Stand By Me!

Good morning, dear friends!  I trust that your hearts were blessed, challenged, deepened, and encouraged as you worshiped in your homes yesterday.  I thought of this wonderful old song by Charles Tindley tht my husband sang occasionally, and I trust the words and the story behind it will bring comfort and encouragement to your heart today.

     "In 1902, Charles Tindley was elected pastor of the Bainbridge Street Methodist Church in Philadelphia----the church where he was converted and where he had once served as janitor.  There were 130 members, but under Tindley's powerful preaching, the church grew making it necessary to relocate.  The church mushroomed in growth.  Bro. Tindley stood on the street corners, sharing Christ and doing evangelistic work.  Up and down this area, Tindley walked and talked about God's saving grace.  Sometimes individually, and sometimes in small clusters ---- counseling and consoling, Tindley moved among the unchurched.  Many cabbies were often aroused by Tindley for a shared moment of prayer.  He came to be known as 'Our Preacher.'

      Charles Tindley was a striking man, standing six-foot-three, and possessing a strong, deep voice.  Multitudes were attracted to Christ through his preaching, and the church was expanded until it held over 3,000 people.  Even then, Tindley had to encourage members not to attend all the services so that guests could come.  At the congregation's insistence, the church was renamed 'Tindley Temple'; but in the wee hours of the Sunday appointed for the dedication, his wife, Daisy, died suddenly and Tindley was unable to attend the opening.
       Such a prominent ministry also invites attacks, criticism, misunderstanding, and heavy burdens.  Tindley once said -- 'It was when I was overburdened with criticisms, abuse, and hard and many oppositions---some of them from those whom I took to be my best friends---I wrote 'Stand By Me.'"

     "When the storms of life are raging, Stand by me;
When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea,
      Thou who rulest wind and water, Stand by me.

      In the midst of tribulation, Stand by me;
When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail,
      Thou who never lost a battle, Stand by me.

      In the midst of faults and failures, Stand by me;
When I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,
      Thou who knowest all about me, Stand by me."

Praise the Lord!  What a blessed assurance and sweet comfort to know that Jesus knows all about us, will stand by us and keep us safe in the hollow of His hand!  God bless you as you walk with the Master today! 

There's A Miracle --

I expect we all have faced some challenges this week, but I trust we have all won some victories too!  This is a wonderful time for us to remember that our Master giveth more grace when our burdens grow greater, and as we look to the coming Lord's Day, I want to prepare my heart like I would plan to do if I were going to my own church to worship with the Family of God --- "On land or sea---what matters where---where Jesus is, it's heaven there!"  Praise the Lord!

I think if my husband could speak now from the portals of glory, he would want our daughter, Paula, to sing this song that he always loved to hear her sing ---

     "The crowd was great, but she knew she had to reach Him --
For it was her last hope of ever being healed.
      So she pressed thru until she touched His garment --
And oh, right then and there, her miracle was fulfilled!

      Have you prayed and prayed, but still you've heard no answer --
Has your faith grown weak and you feel you're all alone --
      Don't give up, for the God you serve won't leave you;
There's a miracle for you -- just keep holding on!

      There's a miracle in the making --
One just for you, the Father is working even now --
      Your prayers have been heard, and the answer's on the way;
There's a miracle in the making for you today!"

Let's believe God, and be a channel that He can work through any way He sees fit!  His way is Always the Best Way!  God bless you!    

Power In Prayer!

Yesterday morning my son, Joel, messaged me a song to listen to on you tube, entitled "Power in Prayer".  The message of the words stirred and challenged my heart as I contemplated and thought about the power there is in prayer!  I remembered reading that Mary, Queen of Scots, said she feared the prayers of John Knox more than all the armies of Queen Elizabeth!  The words of James 5:16 come to my mind:  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  It is easy to just say words, but is our praying effectual and fervent?
Then I thought about the blessed and wonderful promise in Jeremiah 33:3:  "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Then my thoughts turned to the events of the past few days that stagger the mind!  I cannot comprehend the drastic changes a few days has made in our nation and world, but already people are restless and tempted to complain about the many inconveniences of being pretty much confined to our homes, but I believe we should endeavor to use this time to draw closer to God, to seek His face, and to pray for revival in our homes, our churches, and our nation!

And let us pray expectantly!  I'm afraid too often we are like the church in the 12th chapter of Acts when Peter was in prison, and "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."  When the angel of the Lord visited the prison, you remember how he led Peter out, and Peter went to the house of Mary where he knew many were gathered praying.  As Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel named Rhoda came to check.  She recognized Peter's voice, and ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate.  I think the next two verses are so sad --
     "And they said unto her, Thou art mad.  But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.  Then said they, it is his angel.  But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished."  May the Lord help us when we pray to be strong in faith as Abraham was --
     "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."  Praise the Lord!!

I saw on the internet today an article where the Chief Rabbi of Israel is calling for a world-wide fast in the face of the Corona Pandemic!
I also saw this quote from Bro. Ken Siminji, one of the godly leaders in the Papua New Guinea Bible Church:  "Prayer moves the heart that moves the hand that moves the world.  Prayer invokes answers to situations that are impossible!  If anything is hard, it is the best subject to pray to God about.  Call to action on Corona is on.  Let's all unite in one voice and pray."  Amen!  New Guinea is issuing the call to prayer from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. for the next 20 days!  What is our Lord wanting me and you to do?
God spoke to Solomon long, long ago and said:
     "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."     

God Be With You --

Yesterday was a blessed and glorious day in the Lord!  I never set foot outside my door, but I worshiped with many of God's wonderful people in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Florida!  It was wonderful, and I was never alone for God's sweet presence filled my heart and home as I listened to the services -- joined in the singing and the praying -- and in boosting the pastor (even though he couldn't see me) with my "Amen's" and upraised hands!

The message from my own pastor, Bro. Wallace Thornton, was a wonderful start to my day, and I am very grateful for his challenging message!  But now, the Lord's Day is over and it is Monday.  What does the week hold for us -- we don't know, and even though I spoke to no one yesterday, I connected with you through the online services -- and wanted to share this sweet song by Jeremiah Rankin with you as we begin another week of living for Jesus!

     "God be with you 'til we meet again; by His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you; God be with you 'til we meet again.
      God be with you 'til we meet again; 'neath His wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you; God be with you 'til we meet again.

      God be with you 'til we meet again; keep love's banner floating o'er you,
Smite death's threat'ning wave before you; God be with you 'til we meet again.
      God be with you 'til we meet again; when life's perils thick confound you,
Put His arms unfailing round you; God be with you 'til we meet again.

     'Til we meet, 'til we meet, 'til we meet at Jesus' feet;
'Til we meet, 'til we meet, God be with you 'til we meet again."
    

Bless This House!

In the book of James, we read -- "Ye know not what shall be on the morrow."  Perhaps as we began this New Year of 2020, your church congregation might have sung, "I Don't Know About Tomorrow."  If so, I'm afraid that we probably sang it rather routinely or automatically, never dreaming that in less than three months we would find our lives and manner of living changed dramatically and drastically!  But Romans 8:28 is still in God's Holy Word, and I am so very thankful that we can choose to make the events of the past few days a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block -- a stepping stone that can draw us closer to God and each other!

The Lord has certainly shown us that the days of miracles are not over!  He has tenderly led us, trod the way before us, and His glory still lingers near!  It has shown me anew that nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender to the perfect will of God!  This is a wonderful time, while we are pretty much confined to our homes, to draw closer together as a family -- to take time to pray together, to play together, and to teach the little ones how sweet it is to be a family that loves Jesus and loves to please Him in all that we do!

There's an old song that my Daddy used to sing when I was a girl, entitled "Bless This House."  This is my prayer for all the people of God as we face the future -- for each of our homes, individually, and our families as a whole.
     "Bless this house, O Lord, we pray --
Make it safe by night and day.
      Bless these walls, so firm and stout --
Keeping want and trouble out.

      Bless the roof and chimneys tall --
Let Thy peace lie over all.
      Bless this door, that it may prove --
Ever open to joy and love.    

      Bless these windows, shining bright --
Letting in God's heavenly light.
      Bless the hearth, a blazing there --
With smoke ascending like a prayer.

      Bless the folk who dwell within --
Keep them pure and free from sin.
      Bless us all that we may be --
Fit, O Lord, to dwell with Thee.

      Bless us all, that one day we --
May dwell, O Lord, with Thee!"

And as we look to the coming Lord's Day which will, no doubt, be very different than we are used to and normally have, let us hear the Word of the Lord which came unto His prophet, Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying --
     "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."  Praise the Lord for this glorious promise in Jeremiah 33:3!  

So let us humble ourselves and pray "unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."  Ephesians 3:20

God's Loving Care!

I thought, perhaps, it might encourage someone today to hear again this story from the life of J. C. Penney who descended from a long line of Baptist preachers, and was well on his way to establishing a successful career when the 1929 Great Depression threw him into crisis.  His business deals turned sour, and Mr. Penney became overwhelmed with anxiety and insomnia.  He developed a painful case of shingles and was hospitalized, but tranquilizers and drugs only made things worse.  His mental state deteriorated until, as he later said, "I was broken nervously and physically, filled with despair, unable to see even a ray of hope.  I had nothing to live for.  I felt I hadn't a friend left in the world, that even my family turned against me."
But one morning he heard singing coming from the little hospital chapel.  The words of the song said, "Be not dismayed, whate'er betide / God will take care of you."
Entering the chapel, he listened to the song, to the Scripture reading, and to the prayer.  "Suddenly -- something happened.  I can't explain it.  I can only call it a miracle.  I felt as if I had been instantly lifted out of the darkness of a dungeon into warm, brilliant sunlight."  All worry left him as he realized more fully than he had ever imagined just how much the Lord Jesus cared for him.  From that day, J. C. Penny was never plagued with worry, and he later recalled those moments in the chapel as, "the most dramatic and glorious twenty minutes of my life."  He later became one of America's greatest retail merchants.    

About 25 years earlier, on a Sunday in 1904, Civilla Martin was in Lestershire, New York, where her husband, Walter, was compiling a collection of hymns for the Practical Bible Training School.  They were planning to travel to another town that day, for Bro. Martin had a preaching assignment.  Civilla woke up sick, and Bro. Martin was about to cancel his plans, when their young child piped up and said: "Oh, Daddy, you don't have to stay home because of Mother---God will take care of us."
Bro. Martin proceeded to the train station and fulfilled his appointment.  When he returned, Civilla handed him the words of "God Will Take Care of You", which she had written in his absence.  Going to his little organ, Bro Morgan composed the music, not knowing that 25 years later the Lord would use it to lift J. C. Penney out of his dungeon of despair. 

I thought how wonderful it is that our loving Lord always knows just what we need, and when we need it, and He delights to work it all together for our good and His glory!  Praise His Name! 
I trust this beautiful song will minister to your heart today!

     "Be not dismayed what e'er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
      Through days of toil, when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.

      All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
      No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

      God will take care of you.  Through every day, o'er all the way.
He will take care of you, God will take care of you."

 

Thoughts for Today

Many who are far better writers than myself are posting about the coronavirus that has drastically changed our way of living in just a few days, so I just want to share a few thoughts that I trust will be a comfort and blessing to your heart today.
First of all, I am so thankful for the precious Word of God which is a source of strength, guidance, and comfort in our times of need. 
In Proverbs 1:33, we read:  "Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."  What a sweet promise!
And I am thankful for the wonderful songs of victory and blessing in our hymnbook!  Let us sing to the Lord and praise Him for His wonderful faithfulness!

I  also like these two little quotes that I have written in my Bible -- "He that fears God need fear nothing else."  and "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."  And remember--"God doesn't give us what we can handle--He helps us handle what we are given."

     "O heart of faith, sing on and on forever!  Although the way be sometimes dark and drear,
Thy God is with thee and forsaketh never, and to the eye of faith doth He appear.
      O heart of faith, trust on and on forever!  The Christ who called thee never, never fails:
Fear not to follow as He leads thee ever, thro' all life's strange and weary, winding trails.

      O heart of faith, hope on and on forever!  A better day is sure for thee to dawn --
A day, beyond life's dark and turbid river, where earth's bleak shadows cannot ever come.
      O heart of faith, press on and on forever!  Forget the things that now lie far behind;
The prize awaits, and Christ himself the Giver -- a great reward thy soul shall surely find.

      O heart of faith, fight on and on forever while in the fiery conflict here below!
Nor sheathe thy sword for any fear or favor, as ebbs the tide of battle to and fro.
      O heart of faith, look up! nor be discouraged; thy God enthroned on high is looking down;
He giveth grace for all life's stormy voyage and holds for thee the victor's golden crown!"
                                                                                                                                --Wilbur Powell
And let us remember these words from Oswald Chambers:
       "God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable."