And Can It Be

Friday, July 7, 2017

When I was a teenager, I went to Christian camp every summer in Georgia. (I'd love to see that place now because I'm sure it isn't nearly as HUGE as I thought it was back then.) It had a "lake" where I learned to canoe, horseback riding, archery, crafts, etc.  My oldest sister, Lynne, was even a counselor there one summer. 

We had vespers every night in a big screened in pavilion where we would sing hymns and hear a message. One of the favorite camp hymns was, "And Can It Be." Everybody would sing it with such gusto. 

If you're unfamiliar with it, I'd say it's a pretty typical Charles Wesley hymn -- scripturally sound and full of strange "sentence" structure. 

The second verse is based on Philippians 2:7-8, the 3rd verse on Acts 12:6-8 and Acts 16:25-26 and the 4th verse on Romans 8:1 and Hebrews 4:16. 

And Can It Be

By Charles Wesley 

Published 1873

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]

Lord, How wonderful that we can confidently approach your throne because of Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven, our chains released, and our hearts set free. Thank you for your love!

Amazing Grace

Thursday, July 6, 2017

John Newton published the lyrics to Amazing Grace in 1779 in a hymn book that only had words and no music. Although no one is sure what it's original tune was, it is safe to assume that it was not our commonly sung tune, New Britain. In fact, these two were not published together until 1835. An earlier publication (1790) paired it with Hephzibah, for instance. And because of its common meter, it's possible that it was sung to any number of tunes in its early days. 

I find some of these a little comical, but I discovered references to these tunes for Amazing Grace's lyrics:

• While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
• Warwick
• I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
• Theme Song for Dallas
• The Water Is Wide
• Eagles: Take It Easy
• 1971 Coca-Cola Theme Song
• Theme to Gilligan's Island
• Auld Land Syne
• Hernando's Doxology
• House of the Rising Sun
• Londonberry Air (Danny Boy)

I think it's interesting that a powerful song like this can be sung to such frivolous music. But it's really kind of cool if you think about it. You send your child to camp and they come back singing Anazing Grace to some silly tune. But guess what? They memorized the words. And they'll likely never forget them because of their association to a familiar tune. That's a good thing. 

Lord, thank you for the lyrics to Amazing Grace   They are so powerful. And thank you for your grace which is so amazing. May we spread the word wherever we go. 

 

This hymn was one of my mother's favorites

I used to play the piano all the time. And my mother loved to hear me play from the hymnal. She would come in and say, "Play that one I like." I would play it and she would sing, looking over my shoulder at the words. She loved the Lord and she would close her eyes and sing this to him with all her heart.  

O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done?

Charles Wesley, 1742

O Love divine, what hast thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father’s co-eternal Son
Bore all my sins upon the tree.
Th’immortal God for me hath died:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Is crucified for me and you,
To bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
Ye all are bought with Jesus’ blood.
Pardon for all flows from His side:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Behold and love, ye that pass by,
The bleeding Prince of life and peace!
Come, sinners, see your Savior die,
And say, “Was ever grief like His?”
Come, feel with me His blood applied:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Then let us sit beneath His cross,
And gladly catch the healing stream:
All things for Him account but loss,
And give up all our hearts to Him:
Of nothing think or speak beside,
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

listen to the hymn here. 

This song is earily wonderful but I've always hated the fact that it leaves the audience hanging. Lest you read it and despair in the Lord's death, there is good news! He's alive! The grave could not hold him! He has risen from the dead! Praise His Holy name!

 

Independence Day

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

We didn't do much for Independence Day last year because mother just wasn't up to it and I think 2015 found us at a baseball game. But in 2014 we were able to go to Washington for a few days. We got to see a great parade. Two of the things mother liked a lot were the Air Force Band performance and the World War II Memorial. 

 

The Air Force Memorial is perched up on a hill looking out over Washington. The view of the city is spectacular and the fireworks were very wonderful. Prior to the pyrotechnics, however, the Air Force band performed several patriotic numbers which we all enjoyed tremendously. I think they were especially meaningful to mother since daddy had served in the military. The whole evening was delightful.  

We really enjoyed taking mother to the World War II Memorial because we like it so much. There is so much meaning hidden in it. And, of course, this was daddy's war so she appreciated it that much more. I wish he could have seen it. 

 

The most fun part of the whole trip was surprising mother with a visit to the Navy Memorial. Someone had given her a little two-inch replica of the sailor, but she had no idea there was a larger-than-life one waiting for her to "stumble across."

 

It was so very special for us to see her face light up when she saw this guy!

Independence Day. May we never forget the importance of our history and the price that is paid to keep us free. 

Lord, thank you for this magnificent country. Thank you for guiding our forefathers as they established our constitution. Thank you for the men and women who make huge sacrifices to protect us and our freedom. Most of all, thank you for Jesus Christ who delivers us from spiritual bondage and gives us eternal freedom. 

Praise, Thanksgiving, Peace

Monday, July 3, 2017

How do you respond to God:

• when your life is peaceful?
• when sorrows toss you around like a stormy sea?
• when Satan is after you?
• when you are aware of your sin?
• when you face death's door?

I suggest that we as Christians never forget to praise the Lord no matter the cirmumstances. 

We should thank Him for His mercy, grace and love. 

And we should truly be at peace knowing it is well with our souls. 

It Is Well with My Soul

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Chorus:
It is well
With my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Chorus

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Chorus

1. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
2. Chorus 
3. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
4. Chorus 
5. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.
6. Thank you, Lord, for this great hymn. We need its wisdom today. 

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 26

Sunday, July 2, 2017

 

If you love me,

keep my commands. 

John 14:15

This is pretty straightforward. 

One thing we need to remember, though, is that if we don't study His word then we won't know His expectations for us. 

The other thing we need to be mindful of is that anything but obedience is disobedience. 

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Why do we sing hymns?

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Is it just a Christian tradition to sing hymns or is there a Scriptural directive involved?  Let's see what we can find?

According to Colossians 3:16, we sing hymns from the Spirit to each other to teach and admonish; and we sing to God to show Him our gratitude. 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the first two verses of Psalm 40, David tells of the wondrous things God has done for him. Here is Verse 3: 

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭40:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Where does the hymn originate? 

   From God.

To whom is it directed?

   To God. 

For what purpose did he sing?

   So that others might believe?

(Actually if you read the verse in context with the verses before it, I think you'll see that is was the wondrous things that God did which caused others to believe. But look at Acts 16:25.)

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Then God caused an earthquake and all the prisoners' chains were broken. It was through the earthquake, the praying and the singing that the jailer came to believe in Christ. So God used the hymns as an evangelism tool. 

The same can be said for this verse in Isaiah. The song is the medium used to spread the story of the Lord. 

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So why do we sing hymns?

We sing songs from God, to God, about God, to teach each other, and to the world. 

There you have it. 

Lord, give us your song to sing. May we bless you in our singing.