THE SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT ON HIGH

        "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" Psalm 19:1.  As a mathematician I am continuously amazed at our universe which for centuries has continued to operate with precision on a perfect schedule.  Because of the order in which it moves it is possible to accurately predict where stars and planets will be at any time in the future.  Low and high tides can be perfectly predicted. Incredible!  The moon moves around the earth every 27.3 days,  The moon orbits quite fast, 0.5 degrees per hour in the sky. In 24 hours it moves 13 degrees. The average distance between earth and the sun is 149.60 million km (92.96 million mi), and one complete orbit takes 365.256 days during which time earth has traveled 940 million km (584 million mi). There are about 10 billion galaxies in the observable universe! The number of stars in a galaxy varies, but assuming an average of 100 billion stars per galaxy means that there are about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that's 1 billion trillion) stars in the observable universe!  It is hard to even comprehend the size of the universe and how it moves.  But this we know - all of this spacious firmament was created and controlled by a God who also loves us and cares for us.  And that, too, is incredible.  A hymn which points out the need to be conscious of God as the one whose glory is declared by the heavens and the earth which He created is "The Spacious Firmament on High." The text was written by Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719). This great hymn, based on Ps. 19:1-6, appeared in The Spectator, a weekly paper edited by the author. It was appended to an article he wrote called "An Essay on the Proper Means of Strengthening and Confirming Faith in the Mind of Man." There, he said, "Faith and devotion naturally grow in the mind of every reasonable man, who sees the impression of divine power and wisdom in every object on which he casts his eye. The Supreme Being has made the best arguments for His own existence in the formation of the heavens and the earth. Appropriately, the tune used for the hymn, called Creation, is adapted from "The Heavens Are Telling," a chorus in the 1798 oratorio The Creation, by Franz Josef Haydn (1732 - 1809).  In Addison's hymn stanza 1 describes the day time sky.  Stanza 2 describes the night time sky and stanza 3 describes the silence of the celestial objects.  Let's make it a point this week to view and consider the spacious firmament created by our Father.  Then bow in worship and adoration to the Great Creator who also loved us enough to provide a way in which we can come into His presence.  May we never lose the awe of this truth.

1.     The spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame

Their great Original proclaim.

Th'unwearied sun, from day to day,

Does his creator's powers display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an almighty hand.

2.     Soon as the evening shades prevail

The moon takes up the wondrous tale,

And nightly to the listening earth

Repeats the story of her birth;

While all the stars that round her burn

And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

3.     What though in solemn silence all

Move round the dark terrestrial ball?

What though no real voice nor sound

Amid the radiant orbs be found?

In reason's ear they all rejoice,

And utter forth a glorious voice,

Forever singing as they shine,

The hand that made us is divine.

Listen to it here  FIRMAMENT

Here you can also see and hear one of my favorite musicians, George Beverly Shea, sing this hymn.   SHEA

IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE LAID?

        "I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[ by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."  (Romans 12:1 ESV). Now the Bible makes it plain that no one will ever get to heaven by his or her own efforts. Salvation is by the grace of God - His unmerited favor - "not of works lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).  But what about our lives after salvation?  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 3:3; 5:25).  The Word of God describes Christian  living as a walk of faith and a life of surrender to the will of God.  But sacrifice and surrender are terms that we seldom here about anymore in messages or church music.  But, as someone has said, He is either Lord of all, or not Lord at all. Full surrender affects all areas of one's life, including the checkbook, the calendar, entertainment choices, jobs and relationships. All of these need to be placed on the altar of sacrifice.  It is in full surrender to the will of God that we find true peace and joy, and fulfillment in life. That is the theme of this week's gospel song choice, written by American pastor Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929). Mr. Hoffman's first impressions of music came from hearing the voice of sacred song in his home. It was the custom of his parents in the hour of family worship, both morning and evening, to sing one or two hymns. At an early age, the children became familiar with these hymns and learned to love them and to feel their hallowing and refining power. Their lives were marvelously influenced by this little service of song in the home.  Hoffman wrote over two thousand songs, often writing both. the words and the music.   Among his most popular and useful songs are: "What a Wonderful Saviour!," "Enough for Me," "Are You Washed in the Blood?," "No Other Friend Like Jesus,"and  "I Must Tell Jesus".  In this particular song he reminds us that  "You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest as you yield Him your body and soul."  And so the question we need to ask daily is, have we placed our all on the altar of sacrifice.  Does He control both our body and soul?  Are we experiencing the real joy and peace that comes when we yield all to Him?

1.   You have longed for sweet peace,

And for faith to increase,

And have earnestly, fervently prayed;

But you cannot have rest,

Or be perfectly blest,

Until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain:

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

Your heart does the Spirit control?

You can only be blest,

And have peace and sweet rest,

As you yield Him your body and soul.

2.   Would you walk with the Lord,

In the light of His word,

And have peace and contentment alway?

You must do His sweet will,

To be free from all ill,

On the altar your all you must lay.

Refrain

3.    Oh, we never can know

What the Lord will bestow

Of the blessings for which we have prayed,

Till our body and soul

He doth fully control,

And our all on the altar is laid.

Refrain

4.   Who can tell all the love

He will send from above,

And how happy our hearts will be made;

Of the fellowship sweet

We shall share at His feet,

When our all on the altar is laid

Refrain.

Here are two choices for you to listen to:

TRIO

DUET

JUST WHEN I NEED HIM MOST

        Often life comes at us fast and hard.  An accident, a telephone call, a medical test result, a large bill, a damaging storm, and many other unexpected things can suddenly strike us with bad news.  And so often when these things happen it is hard to get help or advice and your burden might seem too heavy to bear.  It might take a week or more to get an appointment with a doctor or specialist.  The repairman might be booked up for a couple of days.  Your best friend might be on vacation.  What do you do?  Where do you get help?  Well there is One who never goes on vacation, never is sleeping, never is too busy, has all the answers and wants to help and provide the wisdom and peace that you need.  No appointments are needed.  No busy signals.  No lengthy menus to sift through for help.  He is always there, just when you need him most - in the middle of the night, during a storm, when you are all alone, when sleep won't come, when you are fearful, when you are facing a decision or a confrontation. In fact, He urges us to cast all of our burdens on Him.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  (1 Peter 5:7).  Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He is always there, ready to help and ready to cheer.  Just when we need Him most.   This hymn of testimony was penned in 1907 by William C. Poole (1875-1949) who was raised on a farm in Maryland.  He is said to have written about five hundred hymns.  The writing was done as recreation and a diversion from his pastoral work. He said that his goal in writing, as well as in being a minister, was to help people.  And I am sure that he has helped many through this week's hymn choice.  Hopefully you have found the words of this hymn true in your life.  "Just when I need Him, He is my all, answering when upon Him I call; Tenderly watching lest I should fall, just when I need Him most."  What a marvelous truth!  

1.     Just when I need Him, Jesus is near,

Just when I falter, just when I fear;

Ready to help me, ready to cheer,

Just when I need Him most.

Refrain:

Just when I need Him most,

Just when I need Him most,

Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,

Just when I need Him most.

2.     Just when I need Him, Jesus is true,

Never forsaking, all the way through;

Giving for burdens pleasures anew,

Just when I need Him most

Refrain:

Just when I need Him most,

Just when I need Him most,

Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,

Just when I need Him most.

2.      Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong,

Bearing my burdens all the day long;

For all my sorrow giving a song,

Just when I need Him most.

Refrain:

Just when I need Him most,

Just when I need Him most,

Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,

Just when I need Him most.

4.     Just when I need Him, He is my all,

Answering when upon Him I call;

Tenderly watching lest I should fall,

Just when I need Him most.

Refrain:

Just when I need Him most,

Just when I need Him most,

Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,

Just when I need Him most.

Listen to it here.   NEED

LEAVE IT THERE (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith originally shared on May 2, 2010.

          "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you."  Psalm 55:22.  Charles A. Tindley is known as one of the "founding fathers of American Gospel music".  The son of slaves, he taught himself to read and write at age 17. He was a driven young man, working as a janitor while attending night school, and earning his divinity degree through a correspondence course. In 1902, he became pastor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the church where he had earlier been the janitor. At the time of Tindley's death, his church had 12,500 members. The Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia was named after him. Tindley's "I'll Overcome Some Day" was the basis for the American civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," popularized in the 1960's.   But back in 1916 a fellow who was a constant worrier visited Tindley one day. After listening awhile, Tindley replied: "My advice to you is put all your troubles in a sack, take 'em to the Lord, and leave 'em there." I had forgotten about this old hymn until I recently heard it sung on a favorites program on our local Christian radio station. I then remembered how this used to be a favorite hymn which was often sung in church and prayer meetings when I was growing up. It is also an old male quartet favorite that I often sang in my days on the radio with the Gospel Four. It has so many great thoughts, especially for those facing trials and for those of us who are worriers. What is the best thing you can do with those trials and worries?  Take them to the Lord … and leave them there.  Are you carrying some burdens today that are too heavy for you to bear?  Then just take those burdens to the Lord and leave them there ... there is nothing too heavy for Him to bear. "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."  Psalm 68:19.

(1) If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,

And you have to get along with meager fare,

Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird;

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

(2) If your body suffers pain and your health you can't regain,

And your soul is almost sinking in despair,

Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal;

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

3) When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,

Don't forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;

He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

(4) When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,

And your body bends beneath the weight of care;

He will never leave you then, He'll go with you to the end.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there

Leave it there, leave it there,

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Listen to it here.   BURDEN