Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Explanation of Song: Eliza E. Hewitt (1851-1920) wrote many hymns, including “Singing I Go Along Life’s Road” and “More About Jesus”. The words to “When We All Get to Heaven” came to her as she studied John 14. This is the chapter where Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to heaven to prepare a place for them, and one day, He will return to take them back to heaven with Him. While John 14:2 is clearly seen in the first stanza, many other passages of Scripture can be seen in the other three stanzas as well. Hewitt’s friend, Emily Wilson, added the music to the words of the song that became one of the most well-known hymns about heaven.

Application: Recently, I was thinking about heaven and what it would be like. Of course, we don’t have an exact picture, but there’s one thing of which I am certain. Heaven is going to be the most incredible place ever!

When I was outside walking, I was simply amazed by the natural beauty all around me. The trees were various shades of green; the sky was clear blue and dotted with white puffy clouds, and the flowers added splashes of vibrant colors here and there. A soft breeze could be felt, and the morning songs of birds echoed around me. As beautiful as earth can be, it most certainly will pale in comparison to the glory of heaven!

I must confess, with only a few descriptions of heaven in the Bible, my personal vision of God’s eternal dwelling place is not nearly as impressive as what I’ve seen traveling in this world. Revelation 21 speaks of jeweled gates, resplendent angels, and streets of gold, but in my mind’s eye, I find it hard to imagine anything more lovely than the natural beauty of places like Yosemite National Park, the Swiss Alps, or the fjords of Norway. At times, I wonder if heaven will be like the first few days in the garden of Eden, a place blessed by the actual presence of God, untainted by the ugliness of sin.

Then I remember that God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than mine, and even in my most imaginative dreams I couldn’t even begin to understand the splendor of heaven. Isaiah 55:9 states, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” It occurs to me that there would be no way I could even begin to fathom the glory of God’s dwelling place were He to put it in words for me. It is impossible because heaven is beyond my scope of understanding. Everything that I think is beautiful here; everything that amazes me in God’s magnificent creation is only a fraction of what my carnal mind can grasp in its sinful, mortal state. Trying to understand what heaven will be like is akin to trying to figure out God. It just cannot be done.

One day, I know my faith will become sight! Heaven will be more beautiful, more amazing, more incredible than anything I could ever imagine, but the best part will be that first moment when I actually see my precious Saviour, Jesus, my blessed Redeemer; I will be actually be in the presence of my God! Oh, what a moment that will be, and then when He walks with me, showing me the wonders of my heavenly home… “What a day of rejoicing that will be!”

Memory Verse: “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” – Revelation 21:23

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Are you confident that you will be in heaven? If not, please reply to this post. I’d be happy to show you from God’s Word how you can know for certain that you’ll be there one day with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sing the wonderous love of Jesus; sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions, bright and blessed, He'll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold.
Soon the pearly gates will open; we shall tread the streets of gold.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!

(from “When We All Get to Heaven”by Eliza E. Hewitt)

Scripture: “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” – Isaiah 43:4

Explanation of Song: Written by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Graham Kendrick, “My Worth Is Not in What I Own” is a contemporary song addressing the world’s tendency to measure self-worth by wealth and success instead of who we are in Christ. It was written focusing on the biblical truth of our identify in Jesus as being what defines us as opposed to our own accomplishments or conformity to cultural norms.

Application: Throughout my life, I’ve heard countless individuals state how flawed they are. Sadness echoes in their voices as they share their failures in life. Those indicators of value could be anything. Physical, financial, emotional, relational… this list goes on and on and on. Interestingly to note is that the feelings of unworthiness are often spoken of in a self-deprecating or joking manner, but there is most certainly underlying belief, and that is a huge tragedy when a person believes that their worthiness is linked to what the world perceives is important.

When Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden of Eden, He asked them a question. “Who told thee?” (Genesis 3:11) The answer, of course, was Satan, and unfortunately, Adam and Eve chose to believer the father of lies. The entire event of the fall of man centered around the decision to listen to someone else other than God.

This still continues today. Satan continues to speak lies to God’s children in efforts to destroy our relationship with our heavenly Father and prevent us from doing the work that God has for us to do, which is to lead others to Christ.

When we decide to listen to Satan’s lies that he speaks through the world, here is what we hear.

• Identity: “You’re not good enough.”
• Success: “You were a fool to chase that dream.”
• Relationships: “No one could ever love you.”
• Life: “It’s not a baby; it’s just tissue.”
• Immorality: “You don’t need to be married to have sex.’
• Failure: “You’ll never amount to anything good.”
• Truth: “Truth is relative.”
• Forgiveness: “God will never forgive that.”

This list is far from exhaustive. There are so many more lies that could be added to this list, and each one is easily refuted by Scripture. Consider those listed above, and see how God’s Word responds to each one.

• Identity – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” – Psalm 139:14
• Success – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” – Joshua 1:8
• Relationships – “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3
• Life – “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5
• Immorality – “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” – Hebrews 13:4
• Failure – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” – Psalm 37:23-24
• Truth – “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
• 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

In John 8:44, Jesus referred to Satan when He said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Satan will continue lying to us to accomplish his own evil agenda until he is finally cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10). Until then, no matter the situation, the individual, or the current cultural thought, you must consider the source of what you choose to believe. When your mind starts to casts doubts and your soul is unsettled on what you’re pondering or facing, ask yourself, “Who is at the root of what I am being told? The father of lies or the Father of truth?” Once you determine that, you can make your choice as to whose words you should believe.

So, the question to ask yourself is… “Who told thee?“

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

Stretching your thoughts:

1. When we choose to believe the lies the world speaks to us, who wins?

My worth is not in what I own, not in the strength of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love at the cross

My worth is not in skill or name, in win or lose, in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross

I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest Treasure, wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die, fame, youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us at the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might or human wisdom’s fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ at the cross

I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest Treasure, wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

Two wonders here that I confess, my worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed – my ransom paid at the cross

I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest Treasure, wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

(from “My Worth is Not in What I Own”by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Graham Kendrick)

Scripture: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Explanation of Song: Fanny Crosby was a prolific hymnwriter, and many of her hymns are known worldwide. “Rescue the Perishing” was written one night after Ms. Crosby was speaking to a group of workers. She felt as though there was one “dear boy” who had wandered from his mother’s home and teachings. She asked that that individual come see her after the service. It was then, she led that young man to Christ. That night, as she thought about “rescuing the perishing”, she wrote the entire hymn. Thirty-five years later, at another service, a young man approached her. He told her that he was the boy she had led to Christ years before, and how he had tried to live a consistent Christian life since then. He reassured her that if they never again met on earth, he would definitely see her in heaven. Ms. Crosby later said it was one of the most gratifying experiences of her life.

Application: There aren’t a lot of things we know about the life of young Jesus. However, what we do know is that Jesus valued the importance of doing His heavenly Father’s work. As He answered questions in the temple,  His knowledge amazed the religious leaders. With His expounding on each query, He was doing His Father’s work by teaching them of the spiritual truths in the Scriptures. When his parents finally found Jesus, He responded, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

As we grow in our faith, the Bible tells us that we become more conformed to the image of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us of this, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As such, we should also find ourselves “about our Father’s business” just as Jesus was.

What is the Father’s business? His work is two-fold. The first aspect of the Father’s business is to grow strong in our own faith, becoming more and more like Jesus. Romans 12:1-2 gives us our personal instructions. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.” To do this is multifaceted. First, we must immerse ourselves in the study of the Word of God. Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Next, we must also cultivate our faith through regular prayer, solid Biblical teaching, and fellowship with other believers as instructed in Acts 2:42. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Following this biblical formula equips us to move seamlessly into the next phase of work God has for us.

The second aspect of our Father’s business is seeking lost souls needing salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Jesus gave us our marching orders just before He ascended to heaven. In Matthew 28:19-20, we read what is now known as the “Great Commission” given to us by our Saviour. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We are to share the gospel with the unsaved, teaching them about Jesus, and helping them find their way to His marvelous gift of eternal life through the forgiveness of sins and the salvation He offers so freely.

Soon, the days will be accomplished when no more work will be able to be done for our heavenly Father. The trump of God will sound, Jesus and the archangel will shout, and we will be ushered into the presence of the Lord for all eternity as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 states. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” But many will be left behind.

The rapture of the church is imminent. We must all make a diligent effort to share the gospel and lead others to Jesus before it’s too late. Ask yourself, “Am I truly being busy about my Father’s work?” If not, why not start today?

Memory Verse: “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” – 1 Samuel 12:24

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Think back to the one who led you to Christ. Where would you be if they had not been doing God’s work?

2. Whom do you know that needs to hear about Jesus?

3. What is stopping you from sharing Christ with others?

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe. [Refrain]

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it—
Strength for your labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them,
Tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died. [Refrain]

(from “Rescue the Perishing”by Fanny Crosby)

Scripture: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” – Numbers 23:19

Explanation of Song: Arthur Luther (1891-1960) wrote “Jesus Never Fails” during one of his evangelistic services when he was 600 miles from home. He had received a telegram informing him of his son’s serious illness, and wrote the hymn in response to that. Feeling helpless to do anything for his son, he sat at a piano, where the music and words just came to him. It has been said that when Luther rose from the piano, he said,  “When I finished, a peace had settled over my anxious heart. I knew the God who never fails would find the answer and He did, for just then there was a knock at the door, and someone came with the news. Word had just been received over the telegraph wire that my son had passed the crisis, and all was well.”  As a minister and hymnwriter, Luther’s songs had the common theme of the faithfulness of Christ compared to the uncertainties of life, and his lyrics encouraged believers to place their full trust in the Lord.

Application: One of the biggest struggles I face in life is my tendency to worry. I worry about things that might be, those things over which I have little or no control. For example, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn’t worry about the cancer itself, I worried about how I would manage chemotherapy with my teaching job or what would my family do if I died? Worrying can be all-consuming at times, and it is definitely not a healthy state in which to be. In fact, when I worry, I tend to gravitate toward unhealthy behaviors to deal with my worries. Things like overindulging in sweets or staying up late watching old television reruns were temporarily comforting, but permanently frustrating because those bad habits simply piled another problem on top of my worries!

Wanting to be in control and knowing the future outcomes of all my problematic situations makes a perfect scenario for worry to consume me, and I forgot the most important truth in regard to worry. That truth is that everything is in God’s control. Nothing takes Him by surprise; in fact, nothing even happens to me that He doesn’t allow. Even the not-so-good things that happen in my life are allowed and used by God as He moves to have His purpose and plan for me fulfilled.

Here are a few things that often find their way on my worry list, and the reminder that Jesus has it under control.

1. Illnesses: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;” – Psalm 103:3

2. Finances: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

3. Relationships: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” – 2 Corinthians 5:18

4. Safety: “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” – Psalm 121:8

5. Death: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

The most important thing I must remember is that Jesus truly has never failed me. In every situation, the outcome has been in His control regardless of how much worrying I do! So how do I handle my tendency to worry? There is a remedy for worry, and that is to surrender all of those concerns to God. Here is what Jesus wants us to do when we find ourselves worrying.

• 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
• Psalm 55:22 instructs me to “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
• Philippians 4:7 states, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
• Matthew 11:28 records Jesus’ advice to me, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Being a worrier isn’t easy to stop. It takes continued effort and reminders to let God have those troublesome cares that threaten to overwhelm me. If you’re like me, there has never been a time when God has failed you. Never. Yes, there have been times in my life when the outcome was not that for which I had hoped, but in hindsight, I saw that God had indeed been working “all things together for good” (Romans 8:28), and the outcome was what was best in every single situation.

Lastly, there have been times when I haven’t understood the outcome, but those are the moments when I remember that He only wants the best for me. Jeremiah 29:11 continually reminds me that He has a perfect will and plan for my life. My responsibility as His child is simply to trust Him. Easy? Not at all. But I am His work in progress (Philippians 1:6), and fully trusting Him is just one more area of my life on which He is working.

Until then, I will keep trying to remember to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) By doing this, my worries will ultimately be replaced with God’s peace.

Memory Verse: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

Stretching your thoughts:

1. In what areas do you most struggle with worry?

2. What steps can you take to trust God with those specific worries?

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you, One who will not fail.

Refrain:
Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;
Heav'n and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails.

Tho' the sky be dark and drear, fierce and strong the gale;
Just remember He is near, and He will not fail. [Refrain]

In life's dark and bitter hour, love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting pow'r, Jesus will not fail. [Refrain]

(from “Jesus Never Fails”by Arthur A. Luther)

Scripture: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:11

Explanation of Song: Isaac Watts (1674 -1748) is a writer of several well-known hymns, including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World”. He served as a pastor in England, and during this time, most churches were singing the psalms of the Bible, and as such, his hymns were criticized for deviating from the traditional singing of the Scriptures. In 1712, Watts suffered a breakdown due to the controversies over his hymn writings, and he asked to discontinue his pastoral duties, but his church refused to accept his resignation and hired an assistant pastor to help with the duties of pastoring the church. In 1715, Watts went on to eventually write a book of songs entitled, “Divine and Moral Songs for Children”, which contained the song, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”. The book sold 80,000 copies the first year and has continued to be sold ever since.

Application: Lately, I’ve been thinking about the enormity of God. Not in size, but in intelligence, power, and of course, love. It is impossible to grasp the comprehensive nature of God because we tend to comprehend new things through the lens of old things… things we have already figured out. For example, I can understand the intellect of a genius because I am familiar with the intelligence of students I have taught as well as my own ability to think and reason. Background knowledge helps us assimilate and process new information as we go through life. But understanding God? Nope. I cannot do that with Him. My divine background knowledge is limited to only what I read in His Word. I have nothing else with which to grasp how great God truly is.

His Intelligence

1 John 3:20 states, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” God goes way beyond “genius”. He knows everything! Matthew 10:30 states, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” How does God know how many hairs there are on my head? Not to mention, the hairs of the other 8+ billion people on the planet!

Psalm 50:11 states, “I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Think about the scope of this verse. God knows ALL the birds and wild beasts! Not just the types of them… every single one! Matthew 10:29 tells us that He knows when one sparrow “falls on the ground.” There are over 1.5 billion house sparrows alone! Yet God knows when each one dies.

Psalm 147:4 states, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” Years ago, I took an astronomy class in college. Learning the names of stars and constellations was overwhelming for me, and that was before the Hubble telescope! Today, astronomers estimate there are over 200 billion trillion stars that are observable! Who knows how many there are that we’ve yet to find a way to view, yet God knows EACH one and has a name for them!

We can easily say God is omniscient, but in truth, this all-knowing characteristic is beyond our ability to grasp.

His Power

Take a look at the creative process for a moment. God created all things. We take that by faith, but consider this. He created everything simply by speaking them into existence. Psalm 29:4 records, “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” We read of the power in His voice in Mark 4:39 when Jesus spoke, “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.”

Matthew 8:16 tells of another occasion when the power of God’s voice was seen, “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:” Perhaps one of the most spectacular vocal miracles happened in Bethany when Jesus demonstrated His power over death. “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44).

God is truly omnipotent, but realizing the scope of His power is unattainable in this world.

His Love

Lastly, the everlasting love God demonstrates to this world is beyond understanding. Historically, we see humanity basically rejecting God again and again, embracing sin and ungodliness without batting an eye. Yet, God continues to love us. In fact, He loves us so much He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him that requires virtually no effort on our part. Simply an acceptance of what He chose to offer. God did for us what we could never do for ourselves. Our sins are erased by the blood of Jesus, God’s beloved Son, who took the punishment we all deserved. Through the death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus, God in the flesh, became the Saviour of the world.

God reached down to man with the gift of forgiveness and salvation through Christ’s supreme sacrifice, fully knowing He would experience rejection, mockery, and hatred from His precious creation. Why would He do that? He did it because He loves us. Period. We cannot grasp the vastness of His love because we are unable to experience that kind of love ourselves. Not one individual in all of mankind can offer that kind of love. It is the love of God alone.

This is only a tiny glimpse into the awesomeness of God. I cannot even begin to comprehend these qualities of God, and there are so many more… His mercy, His grace, His holiness… the list goes on and on. One day, my faith will become sight and maybe, just maybe, I’ll begin to understand who God really is and why He loves me so very much. Until then, I will simply accept and rejoice that I have a loving heavenly Father, a blessed Saviour, and a promised future with Him in heaven.

God is simply too incredible to fully understand, but then, that’s what makes Him God.

Memory Verse: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” – Psalm 139:6

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Take a moment to just sit and think about the enormity of our God and the truth that HE knows YOUR name and created you for a purpose.

2. How do you feel knowing that God, the Creator of all things and the One who sustains the entire universe, knows you intimately and loves you with an everlasting love?

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, that filled the earth with food.
He formed the creatures with His Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Your glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Your throne;
While all that borrows life from You is ever in Your care;
And everywhere that man can be, You, God, are present there.

(from “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”by Isaac Watts)

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)