JUST KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

JUST KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

What a lovely day this is!  The sky is filled with fluffy clouds, and the wind is blowing and it is a cool day weather wise.  We can enjoy this day before the summer season and its heat begins.  I have been thinking about all that is going on in the world today, its tragic stories, violence in the land, and people are in pain emotionally, physically and spiritually, and this world needs Jesus and to know that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them.

And yesterday was Father’s Day, honoring our fathers and our husbands who have been such wonderful fathers to their children.  I am blessed to be married to a wonderful husband who has been such a good father to our three daughters, who has raised them to love the Lord.  He is to be honored.  But most of all it is his faith in His God that is to be honored.  And on this Father’s Day we honored our Heavenly Father most of all.  Our Precious Heavenly Father gave His only begotten Son so that we would have salvation and eternal life.  Our Heavenly Father created those clouds out there in that blue sky, and what we know of Him and His Mighty works is only a whisper of who God is. (Job  26:14).

As I look at the world around me, my heart goes back to the cross.  That is where it all begins, our salvation.  The cross stands in the midst of history, its arms reaching back to the Old Testament, where the signs in the various sacrifices pointed to the cross and to a coming Savior.  And it pointed to Calvary, where our Lord gave His life to redeem man.  I woke up with a song in my heart. 

And God promises in His Word to give us songs in the night. “I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search” Psalm 77:6.  So I called to remembrance the following  hymn, and wondered what the Lord was trying to say to my heart, and I knew that He had a message for you and it was all about the cross.  We need to be reminded constantly about the cross and what it means in our lives.  Everything we do, our whole lives as His children resolve around the mighty cross and what it stands for.  And my prayer for you and for me is to keep us “Near the Cross”, even as the world seems to fall apart around us.

And I quote from the book “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan, the story of Fanny Crosby’s writing of this grand old hymn, “Near the Cross.”

“On November 20, 1850, as the altar call was given, Fanny went forward and found Christ as her Savior.  The congregation was singing Isaac Watts’ great hymn about the cross: At the Cross.  Shortly thereafter, Fanny turned her poetic skills to hymn writing, and many of her songs focused on the theme of the cross, and this one, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.”  It was composed after Cincinnati businessman William Doane gave her a melody he had written.  Fanny, listening to it, felt is said “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” and she promptly wrote the words.”

“Fanny Crosby wrote approximately 8,000 hymns.  We aren’t surprised, then, to discover that many of her later hymns were little more than rewritten versions of earlier ones.”

NEAR THE CROSS

Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, ‘til my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me, there the bright and Morning Star shed its beams around me.

Near the cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me, help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping trusting ever, ‘til I reach the golden strand just beyond the river.  (Fanny Crosby/William H. Doane)

And our prayer should daily be for Him to keep us near the cross.  There is a cleansing there by the blood of Jesus and its free to all who are willing to accept this precious gift and have all our sins washed away, and all our guilt, and we are clean, and made ready for eternal life, and made ready to walk with Him and serve Him.

And we are reminded to remember the cross, remember the suffering that He went through.  He calls us to go back into His Word, read the story of the Crucifixion in the Gospels, relive that day, not just on Easter, but often.  See His suffering in the Garden, see the soldiers come and His disciples scatter in fear.  See Him taken before the High Priest and Pilot.  See Him flogged, and beaten and mocked;  the crown of thorns pushed into his head, and see Him as He tries to carry His cross to Calvary.  See Him there on the cross, hear His final cry, as He suffers there, “It is Finished!”  God’s plan of redemption is finished, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world has been sacrificed, the victory has been won!  Oh, Praise the Lord!  And then remember He did not stay on that cross.  He arose a victor from the tomb on the third day, and is alive and well at the right hand of His Father in heaven, but He sent the Holy Spirit, who lives and dwells among us.

And then, with the cross ever before us, we watch and we wait for His return, or when He calls us home, to that land “just beyond the river.”  The place of eternal rest, and forever with our Lord and Savior, is waiting there for each one of us who love the Lord.

So, my friends out there, stay near the cross no matter what each day may bring.  And if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, look to the cross and its “healing stream.”  He promises to cleanse you from all your sins and make you whole, just ask Him into your heart and life.  And O what joy awaits each one who bows the knee to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

LIFE IS LIKE.............

LIFE IS LIKE ……..

As I continue my journey on life’s pathway I ponder what life is really like.  What can I compare my travels as a pilgrim to?  Life is moving too fast.  It seems only yesterday that I was young and carefree, no worries or concern about the years ahead.  The future stretched out before me with its goals and challenges, but my senior years were never in my thoughts as they were many years down the road.  Now I find that I will become a great grandmother this summer.  I thought my grandparents were so old, and in looking back at pictures I find they were younger than I am now in many of those family pictures.  What is life like?

I love trains, although I have never taken a long journey on one, only a short day trip a few years back.  I remember trains as a child visiting a farm that was apparently along a railroad track.  I remember the passenger trains going by and the faces in the windows.  I remember the sounds of the train whistles in the night as I fell asleep.  I remember my cousins who had train sets and could spend hours playing there.  My dream has always been to take a long trip by train.  Maybe a train trip through the Canadian Rockies, sleeping and eating in the fancy dining car would be nice.

So what is life like?  Life is like a mountain railroad, speeding through the years.  A person could stand maybe in the last car and watch the tracks behind them as the miles go by.  I could not find any history on this wonderful old hymn.  The origin of this song is murky.  Charles D. Tillman may have written the original lyrics, with M. E. Abbey (a Baptist minister in Georgia in the 1890s).

LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RAILROAD

Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that’s brave; we must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave.  Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels, never falter quail; keep your hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail.

Refrain:

Bless’d Savior, Thou will guide us, till we reach that blissful shore; where the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial, you will cross the bridge of strife; see that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life; always mindful of obstructions, do your duty, never fail; keep your hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail.

Refrain:

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain; on a fill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train; put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail; keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eyes upon the rail.

Refrain:

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide, you behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide; there you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son, with the hearty, joyous, plaudit, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

So what is life like?  Life is like that train upon there on the mountain, going around those mountain curves, with drops down the mountain on one side.  And as your walk with Jesus, always watch those curves ahead, and maybe there is a dark tunnel you must go through up ahead on the mountain.  But never take your eyes off your Conductor, Jesus Christ.  And keep your hands busy for Jesus.

Yes, there are going to be those steep grades of trials, and I find them coming more frequent now in my senior years.  But, oh coming down the other side into the valley with Jesus is so precious!  And there are going to be obstructions, rocks and strife may try and trip you up.  And there will be days when you feel like just giving up as the storms of wind and rain continue to pound upon you. 

Keep your trust in Jesus, put on your armor every day by faith: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Ephesians 6:10-11.  Keep close to Jesus in prayer and in His Word.

And someday, we who love Jesus will finally roll across that final trestle, spanning the Jordan, and there you will see the “Union Depot” and your train will finally glide right into God’s heaven.  I think of loved ones and friends who recently have finally finished their journey and what a welcome they must have received as they rolled to a final stop.  I think of a precious Pastor who recently completed his journey home, and what a welcome he must have received!  I can almost hear the angels singing, and I remember him as he played the piano and sang and I think of the song, “When all God’s Singers Get Home!”  And I think of him and all the memories we shared.  But someday, we will all be there and we will be welcomed home and finally meet our Father and see our Precious Lord face to face.

So keep your eyes straight ahead, whatever the future holes.  Watch those curves and those mountain storms that might be coming ahead, and someday your journey will end, and God calls us to be faithful, do our duty, tell others about Jesus.  I pray you are on the right “train.”  I pray you are on the “mountain railroad” that leads to eternity.  Don’t put off another day, as we never know what a day or night will bring.  Time is so short, and eternity has only two choices, which is your choice?

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

HE GIVES MORE GRACE

HE GIVES MORE GRACE

As I sit here at my computer wondering what the Lord wants to say to you out there this day.  Many of you are going through sickness in your body and you wonder when this trial will ever end.  I know of several who are suffering with cancer right now, and some are just waiting to go “home.” 

I talked with a lady this past week and she has gone over the time they predicted she would die from her ailments.  I told her that maybe I would see her next week.  She said, “Oh, no as I won’t be here next week.  I am going “home” to heaven and she pointed up.  I told her that someday we would meet again around the Throne!  Then there will be no sickness, tears, or sorrow and no more death, live eternally with our Lord Jesus Christ.

As I was looking at songs and their stories that would bless you in these times, I found the song “He Giveth More Grace.” As we watch a dear loved one go through multiple procedures to halt the cancer in his body, and take prayer requests of others who are in great pain, I am reminded of His grace in these times when it seems like there are no earthly answers to our pain, we learn that “He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater.”

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

“Annie Flint, the author of this hymn, understood something of God’s grace.  Her mother died in childbirth, and her father died shortly afterwards from an incurable disease.  Before his death, Annie’s father left her and her baby sister with a childless Christian couple, the Flints, who adopted them.

Annie wanted to become a teacher, but in her second year of teaching, she began experiencing the symptoms of arthritis.  The disease grew worse until she could hardly walk.  Then the death of both adoptive parents left Annie and her sister alone again.  Annie went to a sanatorium, but the doctors said there was nothing they could do for her.

She began writing from experience.  Her fingers were bent, her joints were swollen, and often she could only write a few lines at a time.  But she continued writing, praying that others might be helped through her experience.  Her poems were published in magazines across the country.  Sometimes the publisher would mention Annie’s physical condition, and readers would donate funds to help her.

Annie learned what the apostle Paul had learned when God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). 

He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater; He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.  To added affliction He addeth His mercy; To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure; His pow’r has no boundary known unto men.  For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun.” (Annie Flint, 1866-1932).

Many of us can relate to this song and Annie’s experience.  Oh, we may not suffer as she did, but we do have our various trials, and they are just as big to us in our lives.  And sometimes the burden is simply unbearable, but He promises:

“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.

My heart goes out to so many people whose burden of grief is great today.  I know of three deaths recently, two of those were beloved Pastors.  The one we learned of today was a shock to everyone who knew him.  He had been ill, but was again in His pulpit preaching, but God called Him Home.  I think of the loved ones, his small congregation, his wife and children and so on.  But God promises His mercy, and His multiplied peace! Praise the Lord!

And I, myself, have experienced the loss of my endurance when the day is only half over.  There are days when I don’t feel like I can accomplish the next task before me.  I have no more resources left in me, and I am sure there are many out there who experience those moments.  We have no more resources to give, and then we realize our Father’s resources never give out, and He gives and He gives and He gives.  We can reach out and receive His strength for the moment and beyond.  Aren’t we glad we serve such a Wonderful Lord who never tires or runs out of His love for His children?

Yes, He gives more grace no matter what the trial, the pain, the sorrow or whatever the situation may be.  And to those who have recently faced surgery and may be in pain at this moment, He is there with His Wonderful grace and His mercy.  His arms reach out to you, just let Him take you in His gentle arms, and He will give you rest, in Jesus’ Name!

“Father, I know of so many today who suffer with cancer, who have lost loved ones, and those who are just waiting for Jesus to call them “Home.” There, Lord, they will be free from pain at last!  And we, left here, cannot even comprehend the joys you have prepared for these loved ones.  I think of the two pastors, and the crown they have won for their faithful service to You.  So, Father, comfort the families today, bring strength to those who remain and Your peace, which you give and give and give.  And we thank You, Father, that Your resources are unlimited.  And we give you great praise this day.”

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

JESUS, MY SAVIOR DEAR

JESUS, MY SAVIOR DEAR

Spring has finally arrived, the sun is shining brightly and the air is warm.  It is so refreshing after such a long cold winter.  Just a few weeks ago we celebrated the Easter season and we turned our eyes to the events that marked the last week in our Lord’s earthly life.  We turned our eyes to Palm Sunday as He made His entrance into Jerusalem.  The people thought He was going to proclaim Himself an earthly king.  But our Lord was on His way to the cross to die for you and for me.  But “Sunday was coming” and His glorious resurrection, and because He lives we shall live also.  Oh, Praise the Lord!  And someday He will come back as our Conquering King, bringing peace at last to this world.

How can we not love our Savior dear?  He has brought us salvation, forgiven our sins.  What words can describe our Glorious Lord, our Savior dear. 

“But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings: and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves” Malachi 4:2.

Here is another wonderful hymn story.  Oh, how I love these stories and am able to share with others the stories of the hymns.  Our old hymns each have a message and I long to impart these stories to you that you may be blessed in your walk with the Lord.  I was recently able to share hymn stories at a retreat in fellowship around the table and also at a volunteer breakfast.  This one is called “Sun of My Soul, Thou Savior Dear.”

“When someone asked Alfred, Lord Tennyson what Jesus Christ meant to him, he pointed to an open flower and responded, “What the sun is to that flower, Jesus Christ is to my soul.  He is the Sun of my soul.”  The prophet Malachi called the Messiah the Sun of Righteousness, who would rise with healing in His wings.

So John Keble was using a familiar title for Jesus when He wrote this poem.  Keble first published “Sun of my Soul, Thou Savior Dear” in a book called “The Christian Year, which included poems to be used by believers for worship throughout the church year.  An extremely modest man, Keble published this book anonymously.  He used the proceeds from the sale of his book to maintain the small village church near Oxford in which he served for more than three decades.

Throughout his ministry, Keble was known as an outstanding preacher and a careful Bible scholar.  This hymn was inspired by Luke 24:29, where two disciples on their way to Emmaus were met by Jesus.  They begged him to say with them because it was getting late.  Maybe it was getting late, but if the “Sun of my soul” was with them, it would never get dark.

SUN OF MY SOUL, THOU SAVIOR DEAR

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear, it is not night if Thou be near; O may no earthborn cloud arise to hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep my wearied eyelids gently steep, be my last thought, how sweet to rest forever on my Savior’s breast.

Abide with me from morn till eve, for without Thee I cannot live; abide with me when night is nigh, for without Thee I dare not die.

Come near and bless us when we wake, ere through the world our way we take; till, in the ocean of Thy love, we lose ourselves in heaven above.  (John Keble, 1792-1866)

Oh, what a message the Lord has for us this day.  The sun is shining, the skies are blue and we rejoice in another day to serve Him.  And the prayer is that nothing in this world, no trial, no sorrow or tears will hide our Blessed Lord from our eyes.  No matter what comes our way, may we always keep our eyes on Jesus.  And it is hard sometimes as we feel we just can’t go on, but He is our “Savior Dear.”

And my our last thoughts at night before we close our eyes in sleep is the promise that someday we will be able to rest forever on our Savior’s breast.  I know of several  people right now who are ready to take that final rest with Jesus.

And I praise Him that He never leaves me, and that I don’t know how I could live without Him.  And if you don’t know Jesus, don’t live another day without Him.  We don’t know what the night will hold, or the next day or even the next hour.  You dare not die without Him!  As I have said before, “Life has many choices, but eternity has only two choices.”  When you close your eyes in sleep tonight, search your heart and ask yourself if you are ready to meet Jesus.

So as we walk through our days in this world of ours, we long to lose ourselves in His love.  His love is like an ocean, rolling and rolling over us, guiding and protecting us until that day when we walk into eternity with Jesus forever!  He is indeed, “Jesus, My Savior Dear.”

In His Precious Name,

Pastor Sharon

REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM

REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM

 

Easter season is now past for another year.  I see the discount bunnies and eggs in the store aisles.  We have put away the Easter baskets and decorations.  But I think many people also put away the cross of Christ in their hearts.  Oh, they heard a good sermon last Sunday and the music was inspiring, but have they thought of the cross this week?  It is because of the cross that we have our salvation, our sins forgiven, and life forever with Jesus.

 

And Jesus, by the precious Holy Spirit continues today to reach out and touch our lives.  He is waiting for us to just reach out by faith and touch Him.  I know of so many who need a touch of the Master.  My heart breaks for those who are facing tough situations and there is seems to be no answer to their problems and their suffering.  Oh, my friends, even though the way is rough, the winds are tossing your ship, Jesus is passing by, and He is never too busy to hear your cries.  He controls this great universe, but He still loves and reaches out to each and every one of us.

 

I remember this chorus when I was a child at summer camp, but I didn’t know it had all these wonderful verses.  Some of you may remember this hymn also and have fond memories as I have of those experiences around a campfire or in your home church as we worshiped our Lord.

 

REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD

 

If your heart is sad and lonely, there’s no joy anywhere.

If there’s no one left to comfort, and there’s no one left to care.

Just cast your cares on Jesus and upon His arms rely,

And reach out and touch the Lord as He walks by.

 

CHORUS:

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

You will find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.

He’s passing by this moment, your needs He’ll supply.

Just reach out and touch the Lord as He walks by.

 

Though a stranger to the Master and His wonderful grace,

If you’ve never had the pleasure of beholding His face.

Would you lay aside earth’s treasures for a home in the sky,

Then, reach out and touch the Lord as He walks by.

 

All along a dusty roadside, on His way to raise the dead,

Mighty was the crowd that followed, hungry for that Living Bread.

“I must touch Him”, cried a woman, “I must touch Him or I’ll die.”

So, she reached and touched His garment as He passed by.

 

Words and Music by Bill Harmon

 

There are many sad and lonely people out there who have lost their joy.  Maybe elderly, friends and family are all gone.  Or perhaps you have lost a dear loved one, and you feel like there is no one else left in this world to comfort you.  Jesus is passing by, just reach out and touch Him, His arms are extended waiting to enfold you in His arms.

 

And if you don’t know Jesus as your own personal Savior, and you have never know the wonderful love that only He can bring.  By faith, behold His face as He passes by.  Just reach out and claim Him as your Lord and Savior right now.  He is there to forgive your sins, and bring new peace and joy.  All the treasures in this earth do not compare to eternity and life everlasting with Jesus.

 

“Now a woman, having  a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment.  And immediately her flow of blood stopped” Luke 8:43-44.

 

Here is the scene:  Jesus is in the middle of a massive throng of people, and He is headed toward the home of Jairus, who is the Synagogue Ruler, who only daughter, twelve years old, has died.  And in that crowd is a lady, who has suffered much with this condition for twelve years, and has lost hope, but Jesus is passing by!  In the culture of that time, she would have been an outcast of society.  But there in the crowd is her only hope, Jesus!  And she thinks if she could only reach out and touch the tassels on His garment she would be healed.  Maybe she had stood at a distance and saw Him heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind and the wonderful miracles that He did.  And in faith, she touched Him and was instantly healed!  And we notice in verse 43 that she is called “a woman.”  But in verse 48, Jesus calls her “daughter.”  She goes from hopelessness to salvation and healing.

 

So where are you this evening on your journey?  Are you sad and lonely?  Are you wondering where the next paycheck is coming from?  Have you lost a precious loved one?  Are you facing medical tests that have you in much fear of the outcome?  Jesus is passing by, reaching out to you right there wherever you are.  And He is not too busy.  He sees your tears, feels your frustration and your hopelessness.

 

Precious Lord, there are so many out there right now who feel they are in hopeless situations, maybe financially, physically, or spiritually or some other needs.  Let them catch a glimpse of You as You pass by.  You are waiting to gather them into Your arms, to bring healing and hope and salvation and eternal life with You.  Thank You, Jesus, for the many who will reach out just now and be healed in Jesus’ Name.

 

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

REMEMBER ME!

REMEMBER ME!

 

As I sit here at my computer this evening, I look out at the sky, grey with clouds and rain showers, I am thinking of my Lord as He came to this night in which we call “Maundy Thursday.”  It is the night in which we remember the Last Supper as He shared the Passover feast with His disciples gathered there in the upper room.

 

It was a time when Jesus knew that His time had come.  He was facing the agony in Gethsemane, betrayal and arrest in the Garden.  But He had many things to share with His followers gathered around Him there.  My heart is heavy also as I think of the sacrifice that He was going to make in the hours ahead for you and for me.

 

I pray that in the next few days you will put aside, even to have some private time with your Lord, the bunnies, the egg hunts and all those lovey things that come with the season and feast your eyes on the cross.  Remember His suffering this night, the agony of “Good Friday.” And remember that “Sunday is coming, the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior!

 

I found the words to this song in an old song book that belonged to my daughter, and I remember her singing this as we were served communion.  It even has some of her notes written in it.  The book is simply called “Communion,” and is a compilation of many of our favorite choruses.  It was compiled in 1978, and this song was written by Barry McGuire. 

 

I want you to think of Jesus as He sat there with His disciples, offering the bread and the cup as they celebrated the Passover meal with the four cups of wine, and the lamb and the bitter herbs and the other elements of the Passover.  And remember as Jesus celebrated His last Passover with His disciples, that He was the Passover Lamb and would take away the sins of the world on the cross in the coming hours.  And that Lamb would be sacrificed at the same time that the evening sacrifice would be performed in the temple.  This song is called “Communion Song.”      

 

As you read the words to this song picture our Lord as He passed out the bread and the cup to those around Him, and then close your eyes if you wish and hear your Savior reminding you of the bread which was broken for you and the cup of the New Covenant that He was making for you by the shedding of His blood on Calvary.  The veil would be rent in the temple, and no longer would a lamb be required for sacrifice, as the sacrifice would have been made once and for all at Calvary.  This is the New Covenant in His blood, Praise the Lord!  Listen to your Lord as He talks to you in this lovely song.

 

COMMUNION SONG

 

“Take this bread I give to you, and as you do, remember me.  This bread is my body, broken just for you.  Take it (take it) eat it (eat it) each time you do, remember me, remember me, remember me, remember me.

 

Take this cup I fill for you, and as you do, remember me.  This cup is the New Covenant I’m makin’ with you.  Take it, (take it) drink it (drink it) each time you do, remember me, remember me, remember me, remember me.

 

 Take this love I’ve given you, and as you do, remember me, remember me, remember me, remember me.”

 

He calls us to “remember Him when we take communion and share the cup and bread together around His table.  He calls us to remember His sacrifice, and not just at our time of communion at our church, but every day, remember how much He loved us, loved us to go to the cross and suffer agony that we will have our sins forgiven and eternal life with Him.

 

“For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat: this is My body which is broken for you, do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  This do, as often as you drink it, it remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” I Corinthians `11:23-26.

 

And He calls us to take the cup and the bread and remember Him “till He comes.”  And we are looking for that day when He comes back.  We long for His appearing.  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20b).

 

And there is one final promise from our Lord on that night, and I love to hear these words:

 

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” Matthew 26:29.

 

Someday, my friends, we will all sit down together with our Lord in His kingdom, with all the saints from all ages and angels attending, and we will share the cup together.  What a day that will be!  I can hardly wait, how about you?  Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!  And remember, you may feel like it is “Friday” in your life right now, but “Sunday is coming!

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

SOMEDAY WE WILL UNDERSTAND

SOMEDAY WE WILL UNDERSTAND

 

As I sit here today, the wind is blowing and the skies are grey.  And I am reminded that it is like that it our own lives.  The wind blows through our lives and our skies turn to grey, but I am so thankful that I belong to the Lord Jesus and He is the “Sonshine” in my life even on dreary days.  And by faith, I can lean on Him, and knowing that He holds me by my right hand and lifts me up in the “Everlasting Arms.”

 

There are so many right now on “my list” that are suffering and discouraged.  And they wonder why they have to go through these things day after day.  Some people are considered terminal and unless Jesus heals, they will soon go home to glory.

 

And right now we read in the news headlines about grieving families asking “why?” We hear of great disasters with great loss of life and our hearts go out to the mothers, fathers, children and other family members.  But someday, for those who know Jesus, all those questions and the “Whys” will be answered and we will know and understand, when we see our Lord face to face.

 

This is an old gospel song that some of you may remember.  And some of you may be asking these questions right now: “How could a loving God allow such a horrible thing to happen? Why do good people suffer and bad people prosper, why me, God, why me?”        Here is the story of how “Farther Long” was written:

 

“Late in the nineteenth century, W.B. Stevens, a preacher in the little crossroads village of Queen City, Missouri, was struggling.  His young son had died suddenly, and he was devastated. He had counseled many people who had lost loved ones.  He had given them the right Bible verses, and he had prayed with them and comforted them, but this sorrow struck home.

 

He wondered if he could keep preaching; recently his sermons seemed hollow.  How could a loving God allow such a horrible thing to happen? Why me, God, why me?

 

Stevens wrote down his thoughts in a poem.  He had no easy answers-only the assurance that “we’ll understand it all by and by.” Little did he know that his simple poem expressing a fathers’ heartache would become one of the best-known gospel songs to comfort others with heavy hearts.”  (William Peterson, HYMNS)

 

FARTHER ALONG

 

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder

Why it should be thus all the day long

While there are others living about us

Never molested though in the wrong.

 

[CHORUS]

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why.

Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

 

When death has come and taken our loved ones

It leaves our home so lonely and drear.

And do we wonder why others prosper

Living so wicked year after year.

 

[Repeat Chorus]

 

When we see Jesus coming in glory,

When He comes down from His home in the sky.

Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

 

W.B. Stevens

 

My dear friends, let me encourage you today, all is not lost.  We have the “God of all comfort” along side of us (II Corinthians 1:3).  I, too, have days of discouragement and have had days of pain, and sometimes feel like I just can’t go on, but I have a hope and look to the joy ahead and my eternity with Jesus my Lord. I too have lost a precious loved one not quite two years ago, and I still have those moments when a memory will surface with a song she loved or a treasure that was hers, or a glance at her picture.  In those times I so long to be able to share my heart with her.  So I know that many of you out there experience those moments too. Let me share with you God’s Word to bring you comfort in these times.

 

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” II Corinthians 4:6-8.

 

And, oh picture the day when we see Jesus coming in the clouds of glory, coming down from His home in the sky to gather His children home.  What a meeting that will be there in the sky!  And we will then understand it all by and by.  As one song says, “Just One Glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase, so bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon