JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL

JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL

The holiday season is over.  We have put all the holiday decorations in the attic for another year, and I am ready to begin this New Year.  I don’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions, as I believe they just are promises to myself that I never can keep.  

I am asking myself today what is on my heart for this next year.  There is a path ahead, I know, but it winds ahead, its curves and byways are unknown to me.  It is like having a clean slate for another year.  I pray for a safe year, a year without sickness or accidents, as I have seen for the last two years.  I long to reach more souls for Christ, especially among the elderly who have never accepted Jesus as their Savior, and I have many stories of those who have come to Jesus in their last days.  Some had been in church all their lives, even seminary and had never accepted Jesus.  One lady I remember had been in church all her life and no one had ever told her that Jesus Saves.

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a new way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:18-19.

So He is calling me and you to put the trials and struggles of this last year behind us, although we may still feel the results of those things.  This year He promises to do a new thing in each of our lives.  He will make a new way when those wilderness places come in our lives, and promises living water, which comes from the Holy Spirit to overflow our lives and to reach others for Christ.  Oh, to reach more people for Jesus this year!  Oh, how I long to see “that light” come into a new Christian’s face, as Jesus comes in and begins their new life with Him.

But in all of this, there is one thing that I know.  Jesus will never fail me or fail you, as we face that unknown pathway ahead.   We used to sing this song as a chorus, but here is the history of this song and the full hymn, “Jesus Never Fails.”

“When he was a boy in elementary school, Arthur Luther wanted to be a foreign missionary.  As he got older and realized that he had musical talent, he wanted to write a song that the whole world would sing.  He wrote a song that he thought would be popular.  In fact, he thought it was pretty good, but apparently no one else did.  In his words, “It was a dismal failure.”

However, God made both of his dreams come true when Luther wrote the song “Jesus Never Fails.”  At the time he was working with an evangelistic team in Kentucky.  The he says, “I received some very disturbing news from my family some six hundred miles away.  Worried and homesick, I sat down at the old square piano in the home where we were staying and as my fingers wandered idly, a simple melody developed beneath them which seemed to sing, ‘Jesus Never Fails.’ Then and there the words and music of the chorus were born.”

This simple little song has been translated into more than a dozen languages, taking it to places that Arthur Luther could never have gone as a missionary.  No, Jesus never fails.  (“Hymns” by W. Petersen).

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail; One still loves and cares for you: Jesus Never Fails.

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails; Heav’n and earth may pass away but Jesus never fails.

Tho’ the sky be dark and drear, fierce and strong the gale, just remember He is near, and He will not fail.

In life’s dark and bitter hour love will still prevail; trust His everlasting pow’r, Jesus will not fail.” (Arthur A. Luther (1891-1960)

As we face the year ahead, there will be times of doubts and fears, and even friends or family may fail us, but we have a Precious Savior, Jesus, who will never fail us.  Oh, to just fall into His arms when storms of grief come!

And we may have dark and dreary days, and the storms of life may be upon us, but just remember that Jesus never fails, He is near.  Oh, to just look through the gloom and see and feel His presence.

And I know that some of you may face that dark hour, when eternity is so near, and the end of the road has come and one can see the light of the city just ahead.  But by faith you are held in His everlasting arms, and He will guide you into your heavenly home,because Jesus never fails.

If you do not know this Wonderful Savior, accept Him now.  You don’t know what is on the path ahead in this next year and He calls each one of us to be ready to meet Him.  Just ask Him into your heart, and to forgive your sins, and then praise Him for your salvation and your eternity with Him.  And then you, too, will know that Jesus never fails.

In the Precious Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

THE HOLIEST OF NIGHTS

THE HOLIEST OF NIGHTS

As I sit here at my computer, it is Christmas Eve.  It is raining and cold and some say we will get a bit of snow, and just maybe we will get a rare “White Christmas.”

The tree is lovely with its packages underneath waiting for Christmas morning.  I love to just look at the tree all lit up in the dark and think how awesome this season really is.  I want to just put aside all the outside trappings of this holiday and sit in peace and remember my Lord and Savior and His Divine love to come to earth as that precious baby.  Even at His birth even as the song says, “Jesus Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth.”

Tonight, on Christmas Eve at our church will have a Candlelight Service.  We come together to sing the wonderful carols and recall the events of that night so long ago.  The lights are turned out and each person lights a candle of the person sitting next to them, and soon the sanctuary is aglow with the soft light of our candles and it is always an awesome moment, a quiet moment.  Our lit candles symbolize to me that the “Light of the World” has come and we all share in unity that Light. 

I have always considered Christmas Eve as a holy time, a time of a quiet peace.  There is a sense of awe and holiness in the air.  It is hard to explain, but maybe many of you also sense those feelings as you gather with your families or attend a church service, or even some of you may sense that in a Midnight Mass.  It is indeed a Holy Night!  Think of that night so long ago, as we recall the words to this precious carol.

O HOLY NIGHT

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

CHORUS:

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born.

O Night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

CHORUS

Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim

(French Carol, 1847)

Most of our Christmas carols are timeless, written hundreds of years ago.  And as we sing them each year, do we think of what the words mean, or what the writer was trying to say?  They all have a timeless message of the coming of our Lord and Savior and the promise of a new life with Him, a new world coming of peace.  Down through the ages each generation had its problems, its wars and its struggles.  And each generation hoped that they would be the ones who would witness His coming and His world of peace.

As I looked up the history of “O Holy Night” it spoke of Jesus coming into a weary world.  In the day Jesus came they were looking for their Messiah and ruled by the Romans and they indeed were weary of the oppression of their day.  And Jesus came on that night with a promise of salvation to all who would receive Him and someday a new day would dawn when Jesus would rule forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.  He would bring hope to mankind, eternal life with Him.  But He would have to face the cross, shed His blood for our sins, and then rise from the dead on that third day, His glorious resurrection would come.  O what a holy night!  Our holy God wrapped in flesh, and He calls us to fall our knees in worship!  Let our hearts hear the angel voices proclaiming His birth.

And He is a God of love and He taught to love each other.  And this song was sung during the Civil War to remind that generation that the slaves were brothers and Jesus had called for the chains of bondage to be broken.  And we today, are called to come together in unity and to love those who are in bondage to sin and oppression.  There are many, many out there today who are bound up in chains of sin and don’t know the Savior who can set them free.  And deliverance comes in the Wonderful Name of Jesus!   He breaks every fetter, as the old chorus says.

So on this holy night, remember that Christ is the Lord!  It is not about Santa Claus and Reindeer, but it is all about Him!  And He calls us to praise His holy name forever, and to proclaim His mighty power to set men free and the promise of a new day coming.  We look around our world and we long for that day, when we see Him face to face at last.

So I call you out there to fall on your knees in solemn worship this night, this Christmas Eve, wherever you are.  Sense the awe, the presence of the Holy Spirit, sense the peace and the joy.  If you attend a service of candlelight, close your eyes and let Him bath you in His presence.  And if you don’t know this Wonderful Savior, that a wonderful time to ask Him to come into your heart and be your Lord forever.  Ask Him in the light of the candles or even the light of your Christmas tree, what a glorious moment that would be.  I have witnessed the joy of Christ coming into a heart, and it is truly a holy moment.

So stop, worship Him and sense the awe of this holy night, in Jesus’ Name, and have a Blessed Christmas!

Pastor Sharon

DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS?

DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS?

 

We are in the midst of this beautiful Christmas season.  The tree is bright with lights, packages are mailed and hopefully soon Christmas cards speaking of this season will be mailed, along with our greetings of blessings to loved ones and friends.  The second Advent candle has been lit, and it was the Candle of Peace.

 

We so long for peace in our lives, our homes and especially in our world, as we look around and see wars and tragedy and lives of people in hopeless situations, as the world seems so dark with despair.  And we long for that day when Christ, the Prince of Peace, will appear again and bring hope and peace to this world.

 

As we celebrated Advent in our church this past Sunday, we sang an old hymn, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”  I looked up the history of this hymn and it so spoke of our day also and our longing for peace on earth, and yes, the bells can ring again in our hearts as we turn our focus on our Savior and the Cross in this Christmas season.  He will bring joy and gladness to our aching hearts, all because He came.  He came to cause those bells of joy to ring again.

 

Christmas Day 1863 was not a day of “peace on earth, good will to men” in the United States.  The bloody Civil War was being waged.  At Gettysburg, only six months earlier, forty thousand men were killed, wounded, or missing.  The long siege of Vicksburg resulted in thirty thousand Confederate soldiers being taken as prisoners.  And there was no end in sight.

 

No wonder Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “bowed his head” in despair and said, “There is no peace on earth.”  The entire country, both North and South was bowed in despair.  But there was something about Christmas that helped Longfellow see beyond the carnage of the present and realize that God is not dead and that right would prevail.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ brings hope.  Christmas doesn’t mean that all problems disappear, but it does assure you that God is not dead, nor does He sleep.  Even the darkness of Good Friday is followed by the dawn of Easter.  Yes, the bells of Christmas are still ringing, singing on their way.  (Hymns by Petersen)

 

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

 

I heard the bells on Christmas day their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

I thought how as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along th’ unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

 And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

Yet pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor does he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

The ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day – a voice, a chime, a chant sublime of peace on earth, good will to men.  (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-1807-1882)

When this song was written, when Christmas Day came the bells on the churches would ring out the news with carols.  Many of the churches had steeples and the bells chimed.  I can only imagine what that would sound like.  The air is cold, maybe snow is coming down, and that special feeling of Christmas is in the air.  I feel that awed feeling even now on Christmas Eve.  There is a holy hush in the air. 

 

So on that Christmas the bells must have continued to chime even though the nation was in deep despair, as the war continued and many families were in grief and many more lives were to be lost before the war ended.  Henry Wadsworth heard those bells and his heart was broken as he didn’t see any peace on earth, only death and dying men, a nation at war with one another.  The bells continued to chime that there was hope on earth of “peace, good will to men.”

 

We look around our world as in Henry Wadsworth’s day and wonder where is that peace that the angels promised on that first Christmas morning?  And then we have the promise and know that God is not dead nor does He sleep.  He is aware of our broken hearts, our troubled souls, and the storms that come into our lives.  As we look at troubled headlines in the news, hear the reports of violence in our land and around the world, our God is watching and waiting for the day when He Himself will finally bring “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

Henry Wadsworth suddenly realized that his God was not dead and not sleeping and that someday, evil will be gone and righteousness will come to this earth through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are waiting for that day, that 2^nd Advent of our Lord when He breaks the sky and does right the wrong and the bells will once again ring out “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

And can you imagine what that day will be like, the ringing of bells, the singing of the saints, night of darkness is gone and eternal day has come? The angels once again can sing of “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

So in this Christmas season, let the joy ring in your heart, hear the bells ringing peace on earth, and have a glorious Christmas Day in God’s peace.

 

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

COME, EMMANUEL, COME!

COME, EMMANUEL, COME!

 

We welcome the Advent Season.  It is the time to remember our Savior’s first advent, but more importantly, we long for His second advent, to break the skies and take His children home, and bring judgment and then peace at last to our troubled world.

 

We lit the first of the four Advent candles and hung the greens in our sanctuary, pausing to welcome this lovely season and to turn our hearts toward our Lord and Savior.  The first candle was the “Candle of Hope” and we were reminded to rejoice in our hope of His soon return and to remember that the little baby in the manger was our Lord and Savior, the Father’s own Beloved Son.  He came to save us, to bring us hope in a dark world, and then calls us to rejoice, rejoice!  We now have the hope of eternal salvation, cleansing from sin and eternity with Him.

 

The cry of my heart this day is “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel!  Maybe this will be the season or into the coming New Year, when we will see our Lord face to face.  I counted at least five members of either our church family or family that went home this past year, and they now are beholding His face!  Yes, they will be missed this Christmas season, but oh, the joy they must be experiencing!

 

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

 

This hymn is ancient, not only in its text, but also in its music.  While the tune used today was not really finalized until the 1800s, it is based on plainsong, the type of music used in the church during medieval times.  The lack of strict rhythmic measures gives the tune a free-flowing style.  You can almost imagine the simple intervals echoing through a stone cathedral.

 

The text developed without the chorus as a series of liturgical phrases used during Advent.  Each stanza concentrates on a different biblical name for Christ, making this hymn a rich source for Christian meditation.  Jesus is Emmanuel – “God with us,” “Wisdom from on high,” “Desire of nations,” and Dayspring.” (Hymns, William J. Petersen)

 

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

 

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel!

 

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh’ to us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

 

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

 

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.  (Latin hymn, 12^th century)

 

As I look over the words of this lovely ancient hymn, I am reminded of the day in which Christ came.  Israel was in lonely exile, under the cruel rule of the Romans.  They were longing for their Messiah to come.  They read the prophecies of His coming, but when He came, they rejected Him, as they were looking for an earthly King to come and overthrow the Romans and sit on David’s throne.   He came and they crucified their Messiah, but He arose from the grave on that third day in His Glorious Resurrection, and now we wait and watch for His Glorious Appearing, and the prophecies of old have been and are continuing to be fulfilled for that great day. So I took the words of this song and made it a prayer, a prayer from all our hearts this Advent Season.

 

“Heavenly Father, we long for “Wisdom” from on high to come, give us Your Divine knowledge and show us how to walk in Your ways, Precious Lord!  We so need You!  We need Your wisdom every day.

 

Come “Desire of Nations!” We long, Lord, to see the day when we walk in unity one with another, and to see that day when You fill this world with heaven’s peace.  We look around, Lord, and see violence on every hand and darkness covering the earth, and God’s people desire to look on Your face, at last!  And to see Your glory cover this earth.

 

Oh, Precious Dayspring, cheer our spirits as we remember your advent when You came as that little baby, and as we look on the manger scene once again, with the angels rejoicing and shepherds worshipping and Wiseman coming from afar with their gifts.  We may have dark shadows of night all around us, in trials and storms and discouragement in this season, but You came to disperse those gloomy clouds and fear of death, but brought us light and hope and eternity with You, so Come, Emmanuel, Come!

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

I'VE FOUND SUCH A FRIEND!

I’VE FOUND SUCH A FRIEND!

 

I am sitting here on this grey day, knowing that Thanksgiving Day is just one week away, and then the holidays are upon us again.  I think back over the past year and the storms that have come into my life, and I could be discouraged, as it seems to be ongoing.  But I look forward to the day when this is only a memory. 

 

But this year has also been a year of great blessings.  I have made new friends, and my precious church fellowship has been pouring out their blessings on my household as we have walked through this trial.  My daughter also has been through great trials this year, and because of our precious friends, she has been blessed and healing has come into her life.  And my precious dear friend, who has moved out of state has been there for me every step of the way.  God bless such precious friends!

 

When I think of “friends” I want to go back to my childhood.  I had a best friend whose name was Nancy, and we started our friendship in the second grade and on into high school.  About that time in my life I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and witnessed to everyone and carried my little New Testament.  We could do that in those days, remember?  She was from a non-Christian home and I did my best to tell her about Jesus.  I wonder if my childhood witnessing bore fruit and somewhere down the line, she accepted Him?  And that someday in heaven she will be there, thanking and praising God for her salvation.  I didn’t have a lot of close friends, but the ones I had were very special.

 

But I want to tell you about a Friend of mine who will never fade from my life, will never betray me, or go home to heaven.  My Friend “sticks closer than a brother.”(Proverbs 18:24).  My Friend will always be there for me and hear me when I call.  He is just a prayer away.  Do you have such a Friend as Jesus?

 

I’VE FOUND A FRIEND

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him.  And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever, for I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He bled, He died to save me; and not alone the gift of life, but His own Self He gave me! Naught that I have mine own I call, I’ll hold it for the Giver, my heart, my strength, my life, my all are His forever and forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! All pow’r to Him is given, to guard me on my onward course, and bring me safe to heaven.  T’ eternal glories gleam afar, to nerve my faint endeavor; so now to watch, to work to war, and then to rest forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! So kind and true and tender, so wise a Counselor and Guide, so mighty a Defender! From Him who loves me now so well what pow’r my soul can sever?  Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?  No! I am His forever. (James G. Small-1866).

 

Oh, as a child I knew about Jesus, was raised from birth in church.  But when I was 8 years old He became my best Friend, and He drew Himself to me with those cords of love, God’s love that has never failed me down through the years.  And that love took Him to the cross for me, for you, my friend.  It was nothing I could do on my own, not my own works could save me, but only through His death and shed blood would my salvation come.  And He is my very life, my all, my strength.  How can words come to describe such a Friend? 

 

And He will continue to guard my homeward course, that path He has chosen for me.  Heaven may be only a glimmer right now, and someday face to face.  Right now He calls me and you to watch, to continue the work He has called us to do, and be on guard against the enemy always, and someday we will rest in His arms forever.  Oh, Praise the Lord!  He is my Mighty Defender, Counselor and

Guide.

 

“For I am persuaded , that neither death nor life, nor angels or principalities, nor powers, or things present, nor things to come, nor height or depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord”  Romans 8:38-39.

 

And He is the ultimate Friend forever!  Earthly friends may fail or fade from our lives, but I have a Friend and He is mine forever!  And I pray He will be your Friend forever too!  Just call on Him today.

 

In Jesus’Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

 

As I sit here this morning, my mind goes back over the last year.  We are approaching the Thanksgiving season once again, and Christmas and the New Year.  Christmas decorations are filling the shelves, and a continuous flood of Christmas magazines fill my mailbox.  Do you remember with me when the Christmas season started the day after Thanksgiving?

 

There was always a great parade and Santa came to town, the season officially started.  Then the decorations went up, lights went on.  And we children started learning our little Christmas poems to say in the Christmas program at church.  Do you remember?  Oh, such wonderful memories!

 

We have come far from those traditions.  But what is on my heart is how far we have come in our walk of faith over the last years.  As we look back we see moments of great joy and sorrow, and pain.  We see our world losing touch with that walk of faith that we have known.  So many don’t know Jesus and are wrapped up in worldly pleasures.  Many have walked away from the walk of faith that they once knew.  With the holiday season approaching, a time of celebrating our Lord’s birth, many will be wrapped up in the materialistic part of the season, ignoring the carols of His birth, and all the splendors that speak of His coming.  Yes, we have come far.  Look back and see how far you have come.

 

As I look back over this last year, I can see a pattern of where I have walked, and it has been a year of pain, being unable to do the things on my heart in ministry.  I saw several dear ones go home to be with Jesus, even a loved family member.  I have been able to comfort a grieving widow, even in my own pain.  As I look back I remember praying for the sick over the phone, doing what I could do for Him.  I haven’t been able to share as much as I like here, but with the Lord’s help I will be able to share more of what is on my heart.  So how far have you come in all your struggles this past year?  Look back over the year, the path you have trod and see that “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

 

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

 

Refrain:

We’ve come this far by faith,

Leaning on the Lord;

Trusting in His holy word.

He’s never failed us yet.

Oh! We can’t turn back,

We’ve come this far by faith.

 

Don’t be discouraged

Trouble in your life;

He’ll bear your burdens

And move all discord and strife. Oh!

 

Refrain

 

Just remember with good

Things He has done;

Things that seemed impossible,

Oh, praise Him for the vict’ries He has won. Oh

 

By Albert Goodson

 

So how far have we come?  We have come down this path totally by faith, leaning on Him for every detail of our lives.  And there is no way I can turn back, I have walked too far with my Lord and the older I get the closer I am to seeing Him face to face someday and He will make the path plain behind me, and show me the reasons for things in my life.  He’s never failed me and He won’t fail you.  Just keep your eyes on the goal ahead.

 

And not one word that He has promised will fail, His Word stands true through the ages, and now it continues to speak to us His people.

 

“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised; there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses, His servant” I Kings 8:56.

 

So let us remember the good things He has done in our lives.  Let’s praise Him for the work He has done in our lives, and the victory He has brought.  Thank Him for our salvation and for our eternal home.  Thank Him for the cross, and His love for us.  And thank Him for our walk of faith that has brought us this far and we look forward to the year ahead as we continue this journey of faith, walking with Jesus and trusting His holy Word.

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

ON YOU, LORD, I AM LEANING!

ON YOU, LORD, I AM LEANING!

 

As I write you this blog, I am thinking of those out there who regularly follow my writing, I have not forgotten all my precious friends out there. Most of you I will never meet face to face until that day when we meet around the throne on that glorious day when our Lord calls all home. And what a grand day that will be, finally home!  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” Revelation 22:20.

 

It has been a long journey, three surgeries since the 1^st of this year. The latest one week ago. When one arm is bound up, one learns to lean on the only One who can truly support me in dark hours.   Oh, I have my husband and others who support me. In fact I have been surrounded by them. What would we do without our precious brothers and sisters in the Lord.  And I am thinking of the wonderful doctors, nurses and caregivers in the hospital, who gave such wonderful care.

 

I had a tape recording once where a group sang this particular song,“ I Lean on You Lord” and I have not heard it since that tape has long disappeared with all the other tapes when switching to CD’s and CD players.  But at the time I had the tape, I was also going through some struggles and changes in my life. But the Lord does bring these songs back to me, and many times they just come as “songs in the night.”  I then go to my computer and look them up to see if they are available there.  I pray that the words will speak to your heart as it does mine.  I know many of you are going through great trials and times of just not knowing what to do about situations.  But in those times we can know Who we can lean on as we travel this road with Jesus.

 

I LEAN ON YOU LORD

 

CHORUS:  I lean on You Lord, I lean on You, Lord. For the things I need, I lean on You. When I don’t know just what to do, I got the faith you’re gonna see right on through; You’ll supply my every need, I lean on You.

 

I’ve been on the mountain when the sun was shinin’ bright. And I’ve been in the valley when the clouds were black as night. I’ve been betrayed like Jesus, by a friend who wasn’t true; but in the good times or the bad times, Lord, I’ve learned to lean on You.

 

You know I’ve heard the battle raging, and then I prayed ‘til victory came. There have been times I really thought, “God, You don’t even know my name, but, I’ve been blessed and I’ve been down where I didn’t know what to do; but in the times of joy or sorrow, Lord, I’ve learned to lean on You.

 

That’s why I’m “Leaning, Leaning, safe and secure from all alarms, leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” Oh, I’m leaning, leaning’ cause in the good times or the bad times, Lord, I’ve learned to lean on You.  (Carroll McGruder)

 

When the well is dry, it is time to go back to God’s Word and prayer.  When in situations where I just don’t know what to do, I lean on Him.  When the doctor advises further surgery and we didn’t know what to do, we went to the Lord and He gave us peace to walk that valley once again.  How about you?  Are you in a similar situation with decisions to make, go back to the Lord to experience that special peace and direction He will give.

 

And we’ve all been on the mountain top, walking in the glory of His presence.  Things are going well, people are being ministered to, and life is good walking with Jesus, but then the “valley times” come.  Life was going well last January.  I had finished a round of cancer some months earlier and had a clean bill of health, and was ready to do anything for Jesus, and there walking through a large store, I went down, and for months I felt like I was in the darkest valley, but then a bit of time back on the mountain top, the sun was beginning to shine again, then another crisis and decision to be made.  But I have learned to lean on Him.  In the good times we lean, and in the bad times we lean.

 

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

 

Isn’t it wonderful to know that when we fall, when sorrow comes, when we have great needs in our lives, whatever that may be, God’s Word promises that underneath us are His precious arms.

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon