Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Explanation of Song: Written by the “singing evangelist”, Knowles Shaw (1834 -1878), “I Am the Vine” is a hymn based on the picture of the Lord as the Vine and His followers as the branches. Because of his musical talents, Shaw often sang this hymn and others at his revival meetings. “I Am the Vine” shows Shaw’s commitment to putting the words of the Saviour in the forefront of his writings as much of the passage in John 15 is paraphrased in this hymn. Shaw wrote many other hymns including his most well-known song, “Bringing in the Sheaves”.

Application: Recently, I was listening to a message by my cousin, a pastor in North Carolina. He made a statement that really made me stop and think. He said, “Jesus bids us to ‘Come as we are’, but He doesn’t want us to stay as we are.” I had to really chew on this because I had to ask myself, “Am I a stagnant Christian? Have I come to Christ and only gone so far before settling down, content with my relationship with God, and going no farther? Is that what Jesus wants of me, or does He desire more?” The answer was not difficult to find. Time and time again, I’ve read verses about the importance of my life being transformed in Christ, and that requires continual growth, not stagnation.

Romans 12:2 states, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Jesus has a plan for my life, and Jeremiah 29:11 confirms this, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” But Jesus will never force His will upon me. Even as a child of God, I still have free choice of what I’m going to do with my Christianity.

So the question becomes ‘How do I genuinely transform my life into what God wants?’ Ephesians 4:23-24 instructs me, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” I know that I’ve become “a new creature in Christ Jesus” (2 Corinthians 5:17) upon salvation, but being a thriving Christian involves so much more, and I need to be in a continual state of growth in my faith so that I can be all that my Saviour desires of me.

Colossians 2:7 teaches that I must be, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” John 15 recounts Jesus’ analogy of the vine and the branches. Verse 4 records Jesus’ words, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” I have a dogwood tree that I planted over 15 years ago. It has many small branches, but for years produced no flowers. Approximately five years ago, it began to produce one or two flowers annually until finally this year, it had many beautiful blossoms! Perhaps I am like the branches on that tree. I am but a small branch that yields fruit only now and then, but not the bounty that could be possible! While I am most assuredly a branch attached to the vine, I have much more growing to do myself before I can produce more fruit to the glory of God! I need to become a bigger, stronger branch!!

So, how do I do that? I must do as Paul instructed Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). My contentment must give way to activism, where I immerse myself more and more into the Scriptures and diligently attend to what the Holy Spirit is teaching me through His Word.  

As a tiny branch, I have feasted on the milk of the Bible as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” It is time for me to completely yield myself to the Husbandman, my heavenly Father, as He prunes, cultivates, and nurtures me through His Word, so that I can grow bigger and stronger and hopefully produce a bumper crop of fruit for the Lord!

Jesus reminds me in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And in Psalm 19:7, I am promised by God, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The key to my growth is found within the pages of my Bible! It’s time for this branch to grow!!

Memory Verse: “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” – Psalm 119:103

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What are the signs in your life that support either your faith’s activism or its stagnation?

2. If you find yourself stagnant in your Christian life, what steps can you take to change that?

I am the vine, and ye are the branches,
Bear precious fruit for Jesus today;
The branch that in me no fruit ever beareth,
Jesus hath said, "He taketh away."

Chorus:
I am the vine, and ye are the branches;
I am the vine, be faithful and true;
Ask what ye will, your pray'r shall be granted,
"The Father loved me, so I have loved you."

Now ye are clean, thro' words I have spoken,
Abiding in me much fruit ye shall bear;
"Dwelling in thee, my promise unbroken,
Glory in heav'n with me you shall share." [Chorus]

Yes, by your fruits the world is to know you,
Walking in love as children of day;
Follow your Guide, he passed on before you,
Leading to realms of glorious day. [Chorus]

(from “I Am the Vine”by Knowles Shaw)

Scripture: “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” – Proverbs 31:25

Explanation of Song: “Faith of our Mothers” was written around 1920 by Arthur Patten as a gentle, loving counterpart to the hymn, “Faith of our Fathers”. Patten’s hymn highlights the nurturing faith and spiritual legacy of our mothers and was a tribute to Mother’s Day.

Application: The Bible gives us several examples of mothers in both the Old and New Testaments as well as half of a chapter of Proverbs dedicated to a mother. Each biblical mom is remembered for her dedication to her child and the Lord. Here are four mothers of Scripture that really touch my heart.

• Jochabed – Moses’ mother protected him from harm.
  • “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” – Exodus 2:2
• Hannah – Samuel’s mother dedicated him to the Lord.
  • “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” – I Samuel 1:28
• Mary – Jesus’ mother obeyed the Lord in raising His Son.
  • “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” – Luke 1:38
• Lois and Eunice – Timothy’s grandmother and mother passed on their faith to the young boy.
  • “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” – 2 Timothy 1:5

A mother isn’t necessarily the biological female who gave life to a child. It is that special woman who loves, nurtures, comforts, disciplines, guides, and provides for a child, regardless of the circumstances. My mother was all of these, but the greatest word to describe my mom would be sacrificial. While she didn’t come to Christ until she was 64 years old, she did have a few qualities that remind me of these biblical moms.

Like Jochabed, my mom protected me from harm. She gave me shelter, safety, and guidelines to follow to keep me safe. Like Hannah, my mom made much of my clothing by hand. I remember her telling me once that she had made twenty little outfits for me when I started kindergarten. And while she was not in a place to teach me about Jesus, she did support my desire to attend a local church regularly. So, in her own way, she was a bit like Mary, Eunice, and Lois, by allowing me to explore my faith, discover Jesus, and trust Him as my Lord and Saviour at a young age.

My childhood was not perfect, but I know without a doubt that my mother sacrificed a lot for me. I am sure she had dreams for herself as a young woman, dreams of a happy home and family, but as it is often said, “Life happens,” and those dreams were put on hold, never to come to fruition for her. Sometimes adult children never know the struggles that their moms faced in their own lives as they sacrificed for their little ones.

My mom went through more than I could ever imagine. She survived the first atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan, and then endured intense prejudice when moving to America in the early 1950s. When I look back, I see the sacrifices she made for me… some that were undoubtedly very difficult for her, but I never remember hearing her complain. As a child, I didn’t understand all that she gave up, but as an adult, I marvel at her selflessness and all-encompassing love she had for me.

Today, in honor of her memory, I write this blog. In my heart, my mother is the Proverbs 31 woman. She had an incredible strength to persevere, which Proverbs 31:25 addresses, “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” I am grateful for all she did for me, but I rejoice the greatest in the knowledge that my mother finally accepted Christ as her Savior the year before she passed away. She became the woman in Proverbs 31:30, who discovered Jesus, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” In the end, my mother fell in love with Jesus. I remember her remarking shortly after her salvation that if everything that happened to her was to bring her to Christ, it was all worth it. That is her greatest legacy to me.

Happy Mother’s day, Mom. Thank you for all you did for me. I love you more than words can say, and I look forward to seeing you again one day!

Memory Verse: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” – Proverbs 31:28

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Sometimes, if you’ve had a hard childhood, it’s difficult to find the good in those years. But take a moment and try to remember a special memory you have about your mother.

Faith of our mothers, living still
In cradle song and bedtime prayer;
In nursery lore and fireside love,
Thy presence still pervades the air.
Faith of our mothers, living faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our mothers, loving faith,
Fount of our childhood's trust and grace,
Oh, may thy consecration prove
Source of a finer, nobler race;
Faith of our mothers, loving faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

(from “Faith of Our Mothers”by Arthur Bardwell Patten)

Scripture: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6

Explanation of Song: Haldor Lillenas began to write gospel songs in the early 20th century. He established the Lillenas Publishing Company in Indiana and published many of his own hymns and songbooks. His publishing company was eventually purchased by the Nazarene Publishing House in Missouri where Lillenas became its manager. Prior to starting his company, Lillenas wanted, but could not afford, a piano. He ended up buying an old organ for $5. On this instrument, he composed many hymns, including his most well-known, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”. Prior to the song becoming famous, he sold it for $5… just enough to cover the cost of the organ!

Application: Many Christians understand that they are saved by grace, but it seems to end there because their “after salvation” perception of God appears to be of One ready to dispense harsh judgment upon any believer who falls short of His righteousness. In fact, in the mind of many Christians, God’s grace seems to transform into an unconscious legalism for the saved by many believers.

With this type of thinking, guilt and shame accompany any sin in which a Christian becomes involved, and subsequently, help is not sought of anyone in the church for fear of additional judgment. What the saved often seem to forget is that God’s character does not change toward us when we become saved; He doesn’t exchange His grace for punishment. God is always gracious, and we can always go to Him without fear. Hebrews 4:16 states, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we begin to rely on what we do or say to win God’s favor and to hold back His hand of punishment, we have replaced His saving and sanctifying grace for our own works. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly responds to that line of thinking, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Remember, Christians are not perfect once saved, they are in a constant state of restoration and renewal as it states in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” God’s Word affirms this in Philippians 1:6 in that we are His work in progress, which will NOT be completed until we are with Him in heaven, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Lamentations 3:22 reminds us, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” If we all had to be perfect to be with God, not one of us would ever enter heaven, but God graciously works to make us more aligned to His beloved Son. When we stubbornly insist on our own way, His mercy is there instead of the thunderbolt of judgment many seem to feel God holds. What He does give us is His unlimited compassion and love.

Lastly, we should also be willing to extend that same grace to others in the family of God. As Jesus said to the religious leaders in reference to an adulterous woman in John 8:7, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  God’s grace is continually available to each one of us in our daily walk. When we sin, God is always ready to forgive; He does not stand ready to throw that scalding thunderbolt our way! No matter how many times we fail Him, He waits for our repentant hearts to come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. We must do the same to others as He does to us – forgive, love, restore. We are called to be the reflection of the Saviour to our brothers and sisters in Christ. After all, if Jesus could do that for us, shouldn’t we do the same for others?

Memory Verse: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;” – 1 Corinthians 1:4

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient for us?

2. Why is His grace so difficult to accept?

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

(from “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”by Haldor Lillenas)

Scripture: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32

Explanation of Song: “O God of Truth” was written by Thomas Hughes in the 19th century. The hymn focuses on truth and the social responsibility of fighting for that truth. He writes that as Christians, our lives should embody the godly truths found in Scripture.

Application: What is truth? Seems like a simple question, doesn’t it? But if I were to ask 5 people to share their definition of truth, there is a great possibility that I would get 5 different answers! Even when researching “truth” on the internet, there are many different types of truths.

Where can I go to find the “real” truth? First of all, according to my research, there is no “real” or absolute truth. Instead, there are multiple kinds of truths. There is objective truth and subjective truth. The first is truth that exists independent of personal beliefs, and often can be verified by science, but not necessarily all the time. The latter is a truth based on personal feelings or experiences… yours or mine may differ, but that’s okay. A third truth is that which is based upon cultural norms, which poses a slight problem as the culture in America is vastly different from that in China or the Middle East. A fourth truth is analytical, which is based upon the definition of something, so if my definition is not the same as yours, well, we have a problem. And lastly, there are synthetic truths which are true depending on observations, which immediately reminds me of the story of the blind men each describing their observations of the elephant.  

Truth is no longer black and white in our world. It is relative, that is, it depends on a multitude of variables. Therefore, there seems to be no absolute truth – one that stands on its own  merit, cannot be adapted to fit specific scenarios, and cannot be argued or changed. But there actually is!

Biblical truth is that truth that is absolute and unchanging. It is the truth that originates from God alone, and it is revealed in the Scriptures. It is authoritative, not suggestive; it is eternal and unchanging. Psalm 119:160 tells us, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” There is nothing that is errant in God’s Word, and as much as mankind tries to prove it wrong, the Bible stands true, and here is what its truth declares.

• We have a Saviour who is truth. John 14:6 records His words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
• We have God’s Word that is truth. John 17:17 states, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
• We have a heavenly Father who is truth. Isaiah 65:16 states, “That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.”
• We have His Spirit who is truth. John 14:17 explains, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
• We have a gospel that is truth. Ephesians 1:13 proclaims, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

It is only by knowing truth that you can identify lies. When truth is subjective, the same must hold for lies. However, with absolute truths, lies are exposed for what they really are. The truths of Scripture are not subject to public opinion, cultural norms, or scientific study. They are God’s truths, and they are eternal, absolute, and unchanging. They are the standard by which we can measure the false information and lies that the world offers. Only God’s truths can offer a life of certainty and security, and that life can only be found through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse: “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.” – Psalm 119:30

Stretching your thoughts:

1. How important is it to you to have a foundation of truth that is absolute?

2. How does a truth that is relevant and subjective impact your life?

O God of truth, whose living word upholds whate’er hath breath,
Look down on thy creation, Lord, enslaved by sin and death.

Then, God of truth, for whom we long, Thou who wilt hear our prayer,
Do thine own battle in our hearts, and slay the falsehood there.

Yea, come! Then, tried as in the fire, from every lie set free,
Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us, and we shall live in thee.

(from “O God of Truth”by Thomas Hughes)

Scripture: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” – 1 Timothy 2:8

Examination of song: Cleland McAfee was one of the sons of John McAfee, one of the founders of Park College in Missouri. As the college preacher and choir director, Cleland often wrote songs for the choir that were aligned with the week’s sermon. He wrote this hymn “Near to the Heart of God” in response to the sudden passing of his two young nieces from diphtheria. That week, the choir sang the hymn in front of the quarantined house and then again the following Sunday morning at the church’s communion service.

Application: It’s not unusual for something to happen to disrupt my prayer time. It could be a phone call, a drop-in visit from a granddaughter, or a nagging kitty who demands attention. Needless to say, there is great wisdom in finding a quiet place to spend some alone time with God. Matthew 6:6 offers a suggestion of where to pray, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

Oddly enough, I have found my “closet” to be in my car while I am driving! Even though I am aware of the traffic around me, I find that when I play soft instrumental hymns as I drive, I can easily talk with my heavenly Father. The conversations we have had in my car have been life-changing, and I cherish my time with Him in my “quiet place”.

God doesn’t care where we pray; He cares that we do pray. The Bible gives several locations in which prayer has been made.

• Bed – “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” – Psalm 63:6
• Mountain – “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”  – Matthew 14:23
• Rooftop – “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:” – Acts 10:9
• Riverside – “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.” – Acts 10:9
• Prison – “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” – Acts 16:25
• Seashore – “And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.” – Acts 21:5

It truly doesn’t matter where we pray as we see in these examples. In fact, we can even pray inside of a fish… “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,” (Jonah 2:1)! Seriously, what is important is the attitude we hold in our hearts and the desire we have to communicate with the Lord. Wherever we find ourselves praying, God promises to be listening!

Memory Verse: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” – Psalm 55:17

Stretching your thoughts:

1. How important to you is spending “alone” time in prayer with God?

2. Where can you go for private time in prayer with God?

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

(from “Near to the Heart of God”by Cleland Boyd McAfee)

Scripture: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3

Examination of song: William Walford is remembered as a blind lay preacher, who memorized large portions of Scripture that he would use in his sermons. In addition to the Bible, Walford would “write” poetry in his mind, and on one occasion, he recited the words of this hymn to a friend, who transcribed the poem. It wasn’t until several years later that the poem, Sweet Hour of Prayer” was put to music by William Bradbury, the same hymnwriter who composed the music for “Jesus Loves Me” and “Just As I Am” and many other well-known hymns.

Application: Recent studies revealed that the average time spent in prayer daily by Christians ranges from 1-7 minutes. Finding time to pray does not come easy, as distractions commonly interrupt the intent to commune with God. However, the reality is that even though prayer is often taken for granted, every Christian needs to realize that there is divine power in prayer, and the privilege it is to avail ourselves of the opportunity to communicate intimately with the Lord.

Prayer can be done wherever, whenever, and however we want. God is always accessible; that’s a Biblical truth. Psalm 55:17 states, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Unfortunately, because of the ease of God’s accessibility, there is no urgency to pray. We pray when it is convenient, necessary, or expected.

But what if we couldn’t pray? What if God was only accessible periodically? What if, like Queen Esther, we had to wait to approach our King until He summoned us? And how would it feel to not be summoned for extended periods of time? Imagine what it would be like to have to wait for an unknown period of time to ask for God’s help?

Thank the Lord, none of those situations is how it is for Christians. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple, that separated the “holy of holies”, wherein was God’s presence, from the other areas of the temple, was torn in half from top to bottom. The significance of this event was that access to God was no longer reserved for the priests, but anyone could now come to God at any time. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” (Matthew 27:51). God bids us to come to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 has a very simple command, “Pray without ceasing.”

Take a moment to think about the One to whom we pray… the One who desires to hear our voices as it infers in Psalm 66:19, “But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.” It is the Creator of the universe, the One who spoke into existence the tiniest microscopic organism to the enormous planets and stars to everything in between, who desires to hear what is on our hearts. It delights Him when we share our hopes, fears, dreams, worries, questions, and whatever else we harbor within us with Him.

Prayer is essential in our practice of faith. Here are a few important reasons why we need to cultivate a passion for prayer.

1. Prayer helps us resist temptation.

• Jesus urged His disciples to pray to help them fight temptation.
• “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” – Luke 22:40

2. Prayer brings peace to our souls.

• Paul explains the necessity of praying for everything.
• “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

3. Prayer builds faith.

• Jesus teaches that seeing God answer our prayers helps our faith to grow.
• “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” – Matthew 21:22

4. Prayer brings us closer to God.

• David writes about the Lord and His greatness, and how God will hear the prayers of the righteous.
• “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18

5. Prayer engages God’s mercy, grace, and help.

• The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus understands all of our struggles in life because as man, He experienced them as well, and thus is ready to help us when we call out to Him.
• “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

6. Prayer praises the Lord.

• The Psalmist encourages us to praise God always and for everything.
• “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 150:6

7 minutes a day isn’t much, but just imagine what 15, 20, or even more minutes would do when you spend that time engaging the power of the almighty God in your life! Jeremiah 33:3 has often been called “the phone number of God”. Why not give Him a call, and then make a concerted effort to keep in touch with Him every day!

Memory Verse: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” – Hebrews 13:15

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What steps can you take to make your prayer life more meaningful?

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,  my soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

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!

(from “Sweet Hour of Prayer” by W. W. Walford)

Scripture: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” – James 1:17

Examination of song:  The author of this song is Alice Jacobs, but there is no biographical information available.

Application: I’ve read this verse many times, but today, one word captured my attention: “Every”. According to the dictionary, “every” means each individual component in a group taken collectively. So, “every” good gift means every single gift or blessing of which we are aware and every single one of which we are not aware.

The more I thought about this, the more overwhelming it was. Thing about it… every good gift from God includes the biggies… family, health, career, etc., but it also includes all the little insignificant things that are often overlooked. Things like the following:

• Hearing the song of a Carolina wren in the morning
• Balancing a checking account on the first try
• Receiving a compliment about my hair from a stranger
• The power staying on during a storm
• Not breaking a bone when your horse steps on your foot
• Getting a “thinking of you” card in the mail
• Finding a $5 bill in the bottom of my purse
• My first peony blooming

There are so many of these “good and perfect” gifts that God consistently gives all throughout the day, and it is so overwhelming to realize! Psalm 5:12 states, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” Imagine that! When God blesses, it indicates that He has found favour with me, and so often, I don’t even know it’s happening!!

A very old hymn, Count Your Blessings, tells me to number each blessing I’ve been given. That is virtually impossible to do because God’s blessings encompass EVERY good thing that God has chosen to bestow upon me. How can I even begin to recall every blessing when I often don’t even recognize when they happen? It truly staggers my mind when contemplating the true meaning of the word, “every” and how it relates to God’s goodness to me.

When I think of how God is responsible for EVERY good and perfect gift… not some, not most, but all of them, I can’t help but thank Him over and over and over. Giving thanks to God for every good thing I’ve experienced in my life would take an eternity. The good news is that with Christ as my Saviour, I’ll have an eternity to do just that!

Memory Verse: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

Stretching your thoughts:

1. When you think that God is the giver of every good thing in your life, what comes it mind?

2. List at least 10 “little” gifts that God has given you.

God is good to us, dear children,
God is good through all the year,
Gives us all our food and clothing,
Homes and hearths and loved ones dear.
He sent all the happy summer,
Show'rs and sunshine warm and bright,
Trees and birds and grass and flowers,
Strength and gladness, day and night.

God loves all who are His children,
Keeps them safely night and day,
Loves to see them glad and helpful,
In their work and in their play.
Let us sing a song, dear children,
To the praise of God above,
Sing a song of glad thanksgiving,
Thanks for all His wond'rous love.

(from “God’s Goodness” by Alice Jacobs)

Scripture: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

Examination of song: “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” is a traditional gospel song, most likely originating in the late 1800s.  While the author is unknown, it is thought to date back to southern African-American churches of the 19th century. Its known history begins in 1940, when Kenneth Morris heard a porter singing it during a train trip. He then published the song with some revision, and it was recorded for the first time in 1941.

Application: One of my ministries after retirement is cleaning my church. It gives me a couple of days each week to be busy, and I truly enjoy it. One of the areas I dust and vacuum is my pastor’s office. Nearly every time I am there, I see my pastor sitting at his computer doing research for the messages he plans to preach to our church. His Bible is always open, and occasionally a reference book or two is as well. I mention this because my pastor is very learned in the Scriptures, and he has degrees from Bible college and seminary that attest to his years of study. Yet even though he has acquired all this knowledge, he still studies the Word of God continually to learn more and more about the Lord and to seek His guidance in shepherding his congregation. I share this not to praise my pastor (he would never like that!), but to emphasize that even those who have studied the Scriptures for years still need to cultivate their faith continually through an ongoing commitment to studying God’s Word on a regular basis. That is how to have a closer walk with Jesus, and we all should do likewise.

Deuteronomy 4:29 states, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” James 4:8 reiterates that action is required on our part to draw closer to God, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Notice that both of these verses speak to a process that we initiate. We make the first move that draws God as close to us as we want Him to be.

Psalm 63:1-2 states, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” Seeking God goes beyond sitting in a Sunday school class or worship service once or twice a week, and it’s applicable to everyone – whether you’ve been actively serving God in a ministry for years or a new convert. Think back to a time when you really cared about someone. Maybe a spouse or close friend. The key factor in getting to know that person was to spend quality time with them. It’s the same with God. We invest our time with Him in two key ways: prayer and Bible study. Prayer shares our heart with God; Bible study shares His heart with us.

“Daily walking close to Thee…” is part of the lyrics of this hymn. Want a closer walk with God? Take action daily. Pray and read His Word each day, and you’ll discover a walk with Jesus that is intimate, personal, and much more than you ever thought it could be! 1 Chronicles 28:9 promises, “If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee…”

Memory Verse: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” – Isaiah 55:6

Stretching your thoughts:

1. How would a “closer walk with Jesus” change your life?

2. What steps can you take today to make your walk with Him closer?

I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Thro' this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o'er, time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. [Refrain]

Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

(from “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” - author unknown)

Scripture: “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11

Examination of song: Carl Roberg was 26 years old when he wrote a poem entitled “O Mighty God”. It was published in his home country, but then forgotten until he heard it years later being sung to an old Swedish melody. Still, the poem, now a song, did not become well-known until years later. When it was heard by Stuart Hine, a missionary in Russia, he wrote additional lyrics. Eventually, it was brought to America after being heard by Dr. J. Edwin Orr, an American minister and hymnwriter, and gained popularity through the Billy Graham Crusades in the mid-1950s.

Application: There is no doubt that our God is great. Psalm 145:3 states, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”  All throughout the Bible, we read of God’s majesty and His amazing works. One of the most incredible things about the Lord is that He doesn’t need anything to accomplish what He wants. He can simply use His voice to bring about His desires! Check it out!

The Power of the Voice of God

1. Creation

• “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” – Hebrews 11:3
• God’s voice brought everything into existence.

2. Natural events

• “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:39
• God’s voice controls all aspects of the natural world.

3. Sickness

• “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” – John 4:50
• God’s voice has the power to heal.

4. Demons

• “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” – Matthew 8:16
• God’s voice casts out demonic spirits.

5.  Death

• “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth…” – John 11:43-44
• God’s voice conquers death.

To know that the voice of God can do these things and so much more, how can we not exclaim, “My God! How great Thou art!”

Memory Verse: “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” – Psalm 33:8-9

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What has God done in your life that has caused you to cry out, “How great Thou art!”

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thru’out the universe displayed

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

And when I think that God His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim my God how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

(from “How Great Thou Art” by Carl Roberg)

Scripture: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

Examination of song: Helen Lemmel, the author of this hymn, loved music. As a child, she studied music with noted European teachers. Eventually, she married, but was abandoned by her husband when she became blind. Later, in 1918, she was given a small religious tract by a missionary going to Africa. When she read these words, “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him”, she was profoundly affected. Helen later wrote, “Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody.” In the following week, the words continued to echo in her mind, becoming the inspiration for the beloved hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.

Application: In our culture, athletes, celebrities, wealthy entrepreneurs, and social media personalities are often elevated to such heights that they are often followed by tens of thousands of individuals. Young people copy their hairstyles, fashion, mannerisms, and even thought processes, becoming self-cloned copies of these social icons. The individuals upon whose lives we focus on, tend to be what we emulate in our own lives. If our idol endorses a particular sneaker, we tend to wear those shoes. If our idol supports a particular political candidate, we tend to cast our vote for that person. If our idol lives an ungodly lifestyle, it becomes extremely difficult to live a life pleasing to the Lord because the tendency is to live as the one we hold in high esteem.

In order to live a godly life, we need to have a godly example. The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus is the One we should follow. Ephesians 5:1 states, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;” We focus on Christ in order to become more like Him. Colossians 3:10 reminds us that God is working in us to fashion us after the image of His beloved Son, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” But what exactly does the Lord offer that the world’s cultural icons cannot?

Here are five key reasons to “turn your eyes upon Jesus”.

1. Jesus offers forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

2. Jesus offers direction in life. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

3. Jesus offers perfect peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3

4. Jesus offers hope. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” – Colossians 1:27

5. Jesus offers a future. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” – 1 Peter 1:3-4

There is no one that can offer what Jesus can. He offers a personal relationship to anyone who chooses to place their faith and trust in Him, and a life filled with abundant joy. He alone is the One worthy of our attention, our focus, and our worship!

Memory Verse: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2

Stretching your thoughts:

1. What are some other benefits from “turning your eyes upon Jesus” that you have experienced?

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Thro' death into life everlasting, He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion-- For more than conqu’rors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you--He promised; believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

(from “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Lemmel)