Great Big Arms

One of my favorite snow pictures!

"What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms. 

"Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms."

Many of us are familiar with the great hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." It's fun to sing and the words share how secure we are in God.

I recently read how the song came to be in "The One Year Book of Hymns" written by William J. Petersen and Randy Peterson, and want to share it here.

Long time friend, Peggy, painted this lovely snow scene.

A. J. Showalter, a teacher in Hartsville, Alabama in 1887, needed to write two letters of condolence and the Scripture verse that came to mind was Deuteronomy 33:26-27 which says: "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

After writing the letters he than wrote a third letter to Elisha Albright Hoffman, a hymnwriter in Pennsylvania, and suggested she write a hymn on that theme. He suggested the wording of the chorus. Hoffman responded quickly and the hymn was written.

The devotion said: "With God's arms beneath us, and His love surrounding us, we can find strength in even the most sorrowful situations . . . But we know that God is still in control--He has not abandoned us. And that keeps us going."

 Another lovely snow scene made out of cotton. Picked it up at a craft fair.

Sing along with me as Buddy Green plays harmonica and the Gaither Homecoming singers sing!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-yYXFPCjJw    Below are the words to the last verse.

"What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms." 

I've needed those everlasting arms. I've needed them to encircle me with all their strength and love. How wonderful to know God has provided strong arms to help us during low times in our life.

I'm so thankful for hymn writers, using the gift God has given them and providing us with so many inspiring hymns. I enjoy praise songs, but hymns usually carry a gospel message that can encourage your heart. That you have inside you and pull from your memory to help you through anything.

I read on Facebook that it was suggested to do away with the screens used during worship service and go back to the hymn books. I agree completely! If we lose the hymns, we lose the inspiration received from the words.