WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED

Maybe it is my age, but it seems that everywhere I look good people are going through tough times ... illness, cancer, death, accidents, family problems, financial problems, employment problems, loneliness ... and the list could go on and on.  For centuries people have asked why these problems and trials come to good people.  And while we may never know the answer here on earth, we do know that good people are not immune to trials.  But what we do know is that God does give us the strength that we need to face them.  he gives us rest, light  and grace as we encounter them.   And He provides us with this hymn in my dad's study.  The words used to hang in his parent's parsonage back in the 1920's.  So, apparently, even back then good folks faced a multitude of trials and they, too, found their strength in the Lord and His perfect ways.  So maybe the words of this hymn written by Annie Johnson Flint will encourage you today as you face your trials.   The author knew what trials were all about.  She not only lost her parents, but also her adopted parents.  She developed severe arthritis and had to live out her years in a sanitarium.  And in these times of great trial in her life she penned many poems including this hymn and also "He Giveth More Grace".

(1)  God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

Chorus:  But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

(2)   God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

Chorus:  But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

(3)   God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river, turbid and deep.

Chorus:  But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

BE STILL MY SOUL

Have your days been stressful?  Do your days seem filled with pressures and obligations?  Mine have been.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the urgent issues of life that we get overwhelmed and fail to sense or acknowledge the presence of God's Spirit in our lives.  But He is always there to give us the guidance, strength, and peace that we need.  This hymn, one of my favorites, often reminds me that He is faithful and always there - I just need to be still and let Him handle the stress and pressures in my life. "Be Still My Soul" is a popular revival hymn written by Katharine von Schlegel (1697-c.1768) and translated into English by Jane L. Borthwick (1813-1897). The music was composed by Jean Sibelius, from his music 'Finlandia.'   It was a favorite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous for refusing to run on the Sabbath.  He later became a missionary in China and was imprisoned during World War II.  He is said to have taught this hymn to others in prison camp where he eventually died of a brain tumor.  The scripture reference of this hymn is found in Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  So if you are stressed out, take time to sing this hymn and recognize that God is closer than you think and ready to handle your stress.  Just be still and let Him do so.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Listen to it here.     LISTEN

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE JESUS

All of us go through periods when we feel all alone and nobody seems to care.  The problems seem so heavy and we wish that we just had somebody who could help us through the fog that we face.  The difficult times that we are now living in have brought new, heavy tensions.  Unemployment, bills, mortgages, illnesses, family struggles, fears, terrorism, loss of freedoms, uncertainty - heavy burdens to bear.  Unfortunately, during the past year three acquaintances of mine have committed suicide to escape their troubles.  A hymn by John Peterson has often been a comfort to me when I have faced these seemingly "impossible" pressures.  Incidentally, back when I used to sing solos this was the first hymn that I sang with a taped background - in fact it was the first time any musician used a background tape in our church.  Mr. Peterson wrote this hymn in the early years of his ministry.  Here is his account of how it was written. "At one time I had a fairly responsible position with a well-known gospel ministry. One day a supervisory position opened up in my department. I was led to believe that I was to be promoted to this position. I was thrilled and challenged by the prospect of a new joy. But I was by-passed, and a man from the outside was brought in to fill the position.  There followed days of agonizing heart searching. It was all I could do to keep from becoming bitter. One night I had occasion to spend an evening with the man who was brought in for "my" position. For some reason or other, though otherwise a very pleasant fellow, that night he became quite caustic in some of his remarks to me; and I was deeply hurt.   Later that evening, after returning home, I was sitting in our living room thinking about the events of the past days and about the bitter experiences of that evening. I began to feel very alone and forsaken. Suddenly, I sensed the presence of the Lord in an unusual way and my mind was diverted from my difficulties to His faithfulness and sufficiency. Soon the thought occurred to me that He fully understood and sympathized with my situation--in fact, no one could ever completely understand or care as did He. Before long, the idea for the song came and I began to write."

No one understands like Jesus.

He's a friend beyond compare;

Meet Him at the throne of mercy;

He is waiting for you there.

No one understands like Jesus;

Ev'ry woe He sees and feels;

Tenderly He whispers comfort,

And the broken heart He heals.

No one understands like Jesus

When the foes of life assail;

You should never be discouraged;

Jesus cares and will not fail!

No one understands like Jesus

When you falter on the way;

Tho' you fail Him, sadly fail Him,

He will pardon you today.

CHORUS:

No one understands like Jesus

When the days are dark and grim;

No one is so near, so dear as Jesus--

Cast your ev'ry care on Him!

Listen to this beautiful hymn sung here.    LISTEN

WONDERFUL MERCIFUL SAVIOR

If you are a regular to this hymn blog you probably think that I only appreciate the old hymns of the church ... you know, those hymns written several hundred years ago.  Now I admit that there are many of the old ones that still speak to my heart and I do miss hearing and singing them.  But there are some recently written ones that also have a great message.  This week's choice is one of those.  It was written in 2001 and it won a Dove Award in 2002.  It shares the many ways God is with His children and how he deals with them.  And as it says, He gives the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for.  You can listen to Selah sing it at this site.   LISTEN

Wonderful mericiful Savior,

Precious redeemer and friend.

Who would have thought that a lamb could

Rescue the souls of men, Oh You rescue the souls of men.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore.

You give the healing and grace our

Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for

Counselor, comforter, keeper.

Spirit we long to embrace.

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost the way, Oh we hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore.

You give the healing and grace our

Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty infinite father,

Faithfully loving Your own.

Here in our weakness You find us

Falling before Your throne, Oh we're falling before Your throne.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore.

You give the healing and grace our

Hearts always hunger for, Oh our hearts always hunger for.

O THAT WILL BE GLORY FOR ME

When my father recently passed away some of the grandchildren told us that Grandpa wanted to have this song sung at his funeral.  So we honored his request by having the family sing it at his Memorial Service.  We had never sung together before in public as a family and it went well considering that we didn't have time to practice as a group and many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren had never heard the song before.  The words certainly reflect dad's desire and hope and most likely his present experience.   The song itself has an interesting history.   When it first appeared in 1900, a musical expert predicted, "It will never go; it has too many quarter notes."  In other words, 'the rhythm is too monotonous." But in a few years, it was the most popular hymn Homer Rodeheaver led in the Billy Sunday campaigns.  It was affectionately called the "glory Song." It was inspired, not by an experience, but by a personality!  The author, C. H. Gabriel, was perhaps the best known and most prolific gospel song writer of the early twentieth century.  One of his good friends was Ed Card, superintendent of the Sunshine Rescue Mission of St. Louis, Missouri.  Ed was a radiant believer who always seemed to be "bubbling over" with Christian joy. During a sermon or a prayer he would often explode with "Glory" just like some people say "Amen!" or "Hallelujah!"  His beaming smile earned him the nickname "old glory face."  It was his custom to close his fervent prayers with a reference to heaven, usually ending with the phrase "and that will be glory for me"   What a fitting song for the believer who has the assurance that he will someday be reunited with loved ones, and with the Lord, in heaven.

When all my labors and trials are over,

And I am safe on that beautiful shore,

Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain:

O that will be glory for me,

Glory for me, glory for me,

When by His grace I shall look on His face,

That will be glory, be glory for me.

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,

I am accorded in heaven a place,

Just to be there and to look on His face,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;

Joy like a river around me will flow;

Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain

Hear the music here.     LISTEN

TRUSTING JESUS

Sometimes a thought can jog a memory.  And when that memory is a hymn, sometimes it is hard to get it out of your mind.  That is the case with this week's hymn.  This is a hymn that we frequently sang in worship services as I was growing up.  I can picture great saints that I have known singing this with gusto because they had experienced the reality of the message.  "Trusting Jesus" is a hymn that is completely American in background.  Edgar Stites, author of the words, was a direct descendant of John Howland, one of the Mayflower's passengers.  Active in the Civil War, he was later a riverboat pilot and then a missionary to the frontier churches in South Dakota.  The hymn poem first appeared in a newspaper and was handed to the American evangelist D. L. Moody.  In turn, Moody gave it to his soloist and song leader, Ira D. Sankey, asking him to set it to music. In his book, Sankey's Story of the Gospel Hymns, the singer says, "I assented, on condition that he should vouch for the doctrine taught in the verses, and he said he would".  And with that a great hymn was written that has encouraged believers for many decades.  Hopefully this is your testimony

1.     Simply trusting every day,

Trusting through a stormy way;

Even when my faith is small,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

   

Refrain:

Trusting as the moments fly,

Trusting as the days go by;

Trusting Him whate'er befall,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

    

 2.     Brightly doth His Spirit shine

Into this poor heart of mine;

While He leads I cannot fall;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain

  3.     Singing if my way is clear,

Praying if the path be drear;

If in danger for Him call;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain

   

  4.     Trusting Him while life shall last,

Trusting Him till earth be past;

Till within the jasper wall,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain

AND CAN IT BE?

Valentine's Day is a time when thoughts turn to love.  Fortunate is the one who has a friend here on earth to love.  But the source of love is God himself who sent His only Son Jesus to this earth to die for us.  Such amazing love - how can it be!  There are so many great hymns written about love that it is hard to choose just one for this week.  But how could there be one more powerful than the one written by Charles Wesley. Wesley, founder of the movement known as Methodism with his brother, John, was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1735. However, three years later, the evening of May 21, 1738, reportedly after prolonged Bible reading he wrote: "At midnight I gave myself to Christ, assured that I was safe, whether sleeping or waking. I had the continual experience of His power to overcome all temptation, and I confessed with joy and surprise that He was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me above what I can ask or think." Another writer states that he recorded in his journal: "I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ. I saw that by faith I stood." Two days later, his journal reported that he had begun writing a hymn. This hymn was likely "And Can It Be" because of the vivid testimony of stanza four. This hymn and "Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin" were the first of the 6000 plus hymns that he wrote. Also, it is reported that his brother John sang a hymn on his own conversion to "vital religion" three days later. Although it was not stated what hymn it was, many think it might have been "And Can It Be".  Worship with me as we sing and thank God for His amazing love expressed in this great hymn.

(1.)     And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me who caused His pain!

For me who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be That

Thou, my God, should die for me?

Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

(2.)    He left His Father's throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace!

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam's helpless race.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

(3.)    Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

(4.)    No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own

Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Listen to a great presentation of this hymn.    LISTEN

ALL YOUR ANXIETY

When I was in college we were shocked to hear that our pastor had died of a sudden heart attack.  Although that was  almost 50 years ago, I still remember the funeral service.  One of the things that has remained in my mind is one of the hymns that the Pastor's Quartet sang - "All Your Anxiety".  I had never heard this before and I have never forgotten it.  Years later it was in our hymnbook, but I don't recall that we sang it too often.  However, over the years the words have often come back to me and have been a comfort to me.  A few days ago we were listening to some of our old 33rpm records (do you remember these?).  One of the albums was by my favorite trombone player, Bill Pierce, and one of the numbers that he played and sang was this hymn.  I immediately thought that I should list this as one of my hymns of the week.  Hopefully the words will be a help to some of my readers.  The hymn was written by Edward H. Joy (1871 - 1949) who was inspired by the words from Philippians 4, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  Now if only we could claim and apply both the words and the hymn and leave all of our anxiety with the Lord. That's a lesson that I must learn. For there is never a burden that He can't bear and there is never a friend like Jesus. 

(1)   Is there a heart o'erbound by sorrow?

Is there a life weighed down by care?

Come to the cross, each burden bearing—

All your anxiety, leave it there.

Refrain:

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

(2)   No other friend so keen to help you,

No other friend so quick to hear;

No other place to leave your burden,

No other one to hear your prayer.    Refrain

(3)    Come then at once, delay no longer!

Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;

You need not fear a disappointment,

You shall find peace at the mercy seat.   Refrain

You can listen to the music here.      LISTEN

THY WORD IS LIKE A GARDEN, LORD!

During 2009, my pastor is doing a series of sermons on doctrine.  This series promises to be interesting since he will focus on applications of Bible doctrine.  When they finally get posted, you may listen to his sermons at this site. FBF  He has begun the series with sermons about the Bible itself.  This morning's sermon was "The Bible – Inspired By God".  Now that finally brings me to this week's hymn.  When Dianne was asked to play the offertory for the early service, we looked for some music that might be appropriate for his sermon.  My mind went back to a song which we sang many years ago.  In fact, if I think about it, I can almost hear my grandfather leading this song in his church in the 1960's.  My grandfather emphasized the need to get into the Word on a regular basis.  He annually presented bookmarks to those who had read their Bible through that year.  My wife and I have many of these. Even to this day my dad and my aunt read their Bible through each year – they never fail to do this.  So this morning Dianne played on the piano this song which was written by Edwin Hodder in 1873.  Music was added by Gottfried Fink in 1842.  We knew few in the congregation would recognize the music so we projected the words while she played.  The song uses numerous pictures to show how the Word of God can affect our lives.  There is so much help in it for us in all situations of our lives. And there is always something new to be found.  All we need to do is faithfully spend time in it – plucking the beautiful flowers, digging for the jewels, preparing ourselves for the battles of life, and finding the guidance that we need.  Have you spent time in the Word today?  Have you found a jewel today?

(1)   -  Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

(2)  - Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light

Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.

Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;

And find, for life's long battle day, all needful weapons there.

(3)  - O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!

O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,

I'll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.