LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURINING

         Now I am not a sailor and I have never been on a cruise or in a boat at sea at night, so I am not really qualified to talk about sailing terms.  But I am told that years ago, before sonar, radar and other technological instruments were available, that sailors depended upon things like lighthouses and lower lights to safely enter a harbor, especially suring storms or at night.  Among other things, lower lights would serve as channel markers and show where the boat could safely sail.  One of the great evangelists of the ninettenth century, the Rev. Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) talked about these things in a story that he quite often shared in his messages. Moody told of a ship nearing the Lake Erie harbor at Cleveland, Ohio on a stormy night when the waves were high.  Seeing only the light from one lighthouse, the ship's captain asked the pilot, "Are you sure this is Cleveland?"   "Quite sure," replied the pilot. "But," said the captain, "Where are the lower lights, the lights along the shore?" The pilot replied calmly, "They've gone out sir."  He assured the captain that they could make the harbor and he turned the ship's wheel. But in the darkness they missed the channel and crashed upon the bar, resulting in the deaths of many of the ship's crew and passengers. With this illustration Moody concluded his sermon by saying, "The Master will take care of the Great Lighthouse, but it is up to us to keep the Lower Lights burning."  Philip P. Bliss who had been directing the music at the service, listened intently to Moody's sermon. Almost immediately after the service he penned the words and the music to a hymn that he titled  Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. The hymn was first published in 1871 and eventually the song gained in popularity, even at inland churches where the people knew nothing about lighthouses. And it was soon known by millions of Americans.  In modern times, popular recording artists such as Tennessee Ernie Ford and even Johnny Cash recorded the hymn. But other than some of the gospel singers of today who occasionally perform the song, it is largely forgotten today.  Joni Erickson, in sharing about this hymn said "God is the lighthouse and we are his lower lights.  We point the way, we show where it's safe to go.  I hope, I trust, I pray I am still doing what my father told me to do - I'm still being a lower light, a channel marker, pointing others where it's safe to go. With God as the lighthouse, friend, I'm going to tell you something: you are a lower light. And I want you to join me and marking the way so that others might see where safe harbor is. Because the times are stormy and the winds of change and adversity are blowing hard - it doesn't surprise me (does it you?) That so many believers are being blown off course these days? keep your lower light burning, friend.  Send your beam across the wave, because some poor fainting, struggling seaman, you - through Jesus Christ - may save."   And what more can I add to Joni's comments and challenge.  Think about them this week.

    1.    Brightly beams our Father's mercy,

From His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor *fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

2.    Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

  

    3.    Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

I AM TRUSTING THEE LORD JESUS

          Who can you really trust today?  Politicians make promises that they don't keep.  Scammers are active on the internet and by phone trying to steal our identity.  Drug companies make promises about their products that don't always work.  Sales people and customer service reps can't always be trusted or depended on.  Even many so-called pastors and evangelists deceive us by twisting  scripture.  And sometimes even our friends and family members let us down.  Unfortunately, we live in an age where a person's word often means nothing.  But in this dark world we do have One, the Lord Jesus Christ and His written word, the Bible that we can depend upon.  He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.  And He never has and never will.  "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7.   The Bible tells us that we can and should put our trust in Him.  Proverbs 3:5, 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding.  In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your ways."  Are we trusting Him in all of our ways?  Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879) was the daughter of hymnist and preacher William Havergal.  She was very talented, learning to read by age four, and writing verses at age seven.  In her girlhood days she knew the whole of the New Testament, the Psalms, and Isaiah by heart, and afterwards memorized the Minor Prophets .  Early she learned  French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek and Hebrew and daily she read the Old and New Testaments in the originals.  She apparently inherited musical ability from her father who was a man of education as well as piety and was known for his musical adeptness. Frances herself wrote hundreds of hymns, some of which are loved and still sung by Christians around the world today. She was concerned to write beautiful and memorable words joined with good music, and she was even more committed to writing hymns that clearly expressed biblical truth.  Her health was precarious, and at times she suffered painfully from disease. But her Christian trust was supreme over every trial. She died of peritonitis near Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales at the young age of 42.  It is said that out of her many hundred songs which she composed, her favorite was "I Am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus."   It was found in her Bible after her death.  It is interesting that with all of her education and learning, after all the trials and difficulty that she faced during her brief life, her favorite composition shared the key of her testimony of her faith in Christ.  He was the one she could trust.  150 years later He still is the only one that we can trust to be with us and guide us and strengthen us in the challenges of everyday living.  This week I was looking for a hymn that would express my testimony and trust as I face a difficult surgery this week.  Many of my favorites have already been shared in this blog over the years and I try not to repeat them.  And as I searched, the Lord led me to this hymn of trust.  And my testimony as I face the unknown is, "I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee."  I do have to trust the surgeon and the nursing staff, but I Know it is the Lord who controls them and controls my life and in Him I trust.  Is that your testimony this week?  Do you trust Him for pardon, for cleansing, for guidance, for power and for his daily presence and provision?  He can be trusted ... forever.

1.    I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus,

Trusting only Thee;

Trusting Thee for full salvation,

Great and free.

2.     I am trusting Thee for pardon;

At Thy feet I bow;

For Thy grace and tender mercy,

Trusting now.

3.     I am trusting Thee for cleansing

In the crimson flood;

Trusting Thee to make me holy

By Thy blood.

4.     I am trusting Thee to guide me;

Thou alone shalt lead;

Every day and hour supplying

All my need.

5.     I am trusting Thee for power,

Thine can never fail;

Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me

Must prevail.

6.     I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;

Never let me fall;

I am trusting Thee forever,

And for all.

Listen to it being sung here.  LISTEN

Here is also a lovely piano version.   PIANO

A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM

          Raging forest fires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, and violent storms ... we have certainly recently seen the devastation caused by weather around the world.  People have lost their lives and their homes and possessions and have had to seek shelter and protection from these natural events.  It is so sad to watch these folks struggle against these elements and their results.  But there are many of us today who don't make the headlines as we also struggle for shelter in the onslaught of our personal storms whether they be physical, financial, job related, family related or emotional battles.  These storms happen to all of us in varying degrees throughout our life and we need a rock, a shelter, a defense to depend upon in these weary, troubling times.  The Psalmist, like us, faced these storms himself and his writings have been a comfort to many of us over the years.  "To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock" (Ps. 28:1). "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Ps. 18:2). "He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved …. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God" (Ps. 62:2, 7). "The LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge" (Ps. 94:22).  Vernon J. Charlesworth (1838 - 1915) was a British pastor who later became administrator of Charles Spurgeon's orphanage.  He wrote the words to this week's hymn choice in 1880 based on Psalms 32:7, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." Someone then set his words to music. Ira D. Sankey later composed the familiar tune to the hymn. According to his account, "I found this hymn in a small paper published in London, called "The Postman." It was said to be a favorite song of the fishermen on the north coast of England, and they were often heard singing it as they approached their harbours in the time of storm. As the hymn was set to a weird minor tune, I decided to compose one that would be more practical, one that could be more easily sung by the people."  And so, thanks to Charlesworth and Sankey, we have this wonderful hymn which has been a favorite and a help to thousands over the past century.  Now I don't know what storm you might be going through today. It might seem hopeless and devastating. I know that I am facing one right now and that might be why the Lord led me to this hymn this week.  I would encourage you to put your trust and confidence in the Lord today.  He will be your strength, defense and shelter in the toughest  of storms.  He will be a Rock in a truly weary land.  Our shelter in the time of storm.  Meditate on these words this week and claim them as your hope and confidence.

1      The Lord's our Rock; in Him we hide,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

Secure whatever ill betide,

A Shelter in the time of storm.

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A weary land, a weary land;

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land -

A Shelter in the time of storm.

2     A Shade by day, Defense by night,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

No fears alarm, no foes affright,

A Shelter in the time of storm. 

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A weary land, a weary land;

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land -

A Shelter in the time of storm.

3      The raging storms may round us beat,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

We'll never leave our safe retreat,

A Shelter in the time of storm. 

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A weary land, a weary land;

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land -

A Shelter in the time of storm.

4      O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

Be Thou our Helper ever near,

A Shelter in the time of storm.

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A weary land, a weary land;

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land -

A Shelter in the time of storm.

Listen to this hymn here.   LISTEN

COME YE DISCONSOLATE

        Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was also a lawyer and public servant, as well as an Irish nationalist. He wrote two secular songs – popular ballads that are still recorded today, nearly two centuries later - The Last Rose of Summer, and Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms.  The history of the latter song shows something about the character of Moore.   Apparently his wife contracted smallpox. Though she recovered, she was so disfigured by the disease that she refused to be seen by anyone, including her husband. In his sorrow, the author wrote a song to assure her of his love, no matter how she looked. After she heard him sing his song outside her room, she opened the door and gratefully fell into his arms. The song says: "Believe me, if all those endearing young charms, which I gaze on so fondly today, were to change by tomorrow and flee from my arms, like fairy gifts fading away. Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art. Let thy loveliness fade as it will;  And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart would entwine itself verdantly still."  We don't know, but maybe his wife's experience with smallpox influenced Moore to write this week's hymn choice. He and his wife certainly knew what it felt like to be disconsolate. But one writer called Moore "one of the strangest of all men to write hymns." The son of a Dublin grocer, Moore was educated at Trinity College in Dublin, but he could not graduate because he was Roman Catholic. After a short career in government, he devoted himself to writing and became known as the "Voice of Ireland."   Many were surprised when Moore published his "Sacred Song-Duets" in 1824. "Come, Ye Disconsolate," which was originally titled "Relief in Prayer," has undergone some revision since Moore wrote it, but the original version contained the same message. Thomas Hastings (1784-1872) dropped Moore's original third stanza, replacing it with one of his own.  But this is a great hymn of comfort, encouragement for the disconsolate in the face of sorrow and loss.  In Matthew 11:28-30 we are comforted by the words of Jesus "Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;  for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."  In Hebrews 4:14-16 we are reminded that through Christ, our High Priest, there is "mercy and ... grace to help in time of need," and we are told to "come boldly" before the throne and seek it.  Are you carrying a heavy burden today?  Are you discouraged and overwhelmed?  If so be assured that "earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal".

1.   Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish,

Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;

Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal.

2.   Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,

Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!

Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,

"Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure."

3.   Here see the bread of life, see waters flowing

Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.

Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing

Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can remove.

You can listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

JESUS CALLS US

        So often as I read and study about people in the Bible I forget that they too were human, just like me.  They had decisions to make that often, as humans, must have really been hard to make.  But since we know the outcome of their decisions, sometimes it is really hard for us to understand what they were going through and we don't even consider what might have happened if they had made a different choice.  I recently was reading about the calls of the disciples.  Take Peter and Andrew for instance.  They were involved in their livelihood of fishing, probably the only job that they knew, and this Jesus comes along and says to them "follow me".  Now following Jesus meant leaving all of what they knew - their nets, their business, their income, their family and friends. This was their life. They could have said no.  But we read that they promptly left all and followed Him.  Nothing held them back in responding to the call of Jesus. Now just think what would have happened if the security of their lifestyle would have kept them from saying yes.  Their lives and influence probably would not have been remembered in history.  And more importantly they would have missed the amazing opportunity to live and walk with Jesus.  It was this story from Mark 1:16-18 that led Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) to write the words to this week's hymn choice.  One day her husband, who was a pastor, came to her and said, "I wonder if you could write a poem for next Sunday morning before you hear the sermon." "I'll do what I can," she told him.  He took a Bible and read the account of the calling of Andrew by Jesus.  They discussed the coming sermon during supper, and she promised to do her best with the poem he had requested.  That night, before retiring, she read the familiar Scripture verses again, and soon wrote down the stanzas which he was to read at the close of his sermon the following Sunday morning.  And that is how this week's hymn was written.  The hymn is short, but its words are challenging.  Do we miss the call of Jesus due to the tumult or distraction of everyday responsibilities in our lives? Do things such as my plans, or my opinions, or my desires, or my habits become our idols? If they begin to dominate our schedule and mold our conduct, they could be.  To put anything ahead of loving Christ, and serving Christ, is to allow a false god to crowd Him out of His rightful place. God the Father's design is "that in all things He [Christ] may have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18). If that is not so in our lives, there could well be some idol in the way. May the Lord deliver us from each idol that would keep us from Him. May you be challenged with these words this week.

1. Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult

Of our life's wild, restless sea,

Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,

Saying, "Christian, follow Me."

2. Jesus calls us from the worship

Of the vain world's golden store.

From each idol that would keep us,

Saying, "Christian, love Me more."

3. In our joys and in our sorrows,

Days of toll and hours of ease,

Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,

"Christian, love Me more than these."

4. Jesus calls us; by Thy mercy,

Savior, make us hear Thy call,

Give our hearts to Thine obedience,

Serve and love Thee best of all. 

You can listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

HE THE PEARLY GATES WILL OPEN

        A few months ago we flew to Wisconsin to visit relatives and we had a wonderful time.  But our trip home was frustrating and tiring.  We had to drive through driving wind and rain to Milwaukee to the airport. We were held up by an accident which closed the highway.  We finally arrived at the airport and after all the check-in and security procedures were completed, we found our gate.  Then we were told that our flight would be delayed several hours.  It finally came and we flew to Baltimore where we still had 1.5 hours of driving to get home.  Early in the morning, after many tiring hours of travel, we stumbled through our front door.  What a relief to go through the door and finally be home.  Someone has said that there is no place like home.  I've often thought of that trip as a reminder of our real life journey home.  At times it can be frustrating, tiring and filled with disappointments.  The journey can be hard, but someday we will finally be home.  Now I have no idea what our final arrival will actually be like, except that Jesus will be there.  Will we, as many suggest, enter through the pearly gates?  I really don't know and I guess I really don't care.  As spectacular as those gates will be, the fact that we will be home with our Savior is the real exciting expectation.  The biblical reference to the "pearly gates" of heaven is found in Revelation 21:21, a passage which gives many details concerning the beautiful heavenly city (vs. 10-23).  "The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" (Rev. 21:21).  Hymn writers over the centuries have written about heaven and this week's hymn choice talks about Jesus opening the pearly gates for us to enter.  I don't know if that will actually happen, but this hymn does remind us of Jesus, the One who will meet us, and His love and sacrifice for us that will make all of this possible.  There are conflicting stories about the hymn's writing, but here is one shared by several sources.  It was written by Frederick Arvid Blom (1867-1926) who was born in Sweden and immigrated to America in the 1890's. He served as an officer in the Salvation Army and as a pastor of a church.  But his life took a radical downward turn. Blom became spiritually backslidden and resigned from the ministry. He says, "I became embittered with myself, [and] the world." He drifted into a life of drunkenness and sin, and eventually was involved in illegal activities. When he was caught, he was convicted and sent to prison. But the Lord kept His hand on him there. Surrounded by locked gates and iron bars, he cried to God, and sought forgiveness for his sins. With his sentence fully served, Blom was released.  It is said that when the prison gates clanged shut behind him, it brought to his mind that he was assured of a welcome one day at the pearly gates of the heavenly city. With that thought in mind, Blom wrote a hymn he called Because of the Blood.  This 1917 Swedish hymn was translated into English by Nathaniel Carlson around 1935 and today is known by the first phrase of the chorus.  George Beverly Shea did a great deal to popularize this song in Billy Graham's meetings, and in his recordings.  As you study the hymn you can see that verses two and three are really Blom's personal testimony.  He was like a wounded fawn and brokenhearted.  Yet that love, so great and wondrous, found him in prison and through the blood of Jesus he was saved and forgiven.  And He testifies that it was that wondrous love that purchased his redemption and forgave him all his sin.  Is this your testimony today? Have you experienced his redemption and forgiveness?   Are you on your journey to that spectacular home that is being prepared for you?  Soon our weary journey as pilgrims on this earth will come to an end and we will finally be home.

1      Love divine, so great and wondrous, 

Deep and mighty, pure, sublime, 

Coming from the heart of Jesus. 

Just the same through tests of time!

He the pearly gates will open, 

So that I may enter in; 

For He purchased my redemption 

And forgave me all my sin.

2      Like a dove when hunted, frightened. 

As a wounded fawn was I; 

Brokenhearted, yet He healed me. 

He will heed the sinner's cry.

He the pearly gates will open, 

So that I may enter in; 

For He purchased my redemption 

And forgave me all my sin.

3      Love divine, so great and wondrous, 

All my sins He then forgave; 

I will sing His praise forever, 

For His blood, His power to save. 

He the pearly gates will open, 

So that I may enter in; 

For He purchased my redemption 

And forgave me all my sin.

4      In life's eventide at twilight, 

At His door I'll knock and wait; 

By the precious love of Jesus, 

I shall enter heaven's gate.

He the pearly gates will open, 

So that I may enter in; 

For He purchased my redemption 

And forgave me all my sin.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

THE FIGHT IS ON

          It seems to me that in recent decades churches have made an effort to remove references in church to wars and battles.  Hymns with these themes have been removed from hymnals or just not sung anymore and related vocabulary is often absent from many pulpits.  But that trend doesn't mean that Christians aren't involved in a great spiritual war where the enemy appears to be attacking like never before.  We are reminded in Ephesians 6: 12, " For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Satan is alive and in attack mode. And if we are honest, we don't need to look too hard to see evidences of this battle.  We can see it around the world where Christians are being persecuted, imprisoned and killed for their faith, more than at any time in history.  Many groups openly proclaim their hate of Christians and their desire to wipe them out.  And here in America we have seen increasing attacks on the family unit, on our children, on marriage and even more recently on the Bible and on the church itself.  Who would have ever thought that we would see these attacks on our Biblical values in our lifetime here in America?  But the attacks are real and increasing.  So what must we do as believers?  The answer to that question is also found in Ephesians 6.   " Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;   And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;   Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"  I have often featured here the hymns of Lelia N. Morris (1862-1929) who is said to have written over 1,000 texts including familiar ones such as Nearer Still Nearer, Sweeter As The Years Go By, Sweet Will of God, What If It Were Today, and Stranger of Galilee.  After she became blind she used a 28-foot long blackboard that her family had built for her to write her texts.  I don't know why she chose to write this week's hymn but I must assume that she felt the spiritual battle which we are part of.  She felt the need to remind others that the fight is actually on and that we need to wake up and put on our armor to face the foe.  And I especially like the fact that she shares that no matter how fierce the battle becomes, the Lord is leading us to certain victory.  So as you view the news events of the times that we live in and as you see our Christian beliefs and values challenged, know that the battle is fierce but our victory is sure.  Be encouraged!

1. The fight is on, the trumpet sound is ringing out,

The cry "To arms!" is heard afar and near;

The Lord of hosts is marching on to victory,

The triumph of the Christ will soon appear.

The fight is on, O Christian soldier,

And face to face in stern array,

With armor gleaming, and colors streaming,

The right and wrong engage today!

The fight is on, but be not weary;

Be strong, and in His might hold fast;

If God be for us, His banner o'er us,

We'll sing the victor's song at last!

2. The fight is on, arouse, ye soldiers brave and true!

Jehovah leads, and vict'ry will assure;

Go buckle on the armor God has given you,

And in His strength unto the end endure.

The fight is on, O Christian soldier,

And face to face in stern array,

With armor gleaming, and colors streaming,

The right and wrong engage today!

The fight is on, but be not weary;

Be strong, and in His might hold fast;

If God be for us, His banner o'er us,

We'll sing the victor's song at last!

3. The Lord is leading on to certain victory;

The bow of promise spans the eastern sky;

His glorious Name in every land shall honored be;

The morn will break, the dawn of peace is nigh.

The fight is on, O Christian soldier,

And face to face in stern array,

With armor gleaming, and colors streaming,

The right and wrong engage today!

The fight is on, but be not weary;

Be strong, and in His might hold fast;

If God be for us, His banner o'er us,

We'll sing the victor's song at last!

You can listen to this song here.   LISTEN