TAKE HIS PRECIOUS NAME WITH YOU!

TAKE HIS PRECIOUS NAME

WITH YOU!

As I am sitting here today, my heart is so heavy.  It has been such a trying week.  We have seen our precious loved one go from straight and tall to almost completely bedridden with pain and disease.  As I sit by her bedside, my heart is grieved.  I remember the days together and the joy we shared.  And I don’t ask “why?”  I know that my God is in control and He brings peace in the midst of our stormy times and He is aware of my tears.

I know that many of you out there are in similar situations with loved ones right now.  I can imagine you sitting at bedsides as we have done this week, wishing and praying for relief from their pain and not knowing what the future holds for that loved one.

As I was praying and wondering what to share with you today, a lovely song came to me.  It is a lovely song in praise to our Precious Jesus and His Wonderful Name.  Oh, what peace to sit before Him and just speak the name “Jesus.”  He calls us to take His name wherever we go and in whatever situation we find ourselves in, and just to slowly and prayerfully whisper how very precious is that name, the name of Jesus!  So take His name into every hospital room, every bedside, everywhere there is pain and suffering and times of grief.  This is a precious hymn written by a lady of great faith in great times of sickness.  Be blessed as you read the story of this hymn: “Take the Name of Jesus with You.”

“Although Lydia Baxter was a bedridden invalid for much of her life, people who were depressed came to visit her in order to have their spirits lifted.  Christian leaders often met in her home for prayer and Bible study.

Lydia loved to study the Bible and had a special joy in learning the meaning of scriptural names.  But the Name above all names to her was Jesus.

When she was asked how she could remain so cheerful, she responded, “I have a very special armor.  I have the name of Jesus.  When the tempter tries to make me blue or despondent, I mention the name of Jesus, and he can’t get through to me anymore.  When I feel badly and wonder if I will ever enjoy a good night’s sleep again, I take the name of Jesus and ask Him to give me the soothing balm of His presence.  He does, and soon I drop off to sleep.”

When Lydia was sixty-one years old, she wrote this testimony of her life: “Take the Name of Jesus with You.”

TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU

Take the name of Jesus with you, child of sorrow and of woe; it will joy and comfort give you, take it, then, where’er you go.

Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heavn’n, Precious name, O how sweet!...hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.

Take the name of Jesus ever, as a shield from ev’ry snare; if temptations round you gather, breathe that holy name in prayer.

O the precious name of Jesus!  How it thrills our souls with joy, when His loving arms receive us, and His songs our tongues employ!

At the name of Jesus bowing, falling prostrate at His feet, King of kings in Heav’n we’ll crown Him, when our journey is complete.  (Lydia Baxter 1809-1874)

If you have felt, as I have, this past week like a “child of sorrow and woe”, take that Name, that Precious Name into worship, into your private time, let Him comfort you and then you can take it out into your world with His joy and comfort.

And if temptations come, temptations to doubt His loving care, to feel like He really doesn’t care, just breathe that Name in prayer, “Jesus”.

And someday, we will bow at His feet, seeing Him face to face at last.  When at last our journey is over and we cross that swelling tide, the Name of Jesus will be on our lips, and we will join the heavenly choir, ever thankful for the Name of Jesus and that He was there in all the struggles we had on this earth, and now we will be with Him for eternity and breathe His Name forever in His Presence.

“So today I bring all those who are grieving for precious loved ones or friends, sitting there by bedsides and sometimes the tears are flowing, to wrap your loving arms around them, let them feel Your Presence as they breathe Your holy Name in prayer, “Jesus.”  Thank you, Jesus, for being our Comforter and for the Power of Your Precious Name!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen”

Pastor Sharon

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

As I am writing this it is the morning of July 4, Independence Day, as we remember the blessings of freedom here in this land of America.  And I ask myself what am I feeling today?  What does the Lord want me to share with you that would bless and encourage you this day?  Many, today, in spite of picnics, fireworks and celebrations are deep in pain and discouragement.  The battle rages around them, and there is seemingly no answer.

 I myself, feel that I am in a battle right now with a physical problem which is taking my nights at times.  But those times during those hours often turn into times of praise and worship to my Precious Lord, and often He will bring to my mind reminders of those who need a touch from Him at that very moment.  There are those who are in grief over a lost loved one, one who left this life too soon.  She loved the Lord and we know that she is “safe in His arms.”  Another precious saint is taking her last breaths at this moment, and I expect a call soon that she too is “safe in His arms.”

Fanny Crosby wrote around 8,000 hymns, and many are familiar to us and we sing them in praise to our God.  “There are few people who have not been instantly moved, many to tears, by the tender, graceful stanzas of “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.”  I think it would be impossible to express in better words than Fanny Crosby’s the rest of the soul that trusts in Jesus.  Mother live is exquisitely gentle, but is stronger than death.  Sound doctrine is undoubtedly a rampart and a refuge for the harassed soul.  But a soul needs mothering as well as safety, not only the babes, but those of riper years.  This is well expressed by Isaiah 46:4: “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

“The hymn was written in remarkable circumstances.  Dr. W.H. Doane, a distinguished composer of sacred music, called on the blind poetess one day, and said, “I am in a hurry.  I have a tune to which I want appropriate words.”  He went to the piano and played the music.  Several times he played it, while Fanny Crosby listened intently.  She retired to another room, and in about half an hour came back with the now well-known words, and said “they seemed to come to me without any effort.”  It only required Mr. Sankey to sing the lovely words at his meetings, and they went round the world to comfort and save unnumbered souls, and their mission is not yet finished.” (author unknown).

SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast, there by His love o’er shaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.  Hark!  ‘Tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me, over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

CHORUS:  Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast, there by His love o’er-shaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care, safe from the world’s temptations sin cannot harm me there.   Free from the blight of sorrow, free from its doubts and fears, only a few more trials, only a few more tears.

CHORUS –

Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge, Jesus has died for me, firm on the rock of ages ever my trust shall be.  Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er, wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.  (Fanny Crosby).

Oh, my friends, in this hour we need to be reminded of God’s comfort and our blessed hope in Jesus.  I am thinking of the young lady who recently went home to Jesus, and this song was such a comfort to her mother, knowing that her daughter was indeed “safe at last in the arms of Jesus.”  She had just recently come to know Jesus as her Savior, and had traveled a hard road in her life.  But in the end, due to her Mother’s fervent prayers, she found her safety in Jesus.  What a testimony her passing was to all who came to share with her mother and hear the amazing testimony of God’s salvation.

Where are you today, my friend?  Are you “safe in the arms of Jesus?”  We never know what a day will hold, eternity could call and would you be ready?  And oh, the comfort of His arms!  And the absolute assurance that He has prepared a place, a home in His heaven, and we can’t even begin to describe the glory that awaits each one of His children.

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” Deuteronomy 33:27.

Not only are we safe in His arms at death, but we are safe from all those temptations that come, and we are safe in those trials and even the ones that seemingly come in the night hours.  He is there.  He is there in our deep times of grief, our doubts and our fears.  And as the song promises, “only a few more trials, only a few more tears” and our journey will be complete.  We, in our senior years, especially see the road ahead getting shorter, and there seems to be a glow ahead over the hills beyond.  Yes, we have our struggles, but we journey on with the goal in sight just ahead.

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love” I Corinthians 2:9.

So stand firm on the Rock, Christ Jesus.  And He tells us to wait with patience until this night is over and we see that day come at last.  And we all will be gathered there on that shore, Oh  Praise the Lord!  I said my goodbyes to my precious friend the other day, and told her I would meet her around the throne, and know that that day will come soon in all its glory. 

“He who testifies to things things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen.  Even so, come Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen. “ Revelation 22:20

Pastor Sharon