DOES JESUS CARE (TH/PEACE #1)

        Worldwide we are being attacked by a new virus that is drastically changing our lives.  Stores, businesses, schools and churches are closed and we are generally confined to our homes waiting to see if we develop any symptoms of this deadly virus.  Many of us are facing stress, fear, anxiety and loneliness.

          What can we do about it?  Obviously we can follow the recommendations of the experts about hand washing, cleaning items, adequate separation from others, etc.  But as Christians we need to take advantage of this new available time to read our Bibles and pray.  There is nothing new about this suggestion, but unfortunately it is often forgotten.  But God wants to comfort us and lead us in the good times and the bad.  We just need to listen and obey.

          Now one of the best helps that I have been using is listening to Gospel music.  There are lessons to be learned and emotions to be calmed through good Christian music.  As I've been experiencing this I have been led to change the direction of my hymn blog, at least for a few weeks.  I want to share some of the hymns which have spoken to me.  Most of them have been shared here over the years.  But I feel led to share them again for our help as we face these new pressures today.

          Frank E. Graeff was a Methodist pastor who served several churches around Philadelphia.  It is said that he was a special friend to children and an encouragement to everyone who knew him. Graeff was known by many as the "sunshine minister".  By the way, why not be an encourager in these difficult times.  People around you need encouragement and you'll be surprised how much you will benefit from doing this.  

          But the sunshine minister also went through some severe testing experiences and resulting periods of despondency. It was while passing through one of these tests that he became very despondent, full of doubt and full of physical agony. Turning to the scriptures for solace and strength he found that I Peter 5:7 spoke to his need. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." This was the inspiration that led him to pen the words of the great hymn "Does Jesus Care?" Each one of the verses of Graeff's hymn asks some intensely personal and important questions, and the answer is always "Oh yes, He cares." 

          So today does Jesus care when we are confined to our home because of this virus?  Does Jesus care when we lose our job because of the virus?  Does He care when we lose our savings because the stock market crashes?  Does He care when we have symptoms of he virus?  Does He care when family members or friends develop the virus?  Does He care when we develop the virus and then the deadly pneumonia?  As Graeff wrote, "Oh yes, He cares."

          May each of us remember that truth as today we face the unknown.  And may we learn to trust the Lord and the path He has prepared for us.  God is good, all the time!.

(1)     Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress

And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

(2)     Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

(3)     Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

(4)     Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye"

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

Listen to it here.   CARE

GOD IS IN CONTROL

          The world that we live in is suddenly facing many major changes.  All of us are having to make major adjustments in our lives. Our lives have been disrupted.  We don't know what a day will bring. And with that in mind I have decided to make some changes in this week's blog in hopes of encouraging us during these very difficult days. I am featuring a rather new song that you may never have heard before.  But I believe it is a reminder that we all need.  The Lord has also provided us with many messages of encouragement in His Word for times like these.  We need to claim them and avoid the anxiety and panic that can fill our lives.  Here are a few of them:  

Isaiah 14:24 

"The Lord Almighty has sworn, 'Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.'"

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Psalm 46:1

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 94:19

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." 

          In 2008 Jerry Bridges wrote the following in Decision Magazine:

"All people - believers in God as well as unbelievers - experience anxiety, frustration, heartache and disappointment. Some suffer intense physical pain and catastrophic tragedies. But what should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God; our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows into our lives only what is for His glory and our good."

          Recently Twila Paris wrote a song about God being in control and I thought it might be helpful to share it this week.

This is no time for fear

This is a time for faith and determination

Don't lose the vision here

Carried away by the motion

Hold on to all that you hide in your heart

There is one thing that has always been true

It holds the world together

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

God is in control

History marches on

There is a bottom line drawn across the ages

Culture can make its plan

Oh, but the line never changes

No matter how the deception may fly

There is one thing that has always been true

It will be true forever

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

God is in control

He has never let you down

Why start to worry now? (2x)

He is still the Lord of all we see

And He is still the loving Father

Watching over you and me

Watching over you, watching over me

Watching over everything

Watching over you, watching over me

Every little sparrow, every little key, every little key

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know

God is in control

You can listen to Twila sing it right here.   CONTROL

As part of our adjusting to new regulations, I had listed some thoughts and practical ideas on my weekly personal blog on Saturday, March 21.  You might find this blog helpful.  You can see it here.   BLOG

And remember - God is still in control!
Have a great week - keep safe!

YES I KNOW (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN  - Another revised and repeated blog of one of my favorite Gospel songs - Yes I Know - originally shared on May 9, 2010. 

          Recently I heard of a Christian family whose daughter had obviously sinned. The results of her sin were public because this single young lady could not hide her resulting appearance. As is too often the case in such situations, her parents received all sorts of unwanted advice from their "spiritual" friends. The advice included suggestions that they should disown their daughter to even suggesting that her father should resign his position in church. I am guessing that some even thought she should be made to confess her sin in front of the congregation. It is amazing how cold and harsh fellow Christians can be. These same Christians can gossip about the situation, but they don't see that as a sin - at least not a sin of the same seriousness. So often we can see the sins of others but not our own. And we can go on gossiping and thinking that some sins are worse than others – at least worse than ours. But sin is sin. And the scriptures remind us that all have sinned. Without Christ we are lost  and as some hymn writers have written, we are vile wretched people, without hope. But we know that Christ can make the vilest sinner clean – even the murderer, the drug pusher, and the gossip. Guy Penrod, formerly with the Gaither Vocal Band, wrote a gospel song that speaks to this fact. Hopefully you can relate to the words of this week's choice as you read the words below and listen to the Gaither Vocal Band on the link below.

(1) Come, ye sinners, lost and lonely,

Jesus' blood can make you free;

For He saved the worst among you,

When He saved a wretch like me.

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean,

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean.

(2) To the faint He giveth power,

Through the mountains makes a way;

Findeth water in the desert,

Turns the night to golden day.

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean,

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean.

(3) In temptation He is near thee,

Holds the pow'rs of hell at bay;

Guides you to the path of safety,

Gives you grace for every day.

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean,

And I know, yes, I know

Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner clean.

Listen to it here  I KNOW

MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND

         Sometimes life comes at us hard and unexpectedly.  We never know what a day will bring ... a serious accident ...  a change in employment ... a devastating physical diagnosis ... an unexpected bill ... a broken relationship ...  the death of a relative or friend ...  or even one of the simpler challenges that come our way so often.  We can become discouraged or depressed.  We wonder why.  We wonder if there is really any hope.  As hard as it might seem, in times like these we need to rely on the firm foundation that we have in Christ and remember that our times are really in His hand.  He is in control and we need to cast all of our care upon Him.  Romans 8:28 reminds us "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."  Actually I had never heard this week's song before until a friend recently sent it to me.  When I received it we had just learned of two serious medical problems and received two unexpected bills.  The words of the song reminded me of the truth of these scriptures.  One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10 where we are reminded that "...we are his workmanship ...".  And I know that a perfect God would not create something defective or let it fall apart.  "My times are in Thy hand." Psalm 31:15.  It was William F. Lloyd (1791-1824) who penned this week's song in 1824.   Mr. Lloyd was involved in the work of the Sunday School, almost from its beginning. He was born about ten years after Robert Raikes began this ministry, and Lloyd was attracted to it since boyhood. He taught in a Sunday School, and wrote many books and curriculum materials for this group. He was later appointed as a secretary of the British Sunday School Union.   In 1851, Lloyd published a book of poems called Thoughts in Rhyme. In it was this little verse which sums up the faith behind the longer hymn we're looking at:

Each future scene to God I leave,

Enough for me to know,

He can from every evil save,

And every good bestow.

His song is a good reminder.  Are you living in the knowledge that your times are in His hand?  Do you leave your life, your friends and your soul entirely in His care?  Our Father's hand will never cause his child a needless tear.

1      My times are in thy hand;

my God, I wish them there;

my life, my friends, my soul, I leave

entirely to thy care.

2      My times are in thy hand,

whatever they may be;

pleasing or painful, dark or bright,

as best may seem to thee.

3      My times are in thy hand;

why should I doubt or fear?

My Father's hand will never cause

his child a needless tear.

4      My times are in thy hand,

Jesus the Crucified;

those hands my cruel sins had pierced

are now my guard and guide.

5.     My times are in Thy hand,

I'll always trust in Thee;

And, after death, at Thy right hand

I shall forever be.

You can listen to it here.    HAND

ON EAGLE'S WINGS

         "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31.  Each morning I read these words on a plaque hanging on our wall at home.  I am reminded of the beautiful eagles which soar through the skies with apparent ease.  Then I am reminded that God provides the strength for us to soar above the many problems of this life.  What a beautiful and comforting picture.  Composer Father Jan Michael Joncas wrote this week's song after he and a friend, Doug Hall, returned from a meal to learn that Hall's father had died of a heart attack. Joncas doesn't recall if he ever met Hall's father, but he remembers wanting somehow to console his friend. "I knew this was a hard, hard experience in anybody's life, and I just wanted to create something that would be both prayerful and then comforting,"  In the days preceding Hall's father's wake, Joncas returned to his parents' house and composed the song on his guitar, sketching out a melody line and accompanying chords. The hymn debuted at the wake.  He didn't pay much attention to the hymn after that, but he became aware that the song was gaining popularity outside Catholic circles when his publisher forwarded him requests from other denominations to reproduce the song. Then, following the 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Cathy Keating, the governor's wife, requested that "On Eagle's Wings" be played at a memorial for those killed.  Much of the inspiration for the writing of this song comes from Psalm 91. Today many of us may be more familiar with the chorus then the words of the verses. But together they provide us with a needed reminder of the Lord's care and protection in our lives. What a beautiful picture of the Lord's care. "This I declare about the Lord: - He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;  He is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly diseases He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection."  (Psalm 91:2-4)  Rest in this truth this week.

1.     You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,

Who abide in His shadow for life,

Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,

My Rock in Whom I trust." 

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

2.     The snare of the fowler will never capture you,

And famine will bring you no fear;

Under His Wings your refuge,

His faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

3.     You need not fear the terror of the night,

Nor the arrow that flies by day,

Though thousands fall about you,

Near you it shall not come.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

4.     For to His angels He's given a command,

To guard you in all of your ways,

Upon their hands they will bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

5.     For to His angels He's given a command

to guard you in all of your ways;

upon their hands they will bear you up,

lest you dash your foot against a stone

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Listen to it here    EAGLES