This old hymn has been on my mind the past couple days...
this verse in particular.
Last night I made this little picture of said verse...
and then I opened my Bible to read a little before bed.
I've been reading through the gospels again.
Want to guess what chapter I "happened" to be ready to read?
Luke 8
In this chapter is one of the records of Jesus rebuking the wind & waves.
(Don't you just love when the Lord causes these little "coincidences"?)
{Luke 8:22-25 NASB}
"Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.
But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.
They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.
And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another,
“Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”
Who indeed?
My Lord & my God.
He Who can calm the wind & surging waves can certainly calm my little heart.
Hearts are funny little things aren't they?
You can know something in your mind, but hearts are awful slow in getting the message.
I've just been pondering these verses & thoughts.
Nothing too deep or concrete to share...
just...
thinking.
I found this lovely rendition of this much loved hymn.
I've no idea who this gal is, and some extra words have been added.
I usually don't like when people add to old hymns
(I'm just not big on change. ;P )
but I don't think any harm has been done here. ;)
And now I'm going to sleep.
(Well...probably listen to this song a few times...but...)
I was afraid the words may have been running out...
in near panic I wrote that thought in the notebook I had been feverishly writing in.
I asked the Lord to continue to teach me.
He's taught me so many invaluable lessons.
He answered.
He gave me more words to write down.
Oh, I thought, but these are far too personal to share with anyone else.
So, I selfishly hoarded them to myself in my little book.
Old sins die hard.
I've always been selfish with my thoughts & words.
They are such a window into our very hearts, are they not?
After a couple days of selfish hoarding I had quite a hard day yesterday emotionally.
My flesh continued to wage war against me & what I know to be true.
I wondered why I couldn't just do a half-hearted attempt at Christianity as others seem to be able to do.
But then I was reminded that
I am not my own.
I am His.
He owns me.
He bought me with a price.
I am His & He is mine.
He loves me...with love as strong as death.
stronger than actually.
Last evening when I was so deep in the trenches of warfare against self
the Lord gave me Mr. Spurgeon's evening devotion from his book "Morning & Evening"
(a Christmas gift from Momma)
The text was
"Love is strong as death" Song of Solomon 8:6
Let me share it with you as it meant so very much to me.
"WHOSE love can this be which is as mighty as the conqueror of monarchs, the destroyer of the human race? Would it not sound like satire if it were applied to my poor, weak, and scarcely living love to Jesus my Lord? I do love Him, and perhaps by His grace, I could even die for Him, but as for my love in itself, it can scarcely endure a scoffing jest, much less a cruel death. Surely it is my Beloved's love which is here spoken of—the love of Jesus, the matchless lover of souls. His love was indeed stronger than the most terrible death, for it endured the trial of the cross triumphantly. It was a lingering death, but love survived the torment; a shameful death, but love despised the shame; a penal death, but love bore our iniquities; a forsaken, lonely death, from which the eternal Father hid His face, but love endured the curse, and gloried over all. Never such love, never such death. It was a desperate duel, but love bore the palm. What then, my heart? Hast thou no emotions excited within thee at the contemplation of such heavenly affection? Yes, my Lord, I long, I pant to feel Thy love flaming like a furnace within me. Come Thou Thyself and excite the ardour of my spirit.
"For every drop of crimson blood Thus shed to make me live, O wherefore, wherefore have not I A thousand lives to give?"
Why should I despair of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death? He deserves it: I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they were but flesh and blood, then why not I? They mourned their weakness, and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their unflinching constancy—there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad such love, even Thy love in my heart, this evening."
~C.H. Spurgeon
Love so amazing.
Then I was also reminded that unfaithfulness does not go unpunished.
(I should know...)
And the longer you go on in unfaithfulness the worse the consequences will be.
And just because it seems that others are getting away with bad behavior doesn't mean that is so.
If you are the Lord's
you are just that
His.
And He will bring you back into His fold no matter what it takes.
Because He IS faithful.
Even when we are not.
"Oh, Love that will not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the life I owe..."
{Thank you Lord for not letting go of me in Your awesome love that passes knowledge.
Even if I think I'd like You to loosen Your grip...
thank You that You don't always give me what I think I want.
Draw me ever nearer, Sweet Lord.}
Another well beloved hymn comes to mind...
This is not the melody I'm used to hearing with this hymn,
but it is such a beautiful one that I immediately fell in love with it.
Could I leave my little son "to minister to the Lord" and go back home?
{1 Samuel 2:11}
She had so longed for a child.
She poured out her soul before God. {1:15}
She only kept him 'til he was weaned...
that's not so very long...
but then what is time?
We aren't guaranteed any sure amount of it.
It's all in the Lord's most capable hands.
It's His to give as He sees fit.
What a testimony this woman has.
I can't quite wrap my mind around her beautiful song of thanksgiving...
{1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NASB)}
Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
“There is no one holy like the LORD,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
“Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the LORD is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.
“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.
“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
“The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
“The LORD makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.
“He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,
And He set the world on them.
“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.
“Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
Wow.
This O.T. saint knew her God.
She knew experientially that
e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g
belongs to God.
Even her well-beloved son.
She knew that there was no better place for her little one
than squarely within the Lord's will for him.
He had big plans for little Samuel.
What a lesson to be learned here...
{Deuteronomy 10:14 (NASB)}
"Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens,
the earth and all that is in it."
...that's pretty inclusive...
...Just a little rabbit trail of thought
that my Lord led me down...
to comfort me.
