"ROCK OF AGES"!

I love to learn of the circumstances that inspired the writing of some of our beautiful hymns.  It makes them so much more meaningful when I know the story behind the writing of the hymn.  I trust the story of this wonderful hymn taken from the Congregational Methodist Messenger will be a blessing to you.  

     Many years ago in a barn near Dublin, Ireland a meeting was started.  It was a very discouraging meeting--only a handful of villagers came and only one young boy came forward in response to the invitation.  No one seemed impressed -- it was only Gus!

But "Gus" became a leading minister in the Anglican Church.  He wrote a number of books; he preached thousands of sermons; he wrote 133 hymns, but only one of them has survived the years.  Gus died when he was only 38, but he still influenced probably a few million people!  You will find his full name in just about any hymnal you pick up above or below the hymn that is said to be "the best-known, best-loved, most widely used hymn ever written -- Rock of Ages."

His full name is Augustus Montague Toplady, and his hymn has touched more people than many a poet, scholar, king, or preacher.
Tradition says that he wrote the hymn while taking shelter in a cave during a violent thunderstorm.  That rock, located near Bristol, England, is the center of an annual celebration on November 4, his birthday.
The following incidents illustrate the far-reaching influence of this hymn.

Gladstone, the great statesman of the Victorian era, when he lay dying, was asked what song he would like them to sing to him.  The famous man whispered softly, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me."

Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, was especially fond of the second verse.  As he neared the end, he repeated over and over again:  "In my hand no price I bring: simply to Thy cross I cling."  "You see", he said, "I have had all that my heart could desire -- wealth, honor and fame -- and yet, in this critical hour, how poor I would be if these worldly gifts were the only things on which I could depend."

In England many years ago, mine accidents were quite a frequent occurrence.  After one such accident, it was reported that a number of miners were trapped in one of the shafts.  After two days of searching, the rescuers heard the first signs of life.  They asked if anyone were there.  "Yes", came the faint reply, "but I am trapped.  My feet are crushed under a rock."
"Is anyone else with you"?
"Yes, Jesus is with me.  I first came to know Him through a hymn my mother taught me."  Then through the darkness came a trembling voice singing, "While I draw this fleeting breath."  Those were his last words!  Shortly after, his rescuers found him---a smile on his face---for he had gone to be with the One who had been his Rock for so long.

If you had been with those Armenian Christians who escaped the massacre in Constantinople in 1866, you could have heard the words of this same song float across the Bay of Biscay as the doomed passengers of the sinking ship sang in unison as the ship went down.
Yes, "Rock of Ages" has been sung in the home of the famous; it has been heard wafted through the dark solitude of a mine shaft and it has floated across the waters as hundreds slowly sank to their grave.
    
     "Rock of Ages, cleft for me.  Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed;
      Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure!

Could my tears forever flow, could my zeal no languor know.
      These for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone!
In my hand no price I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling!

      While I draw this fleeting breath; when my eyes shall close in death.
When I rise to worlds unknown, and behold Thee on Thy throne.
      Rock of Ages, cleft for me.  Let me hide myself in Thee."

My friend, are you anchored in Jesus, the blessed "Rock of Ages" today?
      

AMEN!!

The Book of Psalms is divided into five books.  It is interesting that each of these five books ends in a doxology!

   Book I -- Psalm 41:13---"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting.  Amen, and Amen."

   Book II -- Psalm 72:18-19---"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.  And blessed be His glorious name for ever:and let the whole earth be filled with His glory: Amen, and Amen."

   Book III -- Psalm 89:52---"Blessed be the Lord for evermore."  Amen, and Amen,"

   Book IV -- Psalm 106:48---"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen."

   Book V -- Psalm 150:8---"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord."

When we say "Amen", it means that we are in agreement with what is being said.  When King David delivered a Psalm of Thanksgiving for the return of the Ark of the Covenant, he said in I Chronicles 16:36:  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever.  And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord."

Nehemiah displayed great courage in restoring the wall at Jerusalem.  After it was finished, Nehemiah 8:6 says:  "And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.  And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

So, tonight, when you go to the mid-week service at your church, why don't we all join in singing with the children:
     "If you're saved and you know it, say Amen--AMEN! 
         If you're saved and you know it, say Amen--AMEN!
     If you're saved and you know it, then your life will surely show it--
         If you're saved and you know it, say Amen--AMEN!"

And, by the way, your pastor would probably be encouraged if you would say a few hearty AMEN'S during his devotional, too!
Let's try it and see!!!

Will You . . .

Yes, girls, I still remember almost 60 years ago what a special and wonderful night it was when sweet Papa asked me to be his Forever Valentine!!!  Like the old song says -- "Love is a Many Splendored Thing", and like God's Word says -- "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." 
In this sad day when many people substitute Lust for Love, may we who know the Author of love show to the world how God defines it in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians.

I have read how the male Emperor Penguin demonstrates genuine love by standing almost motionless for over two months in below zero temperatures to provide the warmth necessary to incubate a single egg.  During the nesting sequence, he goes up to 120 days without eating.

Amy Carmichael once said:  "You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."
And on this Valentine's Eve, let us all remember that if we want to have happy marriages, happy homes, and happy relationships with our fellowman, we must remember that: "Genuine love is giving without any expectation of personal gain."

God's Holy Word says -- "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."
              --God bless you, and Best Wishes for a very happy Valentine's Day!!!

God's Ways . . .

I love music, but I am not a good singer!  However, in spite of this, during our years of ministry Dad would occasionally walk over to the piano during the service and we would sing this beautiful old song together.
     "The paths I take from day to day, so often rough appear;
But when God leads, I love the way--and joy outweighs the tears.
      God's ways are best ways!  I've found it so!  Where e'er He leads me, there I will go. 
And never question when comes the test -- For I know, always, God's Ways are Best."

Down through the years, I have found it to be true, and the words have been a wonderful blessing and encouragement to me many times.  Probably most of you have been through some tests and trials that seemed to heavy for you to endure, but our faithful God has given us many sweet and precious promises in His blessed Word to assure us that "as our days, so shall our strength be."

I found this beautiful little poem by Annie Johnson Flint that I trust will be a special help and encouragement to some hurting soul today.

     "Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
      Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

      One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
      His grace is sufficient, we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own."

     "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."  I Peter 5:10

The Steps . . .

Psalm 37:23 says:  "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way."  In this verse it says our steps are ordered by the Lord, and in the book of Job it says that God counts all our steps.  Math was never my favorite subject in school, but the Lord would have to be a marvelous mathematician! How do I know that?  Well, Psalm 147:4-5 says:  "He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.  Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite."

Astronomers estimate that at least 10 trillion trillion stars exist in the heavens, and God has counted and identified each one!  What a mighty God we serve!!  And that is not all -- Jesus said the very hairs of our head are all numbered!  From the most massive star in the universe to the tiniest hair on our head---God has it all counted! 
All of these massive countings are far beyond my human capabilities to grasp and understand!
The prophet Jeremiah said:  "The host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured."
In the 12th chapter of Hebrews it speaks about "an innumerable company of angels", and in the book of Revelation John tells us about "a great multitude, which no man could number."

I think I'll just say with the songwriter:
     "He's big enough to rule this mighty universe,
              yet small enough to live within my heart"!!  

Little Children!

Last week I wrote about prayer, and today I want to share a few thoughts from my heart concerning the family.  I don't know of anything on earth sweeter than a Christian family loving God and loving each other, but it does not "just happen".  Proverbs 22:6 says:  "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This "training" is a great responsibility and, at times, seems a little overwhelming to our young mothers, so we as grandmothers and great grandmothers have the blessed privilege to daily take our family to the throne of grace.  The Master invites us to " . . come boldly unto the throne of grace"  and  pour out our hearts to God in prayer for them.  
Then, perhaps, you will be blessed, as I was yesterday morning at church, to have your grandson testify he had awakened that morning with words of this wonderful old song running through his mind.
     "Once I was bound by sin's galling fetters; Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.
But I received a glorious freedom when Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
      Freedom from all the carnal affections; Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;
Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions; Freedom from all that saddened my life!

      Freedom from pride and all sinful follies; Freedom from love and glitter of gold;
Freedom from evil temper and anger; Glorious freedom; rapture untold!
      Freedom from fear with all of its torments; Freedom from care with all of its pain;
Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer -- He who has rent my fetters in twain.

      Glorious freedom!  Wonderful freedom!  No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus, the glorious Emancipator -- now and forever He shall be mine!"

It is times like this, mothers and grandmothers, that bless us, encourage us to keep praying, and remind us again that when we stand before God at the judgment, it will be worth whatever it costs to have the family in our hand!           

Call Unto Me . . .

I have tried to share a few thoughts on prayer this week.  I really don't know how to write on prayer, except to say I know it is desperately needed, and I know that the Master wants to fellowship with His children!  He said to His prophet, Jeremiah:  "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

I often pray these wonderful words from the song, "More About Jesus."  -- "Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me."
There are many things we cannot do  --  but there is one work we all can do, and that is the work of Prayer!  It is staggering to think about, and difficult to comprehend, but we can actually assist God in working miracles around the world through prayer!

God's Word says we are labourers together with Him and there are many examples of this in the Bible.  Think of the four men (four friends, perhaps) who carried the sick man on his bed to Jesus, even taking him to the rooftop and lowering him down in front of Jesus!  Jesus performed the miracle of healing, but the man's friends had played a very important part.
We probably never will "let anyone down through the rooftop", but we can all have a part in seeing great things done for God through intercessory prayer.
I like this little poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

     "There is a place where you can touch the eyes of blinded men to instant, perfect sight.
There is a place where you can say, 'Arise' to dying captives, bound in chains of night.
      There is a place where thou canst reach the store of hoarded gold and free it for the Lord.
There is a place -- upon some distant shore -- where thou canst send a worker and the Word.

      Where is that secret place --- dost thou ask, 'Where'?
            O soul, it is the secret place of prayer!

Let's keep attending the "school of prayer", and ask Jesus often to teach us day by day how critically important it is to pray!