Showing posts with label song. Show all posts
Showing posts with label song. Show all posts
Recently, I read the story of how the song, “Beyond the
Sunset,” was written. Virgil Prentiss
Brock penned the words one evening in 1936 after a conversation at the dinner
table. The topic of conversation was an
unusually gorgeous sunset at Winona Lake in Indiana, despite the storm clouds
looming overhead. Virgil’s blind cousin,
Horace Burr, commented that it was the most beautiful sunset he had ever seen.
Virgil said to his cousin, “People are always amazed when
you talk about seeing.” Horace replied,
“I can see. I see through other people’s
eyes, and think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.” Virgil said the phrase “beyond the sunset”
and the striking inflection of his cousin’s voice struck him profoundly. He immediately began singing the first few
lines of the song. Before they had even
finished their meal, the entire song was written.
I must say that this story left me speechless. This gentleman who could not see ultimately
had greater vision than those with perfect eyesight. He did not focus on the impending
thunderstorm. Instead, he focused on the
true beauty. He saw more than a lake, a
sunset, and storm clouds. His sight was
not limited by the horizon. He could
look beyond the physical limitations of this world in order to catch a glimpse
of something that was seemingly Heavenly. He knew that even in the sunset, there was sunshine awaiting him.
I invite you to listen to my song, "There's Sunshine Awaiting You."
I invite you to listen to my song, "There's Sunshine Awaiting You."
How many times in life do we look at our current situation
and begin to succumb to a state of hopelessness and despair? Perhaps you see your children hanging out
with the wrong crowd. Instead of asking
God for help, your mind first goes into a tailspin of all of the possible
outcomes. Will they try drugs,
participate in underage drinking, have sex before marriage, or even get
arrested? Once the myriad of
possibilities stop running through your mind, that’s when you finally stop to
pray about it. Since when did prayer
become the last possible course of action? Prayer should be our first line of defense, not our last resort.
We should not dwell on the problems of this earth. Instead, we need to pray and
have faith that God is working all things together for our good (see Romans 8:28). Jesus Christ is the answer to every problem in life. Hebrews 12:2 says
we should fix our eyes on Jesus. It does
not say to look around the world to see if there is a better alternative. It clearly says to look at Jesus, “the
perfecter of faith.” Even when we do not
see a way out and our own vision clouds our view, he will strengthen
our faith and help us see the way out.
Every day, we need to stay focused on Jesus. Only then will we be able to fulfill the calling
that the Lord has placed on our lives.
You may be thinking I don’t have a calling. I’m not a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a
musician, a singer, a choir director, a deacon... As Christians, we each have a calling on our
lives. This calling may not require us
to have a leadership role within the church.
Our mission may be to write notes of encouragement to those who are grieving,
to help serve meals at the local homeless shelter, to volunteer to clean the
church, or countless other ways we could serve the Lord. God may be calling you to be a prayer
warrior, going to the throne of grace on behalf of people who are sick, battling
addictions, or enduring heartache of some kind.
Ask God to show you what he wants you to do.
When we get to Heaven, individuals who have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ will hear the words, “Well done, good and
faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). What
does a servant do? They work. In the same way, we should devote our lives
to the work of the Lord. The Bible says
we should do everything we do as unto the Lord.
That means everything we do should be done for God, not for man. So whether you are mowing the lawn for your
neighbor, donating clothes to the church clothes closet, or helping collect
items for someone who lost their home due to a fire, always complete the task as
if you were working for our Heavenly Father.
He gave his only Son to die on a cross for our sins. He gave his best. We should strive daily to give our best to
him in return.
The Hoppers, a Southern Gospel singing group, sing a song
titled, “We’ll Work ‘Till Jesus Comes.”
That is exactly what we are called to do. We are called to share the Good News with
everyone we meet, whether we are standing on the platform at church or standing
in the checkout lane at the grocery store.
Looking at the headlines, it is imperative that we tell people about
Jesus and how he died to save them from their sins and give them the gift of eternal
life. The return of Jesus Christ is
closer than ever before, yet there are so many people who do not have this
blessed hope. We need to be “Looking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior
Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). It should be
our primary goal in life to share this blessed hope with everyone we meet.
Perhaps you think this is the pastor’s job. Or maybe you feel an evangelist would be able
to explain the Gospel more eloquently.
But what about the people who will not go to church or attend a
revival? How can someone hear about the
Lord unless someone tells them? Will you
be the one to answer the call that God has placed on your life? Will you take time to visit someone, to write
to someone, to talk to someone and tell them about the saving grace of Jesus
Christ? You are the only Bible some
people will ever read. If you do not
tell them about Jesus, they may never be able to look beyond their circumstances. They may never know the joy of looking beyond
the sunset. Don’t let the impending
storm clouds get in your way. Set your
eyes on Jesus Christ. Allow him to use
you according to his perfect will. I can
guarantee that your life will be forever changed when you start looking beyond
the shortcomings of this world and begin focusing on the amazing plan God has
for your life!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Yesterday, while walking through the grocery store, my cell phone began playing the song sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, “Thou, Oh Lord.” The phone was in my purse with the lock screen in place. No one touched it. Yet somehow, some way, the phone began to play this song loud enough that I could hear it, even in the midst of the crowded supermarket. I picked up the phone to see what was going on, since I have a different song set as my ringtone. When I pressed the button to stop the music, it kept playing. Finally, I turned the sound completely off. The music stopped, but I am still perplexed as to how this occurred. While I cannot explain how it happened, I am fairly certain that I know why. I believe God was reminding me that He has everything under control.
Sometimes in life, it seems like everything is going according to our plans. Our job provides a stress-free environment and steady income, our family is healthy, nothing rains on our parade, so to speak. All too soon, a storm comes through like a tornado, perhaps causing turbulence in the workplace, illnesses among our family members, or other negative circumstances we must endure. It is during these times that we need to have the calm assurance that Jesus Christ is standing alongside us, providing a shield from the calamity that threatens to overwhelm us.
Psalm 3:3 says, “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (ESV). The Lord never sleeps nor slumbers. He is always awake, watching over us, interceding on our behalf. When you are having a wonderful day, Jesus is there, keeping you safe from harm. When you are having a miserable day, Jesus is there, keeping you safe from harm. It doesn’t matter where you are or where you are going, Jesus Christ will always be a Shield surrounding you, helping you along the way.
A couple of weeks ago, my dad and I were out working with our cattle. As I opened one of the gates, a swarm of wasps came out after me. Because I had never been stung before, I was extremely concerned as I felt a wasp sting my leg. I prayed that no others would sting me. At that moment, I know that the Lord placed a shield around me, keeping me from getting stung multiple times or getting stung on the face. I am grateful for His protection and His healing, as the sting did not cause an allergic reaction. On the same day, my dad was charged by one of our cows more than once. This particular cow had horns, which could have caused a serious injury. I prayed that my dad would not be harmed in any way. Once again, the Lord proved faithful and true, placing a shield around my dad, protecting him from the potential danger.
Sometimes, we get so busy with our daily activities that we do not even notice the hand of God working in our midst. A traffic delay could be saving you from an accident down the road. An unexpected phone call could keep you from slipping and falling on a piece of ice in your kitchen. Having to go back inside your house for a forgotten item could serve as a reminder to turn off the stove or unplug the curling iron before it causes fire damage to your home. You see, there are so many scenarios where God sees the possible outcomes before we could ever begin to process them all. He knows our future. That’s why we need to trust in His timing, because He knows what lies ahead.
As human beings, none of us are perfect. Our natural tendency is to call on the Lord more when we are in distress than when everything is going well. When we are sitting on cloud nine, we tend to believe we are doing great on our own, like a captain of a ship enjoying smooth sailing on a sunny day. But just like the captain should be thanking God for the calm seas, we need to remember to thank Him for His blessings every day. In the good times and the bad times, we need to praise Him for His endless love and mercy. We need to trust that He will work everything out for our good, no matter what is going on around us (see Romans 8:28).
God’s Word says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Bible doesn’t say to acknowledge the Lord on Sunday and don’t worry about it the rest of the week. It says “in ALL your ways acknowledge him” (emphasis added). We need to completely depend on Jesus Christ, making sure that everything we say and do revolves around His plan for our life.
Jesus Christ is our Shield. He is the glory and the lifter of our head. Jesus wants us to live an abundant life. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to lean on Him. By doing so, we can ensure that our focus is not on the trials and tribulations of this world, but on the One who loves us more than we could ever imagine. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we’ll find that the difficult times are more bearable and the joyful times are even more delightful. Let us praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all that He has done in our lives! From dawn until dusk and all through the night, the Lord is watching over you, keeping you safe. Jesus Christ is our constant Friend, our Lord and Savior, and our Shield.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
When
I was a little girl, rarely a day went by that I did not go next door to visit
my grandparents. One day I would help
them pick up pecans under the tallest tree in their yard, a tree that towered
over me like an enormous giant with an infinite number of sprawling arms. Sometimes, I would wheel my little red wagon
down to their house, either full of baby dolls or carrying my cat Morris or my
pet rabbit Speckles. Another day, we
would be inside, making Grandma Ethel’s famous chocolate pound cake (which I
still make in her memory to this very day) or Papa Joe’s mouthwatering homemade
ice cream. I always loved this activity because
they always let me lick the paddle when the ice cream was ready to eat!
But
it wasn’t these fond childhood memories that make the top of the list. And it wasn’t the cherished moments I spent
with my Grandma, listening intently as she taught me to play the autoharp. It wasn’t even the trips to town in Papa
Joe’s blue and white Ford pick-up truck, where we would ride with the windows
rolled down, singing at the top of our lungs, “In the Good ‘Ole
Summertime.” What makes the visits to
Papa and Grandma’s house special in my storehouse of memories are the many ways
they showed their love for me and love for God.
One
thing I distinctly remember is the way they always made sure we said grace
whenever I was sharing a meal with them.
We would hold hands, bow our heads in reverence to the Almighty, and
then pray together. They, along with my
parents, taught me at a young age the importance of being sincerely grateful
for my food and asking God to bless it.
While I now say a prayer in my own words, I will always remember those
timeless words that my Grandma, Papa, and I would say in unison:
God
is great, God is good.
Let
us thank Him for this food.
By
His hands, we are fed.
Give
us Lord our daily bread.
Amen.
Such a simple
prayer, yet it is one that embodies such a complex meaning. As a child, I knew we were to be
thankful. I knew we were to say grace. I knew we should pray. But only as an adult have I discovered that
grace is much more than a prayer recited at mealtime.
Grace is one of the most precious
gifts ever given to us by God. Through
grace, a lost soul can be found. Through
grace, a broken heart can be mended.
Through grace, a shattered life can be restored.
For decades, congregations have
gathered together in one accord to join their voices in song as they joyously
sing the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace.”
Just the melody of this song can produce goose bumps on your arms and cause
a chill to run gently up and down your spine.
But it’s not because of the singer, the musician, or even the writer of
this cherish tune. It’s because of the priceless
meaning that is held within the lyrics of this powerful and anointed song. John Newton must have had a direct connection
to the Heavenly choir of angels when he penned the following lyrics:
Amazing
Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was
Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through
many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The
Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea,
when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When
we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Grace. It has been sung about, written about, and
talked about for thousands of years. But
just as this beloved hymn states, we shall be showered with the goodness of God’s
grace forevermore if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His
Son. God will not only bestow upon us
His matchless grace, but He will also fill our hearts with peace if we come to
Him with grateful hearts. Philippians
4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus [emphasis added].” You see, God
wants us to be happy and to have no worries or cares. Much like my grandparents and I always said
grace, we should always be thankful for everything God. If we give grace for what God does for us,
the grace He gives in return will be greater than you or I could ever imagine!
In
Christ’s Love,
Jennifer