crown."  it's all about desiring Christ in all His glory, and valuing Christ more than anything else in the world.  Whenever we sing this song we should reflect on the virtues of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is worthy of our praise. In fact, as God, He is worthy of our worship. Therefore, may we ever be willing to confess Him before men as our "Fairest Lord Jesus."

1     Fairest Lord Jesus, 

ruler of all nature, 

O thou of God and man the Son, 

Thee will I cherish, 

Thee will I honor, 

thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown

.

2     Fair are the meadows, 

fairer still the woodlands, 

robed in the blooming garb of spring: 

Jesus is fairer, 

Jesus is purer 

who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3     Fair is the sunshine, 

fairer still the moonlight, 

and all the twinkling starry host: 

Jesus shines brighter, 

Jesus shines purer 

than all the angels heaven can boast.

4     Beautiful Savior! 

Lord of all the nations! 

Son of God and Son of Man! 

Glory and honor, 

praise, adoration, 

now and forevermore be thine.

Listen to it here.   FAIREST 1

FAIREST 2

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS

          There have been so many great hymns written over the years about the love of God.  His love is so amazing and powerful that we should never tire of worshipping and thanking Him by singing these songs.  The one I've chosen this week is one without much written history.  The author is said to be unknown.  It is classified as a Christian folk hymn, sometimes described as a "white spiritual" because it is believed to have come from the American South.  The text was first published in 1811 in Lynchburg, Virginia in a camp meeting songbook. Its melody is derived from a popular English ballad.  In an 1848 hymnal the text is attributed to a Methodist pastor from Georgia named Alexander Means, but there is really no historical confirmation of this.  It is interesting to note that In 1952, American composer and musicologist Charles F. Bryan included "What Wondrous Love Is This" in his folk opera Singin' Billy. In 1966, the United Methodist Book of Hymns became the first standard hymnal to incorporate this hymn.  But no matter who wrote it, the words remind us of how wondrous is God's love to us.  The author wriote how the Lord came to bear the dreadful curse for our souls. He shares how Christ laid aside His crown for our souls when we were sinking down beneath God's righteous frown.  We were hopeless without this wondrous sacrifice from God's love.  He concludes by reminding us that we should sing and thank God and the Lamb, the great "I Am", and join the millions whose lives have been transformed by this wondrous love.  Whether we sing this powerful hymn or a simple chorus such as Jesus Loves Me, our praise and thanksgiving for the gift of His love and salvation should be on our lips every day.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:15.  "God demonstrated His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8  What wondrous love is this!

1    What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

2    When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, O my soul!

When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

3    To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.

To God and to the Lamb who is the great "I AM,"

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,

while millions join the theme, I will sing.

You can listen to it here.   WHAT WONDROUS

LORD YOU'RE HOLY (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN  - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith - Lord You're Holy  - originally shared on January 3, 2016.

          This week I have chosen to feature a praise song that really speaks to my heart every time that I hear it.  I first heard this shared in a concert by a group called "Calling Levi" at a concert at the Pinebrook Bible Conference. It has been a favorite of mine ever since.  Maybe because it is relatively new, I have been unable to find any reliable information about its author or the story behind its writing.  I think it was probably written by Eddie James who accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of eight.  Just a year later he began to minister to others through music.  It is said that God placed a special burden on him to minister to those who are hurting and lost, with an extraordinary emphasis on youth and young adults.  Now this week's song is a tremendous song of worship and praise featuring the many names and attributes of our holy Lord.  And there is really nothing that I can add  in this blog since the words speak for themselves.  I just ask this that you listen to the link that I have provided.  And if you can listen to it, especially the parts about the attributes and names, without being stirred and touched, then there must be something missing in your relationship with  the Lord.  The truth and power of the message may cause you to raise your arms in praise and make tears of joy, praise and thanksgiving flow.  May this song be our daily prayer and testimony.  Lord you're holy!

As I look around and I see 

all the works, your hands have made, 

the awesomeness of you

and how your love will never fade. 

Mere words cannot express what I feel inside,

I can't even describe Your glory divine;

but as a token of my love, this is what I'll do,

I'll lift my hands and cry.

Lord, you're holy, Lord, you're holy

and we lift you up and magnify your name.

There's not enough words that I can say

to tell you how much I appreciate,

all of the wonderful things You've given me,

Your love, Your kindness, Your tender mercies

It's my desire to praise you

And tell you how much I love you

Your worthy of all the honor

And your worthy of all the praise

I don't know how you can love me

Why you give me so much mercy and 

How you would suffer and die for me 

way back on Calvary

But I thank you 

Your worthy of all the praise

Your Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous,

victorious conqueror, triumphant and mighty,

healer, deliverer, shield and defense,

my strong tower and my best friend,

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,

Your Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;

holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Your Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,

Your Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;

holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Holy is your name

We cry holy

You are Holy 

Holy is your name

Wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous,

victorious conqueror, triumphant and mighty,

healer, deliverer, shield and defense,

strong tower and my best friend,

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King,

Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything;

holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, soon coming King, 

You're Alpha, Omega, Lord of everything; 

holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Holy, You are holy 

Holy is your name

You are holy 

We cry holy

Holy is your name

Please take time to listen to this powerful rendition.  

YOU'RE HOLY