SIGH…(end of a hectic workday)
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A discussion theme has prompted me to share one of my favorite hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul”,
and the oft-repeated story behind it. I never tire hearing of the Grace of God shown in the author’s
heart as he composed this wonderful hymn on the heels of incredible grief. Here is the story as retold
in Christian History Institutes Bulletin #64
IN THE 1870s Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer and a close friend of evangelist
Dwight L. Moody.Spafford had invested heavily in real estate, but the Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his
holdings. His son had died shortly before the disaster.
Spafford and his family desperately needed a rest so in 1873 he planned a trip to Europe with his wife and
four daughters. While in Great Britain he also hoped to help Moody and Sankey with their evangelistic tour.
Last minute business caused Spafford to delay his departure, but he sent his wife and four daughters
on the S.S. Ville Du Havre as scheduled, promising to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was
struck by the English ship Lochearn, and it sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors landed
at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband the brief message, “Saved alone.”
(Jimmish comment: “In another account it
is reported that her message was the plaintive “Saved alone. What shall I do?”)
When Horatio Spafford made the ocean crossing to meet his grieving wife, he sailed near the place
where his four daughters had sunk to the ocean depths. There, in the midst of his sorrow, he wrote
these unforgettable words that have brought solace to so many in grief:
Here are the lyrics:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
The versions playing in the background are by
Jars of Clay, from their album
Redemption Songs, and Phil Driscoll, from Classical Hymns, vol. 2
Edit: Monday, 5:55pm..
I’ve added the Jennifer Knapp/Audio Adrenaline
and the 4Him renditions…enjoy!
May we all bless God so resolutely
and sweetly in trials or triumphs
blessings…Jim
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Edit: April 5th….see below
The Dance
“I’m broken”, I cried
“And unable to run.”
“Come dance”, said the Father,
“The day has begun.”
“I’m weak”, I repeated,
“And haven’t the power”
“Dance with me”, said Jesus,
“Come join me this hour.”
He called and entreated
In daybreak’s new voice
HE’d started the life-dance,
But gave me the choice.
So, cautious and timid
And lame,
I joined in
The Dance with
The Lover
Who’d overcome sin.
I looked on The Lover;
my eyes now off me,
And I sunned in His pleasure
And soon came to see
The freedom that’s found
In the Father’s delight,
The wholeness and love found
While dancing in light.
If you’re broken
Or lame
Or imprison’d today,
Look not on your shackles;
By choice look away
To Him
Who delights
To make prisoners free.
COME
Join, dance, and worship,
my friend, now with me.
© copyright april 2006, james a. smallish
Edit: April 5th
Now a brief word of explanation:
I was having a hard time over a recent stumble into one of my own “besetting sins” (nothing major, just big to me) the other day. I’d lost some peace and connection to God, and knew that I wanted to get back to praising Him ASAP. I, however still have a little of that feeling that there is a need to wait; suffer; pay penance, as it were. A wonderful praise song came on the radio, and I wistfully wished to God that I could enter in to worshiping Him. I SWEAR that in as close to an audible voice as I’ve ever heard, without being audible, God said,” Well, come on, then!” I was lifted, but a little later told God, “But I’m not even worthy to worship you”.
In the same uplifting, enjoining voice I “heard”…………..”Who is?”
I got the point; almost immediately after the first breakthrough the poem above began to “pop into” my head.
(by the way, the profile dancer is not me…photo courtesy of freefoto.com)
Exodus 15:20-
Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them, ” Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”
Psalm 150:
Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
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His Yoke
Oh gentle Savior give to me
That yoke you promised;
light and free.
Trust me with your load of care
for others, Lord;
Help me to share
their pains
in mercy;
be their brace -
to bear their burdens, Lord
With grace.
And as you give Your heart to me –
open eyes, help others see
It’s You, in love, who bears MY pain
-with You in me e’en loss is gain.
And be my way as dim as night
Your yoke is sweet;
Your burden light.
Oh, open eyes that all might see
It’s You, my God
Who carries me.
© copyright James A Smallish 2006
Take my yoke upon you … my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” from Mt 11:29,30
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
…I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
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.
he
SIGHS
(in relief)
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. ”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Mt 11:28-30)
(just letting out a loooooooooooong sigh after doing an all-nighter to finish some online coursework)
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SWEET MUSIC
Yesterday in church a young woman about my middle daughter’s age,
who is an accomplished violinist, played along with the singers for one of the songs.
Now, music has always been a special part of my relationship with God,
and I know that this is a gift from Him to mankind; a unique language of His heart, in my mind.
This, however, was exceptional. The piece didn’t blow me away with it’s
intricacy or degree of difficulty. What touched me was the emotion and feeling conveyed
with Jessie’s style and technique. Like other artists I’ve heard, the heart and spirit of the hymn
was transmitted through the bow and instrument.
I wept as I was connected with the Holy Spirit directly; without words.
The following is my response; sincere,
even if not theologically precise.
+ + + + + + + + +
When Jessie Harvey Plays
When angel choirs sing their songs
And heav’nly anthems play
When sweet praise music fills the spheres
I want to sing that day.
To hear the “holy, holy” cries
Give glory to the Lamb
When trumpet fanfares fill the skies
And hail the great I Am.
But sweeter music ne’er was heard
Than when Jessie Harvey plays
the violin with tender tones;
a precious heartsong prays.
No sanct’ed words with greater grace
Bespeak the pains and tears
Of man and God’s great joys and trials
And triumphs through the years.
It seems that God’s own voice is heard
and human voice as well.
The strings without syllabic sound
Our deep desires tell.
So when we’re there, around God’s throne
And joyful songs begin,
I’m sure that Jessie, by that throne
Will play her violin.
©copyright 2006 James A Smallish
The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.( Isaiah 38:20)
Jessie, with Rachel Smallish and Becca Torres
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Feeling this morning, as DCTalk put it, that ” …I’m still a man in need of a Savior”.
One of those days when past sins are nagging at me.
As Paul put it,
Oh, wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of sin and death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
(Rom. 7-8)
= = = = = = = == = = = = = = = = =
Oh, Master of the
vaulting waves
Oh, Captain o’er the sea,
As you once cleansed the
leper, Lord
Today wash over me!
I cannot clean one of
my sins
Nor for one crime atone
I cannot bear the weight of them
‘though all of them I own.
It’s I who nailed You
to the tree
It’s I who raised the cost
Yet Lord it’s I who needs You most
Without You, Lord, I’m lost.
So clean me, Lord
and change my heart
purge white with crimson flow
And I’ll give thanks
with tears and praise
As all the ages roll.
© March 2006 James A. Smallish
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