Lines to Ponder

 

Most of you know I enjoy reading hymns. I started doing that a number of years ago and haven't stopped. In my morning devotions I thank God for many things, read and study my Bible and then pick up my hymnal and read two hymns.

I soon started highlighting lines and verses in hymns that brought me joy, comfort and caused me to stop and consider the words. There are just as many hymns in my hymnal that I don't know as those I do know. And there are so many wonderful lines and verses to consider as I go through them.

Today's post is 10 verses from hymns I've read and considered. Maybe you will too!

“You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread. Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.” Verse 2, God Moves in a Mysterious Way

“Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green! Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen; Birds with gladder songs overflow, Flowers with deeper beauties shine, Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.” Verse 2, I Am His, and He Is Mine

“Feasting on the riches of His grace, Resting ’neath His sheltering wing, Always looking on His smiling face, That is why I shout and sing.” Verse 3, He Keeps Me Singing

“Love of Christ so freely given, Grace of God beyond degree, Mercy higher than the heaven, Deeper than the deepest sea! Verse 2, All That Thrills My Soul

"Like the arching of the heavens, Lift my thoughts above; Turn my dreams to noble action, Ministries of love." Verse 4, God, Who Touches Earth With Beauty

"Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face, And the luster of His kindly beaming eye; How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love, and grace That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.” Verse 2, My Savior First of All

“Forever with the Lord! Forever in His will, The promise of that faithful Word, Lord, here in me fulfill. With You at my right hand, Then I shall never fall; Uphold me, Lord, and I shall stand; Through grace I will prevail.” Verse 2, Forever With The Lord

“Creator of the universe of cosmic wind and storm; Creator of all life on earth, of atom, cell and form; Of all the wonders that You are, or that You may yet be, The birth of Christ, love’s Morning Star, Your greatest gift to me.” Verse 1, Creator of the Universe  

“Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always. Alleluia! Alleluia!" When in Our Music God Is Glorified, Fred Pratt Green 1903-2000

And my very favorite line: “Be Thou my best thought by day or by night.” Be Thou My Vision

If you don't have a hymn book at home, buy one. It's a great addition to your faith library. When you read the words without the music you find a rich supply of inspiration, cheer, support and you walk away being filled with the Holy Spirit. Hymns are filled with the gospel story and Scripture. 

May Jesus be your best thought this day!

By His Grace . . .

He Rides the Heavens

 "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882

There’s a little-known Scripture verse that tends to be skipped over because the verse following it is well known and used often. Everybody knows about God’s Everlasting Arms" which we read about in Deuteronomy 33:27a:

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

We often sing about these everlasting arms in the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” You know the words: “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.”

The verse before it, though, is powerful! Verse 26 also provides the protection and security our God offers: “There is no one like the God of Jeshrun [Israel], who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty.”

The words “who rides across the heavens to help you” are what stopped me. I don't remember this being emphasized before in my studies. We relate it to clouds and thunder and rain and snow and all the works God uses to help in dire situations. But to help me?

On Studylight.org, Calvin's Commentary on the Bible, he says: "He also extols His power, because He rides gloriously on the heavens and clouds, which is tantamount to all high things being subject to His dominion."  He has power over all things, even the demons in the air who try and do us harm.

David Platt, on Radical.net said: "He rides through the skies in His majesty to help you. Would you just feel that right now? Would you just see the God of the heavens riding through them to be your help? Through the skies in His majesty coming to help you as your dwelling place." Whenever you look up into the skies, we know He is there!

Can't you just imagine that? Our God; our powerful God is all around us to help us. We never have to fear or wonder where He is. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote: “We are as surrounded by You as the earth is surrounded by the atmosphere . . . The soul has come to its resting place in God and is supported by divine strength. The heart has learned to live in Christ Jesus and to lean on Him day and night.”

We have so much security as children of God. He is everywhere. Above us; below us, and right beside us. We are held in His unshakeable grip. He is unswervingly faithful!

We have shelter from the storms of life because our God “rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty.” Look up! Our God is there for us.

By His Grace . . .

Eyes Following You

Peonies are blooming! I love the beautiful blooms!

 

People are always watching us. Just like we watch other people. I've always tried to stay in the background because I haven't wanted people to watch me. I learned later in life that if you try too hard to not be seen, eyes are pulled to you because you're different.

Am I self-conscious? Maybe. We all have our own little tendencies.

But people do watch us. Especially those who are not Christians. To see if you are living what you talk. To catch you doing something that doesn't sound or look like what a Christian would do. It's important to have a faith we are confident in. When we do our walk will be one that displays God's love.

I recently was reminded of this truth: "But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love." Psalm 33:18. I confess, God is definitely who I want watching me; not because of anything good I do, but because of His all-knowing and all-caring love for me.

Susie Larson, in her book, "Prevail," shared these words: 

"When we rightly honor, fear, and revere the Lord Most High, His eyes are instinctively drawn to us. think about that for a moment. When you wake in the morning, open your Bible and bow your head, God's eyes are drawn to you. When you go about your day and you whisper a prayer and acknowledge His presence, His eyes are drawn to you. When you're faced with a choice to walk in His way or your own, and you choose His--because you love Him--His eyes are drawn to you with great affection and tenderness Just imagine! . . . The beautiful thing about walking intimately with God and reverently honoring Him is that we are continually drawn to Him, and He to us."

God's eyes are definitely whose eyes I want watching me. All the time. Knowing He's watching me helps me to have a stronger faith, live in a way pleasing to Him and praise Him as I go through each day.

There are always eyes following you. With a deep settled confidence that God is on your side, you'll always do your best to represent Him wisely. 

Eyes following you. Represent your Savior at all times.

By His Grace . . .

What Does Peace Mean to You?

 "God is a tranquil being and abides in a tranquil eternity. So must your spirit become 

                      a tranquil and clear little pool, wherein the serene light of God can be mirrored."

Gerhard Tersteegen

1697-1769

I've had this picture and its story in a journal dated 2004. It was a well known

story back then. Discover why this is the "Picture of Peace" at the end of this post.

What does peace look like to you? That question was asked me in the book “100 Favorite Prayers.”

How would you describe peace? Lying on the beach at the ocean? Walking through the woods on a fresh spring morning? Sitting and enjoy a rousing thunderstorm and being at rest with it? (That’s what Jerry said.)

But what does it mean to me? I thought these words best described what peace means to me: “A calm and deep settled confidence that God is in control of my life and all things.” For me, that would provide peace for every day of my life and anything that happens to me along the way.

"Finding God, you have no need to seek peace,

for He Himself is your peace."

Frances J. Roberts

Isaiah said in verse 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” I guess I was on the right wavelength with my description.

Stacy Edwards, who wrote the book, “100 Favorite Prayers,” said there are three elements to the peace that Isaiah wrote about: The peace of Isaiah’s prayer was perfect. It was more than just a momentary rest. It includes completeness, wellness in body and spirit, and overall harmony.

"True peace is found by man in the depths of his own heart,

the dwelling place of God."

Johann Tauler

1300-1361

The second element is perpetual. Isaiah had the assurance that God would keep in perfect peace the one who would fix his or her mind on Him. It would be ongoing and consistent regardless of circumstances.

The third element is that God is the provider of this perfect and perpetual peace. It is available to all who fix their minds on God.

What does peace mean to you? Below, the story of the "Picture of Peace."

By His Grace . . .

Reading Again

 

The other evening and yesterday morning, while reading, I came across three paragraphs, all of which caused me to stop and consider. Sometimes it's just someone saying something a difference way that causes you to stop. Perhaps the words will cause you to think on them too.

In reading a devotion on the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus," in the book, "Then Sings My Soul," by Robert J Morgan, the writer talked about Christ's dual nature. Then he shared these words by John Chrysostom, an early church father, biblical interpreter, and archbishop of Constantinople, in the late 300s earl 400s:

"I do not think of Christ as God alone, or man alone, but both together. For I know He was hungry, and I know that with five loaves He fed five thousand. I know He was thirsty, and I know that He turned the water into wine. I know He was in a [boat], and I know that He walked on the sea. I know that He died, and I know that He raised the dead. I know that He was set before Pilate, and I know that He sits with the Father on His throne. I know that He was worshiped by angels, and I know that He was stoned by the Jews. And truly some of these I ascribe to the human, and others to the divine nature. By reason of this, He is said to have been both God and man." Our true, divine Savior!

In "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, the devotion was on Luke 21:19: Stand firm, and you will win life." He said these words concerning moods: "We try and pray our weaknesses away, not understanding that there are certain things we must not pray about--moods, for example. Moods go by kicking, not by praying. When we are tired and hungry or in pain, it is a tremendous effort not to listen to our mood. But we must not listen, not even for a second. We have to pick ourselves up and shake off our mood. Once we do, we realize that we can do the things we'd thought impossible. The trouble with most of us is that we won't. We refuse to stand up to our moods, and they end up sapping our energy and motivation." Moods are definitely a problem for me, but I still believe we need to pray about it.

An interesting thought about difficulties in the book, "Prevail," by Susie Larson, on Job 23:10: "But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold." Larson said: "I admit I'm walking through a difficult time right now. I acknowledge that God seems painfully silent and hard to find. Though I cannot find Him, I know that He knows where to find me. He knows where I am, and He knows where I'm going. And when He tests me, He'll bring me forth as gold. I'll know Him better and love Him more than I did before." Two things are called for: "Holy confidence and humble dependence . . . He's a God of justice and He knows you intimately. This should assure you and undo you, all at once." I like the sentences, "Though I cannot find Him, I know that He knows where to find me. He knows where I am, and He knows where I'm going."

Reading always brings food for thought on many topics. If you don't want to read devotion books, histories or biographies about saints of old, read your Bible with a good commentary. If reading isn't your thing, buy audio tapes that will stimulate your mind about Christ and living the Christian life. You'll always have things to ponder. And that's a good thing!

I haven't seen one this year. My friend, Carol, took this in May 2018.

Looking forward to seeing my first one!

By His Grace . . .

Who Has That Glory?

 
It's that time of year again when we begin to see baby fawn. My

early morning fawn spotting drives have begun!

In a recent Sunday School lesson titled, "Justified by Faith," I was stumped when I read this sentence: "The glory of God can be defined as His presence with His people." I think it was the word "defined" that stopped me.

When I think about God's Glory my attention immediately goes to His creation and all of nature. He is glorious in all He does, miraculous in what He performs, and I couldn't relate to His presence being with His people as a good definition.

The teacher who wrote the words was explaining Romans 3:23 as it related to the study for that day: "For all have sinned and falls short of the glory of God."

I was baffled. How did the writer get God's glory defined as His presence with His people through that Scripture verse? I asked about the sentence during class. Our teacher said he'd stopped at that word "defined" too. He suggested God indwells in us and shows Himself through us by displaying His glory. If we continually sin, His presence cannot be seen.

Then the other morning I was reading in Anne Graham Lotz's book, "The Joy of My Heart." The title of the devotion was: "Display Cases for God's Glory." She shared these words: "The glory of God is within you and me through the Spirit of God, who indwells us when we receive Jesus Christ by faith as our personal Savior and Lord!"

The Scripture verse Lotz was working from is 1 Corinthians 3:16: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" She wrote: "You and I are the display cases for God's glory as His living temple. When others look in your display case, what do they see?"

It's difficult to think you are a display of God's glory. Yet, He did create you. He also saved you and filled you with Him. He also gave you a gift(s) to use to serve Him. 

I then remembered an article I wrote for my church's newsletter about the glory of God. I pulled it up and saw these words that I wrote near the end: "One of the major displays of God’s Glory today is one not often discussed or thought about. It is the work He does in ordinary people like you and me. When we remember the person we were before we were saved and recognize all God has done in us since that time, we can only shake our heads in wonderment. I sometimes say to myself, 'Who am I?' when I think of all God has done in my life."

I still don't like the word "defined" as to us representing God's glory. He is just beyond anything I can imagine. 

Oh, how I wanted this snap to be clear! But it just doesn't always happen.

I love it when I see triplets!

It's a weighty thing to consider. It makes you want to consider all you do, what attitude you do it in, and whether you do it with joy or with an attitude. 

Who has that glory? We do. That's something to think about.

By His Grace . . . 

Afterward: A Future Time

“You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” 

Psalm 73:24

 

 

How often do we think about the “afterward of life” as we go through our trials, pain and heartbreak? Stacy Edwards, in her book, 100 Favorite Bible Verses, commented on the above Scripture verse:

“Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that there is an afterward for those who love the Lord. What we see here and the pain we feel here is heartbreaking. The loss, betrayal, and confusion hurts. It hurts, just like four hundred years of affliction hurt [the Israelites]. But we are also promised an afterward.

“Paul was certain “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) Yes, there is pain, but there is an afterward. There are valleys, but we’re just passing through.

“The afflictions don’t seem light and momentary right now, but that’s because we aren’t in the afterward yet. It’s coming because He is coming, and it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Then all the suffering will fade from our memories as we enjoy afterward.”

I love when I read something that brings out a point, enhances it and causes calm to my heart. That’s what this devotion did for me. “And afterward receive me to glory.” Sometimes we just don't dwell on the words in Scripture and miss inspiring points.

I like what Benson Commentary says about this verse: "As all those who commit themselves to God's conduct shall be guided by His counsel, so all that those who are so guided in this world shall be received to His glory in another world. If God direct us in the way of our duty and prevent our turning aside out of it; enabling us to make His Will the rule, and His glory to end of all actions. He will afterward, when out state of trial and preparation is over, receive us to His kingdom and glory." (Biblehub.com)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary says it this way: "All who commit themselves to God, shall be guided with the counsel both of His Word and of His Spirit, the best counsellors here, and shall be received to His glory in another world; the believing hopes and prospects of which will reconcile us to all dark providences. And the psalmist was hereby quickened to cleave the closer to God. Heaven itself could not make us happy without the presence and love of our God." (Biblehub.com)

There is an afterward for all of us who accept Jesus as Savior and lives in faith for God.

All it takes is a word said a little differently, or a verse I'm not familiar with, to cause a moment of ponder and a heart of thanksgiving.

God speaks through His servants of today, just as He has spoken through His servants throughout the ages. Anything that causes us to stop and ponder is a worthwhile effort.

“Thank you, Lord, that I have the hope of an afterward

and Your promise of eternal life in Your Kingdom.”

By His Grace . . .