Bound Together

"He recognized that the bond of love he knew there was worth more than any material wealth."

William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen

The One Year Book of Hymns

 

 

Every church fellowship has it's own customs and traditions in their worship service. In the church we settled in when we moved to PA, we sing the hymn "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" at the end of each worship service.

 

"Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship with kindred minds

Is like to that above." 

I recently read about the author of that hymn, John Fawcett, 1740-1817, and the words brought new meaning to me.

 

"Orphaned when he was twelve, then forced to work fourteen hours a day in a sweatshop, John Fawcett learned to read by candlelight. He was converted at sixteen under the preaching of George Whitefield, and he was ordained a Baptist minister at the age of twenty-five. He began his ministry at a poor church in Wainsgate in northern England. The small congregation could only afford to pay him a minimal salary, partly in potatoes and wool.

 

"After seven years of ministry, Fawcett received a call to the prestigious Carter's Lane Church in London. But as he was saying his farewells and saw the tears on the faces of his people, he changed his mind and decided to stay.

 

"Not long afterward, he wrote this hymn for the congregation at Wainsgate. He recognized that the bond of love he knew there was worth more than any material wealth."

 

And isn't that how it is? The bond of fellowship Christians have serving together and to each other. I know of no other group or club who share a common bond so strong.

"The Christian life was not meant to live in solitude forever, nor is it suited to it. It is a social life. All its movements suggest and prophesy a brotherhood. That brotherhood of believers is the Christian church."

Philip Brookes (1835-1893)

It's always a thrill to see a large buck and get the snap too!

We need to remember that as we go through these difficult times. We are not alone. We have a bond of love that is strong and true, and it will help us through as we live our days.

"In God's family, there is to be one great body of people: servants. In fact, that's the way to the top in His Kingdom."

Charles R. Swindoll, (1934-  )

Charles Spurgeon said: "If you fellowship with other Christians you will stay wide awake, will be refreshed and encouraged, and will make faster progress along the road to heaven."

I am thankful for the Christian friends I've shared my life with. They have helped me by comforting me, encouraging me, inspiring me and working with me. They have shared wisdom and discernment and helped me make difficult decisions. They have worshiped and studied with me. They have truly been the arms and legs of my Savior. Thank you, dear friends.

I'm enjoying seeing these yellow flowers that I pass frequently.

In searching for "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" on the internet, I found a study online by Greg Allen, the pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Oregon, who chose this hymn in likeness with his study from Ephesians 6:21-22 and had shared these words: "Because of His love for us and our faith in that act of love, we are to be joined in a common bond of love and faith in the truth--not love without faith in the truth, nor faith in the truth without love, but with both love and faith in the truth joined together in a perfect union in Christ. . . . to be our beloved Savior's hands and feet and lips and heart-beat upon earth, to lovingly minister to one another's needs in the power of the Holy Spirit; to appreciate anew for one another's giftedness to the body as a whole; to yearn for one another's growth and edification--and all so that the world looks on and sees that we live such a unique life together that it can't help but ask for an explanation."

Yes, I'm blessed to be bound together with the fellowship of kindred minds. It is a bond of love unequaled in its honesty and pure in its love.

 

Day by Day

 "Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons."

Ann Ruth Schabacker

Beautiful color from John and Tina's garden!

 Many of us are familiar with the hymn, Day by Day, written by Carolina Sandess Berg, 1832-1903, and that's really all we can do now. Go day by day and try not to think too hard about the future.

 "Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest."

A happy face for you!

 I read about Carolina Berg in the book "The One Year Women in /Christian History Devotional" by Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves. They wrote: "Carolina 'Lina' Sandell Berg, a Swedish hymn writer in the 1800s, had her share of unexpected days. She had no to-do list on a smartphone, but she probably woke each day with things she wished to accomplish. Sometimes she got them done. Sometimes the unexpected occurred.

"Life she knows, is full of both pain and pleasure, and the Lord is there through all of it, comforting us, strengthening us, teaching us lessons, surprising us. In all days---good, bad, and ordinary-we can trust that God knows best."

So many of our favorite books and hymns are written by common folk who experienced God's Hand during difficult circumstances. God can take anything you are going through and make it beautiful in His eyes.

A family portrait from Mt. Airy MD. My very first one in our own backyard!

In Kenneth W. Osbeck book, "Amazing Grace" he wrote: "At the age of 26 Lina had an experience that greatly influenced her life. She was accompanying her father aboard ship to the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, across Lake Vattern. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina's father, a devout Lutheran minister, fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter. Although Lina had written many hymn texts prior to this tragic experience, now more than ever poetic thoughts that expressed a tender, child-like trust in her Lord began to flow freely from her broken heart."

 What situation forcibly changed your life? What did you learn from it? Did that situation help you to trust God more and become a stronger and wiser person? I hope my struggles have caused me to comfort others as Paul said in 2 Corinthians: " . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from Christ." (verse 3-4)

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

Psalm 71:18

 

Warren Wiersbe has this to say about a day: "As we begin each day, we trust we'll still be around at the end of the day. What happens in between depends on how we start in the morning and how we end in the evening. Verses 1 and 2 in Psalm 92 describes an ideal day: 'It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.' That's how we ought to live each day."

Day by day is all we have. We read many times not to fret about the past and don't plan for the future, but live the day you are in. If we concentrate on the day we are living, each day would be easier and lighter for it's the only day we truly have.  

 The second and third verses of Day by Day are meaningful too:

1. "Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
   With a special mercy for each hour;
   All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
   He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
   The protection of His child and treasure
   Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
   “As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
   This the pledge to me He made.
2. "Help me then in every tribulation
   So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
   That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
   Offered me within Thy holy Word.
   Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
   E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
   One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
   
   Till I reach the promised land."
    
   You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzrhqjzQCi4
   
   
   

 "A day is a miniature eternity."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882

 

 

Be Revived!

"Lord, revive the church--beginning with me:

Samuel M. Shoemaker (1893-1963)

A lovely display of zinnia greeted me on the road.

I found God during a revival on November 14, 1978. I was at my home church in Rockville MD. My pastor, Robert D. Crowley, preached on Elijah in 1st Kings.

It was the start of my faith journey which has now lasted 42 years come November. I was reminded of this while reading Psalm 85 recently.

"Restore us again, God our Savior,

and put away your displeasure toward us.

Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

Will you not revive us again,

That your people may rejoice in you?

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,

and grant us your salvation."

Verses 4-7

I enjoyed watching this doe and fawn at the edge of the pond.

 

I haven't been to a revival in years, but I believe we sure need one now! Warren Wiersbe said: "God's people are the revival people. We desperately need to be revived."

About Psalm 85 Liberty Bible Commentary said this: "This psalm must speak not of the return of Israel to Palestine from the Babylonian captivity, but the future restoration of Israel and the inauguration of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on this earth."

"The purpose of revival is to make God not men, famous; to focus the eyes of the people, not upon human leaders, but upon the Divine Leaders; to give glory not to great men but to a great Savior."

Richard Owen Roberts (1931-  )

Worth the reach!

We can revive ourselves in many ways, through Bible reading, listening to hymns and Christian songs, studying in a group setting and attending church. But there's nothing like an old fashioned revival to stir the soul and motivate the heart.

When were you saved? Was it during a revival . . . hearing the gospel from a friend . . . bravely listening to Billy Graham during one of his crusades . . . listening to a Sunday morning sermon? Remember that experience. Let a revival begin in your heart and sing this hymn with fervor!

"We praise You oh God for the Son of Your love

For Jesus who died and is now gone above

We praise you oh God for Your Spirit of Light

Who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.

"Hallelujah,Thine the glory

Hallelujah, amen

Hallelujah, Thine the glory

Revive us again"

William P. Mackay

Listen to this hymn at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuMrQt4l6qE

Fields of Queen Anne Lace everywhere I go.

 

 

They tell me a revival is only temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good."

Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

I see a lot of turkeys and their babies on my early morning rides.

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Secure

"Joy is that deep settled confidence that God is in control in every area of my life."

Paul Sailhamer

Joyful! I was reading about Henry Van Dyke last Friday morning. He was a Presbyterian minister; the author of many books; professor of literature at Princeton University; a Navy chaplain during World War I, and ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under President Woodrow Wilson. He was born 1852.

My favorite place to see fawn is on Fisher Road west of Sigel. Drive just a few miles west and doe and fawn are fairly relaxed, even with all the cars that zoom, so they're easy to photograph. Of course, when I go out it's first light, and I have the road to myself!

He wrote one of our most cheerful and joyful hymns: "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee." In the short article about his life, my attention was caught on the following statement: "When he published this hymn in 1911, he noted that it was to be sung by people who 'are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven."

Isn't that what we're going through right now? A revolution to destroy America. And just think, way back in the 1800 a man wrote a hymn so that people would not be afraid. That really caught my attention.

Fawns are now triple and more in size.

Van Dyke was a guest preacher at Williams College in Massachusetts and was so moved by the beauty of God's creation he wrote this hymn of joy. "Your mountains were my inspiration," he told the college president. "It must be sung to the music of Beethoven's 'Hymn to Joy,'"

"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!"

South of Fisher Road, into the forest, I have my favorite spots to see fawn. As you can see, there were a lot of fawn that morning! I was able to get video of them also.

I love the words in the second verse:

"All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee."

Early morning quiet and no cars leaves the area refreshing and cool.

Hear "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE

I never tire of seeing fawn and doe.

Yes, I believe there is nothing that can overthrow the kingdom of heaven. And although events and circumstances are difficult and scary, as Christians we know the King is in control!

"Joy has something within itself that is beyond joy and sorrow. This something is called blessedness . . . is asked for and promised in the Bible. It makes the joy of life possible in pleasure and pain, in happiness and unhappiness, in ecstasy and sorrow. Where there is joy, there is fulfillment. And where there is fulfillment, there is joy."

Paul Johannes Oskar Tillich

(1886-1965)

Heavy Questions

"My heart is awed within me when I think

Of the great miracle that still goes on,

In silence, round me--the perpetual work

Of thy creation, finished, yet renewed forever.

Written on thy works I read

The lesson of thy own eternity."

William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878)

One of the books of the Bible I've turned to the most in my faith journey is the Book of Job. That might seem a strange book to be encouraged by, but my heart is always encouraged when I read chapters 38 and 39.

In those chapters God's power and control are magnificently presented as God questions Job. What a presentation of God's creation and His imagination in all that He created.

Many may see only Job's trials and anguish, but it's so much more. "God permitted Job's trials to prove that a person could love God for Himself without thought of reward, and that a loving, sovereign God is always in control though our own knowledge and understanding are limited." Sidlow, Explore the Bible.

Last week I had the opportunity to read those chapters aloud, and as always my heart was encouraged.

God's questions about creation, nature, stars and clouds in the heavens and the ways of the animals and birds shows His masterful creation in all it's beauty and purpose.

The Liberty Bible Commentary says it this way about chapters 38 and 39: " . . . are a relation of mystery and grandeur of creation, and by implication the might and wisdom required of a God who could create such a universe. In contract to all of this, man appears weak, finite, and very limited in understanding indeed. The comparison of the Creator's greatness and man's creatureness is not lost on Job."

Job 38:22: "Have you entered the treasures of the snow." I LOVE snow! For it's beauty. For it's refreshment as it falls. For it's cleanness and purity. Most of all I like that "God will make our sins as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18 "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." And in this hot 80 and 90 degree weather, snow sure feels good to me! Jerry calls snow "falling whispers."

The Matthew Henry Commentary says: "In the clouds the snow and hail are generated, and thence they come in such abundance that one would think there were treasures of them laid up in store there, whereas indeed they are produced for the occasion."

Our God is Almighty, Powerful, True and in control of all things. Just because we don't know what He is doing, we know for sure that He is doing all things good and right. Job 38 and 39 remind me of that!

"I had a million questions to ask God: but when I met Him, they all fled my mind; and it didn't seem to matter."

Christopher Morley

"The big lesson to be learned from the Book of Job is that man does not know the reason for the things going on in his life, but he should trust the Lord at all times. Man can never plumbed the depths of God, and how God deals with each man and all men, therefore man is encouraged to look steadfastly at the Lord, trust Him and be devoted to Him because God is loving and merciful and all of his purposes are part of His ultimate plan which no one can understand."

Bible-History

My friend, Carol, was familiar with a song that I wrote about in my last blog post. The name of the song is: Trust His Heart, and she added two lines to the verse I posted. I listened to the song on YouTube. It has some soothing and inspiring lyrics. I share these words once again:

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

You can find the song at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWk8DRwDYDc

God's heavy questions reassures me that God is in control of all things. "Do you know what footings were set or who laid the earth's cornerstone?" And while God did this "the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy!" 38:6-7

Be encouraged!

Message Received

"A heart in every thought renewed And full of love divine,

Perfect and right and pure and good,

A copy, Lord, of thine."

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Last Saturday evening I was feeling overwhelmed and disturbed regarding all that is happening in our country and this world. This is a world America has never lived in before or experienced to such an overpowering degree. 

My prayer that night was simply, "I'm overwhelmed," and I closed my eyes."

God answered my prayer Sunday morning when I heard my pastor preach on "Living a sane life in a crazy world." I was instantly reassured of where my focus should be." (A link to the message is at the end of this post.)

He mentioned a verse from a song that goes like this:

 "When we don't understand

When we can't see His Hand

And we don't know His Plan

Trust His Heart."

I like that. And what Charles Wesley said about the Lord's heart is so true: "Perfect and right and pure and good."

 "God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken.

And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart."

Charles Spurgeon

With God we know His intentions are perfect and need never to fear. As Paul wrote to Timothy: "For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

These two were resting peaceably as I drove by about 8 a.m.

Also pointed out in my pastor's message was the Serenity Prayer that most of us have read on many commercial items: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

But did you know there is more to this prayer:

"Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

forever in the next. Amen"

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Always fun to see triplets!

I can truly say as stated in 2 Timothy 1:12b: " . . . because I know whom I believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." Yes, I received the message!

I Know Whom I Have Believed

Daniel W. Whittle

I know not why God's wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:

But I know Whom I have believed,

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I've committed

Unto Him against that day."

The future days are going to be hard. There will be many reasons to feel defeated and discouraged. But if you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you know whom I have believed. You know His heart. Trust His heart.

You can find the message "Living a Sane Life in a Crazy World" from July 19 on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/rosevilleindchapel/videos/616313608999803/

If the link doesn't work pull up Roseville Independent Chapel, Brookville PA. July 19 message begins at 28:12.

The song "I Know Whom I Have Believed" can be found on YouTube at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bRV3J4n8cc

Late Saturday afternoon we found twins in our backyard.

Remember all the Benefits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

Psalm 103:2

I like this snap as the sunrise was bringing some pink to the sky and the fog was enhancing the buck's antlers. 

Psalms 103 and 119 are favorites of mine. I tried to memorize Psalm 103 once, but I didn't get very far. I decided just to stick with my Melody of Hymns. I wouldn't dare try to memorize Psalm 119!

The other morning I read words by Charles Spurgeon regarding Psalm 103 and thought I'd share them with you. He encouraged that our own history is just as good as the saints of old.

"It is a delightful and profitable exercise to recognize the sovereign hand of God in the lives of the ancient saints of old, to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in forgiving them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them," Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon continued: "Shouldn't we notice that our own history is at least as full of God's goodness, truth, faithfulness, and righteousness as any of the lives of the saint who have gone before us? . . . If we would only review our own lives, surely we would discover a number of blessed occasions that would refresh our faith and bring glory to God."

A sweet face at the tree line as I drove by.

I do enjoy reading about Christians through all ages of the world. They encourage, inspire, motivate and bring joy to my heart. Right now, in 2020, saints will be remembered for how they persevered through their lives and people will read about them through the ages if God tarries.


"Hasn't the same God who gave Solomon his 'heart's desire' listened to you and answered your requests?" Spurgeon said. " . . . Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old."

God has blessed us and helped us as He has all His people through time.  Do you frequently consider what God has done for you? It is encouraging to reflect on my walk with God. His Hand has led me through countless experiences that have changed my life. I know you must have similar experiences.

There's still a few small fawn around, but I'm not finding very many.

Spurgeon ends his thoughts with these words: "Thus, may we weave His mercies into songs of worship. May we use the pure gold of thankfulness and the jewels of praise and fashion them into another crown for Jesus' head. May music as sweet and as stirring as that which came from David's harp flow from our soul while we praise the Lord whose 'love endures forever.'"

We're in perilous and desperate times. We stand to lose our country as we have known it from it's beginning. But we have hope. We have God's Hope. Our lives can change the lives of others. Let Christ work through you to help others know our hope. Let your life shine because of what God has done for you and in you.

Yes, our lives are just as valuable as the saints of old, because God is still working. He's working in you. He's working in me. Shine friend!  

 "Great saints have often been great sinners."

Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore

(1823-1896)