WHEN I GET TO THE END OF THE WAY

          During the early years of our lives we probably didn't think very much about getting old, the loss of our normal facilities, death or heaven.  We thought those things were far in the future.  Maybe that is one reason so few of the songs written and sung today by praise teams talk about the future and heaven.  But there comes a time for most of us when that changes.  It might be the illness or death of a loved one.  It might be the realization that most of our life is now behind us.  Old age and declining health come quickly. And while believers have an eternal hope we still begin to wonder how our life will come to an end on this earth.  Will it be a sudden death?  Will we suffer in pain?  Will we need to relocate to a nursing home.  None of us know when or how this event will be.  But we all will face it - with or without hope.  Charles Davis Tilman  (1861 - 1943) was the the youngest son of a Baptist preacher.  He painted houses, sold sheet music for a company in Raleigh, and peddled "Wizard Oil",  an American patent medicine sold as a cure-all. In 1887 he began to focus his career more on his church and musical talents.  He sang first tenor in a church male quartet and established his own church-related music publishing company in Atlanta.  Maybe Tilman began to ponder his future and that may have led him to write this week's hymn choice. The hymn became a popular song for older folks, probably because they too began to think about the end of their road.  It also became popularized internationally by George Beverly Shea, Bill Gaither, and Lynda Randle.  Tilman shares some encouraging words for us as we near our end here on earth.  "There are so many hills to climb upward, I often am longing for rest.  But He who appoints me my pathway knows just what is needful and best." "He loves me too well to forsake me, or give me a trial too much;" "When all that now seems so mysterious will be bright and as clear as the day, then the toils of the road will seem nothing, when I get to the end of the way."   What a joyful reminder for God's children that no matter what may be ahead for each of us, He will go with us and take us safely home.  He will never leave or forsake us.  Then the toils of the road will seem nothing when I get to the end of the way.  And on these truths we can face declining health and the challenges of life with hope and assurance.

1.     The sands have been washed in the footprints

Of the stranger on Galilee's shore,

And the voice that subdued the rough billows,

Will be heard in Judea no more.

But the path of that lone Galilean,

With joy I will follow today;

And the toils of the road will seem nothing,

When I get to the end of the way.

2.     There are so many hills to climb upward,

I often am longing for rest,

But He who appoints me my pathway

Knows just what is needful and best.

I know in His word He hath promised

That my strength, "it shall be as my day";

And the toils of the road will seem nothing,

When I get to the end of the way.

3.     He loves me too well to forsake me,

Or give me a trial too much;

All His people have been dearly purchased,

And Satan can never claim such.

By and by I shall see Him and praise Him,

In the city of unending day;

And the toils of the road will seem nothing,

When I get to the end of the way.

4.     When the last, feeble step has been taken,

And the gates of that city appear,

And the beautiful songs of the angels

Float out on my listening ear;

When all that now seems so mysterious

Will be bright and as clear as the day,

Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,

When I get to the end of the way.

Listen to it here   ROAD

BLESSED ASSURANCE (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN  - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith originally shared on August 20, 2008.  

          All of us have enjoyed and have been touched by the many words written by the great blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. The themes for her hymns were often suggested by visiting ministers who wished to have a new song on a particular subject. It is amazing that, especially for a blind person, someone could write on this variety of spiritual truths and experiences with such proliferation. For a considerable period during her life, while under contract to a music publisher, she wrote three new hymns each week. She used over 200 pen names. Many of her original texts are still being uncovered and perhaps might be found and published in the future. About 500 of her hymns were accompanied by the music of an amateur musician, Mrs. Phoebe Knapp, the wife of the second president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She attended the same church as Fanny and kept a pipe organ in her apartment to help her compose. One day Fanny was visiting her friend Phoebe as the Knapp home was having the large pipe organ installed. The organ was incomplete so, using the piano, Phoebe played a new melody she had just composed. "What do you think the tune says?" she asked. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine", answered Fanny Crosby. And with that inspiration, Fanny penned the words of this great hymn of testimony which is still being sung today in many churches. And what a powerful message it contains. We have the assurance that Jesus is ours and His praise should be on our lips all day long. I also marvel at how a blind person can talk about sight as she does with the phrase "Visions of rapture now burst on my sight." Then later she says that she is "watching and waiting, and looking above". Then she ends with the testimony "filled with His goodness, lost in His love". What a joy to have this blessed assurance in your life, that Jesus, your Savior, is yours for eternity.

(1)    Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long.

(2)    Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long.

(3)    Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Listen to it here    ASSURANCE

NOR SILVER NOR GOLD

        Most of us have at one time in our lives wished that we had more money so that we could purchase expensive things that we wish for ... a more expensive home, a better car, an elaborate vacation, a large retirement fund ... things that we often dream about.  But unless we get a large inheritance, win the lottery, get a major promotion or go deeper into debt , we will probably never be able to afford all of our dreams.  But all the money (gold and silver) in the world could never purchase the most important thing in life - eternal life in heaven.  None of our expensive toys will ever gain us entrance into God's home in heaven. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold … but with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18–19.  Our eternal salvation cannot be bought with money, or with good works, or with church membership or rituals either. In fact, it was already paid for at Calvary. Now, it's a free gift of God, received by faith in our Saviour and what He did for us on the cross (Jn. 3:16). The purchase price was neither silver nor gold, but what the Apostle Peter calls "the precious [esteemed, as of great price] blood of Christ."  And this is the truth that James M. Gray (1851-1935) shared when he penned this song in 1900 while he served as a teacher in the summer sessions of Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago. Gray accepted Christ at age 22.  In 1879 he became Rector of the First Reformed Episcopal Church in Boston where he served 14 years. He then became dean (1904-25) and president (1925-34) of the Moody Bible Institute, and directed publication of four editions (1921-28) of the Voice of Thanksgiving, official hymnal of the Institute.  A conservative theologian, Gray was one of seven editors of the popular Scofield Reference Bible.   In this hymn he shares several things that have been dealt with through faith in the shed blood of Christ.  It paid the debt we owed and purchased us out of the slave market of sin. It also solved the problem of our guilt, removed the barrier to our access to God, and provided an eternal future in heaven for us.  And none of these things could be purchased with all of the money in this world.  It is a gift to those who believe, no matter how rich or poor they may be.  May we always remember that we are "Bought with a price - the blood of Jesus, precious price of love untold."

1     Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,

Nor riches of earth could have saved my poor soul;

The blood of the cross is my only foundation,

The death of my Savior now maketh me whole.

Chorus:

I am redeemed, but not with silver;

I am bought, but not with gold;

Bought with a price - the blood of Jesus,

Precious price of love untold.

2     Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,

The guilt on my conscience too heavy had grown;

The blood of the cross is my only foundation,

The death of my Savior could only atone. 

Chorus:

I am redeemed, but not with silver;

I am bought, but not with gold;

Bought with a price - the blood of Jesus,

Precious price of love untold.

3     Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,

The holy commandment forbade me draw near;

The blood of the cross is my only foundation,

The death of my Savior removeth my fear. 

Chorus:

I am redeemed, but not with silver;

I am bought, but not with gold;

Bought with a price - the blood of Jesus,

Precious price of love untold.

4     Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,

The way into heaven could not thus be bought;

The blood of the cross is my only foundation,

The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought. 

Chorus:

I am redeemed, but not with silver;

I am bought, but not with gold;

Bought with a price - the blood of Jesus,

Precious price of love untold.

Listen to it here     PRICE

ANOTHER YEAR IS DAWNING (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - A special monthly feature where I 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 8, 2012

In January of 1874, the many friends of Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) received a New Year's greeting with the heading, "A Happy New Year! Ever Such May it Be!" Following this greeting appeared her text, still considered to be one of the finest New Year's prayers of consecration ever written. One can well imagine that those who received this greeting card from Miss Havergal that year read her words thoughtfully. They were written by one who had already become widely known throughout England as "the consecration poet." It was said of her that she always lived her words before she wrote them. Her life was one of constant and complete commitment to God. Her many talents - an accomplished pianist and vocalist, proficiency in seven languages, a keen mind (memorization of the entire New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets) - were all dedicated to serving God and others during the new year. Personally, after the deaths of loved ones, I especially enjoy her closing lines "Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be on earth or else in Heaven, another year for Thee". Numerous melodies have been used with these words but probably the most well known is the tune to "The Church's One Foundation".  So as we begin the new year, and a new decade, may this hymn be the prayer of our hearts.  And may you have a blessed and productive 2020.

1     Another year is dawning! 

Dear Father, let it be, 

in working or in waiting, 

another year with thee; 

another year of leaning 

upon thy loving breast, 

another year of trusting, 

of quiet, happy rest.

2     Another year of mercies, 

of faithfulness and grace; 

another year of gladness 

in the shining of thy face; 

another year of progress,

another year of praise,

another year of proving

thy presence all the days.

3     Another year of service, 

of witness for thy love; 

another year of training 

for holier work above. 

Another year is dawning! 

Dear Father, let it be

on earth, or else in heaven, 

another year for thee.

You can listen to it here.    NEW YEAR