HOW BIG IS GOD?

          How big is God?  From our intellect that isn't too hard to attempt to answer, especially if we refer to creation and the universe.  We might discuss the magnitude and beauty of the nebula or galaxies which he has created. We could even back this knowledge up by quoting scripture.  "He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name" (Psalm 147:4).   "He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion" (Jeremiah 10:12)..  Come and see the works of God; He is awesome" (Psalm 66:5).  We could discuss how He resides in eternity and exists in infinity.  We could share how He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.  And these would all be great answers.  But aside from these intellectual answers we might rather question how big is our God in our day by day life.  Is He really big enough to handle all the personal challenges that we face or do we worry and seek answers and comfort from other sources?  Do we believe that He can really do the impossible in our lives?   Do we really believe that He really knows and cares about our everyday lives?  I believe that how we live demonstrates how big we feel that our God really is.  It's not the intellectual answers and knowledge, it is the heart and trust knowledge.  The God who controls the universe is able to live within our hearts and control all the events of our lives, if we allow Him to do so.  Carl Stuart Hamblen (1908-1989) has been discussed here in previous blogs.  He was the son of a traveling Methodist preacher. He was a country western gospel singer, composer, radio-movie personality, and master storyteller.   He developed a friendship with Billy Graham and later was converted and gave up his sinful lifestyle.  He produced a weekly nationally syndicated "Cowboy Church of the Air" program and wrote numerous gospel songs, including this week's choice.  While it only has two verses, I pray that these words might speak to our hearts this week and challenge us to question how big is our God and what this means to us personality. He is the same God who led the Israelites through the Red Sea, enabled David to slay Goliath and kept Daniel safe in the Den of Lions.   And He is big enough to handle anything that comes our way, and yet small enough to live within our heart.  Do our lives demonstrate this?

1.    Though men may strive to go beyond the reach of space

To walk beyond the distant glimmering stars.

This world's a room so small within my Father's house

The open sky but a portion of his yard.

How big is God? How big and wide is his vast domain?

To try to tell these lips can only start;

He's big enough to rule the mighty universe,

Yet small enough to live within my heart.

2.     As winter's chill may cause the tiny seed to fall,

To lie asleep till waked by summer's rain,

The heart grown cold will warm and throb with life anew;

The Master's touch will bring the glow again.

How big is God? How big and wide is his vast domain?

To try to tell these lips can only start;

He's big enough to rule the mighty universe,

Yet small enough to live within my heart.

Listen to it here.     LISTEN

HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE

          Our small group recently completed a study on heaven which was developed and produced  by Dr. David Jeremiah.  The dvd's and lessons were excellent and it was exciting and encouraging to study this topic. I highly recommend it to you for a group study.  And while there is so much that we don't know about this special place that is being prepared for us, what God has revealed to us in the Bible should stir anticipation and longing in our hearts.  It will be a spectacular home without pain or tears.  And we will be reunited with many friends and loved ones.  But most importantly, Jesus will be there and we shall dwell with Him eternally.  And we who are God's children can have the hope and assurance of heaven because Jesus himself said that He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would one day come again to take us to that beautiful place.  This week's choice is a song which expresses the beauty of this eternal home where there shall be no more death and the Lamb is the light.  The text was written by Mrs. A. S. (Cordie) Bridgewater (1873 -1957).  Very little is known about her except that she. was born in North Carolina and married A. Samuel Bridgewater from Tennessee. The couple lived near Hanceville, AL, from 1909 to 1917, where he farmed. It is believed that she produced the words to "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" during this time. They apparently moved from Hanceville around 1917, and no further records of them have been found.   Likewise, we know little about the actual writing of this week's choice.  But we can imagine that her life experiences and study of the Bible gave her this hope for her future home.  Are you burdened today with the toils and challenges of this life?  Are you discouraged by the events around you?  Do you sometimes fear the future realizing that there is no hope for this world?  Then raise your sights, look up and be encouraged.  Christ is preparing a beautiful future for His children.  Now I'm not sure if the angels will be singing and playing golden harps as mentioned in the last verse, but I do know that heaven will be a beautiful place, more spectacular than we can even imagine.  And I am excited about such a future.  Are you?

1. We read of a place that's called heaven,

It's made for the pure and the free;

These truths in God's Word He hath given,

How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be,

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

2. In heaven no crying nor pining,

No wishing for elsewhere to be;

God's light is forever there shining,

How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be,

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

3. Pure waters of life there are flowing,

And all who will drink may be free;

Rare jewels of splendor are glowing,

How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be,

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

4. The angels so sweetly are singing,

Up there by the beautiful sea;

Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing,

How beautiful heaven must be.

How beautiful heaven must be,

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

GLORY TO HIS NAME

          This week's hymn choice, also known as "Down At the Cross", was penned by Elisha A. Hoffman (1839-1929) in 1879.  It is said that Hoffman was reading about the crucifixion of Jesus in his Bible and he began to think about how God saved men from their sins by allowing Jesus to die on the cross.  His heart was filled with such gratitude that he wanted to give God all the glory and honor for this wonderful gift.  And so he quickly wrote the words of this poem.  And while he provided the music for most of the hymns that he wrote during his lifetime, this time it was John Stockton, a musician and member of Hoffman's church, who set the poem to music. And for almost 140 years this hymn has been a favorite of believers who desire to bring glory and praise to the Lord for the wonderful work of salvation that has transformed their lives.  Hoffman was born in Orwigsburg, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. His father was a minister of the gospel in the Evangelical Association, and rendered over sixty years of service in preaching the Word.  Hoffman's musical education was limited, without any formal training, and was gained by personal application.  His first impressions of music came from hearing his parents sing in their home, especially during their times of family worship, both in the morning and evening. It was during these times of family worship that Hoffman developed a love for sacred music and a belief that song was "as natural a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body." Under such an influence he came to use the gifts that God had given him in expression with words and song.  His first composition was made public at the age of eighteen.  His story should be a vivid reminder to parents of the importance of music and scripture in the home.  Over two thousand of his hymns are now in print.  Among these are "What a Wonderful Saviour!," "Enough for Me," "Are You Washed in the Blood?," "No Other Friend Like Jesus," "I Must Tell Jesus," and "Is Your All on the Altar?"  He also edited fifty song books.   Many of his hymns, like this week's choice, express the reality of how the sacrifice of Christ on the cross should impact our lives.  When His blood is applied to our sinful lives, we are forgiven and cleansed, we are saved from sin and He abides within.  He takes us into His family and He keeps us clean.  And having experienced this, our heart should cry out, just like Hoffman's did, "Glory to His Name!"  I hope that this is you testimony and song of praise today.  If it isn't, listen to the words of the fourth verse and come to this fountain today.  He will cleanse you and change you completely!  Glory to His Name!

1. Down at the cross where my Savior died,

Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name,

Glory to His Name:

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!

2. I am so wondrously saved from sin,

Jesus so sweetly abides within,

There at the cross where He took me in;

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name,

Glory to His Name:

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!

3. Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,

I am so glad I have entered in;

There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name,

Glory to His Name:

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!

4. Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,

Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet;

Plunge in today, and be made complete;

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name,

Glory to His Name:

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?

          It is a very special privilege in life to have a friend here on earth with whom you can share your joys, your problems, your hopes and your experiences.  And if you have such a close friend you want to spend time with that person as often as you can.  And even if you are separated by many miles you find ways to share through visits, cards and letters, the internet, social media and especially the telephone.  If it is a good friend you don't let too much time pass between contacts.  Now if you've experienced such a relationship with an earthly friend, the question then  is why don't we seem to carry these same priorities over to our relationship with the Lord.  He is the one who really loves us and cares for us. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He has promised to guide us and provide for us.  What more could we want?  What a friend we have in Jesus. And yet, sadly, even though He is always with us, we often allow so much time to pass before actually spending any time with Him.  We let our burdens pile up.  Sometimes we have sleepless nights filled with worry and anxiety.  Sometimes there are difficult decisions to be made and we wrestle with them.  And often we just forget about His presence until we have exhausted all of our energy and don't know what else to do.  Then we go to Him.  And how often do we ever take time to thank Him and praise Him for His provision and presence? If we treated our earthly friends like that they might give up on us. Now the story is told that one wintry night in 1956, simple childhood prayers such as "Now I lay me down to sleep" began to fill the mind of song writer Mosie Lister. "How long has it been since some people have talked to the Lord?"  He asked himself.  "Some of us prayed in younger years, but have gotten away from that childhood faith."  He then picked up a pencil and paper and phrases began to flow nearly as fast as he could write them down.  And a tune came with them.  In about fifteen minutes this week's song choice was written.  Hopefully, if your friendship with the Lord has grown cold, the words will stir you to renew that friendship and spend your time with a "friend who stickest closer than a brother".  Talk to Him and tell Him your heart's hidden secrets.  And know that He is always there and ready to answer your prayers.  Know that you can call Him your Friend, for He cares for you.

How long has it been

Since you talked with the Lord,

And told Him your heart's hidden secrets.

How long since you prayed?

How long since you stayed on your knees

Till the light shone through?

How long has it been

Since your mind felt at ease

How long since your heart knew no burden?

Can you call Him your friend?

How long has it been

Since you knew that He cared for you?

How long has it been

Since you knelt by your bed

And prayed to the Lord up in heaven?

How long since you knew

That He'd answer you,

And would keep you the long night through?

How long has it been

Since you woke with the dawn,

And felt the day's worth the living?

Can you call Him your friend?

How long has it been

Since you knew that He cared for you?

When I was a college student, two of my close friends and I used to enjoy singing this song.  That brought back many good memories when I found this video of the Booth Brothers singing this song.  Listen to it here.   LISTEN

WE SHALL SEE HIS LOVELY FACE

        While my freshman year at college was many, many years ago, I still have some vivid memories of being away from home for extended periods for the first time in my life.  I remember some of the homesickness which I encountered and I remember the anticipation of visits from my parents on Friday nights.  I would wait for them with great anticipation and concern until I finally saw their faces.  And what a relief that was.  And I can recall many other experiences, especially times of waiting to see the face of my fiance/wife.  What joy there was in my heart when I finally saw her face.  And that same anticipation is something we should experience when we think of finally seeing our Savior face to face.  The blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, often shared this expectation in her hymns, such as in "Face to Face shall I Behold Him".  And this is the very same thought that motivated Norman Clayton (1903-1992) to pen the words of this week's hymn choice.  He wrote, "We shall see His lovely face some bright golden morning ... Sorrow will be turned to joy, heartaches gone forever; no more night, only light, when we see His face."  He continues, "God shall wipe away all tears some bright golden morning, no more crying, pain or death in that home of gladness, trials cease, all is peace, when we see His face." And he concludes, "Songs of vict'ry fill the skies in that hour of greeting, endless days, endless praise, when we see His face."  The experience of finally seeing the face of a loved one can be a very special event, but it pales in the promise of what will happen when we finally see the face of our Lord.  Now I have featured Clayton's songs before in this blog, but it might be helpful to once again share a little about him.  Norman Clayton was born in Brooklyn, New York, the ninth of ten children. He was converted at the age of six in the South Brooklyn Gospel Church, where his mother had been a charter member. He was church organist by the age of 12 and he kept that position for the rest of his life.  His profession was in the building industry, but he also created his own publishing house, Gospel Songs, which was later absorbed into the Rodeheaver Company.  During that time he authored many well known songs.  It is said that his usual practice was to write the music first before writing the words. In order to create songs worthy of His Lord, Clayton made it his practice to memorize scripture, so his songs would have a strong Biblical basis.  In 1992, at the age of 92, Clayton finally experienced personally the thrill of what he had written when he passed into eternity and saw His Lord face to face.  May we live daily in the anticipation that this could be the day that we also experience that awesome event.  What a day that will be!

(1)     We shall see His lovely face some bright golden morning,

When the clouds have rifted and the shades have flown;

Sorrow will be turned to joy, heartaches gone forever;

No more night, only light, when we see His face.

(2)     God shall wipe away all tears some bright golden morning,

When the journey's ended, and the course is run;

No more crying, pain or death in that home of gladness,

Trials cease, all is peace, when we see His face.

(3)     We shall meet to part no more, some bright golden morning,

At the gates of glory where our loved ones stand;

Songs of vict'ry fill the skies in that hour of greeting,

Endless days, endless praise, when we see His face.

I had real difficulty finding a video presentation of this Gospel song, but I did find a beautiful recording of it done by the White Sisters who were one of my favorite singing groups early in my life.  You can listen to them here.   LISTEN

LORD SPEAK TO ME

         I was so blest to have a grandfather and a father who were godly men.  I learned so much from their wisdom and example.  But they are now home with the Lord.  And so often I wish that I could talk to them once again and be taught by them.  But I can't.  However, I have a heavenly father who is all knowing, all powerful and always present.  And He knows my needs and cares about them.  And while He will never speak to me verbally as my earthly father did, His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit do lead me daily.  And He gives me the strength to serve Him and carry out his plan for me here on earth.  And while this week's hymn choice is a prayer for His leading, it does remind us of the many needs that we have that He will meet.  We need His leading, His feeding, His strength, His teaching, His rest, His filling, His guidance and His blessing upon what we do and say.  And it should be our prayer to be used by Him where and how He wants us to be used. We are made to be reflectors of God and His truth. All around us are those in deep spiritual need. What can we do for them? Nothing, on our own. They need a touch from God. They need Him, and we can have a part in bringing them together. We can be His reflectors. or as it says in the first verse, His "living echoes." As Jesus said to His followers,"Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8). And later Paul was able to say, "I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you" (I Cor. 11:23). We can only pass on what we have received. In 1872, Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a hymn-poem she entitled, "A Worker's Prayer." Today we know it by the opening words, "Lord, Speak to Me."  It is a prayer that believers should pray daily. If we are to lead others, it must be as God leads us. If we are to feed them with spiritual manna, it must come from Him.  Daily we need to open the Word of God first for ourselves, in order to hear His voice, praying, "Lord, speak to me that I may speak."  And not with a verbal voice or even a vision, but through His written word and the Holy Spirit. Have you spent time alone with Him and His Word today?

(1)     Lord, speak to me that I may speak

In living echoes of Thy tone;

As Thou has sought, so let me seek

Thine erring children lost and lone.

(2)     O lead me, Lord, that I may lead

The wandering and the wavering feet;

O feed me, Lord, that I may feed

Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

(3)    O strengthen me, that while I stand

Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,

I may stretch out a loving hand

To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

(4)     O teach me, Lord, that I may teach

The precious things Thou dost impart;

And wing my words, that they may reach

The hidden depths of many a heart.

(5)     O give Thine own sweet rest to me,

That I may speak with soothing power

A word in season, as from Thee,

To weary ones in needful hour.

(6)     O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,

Until my very heart overflow

In kindling thought and glowing word,

Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

(7)     O use me, Lord, use even me,

Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,

Until Thy blessed face I see,

Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

You can listen to this here.  LISTEN

LOOK TO THE LAMB OF GOD

           Today we live in a world where there are so many things competing for our attention.  Magazines, television, and media promote all sorts of things that are supposed to help us feel better, grow healthier, make our leisure time more enjoyable, make are days more convenient, make us popular, grow our finances, help us keep up with our neighbors and connect with others. We are promised all sorts of enjoyable results if we use them and trust them. They all promise to make our lives more satisfying, fill all of our needs and solve all of our problems.  But they really tend to only distract us and take our time and attention away from that which only can satisfy man's soul, Jesus, the Lamb of God.  One doesn't have to look too far to see how so many people today are living in fear, frustration and without any real purpose and hope.  Their only hope in life is to focus on Jesus. As John the Baptist put it, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John. 1:29). Behold Him, yes, but not simply out of academic curiosity, or as part of mere religious ritual. We need to turn our gaze upon Jesus in confident trust. He is the One who bore the punishment for our sins. We need to look to the Lamb of God, who died in our place, and rose again, in triumph over death. There's life in a look. Back in the nineteenth century, Henry Jackson (1838-1914) and his wife Alice, worked as missionaries in Argentina. Later, he served as a pastor in the United States. Today, he is remembered for this week's hymn choice which he wrote inviting sinners to look to Christ in faith. It reminds us "If you from sin are longing to be free, look to the Lamb of God ... to redeem you ... for He alone is able to save you."  And for those of us who have experienced this redemption, this week's hymn also reminds us that in times of temptation, in times of weariness, and in times of sorrow, which we all face at times,  the answer is not to look at the many false cures advertised in today's media, but to look to the Lamb of God, the only true solution to our needs.  Have you looked to Him for your salvation and redemption?  Are you looking to Him daily for His leading, peace and provision?  If not, do so today ... "for He alone is able to save you!" ... "Look to the Lamb of God!"

(1)   If you from sin 

Are longing to be free,

Look to the Lamb of God.

He to redeem you died on Calvary, 

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

For He alone is able to save you,

Look to the Lamb of God.

(2)    When Satan tempts 

And doubts and fears assail,

Look to the Lamb of God.

You in His strength

Shall over all prevail,

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

For He alone is able to save you,

Look to the Lamb of God.

(3)    Are you aweary?

Does the way seem long?

Look to the Lamb of God.

His love will cheer

And fill your heart with song.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

For He alone is able to save you,

Look to the Lamb of God.

(4)    Fear not when shadows on your pathway fall,

Look to the Lamb of God.

In joy or sorrow Christ is all in all.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

Look to the Lamb of God.

For He alone is able to save you,

Look to the Lamb of God.

You can listen to it here.    LISTEN