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Wonderful Words

There is good news…wonderful news!

This life isn’t all there is. We aren’t left to ourselves.

God has reached down to offer us life.

Not a temporary 70 or 80 year life, but an eternal life.

The offer is free.

The offer is to all.

He doesn’t force anyone. No one is compelled to take the offer, but why wouldn’t you?

Are you afraid to give up your wants for His?

Are you afraid that you will miss out on some temporary pleasure?

Won’t you answer the call?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose.” Jim Elliot

Wonderful Words of Life – Philip Bliss

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life.

Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.

Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. (x2)

Christ the blessed one gives to all, wonderful words of life;

Sinner list to the loving call, wonderful words of life.

All so freely given, wooing us to heaven;

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life…

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life.

Jesus only Savior, Sanctify forever.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life…

For further study:

Psalm 90:10 – As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

Proverbs 23:4-5 – Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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My Father’s Arms

I can still remember sitting next to my dad and, without thought, resting my head on his shoulder. It was a safe and comfortable place to be. I was a shy child and there was nothing more comforting than to sit beside him and half hide my face behind his strong arm. Sometimes during a long sermon as my head would nod I would gratefully rest my head and drop off to sleep knowing he was there beside me.

Other times at a camp meeting or other large event I would stand beside him and grab his arm as he talked to people I didn’t know. I would not have dared be there by myself, but there was a quiet excitement to being with him. He would protect me. He would bring me safely home again.  

Yet again we would be walking through the park. As I got tired, my dad, grinning, would take my hand and we would walk/run the rest of the way. It was so much easier with his arm encouraging me on.

Those arms of his brought great comfort. It wasn’t what he said so much as the action of a simple hug or strong presence. I was heartbroken when he died just before I turned 30. I wasn’t as grown up as I let on, but because of the gaping hole left by his departure I learned to look to my heavenly Father more…to look for His strong arms to comfort and to give courage…knowing that whatever trouble I came across, He would be there to walk me through or possibly to take me home.

It reminds me of a song I learned when I was young. I can still hear my Father singing it with his strong Bass voice.

Are you leaning on these Everlasting Arms? If not, why not? Don’t delay. Decide before it is too late.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – (E.A. Hoffman/A.J. Showalter)

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms! What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms!

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms! Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms! (Chorus)

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (Chorus)

For further study:

Deuteronomy 33:26, 27

Luke 15:34

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Never Alone

I have been blessed over the last weeks to have many people praying for me. I am grateful for those prayers and for those who helped in many other ways.

I also think back to the nights in the hospital and even the times I woke up in the middle of the night once I was home. Those were times of being reminded by God of his tender care of me. The verses he would bring to my mind or the fragment of a hymn.

“Jesus the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrow cease. ‘Tis music in the sinners ears. ‘Tis life and health and peace.”

Our world is in trouble right now. It is more than a physical sickness. It is a spiritual darkness that envelops many. We think especially of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but there are many people hurting in many locations like Afghanistan and China. It seems hopeless, but we have a God who sees and hears. He still comforts those in trouble. He is at work even in the darkness. Our hope lies not in governments or leaders, but in the God who patiently waits for men to turn to Him. My prayer is that the current trouble causes such a turning.

My granddaughter, Arianna and I recorded this a couple of years ago. It was written by Emma and Stuart Townend. “I Am Here for You”.

For further study:

Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.”

Isaiah 31:1 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!”

Isaiah 41:10, 13b – “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” “…Do not fear, I will help you.”

Jeremiah 31:3 – “…I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Matthew 28:20b – “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 16:33b – “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I John 4:10 – “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

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Waking Up

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or slowed. A clot forms, breaks off and damages part of the brain. Depending on where it happens and how long the brain is deprived of its blood supply determines the symptoms that affect the rest of the body.

Right now my body is in the process of healing or I like to describe it as waking up. It is wonderful to see God’s self-healing design at work.

I was reading Ephesians 1:19-23 today and was encouraged by “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe”. I would encourage you to read the whole passage. It also talked about Christ being the head of all things.

Later in Colossians 1:18 “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.”

When Christ doesn’t have first place there is a disconnect. Our life will be out of order. The church will be out of order. Our world will be out of order.

My prayer is for my own life to be connected to Christ my head in every way. I pray the same for His church and each of your lives.

I’ll finish with a song that seems to relate to my present situation. I pray it will be a blessing to you.

Keith Green – Your Love Broke Through.

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Christmas Songs – 2021 (Part 1)

Years past I have posted a musical advent calendar to celebrate Christmas. This year I am putting up a few of my non-traditional favorites all together instead of one by one. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas week remembering God’s most gracious gift to us.

“When the Time is Right” – Ginny Owens

Do Not Be Afraid – Scott Krippayne

God with Us – Bob Bennett

Rejoice – Aaron Shust

Unto Us – Aaron Shust

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There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

This was written by Frederick William Faber in 1862.

The music below is a new tune by High Street Hymns.

(Try as I might I couldn’t find the actual name of the composer.)

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea.

There’s a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.

There’s a welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good.

There is mercy with the Savior, there is healing in His blood.

There’s no place where earthen sorrow is felt more than in heaven.

There’s no place where earthly failings have forgiveness freely giv’n.

There is plentiful redemption in the blood that has been shed.

There is joy for all the members and the sorrows of a Head.

For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind.

And the heart of the eternal is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful we should take Him at His word.

And our lives would be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord…

For the goodness of the Lord.

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God Loves Me Dearly / Gott ist Die Liebe

Photo by Fotograf Jylland on Pexels.com

In my quest for discovering old hymns, I’ve been collecting old hymn books. My sister, Nancy, who was supporting my endeavor, recently brought me an old Lutheran Hymnal that she had picked up at a garage sale. She had put a bookmark with a note on one of the pages.

It was a song our Dad used to sing to us in German when we were children. I imagine his mother sang it to him as well. Sometimes he would play the tune on his violin. Since I had never heard the English version I didn’t know how sweet the words were that he was singing to us. Below you will find the song with German and English words.

Sometimes simple is best. This is one of those times. I hope you enjoy it.

(In the first line there should be an Umlaut over the word Lasst and erlosen. I simply can’t figure out how to type it. Also, please forgive my very rusty German pronunciation.)

God Loves Me Dearly

Gott ist Die Liebe – by August Rische (1819-1906)

Gott ist die Liebe, lasst mich erlosen, Gott ist die Liebe, Er liebt auch mich.

Drum sag ich noch einmal: Gott ist die Liebe! Gott ist die Liebe, Er liebt auch mich.

God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation, God loves me dearly, loves even me.

*Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

I was in slav’ry, Sin, death, and darkness; God’s love was working to make me free. *

He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer, He sent forth Jesus and set me free. *

Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer; Jesus, my Savior, Paid all I owed. *

Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal; Now I will praise You all my life long.*

P.S. This is dedicated to my six grandchildren. Ashlee, Arianna, Aidan, Emerson, Will and finally Jase who was born 7-6-2021.

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Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Photo by Matteo Badini on Pexels.com

Henry Francis Lyte was born in Ednam, Scotland in 1793. He went on to be a poet, musician, and preacher. “Abide with Me” is probably his most famous hymn. It was published after his death. The following song is also his. The words have been set to a new tune by Bill Moore.

Henry Lyte (1793-1847) / Music Bill Moore (modern)

Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee.

Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.

Perish every fond ambition, All I’ve sought or hoped or known.

Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Savior, too.

Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.

O while Thou dost smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,

Foes may hate and friends disown me, Show Thy face and all is bright.

Man may trouble and distress me. Twill but drive me to Thy breast.

Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.

Oh, tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;

Oh, twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, Come disaster, scorn and pain.

In Thy service, pain is pleasure, With Thy favor, loss is gain.

I have called Thee Abba Father, I have stayed my heart on Thee.

Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me.

Soul, then know thy full salvation. Rise o’er sin and fear and care.

Joy to find in every station, Something still to do or bear.

Think what Spirit dwells within thee, Think what Fathers smiles are thine.

Think that Jesus died to win thee, Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

Haste thee on from grace to glory, Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heavens eternal days before thee, God’s own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

For further study:

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake , not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16 (NASB)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy… Jude 1:24 (NASB)