HE NEVER SLEEPS

          SLEEP – a vital part of a healthy life.  Something that we all need and something that we crave, especially when our bodies and minds are tired.

          But sometimes folks find it very hard to sleep.  Maybe we have had too much caffeine or have eaten too much food too close to our bedtime.  Maybe our mind is clogged with problems and worries.  Maybe there is too much noise or other distractions around us.  Or maybe we have genuine physical problems confronting us.  And we may turn and toss and watch the clock, but sleep just doesn't come.

          But others face the opposite problem – they can fall asleep easily and quickly, especially at times when they don't want to sleep.  Physical difficulties can be a source of this problem.   I am a diabetic and one of the results of a high sugar level is that I can suddenly doze off and not realize it.  It is very embarrassing when this happens while you are talking to someone or are in a conference.  It can be very dangerous when this happens when you are driving.  

          Now I feel sorry for those who must work night shifts and must be wide awake and attentive during the long night hours.  It must be hard at times to not doze off or slumber.

          Thankfully as believers we do know one who never slumbers or sleeps no matter the time or the situation.  He is always there to hear us and help us.  In Psalm 121:4 we are told, "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."  So, we don't need to worry, night or day, for we are always in His care.

          Don Moen put this truth into music by writing this week's featured choice.  He reminds us that God is able and faithful.  He is always there when we need Him.  He never goes on vacation nor does He take time off to sleep.  Rejoice as you study Moen's words.

When you've prayed every prayer 

that you know how to pray

Just remember the Lord will hear 

and the answer in on it's way

Our God is able

He is mighty

He is faithful

And He never sleeps He never slumbers

He never tires of hearing our prayer

When we are weak He becomes stronger

So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him

Do you feel that the Lord has forgotten your need

Just remember that God is always working 

in ways you cannot see

Our God is able

He is mighty He is faithful

And He never sleeps He never slumbers

He never tires of hearing our prayer

When we are weak He becomes stronger

So rest in His love and cast all of your 

cares on Him (repeat * 2x)

So rest in His love and cast all of your cares

So rest in His love and cast all of your cares

So rest in His love 

and cast all of your cares on Him

 

Maybe this is a reminder that we all need.  Sleep in peace because our protector never sleeps or slumbers.

 

You can listen to it here as sung by the author.   MOEN

Or you can also listen to my favorite version 

as done by the Derric Johnson Vocal Orchestra.   ACAPELLA

 

SAFE AM I

          Decades ago when I was a teenager the chorus "Safe Am I' was a favorite for both teens and adults.  Typically it was sung in youth gatherings and in prayer meetings.  But over the years there was a change in music styles and today most church attenders have never heard this chorus.

          And times have changed and life is not as safe physically as it used to be.  We've battled with covid and many of our friends have died. The use of guns has become epidemic.  In the four cities within 50 miles of our home, shootings are a daily occurrence.  And then there has been an increase in major destructive storms, fires, earthquakes and terrorism.  We don't know what a day will bring.  Are we really safe?

          But there is also an increase in spiritual attacks.  But believers can rest in the truth of Romans 8:38-39.  "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

          Mildred Dillon and her husband Bill were gospel musicians, serving the Lord with a church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. One night at choir practice, each person in attendance was asked to recite a recently memorized Scripture verse. Mildred, the group's pianist, forgot hers, and quickly thumbed through her Bible to find another. Her eyes fell on Psalm 91:11, which she personalized in reading it: "He shall give His angels charge over [me], to keep [me] in all [my] ways."

          That promise was soon put to the test. A powerful storm was picking up outside, rattling the windows of the church. Then, suddenly, a tornado struck the building, including its fifty-foot chimney, and eighteen tons of brick crashed through the roof and fell on Mildred at the piano. It took a dozen men half an hour to free her.

          She was rushed to the hospital. Covered with cuts and bruises, her back broken, for a time doctors didn't expect her to survive, but by God's grace she did. And it was during her over two months in the hospital in 1937 that Mildred Dillon wrote the words for a chorus. In all, fewer than fifty words long, it begins:

Safe am I, safe am I,

In the hollow of His hand.

Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er

With His love for evermore.

          She had words, but no tune. Then, a year later, she and Bill embarked on the Ile de France for England, engaged to assist, with their music, pastor, evangelist and hymn writer Paul Rader, in a series of meetings. In mid-Atlantic the ship was struck by a violent storm. As the waves pitched the ship, Mildred was knocked down.

          Though not injured, she was filled with fear, but the Lord brought peace to her soul as she thought of her experience the previous year, and the verse, Psalm 91:11, and the words she'd composed in the hospital. "I'm still safe in the hollow of Your hand," she thought. Later she went to a piano on board, and composed the tune.

           Over the years since 1938 the Dillons received around fifteen hundred letters, expressing appreciation for the little song, telling of ways it has blessed others. Now, both Bill and Mildred are safe at home with the Lord in heaven.

          What a thrill to know that God's children are safe in the hollow of His hand. And we know that no matter what may come our way that He keeps us and we are safe in His care.

          Friend are you facing some storm today?  Sing this chorus and rest in God's care, protection and provision.  There is true safety.

Safe am I, Safe am I,

In the hollow of His hand;

Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er

With His love forever more

No ill can harm me, No foe alarm me,

For He keeps both day and night,

Safe am I, Safe am I,

In the hollow of His hand.

Listen to the chorus here.    SAFE

MY JESUS AS THOU WILT

            Commitment - a promise or a firm decision to do something. Unfortunately, the term has little meaning in today's world.

          Athletes often break their contracts and leave their teams for more money.  Politicians break their promises for political gain. But maybe even more common today, husbands and wives break their commitments to each other and leave their marriages.  Breaking of commitments is just too common today.

          Today's hymn deals with this matter in our spiritual lives. After the decision to obey the gospel and accept God's provisions for our salvation, the next most important decision is to continue living after God's will, regardless of what the circumstances are or what the future may bring. At the same time, one of the hardest attitudes to maintain in time of adversity is following God's will.  Therefore, we need to be reminded that God can empower us to live victoriously for Him only as we have the attitude, "My Jesus, As Thou Wilt."

          Today's text was written by Benjamin Schmolke (sometimes spelled Schmolk), who was born at Brauchitzchdorf in Silesia, Germany, in December, 1672, the son of Martin Schmolke, a German Lutheran minister.  Like his father, he became a Lutheran minister. Probably as the result of his exhausting labors he had a stroke of paralysis in 1730 at age 58, which for a time laid him aside altogether, and after which he never recovered the use of his right hand. For five more years he was still able to officiate, preaching for the last time in 1735. But two more strokes of paralysis followed, and then cataract came on, relieved for a time by a successful operation, but returning again incurably. For the last months of his life he was confined to bed, till his passing, on the anniversary of his wedding, Feb. 12, 1737.

          Credited with the authorship over 900 hymns, he first published this one in his 1704.  Schmolke's only surviving hymn was translated into English by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897). The translation was probably made around in 1853 was first published the following year in a book, Hymns from the Land of Luther, which consisted of 114 translations of German hymns by Jane and her sister, Sarah Borthwick Findlater.

          This hymn is a prayer that we should daily share. "My Jesus, as Thou wilt: O may Thy will be mine!" "Through sorrow or thro' joy, Conduct me as Thine own." "All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene, I gladly trust with Thee."

          This is a hymn of resignation and resolution - no matter what your life is or what you will do, God's will will be done.   Have you made such a commitment?  Can you say, "My Jesus As Thou Wilt?"

 

1     My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

O may Thy will be mine!

Into Thy hand of love

I would my all resign.

Through sorrow or thro' joy,

Conduct me as Thine own,

And help me still to say,

My Jesus as thou wilt.

2.    My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 

If needy here and poor,

Give me Thy people's bread, 

their portion rich and sure;

The manna of Thy Word 

Let my soul feed upon;

And if all else should fail, 

my Lord, Thy will be done.

3.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

Tho' seen thro' many'a tear,

Let not my star of hope

Grow dim or disappear.

Since Thou on earth hast wept

And sorrowed oft alone,

If I must weep with Thee,

My Lord, Thy will be done.

4.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

All shall be well for me;

Each changing future scene

I gladly trust with Thee.

Straight to my home above

I travel calmly on,

And sing in life or death,

"My Lord, Thy will be done."

Listen to it here.  COMMITMENT

THE SOLID ROCK (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A feature in which I choose a hymn that I have shared in the past, revise it and post it once again.  This hymn was first posted on May 2, 2012.

          Edward Mote (1797-1874) was a hard working cabinet maker and at age 34 he opened his own shop. He also enjoyed writing articles and poems. 

          As he walked to work one morning, he developed this chorus. Upon arriving at his shop, he gave instructions to his workers, and then slipped into his office to pen the words. He wrote four verses that day, and then later added two more verses before the poem was finished. 

         He gave his local newspaper a report of the account of this hymn The Solid Rock it said: "One morning it came into my mind as I went to labor, to write an hymn on the "Gracious experience of a Christian." As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, 'On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.' In the day, I had the first four verses complete, and wrote them off." 

         "On the Sabbath following, I met Brother King as I came out of the Lisle Street Meeting who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an early tea and called afterwards. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to the meeting. He looked for his hymnbook, but could find it nowhere. I said, 'I have some verses in my pocket; if you like, we could sing them.' We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much that after the service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife.  I went home, and by the fireside composed the last two verses, wrote them off, and took them to Sister King." 

          The poem was so well received, he printed out 1,000 copies to distribute.  The music commonly used with the hymn was written by William B. Bradbury in 1863. An alternative tune sometimes used is "Melita" by John B. Dykes,  more commonly remembered as the music to "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" or otherwise known as "The Navy Hymn." 

          Mote's hymn states clearly where our faith lies - on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, His shed blood and righteous life.  In a time when change is everywhere, it is a great reminder that we can build our life and hopes on something secure, the solid rock, Christ Jesus.

          Are you standing on the solid Rock?

(1)   My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(2)  When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(3)  His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(4)  When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Listen to it being sung here.   ROCK

HE IS COMING AGAIN

          In August one of my granddaughters began her college education at my alma mater. She was the sixth of my grandchildren to attend college but the first to make the same college choice that I had made. It brought back many memories of my experiences over 60 years ago.

          Now while I had been away from home many times, especially in the summers, I remember experiencing homesickness for the first time during my first few weeks at college.  And I remember the anticipation I experienced when I was waiting for the first visit from my family.  I thought the day and then the hour of their coming would never arrive.  But finally they arrived, just as they promised

          Today believers should also anticipate the call of Jesus Christ, just as He promised.  And, the rapture could even be today.

          Mabel J. Camp (1871-1937) was a banker's daughter.  She was a gifted pianist and singer.  She married a lawyer, Norman H. Camp, and together they became Christians at one of Dwight Moody's Bible Union classes taught by William Newell.  They were members of the Moody Memorial Church.

          Mabel isn't really known for writing hymns except for this week's hymn choice.  But she too must have been living in anticipation of the Lord's coming. Before the Lord Jesus Christ left this earth to return to heaven, He said, "I will come again." These words have been the hope and comfort of millions of believers for the past twenty centuries. He, as the glorified Christ, repeated these words to the apostle John on the lonely island of Patmos. Here He sharpened His promise and delivered it in a dramatic way, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me."  (Rev. 22:12).  And the rapture is the next promised event to occur.

          In her hymn she described the world we live in. "Dark was the night, sin warred against us; Heavy the load of sorrow we bore." "Creation waits redemption to see."  What a description for our sick world today.

          But Camp also contrasts our present world with what will happen after the rapture and the second coming of Christ. "Our hearts glow within us, joy's cup runneth o'er!"  "Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine!"  "Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee, O blessed assurance, forever with Thee!"

          So, friend, are you tired of this dark world with all of its troubles?  Are you getting homesick for heaven?  Then remember His promise to take you home.  Live daily in the anticipation that the rapture could be today.

1    Lift up your heads, pilgrims aweary,

See day's approach now crimson the sky;

Night shadows flee, and your Beloved,

Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.

Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

2    Dark was the night, sin warred against us;

Heavy the load of sorrow we bore;

But now we see signs of His coming;

Our hearts glow within us, joy's cup runneth o'er! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

3    O blessed hope! O blissful promise!

Filling our hearts with rapture divine;

O day of days! Hail Thy appearing!

Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

4    Even so come, precious Lord Jesus;

Creation waits redemption to see;

Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee;

O blessed assurance, forever with Thee! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

Listen to an instrumental version here.   COMING
Listen to a vocal version here.  VOCAL