THANK YOU LORD

        "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  This is a powerful and important command.  But let's be honest, how often do we obey and claim this truth, especially when difficult events unfold in our lives?  I must admit that I have often had trouble doing so when I have been hit with troubling situations.  Did I thank the Lord when my mother died in an auto accident?  Did I thank Him when my brother died of cancer?  Did I thank Him when my wife needed heart surgery?  Did I thank Him when my cancer grew worse?  I must admit that I probably didn't at the times those things happened.  But later on, as I grew in the Lord and learned more about the will of God in my life, I was able to thank Him for taking me through these trials and teaching me important lessons.  I am often reminded of Romans 8:28 where we are told that ALL things work together for good for God's children.  Dan Burgess must have learned similar lessons which led him to write the words of this week's worship song.  "I thank You Lord for the trials that come my way, in that way I can grow each day as I let You lead."  The Lord has promised never to let us go through trials that are too much for us to bear.  And He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He is the same God that was with the thee young men in the fiery furnace and with Daniel in the Den of Lions.  "But it goes against the way I am to put my human nature down and let the spirit take control of all I do, cause when those trials come my human nature shouts the things to do and God's soft prompting can be easily ignored."   And if you are like me, this is so often true.  But God has so much yet to teach us and going through these trials is one way to learn these vital lessons.  So we do need to  learn to thank Him for being with us and helping us to grow in Him as we experience these trials.  Lord, thank you for the trials that bring me closer to you.  Thank you for your presence in these times and for the guidance, strength, peace and comfort that you provide.

I thank You Lord

for the trials that come my way

in that way I can grow each day

as I let You lead

and I thank you Lord

for the patience those trials bring

in the process of growing

I can learn to care

But it goes against the way I am

to put my human nature down

and let the spirit

take control of all I do

cause when those trials come my

human nature shouts the things to do

and God's soft prompting

can be easily ignored

I thank you lord with

each trial I feel inside

that you're there to help lead

and guide me away from wrong

Cause you promised Lord

that with ev'ry testing

that your way of escaping

is easier to bear

But it goes against the way I am

to put my human nature down

and let the spirit

take control of all I do

cause when those trials come my

human nature shouts the things to do

and God's soft prompting

can be easily ignored

I thank you Lord for the

vict'ry that growing brings

in surrender of ev'rything

life is so worthwhile

and I thank you Lord that

when ev'rthing's put in place

out in front I can see your

face and it's there you belong

Listen to it here.      TRIALS

Dan Burgess had a special meeting with Cynthia Clawson and Brian Mann who discussed and performed this number.  You can listen to this special event here.   BURGESS

OH IT IS WONDERFUL

          Throughout our lives we encounter many things which really excite us such as the birth of a child, a job promotion, a victory by a favorite team, a special vacation or falling in love.  But all of these pale in the light of the love that Jesus showed in what He has done for us.  Who else would give his life to save helpless sinners?  In 1898 Charles Gabriel (1856-1932) penned his reaction in the words  "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me ... That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled, and died."  He went on to add a chorus which says "Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me!  Enough to die for me!  Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"  And indeed His love is amazing and wonderful and that should be a theme of our hearts every day. Gabriel was born in Wilton, Iowa, and raised on a farm. His father led singing schools in their home and young Charles developed an interest in music. It is said that he taught himself to play the family's reed organ. Even though he never had any formal training in music, he began about the age of 17 to travel and lead his own shape note singing schools in various locations.  He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are still available in 21st century hymnals. He used several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, Charles Marsh and S. B. Jackson and as a result he often doesn't get recognized for writing familiar hymns such as "O That Will Be Glory", "He is So Precious to Me", "He Lifted Me", "The Way of the Cross Leads Home", "Just When I Need Him Most", "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart",  "I Need Jesus", and  "Send The Light".  In this week's hymn choice Gabriel marvels at how Jesus transcended from His throne divine to extend His great love to sinners such as us.  He is amazed that He would be pierced and die to pay our debt.  And he looks forward to the day when He will praise and adore the Lord and kneel at the glorified throne. And those realities should make us raise our hearts and voices in amazement saying, Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!  Yes, it is amazing and wonderful!

1.     I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me;

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified—

That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled, and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me!

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2.     I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine,

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine;

That He should extend His great love unto such as I;

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me!

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

3.     I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no! I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me!

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY

        Recently I was going through a phase where I was very discouraged.  My wife and I had been facing a number of physical challenges, including surgeries.   Now we were facing more problems - they just didn't seem to end.  And because of these we had to cancel a favorite vacation trip that we had looked forward to.  I must admit that at times I began to question where God was in all of this.  But I knew down deep that He was there and that He cared.  So I  sat down to listen to some old hymns and decided to play a new CD that had just arrived - "Hymns From Home" by the Collingsworth Family (see link below).  And the Lord ministered to me through these old hymns which I used to sing earlier in my life.  I miss them.  But the one that I needed the most at that point was "Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary".  I hadn't heard that one in years.  It was written in 1952 by John M. Moore who was raised by godly parents and accepted Christ when he was sixteen years old.  In his own words he described how this week's hymn was written.  

          "The company secretary of a large shipping firm telephoned the Seaman's Chapel and requested that I visit a young merchant seaman who was lying critically ill in a Glasgow hospital. After getting permission from the nursing sister, I went in to visit the young sailor. I talked for a few moments and then put my hand in my case for a tract, not knowing which one I would pull out. It happened to be a tract based on 'Pilgrim's Progress', with a color reproduction of Pilgrim coming to the cross with a great burden on his back. I showed the young seaman this picture and told him the story in brief, adding that Pilgrim's experience had been my experience too. I explained that when I came to the cross of Christ, my burden rolled away and my sense of sin and guilt before God was removed. He nodded his head when I asked him, 'Do you feel this burden on your back today?' We prayed together and never shall I forget the smile of peace and assurance that lit up his face when he said that his burden was lifted!  Later that night, sitting by the fireside with paper and pen, I could not get the thought out of my mind - his burden is lifted! I started writing, but never for a moment did I imagine that this little hymn would become a favorite."  

          Are you carrying a burden of sin?  If you are, come to the Lord and He will take it.  Or are you carrying the burdens that are part of life, like I was?  Then give those burdens to the Lord and experience the peace that only He can give.  This song not only reminds us that our sin burden was lifted at Calvary, but it also reminds us that Jesus can do the "heavy lifting" of our other burdens. He has commanded us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us.  He takes the burden and the worry and the care of those problems, and He carries them for us.

1.     Days are filled with sorrow and care

Hearts are lonely and drear

Burdens are Lifted at Calvary

Jesus is very near

Chorus:

Burdens are lifted at Calvary

Calvary, Calvary 

Burdens are lifted at Calvary 

Jesus is very near

2.     Cast your care on Jesus today

Leave your worry and fear 

Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary

Jesus is very near

Chorus:

Burdens are lifted at Calvary

Calvary, Calvary 

Burdens are lifted at Calvary 

Jesus is very near

3.     Troubled soul, the Savior can see 

Every heartache and tear 

Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary

Jesus is very near 

Chorus:

Burdens are lifted at Calvary

Calvary, Calvary 

Burdens are lifted at Calvary 

Jesus is very near

Listen to it here    CALVARY

THERE IS ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN #31- A special feature where I highlight some of my favorite hymns that I have previously featured in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for your encouragement and challenge. This hymn was originally shared here on January 18, 2009.

         My father-in-law was called home eleven years ago at the age of 96 and he had requested that this hymn be played or sung at his funeral.  Written by Ira Stamphill, the message of the hymn is one that my father-in-law shared with almost everyone he met.  He knew that the Lord had made him a new creation and the desire of his heart was to see others come to the Lord and experience the same transformation that he did.  He often shared that the Lord had pulled him out of the miry clay and set his feet on the rock to stay.  And indeed the Lord had done that to him. His transformation was amazing. While we felt that he definitely had the gift of evangelism, he denied this.  He said that all Christians had the mandate to share the Gospel and that he was only doing what the Lord called him to do. He fearlessly shared the good news with everyone in a gentle, loving manner.  And many responded and accepted the Lord as their Savior.  So in memory of him and his faithful life before the Lord, I felt that I needed to again share this hymn and this message with others.  He would have wanted this. The hymn has an important reminder for those who have never accepted the free gift of salvation.  We don't know how many years, days, hours or even minutes one might have remaining to make this eternal decision.  But at this moment there is still room at the cross for you to do so. So, if you've never experienced the joy of the new life in Christ, then today there is still time to do it. His grace is so free and sufficient for you. Accept Him today, don't put it off another minute.  You can experience the joy of sins forgiven and a new direction in life.  Don't delay.

(1)    The cross upon which Jesus died

Is a shelter in which we can hide

And its grace so free is sufficient for me

And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.

Chorus:

There's room at the cross for you

There's room at the cross for you

Though millions have come, there's still room for one

Yes there's room at the cross for you.

(2)   Though millions have found him a friend

And have turned from the sins they have sinned

The Savior still waits to open the gates

And welcome a sinner before it's too late.

Chorus:

There's room at the cross for you

There's room at the cross for you

Though millions have come, there's still room for one

Yes there's room at the cross for you.

(3)   The hand of my Savior is strong

And the love of my Savior is long

Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,

The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

Chorus:

There's room at the cross for you

There's room at the cross for you

Though millions have come, there's still room for one

Yes there's room at the cross for you.

You can listen to it here.  ROOM