Saturate Your Mind and Heart

"Solitude is bearable only with God."

Andre Gide, 1869-1951

The season of new birth. Calves are a delight to photograph. Here's a chuckle on me: One early morning driving to work I saw a newborn calf far off in the field close to the beltway. It was raining. No other cows were around. I took the next exit, counted the houses and pulled in and knocked on the door of a farmhouse to let them know the calf was alone. I'm sure they had a good chuckle that morning!

Sunday morning I watched a video by my pastor in Maryland and at the end he provided words of encouragement. Hymns. Old hymns. Sing them.

Why? Because hymns aren't just songs. "They are powerful instruments of God to draw people closer to His Word and the saving riches therein." Billy Graham  You learn the gospel when you sing hymns.

An early morning thrill of watching a newborn stand up for the first time.

That same morning I read a devotion from God Hears Her by Our Daily Bread titled "Remembering . . ." I found the words interesting since I'm in the age group they were being applied to.

"Our difficult part of growing older is the fear of short-term memory loss. But Dr. Benjamin Mast, an expert on Alzheimer's, offers encouragement. He says that patients' brains are often so 'well worn' and 'habitual' that they can hear an old hymn and sing along to every word. He suggests that spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture, praying, and singing hymns cause truth to become 'embedded' in our brains, ready to be accessed when prompted.

"In Psalm 119 we read how the power of hiding God's word in our heart can strengthen us, teach us obedience, and direct our footsteps. This in turn gives us hope and understanding. Even when we begin to notice memory slips in ourselves or in the life of a loved one, God's Word, memorized years earlier, is still there, 'stored up' or 'treasured' in our heart. God's words will continue to speak to us.

“Nothing—not even a failing memory—can separate us from His love and care. We have His word on it.”

  

 Wilson's Farm in MD gave me many opportunities to take pictures of calves.

I've mentioned my Melody of Hymns before and can see how they will always be a part of me, pulling them up at just the right time. The same would be true in memorizing Scripture. Rereading favorite and meaningful Scripture over and over to the place where you know it in your heart. It will never leave. It's is a part of you.

You read occasionally about an older person sitting down to play the piano, remembering the song completely, yet has lost all memory of the past and present. Or singing songs of faith when there seems to be no memory at all.

God's Word stays with you. He gave each of us the ability to retain our faith by deeply saturating our being with His Words and hymns through our entire life.

If you are young, take these words to heart. Saturate your mind and heart with God's Words and His hymns. You will be amazed, grateful and thankful in your later life to realize what your earlier learning has done for you. You will be supplied with inspiration, encouragement and joy from what lies in your heart and mind.

I call them lumps in the field.

Yes, I will be singing my way through the frightening and anxious season our country is in. Pick up a hymnal, recall those songs from years ago that spoke to your heart, and fill your mind with truthful, reassuring words knowing God can and will get us through in such a time like this.Very good advice Dr. Trammell. Thank you!