HOLY, HOLY, IS WHAT THE ANGELS SING

HOLY, HOLY IS WHAT THE ANGELS SING

 

As we were sharing in a recent Bible Study, we were reading the scripture in I Peter 1: 12, which talks about our great salvation, and the things prophets shared beforehand and “which angels desire to look into.”

 

And I remembered a hymn from my childhood. I even remember the man who sang it as a solo. It always intrigued me as a child, that the angels would actually fold their wings, as they hear our redemption story.

 

It has meant much to me over the years. I miss these old hymns which meant so much to us so many years ago. Most of them are not even in our hymnbooks today. It takes research to even find the lyrics. I believe our young people today are missing out so much by not being exposed to the great hymns in our hymnbooks and the great ones that are not sung any more.

 

There are great praise songs and choruses that are a blessing, but let us go back to the hymns which speak so much of our salvation and the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Here is that wonderful hymn, written by Joseph Oatman, Jr. who wrote many of our great hymns in the past. Some of you may also remember this old hymn from your childhood, so be blessed!

 

HOLY, HOLY, IS WHAT THE ANGELS SING

 

“There is singing up in heaven such as we have never known, where the angels sing the praises of the Lamb upon the throne; their sweet harps are ever tuneful and their voices always clear, O that we may be more like them while we serve the Master here!

 

REFRAIN: Holy, holy, is what the angels sing, and I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring; but when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings, for angels never felt the joys that our salvation brings.

 

But I hear another anthem, blending voices clear and strong, “Unto Him who hath redeemed us and hath bought us,” is the song; we have come thro’ tribulations to this land so fair and bring, in the fountain freely flowing He has made our garments white. REFRAIN

 

Then the angels stand and listen, for they cannot join that song, like the sound of many waters, by that happy, blood-washed throng; for they sing about great trials, battles fought and vict’ries won, and they praised the great Redeemer, who hath said to them, “Well done.”  REFRAIN

 

So, although I’m not an angel, yet I know that over there I will join a blessed chorus that the angels cannot share; I will sing about my Savior, who upon dark Calvary, freely pardoned my transgressions, died to set the sinner free.” REFRAIN

 

Oh, my heart rejoices that my sins are forgiven, and someday I will join in that mighty throng of believers down through the ages, praising my Lord forever. Can you imagine that day? Oh,

 I  believe it is soon that we will join those multitudes praising around the throne.

 

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia” For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” Revelation 19:6.

 

And as we gather in that mighty blood bought throng, we will sing about the battles won and the great victories that were won, as we served our Precious Lord! Oh, I so pray that you, out there will be in that multitude, singing praises to our God who has redeemed us and bought us for all eternity. You can ask Him in right now, He is waiting for you. He will pardon your sins and wash you white in the blood of the Lamb. You don’t know what tomorrow holds or even the next hour. You need Jesus!

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

MY JESUS, THE VERY

THOUGHT OF THEE

Oh, the great love of Jesus! Just thinking about Him makes me want more and more of His presence, to feel His embrace. I look back down the years and see His footprints all the way, guiding, protecting and loving me just as I am.

We live in such a day when men are rejecting the very God who created them and who loves them. We see terror and violence all around this troubled nation and our world. And men’s lives are filled with sadness and grief. I cannot imagine my life without my Lord and His love surrounding me. And I think of you out there, wondering if you are feeling the same way. The darker the world gets, the more we want to just cling to Jesus and lay our head on His breast and let the storm blow around us, safe and protected by the “Everlasting Arms.”

I was thinking along these lines when the thought came to find a hymn that reflects His love in these troubled times, and how we can draw near to Him as we wait for His Glorious Appearing, and continuing to work for Him and living for Him day by day, and listening to His sweet voice, and staying in His Word and prayer. I was led to this old, old hymn that expressed how I am feeling this moment about my Lord, and pray that you, too, will be blest and drawn closer to Him.  Here is the story: Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee.

This hymn was written nearly a thousand years ago in the middle of the time we sometimes call the Dark Ages. It was a dark time because it was riddled with extensive corruption among the leaders of the nations as well as leaders of the church.

In such a time, the life of Bernard of Clairvaux shines brightly, “knowing God,” he said “Is a matter of the heart.” It was a truth that dominated his life. At a very early age he was drawn to spiritual things. Largely influenced by the piety of his mother. At the age of twenty-two he entered a monastery at Citeaux, and three years later he founded a monastery at Clairvaux and served as its spiritual leader until he died in 1153.

In spite of his many pressing responsibilities and frequent travel, Bernard never lost sight of what he prized most – the love of Jesus. God’s love was Bernard’s lifeblood, pulsing through everything he said and did. His knowledge of God was deeply personal, a mystical love affair that not only gave meaning to his life on earth but formed his vision of heaven. As Bernard said, “[God] is Himself the reward of those who love Him, the eternal reward of those who love Him for eternity.”  (“Hymns” by Petersen)

JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE

Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast; but sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, nor can the mem’ry find a sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O Savior of mankind!

O Hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek.

But what to those who find? Ah, this nor tongue nor pen can show; the love of Jesus, what it is

None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize wilt be: Jesus, be Thou our glory now, and through eternity. (Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

My dear friends, as I read the words in this precious hymn and the faith of this dear man, so many, many years ago, I only wish that I could live in the faith and love that this man did. Life is such a struggle sometimes, and we do live in troubled times as he did. We see that on every level. But so sweet to know that Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and how we long to draw in to His presence and let the world and its troubles go by. Don’t you long to feel His presence and to see His face?

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known” I Corinthians 13:12.

Yes, we only see Him dimly, by faith. We only know just a glimmer of eternity and what God has planned for we who love Him, but someday all will be made clear, Oh, praise the Lord!

And just speaking His name brings such sweetness: “Jesus, Oh how sweet the name, Jesus, everyday the same, Jesus, let all saints proclaim its worthy praise forever.”

And when we fall, He is right there lift us up, and to those who seek Him will find Him right there waiting with open arms. But to those who find Him, pen cannot tell the love that each one of His loved ones feel when safe in His arms.

And our prize, to feel His wonderful presence now, but someday face to face at last and for all eternity, and I can hardly wait, how about you? I pray that you, too, know the love of this Wonderful Savior, who died for us that we would spend eternity safe in His arms.

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

BE STILL, MY SOUL!

BE STILL, MY SOUL

 

New Year’s Day, 2016. The weather is clear and cold after a series of rain and snow.  As we look ahead to the year ahead, it is a path untrod, except by our Lord who has taken that path ahead of us, and He knows what lies down that path.

 

Will it be a year of pain and sickness? I, myself, have had two years of such, and look forward to a blessed year ahead. I look forward to returning strength and returning to the ministry God has given to me, the love of our precious seniors in nursing homes, foster homes and shut-ins. I look forward to once again laying hands of the sick and bringing hope into desperate hearts. There are many out there who are truly feeling hopeless at the beginning this year.

 

For some of you out there it will be a year of heartache and despair, some are fearful of the terror in our streets, schools and malls. Some of you may lose loved ones this year, or have recently lost a precious one. Christmas is a hard time for many, remembering past Christmases with their loved ones. Some of you are totally alone in this world now, and long for someone to come and just give you a hug and spend some time hearing your stories and enjoying your presence.

 

I pray that your year will be a year of joy, joy in the Lord. That you will fill His presence and His love in spite of any circumstances that may come into your life. Your life may be filled with cloudy days, but the Son is shining behind those clouds of grief or sorrow.

 

I am a lover of old hymns and their stories, and the verses that speak to our hearts. This song, “Be Still, My Soul is a new one to me, as I heard it in church last Sunday. I found the verses to speak to my heart, and wanted to know more about the history of this lovely song, that speaks to God’s people today, in troubled times.

 

It reassures His people that God is on our side no matter what lies ahead. It tells us that God does guide the future, and God stills the grieving heart. And it reassures us, as born again believers in our Lord Jesus Christ that the hour is getting late and someday we will be home with Him where all tears are wiped away.  Here is the story of that song:

 

“About a hundred years after the time of Martin Luther 1483-1546), Europe was in sad shape. The continent was racked by the Thirty Years’ War, which pitted Catholics against Protestants. The Lutheran Church had lapsed into formalism and dead orthodoxy. People had stopped going to church.

 

Then God raised up what is known as the Pietist movement, a movement that was characterized by music, personal holiness, and missionary zeal. In the midst of this time of turmoil and discouragement, Katharina von Schlegel noticed the verse in Psalm 46 that says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

 

As God spoke to her, she wrote this great hymn. Whatever your circumstances, whatever your problems, you can find comfort in these great words.” (“Hymns” by Petersen).

 

BE STILL, MY SOUL

 

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake to guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart and all is darkened in the vale of tears; then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears. Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay from His own fullness all He takes away.

 

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are going, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.  (Catharina von Schlegel -1697-?)

 

I call to you, my dear friends, no matter what lies ahead in our walk with the Lord, don’t forget that “He will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:8).  He has the future in His hands, He sees the end from the beginning, and no matter who is President, He is still King! Praise the Lord!  And He still calms the storms in our lives, like He calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee, “Peace, Be Still!”  And in the times of grief and tears, He comes to sooth our sorrows and fears.

 

And yes, the hour is hastening on, as the song says. Whether we go home to be with Jesus, or He comes to call His people home, we will forever be with Him, where all tears will be wiped away, and we will be forever with Him. I just pray that you have made that decision to accept Christ as your own personal Savior, as you don’t know what the next hour, or day will hold for you. Make that decision before it is too late. He is waiting for you. Then whatever the circumstances you can say “Be Still, My Soul,” and just rest in Him.

 

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon