Wake Up!

Veiled in the cover of darkness and intent on pure evil, a lone masked gunman interrupted the lives of thousands in Aurora, Colorado.

The setting was a ‘late night movie’, the opening day for a blockbuster release featuring a popular, well loved super-hero…Batman. Many across this nation joined in this event; at this same time, even in this same town. But the movie theater known as Century 16 was marked as a target, and 71 individual lives were scarred and/or taken by a senseless, dark, act of evil.

Words fail as we try to wrap our mind around such a senseless tragedy. TV anchors struggle to think of the right questions and ultimately fall back on, “We’re so sorry for your loss.” But what else can we say? Are there any words we can turn to for comfort and direction during these deprived times? Pictures of weeping family members and friends have been seen holding onto loved ones. Leaning on the neck of those who care and seeking compassion is what we desire in times of disaster. We have seen images of friends giving comfort (and a shoulder) in the aftermath of such great pain.

But what about you; do you seek someone to lean on when you can’t stand on our own? Without a clear understanding of this life we will cry out in pain, and light a candle in memory but then simply move on to tomorrow. Is that where you are? Is that what you want? If you truly seek understanding, and if you honestly want to find peace and comfort…you can.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus as to how they could find comfort in a world of sin and darkness. Ephesians 5:1-20 ^“Follow God’s example…there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God…Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them…everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Certainly you know the best time to sleep is during in the dark hours of the night. Our bodies need to rest and regain strength spent during the ‘working hours’. But perhaps too many of us are enjoying the night life and sleeping through the day; exchanging day light for darkness. Look again at what Paul calls ‘partners of darkness’; *sexual immorality, *any kind of impurity, *greed, *obscenity, *foolish talk, *coarse joking, *an immoral person, *an impure person, *a greedy person. Each of these characteristics belongs to those who do not have an ‘inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.’

So if this description is me, if these characteristics look like my life, what do I need to do? How can I find comfort from the darkness? Paul’s words are pretty clear in verse 14 of Ephesians 5, “Wake up!” There needs to be a change in our ‘sleeping pattern’. We need to be making the most of each day, exposing what is evil and shining a light of godliness in a dark and dying world. That is the ‘shoulder’ a hurting nation is searching for; Christ is the one who provides our strength and comfort.

In 1999 thirteen lives were lost in the tragic “Columbine High School Shooting”. Incredibly less than 20 miles separated the tragic of Columbine and the loss at Century 16. But in 1989, ten years before our country wept for Columbine, Ken Young penned a song that we need to learn and sing in our churches today. With Ephesians 5 as his foundation, Ken wrote the following song of encouragement:

“My God has said His light will shine;
His light will shine in hearts of man.
The fruitless deeds of darkness past:
revealed by Christ with glorious hand.

Chorus:
Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. (repeat chorus)

The fruits of light His Spirit gives
are goodness, truth and righteousness.
A new day breaks and all is clear;
give thanks to God, in Jesus Christ.

Chorus:
Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. (repeat chorus)

God’s word is light! Have you read what He has to tell you? Let these inspired words from Paul to the church in Rome be a closing reminder of the need we have to ‘wake up’! Romans 13:11-13… “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”

1, July 19, 20121, July 21, 2012

Doing Chores…Part One

Having grown up on a farm I can clearly remember when it was time to do the chores. Each day we had some very specific chores.

During the 1970’s in a rural, farming community it was not uncommon for us to have chores that dominated our day. The cow had to be milked and the pigs had to be fed every morning and every evening. The eggs had to be gathered each night. Weeding the garden and cleaning out the animal’s pens was not weird, nor was it punishment, it was our norm. There was no option of ‘skipping out’ on the responsibility to feed the animals and taking care of them. If a chore was shirked and we chose to do something else, the price to pay would be staggering. Our breakfast in the morning consisted of the eggs we gathered the night before. The 2 gallons of milk we collected daily would feed our family of six (four growing boys) daily. The vegetables we grew in the garden would be canned or preserved for the winter months. We did our chores because we knew there would be consequences if we didn’t obey. But we also did our chores because our parents cared for us, and we loved our parents. You see, our chores were important to our survival.

But before we go much further you need to know that with all the animals we had to care for, we never owned sheep. Chickens, cattle, hogs and even an occasional horse or two, but never sheep. And as I understand them, sheep are very precarious when it comes to raising them. Some even say they’re stupid animals. Again, having never raised sheep I’m not speaking from direct experience, but from what sheep farmers and those who raise sheep have told me. Those who tend sheep know that the responsibility to care for them is intensified. Sheep challenge your resolve when it comes to feeding them, watering them and shearing them. Much less keeping them alive.

But have you ever noticed that the Bible calls followers of Christ ‘sheep’? Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as SHEEP…” and Matthew 25:33, “and He will put the SHEEP on His right, and the goats on the left…” and Matthew 26:31, “I will strike down the Shepherd, and the SHEEP of the flock will be scattered…” And no doubt you’ll remember the 23rd Psalm as it refers to us as sheep and the Lord as our Shepherd. “The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

There is a connection between doing chores and the idea that we are sheep and Christ is our Shepherd! Perhaps you can see the connection between doing God’s work (doing our chores) and the need to take care of the sheep when you look deeper into God’s Word. From a Biblical point of view, the world is not in the safety of the fold. And God calls His people (the sheep) with the help of the Shepherd (Jesus) to bring a lost people home. (The cattle are out of the pen; there’s a fox in the hen house; there are chores to be done.) Take out your Bible and read I Peter 2:25; “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to your Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

Next time we’ll see how to make sense of this comparison…being like a sheep, and tending the sheep. There are always chores to be done. We will look at a song (not a surprise) that addresses this responsibility and obligation to work in the fold. Stay tune as we continue to look at ‘doing chores’. Let’s work together.

1, July 16, 20121, July 16, 2012

Filling in the Blanks…

It’s raining cats and _____ outside!

Completing this sentence should be no problem; you know the last word. If the rain is really come down hard you might say, ‘it’s raining cats and dogs.’ (A phrase with an interesting background; I’ll share it with you sometime.) Many times when you hear a familiar line you can finish the rest of sentence. Today let me share a few lines from a few older hymns. Check and see how good you are at ‘filling in the blanks’. Have fun, but stay with me to the end.

“Before you left your room this morning, did you think to __________ ?”

“On bended knee we come, with a ___________ heart I come…bowing down before Your holy throne.”

“Father, in the morning, unto Thee I __________.”

“Lord, we come before Thee now; at Thy feet we ____________ bow.”

“My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, my __________ are cold.”

“When you pillow your head at the close of the day, and you meet with the Lord in __________.”

“The world has lost the right of __________ and saints have failed to __________ .”

No doubt you’ve realized each of these lines can be filled with only two words. Have you figured it out? Look again and you’ll realize the empty lines are more than just blanks in need of a word. They represent an attitude and a behavior we need to have and model. One more phrase to help drive the point home; “Father, hear the __prayer__ we offer…”

We talk about prayer and sometime we even remember to pray for a meal or when we tuck the kids into bed at night. But is that the only time we come to call on the name of our Father in prayer? You would admit that prayer comes easy when trials hit our life. In the face of death and destruction we are ever so eager to pray. (Remember Peter as he tried to walk on the water…Matthew 14? His prayer was simple, “Lord, Save Me!”) But would that we become a people who daily, without incident, bow before God’s throne and pray. Just to say, ‘Good morning, Lord’ or ‘Thank You, Lord’.

Twenty years ago (1992) Steven Curtis Chapman and Jeff Moore combined their talents and penned a contemporary Christian song that addressed our prayer life with God. A ‘hymn’ directed to the Lord of our life. Notice the words from this song of encouragement…

“How do you explain, how do you describe a love that goes from east to west,
and runs as deep as it is wide.
You know all our hopes, Lord, You know all our fears.
And words cannot express the love we feel but we long for you to hear.

Chorus:
So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing
a song of praise that flows from those You have redeemed.
We will use the words we know to tell You what an awesome God you are.
But words are not enough to tell You of our love, so listen to our hearts.”

If words could fall like rain from these lips of mine,
And if I have a thousand years, Lord, I would still run out of time.
If you listen to my heart, every beat will say:
‘Thank You for the Life, Thank You for the Truth, Thank You for the Way.’

Chorus:
So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing a song of praise that flows from those You have redeemed.
We will use the words we know to tell You what an awesome God You are.
But words are not enough to tell You of our love, so listen to our hearts.”

We can say the words and fill in the blanks, but how we really feel about God will be heard in the beating of our hearts. When you pray today remember the words you say are very important; you are talking to God. So when you ‘pillow your head’, say a prayer of thanks for the day God has given you. Talk with your Father and let Him know your struggles, your joys and your cares. Use the words you know, but give Him your life to show; because I think you know…it’s more than just filling in the blanks.

1, July 13, 20121, July 13, 2012

Do You Want to Talk?

Think about this for a moment; who are you close to and who do you like to talk to? Is there someone in your life with whom you can share your deepest concerns or your most intimate thoughts?

Understanding that is a personal question, and one that honestly can only be answered by YOU; consider this… how close are you to God? My family and I set aside a time to pray around the kitchen table before we ‘break the bread’ (does your family still pray before you eat?). We remind our kids to ‘say their prayers as they go to bed at night (our kids are all in their teen years). And every week, on more than one occasion, we gather with our church family and pray together. But is that good enough? Do we share with God our personal, heartfelt concerns or are our prayers more routine? Do are prayers just mainly consist of a check list that addresses all the ‘important’ things in our life.

Perhaps, instead, we should be praying with understanding. We should be praying, as Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:17, “…without ceasing.” And as we come to know God and to grow closer to Him, we realize this is our avenue of communication with Him. Take time today, bow your head and pray. He hears you and He cares. Click on the title below (Pray) and listen to this song from Jan McCoy and the McCoy Family singers. A beautiful reminder of the blessings we have when we pray. I hope you’ll consider this song that speaks toward our ‘speaking’ to God. As we call upon to hear us and answer our plea…

Song Title:

“Pray, Pray, Pray”

“The Word plainly teaches that God’s children are to pray.
And how we are to pray is clear for Jesus shows the way.
When He walked on earth, He was a man like you and me,
But He called upon His Father’s help in prayer unceasingly.

Chorus:
So pray (to God) without ceasing, in all your work and your play.
Yes pray (to God) without ceasing. Just stop, don’t look away, just pray, pray, pray.

Today we can carry out this privilege to pray.
And take out God’s captive for the Lord who leads the way.
By living this way we learn to pray unceasingly,
Our eyes upon the Father’s throne where Jesus intercedes.
Chorus:
So pray (to God) without ceasing, in all your work and your play.
Yes pray (to God) without ceasing. Just stop, don’t look away, just pray, pray, pray.
Don’t look away, just pray, pray, pray. (repeat)

It’s not something you have to be a professional about doing, and there’s certainly no secret code. Many fail to pray because they fail to see how God could care about them. With all our issues and problems, many determine that God mostly likely wouldn’t even matter to God. But you need to know this for sure…that is a lie perpetrated by God’s greatest adversary. The devil would just as soon you not pray. “Stop praying, turn away from God and don’t worry about talking to your Father. He’s too busy for you.”

Simply put…God’s wants a relationship with you. He would like to have an intimate conversation with you, but you have to be willing to come to Him. He is speaking to you right now, but you’ll never hear Him unless you pick up the Word, the ‘Good Book’, God’s Holy BIBLE. That’s His intimate conversation with you…I guess you have to ask yourself, do you want to talk?

1, July 6, 20121, July 16, 2012

The Value of Fine Gold and the Honeycomb!

“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold!”

Psalm 19:10 is the beginning for the ‘chorus’ of a song I recall singing during my youth. A psalm that is not found in many (if any) of our hymnals. To be quite honest, it was only a few years ago that I actually found the sheet music. In my early years we would sing this psalm around the campfire (youth camp) or in the living room of one our friend’s homes (devotionals). There is not much repetition with the words in this song, so our ‘song book’ was our Bible. The words are almost a direct quote from the book of Psalms (19:7-10), but the musical arrangement was put together by Gary L. Mabry. Of the 3 verses and chorus, you’ll notice that all four stanzas are taken straight from scripture. (Remember, a ‘psalm’ is a song that is sung with the Bible as it’s text.)

Read these words as penned by King David in Psalm 19:7-10,

“The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous all together.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”

If you remembered singing this song (or if this is a first) you were able to ‘sing along’ as you read the text. But let’s dig deeper into the words of the Psalmist. David refers to the “law of the Lord”, the “testimony of the Lord”, the “precepts of the Lord”, the “commandments of the Lord”, the “fear of the Lord” and the “judgments of the Lord”. In turn, each one fulfills a need we have to follow ‘the Lord’. Let’s break this song down (verse by verse) and examine the specific elements of God’s law in relationship to mankind.

First, as we look at Psalm 19:7, we understand that God’s law is perfect. When we follow His law, it restores our soul to Him. In addition, the testimony (the evidence and overwhelming proof) of God is sure, and those who believe in Him are wise. Even, as this text explains, the ‘simple’ can gain wisdom and have confidence in the assurance of our Heavenly Father.

Psalm 19:8 continues with the precepts and the commandments of the Lord. A precept, by definition, is ‘a principle intended as a general rule of action’ and a commandment is simply, ‘to direct authoritatively’. Both precepts and commands are directives, given by and with authority. But you’ll notice these ‘directives’ are right and pure. They come from our Lord and give us true hope. When we follow them, our hearts will rejoice and our eyes will be enlighten.

The final verse of this song (Psalm 19:9) includes the fear and the judgment of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is clean, defined as thorough or complete, and last forever. Will we fear God throughout eternity? Undoubtedly YES! As we come to understand that fearing the Lord is respecting Him and honoring His name we’ll know that is our reason for living. As for the Lord’s judgments, they are true and righteous. Know this; God will treat mankind with fairness. He created us. He calls us. He longs for us. However, if we don’t follow His law, believe His testimony, obey His precepts, follow His commandments or fear (honor) His name; He will have no other option but to judge us in all righteousness (fairly).

As we wrap up this ‘psalm’ let us consider what we notice to be the chorus of the song. In the scripture we read verse 10 and understand from David that these God-given principles are of extreme value. From the gold-miner’s prospective, God’s word is more desirable than gold. And not just the raw gold from the bottom of the riverbed that is still unrefined. The value of God’s gifts are like that of pure and unblemished gold. To him who is hungry, God’s word is sweeter than honey, even the honey that drips directly from the honeycomb.

Sadly there are many who don’t believe any of these instructions. They’ll read them, perhaps even try and follow some of the teachings from God’s word. But in the end, they give up on His law. Determine His ways are too hard to follow. Remember that God will judge us all based on how much we value His commandments. As you go through this day I encourage you to honor (fear) God, and savor His precepts (rules). What we have in Christ is better than fine gold or the honeycomb.

1, July 5, 20121, July 13, 2012

When Heaven Pierces Through the Clouds!

There’s a song I want to share with you from Ken Young’s group, “Hallal”. Written in 2009, the song “Enter In” is a clear description of the final hours of life, countered with the joy we find when our loved ones leave this life and “enter in”. You can find this song and several others on the album Highest Hope.

For strength during times of trial you will be blessed by putting thoughts of ‘home’ and Godliness into your mind. May you be blessed as you seek comfort during difficulties in your life…

Read the words to the song: “Enter In”

“In a world so full of sorrows when the best so often fall.
When the prayers all go unanswered,
when the shadows seem to overwhelm,
when the light of hope has dimmed and leaves no hope at all.”
CHORUS:
“That’s when heaven pierces through the cloud of darkness,
And the glory of the Father shines from heaven’s open door.
And the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father,
with a warm embrace gives welcome,
and the angels are rejoicing,
and the Father with a voice like rushing wind,
Says all heaven has been waiting…Enter In!”

“When the dreams of life are shattered, and the body wastes away.
When all dignity’s abandoned,
and the ones who care, with broken hearts,
plead for mercy, but it seems that mercy hides it’s face.”
CHORUS:
“That’s when heaven pierces through the cloud of darkness,
And the glory of the Father shines from heaven’s open door.
And the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father,
with a warm embrace gives welcome,
and the angels are rejoicing,
and the Father with a voice like rushing wind,
Says all heaven has been waiting…Enter In!”

If you like this message and can relate to these words, I encourage you to click on the album (above) or visit Taylor Publications CLICK HERE for additional songs of encouragement and praise. “In a world of pain and sorrow…” prepare yourself for the day God calls you home.

Personally, I’m looking forward to the day when I hear my Savior say, “ENTER IN!”

1, July 4, 20121, November 8, 2018

We Shall Meet…But We Shall Miss Him.

An American Icon has passed away!

Note: Andy Taylor is the man, the icon, from Mayberry. Andy Griffith, the man, missed the mark later in life as he embraced, in my opinion, several ‘un-Mayberry’ type policies.

Andy Taylor was a man who served as the fair and just, level headed sheriff of a small town in North Carolina. He played the role of a young widower who loved his only son, respected his faithful aunt and selflessly served his community. You never found a more faithful friend and advocate for an over-zealous deputy who tried to keep order (and comedy) for the daily life in the small town of Mayberry.

Born in 1926 in North Carolina, Andy Griffith, the man, lived to the ripe old age of 86. His popularity is noted as the a fore mentioned sheriff, but he also starred in the 1980’s as the country lawyer from Atlanta, Georgia. His Southern drawl and unmatched legal abilities set him, Ben Matlock, as the unbeatable attorney. During the life of these two TV sitcoms it was not uncommon to hear Andy Griffith take up his guitar and sing while he played. He was a talented singer of gospel hymns, as well as traditional songs from our country’s history.

My first exposure to this talented comedian came from one of his first monologues named, “What it was, was Football”. Performed in 1953 and eventually sold to Capitol Records, this skit sold nearly 800,000 copies in it’s first couple of years. This story comes from a county preacher’s perspective as he watches (for the first time) a college football game. His accidental admission into the game is portrayed in classic Andy Taylor vernacular. His original climactic description of “the awfullest fight that I have ever seen…in my life!” continues to ring in my mind and bring a recollection of a simpler, more civil time.

But next to his comedy and fun-loving spirit, I remember enjoying his golden voice and God-given singing ability. Several times in that small town of Mayberry you would see this community of believers gather on Sunday morning for church services. The gospel songs and spiritual focus was a calling card to a life portrayed in North Carolina. It served as the bedrock foundation for a community built to serve God and support each other. Perhaps you’ll remember the episode when the primary focus of the day was on the church. It aired in October of 1963 and the show was appropriately entitled, The Sermon for Today. A strong lesson that, we often take too seriously the busyness of life (and that coming from 1963).

Yet perhaps my all time favorite episode from ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ came a few months later in February of 1964, Hot Rod Otis. Otis Campbell, the town drunk, takes on a second job to raise money so he can buy a car. Barney is determined to teach him a few safe driving skills (with two toy cars), but when the sheriff and deputy find Otis passed out on the hood of his car, drunk, they assume the worse and take him to jail. In short order, the faithful duo come up with a scheme to ‘teach Otis a lesson so he’ll never want to drive again’. The scene features Andy and Barney singing “The Vacant Chair” (a song from the mid-1800’s often associated with the Civil War). For me, this song and its chorus echo though my mind as I remember a legend and miss an icon…Andy Griffith.

“We shall meet, but we shall miss him.
There will be one vacant chair.
We shall linger to caress him…
While we breathe our ev’ning prayer.”

1, July 3, 20121, July 2, 2012

Are We Still a Great Country?

This week the United States of America will celebrate Independence Day on Wednesday, July 4th. A time in our country’s history that commemorates the independence of our nation. This year the USA celebrates 226 years of freedom. Personally, it wasn’t that long ago that I can remember celebrating the 200th Anniversary during the summer of 1976. But if you look back even further in our country’s history, when our nation celebrated during its 100th Anniversary, Daniel Roberts wrote a poem to honor our country and it soon was given a tune with the title “National Hymn”. It’s better known today as “God of Our Fathers”.

The United States of America celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1876. Any monumental occasion deserves a memorable celebration and Roberts was determined to provide that memory. But to truly see the fullness of this ‘hymn’, you need to read the lines, word by word. Notice the scripture reference and Biblical emphasis that our country was founded on and still strove to uphold 100 years later. (What about today? Do we still maintain this diligence? If you live in America today, you might take pause and remember when…)

“God of our fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor thru the skies, our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past; in this free land by Thee our lot is cast; be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay, Thy Word our law, Thy path our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, (the Civil War was a recent memory) be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense; Thy true religion in our hearts increase, Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way; lead us from night to never-ending day; fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud and praise be thine. AMEN”

Can we still have this devotion to God, calling on Him to be our “ruler, guardian, guide and stay”? Why would we feel so self-reliant that we would believe our way is better than HIS path? To be honest, we’re not much different than the Israelite nation as we read Judges 21:25. “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Is there no standard of right and wrong? Have we determined that morality is subject and best left to individual choice. How do we know if there is a right or wrong…unless we follow a standard provided by one with absolute truth. Our society and culture try to answer that too by saying, ‘there is no absolute truth’. (Which by the very nature of the statement is an absolute!)

Our forefathers, with our new found independence, could have established any standard of governmental rule. They could have ‘remade’ a system of government that mirrored the tyranny the fled (and bled) to escape. They could have re-traced the steps of Roman rule (very powerful in the world during its day), but instead they sought a society that was governed by the people. And if the people were to ‘rule’ the land, our founding fathers knew they would need a ‘guide’; an example to an new nation showing peace and providing ‘bounteous goodness’. So you can see why it was important to hold up songs like this.

But what has happened to our country? Did God abandon us like an unwanted puppy on the side of the road? If you know anything about God and His nature, you know He would never abandon His children. But as in life (and as some of you may have already experienced) the child can leave the teachings of the parent. We, as a nation, have turned away from God’s Word, God’s Guidance and God’s Love. How can we expect God to “Bless America” when America has denounced its God? My objective, my aim, is to once again let His path be my chosen way. To let His ‘true religion in my (our) heart increase’. To seek His strong arm as my ‘ever sure defense’, and to constantly raise before His throne a ‘grateful song’.

If I can encourage my country men to do the same; if we will turn our hearts and minds back to God, then perhaps we can see fulfillment when God speaks to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14. “…if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who call by My name HUMBLE THEMSELVES and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Can you be humble, pray, seek God, and turn from a life of sin? When we do that we’ll be returning to the roots that made this country great!

1, July 1, 20121, July 2, 2012

That ‘Sinking Feeling’…

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the water lifted me now safe am I.”

Have you ever been in a situation when you were really feeling troubled? Some have even referred to it as a “sinking feeling”. Troubles can come upon us and cause stress, discomfort and an overall sense of discouragement. There have been times when we have referred to difficulties in our lives as a storm or tribulation. So what do we do when the storms begin to rage? If you live on the beach or near the ocean you know the precautions that must be taken when the forecast call for hurricane type winds. But the basis for this hymn comes from the text when Peter tries to walk on water. Notice the text from Matthew 14, beginning at verse 27; “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the winds stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’.”

From this passage we read that Peter, actually walked on the water with Jesus. But like many of us, he was distracted by the concerns around him and eventually lost his focus. The ‘stormy winds’ (vs.25) were real and the waves were a strong reminder to Peter that he was away from the security of the boat. Do you feel the same when faced with stressful situations? God calls us to come to Him just as Jesus called Peter to join Him on the surface of the Sea of Galilee. But we know there will be storms and stressful situations. When we start to struggle (sink), remember the words from this old hymn written in 1912 by James Rowe.

“Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me.” Find the encouragement from the 2nd and 3rd verses of this old hymn. “All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling. In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true merits (spiritual credit) my soul’s best songs; Faithful loving service, too, to Him belongs. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love out of the angry ways. He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.”

We know the storms of life will come, though we don’t know when. Forecasting a storm allows those in it’s path to prepare themselves and ‘batten down the hatches’, but how many of us today are preparing for the storms of life? Some are walking with Christ, but are still struggling as the winds and the waves slap us in the face. Losing our focus on God and turning to the storm, we’re sinking. Christ is waiting for you to reach out to Him and cry with a sincere heart, “Lord, save me!” Unfortunately today, too many refuse to acknowledge the hand of Christ as He reaches out to lift us. Not only do we exemplify ‘little faith’, our stubborn hearts doom us as we slowly sink in sin.

Would that we realize our plight and understand the stain of our sin. When we come to realize how much trouble we have without Christ, we’ll reach out and let Him bring us safely back into His care. Or do we bother; are we really concerned about that ‘sinking feeling’? The world tells us to just bear down, endure, and get over it. But you and I know that we can’t go along in this life and without doubt, we’ll drown if someone doesn’t rescue us. Jesus cares and He will deliver you because He loves you. His dedication to you and your relationship with Him is more than you might understand. But I know and I’m convenience of this…His Love Lifted Me!

1, June 29, 20121, June 29, 2012

Area-wide Singing…

Recently a friend of mine shared with me this newspaper article from McNairy County Independent Appeal newspaper in west Tennessee. The article announces a Sunday morning singing in Finger, Tennessee, just south of Henderson, Tennessee. The date of this article is August 15, 1913. Step back in time and read how a small, rural community viewed opportunities to fellowship and worship together…

“Notice: We will sing at Lain’s School House all day the third Sunday in August, 1913. Bring all your song books, and especially your old ones, as we will sing more old songs than new ones. These new songs are cheap stuff anyhow at meetings like these.
An organ will be there, and a trained organist playing it. (this was the Christian church)
We rather see boxes than bottles, baskets than bruises, peace than pistols, worship than war, joy than jugs, beef than beer, knowledge than ‘knuckles’, water than wine, a song feast than a series of fistfights, a manifestation of a spiritual out pour than the laying on of hands of a civil law officer, pies than pipes, mutton than murmuring, rounding of voices in song than the result of vices, good behavior and orderly conduct than bad manners and wretched confusion, there that day. We will begin at 10 a.m.

Remember the date, please, and come prepared to sing and not to talk politics, argue scripture, swap horses, raise the tick quarantine, trade knives, tell big fish tales, opine what the price of cotton will be by Christmas, prophesy for dry weather, inquire into the whereabouts of Dick, Tom and Harry’s missing watermelons, recite Paul’s charge to Timothy, tinker with the tariff, announce the exact age of a mule by looking into said mule’s mouth, or explain what the Good Book meant when it said: ‘One woe is past: and, behold there come two woes more hereafter.’

Several good leaders promised to come.
Let’s have a first class singing.
A stock of new yarns will be disposed of at reduced prices that day.” (the author of this news paper article Hodges, operated a store)

Harvey Hodges

It’s interesting to read from years gone by the simplicity of daily life and the planning that went toward getting the community together to sing. In 1913 our country was a much different place than you and I live in today. Life styles were simple and the concern for what was important took precedence. If we were to step back in time and live a day in the early 1900’s, most of us won’t survive more than a few weeks. Without air conditioning, running water and indoor plumbing there would be little to ‘sing about’. Why did folks in this time period dedicate a full day to singing praises to God? Did they know something we don’t know?

Simply put…we have become too busy to slow down and praise God in song. We are more interested in finding the newest ipad app rather of finding peace in praising God. Our schedules are so full of self that we forget each other. Of course even those in the 1913 had to be reminded to put aside selfish ideas and opinions and focus on the task at hand. It would be interesting to find out how many came to the Lain’s School House on that Sunday morning in August. Then again, if we called for folks to join us THIS coming Sunday…how many do you think would come?

“Come, let us all unite to sing, God is love. Let heaven and earth their praises bring, God is love. Let every soul from sin awake, each in his heart sweet music make, and sing with us for Jesus’ sake, for God is love.” Written in 1849 (54 years before this ‘Tennessee singing’) and published in Millard & Badger’s Hymns, this song reminds us of the importance of coming together and singing. Join us on Sunday!