Tag: faith

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I Believe…I Believe!

Leading up to this time of year, world-wide, children and adults alike express a belief in Santa Claus. ‘If you’re good enough, then he’ll leave something for you under the tree’, is what we’re told from a young age. We

have put so much trust and devotion into ‘being good’, so that we won’t be disappointed come Christmas morning. However, as we grow older, we lose that desire to trust and believe in Jolly ‘ole St. Nick. In the 2004 movie, The Polar Express, a boy is whisked away on a magical train all the way up to the North Pole. All throughout the movie, he is skeptical of the fact that Santa even exists and at the end {SPOILER ALERT} he meets the Santa and is even given a silver bell that comes off of the Santa’s sleigh. Before meeting Santa, the boy repeats these words several times out loud, “I believe…I believe…I BELIEVE!”. After so much skepticism, this boy comes away with so much faith, or belief, in someone he had only heard stories about. There’s a song we sang this morning in worship called Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane, and the lyrics go as such.

“Bethlehem, He was born there, I believe, I believe.

Galilee, Jesus walked there, I believe, I believe.

Gethsemane, my Savior prayed there, on Calvary, He died alone
But the tomb, He left there, I believe, I believe…”

As much as we believe in the physical things in this life, no matter what they are, they will not take us or give us as much fulfillment as our belief in Christ. Belief in Christ, means that we believe in truth (which He is…2nd Thessalonians 2:13).

Belief in Christ is not something you can proclaim only when it suits you, when it’s most convenient or when everyone else is doing it. Belief has to be genuine, from the heart and intentional. He was born, walked His earth and died for us to allow everyone of us access to the greatest gift we could ever have. I believe that He gave up everything for me, and I try everyday to live and show that to those around me.

-Do we believe the stories and historical events that we grew up hearing about from our parents and grandparents as they read from God’s word?
-Do we believe in the God that we know sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we would be able to be with Him one day?
-Do we proclaim our belief in God as much as we encourage our children to believe in a magical being that rewards kids for being good one time a year?

Who has more of your belief and trust? Christ or the things of this world?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY-G5eHYGSc

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

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Reading Your Own Future…Oct. 26th

What if you could tell the future? To know what’s coming up, would that be a good thing or would you be uncomfortable knowing there might be something not so pleasant just ahead of you? We take each day in stride because we trust in God’s providential power. But what if God Himself were to tell us what was coming? To know the future all we would need to do was read a message from Him. If the finger of God were to write you a note on the wall, would you read it?

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “I can read the writing on the wall.” We use that statement King Belshazzar..to say we can see what’s about to happen. Not in a supernatural way, but that we can ‘read’ the situation. However, there was one man who really did see the hand writing on the wall. But for King Belshazzar, the message wasn’t very good (read Daniel chapter 5). Come worship with us on Sunday morning and we’ll give you a glimpse into ‘reading your own future.’

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, October 26, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Soldiers of Christ, Arise” – 647

What a great spiritual song of encouragement as we inspire one another to get up and get ready for battle. Not a war between political parties or individual ideologies, but a battle against the spirit of darkness (Ephesians 6). Notice verse 3 in this song and ask yourself, ‘Am I putting on the panoply of God?’ The FULL armor of God, not some of the armor, not most of the armor, but all the armor of God.

“In Moments Like These” – 239

Staying with the same musical key we’ll segue from “…You may overcome through Christ alone and stand entire at last.” …to… “In moments like these, I sing out a song, I sing out a love song to Jesus…” Being soldiers in the Lord’s army should give us excitement beyond compare. Why? Because we have a King who has already won the battle. He has given us a look into our own personal future.

“When My Love to Christ Grows Weak” – 350

How do you cope with struggles in life? When your faith is weak and your love for mankind, and for jesus in the gardenChrist, seems to be wavering where do you turn? This song will remind us of His suffering and will perhaps strengthen our own resolve. “When my love to Christ grows weak, when for deeper faith I seek, then in thought I go to Thee (Jesus, to the…) Garden of Gethsemane!” In the garden, poetically, “I walk amid the shades, while the lingering twilight fades.” If you were there with Him in the garden, you would “see this suffering, friendless One, weeping, praying there alone.” So for those of us who struggle in our love for mankind, and desire a stronger faith, perhaps we should go again (poetically) to the “Hill of Calvary…to the scenes of fear and woe.” Because, “there (we will) behold His agony as He suffered on the bitter tree.” After taking this journey in our mind, we will be ready to turn back again to our lives having learned the worth of pain and the power that comes in a full self-sacrifice.

“Sweet Adoration” – 253

A contemporary song we’ll sing during the passing of the collection plate that speaks of our adoration to God. Sweet adoration, glory, praise and devotion are what we should be giving to our God. During the ‘contribution’ we give our money…but how much of our life are we contributing to God? Let’s give Him our all so we can say, it is ‘the Divine One who reigns in our hearts.’

“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” – 538

We might not know the future events that will take place, but we do know what the future holds for God’s people. And knowing that we are His and He is victorious we have hope. Knowing that if we keep our hope (trust) in Christ and are ‘dressed in His righteousness alone,’ we’ll stand before His throne…faultless. Thanks be to God, we can read that handwriting on the wall.

“One Step at a Time” – no book

An older hymn written in the late 1800’s, we ask for Christ to walk with us one step at a time. In a world filled with terror and troubles, sickness and sin, we hold closest to the One who holds our future. That’s why we sing for patience in this first verse; “One step at a time, dear Savior: I can not take anymore, the flesh is so weak and hopeless, I know not what is before…” Though we know the outcome of this life, the promise that heaven’s mansions will appear, each day is still lived in uncertainty. Therefore we close our worship services with the following assurance…

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” – 463

“I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day…I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said, (Matthew 6:25-34) and today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” King Belshazzar was reading his future as the finger of God wrote it out on a plaster wall. And it wasn’t until Daniel told him the meaning that He knew what it said. Today, spend some time…Reading Your Own Future!

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Can a Christian Be a Thinking Person?…Oct. 19th

It was written in 1929 by Ernest Hemingway in the novel, A Farewell to Arms. A simple sentence that haunts mankind, “All thinking men are atheists.” The secular world would have you believe that faith in God is weakness and scientific ignorance.  Thinking mind

In a world that speaks with disdain toward God and elation toward self, what is a Christian to do? What can we say that will convince the ‘un-churched’ to reconsider their path of ungodliness? When we profess our belief in “…God created…”, the world dismisses this as ancient myth. But we believe in an intellectually superior God who shaped and formed the earth. Remember what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “They (unbelievers) are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of the hearts.”

Waterview welcomes Dr. Phil Thompson of Harding University on Sunday, October 19th. He will be presenting two classes and two lessons designed to answer the question, “Can thinking people believe?”

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, Oct. 19, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” – 162psalm 148

Built into a medley with “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah,” we’ll begin our worship together with these songs of praise. “All hail the power of Jesus’ name let angels prostrate fall! Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all…” Is Christ the Lord of your life? You make that decision, though your decision has no bearing on His royalty. He reigns! We will either follow Him or we will not. A foolish, deceived world will not, but rest assured, He is Lord of All!

“Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah” – 3

Taken from the 148th Psalm we’ll sing the scripture in this ‘psalm.’ Have you read it lately? If not, after we sing it you really should read it! His divine power is reinforced in His creation, everything praises Him. The question is…will you?

“We Saw Thee Not” – 342

Before the Lord’s Supper we’ll sing the first three verses remembering Christ’s death. Perhaps the power comes in the conclusion of each of these verses as we sing (twice for emphasis), “But we believe…”

“My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” – 582

Not an overly familiar song, but one which we need to understand and daily echo the chorus, “I need no other argument, I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died and rose again for me.” Do you have the faith to be able to not only sing these word, but believe them and live your life accordingly?

“O Listen to the Wondrous Story” – 496

Before our lesson we’ll sing this popular spiritual song written more than 100 years ago. The third verse is a great question to the listener as we sing, “Will you surrender to this Savior? To His scepter humbly bow? You, too, shall come to know His favor, He will save you, save you now.” Then the chorus resounds with a question and answer, “Who saved us from eternal loss! Who but God’s Son upon the cross? What did He do? He died for you! Where is He now? Believe it thou, In heaven interceding!”

“Trust and Obey” – 915

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His world, what a glory He sheds on our way…” You most likely know this song by heart having sung it for years. But often we are familiar with the first, second and last verses and have never fully learned the third verse. But this morning consider a line from this song which has implications on today’s lesson. “But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey.” So where are you in regard to laying your all on the altar. Or are you still trying to see if you can prove the delights of His love?

“Love Lifted Me” – 453

A rousing song as we part this morning. We will sing over and over the message of the chorus, “Love lifted me…” Do you find that living for Christ lifts your spirits? The child of God understands this ‘lift’ and finds comfort in his belief in a Savior. Though the world may think us to be ignorant or backward, we know where to look when we’re ‘sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore…’ Let’s not keep this story of salvation to ourselves. There is a dying world out there who desperately needs a Savior.

 

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Who Is Going to Win?

Several of my best friends are ministers in the Lord’s church.  Some have been in mission fields around the world while others have served the Lord stateside.

One of my best friends has worked as a missionary in Poland, Russia and most recently the Ukraine.  We have been friends since the late 1980’s and I’m honored to call Terry Harmon my brother.  Just recently Terry and his family moved back to the states where he currently serves the Lord’s church in Flagler, Colorado.  Each month Terry writes a bulletin article that is shared with that small congregation and, with his permission, today we all get the chance to read his thoughts about winning and losing…

“Every once in a while, when the kids are off to bed and there is a chance to sit down for a few minutes, I will turn on a taped game of some sporting event.  The advantage of this is that you can watch a 3 1/2 hour football game in about thirty or forty minutes.  If you fast forward through all the commercials, halftime entertainment and commentators remarks (between plays), you can watch the game so much quicker.  This is the reason I love to watch games that have been recorded.  There is, however, one slight drawback (although it doesn’t bother me).  Many times you already know the outcome of the game.

It has interested me for some time now, that while I may know who won the game, for those who are AT the game, siting in the stands, the outcome is still undetermined.  This is especially important when it is a really close game and the score goes back and forth.  Perhaps you can relate to this, sitting in the stands and thinking, “who is going to win?”  During these contest of skill, the camera will often zoom in on fans nervously watching the score board, trying to calculate whether or not their team has enough time to pull out a win.  The expression on these faces is often priceless.  Nervous and downtrodden at times, they can change to upbeat and excited at the moment their team overcomes.

A few years ago it dawned on me that our lives as Christians are really just like a ‘taped sporting event.’  It may not feel like it at times when our lives are beaten down by Satan’s attacks.  When situations test us and conflicts challenge our daily walk.  But we must remember, the outcome has already been set.  It just doesn’t seem like it as we face the struggles of life.  One of the greatest lessons we learn in the New Testament is that if we as Christians are faithful to the Lord until death…WE WIN!  The story has already been written, and God guarantees the victory.  So we just have to trust, obey and keep fighting until, ‘the race is run’.

Believe in God’s word and take comfort from reading I John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”  Also you’ll remember Revelation 7:14-15, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.”

Note the present tense of the verb in the last verse, “They (we) serve Him day and night…”  God sees all of this as it will happen in the future, but for us it seems so far off and distant.  We need to realize that there is really nothing to be nervous about and nothing to agonize over.  The bottom line is, if we stay faithful with the Lord, THE VICTORY IS OURS!  The story (the game) is already complete.”

Thanks Terry for the reminder that we should have courage and the faith to know the outcome is secure.  And of course…this also reminds me of the perfect hymn:

“Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise.  And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.  Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled;  Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.  His banner over us is love, our sword, the Word of God; We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod.  By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on, over every field; The faith by which they conquered death is still our shining shield.  On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array.  Let tents of easy be left behind and onward to the fray.  Salvation’s helmet on each head and faith all girt about the earth shall tremble beneath our tread and echo with our shout. Faith is the Victory!  Faith is the Victory!  O glorious victory that over comes the world.  (NOTICE THIS LAST VERSE)  To him that overcomes the foe white raiment shall be given; before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heaven;  Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame, we’ll vanquish all the host of night in Jesus conquering name.”

FAITH IS THE VICTORY!

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Hear Me When I Call…

This morning a friend of mine passed away.  He had lived a long life, but unfortunately had struggled much during these last few months and years.  Without a doubt this gentlemen was an inspiration to me, and not to me alone.  His faithful spirit and gentle demeanor served as an encouragement to all you had the privilege of knowing him.  When I heard of his passing this morning, I cried.  Not because I grieved for his soul, or was unsure of his relationship with God; the tears came because I wasn’t ready to say ‘good bye’.  There were still things I wanted to say to him and memories I wanted to share, but during the early hours on Sunday morning (March 25th), in the warm embrace of his family he slipped away to be with his Father.  Perhaps it’s fitting that he died on a Sunday morning…certainly in time to worship around the Father’s throne.

It’s never easy to say good bye to those you care about; whether it’s the end of a family vacation and everyone has headed home, or if it’s the passing of a loved one who held a special place in your heart.  I guess you’d say I’m a bit sentimental, so ‘Good Byes’ have never easy for me.  And because of my sentimental nature, there are some songs that mean more to me as we consider the message (the words).  A song tends to reach into my heart in a way that the spoken word can’t.  I don’t think it’s the melody alone, but the melody coupled with the words that impacts my emotions like nothing else.  My friend had a favorite songs that was written in the early 1960’s and (though I’ve only come to know it recently), it has since become one of my favorites as well.  Written by Tillit S. Teddlie in 1962, this old hymn is sung as we speak to God asking that He hear us during times of distress and sorrow.  Notice these four verses…

“Hear me when I call, O God, my righteousness;
Unto Thee I come in weakness and distress.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer;
More and more I need Thy mercy and Thy care.
Clouds of doubt arise and faith grows weak and small;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my voice, O God, and cleanse my soul within;
Mercy doth I need for all my doubts and sin.
Only in Thy grace I trust my all in all;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.”

“Hear my prayer, O God, I need Thy cleansing power;
Let me feel Thee near each moment of each hour.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.”

It’s important for me to take this time today and reflect on the impact and friendship I shared with a brother who has gone on.  His smile and kind heart will remain in my memory for years to come.  He has inspired me to be more like Christ; never looking out for his own interest, but always for the interest of others.  The book of this man’s life has come to a close and the final chapter has been written.  He will be missed here on earth, but I know we’ll meet again, because our God does indeed ‘hear us when we call.’  Fred Epps, thank you for the lessons in life that you taught me through your beautiful, Christian example.  And thank you for showing me the kindness of your heart.  You were a wonderful and dear friend!

“Lord hear me, O hear me, Please hear me when I call…”

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Whose Side Are You On?

choosing sidesDo you remember, as a kid, being on the playground or in the park with your friends and choosing up sides?  I  remember my friends and I on the baseball diamond, putting together our teams.  The ‘captain’ (often self-appointed) would stepped in front of the line of eager athletes and begin his draft.  Each of us would eagerly wait for our names to be called to see whose team you would be on.  Without question, we all wanted to be on the winning side.  A captain who knew what to do would chose the fastest, strongest, and smartest players to be ‘on his side’.  I can even recall after a win saying, “If we didn’t have ____________ on our side, we would have lost.”  It’s important to put strong people around you, but how much more important is it to have the right captain?  Someone who knows how and what to do to win…

King David understood this principle and wrote about it in the 124th Psalm; “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side…”  The next eight verses need to be remembered, reread and reviewed again and again in our lives.

vs 1-5 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side, Let Israel now say,
Had it not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have engulfed us, the stream would have swept over our soul;
Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”

vs 6-8“Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; the snare is broken and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Debbie Dorman took this Psalm in 1998, added a musical score and, with the beauty of a melody, reminds us that God is our salvation.

“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side, had it not been the Lord who was on our side, the anger of the enemy would have swallowed us alive, Had it not been the Lord who was on our side.  Blessed be the Lord who would not give us up; Blessed be the Lord for His unfailing love; the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, blessed be the Lord.”

I want to be on God’s side, but that means I need to stay on His side.  We have a choice to either be with God or not.  He doesn’t make us stay, it’s our decision.  But remember, He is our captain and, if we obey and follow His Word, we win.  The enemy can’t destroy us or take us down.  Today you need to ask yourself, ‘Whose side am I on?”
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Peace…Be Still!

The storm was relentless in it’s attack upon the small boat, and the sailors fought desperately to keep her afloat. As the waves beat upon the vessel and the sea began to pour over the side some of the men began to fear for their lives. All seemed to be lost as the storm and the night began to swallow their hope. In final despair they turned to the only passenger who seemed unaware of the impending doom. As He slept in the stern of the boat on a small pillow, they called out, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

You most likely recognize this account from Luke 8 and Mark 5. The disciples of Christ feared for their lives as they crossed the Sea of Galilee. In 1874, Mary Baker captured this Biblical account in her hymn, “Master the Tempest is Raging”. Read Luke 8:22-25 and compare the text with this old song…

“Master the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o’er shadowed with blackness, no shelter or help is nigh. ‘Carest Thou not that we perish?’ How canst Thou lie asleep, when each moment so madly is threatening a grave in the angry deep?”

We can see the parallel in the hymn with the text, but look at verse 2 and 3…peace be still
“Master with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today; the depths of my sad heart are troubled; O waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep o’er my sinking soul; and I perish! I perish dear Master, O hasten, and take control.” The comparison of a life sinking without Christ is seen in similar despair as the 12 disciples fighting the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now take a look at the transition into verse 3…when Christ calms our storms.

“Master, the terror is over, the elements sweetly rest; Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored and heaven’s within my breast. Linger, O blessed Redeemer, leave me alone no more; and with joy I shall make the blest harbor and rest on the blissful shore.”

This hymn is a great encouragement to me, but without the chorus, we fail to see the application from the storm that rages, to the peace that Christ brings. Notice the chorus and see if you can see the same security I have seen with Christ in control.

“The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will; ‘Peace, be still!  Peace, be still!’ Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, or demons, or men, or whatever it be. No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey Thy will; ‘Peace, be still! Peace, be still!’ They all shall sweetly obey Thy will; ‘Peace, Peace, be still!’

In case you missed it…regardless of the storms; whether they be physical, spiritual, emotional, WHATEVER. None of these problems can take you down (sink your ship) as long as Christ is in you! There may be times you’re wondering if He cares; does He realize what I’m going through? This storm is rough. Rest assured, He knows and He cares. But if I’m not faithful to Him, He asks the same question he asked some 2000 years ago, “Where is your faith?” I guess the question we have to ask ourselves; is the Master of ocean and earth and skies inside my ship? If He is then take courage, be faithful to Him and realize He can calm the storm. Peace, Be Still!

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Biblical Songs

What makes one of the songs we sing on Sunday morning characterized as a Biblical song as opposed to one that would be considered un-Biblical (or as some have defined, a problem song)?  Is there some criteria or some sort of a ‘scale’ that we can use to determine our song choice?  Whether we like it or not, we need to be more diligent in sincerely thinking about what we’re singing and why we’re singing it.  Without debate a Biblical song/hymn would be one that can be found and supported through God’s word.  Let’s consider two songs that come almost entirely from scripture:

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
And with my mouth will I make know Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness.
And with my mouth will I make know Thy faithfulness to all generations.”

Psalms 89:1 reads: “I will sing of the lovingness of the Lord forever, To all generations I will make know Your faithfulness with my mouth.” (NAS)

This song was written by James Filmore at the turn of the century, but it didn’t find it’s popularity in church music until the 1960’s.  In 1983, the chorus became a regular addition in some of our hymnals.  Scripture based hymns can be found in surplus in many of the traditional and contemporary hymns. One of our long time favorites is, again, almost a direct quote, from the book of Psalms.

Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
“Hallelujah, praise Jehovah! From the heavens praise His name; Praise Jehovah in the highest; all His angels praise proclaim. All His host together praise Him, sun and moon and stars on high; Praise Him, O ye heavens of heavens, and ye floods above the sky.”

“Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise Him in the heights!  Praise Him all His angels; Praise Him, all His host!  Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, heights heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!” Psalm 148:1-4

This is only the first verse of a popular hymn written in 1893 by William J. Kirkpatrick. But as you investigate the Biblical accuracy of the hymn, you’ll find the 2nd and 3rd verses hold true to the words of Psalm 148: 5-12 with vs. 13 reserved for the chorus. “Let them praise the name of Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.” My hope and prayer is that you will continue to search out songs that are Biblical and sound when it comes to singing songs to God our Father. A song that is accurately supported through God’s word will draw us closer to Him as we give to Him our praise!

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Rock of Ages…

Have you ever sung a song and wondered what it was exactly did I just sing?  What does it mean when I sing, “…when life’s stormy billows roll…”?  I’m afraid to many of us sing without putting much thought into the words of the songs we’re singing.  Let’s consider a few words (and the meaning) of an old favorite hymn.  In 1776 Augustus Montague Toplady, an Anglican cleric and hymn writer, penned the words to one of our most remembered hymns.  He served for 14 years as a curator and priest within the Calvinist movement, during which time he authored several works of poetry that made their way into some Methodist and Calvinist hymnals.  Look at this old hymn, and investigate the words we’ve sung for years.

“Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;” From the scripture, it’s interesting to note the importance Moses placed on God has his Rock (Deuteronomy 32: 15, 18, 30-31) as did the Psalmist (Psalm 18:2 and 19:14).  Isaiah too (Isaiah 26:4) speaks toward God as our ‘everlasting Rock.’  Whether Toplady actually took shelter in a rock cave during a storm and from that brought us the “Rock of Ages”, or if he was referencing the text…he obviously knew (and today we sing) that God is our shelter in which we can hide and find strength.

“Let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power.”  But what about the ‘water and the blood’, ‘the double cure’?  John 19:34… “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”  Because of our Lord and Savior’s death on the cross, you and I have a chance for forgiveness from our sins.  The double cure is salvation from sin and the power sin can have over our lives.  Christ gave His live (shed His blood to take away our sins, to ‘cure us’ from the guilt and power of sin.

“Not the labor of my hands can fulfill the law’s demands;”  Toplady is reminding you and me that we can never do enough to make ourselves right with God.  It is through His grace and mercy that we come into His salvation.  Ephesians 2:8, 9 “For by grace you have been saved…not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

“Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, all for sin can not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone.”  What is zeal, for that matter, what is respite?  Toplady is tell the reader that you can’t be saved by your enthusiasm for God.  Your zeal is your excitement, energy and enthusiasm.  Respite means rest…if my excited never rested; or if my lamenting (sorrow) and my tears never stopped flowing, still that isn’t going to save me.  As a matter of fact, Toplady reminds us that work, excitement and emotion won’t save us…Christ (the Rock of our Salvation) alone is my only hope for heaven.

This hymn can be found in the Faith & Praise song book (page 454)

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Who Will You Follow?

In 1963, Little Peggy March recorded a song written by Franck Pourcel that many, if not all, of us have heard at one time or another.  Though this song was first recorded and release in Europe during the 1950’s; during the spring of 1963, it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  This made Ms March the youngest female artist to have a U.S. chart-topping single.  Its popularity resurfaced in 1992 when Hollywood featured it in the movie, “Sister Act”.  The song that enjoyed such early and recent success is entitled…”I Will Follow Him”.

As a child of God, a believer in Jehovah, we are called to ‘follow Him’.  Jesus said in Matthew 4:19, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  If you say you’re going to follow someone, to what extent do you (will you) follow them?  Too often we follow until the road gets too rough.  We don’t mind ‘going along’ as long as the way we’re going is easy.  But make the way unsteady or difficult and watch how many give up, sit down and stop walking.

So what does any of this have to do with singing?  When it comes to our songs of praise and edification, are we doing what God wants or what we enjoy?  Are we following His ways or our ways.  We can sing and not know what or why we’re singing, but is that ‘singing with the Spirit’?  I have declared both publicly and privately that I will follow Him, but that must also include my selection of songs, my understanding of songs and my devotion to singing songs.  Many men in our society today have determined singing is not masculine or macho.  Maybe we need to reconsider the difference between manly vs. Godly.  Personally, I would rather be a man that follows Him instead of a him that follows man…

I will follow Him!