I'M LEANING ON HIS HARMS

I’M LEANING ON HIS ARMS

I am sitting here thinking over the events of this day with it’s not so good news, with its fear of returning cancer. And there are tests and more tests to determine what the future may hold for me. But I know, in spite of my earlier tears and fears where I stand with Jesus. He is the only One who can bring peace in a troubled heart.

And I am also thinking of things happening in our world, the earthquakes shaking the Pacific Coast, the terrible storms in the south, wind and waves roaring with the loss of many lives. So where do we turn in the event of a doctor’s bad news or in reading of our shaking world?

The Lord always gives a song and His Word in times like these. Where do you turn when it seems your world is turning upside down, your mountains are shaking, and wind and waves are shaking your ship?

“Music teacher A.J. Showalter of Hartsville, Alabama, finished his classes for the day and returned to his rooming house. There he found letters from two former students. Amazingly they each told a similar story. Both former students had lost their wives, and both wives had died the same day. Showalter began writing letters of sympathy and condolence to the men.

As he began writing, a Scripture verse from Deuteronomy came to his mind, giving the assurance of God’s “everlasting arms” supporting us. Then he wrote a third letter, this one to a hymnwriter in Pennsylvania, Elisha Hoffman. He even suggested the wording of the chorus. When Hoffman responded quickly with three stanzas, Showalter composed the music.

The theme is simply this: with God’s arms beneath us and His love surrounding us, we can find strength in even the most sorrowful situations.” (“Hymns” by Petersen).

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O, how sweet to talk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear; leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929)

Oh, what a joy to walk this way with Jesus. Are you walking a path of an unknown future this day? Have you too had a doctor’s report and don’t know what the future may hold. The path will only grow brighter the closer we get to heaven. Just around the corner, or over the next hill will be a glimpse of glory and joys forevermore with our Precious Lord.

What are you dreading today? Are you dreading a future filled with sickness and pain from treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery, or being helpless and dependent on others for your care? Are you looking at the newscasts of earthquakes and predictions of bigger ones coming? We remember the recent ones in Nepal and the loss of many lives. And we see the wind and waves roaring, rain coming down and lives lost in floods and people losing all their possessions and loved ones. When we look at God’s Word and His promises we can look up and praise our God for His peace and those “everlasting arms.” Here is a word for your heart today and mine in Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” Psalm 46: 1-3, 10-11.

Even if the earth is quaking, the waves roaring, He tells us not to fear. If your life seems like it is in the midst of those storms and your mountain is shaking, God says to just “be still.” Just lean into those everlasting arms. And then He says, “He will be exalted in the earth.” Yes, our God is still in control no matter what happens here on this earth, He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and someday the whole world will see His appearing and He will reign forever, Praise the Lord!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

COME JUST AS YOU ARE!

As I was sharing an article about Billy Graham in our recent newsletter, I was reminded of the hymn, "Just as I Am." Billy Graham was led to Christ in a great revival meeting in 1934, and the hymn of invitation was this wonderful hymn, which was later the song of invitation in the great crusades, where thousands and thousands of people have walked the aisles to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

I remember watching the crusades on television and seeing the great choirs as they sang in the crusades all over the world. Oh, what a blessing this hymn has been! Even in my own life, as a child in my home church, I remember singing this hymn. This is the story of that hymn and the precious lady who wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In my research I found that she also wrote about 150 other hymns.

"Charlotte Elliott seemed to have everything going for her as a young woman. She was gifted as a portrait artist and also a writer of humorous verse.

Then in her early thirties she suffered a serious illness that left her weak and depressed. During her illness, a noted minister, Doctor Caesar Malan of Switzerland came to visit her. Noticing her depression, he asked if she had peace with God. She resented the question and said she did not want to talk about it.

But a few days later she apologized to Doctor Malan. She said that she wanted to clean up some things in her life before becoming a Christian. Doctor Malan looked at her and said, "Come just as you are."

That was enough for Charlotte Elliott, and she yielded herself to the Lord that day. Fourteen years later, remembering those words spoken by Caesar Malan in Brighton, England, she wrote this simple hymn that has been used to touch the hearts of millions, who have also responded to Christ's invitation to come just as they are."

JUST AS I AM

Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not, to rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come! I Come!

Just as I am, tho' tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor wretched, blind, sight, healing of the mind, yea, all I need in Thee to find, O Lamb of God I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God I come! I come! (Charlotte Elliott)

And I am asking you today, are you waiting for a better time to come to Jesus?  Are you feeling like you are tossed about, full of doubts and fears, sick and discouraged, fearing for the future, unsettled in your mind, worried about the situation in our world? There is not a better time to come to Jesus than right now! You do not know what tomorrow holds, or even the next hour. We are living in perilous times, Jesus is coming soon and judgment will follow, please be ready to meet Him and spend eternity with Him. You may never have another chance, this is the "Day of Salvation."  He is waiting for you, and you to "come just as you are." You don't have to wait to walk down a church aisle, you can come to Him right now where you are, just ask Him to come in. You can say a simple prayer right now and invite Him in:

"I confess to God that I am a sinner, and believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised from the dead and that my receiving Him I now have eternal life with Him forever, and confess Him as my own personal Lord and Savior, to live and serve Him. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

In Jesus' Name,

Pastor Sharon