GOD OF GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY

          Today believers are increasingly under attack and facing many difficult challenges as the culture changes and public support of Christianity declines.  And I believe that an an appropriate prayer by believers should be "grant us wisdom, grant us courage ... for the facing of this hour ...for the living of these days ...lest we miss thy kingdom's goals ... that we fail not them nor Thee ... serving Thee whom we adore."  More than ever we need wisdom to be discerning when so many conflicting ideas abound.  And believers need the courage to take a stand for the Truth when it is not popular or accepted.  Harry Emerson Fosdick  (1978 - 1969) was the author of this week's hymn choice which shares this prayer.  Fosdick was ordained in 1903 as a Baptist minister and while it is said that he was a man of great talent, He was also controversial.  However John D. Rockefeller recognized his talent and asked him to serve as pastor of Park Avenue Baptist Church.  Fosdick refused, in part because of Rockefeller's wealth and in part because Park Avenue Baptist Church was too swank.  Rockefeller didn't give up though, and finally persuaded Fosdick to be the pastor of a new church that he would build in a more modest area near Harlem - Riverside Church.  After gaining a number of concessions, Fosdick finally agreed.  He wrote "God of Grace and God of Glory" to be sung at the opening service of that church. This hymn is a prayer - a prayer for God to bestow power upon the church - and wisdom - and courage "for the facing of this hour."  The hour that they were facing at that time was the Great Depression - an economic disaster that drained the nation of life and hope.  "For the facing of this hour," however, is a timeless phrase, because there is never a time when we do not need God's help. "Save us from weak resignation" is an important part of the prayer.  We are always tempted to believe that the evils that we face far outstrip our resources to deal with them.  We are tempted to retreat into a safe place and wait for the storm to blow over. But evil unopposed doesn't blow over.  Now Fostick was said to be a liberal preacher.  Unfortunately, often we don't know the precise theological convictions of many hymn writers.  But in reviewing the words of Fostick's hymn, I personally could not find any words or thoughts that I felt weren't scriptural.  So I have chosen to include it here since I think it is a prayer that is needed today more than ever. I hope that you will agree.  "Grant us wisdom, grant us courage."

1. God of grace and God of glory,

on thy people pour thy power;

crown the ancient church's story;

bring its bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the facing of this hour,

for the facing of this hour.

2. Lo! the hosts of evil round us,

scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!

From the fears that long have bound us,

free our hearts to love and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the living of these days,

for the living of these days.

3. Cure thy children's warring madness,

bend our pride to thy control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

lest we miss thy kingdom's goal,

lest we miss thy kingdom's goal.

4. Set our feet on lofty places;

gird our lives that they may be

armored with all Christlike graces,

pledged to set all captives free.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

that we fail not them nor thee,

that we fail not them nor thee!

5. Save us from weak resignation

to the evils we deplore;

let the gift of your salvation

be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

serving thee whom we adore,

serving thee whom we adore.

Listen to it here.    GOD OF GRACE

I AM AMAZED THAT GOD COULD EVER LOVE ME

        One of the scripture verses that has always challenged me is Romans 5:8, "But God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Now I think that most of us could comprehend dying for one that we loved, such as a spouse or a child.  But to die for one living in sin, that is unthinkable and amazing.  And yet, that is what Christ did for us, while we were unworthy sinners.  And that truth is what stirred Alfred Ackley (1887-1960) to pen the words of this song in 1932.  He simply called it, "Amazed".  His brother, Bentley DeForest Ackley, provided the tune.  A. H. Ackley's father taught him music and he also studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.  A graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1914.  He served churches in Pennsylvania and California and worked with the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic team.  It is said that he wrote around 1500 hymns.  But this one really celebrates the wonderful love and the amazing grace of God, His great salvation and His eternal blessings.   As we consider all that God provided for us, while we were yet sinners, we too should be amazed that God could ever love us enough to provide salvation for us.  Meditate upon these truths this week and be amazed at what God hath done for us.

1.    I am amazed that God could ever love me,

So full of sin, so covered o'er with shame;

Make me to walk with Him who is above me,

Cleansed by the pow'r of His redeeming name.

2.   I am amazed that God would ever save me,

Naught but the cross could take away my sin;

Through faith in Christ, eternal life He gave me,

Now He abides forevermore within.

3.    I am amazed that God should grant salvation,

To such as I and all who heed His word;

Eternal life to ev'ry land and nation,

This is the wondrous message we have heard.

Listen to it here.    AMAZED

LEAD ME GENTLY HOME

          We all have different experiences and challenges during our journey here on earth.   Some experiences are joyful successes and some disappointing failures.  Some folks develop and enjoy good relationships while others find some relationships very difficult.  Often we face sorrowful losses such as the loss of loved ones or good friends.  As we grow older we often face difficult physical challenges that we never anticipated. Sometimes discouragement, depression or bitterness can develop in our lives. Throughout our journey here we often encounter various temptations.  Unfortunately, sometimes we give in to those temptations and that keeps us from finishing well.  Sadly, too many believers have seen their testimony and reputation spoiled by making wrong choices later in life. The journey isn't always easy. Because of all these challenges it is comforting to have a guide who leads us gently along our path to our final destination  Psalm 23: 2,3 reminds us, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  This week's hymn choice is a prayer to ask our heavenly Father to gently lead us through our life's journey and to our final home.  I used to think that this hymn was really about our final hours when the Lord was about to take us home.  Certainly those are days that we all wonder about, and sometimes worry about.  Will it be sudden? Will we go through months and years of suffering? How and when will it happen?  But the Lord will be there to lead us gently through that time.  But as I examine the verses of the hymn I believe that this is a prayer for His leading throughout our entire life. "In life's darkest hours ... When life's troubles come ... Keep my feet from wandering, lest from Thee I roam ... Lest I fall upon the wayside ... Lead me gently home."  Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909) penned these words in 1879.  Rebuffed in an early attempt to sell his songs to a commercial publishing company, he started his own publishing company.  He later expanded to sell pianos, organs and sheet music.  Among his most well known hymns are "Jesus Is All the World to Me", "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling", and "There 's a Great Day Coming".  I don't know the events that led him to compose "Lead Me Gently Home, Father", but I can assume that it was based on his personal experiences on his journey as well as scripture verses such as Psalm 23, or "Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face." (Psalm 5:8).  "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24). Our prayer should be to wait on Him, not getting ahead of His hand and not seeking our on path on our journey: "Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." (Ps 25:4-5).   May our Father daily gently lead us on our journey and one day bring us safely to our eternal home

1      Lead me gently home, Father,

Lead me gently home;

When life's toils are ended,

And parting days have come,

Sin no more shall tempt me,

Ne'er from Thee I'll roam,

If Thou'll only lead me, Father,

Lead me gently home. 

Refrain:

Lead me gently home, Father,

Lead me gently home, Father,

Lest I fall upon the wayside,

Lead me gently home. 

2      Lead me gently home, Father,

Lead me gently home;

In life's darkest hours, Father,

When life's troubles come,

Keep my feet from wandering,

Lest from Thee I roam,

Lest I fall upon the wayside,

Lead me gently home. 

Refrain:

Lead me gently home, Father,

Lead me gently home, Father,

Lest I fall upon the wayside,

Lead me gently home

Listen to it here    LEAD ME

SOME GOLDEN DAYBREAK (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - A special feature where I repeat and highlight some of my favorite hymns that have been featured previously in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for our encouragement and challenge.  This hymn was first shared here on January 24, 2010.

          
          The rapture and heaven were major topics of older hymns. If you look at many of these hymns you will find that the final verse often takes up these themes and the hymn ends with a message of hope for the future. And many hymns, like this week's choice, expand the theme and the hope that Christians have in the midst of the turmoil of daily life here on earth. I admit that I really miss that message in much of today's music, maybe it is my age or maybe it is my recent experiences.  But thinking about and singing about the rapture and heaven comforts my heart as it has done for many believers over the years. While preaching on the radio on the subject of the second coming of Christ, the Rev. C.A. Blackmore was outlining some of the marvelous things that would happen to Christians at the rapture. A lady who had been bedridden for twenty-three years heard the message and wrote, "Will I really be well? Will all pain and sorrow actually be gone?"  Blackmore replied, "Yes, my friend, some glorious day, when Jesus comes, you will fly from that bed with all the vigor of youth and never know pain again." Blackmore's son, Carl, was greatly impressed with the reality of this coming event. As he pondered the glorious prospect, the words and melody of a chorus took form in his mind, and he said to his father, "Dad, you should write some verses for this chorus." After much prayer, early one morning, unable to sleep as he anticipated the thrill of the rapture, the elder Blackmore rose from his bed and wrote the verses of "Some Golden Daybreak." As the song became known, it grew in popularity. But, unfortunately, I haven't heard it sung in public for many years. But that doesn't change the truth of its message. Think about the hope in the words of this week's hymn choice.  What a day that will be!  It could even be today!  Lord, come quickly!

(1) Some glorious morning sorrow will cease

Some glorious morning all will be peace

Heartaches all ended, school days all done

Heaven will open - Jesus will come

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come

Some golden daybreak, battles all won

He'll shout the vict'ry, break thro' the blue

Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.

(2) Sad hearts will gladden, all shall be bright

Goodbye forever to earth's dark night

Changed in a moment, like Him to be

Oh, glorious daybreak, Jesus I'll see

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come

Some golden daybreak, battles all won

He'll shout the vict'ry, break thro' the blue

Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.

(3) Oh, what a meeting, there in the skies

No tears nor crying shall dim our eyes

Loved ones united eternally

Oh, what a daybreak that morn will be

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come

Some golden daybreak, battles all won

He'll shout the vict'ry, break thro' the blue

Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.

Listen to it here   DAYBREAK