Tag: My eyes are dry

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9-1-1 or 4-1-1?

Almost 35 years ago, a comedy hit the silver screen with the tag line, “Who ghostbustersya gonna call?” Most know the response as the title of the movie…”Ghostbusters!” If you have ghosts, call for help. But away from Hollywood, some 25 years earlier, the ‘Universal Emergency Number’ was established. You know that number as 9-1-1. A home invasion, a car accident, an injury or a threat on your life, any type of emergency would justify a call to 9-1-1. But when was the last time you picked up the phone and dialed 4-1-1? Do you know what you’d hear if you pushed those three numbers? This short, three digit number was established as directory assistance.

Whether you have ‘ghost,’ real-time emergencies or just need help finding some one’s number, we have an answer for that. But how often do we ignore the one who has all the answers and can assist us in any emergency. Do we take time to “call” the one who knows our needs even before we do? When life hits you with emergencies, and when you need ‘assistance,’ Who ya gonna call?’ Join us on Sunday morning as we ‘pick up the phone’ and make a call…though it might not be to 9-1-1 or 4-1-1.

 

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

Sunday morning, August 20, 2017

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

“Come Thou Almighty King” – 19

One of my favorite ‘Call to Worship’ songs is this plea we offer for God to come; help us, reign over us, bless us and descend upon us. Before we sing this last verse, notice what we’re saying…our highest praise we offer is to God, not just now, but forever (“Hence ever more…”). And as this verse concludes we ask one more request, “may we see His majesty in glory (heaven), and love Him and adore Him throughout all eternity.” You know…we’re opening our song service with a prayer.

“I Will Pray” – 840

When do you pray; at supper, in the morning, before you go to bed? Though we don’t sing this one very often, it is all encompassing hymn we sing to our Father. “Father, in the morning, at the noon and in the evening…I will pray!” Interestingly, the last verse proclaims we the idea that will pray from the beginning (birth) to the end (death).

“My Eyes Are Dry” – 792

What does it mean to have ‘dry eyes?’ We’re not singing about a medical condition, unless you talk about a hard heart. “My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, my prayers are cold…” Those are symptoms of a life that has forgotten who God is. But we sing this as a reminder that we don’t have to live with ‘dry eyes.’

“When My Loves for Christ Grows Weak” – 350

Follow the progression through this song. We’ve discussed it before (DATE), but let’s review. When my love for Christ is suffer, remember the garden where Christ prayed before His arrest. And as you recall that night, figuratively, ‘walk amid the shades’ and you’ll see that ‘suffering, friendless One weeping (Hebrews 5:7) and praying alone.’ But, when you ‘see’ a man distraught, but it doesn’t faze you (“When my love for man grows weak…”), then go to the cross, the Hill of Calvary. There, you will see the agony of the cross and the faith and love of Christ.

“Before the Throne of God” – No Book

During the passing of the collection plate, we’ll come “Before the Throne of God above…” We’ll sing it, but we’ll also talk about during this morning lesson’s. I wonder, would this song be a 9-1-1 or a 4-1-1?

“I Will Call Upon the Lord” – 63911

For the song before the lesson (9-1-1…), it’s fitting that we ‘call’ upon the Lord. Why? Because, “He is worthy to be praised…” Psalm 18:3

“Lord We Come Before Thee Now” – 797

Though not a typical ‘invitation song,’ we’ll follow the message of this morning as we sing/pray, “Lord, we come before Thee now…” We’ll sing verse 1, 3 & 4, but let’s save the second verse as the closing. Notice the wording, “Lord, on Thee our souls depend: in compassion now descend; fill our hearts with Thy rich grace and tune our lips to sing Thy praise.”

“Be With US, Lord” – 778

As we close this morning, we’ll sing a familiar ‘closing song’ but with a twist. Rather than singing in the singular (Be with ME, Lord) we’ll sing it in the plural. “Be with us, Lord we can not live without Thee, we dare not try to take one step alone. We can not bear the loads of life unaided. We need Thy strength to lead ourselves upon.”

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The Opportunity of a Life Time…September 1st

Some things only come around ‘once in a life time.’  We look forward to those opportunities when we can ‘make our mark’ or share some level of expertise that will effect that one-time, life-changing event.  So what would you do when that time comes?  Do you know when that moment will be?

marathon running training

Maybe we should ask, ‘can we prepare for that once in a life time event?’  How much training would it take to be ready?  Then again, you would need to know what to train for and how to prepare for that opportunity.  So consider this…what if someone asks you about Christ?  Could that be ‘the opportunity of a life time’ and would you be ready?

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

Sunday morning, September 1, 2013

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

doxology“Doxology” 66
“I Sing Praises” – 97

A simple medley that combines a traditional hymn (1709) with a contemporary hymn (1989).  The key signature is the same, but the message is what makes this a powerful duo.  As the congregation sings, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”, we continue with the assurance that we will “…sing praises to Thy name, O, Lord…”  A beautiful combination of praise to our God.

 

“Tell Me the Story of Jesus” – 387

Many have sung this old spiritual song their whole life (written in 1880), and we have heard the singer tell about Christ on the Cross.  But not just the cross, we also tell about the grave were Christ was ‘buried’.  Yet without the next line our song would come to a sad conclusion.  But then, as the Son rises, we sing, “tell that He lives again…”  (Notice, we are singing the gospel; the death, burial and resurrection.)  The third verse holds an emotional plea to, “…stay, let me weep while you whisper, ‘Love paid the ransom for me…”  Think for a minute, when was the last time you cried when you considered Christ’s sacrifice?

“My Eyes are Dry” – 792

Listen to the message from this rather recent spiritual song/hymn; “My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, my prayers are cold…”  A fearful situation to be sure, but how true is it for those who come together every Sunday morning?  How many just go through the motions of being a Christian and never take inventory of their spiritual well-being.  Without Jesus…we are lost.  We all need to be ‘softened up’ with the spirit of His love and ‘washed anew’ in His blood.  So…when was the last time you cried when you thought about His love?


“A Charge to Keep I Have” – 58
“People Need the Lord” – 660

Another medley we’ll sing before our lesson that combines the traditional (1832) with the contemporary (1983).  In a dangerously lost world, it doesn’t take much to see that people need Jesus.  And we, as children of God, have a charge, a responsibility to tell the world about Him.  We may realize, but do we care that, “people need the Lord?”

“I Love to Tell the Story” – 659

We talk about all the things we love in life, but before our lesson we’ll sing about ‘loving to tell’ the story of Jesus Christ.  You have certainly sung the song, but will you do what you sing?  Each of these verses are filled with the reason we should not only sing about our Savior, but look forward to telling others about Him too.  You can never tell when that ‘opportunity of a life time’ will come to you.words of life

“Wonderful Words of Life” – 543

Let’s stand and sing this familiar melody from the late 1800′s.  Not a typical invitation song, but the message couldn’t be clearer, “…sinner, list to the loving call,”  “Wonderful words of Life; offer pardon and peace to all…”  How eager are you to ‘Sweetly echo the gospel call…?”  You never know when someone might be ready to listen to those wonderful words of life.

“Will You Not Tell It Today” – 628

As we leave the auditorium Sunday morning we’ll sing the question that has be asked for generations, “If the name of the Savior is precious to you…will you tell it (the good news) today?”  But notice the ending to each of the three verses; “…will you not tell of your gladness today?”, “…will you not, my brother, the story repeat (the story of salvation)?” “…will you not tell them (the lost) the cheer-bringing word?”  If you’re honest with yourself, every day you have the opportunity of a life-time.