MY REDEEMER IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A special feature where every few weeks I choose a hymn that I have written about before, revise and update it, and share it once again because I think it has a powerful message that we need.  This one was shared previously on June 12,2011. 

          Faithfulness seems to be an unknown quality in today's society. Marriages fall apart because of unfaithfulness to wedding vows. Employee and employer long time relationships are quickly broken when times get tough. People hop from one church to another and attend only when it is convenient. Churches and even community organizations have challenges functioning because volunteers won't put in time or they just quit. Even highly paid athletes jump from team to team for larger salaries. 

          But God's faithfulness endures. He will never change his mind or fail His children. His promises are secure. He is always there, in the good times and the bad times. Hopefully you recognize this and can testify of God's faithfulness in your life. 

          It was His faithfulness in a very tragic time that stirred Steven Curtis Chapman to pen the words of this week's choice. Psalm 103:17 (KJV) "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;" came to his mind as he stood at the hospital, not as a Christian music singer comforting a little child, but as a father praying for a miracle. He held onto his wife that night and prayed for their 5-year-old Maria, their youngest adopted daughter, who had been accidentally struck in the family's driveway by one of her brothers while returning home in his truck.

           Chapman had tried CPR at his house. The paramedics also had tried to revive her, but she had been pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. What a tragedy!  But God was still there to comfort the family as they grieved. He is faithful and will never abandon his children no matter how difficult the situation may be.  Later Chapman teamed with James Isaac Elliott to pen these beautiful words and music.

As I look back on the road I've traveled,

I see so many times He carried me through;

And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

[Chorus:]

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

Everything He has said He will do,

And every morning His mercies are new.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

My heart rejoices when I read the promise

'There is a place I am preparing for you.'

I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face,

'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

[Chorus:]

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

Everything He has said He will do,

And every morning His mercies are new.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

And in every situation He has proved His love to me;

When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.

[Chorus:]

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

Everything He has said He will do,

And every morning His mercies are new.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

IT'S NOT AN EASY ROAD

          If the pandemic did one thing for us, it made us realize that life can suddenly change and we can face obstacles that we never expected - illness, unemployment, isolation, loss of liberties, fear, loneliness, anxiety, shortages.  Yes, many of us have experienced problems that we never anticipated.  We have experienced a very bumpy road in our lives.

          And believers are not exempt from the rough road of life.  We face the same trials and problems that others face.  However, there is a big difference.  We have a Companion who walks beside us, guards us and guides us and smooths our rugged path every day. His presence brightens our path and gives us joy and hope.

          This song was written by one of the best know hymn writers of our lifetime, John W. Peterson (1921-2006).  Many of us have grown up singing his cantatas and his hymns. He served as an Army Air Force pilot flying the China Hump during World War II. Later, he attended Moody Bible Institute and served on the radio staff there for a number of years. In 1953, he graduated from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and shortly thereafter settled in Pennsylvania to continue his song writing career. He then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where for over ten years he was President and Editor-in-Chief of Singspiration, a sacred music publishing company. While there, he compiled and edited a hymnal called "Great Hymns of the Faith" which many of us used in our churches.  Some of his more popular song titles include "It Took a Miracle", "Over the Sunset Mountains", "Heaven Came Down", "So Send I You", "Springs of Living Water", "Jesus is Coming Again", "Surely Goodness and Mercy", "This is the day that the Lord hath made" and "O Glorious Love". His cantatas include Night of Miracles and Down From His Glory.

          But in this week's hymn choice Peterson reminds us that we can expect our road here on earth to be rugged and filled with bumps - it's not an easy road.  But thankfully Jesus is with us all the way and He lightens our heavy load, if we trust Him and allow Him to do so.

          To anyone questioning the value of walking with God, remember, saying no to selfish choices and saying yes to God's commands may not be easy. But it's the only way to experience true and lasting joy. Psalm 112 declares that the person who respects God and wants to please Him will enjoy His favor (v.1). That doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life, of course, but it does assure us that we can have peace even in the tough times (v. 6-8).

         We can delight in knowing God's blessing is on us, even when the road is not easy. 

 

 1.     It's not an easy road

We are traveling to heaven,

For many are the thorns on the way;

It's not an easy road,

But the Savior is with us,

His presence gives us joy every day.

No, no, it's not an easy road,

No, no, it's not an easy road;

But Jesus walks beside me

And brightens the journey,

And lightens every heavy load.

2.     t's not an easy road

There are trials and troubles

And many are the dangers we meet;

But Jesus guards and keeps

So that nothing can harm us,

And smooths the rugged path for our feet.

No, no, it's not an easy road,

No, no, it's not an easy road;

But Jesus walks beside me

And brightens the journey,

And lightens every heavy load.

3.     Though I am often footsore

And weary from travel,

Though I am often bowed down with care,

Well a better day is coming

When home in the glory

We'll rest in perfect peace over there.

No, no, it's not an easy road,

No, no, it's not an easy road;

But Jesus walks beside me

And brightens the journey,

And lightens every heavy load.

Listen to it here.   ROAD

HOW RICH I AM

          Do you ever wish that you would win the lottery or the Publishers Sweepstakes?   Do you hope that sometime soon you will get a big inheritance?  Do you long for a new job with much higher pay?  Do you wish for a larger, more expensive home?   Do you envy those who are rich?  Probably at various times we've all thought and dreamed about being rich.

         Jesus made some comments about earthly riches and treasures in  Matthew 6:20-22.  "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."  And I might add where the stock market never crashes, interest rates on investments never drop, where taxes never increase and where expensive possessions never wear out  Then he wisely concludes, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

           Other scriptures remind believers of the true riches which believers do have because of our relationship with Jesus.   Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Ephesians 1:6, 7 , "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace".

          In previous blogs I have often shared about John Peterson (1921-2006) and his many great songs.  Peterson was a songwriter who had a major influence on evangelical Christian music in the 1950s through the 1970s. He wrote over 1000 songs, and 35 cantatas.  His songs are singable, and their declaration of Bible truth is clear and helpful.  As President and Editor-in-Chief of Singspiration, a sacred music publishing company, he also compiled and edited a hymnal called "Great Hymns of the Faith".  Quite possibly your church used this hymnal at one time.

          Now I don't know why in 1956 he wrote this particular song, "How Rich I Am",  but I assume that it must have been his testimony.  He probably realized, as we should, how rich we really are even if we have few of this world's possessions.  Since the Savior came, "redeemed my soul and turned my nigh to day".   "Such peace and joy I never knew before. And countless blessings from His boundless store".  How rich I am! 

          Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!   Ephesians 3:16, 17 , 'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love".  Phillipians 4:19,  "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".  What more do we want or need?

          So this week take time to thank Him for the riches you have through Christ Jesus.  Yes, how rich we are!

        

How rich I am 

Since Jesus came my way 

Redeemed my soul and turned my nigh to day 

How very rich, how very rich, I am!!! 

Such peace and joy 

I never knew before 

And countless blessings 

from His boundless store 

How very rich, how very rich, I am! 

There is greater glory in a sunset! 

A brighter twinkle in each star! 

There is much more promise in a rainbow! 

More music in a singing bird by far! 

All things have changed 

My eyes once blind can see 

The whole wide world 

Is now a symphony 

And with all this 

Heaven is my destiny! How rich I am!!! 

There is greater glory in a sunset! 

A brighter twinkle in each star! 

There is much more promise in a rainbow! 

More music in a singing bird by far! 

All things have changed 

My eyes once blind  now see 

The whole wide world 

Is now a symphony 

And with all this 

Heaven is my destiny! 

How Very Rich I am !

Listen to it here.   RICHES

AT CALVARY (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A special feature where every few weeks I choose a hymn that I have written about before, revise and update it, and share it once again because I think it has a powerful message that we need.  This one was shared previously on April 10, 2011. 

          As we celebrate the Easter season, there are many hymns that speak of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross at Calvary. One of my favorites is the hymn that I've chosen for this week. It was a favorite in our church when I was growing up and it was always one that seniors loved to sing at the many hymn sings that I used to lead. It reminds us of how the crucifixion of Christ can change our lives so dramatically. And this is what stirred the author to pen these words many years ago. 

          The story behind the hymn began when Dr. R.A. Torrey was president of Moody Bible Institute. Here is the story as told by Dr. Torrey. "When I was president of the Moody Bible Institute, I received a letter from a very concerned pastor who told me of a son who was causing himself and his family a great deal of trouble. His life was really mixed up. And the father felt that attendance at Moody would help. I advised the father that even though I sympathized with him, for I was a father; yet, because I was running a Bible school and not a reform school, I had to deny his request. After many letters of pleading his cause, I finally gave in with the stipulation that the rebellious teen must see me each day and make every effort to abide by the rules and requirements of the Institute." 

          Torrey went on to say that the boy faithfully visited his office each day; and with wisdom from God's word, he answered the questions that had been keeping the boy from God. Finally, after many months of counseling, the prayers of the boy's father were answered when young William R. Newell received Christ as his personal Savior. 

          Thirty years later, as a teacher at Moody, Mr. Newell was recounting those turbulent years as a rebellious teen; and as he was rejoicing in his salvation, the words of a poem flooded his mind. His mind was filled with a word picture of what had happened in his life and also in the lives of all those who surrender to Christ. The new man in Christ could now write these words that have spoken to many for over a century. 

          Meditate on these words as you celebrate the Easter season.

(1) Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(2) By God's Word at last my sin I learned;

Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(3) Now I've given to Jesus everything,

Now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(4) Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

Now listen to it sung here.    LISTEN