For the past two Sunday mornings we sang "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed." It's a beautiful song and I've sung it many times; but two weeks ago the words touched me differently and perhaps more strongly than ever before. They hit home with me.
I'm sure many of you know the words. It is about the Savior's love and sacrifice as He was crucified for our sins. The words are beautiful and sad at the same time. They bring our attention to the terrible agony He suffered. They remind us of the awesome love of Jesus.
We should be reminded of Christ's death more frequently. His death and resurrection should be at the forefront of our minds and embedded deeply in our hearts. As Christians it should be what shapes our thoughts and guides our lifestyle every day.
God loves us. Jesus loves us. The Holy Spirit - the Comforter - loves us. The Bible tells us so. The hymns we sing emphasize this truth. The words which touched my heart so strongly are in the last verse. "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do."
These are the words which occupied my mind for two weeks now. I was glad we sang it the second time. The words are so true. Giving ourselves to Him really is all we can do.
We are most certainly not able to save ourselves. We are totally dependent on God for our eternal life. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. His blood paid for our sins and His resurrection conquered death. It is the resurrection which gives us a confident hope of eternal life in heaven with our Savior. Sadly so many people fail to recognize this.
The fact is what we do for Jesus will never come close to what He has done for us. But our love for Him should prompt us to do just what the words of the song say - give ourselves to Him. Nothing else will do. God is not impressed with riches or monuments, or feats of strength, or worldly fame.
Jesus does not concern Himself with the size of our home or the kind of car we drive. The Father and Son only care about our hearts (minds). Our good works are done in God's name so He might be glorified. The light we shine in this dark world is His light.
In short, Jesus wants us to want Him. He wants us to desire heaven so we can be in fellowship with Him. From the time God created man all He has ever wanted to do is be with us. We should want the same thing.
He doesn't expect us to climb the highest mountain or strive for something we cannot do. God only wants us do as much as we can -- in His name -- for His glory; not for our own. If we are willing to give ourselves to Him, we will gain plenty of opportunities to serve Him.
Still I don't suppose many of us like this idea - the idea of giving ourselves away. That's asking way too much, isn't it? It is so much easier just to live our own lives and do our own thing.
Our time is our own. We don't want to spend an afternoon going to the hospital or cooking a meal for a family in need. It takes too much energy to sit with a young mother during worship while her husband is away serving our country. And no one likes to go to the funeral home to be with someone who has just lost a family member.
What about the song? Is giving ourselves to Him totally necessary? We know. The answer is a resounding yes!
We all have good intentions. As Christians, we want to serve God even when it requires time and effort - and even when it means doing things we don't like to do.
These are small prices to pay compared to our Savior's sacrifice. The apostles and other early Christians gave their very lives for the cause of Christ. So many others have too, from that time until now.
It makes me think about all the things I should be doing. Still, it isn't about the things. To be honest, it never has been. It has absolutely everything to do with our hearts. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 it is not what we do but why we do it. It is the LOVE we have for God that matters. We do what we do out of love.
It doesn't matter how small or big our acts of service are. What matters is the love we have as we serve Him! It is love that guides our walk with Him. It is love which prompts our study of God's word so we can know what to do to serve Him. It is love which leads to obedience and service.
Giving our love causes us to give ourselves away. It isn't always easy and it may actually involve suffering; but it is always worth it! God promises us that.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Let's Be Weight Lifters
So I've started exercising .... again. It's been several months since I was on any kind of regular routine. Yesterday, after using the elliptical I used the gym training station for a little weight lifting. It was only two sets of 15 reps with 20 pounds. That's really all I can handle for the time being. I will have to build up to more.
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 6, 2019
The Singing Farmer
I suppose many of you heard about the old farmer who loved to really sing out during worship assembly. He sang with great zeal. Unfortunately, the poor fella didn't have a pitch perfect voice. He was just about tone deaf.
Some of the men of the congregation decided they were going to see the old farmer and talk to him about his loud off-key singing. When they got to his place they found him out in the field plowing. He was happily and loudly singing praises to God as he walked behind his old mule.
His happiness and devotion touched the hearts of the other men. They were a little ashamed of themselves. How could they tell him to curb his enthusiasm during worship when he obviously loved singing to the Lord so much? It would be like stealing his joy and they couldn't bring themselves to do that. So they quickly left before the old farmer ever knew they had been there.
Now I must admit I am somewhat like the old man. I love to sing during worship and I love to sing out loudly. It warms my heart to sing songs of praise to our God and to our Savior. Unfortunately, I am also like him in that I cannot sing well at all. I can't carry a tune - I just can't. I'm pretty much tone deaf. Ask any member of my family and they will all tell you the same thing.
The good thing is it doesn't matter to the Lord what my voice sounds like. He only wants me to praise Him. I don't think the Lord really cares if we hit all the right notes.
How softly or loudly we sing is not nearly as important as the fact that our hearts and minds stay focused on Him while we do. He loves it when He knows we are singing with joy in our hearts.
As much as I love to sing, sometimes when we are singing a song we've sung a thousand times, I do find my mind wandering a little bit. It takes discipline to concentrate on the words of the song and what they mean. But if we put forth the effort, we will be truly blessed.
Our singing is a vital part of our worship! We can influence and encourage one another as we lift up beautiful words of praise to our all powerful and all merciful Heavenly Father. It cheers our hearts (or should anyway) to sing songs about heaven and how wonderful it will be. When we sings songs like "Stand Up for Jesus" or "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" or "Faith is the Victory" we are encouraged to face another day of fighting the good fight of faith.
Singing has a great impact on us. There is something about the words of a song (maybe with the rhythm). They become embedded in our memory and soak into our hearts and souls. They lift our spirits and reinforce our learning.
So many songs spiritual songs come directly from scripture and most of us have our favorites. Other songs tell stories - many of the children's songs do that. Some 'adult' songs do too. I will never forget the first time I heard "Thomas's Song" by Ken Young. The words were so powerful, I cried when I heard it. If the song is unfamiliar to you, copy and paste the highlighted section below into your browser. It should take you to the lyrics of the song.
https://dennistcg.com/2010/02/01/thomas%E2%80%99-song-by-ken-young/
I love many different songs; but I suppose my favorite is - and always will be - "Jesus Loves Me." It is timeless because His love for us never changes. No matter what is going on in our lives, if we are on the highest mountaintop or in the deepest valley, the love of Christ will never change! It is the one thing on which we can always depend!
One thing I love about singing scripture, hymns, and songs of praise is we can do this anytime. Just like we can pray and study anytime. We do not have to wait until Sunday morning to sing. Our Lord will love hearing us whenever we praise Him in song.
We can sing on the way to work or on the way home from a child's basketball game. We can sing while we are cooking or sewing or working outside. We can sing at home or when we fellowship with others.
How wonderful it is to know we can be like the old farmer - to know we can praise our God through song at so many different times! Isn't wonderful to know whether we are singing or praying or studying God knows? And it doesn't matter to Him what we sound like.
I think the old farmer was so full of joy and thanksgiving he couldn't help but love to sing. Maybe he knew James 5:13 - "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (ESV).
I love to hear beautiful spiritual songs. I love it even more when beautiful souls are singing with love and joy in their hearts. God does too.
Some of the men of the congregation decided they were going to see the old farmer and talk to him about his loud off-key singing. When they got to his place they found him out in the field plowing. He was happily and loudly singing praises to God as he walked behind his old mule.
His happiness and devotion touched the hearts of the other men. They were a little ashamed of themselves. How could they tell him to curb his enthusiasm during worship when he obviously loved singing to the Lord so much? It would be like stealing his joy and they couldn't bring themselves to do that. So they quickly left before the old farmer ever knew they had been there.
Now I must admit I am somewhat like the old man. I love to sing during worship and I love to sing out loudly. It warms my heart to sing songs of praise to our God and to our Savior. Unfortunately, I am also like him in that I cannot sing well at all. I can't carry a tune - I just can't. I'm pretty much tone deaf. Ask any member of my family and they will all tell you the same thing.
The good thing is it doesn't matter to the Lord what my voice sounds like. He only wants me to praise Him. I don't think the Lord really cares if we hit all the right notes.
How softly or loudly we sing is not nearly as important as the fact that our hearts and minds stay focused on Him while we do. He loves it when He knows we are singing with joy in our hearts.
As much as I love to sing, sometimes when we are singing a song we've sung a thousand times, I do find my mind wandering a little bit. It takes discipline to concentrate on the words of the song and what they mean. But if we put forth the effort, we will be truly blessed.
Our singing is a vital part of our worship! We can influence and encourage one another as we lift up beautiful words of praise to our all powerful and all merciful Heavenly Father. It cheers our hearts (or should anyway) to sing songs about heaven and how wonderful it will be. When we sings songs like "Stand Up for Jesus" or "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" or "Faith is the Victory" we are encouraged to face another day of fighting the good fight of faith.
Singing has a great impact on us. There is something about the words of a song (maybe with the rhythm). They become embedded in our memory and soak into our hearts and souls. They lift our spirits and reinforce our learning.
So many songs spiritual songs come directly from scripture and most of us have our favorites. Other songs tell stories - many of the children's songs do that. Some 'adult' songs do too. I will never forget the first time I heard "Thomas's Song" by Ken Young. The words were so powerful, I cried when I heard it. If the song is unfamiliar to you, copy and paste the highlighted section below into your browser. It should take you to the lyrics of the song.
https://dennistcg.com/2010/02/01/thomas%E2%80%99-song-by-ken-young/
I love many different songs; but I suppose my favorite is - and always will be - "Jesus Loves Me." It is timeless because His love for us never changes. No matter what is going on in our lives, if we are on the highest mountaintop or in the deepest valley, the love of Christ will never change! It is the one thing on which we can always depend!
One thing I love about singing scripture, hymns, and songs of praise is we can do this anytime. Just like we can pray and study anytime. We do not have to wait until Sunday morning to sing. Our Lord will love hearing us whenever we praise Him in song.
We can sing on the way to work or on the way home from a child's basketball game. We can sing while we are cooking or sewing or working outside. We can sing at home or when we fellowship with others.
How wonderful it is to know we can be like the old farmer - to know we can praise our God through song at so many different times! Isn't wonderful to know whether we are singing or praying or studying God knows? And it doesn't matter to Him what we sound like.
I think the old farmer was so full of joy and thanksgiving he couldn't help but love to sing. Maybe he knew James 5:13 - "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (ESV).
I love to hear beautiful spiritual songs. I love it even more when beautiful souls are singing with love and joy in their hearts. God does too.
Sing on ye joyful pilgrims!
Christ above all things,
Robin
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