Category: Articles

The Lord Still Rules From Heaven / Psalm 11

Who loves justice?

For the Lord is righteous,
    he loves justice;
    the upright will see his face Psalm 11:7.

Psalm 11 is a powerful Word for today.

When “the foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

Seven verses of promise found in Psalm 11 prove to be a present help for those who trust in the Lord when the arrows of the enemy are set against us.

We need grace and help in our time of need. Where are the words for our prayer?

Psalm 11:

I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.

The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.

He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,punishing them with scorching winds.

For the righteous Lord loves justice.The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11: 1-7.

We’re to speak to one another in Psalms and hymns. What would an appropriate hymn be? A Mighty Fortress is our God by Martin Luther. Let’s challenge ourselves to speak these words aloud to be as a vitamin for increased faith this day:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord Sabboth, his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers
Not thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever…

Put on Praise
The Word and the Hymnal empower us to have melody.

Jesus prayed for us.

Been misunderstood? Is it hard to find a friend who understands?

There’s a Friend who understands everything. Every evil brought against us, Jesus knows first-hand.

In desperate times and days filled with hardships, we need to see with our own eyes a reason to hope. We look out at all that’s going on and we only see destruction and pain.

It’s at times like this, when a closed Bible on the shelf seems impossible to open. I don’t have the “want to.”

God must know we can’t do it on our own. The pages are too heavy. Every other App is shouting, “Open me!” But the Bible App remains closed.

But Jesus prayed for us.

His light can overcome any darkness. He accomplishes His will.

My will says “no,” but the spirit urges me to receive healing in its open pages.

The Gospel of John is opened.

Misunderstood? This is Jesus’ story from the beginning. He Created the very ground the people stood on, yet, he was not received.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” John 1:12.

What Good News is sandwiched in the middle of rejection. Choice is His gift.

The stories unfold.

Disrespected? Treated with cruelty? Hated?

The God of the Universe, the one who sees the heart of man, He knows.

He was spat upon. Beaten.

Jesus experienced it all. He suffered.

Are lies spread against you? The enemies of Jesus spread word that “by the ruler of the demons He casts out demons” Mark 3:22.

Let the reading of the Gospels, today . . . be our refuge. An open Bible gives sight to our blurred eyes and water to our discouraged and hardened hearts.

Living Waters move hard things. Through God’s Word, the mountains of anxiety in self-discovery are scattered to freedom in knowing Jesus came to earth for one purpose, to die on the cross to set us free.

Jesus walked this sin-cursed earth. He kept His eye on His Father. Jesus prayed for us. He prayed . . . that we would be one.

With God, all things are possible. He trusted the Father. So can we.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them”John 17:20-26.

God demonstrated His love. He suffered. He rose again on the third day. He will help us rise as well, through His glorious power and love, He will show us how to love.

He will.

“Satan thought he had won, but You rose again to give me life, to give me victory! I love You Jesus, because You first loved me.” -Lincoln Wright

Lincoln Wright, a missionary in Managua penned these words many years ago when our dear friend was very ill. They were both revived in spirit by Jesus’s love and sacrifice. I put music to the words for my two friends.

I pray this music therapy of the Gospel message becomes a response and remedy for healing and hope because we discover again or for the first time, . . .

Jesus loved us first.

“Thou art near.” Help us remember this.

“Thou art near; yes, Lord, I feel it, . . .

Oh, but we don’t feel Him near at times. So, we keep reading as if reaching for the lifeguard’s rescue buoy.

“Thou art near where’er I move, And though sense would fain conceal it, Faith oft whispers it to love.

When our mind swirls with thoughts that pull us down, devotions to God, hymns, spiritual songs, and Scripture act as a lifeguard that has put out a float.

This poem was found in my Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible. The reading on page 256 was highlighted with Scripture: “Thou shalt guide me with they counsel.”

The devotional of 1 Samuel 23 tells of David, banished from worship, persecuted in his own country, with King Saul of Israel out to kill him. But enemies of his homeland came to invade. Should he fight and protect the people?

“David enquired of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 23:2, “And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

His men were afraid.

“Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand” 1 Samueal 23:4.

Who did David listen to? The fearful men or the LORD? David turned to God for his direction.

Today, we all need counsel from the Lord, but the voice of men is loud. Will we pray? Will we be still to listen. Each of these are doing hard things!

“Dear Lord, guide us with Your counsel. Help us through the darkness of this day. Enlighten our path, show us Your way!”

As Holy comfort, this old poem sings:

Then, my soul, since God doth love thee, Faint not, droop not, do not fear; Though his heaven is high above thee, He himself is ever near!”

He will hear the prayers of His people. He will answer. Do we know the Lord? His character, His name? We’re as sheep, we forget so quickly. We need old phrases to call faith back again:

Not what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art;
That, that alone, can be my soul’s true rest;
Thy love, not mine, bids fear and doubt depart,
And stills the tempest of my tossing breast.

It is Thy perfect love that casts out fear;
I know the voice that speaks the It is I,
And in these well-known words of heavenly cheer
I hear the joy that bids each sorrow fly. By the Lord’s Love by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889).

Let’s promise ourselves to make God’s Word well known. That we might rise above anything that comes to steal His peace from our hearts and minds.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever Psalm 73:25,26.

May a prayer written over a hundred years ago be fresh on our lips today:

’Tis what I know of Thee, my Lord and God,
That fills my soul with peace, my lips with song;
Thou art my health, my joy, my staff, my rod;
Leaning on Thee, in weakness I am strong.

More of Thyself, Oh, show me, hour by hour;
More of Thy glory, O my God and Lord;
More of Thyself in all Thy grace and power;
More of Thy love and truth, Incarnate Word.

In Jesus’ name. Amen, and amen.

Who is praying with me?

Help for the Restless Spirit: Be Still My Soul / Psalm 18

Music therapy, vibration of strings to move fretful waters of heart and mind plus the reading of God’s Word = rest, refreshment, revelation, revival.

When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

Take 3 minutes to meditate in a hymn and a psalm and discover the transforming hope and help of the Lord. He abides in our praise. Praise Him actively, today.

I write this for myself. I pray there is someone else that will be renewed in spirit and mind this day by actively meditating on the great and precious promises of God through these gems of the past:

When the restlessness of mind, body, and spirit overwhelms, there is power in the hymns and psalms. Be Still My Soul & Psalm 18 are heart and mind transforming.

This is recorded for one purpose alone, therapy. Do you know someone who might be feeling alone? Restless? Confused? Overwhelmed?

Consider sharing this meditation of hymn and psalm.

Be renewed, now. Meditating on the word and God’s truth rescues us.

Psalm 18.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 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.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered [e]the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [i]subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the [j]nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners [k]submit to me.
45 The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

“Today, today.” I hear Jesus call. Let’s hear His voice and take hold of all He is, (our Everything), and actively give Him praise that we might celebrate the victories He has for us, now and forever.

An Old Prayer. Today, our heart’s prayer and desire? #3

Ravi Zacharias spoke from the Book of Nehemiah to a group of missionaries many years ago.

His final encouragement, a memorized prayer written in the 1700’s by Charles Wesley, became my primary take-away:

O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire t’ impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
To work and speak and think for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.

Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
Till death Thy endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.

Today, I’d like to work on memorizing this outstanding prayer, that it remain in my remembrance.

As we walk through a world-wide pandemic together, each has their own set of circumstance, yet we all have grief of loss. Each of us, are pressing through loss.

Shall we not walk up to Jerusalem, the city of our God, so to speak, with the song of Ascents, with newly kindled hearts?

I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
    till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, Psalm 123:1-3.

The Living Words revive us by giving us a place to look outside ourselves, our governments, our world.

Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith Hab 2:4. 

Apart from God we’re nothing. He graciously, through the blood atonement of His Son, grants mercy to those who believe.

Can we hear the voice of John the Baptist crying in the wilderness of our hearts today,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Today . . .

Behold with me? Shall we confess our sins, each quietly to Him?

“And trembling to its Source return in humble prayer and fervent praise.”

“Jesus confirm my hearts desire to work and speak and think for Thee. Still let me guard Thy Holy Fire and still stir up Thy gifts in me.

Ready for all Thy Perfect will, my acts of faith and love repeat, ’till death Thy endless mercy seal and make my sacrifice complete.

May we open God’s Word and proclaim A Song of Ascents together:

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.

 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them Psalm 126.

O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire t’ impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

A walk with a hymn brings out a deep prayer within . . .

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh abide with me. Henry F. Lyte 1847.

Spoken aloud, as on an evening walk, though sitting in one place, with the Creator of the Universe, there comes a release of tension and a new focus of heart.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see— O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.

Loved ones in hospitals left alone, parents in nursing homes without family visits. Children unable to unite with friends. Teachers give virtual lessons in separated spaces. Ministers labor to unite hearts to hope. Grief and loss are endured in separation. Energy turns to weariness quickly, . . . Change and decay in all around I see—

O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.

We raise our hearts to be rescued and lifted. We cry aloud with amplified meaning,

“Abide with us . . . Remain with me. Lodge by my side. Dwell right here. Continue to stay, endure by my side, stay in my sight, encamp around me!”

We cry out these age-old words,

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

And when we’re still, completely surrendered, as a seed in the ground who breaks down and dies, . . .

life unseen develops within, a calm, a comfort, . . . beyond understanding. And ears open and hearts receive, as a mist of the morning, God’s refreshing news:

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint Isaiah 40:28-31.

Transformation happens. Nothing changes, save the heart and mind.  

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, . . . Hebrews 4:12.

This hymn is our prayer:

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

We pray for the lonely, the elderly, the sick, our communities, our families, let’s pray for ourselves.

He. Is. The Vine.

Let’s open ourselves to His love and ask Him to abide. Grace sufficient is found in Him. Water, light, bread, the Way. Let’s pray these old words and receive the victory found at the cross. His pardon, His cleansing, His filling, His grace.

There is no fear in love. We can boldly proclaim, in Jesus name:

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. Henry F. Lyte, 1847.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41:10.

Transformed. Renewed. All the while, Change and decay in all around I see—

we will pray,

O Thou who chagest not, abide with me.

A Tribute to Annie. A Success Story to Word Weavers

Rivers run through our history and folklore, and link us as a people. They nourish and refresh us and provide a home for dazzling varieties of fish and wildlife and trees and plants of every sort. We are a nation rich in rivers     Charles Kuralt

Word Weavers International and its Local Chapters, much like a river, helps nourish and refresh writers and provides a home of comfort and a kick to produce dazzling life and bold expression to bring glory to God.

Rivers move and cover great amounts of ground.

Years ago at a one day Word Weaver’s Conference, guest speaker, Eva Marie Everson, the President of Word Weavers International, concluded with attendees standing in a circle of prayer.

Reluctant to admit, the words in the prayer which spoke to me were, “Dear Lord, some of these writers might be writing to encourage others in their writing. Help us all be faithful to accomplish Your will, to Your glory, in Jesus name.”

Who wants to simply be an encourager to others’ writing? No one. But, those words God spoke to me.

Perhaps, this is a success story.

I began writing devotions after my cancer battle ten years ago. I felt a need to express “God’s Hand” of grace and help for me.

I joined Word Weavers International and made the commitment to attend the monthly critique meetings with a written piece, as consistently as I could. Encouragement, direction, and help from Word Weavers, (and my son for the technical side), helped me set up my WordPress blog.

Challenged with time struggles of work and family responsibilities, fighting writing demons of perfectionism and doubt, the writing continued . . .

s-l-o-w-l-y.

I have published nothing.

A move from New Jersey to South Carolina thirteen years ago separated me from Children’s Ministry friends from my old church, as Annie was, but fb helped keep us connected.

Annie read my blog posts and began messaging me many years ago asking questions about writing, etc. I told her of Word Weavers, shared links, helps, and tools.

I soon noticed that some of my Word Weaver friends became her fb friends.

Annie Lovell began calling herself an author on her fb page.

For the last few years, Annie poured out her passion and love for the Lord writing, God Moments by His Amazing Grace by Annie Lovell on fb posts. 

Her Timeline announced: Annie Lovell: All about Jesus, The Christ, who died, shedding His blood on the Cross, paying for my sins!

TimelineAboutFriendsPhotosVideosCheck-Ins

God Moments by His Amazing Grace by Annie Lovell were constant inspirational notes to promote growth and love of Jesus. Many of her fb friends greatly enjoyed her posts.

Annie’s cover photo was changed as Covid-19 spread throughout the world. Little did anyone know, but Jesus would soon be holding her in comfort against this dangerous virus.

March 18th, Annie offered her services to challenged families:

March 18, 2020 While you are homeschooling/remotely/digitally educating your kids, if you need assistance with understanding something that has been assigned for your child just let me know! I am a certified Elementary and ESL teacher, If I don’t know it, I likely know someone who will! I’d be happy to answer questions! #bettertogether(Teacher friends copy, edit and paste)!

On March 19, 2020 she wrote of the old hymn: Near to the Heart of God, and shared thoughts:

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.

2 There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. [Refrain]

3 There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. [Refrain]

March 19, 2020 Remember this old hymn, that’s where Jesus is and we can find rest there! No matter how high the storms in our lives go, we can always find rest “near to the heart of God.” Take a moment if you want and quieten yourself as we draw near to God(Jesus)! Thankful He lives in us and through us using trials to make us more like Him!

March 21, 2020 post was a shared memory: 

CoronaVirus this year instead of snow, but He is still giving us time to stop and reflect!! 2 Years AgoSee Your Memories
March 21, 2018 · Annie's friends"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" - Psalm 46:10I think God is talking to us this month! If you can’t stop and reflect on your own then I will send some snow to slow everyone down and offer them a time to reflect and “be still and know that I am God.”

Annie became sick, but shared posts:

God Moments by His Amazing Graceby Annie Lovell March 21, 2020The Lord just reminded me of these verses I learned as a child! Maybe you can teach them to your children!Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.Psalms 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

Annie Lovell went home to be with the Lord, March 28 due to Covid-19. This was a response to Annie’s last post: 

Thank you Annie Lovell for this last post of scriptures!
 The Lord is now your keeper. While we miss you and while we are sad we rejoice that you are sitting at Jesus’ feet! Love you so much! Miss you.


From her family's tribute they wrote,
"Annie . . . shared God's love daily through scripture, encouraging messages, songs, and sermons through her online ministry, "God Moments by His Amazing Grace." She worshipped her Lord joyfully, unashamedly, and powerfully . . .  A quote from her final online post reads: "He did it all, we did nothing. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Annie Lovell, an author who shared the glory of God’s truth, wrote with passion to link others to God’s Word . . . which will go on living to nourish and refresh for all eternity.

I thank Word Weavers International and my Local Chapter for its far reaching help to me, which I believe was an encouragement to Annie.

Like a river, Word Weavers provides a home for a dazzling variety of writers, sharing the riches of God.

To God be the glory!

Let us Be Strong in the Lord

Art by Jonathan Rypkema 2010

We’re in a battle against an unseen enemy. We must remain physically distant, but we can gather close in heart and mind and grow like never before in unity, love, and strength in the Lord. (And perhaps for some today, this might become a day of salvation.)

Each day, in order to keep our spiritual armor on, (Eph. 6), and remain strong in the Lord,

let’s prove ourselves to meditate on God’s Word, day and night, and sing His praise, that we might be found to be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (Psalm 1).

Yes, that we might, through very challenging days and situations have fruits of love to yield in this season, strengthened to believe God, no matter what:

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power Ephesians 6:10.

Do we not have an old hymn to remind us to stand on the promises of God? We must, then, in great urgency,

know what those promises are!

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Let’s infuse our lungs with hope and vigor and choose to put sound on R. Kelso Carter’s hymn that we might be equipped for our battles ahead:

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Take breath, even now, and speak these words. We clothe ourselves with hope. This is how spiritual armor is put on.

” . . . put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” Ephesians 6: 13.

We’ve got to keep our hearts and minds safe, and choose to infuse our lungs with praise. This is how we remain strong in the Lord.

But maybe you’re wondering, “Do I have the Lord? What does that mean anyway?”

God’s Word speaks plain and clear about clothing ourselves with a helmet of salvation:

 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Ephesians 6:17.

Salvation? Have I taken the helmet of salvation and placed it securely on my head?

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing is the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Choosing God, and His provision of Jesus who washed our sins away on the cross at Calvary is the bravest and most important decision for every human being who lives on this planet.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it John 1:4,5.

Darkness has not overcome His light. Darkness will never overcome His light. Jesus is the life and the light of men. Today, let’s take hold of Jesus.

Call on His name. Ask Him to wash and cleanse all your sin. He is faithful to forgive each and every one. Verse two of the most popular children’s hymn speaks it clear:

“Jesus loves me, He who died. Heaven’s gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin, let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me . . . “

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes Ephesians 6:10.  

We will stand firm and be strong through these days ahead.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one Ephesians 6: 4-16.

Let’s proclaim faith in God and put breath and sound on these words of R. Kelso Carter from 1886 together, right now:

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

“Overcoming daily with the spirit’s sword.” Are we ready to pick up the sword and fight. For such a time as this, we must know the Word of God.

 Take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Ephesians 6:17.

Behold, today is the day of salvation for many. Take courage today, believe on Him who saves.

“His name is Jesus. Sad hearts weep no more. He has healed the broken-hearted, open wide the prison doors. He is able to deliver evermore.” (Maranatha Music).

We will overcome in victory.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith 1 John 5:4.

Let’s pray like never before. Talk to God in our every breath.

 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people Eph. 10: 17.

A foundation that’s sure: Jesus only You…

There is much change occurring at a frantic pace. 

Loss is knocking on many heart’s door these days. Across the globe, change is moving through.

Freedoms lost. Health lost. Loves lost. How can we stay calm? What kind of foundation are we standing on? 

Are we standing on the Rock? 

Jesus Himself reminded us that the rains would fall and the storms will come, but He reminded us about foundations: 

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:  he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49. 

Everyone needs Jesus. He is God’s provision for salvation, forgiveness, and peace. He’s the Rock for us to stand on.

It’s easy to find joy fleeing when we become fretful. Are we building our house on a foundation of sand? It’s time to make sure our foundation is secure. 

A simple song as a meditation can be a foundation builder, replacing sand with rock solid truths:

“Jesus only You.
Jesus, only You.
That is where I find my joy inside, 
Jesus only You.

You say You love me.

You  never change.

Say You won’t leave me. You’re always the same.

You say You see me and You hear all my prayers.

Jesus only You!”
How does Jesus say He loves us? The Bible tells us so:

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness Jeremiah 31:3.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him 1 John 3:1.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love 1 John 4:18.

Where does it say He won’t leave me?

Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 Amplified.

How do we know He never changes?

“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ Malachi 3:6,7.

Jesus Only You.

Perhaps this is shared for one person needing assurance. Have you called on the name of Jesus for forgiveness? He takes the guilt, the shame, the doubts, the stains. His blood washes all sin, and He is a present help in time of need.

Only Jesus is Savior of the world, the Good Shepherd, the Bright and Morning Star, the Prince of Peace, the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Way. He is Truth itself. He is Love.

Jesus, only You.

Please let me know if this very simple song brings any sweet peace to your heart.

Thanks, Toni

Jesus Only You by Toni.

Offering a Prayer of Hope: Be Thou My Vision

Do you have great desire to pray for the hurting around you? 

“Teach us to pray,” the disciples asked of Jesus.

Jesus gave them example in Matthew 6:9-13, to give God reverence due His name, to ask of needs, of forgiveness, deliverance, and proclamation of His glory in what we call the Lord’s Prayer. 

And we’re encouraged to “Pray continually,” in 1 Thessalonians, 5:17.

How can we do this?

Today, I am praying for many needs, far and near. We have many prayer needs.

Join me in praying a hymn and meditating on it’s rich thought through the day?

The hymn,

Be Thou My Vision. Perhaps one of the oldest recorded hymns in history, dated as early as 8th Century BC.

“Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”

These words bring to our mind, Your Word, Lord,  “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart.” Jer. 29:13.

We’re seeking You, Lord God. For many general, as well as specific prayers and needs.

You’re our best thought, day or night. You’re our present help, (Psalm 46:1).

Be thou my Wisdom, and thou my true Word;

I ever with thee and thou with me Lord;

Thou my Great Father, and I thy true son,

Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Softly and tenderly, O God, You comfort, because You are with us, and we lift many hurting and broken hearts specifically to You. 

Cover the hurting and broken under the shadow of Your wings, (Psalm 91).

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5.

And, 

The LORD is my helper; I will not fear . . .  Hebrews 13:6.

Cover the weak with your truth.

Be thou my Battle-shield, Sword for my fight,

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my delight;

Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my High Tower,

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my Power.

We have little strength, be our High Tower.

In brokenness, Jesus, comfort the downcast with Your presence.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Yes, the treasure of Your Word, dear Lord reminds us of Your great love, now . . . 

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever (Psalm 16:11).

Yes, forever. 

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of All.

We recite a hymn, which speaks our heart, even broken and sad. 

Heart of my own heart, 

whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, 

O Ruler of All.

In Your Name, Jesus we lift our prayers,

Amen.”

Getting in Spiritual Shape

It’s not how we start but how we finish. Now that’s the hard part. We start getting in shape and thinking of healthy new beginnings, but continuing in it is the struggle.

Exercising our spiritual is as much, if not more important than our physical.

Tests have proved this. Reports have come out and science has proven that attitudes of faith bring about hope in our minds and help us to better function and maintain good health.

In the midst of heavy concerns in this world, how can we remain hopeful and thankful?

The Word of God is a safe and reliable refuge of comfort. God’s Word reminds us immediately of His faithfulness and truth, which in turn nourishes us with increased faith and new strength to hope, and even greater, to love.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come 1 Timothy 4:8.

Daily time in the Word changes us.

It seems, many years ago, Isaac Watts struggled with a title to one of his hymns or spiritual songs. It is found to be Hymn 73: Doubts Scattered; or, Spiritual Joy Restored.

How wonderfully expressive is the immediate change of heart and mind when our ears hear what the Spirit says to us. Our Doubts are scattered. Our spiritual joy restored:

Darkness and doubts had veil’d my mind,
And drown’d my head in tears,
Till sovereign grace with shining rays
Dispell’d my gloomy fears.

O what immortal joys I felt,
And raptures all divine,
When Jesus told me, I was his,
And my Beloved mine.

In vain the tempter frights my soul,
And breaks my peace in vain,
One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face,
Revives my joys again. Doubts scattered; or, Spiritual joy restored by Isaac Watts.

For God so loves me and you that He gave.

God gives.

Presently. Jesus loves.


God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him John 3:17.

He chose me. And He chose you too. And today, we choose Jesus. Because He first loved us, each individually.

So today, I nourish my heart, soul, and mind with a work-out in 1 John 4:1-12:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us 1 John 4:1-12.

This is a spiritual work-out of 12 rich bites of 1 John 4.

We’re changed because today, we could hear Jesus say, “I was his,
And my Beloved mine.“

O For Grace to Trust Him More

The taste of sweet treats I challenge myself to put away, and as a new year begins, I pray instead for increased craving for the promises of God.

For motivation, I open the Amplified Word.

“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied” Matthew 5:6.

Who doesn’t want to be joyful and nourished by God’s goodness? Well, maybe some, but if God tells us how to be blessed, I want  to know more of Him and His Word.

This brings to mind an old hymn: ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Just to take Him at His word. Just to rest upon His promise. Just to Know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Today’s news is hard. Storms are brewing. Yet, if I take delight in the sweet, precious Word of God, and remember what saith the Lord, then I have no reason to fear, because I’m reminded the best truth of all, that God is with me.

Even if I “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” in our hard, demanding days, when I choose to draw near to God, He promises to draw near to me.

“Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus. Just to trust His cleansing blood, and in simple faith to plunge me ‘neath the healing, cleansing flood.”

Spending a little time in God’s Word and thinking on this related hymn, I’m reminded that, “In Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:28.

He surrounds me.

I can rest upon His promises.

Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
 say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you” Isaiah 35:3,4.

My mind and heart are not strengthened by excess of anything, except perhaps, the Word of God and the reading of the hymns.

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Taking hold of God’s provision, life and rest, and joy and peace, is most satisfying. ‘Tis so sweet. This is how we can be blessed. Yes?

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Oh, to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

 “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.

 “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.

Oh for grace to trust Him more.

“Victors in the midst of strife . . . “

Moving forward. Victors in the midst of strife. How? Are there many remedies? Many people are going through a very difficult time of loss. Others suffer physical pain everyday. There are financial stresses.

Where is the light for each passing moment? Is there a present help in times of agony of spirit?

Yes, it’s the song. The song of praise to God. Is God distant, far off in the heavens? No . . . The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13.

Do we want to be victors in the midst of strife? Yes! With all our heart, we must believe God’s promises.

Speaking the hymns ignites increased faith. This 1907 Henry Van Dyke hymn, Joyful, Joyful we Adore Thee, gives a spiritual lift to be victors in the midst of strife.”

The heart strings come alive when our vocal chords speak, (sing), and recite these powerful phrases:

Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,
Op’ning to the sun above.

Convicting can be these words as well. Do I adore the Lord? Have I forgotten His precepts? Are they on some dusty shelf? Why should I praise?

Let’s never forget:

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him Psalm 28:7.

“Lord, increase our faith this day,” we pray.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

Your Word, Your testimonies are light to us:

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 

You Lord, are the Light. We are changed when we speak in hymns and spiritual songs. The Lord abides in our praises.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God Psalm 42:5.

And again,

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:11.

Yes, Jesus Himself cried out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34. He is of complete understanding to all our sorrows. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Suddenly our focus is no longer on any loss or pain, our focus is moved to God, who is the God of all comfort, of gracious love and mercy, yet risen and alive.

He is all powerful and able:

All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!

Our discouraged hearts say, “never and no-body,” But the hymn reminds us, with God:
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

We are reminded the promises of the Christmas story to the surface, when the angel said to Mary in Luke 1:37,

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”

And in another translation, “For no word from God will ever fail.”

This is what lifts us to the joy divine!

Will we choose to praise? To lift our voice, even aloud, and join the chorus?
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

When we keep ourselves in the Love of God with praise on our lips, we are victors every time. In the midst of strife, we triumph in His songs of life!

Chorus practice? Yes! The Joyful music will lead us . . . Sonward.

“Thank you Jesus for Your faithfulness, yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus name, Amen.”

“Mary had a Baby. Yes, Lord . . . “

It’s Christmastime. The music changes. Suddenly Jesus’s name is heard in Department Stores, and it’s acceptable. Christmas Carols, children’s voices, the sound of music is everywhere.

Today, I pull out an ol’ gospel spiritual Mary Had a Baby, Yes, Lord.

Little ones light up singing this tune.

You might remember the song. It has a sweet, childlike simplicity, yet it births some  deep, important thoughts for the soul:

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes Lord,
People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.

There’s a natural flow to the words even if the true melody is unknown.  

There was a lot going on then. And there’s a lot going on now. This story isn’t only about the past, this story is about today, this very moment. This story is for now.

Mary had a baby, yes, Lord.

This is a good excuse to open up the Scripture’s pages and read the story stright from the Bible:

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up . . . out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to . . . Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, Luke 2: 1,4.

A lot of people began coming to town. And the song brings it all to mind, the atmosphere of that place and time.

The people keep a comin, . . . 

There’s traveling here and there, for everyone. Days are busy. We, like they, are  occupied with important things. We’re counting on many things.

Does this song bring about urgency?

What’s all this about the train done gone?

Is there a train we might miss?

The kids sing: 

What did she name Him? Yes Lord?
What did she name Him, yes my Lord,
What did she name Him, Yes, Lord,  . . .

There must be something about that name. 

And the Bible let’s us know that God gave a title along with a name. There’s something special about this Baby of Mary:

A virgin shall be with Child and they shall call His name, Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). 

Immanuel, God . . . with . . . us. 

There’s so much to do, no time to be still, so, . . .

The people keep-a-coming, and the train done gone.

Have I missed something? Do I even realize something’s missing? Do we miss the Everything?

God’s Word tells the story in Luke 2, famously:

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord . . .

What did she name Him? Yes,  my Lord . . .

‘She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord,

Named Him King Jesus, Yes, my Lord. 

Wrapped him in swaddlin’, Yes Lord.

the people keep a coming but the train done gone.”

Wrapped in rags? A King wrapped in poor ol’ rags. “No room in the Inn, but you can have the barn?”

What’s going on in this ol’ gospel song?

A cold, smelly cave where the animals all stay? Is this the story that we read every year.

God has come down to be with us, the Immanuel has come down. But who even knows? 

Is this a picture of my very own heart? Am I going to miss what’s most important? Concerned about the gifts I’m going to give, or not able to give? Am I allowing other expectations fill my mind?

Is the train done gone? 

Not if I can make the choice, each new day, even, moment by moment at times.

Though the terrain be rough, (as it was for Mary and Joseph), though there’s no room in the traditional sense, no Inn, or culturally acceptable dwelling places, . . .

perhaps the barn door, smelly and raw, of a broken spirit toward God, and a heartfelt prayer, “Lord, I’m desperate for You. Change me that I might overcome every trial as You did, and have grace and mercy as a gift to give.”

This Babe left all His glory of heaven to be born in a barn . . . for me, for every person in the whole entire world to be Savior, our Forgiver, our Redeemer.

‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord. The glory train is here now. Can I see it?

What’s my choice?

I’m getting on. And again, each new morning.

It’s my choice to choose Love before the opportunity’s gone, but I can’t do it alone.

What should we do? I will take His hand and trust He’ll help me make the step.

The Scripture says, 

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,

an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid, Luke 2:8.

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” 

“Take my hand. Don’t be afraid. Trust Me. I am enough.”

My mail might not bring good news. The doctor’s report might not have good news, but Jesus, He has brought news of great joy for me, and all people of the world.

Jesus is bread. Jesus is light. Jesus is my Good Shepherd, my living water, the bright and morning star. Jesus is my peace, your peace, the Prince of Peace.

He has broken down every wall. He is our everything.

I must turn aside, from the mainstream flow of traffic, and step right up. And with each new day, never let this train pass me by.

“She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord!”

She named Him King Jesus,

“Yes my Lord.” 

I choose to make Him King. Let’s get on that train, step by step, minute by minute.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him . . . 

should not perish  . . .

but have everlasting life, John 3:16.

Give a Gift of Song, With or Without Singing

December has begun, and people are . . . not all jolly. How do we overcome and move forward when life is filled with loss,

or sickness, or falls,

and pressures, and messes,

and great amount of cares?

Is there a rescue place? Well, those who believe in God take comfort in spending time and thinking on His love and sufficient gift in His Son.

But what about when the song is gone when the holiday season has begun? Like a tire gone flat? Where’s the lift?

I’m telling you, it’s in the hymn-book! One that’s opened and read aloud that is.

This is the one-stringed guitar that I play, so-to-speak: the hymnal has amazing power. But my favorite of all time are Robert J. Morgan’s Then Sings My Soul editions. 

I brought one of the editions into the infusion room many years ago when I was undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer patients in close vicinity to my voice were lifted immediately by the hymns and the stories of the writers. 

We were changed. A deep joy, courage, and most important, hope returned to our sick bodies.

Many were reminded that God’s gracious love never left their side, even though they had nothing to do with Him for long and past years.

Yesterday, I was thinking of my elderly neighbor while I was able to be at church on Dec. 1. She’s unable to get to church because of many reasons, and struggling in many ways. 

Thank you Robert. J. Morgan, for writing Then Sings My Soul Special Edition. I scooped up this book and went on my way to pay a short visit to my neighbor.

Coffee came first, but then pages were opened:

His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civilla D. Martin, 1905.

The Scripture of choice for this hymn was, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.

Always to the left was the hymn, to the right, a story. With no melody at all, just the words of the hymn read aloud, “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven and home.

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “

Yes, it’s true, the Word has been told us, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) Matthew 1;23.

Isn’t this one of the most precious promises of God?
My eyes scroll up for verse 2 with anticipation of the thoughts: “Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When song gives place to sighing, When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “

Hope is restored with the speaking, (or singing, if you choose) of a hymn. Change comes. The promises of God fill the mind instead of troubles and pain. For example,

“. . . God has chosen to make known . . .  the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

And then my eyes roamed to Morgan’s writing in regards to this hymn by Civilla Durfee Martin, and I was reminded of other verses regarding God’s faithfulness within this theme:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.

“Do not fear . . . you are of more value than many sparrows” Luke 12:7.

What a wonderful gift this book is to me over and over again. Perhaps, this year the most meaningful gift you might give yourself, or others, is a Robert J. Morgan’s, Then Sings my Soul edition.