The Sparrow

Today is Wednesday -- that day in the middle of the week which I always looked forward to -- that day when the family of God would meet together and hearts would be lifted in praise to God as we lifted our voices in joyous song, prayed together, were blessed by the testimonies of the saints, and challenged by the devotional from our pastor.  But as I thought about missing these things, I thought about a bird -- a song -- and each one of us individually.

The sparrow is a very small, tiny bird, and is mostly colored pale brown and grey.  I guess you would describe him as being very simplistic -- no beautiful colors or sweet singing voice.  But Jesus said --
     "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."  Civilla Martin penned the words to this song that blesses and encourages my heart today.
This is her account of the writing of this song --

     "Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York.  We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle -- true saints of God.  Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years.  Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair.  Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them.  One day while we were visiting with the Doolittle's, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it.  Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: 'His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.'  The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me.'  The hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience."

     "Why should I be discouraged?  Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home --
      When Jesus is my portion -- my constant Friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

      Let not your heart be troubled, His tender words I hear;
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubt and fear.
      Though by the path He leadeth -- but one step I may see,
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

      When ever I am tempted, when ever clouds arise --
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
      I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free.
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

      I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."
      

    

I'd Rather Have Jesus!

Praise the Lord for this beautiful Monday morning!  My heart is still rejoicing from the blessings and encouragement my heart received yesterday as I worshiped with my own church family, and with many others across the nation.  How blessed it is to be part of the family of God!!  And in spite of every hindering or unpleasant circumstance, I just want to testify that I would rather have Jesus and be an "old-time" Christian than anything I know!!

     "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
      I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands --
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

      I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
      I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame --
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

      He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
      He's all that my hungering spirit needs --
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

      Than to be the king of a vast domain;
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
      I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today."

When George Beverly Shea was 21 years old, he met a man who was the host of a coast-to-coast radio talent show.  When he learned that Bev (as he was called) liked to sing, he arranged an audition, and a few weeks later Bev found himself singing "Go Down Moses" to a nationwide audience on the National Broadcasting Company.  He had gotten a taste of widespread fame.

     One Sunday shortly afterwards, he sat down at his mother's organ to practice for the morning church service.  His eyes fell on a clipping she had left for him there--a poem written in 1922 by Mrs. Rhea Miller.  As he read the words, they spoke to him about his own aims and ambitions in life.  An appropriate melody came easily, almost composing itself.  In church that morning, he sang "I'd Rather Have Jesus" publicly for the first time.  He became known as "America's beloved gospel singer", and traveled with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team.

My friend, if you cannot sing this song from the depths of your heart today; the Master is calling, and "whosoever will" may come!   

    

My Anchor Holds!

There's a little chorus that begins -- "It's amazing what praising can do"!!  I say "Amen to that", and am so thankful this morning that, regardless of outward circumstances, there is a wonderful joy and sweet peace that can fill our souls.  The birds were singing so sweetly to me when I awakened this morning, God's beautiful sunshine was streaming through my windows, songs of praise and thanksgiving were flooding my heart with glory, and my Heavenly Father told me He will never leave me nor forsake me!!!  Praise the Lord!!  And as we look to the coming Lord's Day -- in the final analysis, it really doesn't matter if we are worshiping in our homes, at a drive-in-church, in the "inmost" prison with Paul and Silas, or even in the lion's dean with the 3 Hebrew children, for where Jesus is--it's heaven there!!

     "Tho' the angry surges roll on my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know, wildly though the winds may blow --
      I've an anchor safe and sure, that can evermore endure.

      Mighty tides about me sweep; perils lurk within the deep;
Angry clouds o'er-shade the sky, and the tempest rises high.
      Still I stand the tempest's shock, for my anchor grips the Rock.

      I can feel the anchor fast as I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, tho' unseen, bears the heavy strain between.
      Through the storm I safely ride, till the turning of the tide.

      Troubles almost 'whelm the soul; griefs like billows o'er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray; storms obscure the light of day.
      But in Christ I can be bold; I've an anchor that shall hold.

      And it holds, my anchor holds;
Blow your wildest, then, O gale, on my bark so small and frail.
      By His grace I shall not fail, for my anchor holds, my anchor holds."

God bless you, dear friend.  Make sure you are anchored firmly and securely today in Jesus, our wonderful Lord and soon coming King!!   

Living by Faith!

In the 12th chapter of Genesis, we read -- "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him."
Again, in the 11th chapter of Hebrews where we read about some of the great heroes of faith, we read:  "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

Yesterday I read these words concerning Abraham -- "Whither he went, he knew not; it was enough to know that he went with God."  I love that sweet thought, and isn't that a wonderful statement for us in our present situation!  We don't have to understand everything -- our Master knows right where we are and what we have need of today.  I like these words from F. B. Meyer:

     "It is by no means enough to set out cheerfully with your God on any venture of faith.  Tear into smallest pieces any itinerary for the journey which your imagination may have drawn up.  Nothing will fall out as you expect.  Your Guide will keep to no beaten path.  He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your eyes would look upon.  He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear nothing while He is with you."
Annie Porter Johnson wrote --

     "The day had gone; alone and weak I groped my way
Within a bleak and sunless land.
      The path that led into the light I could not find!
In that dark night -- God took my hand.

      He led me that I might not stray,
And brought me by a new, safe way I had not known.
      By waters still -- through pastures green --
I followed Him -- the path was clean of briar and stone.

      The heavy darkness lost its strength,
My waiting eyes beheld at length the streaking dawn.
      On, safely on, through sunrise glow I walked,
My hand in His, and lo -- the night had gone."

So as we begin another week of walking with Jesus, and Living by Faith, let's sing this little chorus and practice it all week long!
     "Just keep on praying, 'til light breaks through!
The Lord will answer -- He'll answer you!
      God keeps His promise -- His Word is true!
Just keep on praying, 'til light breaks through!"  

        

Deeper and Higher

It is Friday, and as we look to the coming Lord's Day, it appears that most of us will once again be worshiping in our homes.  And I'm afraid, if we are not careful, we will be tempted to fret and complain about our confinement.  So let us stop and listen to the Apostle Paul in the 4th chapter of Philippians, verses 11b-13.
     "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things Christ which strengtheneth me."

What a thrilling and encouraging passage of scripture!  The great Apostle seems to indicate that his contentment was not always automatic, for he said in verse 11 -- "I have learned".  So----while we are confined, why don't we make a conscious effort to dig deeper and climb higher in the things of God, never forgetting the Wonderful promise in Romans 8:28---
     "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

     "One of America's first African-American hymnists, Charles Price Jones, was born in Rome, Georgia, at the end of the Civil War.  His father died when he was young.  After his mother's death when he was 17, Charles wandered across the South, ending up in Arkansas, where He found Christ as his Saviour.  He immediately began witnessing of his newfound faith, and soon he was formally licensed to preach.  He married in 1891, and became a popular preacher.  Yet he felt something was missing.  He said:

     "I was pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma, Alabama, and my ministry with that church seemed to be accepted and much loved.  But as I read my Bible and observed conditions, I began to seek Him with all my heart for that power that would make my life wholly His.  I fasted and prayed three days and nights.  He then sanctified me sweetly in His love.  The blessing of God rested upon me.  It was the nearness, the eminence, the reality of the presence of God that exalted my spirit and filled me with joy, the joy of the Holy Ghost."

      In 1895, Bro. Jones became pastor of the Mt. Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, and there his Holiness teachings created a storm!  "I was looked on as a fanatic by some; by others as weak in the brain", he said.  While trying to minister amid a storm of criticism, Charles suffered a personal tragedy when his four-year-old daughter was burned in a fire and died.  Soon thereafter, he was dismissed as pastor and began holding services in an empty store where he preached from the counter.  But his attitude was victorious, as expressed in his great hymn written during this period:
'O deeper yet, I pray, and higher every day.'"

     "Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know.
      Deeper, deeper blessed Holy Spirit, take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus, and His perfect will.

      Deeper, deeper though it cost hard trials, deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus, let me fruitful grow.
      Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus, till all conflicts past,
Finds me conqueror, and in His own image perfected at last.

      O deeper yet, I pray, and higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord, in Thy precious, Holy Word."             
  

Peace in the Heart

     "Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin.  He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one.
      He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin.  He stepped back behind the curtain thinking it was still where he had left it, but discovered that someone had stolen his and left that old secondhand one in its place.  He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said:
     "Ladies and Gentlemen:  I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul."  And he played as he had never played before; and out of that secondhand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul."

And so it is our mission, when we are tested and tried, to reveal to all that the music of our life is not in conditions, not in things, not in externals, but the music of life is in our own soul!
I like this little poem by Charles Richardson --

     "If peace be in the heart, the wildest winter storm is full of beauty,
The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,
      Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,
The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory, if peace be in the heart."

So, today, if you feel like you have lost your "valuable violin" through the trials, difficulties, heartaches, loss of jobs, etc. plaguing our nation and world right now--just take a little time to be still-- quiet your heart--and have a little talk with Jesus!  You will soon rise above the cares of life, and sense the sweet peace of God flooding your soul!  God bless you!      

HE LIVES!!

Praise the Lord for the glory and wonder of the Resurrection that lingers in my heart today!  No, it was not the "normal" Easter Sunday celebration that we have probably thought we would always have, but I trust we were able to realize a little of the reality that "where Jesus is, it's heaven there!"
I am so very thankful on this Monday morning that our blessed Saviour conquered death, hell, and the grave; He is alive forevermore, and I am so thankful He lives in my heart this morning!

One of the beautiful hymns that is probably sung in most churches on Easter Sunday is the beautiful, soul-stirring hymn, "He Lives" by Alfred Ackley.  I trust a little of the story behind it will be a blessing to you today.

     "Why should I worship a dead Jew?  That question -- and a dreadful sermon -- inspired this hymn.
Alfred Ackley was born in Pennsylvania in 1887.  He showed great promise as a child, and his musician father personally tutored him before sending him to New York to study music.  Later he attended Westminster Seminary in Maryland, and was ordained into the Presbyterian ministry in 1914.  In 1932, while pastoring in California, Alfred met a Jewish man to whom he began witnessing.
But the man resisted the Christian faith, saying, "Why should I worship a dead Jew?

      That statement played on Alfred's mind as he prepared his Easter Sunday message.  Rising early to prepare for the day, Alfred turned on the radio and was astonished to hear a famous liberal preacher in New York say:  "Good morning---it's Easter!  You know, folks, it really doesn't make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not!  As far as I am concerned, his body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb.  The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!"

      Alfred  wanted to fling the radio across the room.  "It's a lie!" he exclaimed.  His wife rushed into the bathroom , asking, "Why are you shouting so early in the morning"?  "Didn't you hear what that good-for-nothing preacher said?" Alfred replied.  That morning, Ackley preached with great vigor on the reality of Christ's Resurrection, and he did the same at the evening service.  But later that night, he was still agitated.  "Listen here, Alfred Ackley", his wife said at last.  "It's time you did that which you can do best.  "Why don't you write a song about it and then maybe you'll feel better."
      Alfred went to his study, opened the Bible, and re-read the Resurrection account from Mark's gospel.  A thrill went through him, and he began writing the words to "He Lives"!  A few minutes later, he was at the piano putting it to music, not dreaming it would become one of the church's most
triumphant Easter hymns."

     "I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today.
I know that He is living; whatever men may say.
      I see His hand of mercy.  I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him -- He's always near.

      In all the world around me I see His loving care;
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.
      I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast.
The day of His appearing will come at last.

      Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian.  lift up your voice and sing.
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King.
      The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find.
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

      He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
      He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?  He lives within my heart."