HIS LOVING KINDNESS

          Psalm 117:2,  "For His loving kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!"   Psalm 63:3, "Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You."

          In the midst of a time which has been filled with the unknown, anxiety, fear and danger, Christians need to pause and, as the scripture says, thank the Lord for His great loving kindness to us.  It's so free, so great, so strong, and so good!

          At the age of 14, Samuel Medley (1738-1799) was apprenticed to an oilman in London.  But he didn't like the business so he entered the Royal Navy. Then he was severely wounded in a battle with the French fleet off Port Lagos, so in 1759, he was obliged to retire from active service.  About that time he heard a  sermon by Isaac Watts, and that led to his conversion. He joined a Baptist Church in London and under the care of a Dr. Gifford, opened a school which he conducted for several years  Having begun to preach, he received, in 1767, a call to become pastor of the Baptist church at Watford. Then in 1772, he moved to Liverpool, where he gathered a large congregation, and for 27 years ministered there. After a long and painful illness he died in 1799.

          It is said that Samuel Medley wrote 230 hymns. His hymns are marked by the spirit of praise and worship. Among the best-known of his hymns are this one known also as "Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays," and "I Know that My Redeemer Lives". This week's hymn was first printed on what was then called "broad sheets" for distribution. A writer noted that "The popularity it has in America is owing much to the refrain which closes every stanza, and the old, old melody to which it has been sung in a thousand camp meetings, East, West and South".

          May you be challenged this week as you mediate upon His loving kindness to you.  Take time to thank Him and praise Him.  God is so good! 

         

1.     Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,

And sing thy great Redeemer's praise;

He justly claims a song for me,

His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

2.     He saw me ruined in the fall,

Yet loved me notwithstanding all;

He saved me from my lost estate,

His loving-kindness, oh, how great!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness, oh, how great!

3.     Though num'rous hosts of mighty foes,

Though earth and hell my way oppose,

He safely leads my soul along,

His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

4.     When trouble like a gloomy cloud,

Has gathered thick and thundered loud,

He near my soul has always stood,

His loving-kindness, oh, how good!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness, oh, how good!

5.     Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,

Soon all my mortal pow'rs must fail;

Oh, may my last expiring breath

His loving-kindness sing in death.

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness sing in death.

6.     Then let me mount and soar away

To the bright world of endless day;

And sing with raptures and surprise,

His loving-kindness in the skies.

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,

His loving-kindness in the skies

Listen to it here.   LOVINGKINDNESS

BREATH OF HEAVEN

          Most of the traditional Christmas songs that we have been singing  this season were written many years ago.  Silent Night goes back 204 years,  Away In A Manger was written in 1862,   Go Tell It On The Mountain in 1865, It Came Upon The Midnight Clear in 1849, O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1867, We Three Kings in 1863, and Angel From The Realms of Glory in 1862, just to name a few.  However there have been a few written a few decades ago which may also pass the test of time.

          One of those is the one chosen this week. It tells the nativity story from Mary's perspective portraying the mother of Jesus as a frightened young girl, attempting to deal with the circumstances of giving birth to the Holy Father's Son. Despite her human doubts, Mary's faith in the goodness and mercy of God remain and help her deal with the unique situation she finds herself in.

          English songwriter Chris Eaton originally penned this song, with the title "Breath of Heaven." When Amy Grant first heard it, she decided she wanted to record the tune for her holiday album, but with the verses rewritten to personalize them. She explained "That song is so profound, but the chorus is so simple. It's authentic and perfectly written, because it uses an incredibly moving economy of words". 

          Finally Chris said, 'Well, OK, just for this one version, we'll let you put a different lyric on there.' I said, 'Well, you couldn't possibly have written the lyric I'm thinking of, because I'm going to write it from a woman's perspective.' I was very pregnant at the time, and I felt that was part of the inspiration for song as I tried to imagine Mary's experience. "  Amy  considers the intimate nature of this tune has transformed it into a prayer. She explained: "It is a prayer that fits a lot of people'' circumstances, because it is a cry of mercy. Some nights on stage I can hardly get through the song for knowing all of the collective, unspoken pain of the lives in front of me. And so the words become my prayer for the listener and the reader, as well as the singer."

           The story of Mary is a remarkable story in that God chose this teenager to be the mother of His Son.  Then He guided her and protected her through difficult times as she was obedient to God's call.  So at this Christmas season my we be reminded of God's call on our lives and His protection and guidance as we obey Him.  May we ask the Lord to "pour over me Your holiness for You are holy."     

1.   I have traveled many moonless nights

Cold and weary with a babe inside

And I wonder what I've done

Holy Father, You have come

And chosen me now to carry Your Son

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven

2.     I am waiting in a silent prayer

I am frightened by the load I bear

In a world as cold as stone

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven

[3.     Do you wonder as you watch my face

If a wiser one should have had my place?

But I offer all I am

For the mercy of Your plan

Help me be strong, help me be, help me

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven

Listen to it here.   BREATH

BLESSED QUIETNESS

        We live in a very noisy age.  Phones ringing.  Television and radios blaring.  Constant  "dings" from cell phones and social media.  News outlets delivering doom every hour of the day.  Kids screaming, neighbors arguing.  Appliances running.  Everywhere you go there is noise.

          Do you ever find a time of quietness?   A time when you have some peaceful moments alone with the Lord.  With your body relaxed and comfortable, and looking only to Jesus, your heart will be turned to Him in adoration. From this experience, you are likely to have a greater desire to obey Him. People who devote time to be alone with the Lord find a renewed reservoir of personal strength and quiet confidence.

          Such times of blessed quietness can be rare today.  I admit that these times for me where very rare until the pandemic forced me to "shelter in" with little to do over the months of being isolated at home.  Such moments of quietness are necessary for our Christian growth and we must make them a priority in our daily lives.

          In 1911 Maine Payne Ferguson (1850-1932) wrote of this quietness in this week's featured hymn.   She was a pioneer leader in the American Holiness Movement, a Christian evangelist and social worker who co-founded the Peniel Mission, and the author of several hymns, most notably "Blessed Quietness".

         Ferguson, along with her husband, Theodore, founded the Los Angeles Mission in 1886. This was eventually renamed the Peniel Mission.  Under Manie's direction, the Peniel Missions sought to provide a ministry for single women.  The women usually lived in rented rooms near the rented hall where they conducted evangelistic services. They boldly testified on street corners and in bars and houses of prostitution.   The Peniel Mission used some of the same methods as the Salvation Army, including street-corner meetings followed by parades back to the mission hall.

          Now I don't know the circumstances that inspired her to write these words but I am guessing it came through personal experience.  I understand that she was a very active person but she must have learned the value of those quiet times alone with the Lord.  The challenge this week is for each of us to find those necessary quiet times.  Then you can experience the joy and peace and rest that will result from that blessed quietness.

1.     Joys are flowing like a river,

Since the Comforter has come;

He abides with us forever,

Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain:

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

Blest assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to

And the billows cease to roll.

2.     Everything is turned to gladness,

All around this glorious Guest;

Banished unbelief and sadness,

All is perfect peace and rest.

Refrain:

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

Blest assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,

And the billows cease to roll.

3.     Like the rain that falls from heaven,

Like the sunlight from the sky,

So the Holy Spirit given,

Falls upon us from on high.

Refrain:

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

Blest assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,

And the billows cease to roll.

4.     What a wonderful salvation,

Where we always see His face!

What a peaceful habitation!

What a quiet resting place!

Refrain:

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

Blest assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,

And the billows cease to roll.

Listen to it here   QUIETNESS

MOMENT BY MOMENT (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - Another revised and repeated blog of one of the great hymns of the faith originally shared on July 31, 2011.

         The older I become, the more I feel the need to walk moment by moment in the presence of the Lord. As the burdens grow greater and our strength decreases, it is vital to recognize that He is with us always and everywhere, each moment of the day.  He is our strength and guide. There are no events in our lives that He is not aware of and in control of.  The words of this hymn are so true and probably should be sung daily as a reminder of His presence, love and concern, each moment of our lives. 

          Ira Sankey shared an interesting story about this hymn. "While Major Daniel W. Whittle was attending the World's Fair in Chicago, Henry Varley, a lay preacher from London, said to Major Whittle: "I do not like the hymn 'I Need Thee Every Hour' very well, because I need Him every moment of the day."  Soon afterwards Major Whittle wrote this sweet hymn…[He] brought the hymn to me in manuscript a little later, saying that he would give me the copyright of both the words and music if I would print for him five hundred copies on fine paper, for distributing among his friends. His daughter, May Whittle, who later became the wife of Will R. Moody, composed the music. 

          I did as Mr. Whittle wished; and I sent the hymn to England, where it was copyrighted on the same day as at Washington. In England the hymn became very popular. Falling into the hands of the well-known Rev. Andrew Murray, of South Africa, then visiting London, he adopted it as his favorite hymn. A year later Mr. Murray visited Northfield, Massachusetts, and, while holding a meeting for men in the church he remarked, "If Sankey only knew a hymn which I found in London, and would sing it, he would find that it embraces my entire creed." I was very anxious to know what hymn it was, and when he had recited it I said to him: "Doctor, that hymn was written within five hundred yards of where we are standing." 

          For years Dr. Murray had his wife sing this hymn in nearly all his meetings. It also became a great favorite in South Africa during the war."  And over the years it has been a challenge and inspiration to many.

1.     Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;

Living with Jesus, a new life divine;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

2.     Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share,

Moment by moment, I'm under His care.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

3.     Never a heartache, and never a groan,

Never a teardrop and never a moan;

Never a danger but there on the throne,

Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

4.     Never a weakness that He doth not feel,

Never a sickness that He cannot heal;

Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,

Jesus my Savior, abides with me still.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Listen to the words here.    MOMENT