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I’d Rather Have Jesus

/ pastorpete51 / 13 Comments

The song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus”, is one of my favorites to sing, but I especially love the story behind how it came to be. Originally Rhea Miller wrote the words as a poem, being inspired by what her father had said in church, just after his receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. The first verse was the testimony of his surrender to Christ.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be his than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand

Rhea Miller’s little poem became loved by Mrs. Maude Whitney Shea, the mother of “George Beverly Shea. In 1932 at the age of 23, George had been struggling with the decision of whether to use his talents in the secular music world or to continue singing for churches. One afternoon as he sat down to practice, he found the words to Rhea Miller’s poem, left on the front of his piano.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather be true to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

As George read over those lines, God began giving him both a melody, as well as the certainty in his heart of what path he would choose. That night, George sang his new composition for the first time to the congregation of his father’s church. Amazingly, once George had committed to the purpose God had for him, doors began to open for him to sing in many churches, eventually becoming the soloist first for evangelistic crusades with Jack Wyrtzen and later with Billy Graham. The world-wide fame, George had let go of when he chose to follow Jesus, was given to him as he sang for God and he eventually released more than 70 albums, with his final recording made as he approached his ninetieth year! George Beverly Shea could truly say at the end:

I rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today!


“I’d Rather Have Jesus”
Lyrics 1922 by Rhea Miller
Music 1932 by George Beverly Shea

Singing in Memory Care

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

Some folks probably wonder why I bother to write two separate blogs. The reason is that, Walking With Lambs is devoted specifically for people whose lives have been touched by long-term-care, whether you are on staff, have a family member or friend in a facility or are a volunteer, these posts are meant to be an encouragement as well as a forum to add your own experiences. Today’s post is a reminder that, while those in the memory care wing of one community I visit are the least visited, they do still have a capacity to worship and praise Jesus. In fact, if you listen carefully, you will hear many happy voices praising God as we sing. I think that God loves to hear those folks more than any worship team of earth. They are the little ones who our Father is pleased to spend His time with. Why shouldn’t we do the same!

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 NLT

pastorpete51's avatarWalking With Lambs

If you have ever wondered if it is worth it to visit memory care, then this is a perfect video for you to watch. If you listen just a bit, you will hear many happy voices singing along with me. They may not recall where they used to live, or the name of family members, but they remember these songs and the name of Jesus. What a delight it is to sing with them and in my humble opinion, I think Jesus likes the sound of their voices better than any recording artist on earth! Today’s song session includes: Isn’t the Love of Jesus Something Wonderful, Oh How I love Jesus and He Keeps Me Singing. I pray that He will keep you singing as well and that you will live for Him every day!

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But This I call to Mind

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 
Lamentation 3:21-23 ESV

When we look around at our society, there are some days when we wonder how things could possibly get any worse. But more than 2,500 years ago as Jeremiah wrote today’s passage, things were worse: far worse. His home city lay in ruins; many people had either been killed by the Babylonians, or simply died of starvation during the siege of Jerusalem. Afterwards Jeremiah reacted much as you or I would have done – he wept uncontrollably. Though his own life had been spared, everything around him had been burned, torn down or stolen. But instead of giving up, he tells us that he called to mind God’s promises.

First, he called to mind, that God’s steadfast love had not changed. It was not altered by their failure or success, or even their sins. His care was not based on His people’s performance, but on the unchanging nature of His heart. And today, God still so loves the world so much that He still sends His only Son into the world by the good news of the Gospel. It is still true that anyone who believes Him will NOT perish but begin to experience eternal life. Now that kind of love gives me hope, and yet God is not done!

Then Jeremiah tells us that God’s mercies never come to an end. Yes, His nation was defeated, and their enemies were busy plundering and burning the temple, yet God wasn’t finished with His people. The people of Jeremiah’s day discovered, there are times when God allows His children to reap what they have been sowing and stands back to let us experience the results of our selfish choices. But God isn’t through with us! He hasn’t now, nor will He ever, stop being merciful to His children. Our very real hope is that even when we reach the bottom of the barrel of our sin, God is still willing to reach down and pull us out, when we cry to Him for mercy and put our hope in Him alone!

Last of all Jeremiah remembered that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on ours. God stands by His promises and faithfully keeps covenant with His people. At the Last Supper, while Jesus was blessing the bread and passing the cup, one disciple was running off to betray Him, another would soon deny knowing Him and all the rest were arguing about which one of them was the most important. Why would Jesus choose to lay down His life for them? Because Jesus was not giving a new philosophy to be understood, a new club to join or a cause to defend. Jesus was offering His own body and blood for a New Covenant for them to receive. So, the next time you take the bread and drink from the cup as you receive communion, remember. Remember His loving sacrifice, receive the mercy that has never come to an end and call to mind once again the unchanging faithfulness of God in Jesus Christ at Calvary!