Tag: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Posted on

The New Year’s Resolutions ‘Short List’…Jan. 4th

Have you taken the time to write down your New Year’s Resolutions? How many do you new year resolution cartoonhave on your list? Perhaps it’s short and to the point, a list of only three or four things you really want to do this year. Or maybe you are one of those ‘high achievers’ who has 10 or more items that you resolve to accomplish in the new year. Whether your list is short or long, we all have high expectations as to how we’ll do this year in keeping our New Year’s Resolutions.

But when you consider your list, what is the ‘one’ thing you most need/want to keep? One ‘resolution’ that takes precedence over the others on your list, a ‘short list’ to focus on. King David wrote in the 27th Psalm, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek (keeping a resolution): That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…” A basic resolution we might do well to keep. Come worship with us on Sunday morning as we consider ‘the New Year’s Resolutions… ‘Short List.’

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

Sunday morning, January 4, 2015

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

sing praise to God...Psalm 105“Step by Step” – 15

Begin each morning singing praises to God. “O God, You are my God and I will ever praise You!” Even if you think you can’t ‘sing out,’ I encourage you to put a song in your heart each and every day. Then again maybe we should check and see if singing praises to God is even on our list…

“Why Did My Savior Come to Earth” – 382

As we sing before the Lord’s supper we ask each other a simple question; “Why did my Savior come to earth…?” Do you know the answer? Was it out of compulsion, or just one of those things on His ‘to do list?’ Was it out of pity because mankind is such a miserable lot? Or maybe He came because He didn’t have anything better to do? As we sing the chorus (or read the Bible) we find the answer. Why did Jesus drink the bitter cup…why on the cross be lifted up? Because He loved me so!

“Gentle Shepherd” – 845

This is a contemporary hymn we sing to our Savior, our Shepherd. Notice we are seeking guidance as we sing this hymn, this prayer; “Come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way. Come and feed us, for we need Your strength from day to day.” Considering your New Year’s Resolutions…are either of these listed there?

“Til My Faith Becomes Sight” – 836

Bread of Life, Living Water, Lover of my soul…these are three descriptive characteristics we give Christ as we sing this song written less than 25 years ago. “…I will keep my eyes on You till my faith becomes sight.” We’ll sing it, but will keeping our eyes on Jesus be found on your short list of resolutions this year?

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” – 589

A song that dates back to the late 1880’s is one that reminds us all that we should live this life close enough to God that we can lean on Him. But do we think that way? Do we have fellowship in Christ, do we walk with Him, do we find peace with Him…are we leaning on Him? As we are “leaning on the everlasting arms,” we have nothing to fear or dread. And, if the truth be known, if we lean on Him we’re keeping part of that ‘short list.’

“Bring Christ Your Broken Like” – 911

Without fail the majority of us are bound to break our New Year’s resolutions before the spring thaw. Just like those broken New Year’s Resolutions, we slip up in life (we sin), and our life is ‘broken.’ We have a tendency to get ourselves wrapped up in work or play and find it easy to quietly walk away from ‘the house of the Lord.’ Not that we despise our God or His family, but we lose focus on our priorities. We’re too tired, too busy, too distracted to keep our resolutions. Maybe we should focus on the short list. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

“I Want to Be Ready to Meet Him” – 604 & “The Glory-Land Way” – 535

We’ll sing this closing song/medley to help remind ourselves of His return. Notice the third verse and the transition in the medley; “There is one thing I can boast of, salvation from the fall (Hebrews 3:6). I’m an heir to wealth and glory, my Father owns it all. That is why I’m shouting happy and go at His command, for I want to be ready to meet Him in the glory land…I’m in the way, the bright and shining way, I’m in the glory-land way.” When we live our life so that we’re ready to meet Him, then we’ll be so much closer to keeping ‘The New Year’s Resolutions…Short List!’

Posted on

Faded Memories…but Eternal Fellowship!

College days in the small west-Texas town of Lubbock seem like a life time ago. But the memories created with that group of men and women on that small campus will be etched in my mind forever. The Acappella Chorus under the direction of Dr. Wayne Hinds was my main stay for four years. Studying in the Education Department with Dr. Joyce Hardin, and the Bible Department with Dr. Leon Crouch seem like a memory of days long ago at ‘good ole LCC.’ But there was another group that captured a good share of my time on this campus. A group of men who shared a unique fellowship together; a social club by the name of KOINONIA. We were proud of our club and the legacy we shared. On our jerseys and on our Koinonia...1985pledge badges we worn the Greek name for fellowship. We understood the definition to be simply, ‘Christian fellowship (sharing mutual interest) or communion with God.’ And that was our objective, our goal… communion with God and with one another.

But now those old shirts have faded, and the miles have come between many of us. And unfortunately, the fellowship for many of us has failed too. Some, have left the faith they once cherished while others, after re-examining their belief, lost the ‘shared mutual interest’ of other Christians. Yet for those of us who still hold fast to a true communion with God and His people, will forever trust Him and follow the pattern set forth in His Word. We have maintained a walk with Christ that doesn’t turn to the right or to the left (Deuteronomy 28:14); a narrow walk with Him (Matthew 7:14).

Unfortunately, some assume since this walk is narrow and there’s not much give (turning from side to side) that they’re alone and walking without support. A feeling even Elijah felt in I Kings 19, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of host; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left…” With desperation staring him in the face, Elijah was certain his ‘fellowship’ was gone. But we must never forget that we have an enormous cloud of witnesses who have passed ahead of us. There is a fellowship of believers who walk daily in the truth of God’s word. But even if there were no other hand to hold, no other strong arm to lean on…we have fellowship with Christ. I John 1:3 provides the basis of our assurance; “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

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

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

FELLOWSHIPWhere is your fellowship? Who will you lean on during the dark days of dread? This world may offer you some fond memories and deep treasures, but never lose the ‘mutual interest’ of the One who can make your life worth living. Find KOINONIA with the Father and with Christ’s church. Look to Him, and never be alone.