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Archive for the ‘Hymns’ Category

Going Bald!!

Posted in Hope, Hymns, Trust, tagged on July 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore” – Jesus (Luke 12:7)

Personal experience informs me that number of hairs on my head is changing! And that’s exactly the point.

Jesus is bringing us back to a simple fact. If God is so aware of the least significant is he not also aware of what is most important in my life — my spouse, my work, my children, my loved ones, etc? Though, as with my hair, I don’t always like the results, I know God is involved and working the events of my life to my good and his love. And since I trust him, it is enough.

As the chorus of Civilla Martin’s 1905 hymn says,

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”

— fritz@langgang.com

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Jesus Passing By

Posted in Belief, Bible Characters, Calling, Hymns, Jesus, tagged , on May 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Two quick stories about Jesus with the same lesson:

The first, after feeding the multitude, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him by boat but they ran into trouble. A terrible storm was sinking their boat when, to their shock, Jesus was walking past them on the water. Mark records that detail the others missed.

“…about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But they saw him” – Mark 6:48

The second story involved two lesser known disciples who encounter the risen Lord without recognizing him. They walked and talked but then

“[as] they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: … he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us” – Luke 24:28-29a

Without some sort of personal response it seems Jesus is quite content to pass right on by.

Don’t let him do that!

Blind Fanny Crosby put it this way in her famous hymn:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Refrain

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Refrain

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Refrain.

– fritz@langgang.com

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Paradigm Shift

Posted in Hymns, Paradigm Shift, tagged on December 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“Thou preparest a table before me” – Psalm 23:5a

The focus of Psalm 23 shifted, becoming no longer “He”, but “Thou”. It happened when speaking of God’s protection – Thy rod, Thy staff…” No longer is the speaker telling someone about God but is speaking directly to God.

Life in Christ is a one-on-one, “Thou and Me” experience, which can’t be explained to others.

As the refrain of C. Austin Miles’ 1913 hymn, In the Garden,1 says

And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own;
and the joy we share as we tary there,
none other has ever known.

– fritz
1 – http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh314.sht

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