One look around our home and you can see quite clearly that things are different. Not bad or in some abnormal way, but with the addition of boxes. And before you start thinking we’re planning to move or ‘storing up treasures on earth,’ you need to know that since her graduation from college, our daughter has been waiting patiently to move on. And so ‘her stuff’ has begun to stack up, but you also need to know that for the last 6 months she has been looking forward to this day…November 17, 2018. Our daughter, my little girl will become the wife of Max Dalton Todd.
And so the ‘stuff’ I’m seeing around the house is thanks to so many dear friends and family who love our daughter and want to bless this young couple as they start life together. Therefore, since the late summer months, FedEx and the US Postal Service have been (almost on a daily basis) delivering dozens of boxes to our address. But this article is not about wedding gifts, or boxes or even the blessings that have been bestowed upon my daughter. As I write this, I’m thinking about marriage and the wedding of Emili and Dalton. WOW…give me a minute!
Perhaps I’m feeling this way because of the focus our God has given to marriage. He is our Creator and from the beginning of time…He instituted marriage (Genesis 2). So we would be wise to read His words on the matter. Let’s start by thinking about Ephesians 5 & I Corinthians 7, Paul is giving instruction to husbands and wives. Or the Hebrew writer, in chapter 13, as he writes through inspiration that we should honor marriage. But John’s vision in Revelation is the premise here as it ties together our relationship to marriage with our relationship to God. Read Revelation 19:7-9…
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be gladand give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come,and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean,was given her to wear.” Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
As a matter of fact, read further in Revelation chapter 21 as John writes about the bride adorned for her husband (vs. 2), the words ‘…faithful and true’ (vs. 5) and the statement in verse 9 saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” We see the relationship between Christ and the church (His bride) and our parallel with marriage here in this life. So I write all this to simply quote the words of one of my favorite songs about Christ’s return as Keith Lancaster puts ‘the Wedding Day’ into true perspective. Because as the father of the bride I have to tell you…
“Lately I’ve been thinking as I look all around me. I see by the signs that we’re soon going to be leaving The bridegroom is coming to take us all away May be tomorrow, but I pray that it’s today
Chorus: And we will fly away in the twinkling of an eye Leaving all our heartaches and telling them all goodbye Yes we will fly away when he hears His Father say, “Jesus, go and get your bride, today’s your wedding day.”
Now when we see the bridegroom in the clouds in the sky Will he be telling you hello or telling you goodbye? Oh, be sure and be ready to meet Him face to face We’ve got to fight the good fight, we’ve got to keep our faith…”
Emili and Dalton…today’s your wedding day and your family and friends surround you in love. Hold fast to the message of God’s word and know that the relationship you are entering into is a ‘foretaste of rapture to come…’ (to quote another song.) And Emili, if the truth be known, I’m going to miss you and your boxes here at the house. Your mom and I love you both and are excited to see what God has in store for you and Dalton. Let me put my own personal spin to this song; “Lately I’ve been thinking as I look all around me, I see by the signs (the boxes) that you’re soon going to be leaving. Planned from the beginning, that’s what the scriptures say, I’ve known it was coming…can’t believe that it’s today!”
As the groom stand before his friends and family, he is asked one of the most important questions of his life,
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
His confession of love is captured in two little words, “I do!”
A confession that promises devotion. A promise to give his life to this one woman forever. A proclamation that is more than just an “I love you.” This is a confession that says I am yours.
Several months ago a sermon looked at a similar confession between the believer and his God. Before family and friends the question is asked, “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?” Prior to the baptism that great confession is taken. The believer’s “I do” proclaims more than just a passing love for Christ. It’s a commitment. Every day we should examine our hearts and look closely at our lives to see if that proclamation, that “I do” is still our living promise.
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Song options for a Sunday morning sermon on commitment…
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“To God Be the Glory” (page 4) Take a look at verse two, “…The vilest offenders who TRULY obey, that moment may enter the heavenly way.” How do we know if someone ‘truly obeys?’ We only trust and hope, but know that God knows our hearts. He knows if we are committed!
“Faithful Love” (page 18) Our perfect example of love is found in Jesus. When we consider His faithful love, it changes our way of thinking. At least it will if we are doing more than just saying, “I do.”
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” (page 770) This hymn (prayer) to God is a great voice of how much we are dedicating our lives to Him. Especially as we strive to focus on Him rather than the ‘strain and stress’ of life. Our life will show how much we ‘confess’ our Lord and Father.
“The Old Rugged Cross” (page 313) If you have said “I do” and stepped into the watery grave of baptism making Jesus your Lord and Savior, have you laid down your trophies? Hmmm…if we don’t lay the world down, how will we ever be committed to serving Him?
“I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord” (page 609) This has always been a favorite of mine, but especially when we think about that vow we make to commit to Christ. Not only am I saying “Yes,” but I’m not ashamed either!
“Our God, He is Alive” (page 23) We sing this so often it’s easy to miss what we’re saying. Verse two, “He is the God that we should know…” Meaning we should know Him (we’d better know Him) and/or meaning (we ought to know Him.) Just don’t forget, it’s in Him (God) that we not only live, but in Him we survive!
“I DO,” the two words that launch a husband and wife into a life together are the same words that launch the believer into eternity with his God.
For the past two weeks we’ve looked at prayer and the time we spend talking with God. We have a vast array of songs that either mention prayer, focus entirely upon prayer or simply are a prayer. The more we ‘sing with understanding,’ the more we will come to realize which songs do what in our worship to God and admonishing one another.
In 1856, Love Willis wrote, and we still sing, a prayer asking our Heavenly Father to… “Hear the Prayer We Offer.” Twenty-five years later Mary Kidder asked the singer a basic question, “Ere (Before) you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?” In that same year (1875), A. Cummings penned the familiar words that we still sing; in the…“Morning, noon and evening unto Thee I’ll pray.” Our hymnals are filled with songs of prayer and songs to remind us to pray. Even within the last 30 years we have come to know and love, “On bended knee I come, with a humble heart I come; bowing down before Your holy throne.” Or perhaps you’ll know the hymn we sing asking God to “listen to our hearts…” We pray and sing about prayers because this is our direct line of communication with God.
And as we conclude the message behind, “Sweet Hour of Prayer” let’s consider the third verse of this song written by W. W. Walford in 1845;
“Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer, Thy wings shall my petition bear to Him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless; And since He bids me seek His face, believe His word, and trust His grace, I’ll cast on Him my every care and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.”
The imaginary of this verse puts ‘wings’ on our prayers to lift our petition before God’s throne. And as our requests come before God, this song expresses that He is waiting to bless us. His promise of truth and faithfulness are just waiting to be “engaged.” That alone should strike a cord in our hearts. But before we conclude this prayer and close the page of this hymn consider how our God calls for us to seek Him, to believe in Him and to trust in Him. If our heavenly Father is asking us to search for Him, believe in His word and trust in His grace, then you can see why He calls us to ‘cast on Him’ every care. So again, slow down and wait for this time of prayer. Forget the cares of this world, the business of your schedule and spend “an hour” in prayer.
Our souls will ‘find relief’ when we, ‘take our station before God’s throne’ and ‘cast on Him our every care.’ In short, don’t watch the clock and don’t focus on yourself. If your heart is right with God, prayer can be sweet. Know that an hour of prayer won’t hurt you, but it certainly will bless you!
Have you ever read a bedtime story to your child? You know the routine; before we can read a story, you need to get ready for bed, brush your teeth, get another drink of water, and then crawl in bed for a ‘bedtime story.’ Sometimes those stories are made up from our imaginations, but many times we read from a favorite book. But wherever the story comes from, we must always remember to followed up with a prayer and a good night kiss. Certainly this sound vaguely familiar?
But how do many of those bedtime stories begin? Whether fantasy or factual, many of these stories begin with these four short words… ‘Once upon a time.’ Or maybe you’ve read the story that starts like this, ‘One day…’ We set the stage back in time to establish the story line. But maybe tonight as you tuck your little one in bed let me encourage you to read them a familiar old story that’s not a fantasy, but one you’ve read (sung) before…
“One day when heaven was filled with His (God’s) praises, One day when sin (life on earth) was a black as could be…Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin (remember, this isn’t a fantasy,) and he dwelt among men…and He’s my example!’
When you read (sing) this bedtime story, be sure you have your Bible handy. For some support I’ve listed a few scriptures. Enjoy the time with your children and practice Deuteronomy 6:7, “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Mark 11:18, “The chief priest and the scribes heard this (“…you have made the temple a robber’s den.” ) and began seeking how to destroy Him…” and John 20:18, “…I lay down My life so that I my take it again. No one has taken it from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative…”
After Christ’s death on the cross…
Mark 15:45-47, “Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph (of Arimathea).Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.“
Luke 24:1-9, “…on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”And they remembered His words,and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles...”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18, “…if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Romans 6:3-11, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
The version of this song is different from the traditional one…but the words are the same. And remember, it’s the words are the bring us the message!
When was the last time you woke up and could remember your dream? Not the nightmare that shakes you awake or the dream that bring tears to your eyes. I’m talking about the dream that fills you peace and brings a smile to your face. Do you remember your dreams? Sometimes we wake up and can’t recall the events, but only a feeling or emotion from the nocturnal vision. Then there are other times when we wake and can recall every scene with vivid detail. Perhaps you’ve had this ‘dream’…or maybe you’ve sung about the vivid details of this vision of heaven!
From a distance I saw a huge crowd of people standing in Heaven around the throne of God. This vast assembly had been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and they were singing to God with an incredibly beautiful melody! As I listened to them singing, I heard their song, and I so wanted to join them. You could say that I tried to sing, but I couldn’t.
This vast ‘singing’ assembly were saints who had died under persecution. Some were killed by the sword and others had been burned at the stake, but all of them stood on the mount because they had died for truth and in the name of Jesus. And as they stood shouting victory and giving praise to “the Lamb,” they were bowing before…the GREAT I AM!
These saints, in the presence of God, were feasting (rejoicing) in His love. But perhaps what intrigued me the most was that this vision, this dream, was perpetual…it never ended. Rising before these saints were images of joy and complete happiness. These ‘scenes’ were always new, no reruns, no repeats… always new rising, over and over and over again in their presence as they sang before the throne of God.
Then, as if given special permission, I joined in the song of praise. This is the song I was singing to God…
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord! God of Host on high adore!”
And as I sang, I thought, “How can someone like me be able to sing to the Lord of Host, the Great I Am, the Almighty King?” Still I continued,
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord! God of Host on high adore! Holy, Holy, Holy!”
This is just a story, maybe a dream, but you no doubt will recognize this ‘vision’ as one of our longtime favorite hymns, “On Zion’s Glorious Summit.” When we sing the songs from years gone by, we must stop and contemplate what we’re singing? We need to ‘see’ the songs we sing. Read the words to this song and come to appreciate the message, then you’ll be closer to understanding what you’re singing.
“I will sing with the spirit, I will sing with understanding…”
I Corinthian 14:15
That is something that someone would say to express ‘true love.’ Someone you honor and respect receives this title. And if we are the ones that God has chosen as His people, and considering all that He has done for us, we must acknowledge that He is the love of our life. And in return, all that he asks from us is, respect, admiration, gratitude, and submission.
But that’s where the devil makes that hard. He knows our weaknesses and he knows how to manipulate us dragging us further from our heavenly Father. Farther away from the one who is our ‘True Love’.
We read that our God is the epitome of love and that He is faithful love! In Psalm 57:10 and 86:15, we read of the depth and abounding nature of His love. The love that God has demonstrated toward us, along with his compassion and consistent care, its one that we are not physically and humanly capable of possessing or, to be honest, understanding. Having the love of Christ is difficult, and having a faithful, enduring love and striving to remain faithful and true to our ‘True Love’, can be hard in this world in which we live in. However, when we think on a much broader scope, was it ever easy for anyone? Regardless of the time period, regardless of the living conditions, regardless of state of the world?
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 7), he addresses the struggle that they are having with sexual immorality. He addresses both those who are single and struggling with that sexual desire, as well as those who are single and not tempted in that way. To those who are struggling, he encourages them to go ahead and marry. Sexual sin is not a ‘new thing’ that has recently been ‘discovered’. Christians then and now struggle with it. Sin has been in this world since Genesis 3. Temptation is ever present, and God’s word even tells us that, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)
It is hard to not to be distracted by the things of this world that are constantly put in front of us. However, the blessings and love of God are present here as well. Take a minute and turn your gaze up from the ground and SEE it. It’s there, we (sadly) make the choice to not enjoy and reflect on it.
Every day, we make choices. Some of them, will bring us closer to Christ, and some will take us further away from Him. We always have a choice. One choice could make us stronger, more resilient and draw us closer to the safety and unconditional love of God. The other will keep us stagnant and pull us closer to the place void of His presence. We read of it in scripture, but see a more vividly painted picture in the book of Revelation (read about the ‘lake of fire’ in Rev. 20:14-15).
Everything we do, is driven by something. Passion, desire, and a will to have something that we don’t necessary need. A want for something or a love for someone that doesn’t draw us closer to God. It reminds me of the song “The Greatest Commands” and the soprano’s words as they quote Luke chapter 10, “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…“ God IS love and He is the epitome of what ‘True Love’ is. But do we treasure our ‘True Love?’ Do we take Him and what He’s done for us for granted? Will we love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind?
I love my family — my parents and my brothers. I love my boyfriend, my friends and all of my brothers and sisters that I am so blessed to have in Christ. And I love those who are not yet in Christ’s family. However, and I believe this with all my heart, God is the reason I love all of these people. Why? The answer is simple. “Because He first loved me…” Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
“Wuv…Twu wuv will fowow you foweva…so tweasure your wuv.”
I’m probably one of the few people who does not particularly believe in the idea of ‘love at first sight’, but I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for those Hallmark movies that make it seem so realistic and possible to achieve. For the longest time, I had in my mind that somehow, someway, I would fall in love in one of the ways that I had seen on so many Hallmark movies. Eventually, that idea fizzled out and I began to give up on the idea of ‘Love at first sight’ and even on the idea of ‘True Love’. The result of that caused me to turn my focus not just to my school work at the time, but my responsibilities as one of the spiritual leaders for the Freed-Hardeman University Chorale. I began immersing myself into more in depth bible study and, at times, conversations with various people inside and outside of that group, of whom, I consider to be some of my closest friends and spiritual family. I began to realize that the more I immersed myself into studying the Bible, the less I felt the need to be receiving love, as much as I had the desire to show the love that I had gained in my heart for others. As soon as that happened I found within my heart a desire to really show others just a sampling of what the ‘True Love’ of God looked like. I started feeling more fulfilled and happier with my life than I can ever remember feeling and before I could blink twice, God sent me a blessing that, for the past 8-9 years, I can remember praying for. I would not say that my boyfriend and I are a perfect match by any means, but as he so eloquently put it just recently, “We may not be a match made in heaven, but we’re a match made FOR heaven!” God’s love for us is more than just ‘True Love’, its Everlasting Love.
God’s love is a never ending love that, if we give it the opportunity, will prove just that. His love is shown to us in many ways, each and every day. His love is letting us make mistakes. His love is granting us the things we ask for. His love is sometimes letting us reap the consequences of our decisions. As odd as it may seem to us, and to others who are learning about Christ, the ultimate showing of God’s love is shown to us is in scripture by letting His Son, Jesus Christ, die for us (Matthew 26-27; Mark 15; Luke 22-23; and John 18-19). Nothing and no one would ever be able to match that kind of love. Giving up your most precious possession. The thing that you hold the most dear. Letting that go, facing the world, enduring all kinds of ridicule and frustration, all because of that thing you cherished so much.
If you were not able to interpret the quote at the beginning of this, that was a quote from the movie The Princess Bride, during the wedding scene near the end. In “English” it translates, “Love, true love, will follow you forever…so treasure your love.” Yes, we will have things that we ‘love’ or really care for as we go throughout the years of our lives, but that is dangerous ground if we do not realize that the love we should really be concerned about and focused on is our True Love, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
This article, in part, is borrowed from an anonymous source.
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Now compare this to the words of our Lord and Savior in Luke chapter 6, verse 45; “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good…”
Consider the following:
If your heart is filled with love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Sound familiar? See Galatians 5:22 & 23), then your actions will prove it. People will say of such a person that they are ‘beautiful on the inside.’ This kind of ‘beauty’ becomes visible on your countenance. (In other words, “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.”)
Remember what Christ said in Luke chapter 6, verse 45; “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good…” Now take a look at the rest of His sentence; “…and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Therefore the opposite must be true. If your heart is filled with jealousy, unhappiness, greed, hatred and anger, it will be heard in your voice (language), seen in your actions and ultimately expressed on your face. Even Disney knew how to show us the difference between ‘Happy’ and ‘Grumpy.’ The actions of the grouch (in December, the Grinch) will lead toward him to becoming a most unlikable person. (Side note: both Grumpy and the Grinch changed their hearts!)
Therefore…guard your heart! Focus on the things in life that are pure and good. Paul gives us a very clear picture of how we should be thinking as he wrote Philippians 4:8, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely (lovable or gracious), whatever is of good repute (reputation), if there be any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell (think) on these things.”
My encouragement to you, make every effort in your day to see the good things in life. And if you’re battling to do that, “Ask the Savior to help you, comfort strengthen and keep you. He is willing to aid you. He will carry you through.” (Yield Not to Temptation; Horatio Palmer, 1868)
Have you ever had the feeling that you’re not as spiritual as you’d like to be? Perhaps you’ve just felt like your walk with Christ wasn’t as good as it once was. Some may have even found themselves going through a time when they just didn’t care. As a Christian when you know that you could be more devoted, but your heart struggles with being close to God…what do you do? If we are true to ourselves, each of us has had times when our ‘love for Christ’ has grown cold or weak. Is there something we can do, some where we could turn? Scripture should always be our first approach, followed by (and accompanied with) prayer. But personally, when Satan poisons my heart with lies and interferes with my walk, I tend to turn to the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. “In Christ Alone” (Keith Getty, 2007), “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (Helen Lemmel, 1922), “Day by Day” (Caroline Berg, 1865) and “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Annie Hawks, 1872) are just a few of my ‘go to psalms’ in times of distress. But today let me encourage you to follow the thought of a song written in 1837 by John R. Wreford…
“When my love to Christ grows weak, (exactly what we’re talking about here) when for DEEPER faith I seek, then in thought (in your ‘mind’s eye’) I go to thee, (read, Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 & Luke 22:39-46) Garden of Gethsemane!
There (in the garden) I walk amid the shades, while the lingering twilight fades, (it’s evening and the sun is going down) see that suffering, friendless One (can you see Him, in ‘your mind’s eye?’) weeping, praying there alone. (But what if I’ve fallen so far that even the sight of a man suffering and struggling doesn’t bother me? (Then read on…)
When my love for MAN grows weak, when for STRONGER faith I seek, (what can I do, where should I go ‘in my mind’s eye?’) Hill of Calvary! (go to the cross if you have trouble caring about mankind…that’s where Christ went! To the cross…) I go to the scenes of fear and woe. (Again, read the text, Matthew 27:33-54)
There (at the cross) behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree; (look at the scripture, Mark 15:22-39 or Luke 23:33-47) see His anguish, see His faith (if you haven’t read the above passages, you’ll never over come the struggle of a wavering faith)…love triumphant still in death. (Now, what are you going to do?)
Then to life I turn again (away from the poetic imagery in your mind to real time), learning all the worth of pain (His death was for YOU), learning all the might that lies (a lesson we must all learn) in a full self-sacrifice. (where you give your life over to God. Remember, it’s not about you!)”
The answer, if you’re struggling in your walk with Christ, if you want to be have a more spiritual tone in your life…if you want to care again… stop living for yourself. We can be more devoted and closer to God, but we need to ‘learn the might that lies in a FULL self-sacrifice.’ He sacrificed Himself for you and me. Can you, will you, do that for others? When we do, we’ll deepen and strengthen our faith in God.
In January, the Freed-Hardeman Chorale toured North Texas during their Winter Tour. I was blessed to hear them sing most every night of the 12 day tour, and one of my favorite songs they sang was written by Kurt Bestor. In 2005, he shared the background for the song and how it was born from his frustration over the horrendous civil war and ethnic cleansing that was taking place in the former country of Yugoslavia. Having lived in this war-torn country during the 70’s, he grew up loving the people with whom he lived and served. The following is a portion of his explanation behind “Prayer of the Children…”
“When Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito died, different political factions jockeyed for position and the inevitable happened – civil war. Suddenly my friends were pitted against each other. Serbian brother wouldn’t talk to Croatian sister-in-law. Bosnian mother disowned Serbian son-in-law and so it went. Meanwhile, all I could do was stay glued to the TV back in the US and sink deeper in a sense of hopelessness.
Finally, one night I began channeling these deep feelings into a wordless melody. Then little by little I added words….Can you hear….? Can you feel……? I started with these feelings – sensations that the children struggling to live in this difficult time might be feeling. Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian children all felt the same feelings of confusion and sadness and it was for them that I was writing this song.
I took a long night to finish the song and I sang it for my wife and family, but that was about it. I put it away for awhile never thinking to sing it publicly. Then one night, as I struggled to fill a 2-hour concert, I decided to sing “Prayer of the Children.” I’m not sure, but I think it was 1994. The song had an immediate reaction on those in attendance and I was surprised at the almost hushed sound as I sang.”
The interpretation (signing) is being done by my daughter, Emili Bruce. She is a junior, Arts & Humanities Major at Freed-Hardeman University.
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light
Crying Jesus*, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take
Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day
Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm
Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands
Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you’re near,
Bringing peace again
Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation: ‘Can you hear all the children’s prayers?’)
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
Not bad or in some abnormal way, but with the addition of boxes. And before you start thinking we’re planning to move or ‘storing up treasures on earth,’ you need to know that since her graduation from college, our daughter has been waiting patiently to move on. And so ‘her stuff’ has begun to stack up, but you also need to know that for the last 6 months she has been looking forward to this day…November 17, 2018. Our daughter, my little girl will become the wife of Max Dalton Todd.
that have been bestowed upon my daughter. As I write this, I’m thinking about marriage and the wedding of Emili and Dalton. WOW…give me a minute!
love. Hold fast to the message of God’s word and know that the relationship you are entering into is a ‘foretaste of rapture to come…’ (to quote another song.) And Emili, if the truth be known, I’m going to miss you and your boxes here at the house. Your mom and I love you both and are excited to see what God has in store for you and Dalton. Let me put my own personal spin to this song; “Lately I’ve been thinking as I look all around me, I see by the signs (the boxes) that you’re soon going to be leaving. Planned from the beginning, that’s what the scriptures say, I’ve known it was coming…can’t believe that it’s today!” 
match by any means, but as he so eloquently put it just recently, “We may not be a match made in heaven, but we’re a match made FOR heaven!” God’s love for us is more than just ‘True Love’, its Everlasting Love.
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Now compare this to the words of our Lord and Savior in Luke chapter 6, verse 45; 
unhappiness, greed, hatred and anger, it will be heard in your voice (language), seen in your actions and ultimately expressed on your face. Even Disney knew how to show us the difference between ‘Happy’ and ‘Grumpy.’ The actions of the grouch (in December, the Grinch) will lead toward him to becoming a most unlikable person. (Side note: both Grumpy and the Grinch changed their hearts!)
you do? If we are true to ourselves, each of us has had times when our ‘love for Christ’ has grown cold or weak. Is there something we can do, some where we could turn? Scripture should always be our first approach, followed by (and accompanied with) prayer. But personally, when Satan poisons my heart with lies and interferes with my walk, I tend to turn to the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. “In Christ Alone” (Keith Getty, 2007), “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (Helen Lemmel, 1922), “Day by Day” (Caroline Berg, 1865) and “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Annie Hawks, 1872) are just a few of my ‘go to psalms’ in times of distress. But today let me encourage you to follow the thought of a song written in 1837 by John R. Wreford…
In January, the Freed-Hardeman Chorale toured North Texas during their Winter Tour. I was blessed to hear them sing most every night of the 12 day tour, and one of my favorite songs they sang was written by Kurt Bestor. In 2005, he shared the background for the song and how it was born from his frustration over the horrendous civil war and ethnic cleansing that was taking place in the former country of Yugoslavia. Having lived in this war-torn country during the 70’s, he grew up loving the people with whom he lived and served. The following is a portion of his explanation behind “Prayer of the Children…”
with these feelings – sensations that the children struggling to live in this difficult time might be feeling. Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian children all felt the same feelings of confusion and sadness and it was for them that I was writing this song.