classic Hymns

But He is Strong

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 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

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Sometimes we sing the verse “I am weak. but He is strong.”  in a theoretical sense only. We actually feel quite fine and we sing thinking that some day when we are not feeling so chipper maybe then we will need the strength of Jesus. For today we are well – thank you – and then the thought of weakness fades as we go on with our afternoon.

But when I sing those words I sometimes think of my friend Sal. He was in his 98th year when I met him in our nursing home service. His large frame with its wide shoulders was now confined to a wheel chair. Sal sometimes would say, “I don’t know why God still has me here…” Maybe one part of the answer which only God knows for sure is the memories of our worship in the dining room at Allied Skilled services.

Though Sal could no longer walk and he was nearly entirely blind,  he could still sing and his strong bass voice would ring out as we sang the old hymns. As Sal’s voice and others like his filled the air I can picture God cupping His ear to listen while He sits among all His mighty angels bowed in worship.  Then I can see God raising His hand for quiet because he doesn’t want to miss a note of that fragile melody better than anything of the heavenly chorus. To Him those elderly voices shine with the faith of children as they sing, “We are weak -But He is strong!”

I believe that if God listens in heaven, then how much more do we need to pay attention here on earth. God inexplicably brings home some who are young because their work here is finished, but He also chooses for some to tarry, because it pleases Him. Since their faith and song are precious to Him, maybe we need to listen more carefully and value more highly those who are living out those words, “But He is strong!”

Abide with Me – Audrey Assad

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The Reverend Henry Lyte wrote the lyrics to the hymn “Abide With Me” in 1847 just weeks before his going to be with the Lord. But rather than being morbid and glum the words instead are filled with the fresh breath of hope. No matter what you are facing in your own person life there is hope in an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He has pursued us faithfully down all the pathways of our lives. His gave His loving discipline when we have strayed, His encouraging hand our our shoulders when we mourned, and His mighty strength when we were weary. So why should we doubt the  faithful love of God as we transition from one chapter of our lives to the next? Whether leaving home for the first time off to the grand adventure of life or preparing for heaven when we lay all we have gathered at His feet; He abides. He has given His all so we could receive all of Him. Don’t be afraid what ever step is before you. I loved this rendition by Audrey Assad. She brings the timeless melody and lyrics to us in her own unique way. Thank you Audrey and may my readers be blessed this Sunday as you remember again the one who has promised.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me

Connection by Hymn

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He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Luke 20:38

Hymns are songs that make a connection. Hymns can be sung by grandchildren as they hold  their Grandparent’s hands. I am connected to my father who is in now heaven when I hear the words  “When peace like a river attendeth my way.” I can still hear the voice of my pastor who has flown to heaven, when I sing “I’ll fly away O glory!” We who claim orthodoxy of the faith sometimes think and act like the Sadducees  who didn’t believe in life after death. We sing and worship as if Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Fanny Crosby were all long dead. But the reality is that they are also praising God together with us in “Real time” as we say today. When we sing the hymns we have access to a connection of praise that runs back through the ages without the divide of denomination, geography or race.

The demand for continual new material in our cooperate worship has become so strong that even songs written 10 years ago are treated like second class citizens. Worship songs from the 1970’s – 80’s are considered so out of touch or quaint that no one even considers using them.  But focusing only on latest contemporary worship rather than keeping us wonderfully connected to God actually leaves us both isolated and impoverished. We are not the only generation that has ever known how to glorify God but rather  we are simply one row in God’s enormous heavenly arena. When we worship we need to close our eyes and imagine the voices of all believers down through the centuries blending

aniversario da igreja 002their ancient harmonies with our 21st century praise. He is not the God of the dead but of the living and He gives us worship songs ever new and yet ageless; as His gift of connection to that ageless connected community called the church!