BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE

Last summer at Pinebrook one of the worship leaders introduced me to a song which has such solid God-centered theology with personal application. I loved the words and I loved the melody and I searched to find a copy of it. I thought it must be a new composition but I soon found out that it was actually written in 1869 by Charitie Lees Bancroft. I've since found out that it is very familiar to many older Christians who used to sing it as part of their worship. I've been unable to find out much about the author except that she was born in Ireland in 1841, married in Scotland in 1869, widowed twice, and buried in California in 1923. The beautiful music was written by Vikki Cook. One person has commented that the church will be singing this hymn one hundred years from now. It has that kind of message and melody that shouldn't be lost by true worshippers today. So there is little more that I can or should say about this hymn. Please take time this week to meditate upon the power and truth of the words ... Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea ... my soul is purchased by His blood. Praise the Lord for the truith of these words.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest whose name is love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless, Righteousness

The Great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of Grace

One with Himself I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

With Christ my Savior and my God

Listen to this beautiful hymn here. LISTEN

VICTORY IN JESUS

Tomorrow most of us in the United States will be celebrating Independence Day, the day when we remember and celebrate the independence that we have enjoyed as citizens of this great country. But we will also remember the great cost of many lives that gained us this special right. And we, too, as Christians also can celebrate the great independence and victory that we can enjoy through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Eugene Monroe Bartlett was a very well-known gospel hymnist in the early 20th Century in the South. Besides teaching and writing music for several decades. One of Bartlett's main objectives was to teach worshippers to sight read a song by using "shape" notes, an assigned shape for each tone on an eight-note scale makes it easier for the common person to "read" the music. In 1939, Bartlett's health suffered a serious blow when he had a major stroke. He spent much of the last two years of his life bedridden, so it's surprising that he wrote his most well-known song, "Victory in Jesus", at that time. Or is it? It's said that Bartlett missed traveling and teaching, but he could still study the Bible, a study from which he gave us this song, his last. While much of the earth sat on the brink of World War II, Bartlett looked beyond that to a victory none of us can know on earth. Though he could see an end to his life approaching, he also noticed something else about ends. If you live for the competition, to play the game, then the end is bittersweet, even if it culminates in triumph and a trophy. Bartlett must have experienced some depression, if he was human like all of us. In fact, it'd be quite impossible to be as productive as Bartlett was, and not miss the life one has lived. But another part must have seen his physical descent as just a temporary blip, a normal part of the human condition. Though an earthly victory comes at the finish line, Bartlett's first and second verses tell us that he had already experienced his eternal victory well before his earthly end approached. And, thank God that is the one that endures! 1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins;

And won the victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing.

How He made the lame to walk again

And caused the blind to see;

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit,"

And somehow Jesus came and brought

To me the victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory.

Chorus:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood

You can listen to it here. LISTEN

CHANNELS ONLY

What comes to mind when you hear the word channel? For most of us television probably comes to mind. A channel is a specific path to bring a specific message to a viewer. Some might think of a body of water and the physical confine of a river or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks to carry water to a specific destination. In business it could be a chain of intermediaries, each passing the product down the chain to the next organization, before it finally reaches the consumer. But no matter what comes to mind, it is a path that carries a specific product to a specific destination. And that is probably what Mary Maxwell had in mind when she penned the words of this week's choice. It is amazing that God chooses humans to carry His message to a world that needs to know Him. He could have chosen the wind to covey the message "God loves you". Or He could have written it in the clouds. Or He could have chosen some other method to channel His powerful message. But He chose us. And so our prayer should be that we might be channels, saved, cleansed and filled, faithfully conveyint this message to those we contact. May our prayer be that we would do this faithfully, every day and every hour.

(1) How I praise Thee, precious Savior,

That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me

That I might Thy channel be.

Refrain

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

(2) Just a channel full of blessing,

To the thirsty hearts around;

To tell out Thy full salvation

All Thy loving message sound.

Refrain

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

(3) Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,

A clean vessel in Thy hand;

With no power but as Thou givest

Graciously with each command.

Refrain

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

(4) Witnessing Thy power to save me,

Setting free from self and sin;

Thou who boughtest to possess me,

In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

Refrain

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

(5) Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit

Hearts that full surrender know;

That the streams of living water

From our inner self may flow.

Refrain

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

You can listen to it here. LISTEN

MY FATHER PLANNED IT ALL

First, let me wish all of you father's a very happy Father's Day. And if you are fortunate enough that your father is still alive and you haven't shared that wish with your father, quit reading this blog right now and do it before you forget. Oh how I wish that I could still talk to my father today. As some of you know, I had a very special father. He loved and served the Lord faithfully and was a real positive role model to me. He survived the years following the depression and World War II by working numerous jobs and spending many hours supporting us. He loved mother and he loved us. He was educated and taught high school and college math and physics, served for 25 years as an engineer with RCA, and then served as facilities manager for a large hospital. But as intelligent and organized as dad was, he couldn't plan for everything. He really couldn't plan for the unexpected elimination of his job after 25 years of loyal service. And he certainly couldn't plan for an unexpected auto accident that took mother home at the age of 72. And he couldn't plan for years of living alone without her. But he never complained. He was able to show us how to trust and serve the Lord when those unexpected challenges developed. His real father died when dad was only two and he was raised by a godly stepfather who also influenced my life. But he and I both have a heavenly father who could plan for our future. He could do that because He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. In fact this Father is the creator of the universe who also loves us and guides us through a future that we don't know. So if you weren't fortunate enough to have a godly earthly father, you can know a father who is perfect - one who knows and controls the future, one who loves you, one who is always there and one who will never fail you or leave you. And today you should thank and praise Him too. This father is the theme of this week's hymn which was written by H. H. Pierson and Alfred B. Smith. As you read these words today, stop and thank the Lord for being the perfect Father and for loving you.

What though the way be lonely, and dark the shadows fall,

I know wher'er it leadeth, My Father planned it all.

I sing through the shade and the sunshine,

I'll trust Him whatever befall;

I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

There may be sunshine tomorrow, Shadows may break and flee,

Twill be the way He chooses, My Father's plan for me.

I sing through the shade and the sunshine,

I'll trust Him whatever befall;

I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

He guides my fal'tring footsteps, Along the weary way;

For well he knows the pathway, Will lead to endless day.

I sing through the shade and the sunshine,

I'll trust Him whatever befall;

I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all.

A day of light and gladness, On which no shade will fall;

Tis this at last awaits me , My Father planned it all….

I sing through the shade and the sunshine,

I'll trust Him whatever befall;

I sing for I cannot be silent, My Father planned it all."

Listen to it here. LISTEN

MY REDEEMER IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE

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 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 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 returning home in his truck. Chapman had tried CPR at his house. The paramedics had tried to revive her but she had been pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Later he teamed with James Isaac Elliott to pen these words and music.

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

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

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

Many churches celebrate Communion the first Sunday of the month, so I have chosen a hymn by William Cowper that is often sung at such celebrations.This is one of the first hymns Cowper wrote after his first attack of temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself: "As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river, and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms. At this time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved. But the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven, and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come." After recovering, Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin and he penned the great words of this hymn.

(1) There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

(2) The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

(3) Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power

Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;

Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

(4) E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;

Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

(5) Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy power to save,

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Meditate on these words as you remember your former lost condition and the cleansing brought by the Lord. LISTEN