After Elijah's victorious day on Mount Carmel, it seems very strange to find him running from Jezebel and crouching under a desert shrub wishing to die. Elijah's weak spot was his stomach. While Elijah was hungry and tired he was subject to the "blues," and a woman with a bad tongue in her head and a vicious temper could make him run like a whipped cur. The Lord knew this, and so he fed Elijah and gave him a chance to rest, and then he was as good as new. He went back again to make and unmake kings with all the courage of other days. When you are tempted to panic, find out where the weak spot is. Perhaps you have malaria, or dyspepsia, or liver complaint. Many a weak body has put to rout a strong soul. Be gentle to people tempted in that way - as God is.
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Elijah's "Weak Spot."
Vanished Doubts
The power of worship to banish and dissipate the doubts and fears that beset our minds and hearts is beautifully described by Longfellow:
And when the solemn and deep church bell
Entreats the soul to pray,
The midnight phantoms feel the spell,
The shadows sweep away.
Down the broad Vale of Tears afar
The spectral camp is fled;
Faith shineth as a morning star,
Our ghastly fears are dead.
"Say I Won't"
Seizing Opportunity
A plain wreath of oak leaves was sent through the English consul in Berlin in the hope that it might find a place on Mr Gladstone's coffin. The sender was a Berlin shoemaker who owed his success in business to the "Grand Old Man." About twenty years ago this shoemaker came to London and established a small workshop, but in spite of industry and strict attention to business he continued so poor that he had not even enough money to buy leather for work which had been ordered. One day he was in the whispering gallery in St. Paul's cathedral with his betrothed bride, to whom he confided the sad condition of his affairs, and the impossibility of their marriage. The young girl gave him all her small savings, with which he went next day to purchase the required leather, without, however, knowing that he was followed by a gentleman commissioned to make inquiries about him. The shoemaker was not a little surprised when the leather merchant told him that he was willing to open a small account with him. In this way did fortune begin to smile upon him, and soon, to his great astonishment, he received orders from the wealthiest circle in London society, and his business became so well established that he was able to marry and have a comfortable home of his own. He was known in London for years as the "Parliament Shoemaker," but only when, to please his German wife, he left London for Berlin, did the leather merchant tell him that he owed his " credit account " to none other than Mr. Gladstone. The Prime Minister had been in the whispering gallery when the poor shoemaker had been telling his betrothed of his poverty, and owing to the peculiar acoustics of the gallery had heard every word that had been said. This story suggests not only how Mr. Gladstone's wide-reaching influence was helped by his seizing upon the smallest opportunities to do good, but also that the house of God is always a whispering gallery; and tho no prime minister of earth may hear us as we breathe out our sorrows there, the Prime Minister of heaven will never fail to hear and heed.
"There Was Jesus."
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Finding God Through Man
James Russell Lowell, speaking of what the poet ought to be in the future, gives a description that could with little change apply for what every Christian ought to be; for surely every disciple of Jesus should be one
Who feels that God and heaven's great deeps are nearer
Him to whose heart his fellow man is nigh,
Who doth not hold his soul's own freedom dearer
Than that of all his brethren low or high;
Who to the right can feel himself the truer
For being gently patient with the wrong,
Who sees a brother in the evil-doer,
And finds in Love the heart's-blood of his song.
Forgiveness of The Transgressor:
Saturday, April 17, 2021
The Importance Of Time
Many people live as tho they were to live forever, or had so many lives on earth that they could afford to throw one away. But that we have only one life here, and, therefore, every moment is of critical importance, Bonar, the great hymn-writer, has beautifully expressed:
Not many lives, but only one, have we,
One, only one;
How sacred should that one life ever be,
That narrow span.
Day after day filled up with blessed toil,
Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil.
More About The Hymn Writer, Bonar:
God Gives Us A New Chance
Ella Higginson, under the title "When the Birds Go North Again," sings a pretty little song of hope, illustrating the goodness of God in giving to the saddest heart a new chance for blessing and achievements.
Oh, every year hath its winter,
And every year hath its rain -
But a day is always coming
When the birds go north again;
When new leaves swell in the forest,
And grass springs green on the plain,
And the alder's veins turn crimson‚-
And the birds go north again.
Oh, every heart hath its sorrow,
And every heart hath its pain -
But a day is always coming
When the birds go north again.
'Tis the sweetest thing to remember
If courage be on the wane,
When the cold, dark days are over -
Why, the birds go north again.
Love or Legality
A certain old merchant told me a very interesting story about his son. He has only one boy, and when he became of age the father called him into his counting-room and said: "Now, Fritz, you are twenty-one, and I have made up my mind to take you into the firm with me." Fritz seemed very much pleased at this announcement. "Yes," said the father, "I have determined that I will give you outright one-third interest in my entire business." At this further announcement Fritz beamed with. joy. "But,'' said the father, "if I am to take you into partnership, we must, of course, have a regular business arrangement, just the same as if we were not related. I have drawn up a little contract here, in which I have set the limit of the amount that each one will be permitted to draw from the business. You will notice that I have placed your limit at two hundred dollars a month." At this announcement the countenance of young Fritz fell. He thought it over for a few minutes, and then he said: " Father, I think I would rather be your son than your partner. You have never denied me anything in my life that I have asked for. If I wanted a hundred or a thousand dollars, you have never refused me. Let things go on just as they are. You shall own it all, and I will be your son." The old man chuckled a good deal over the shrewdness of the lad. The Christian's relation to God is like that. Our morality is not a mere legal thing, but we are his sons; and when we give up our hearts to him in loving sonship, giving him our service for love's sweet sake, he will give us a blank check that will more than cover all our needs.
Hollow At The Heart
In Baltimore one Sunday morning, as the people were going to church, a telegraph-pole, large and strong and round, looking as stalwart as any other in the line, suddenly did a strange thing. It never would have been heard of except for that queer happening. Without any warning, like a great, strong man struck down by an unseen bullet, the pole groaned, and then, with a snapping, tearing, grinding sound, the upper portion fell to the street, leaving about twenty-five feet standing. The people looked on and wondered. A crowd soon gathered, marveling at what should have caused such a catastrophe. There was no hurricane, not even a brisk breeze, and surely not enough to sever such a pole as that, which had weathered so many storms. Just then a small boy began to climb the stump that was left, to investigate. When he reached the top, he found that right where the pole had broken was a scooped-out place where a pair of woodpeckers had cut out their nest, and there in the nest was a poor little woodpecker frightened half to death. Unnoticed, but steadily, stroke after stroke, the birds had dug their way back into the heart of the great, strong telegraph pole, until they had sapped its strength. Sometimes a man comes crashing down in the city. His outer life has seemed strong and round and respectable. People have believed in him and trusted him, but he suddenly comes down in his ruin. The whole world marvels at it; but after a little it is discovered that some secret sin had eaten into his heart, and the strength of the man's life was gone, tho he looked to the world as strong as ever. Look out for the secret sin!
Friday, April 16, 2021
"The Way of The Cross Leads Home" by Charles H. Gabriel
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (August 18, 1856, Wilton, Iowa – September 14, 1932, Hollywood, California) was a writer of gospel songs and composer of gospel tunes. He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are available in 21st century hymnals. He used several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, and S. B. Jackson.
"Farther Along" Hymn by Who?
"Farther Along" is a Southern Gospel song published by the Stamps-Baxter Music Company. The lyrics to the song were written in 1911 by Rev. W. A. Fletcher, an itinerant preacher, while he was traveling to the Indian Territories by train. Fletcher was feeling depressed because his wife, Catherine Louise Emmett Fletcher of Cleburne, Texas, was expecting their first-born child in a few weeks and he wouldn't be present for the occasion. He felt that his priorities were with his ministry in the Indian Territories and wrote the lyrics to reflect his frame of mind at the time. Sitting next to him on the train was J. R. Baxter, a gospel music promoter who was quite taken with the lyrics that Fletcher was writing and offered him $2.00 for them. Mr. Baxter subsequently had them put to music and the song has been quite popular in the gospel music arena ever since.
The song was copyrighted in 1937, as part of the Starlit Crown collection, and was renewed in 1965. It is often erroneously thought of as a folk hymn or as being in the Public Domain.
is one of the loveliest renditions at YouTube
"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" by John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Adams 1810 – 1897 was co-editor with Dr. E.H. Chapin of the Universalist Hymns for Christian Devotion and alone for the Gospel Psalmist, 1861. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he married twice and had two sons and one daughter. He was ordained in 1833 in Rumney, New Hampshire. Although rarely used outside his denomination, best known of his hymns are "Heaven is here, its hymns of gladness" and God's angels; not only on high to they sing." Read more . . .
- Works by John Greenleaf Adams at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about John Greenleaf Adams at Internet Archive
- Personal papers of John Greenleaf Adams are in the Andover-Harvard Theological Library at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Where to Find Safety Zones
In great crisis, the memory of the word of some wise and gracious teacher often comes to our rescue, and the new and bewildering experience in which we stand assumes a familiar and orderly aspect. We are set free from fear and panic and enabled to act with sanity and wisdom. For those whose memory is full of the words of Christ, there is strength in all life's emergencies.
"I Surrender All" by Judson W. Van DeVenter
"I Surrender All" is a Christian hymn, with words written by American art teacher and musician Judson W. Van DeVenter (1855–1939), who subsequently became a music minister and evangelist. It was put to music by Winfield S. Weeden (1847–1908), and published in 1896.
"For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing."
"Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet" by William Howard Doane
William Howard Doane was born in Preston, Connecticut on February 3, 1832; died in South Orange, New Jersey on December 23, 1915. He was an industrialist who composed Christian hymn tunes. He held patents on wood-working machinery and in 1861 became President of J. A. Fay and Company. In religious work he headed the Ohio Baptist Convention Ministers Aid Society for the Midwest. In 1875 he received his doctorate in music from Denison University. In his musical career he edited forty-three collections of hymns and composed hundreds of hymns. He also composed the music to several hymns by Fanny Crosby.
- Free scores by William Howard Doane in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Free scores at the Mutopia Project
From the album I Will Give You Glory
Soloist Bethany Goodine
Copyright 1984 New Spring Publishing
(admin. by BMG Chrysalis, New York, NY) / ASCAP
"Seven Last Words of Christ" by Theodore Dubois
François-Clément Théodore Dubois, born 24 August 1837 – 11 June 1924, was a French composer, organist and music teacher.
- Festival Théodore Dubois and official art | Palazzetto Bru Zane Venice
- Free scores by Théodore Dubois at the International Music Score Library Project
- Theodore Dubois Chamber Music sound-bites from several works and short biography
- Free scores by Théodore Dubois in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
Above is the 1st Word by:
- Jeffrey Price: Tenor
- Stephen King: Baritone
- Nicholas Bowden: Organist
- Coral Ridge Concert Choir
- Gold Coast Symphony
"Praise Him, Praise Him" by Alfred H. Ackley
Tommy Walker is an American worship leader, composer of contemporary worship music, recording artist and author. Since 1990, he has been the worship leader at Christian Assembly, a church affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in Los Angeles, California. Some of Walker's most well-known songs are “No Greater Love,” “Mourning Into Dancing,” “He Knows My Name", and “That’s Why We Praise Him.”
In addition to his responsibilities as a church leader, he has taken the "CA Worship Band" on numerous overseas trips, including several trips to Southeast Asia and the Philippines. He has worked alongside Franklin Graham, Greg Laurie, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren and at Promise Keepers events. Read more . . .
Praise Worthy Graphics from The Christian Clip Art Review:
"Day By Day" by Composer Oscar Ahnfelt
Oscar Ahnfelt (1813–1882) was a Swedish singer, composer and music publisher. He composed the music for many of Lina Sandell's hymns. He was a pietist, who traveled all over Scandinavia, playing his 10-string guitar and singing her lyrics. The state church authorities did not like pietistic hymns and, anticipating a royal injunction against the singing of Sandell's songs, ordered Ahnfelt to sing them before King Karl XV. But after hearing them, the King announced to Ahnfelt, "You may sing as much as you desire in both of my kingdoms." Ahnfelt sang them so much that Sandell wrote, "Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people."
Vibrant photos and lyrics. Take life day by day."
"Nearer My God to Thee" by Mrs Sarah Flower Adams
This language was the heart-utterance of Mrs. Sarah Flower Adams, daughter of Benjamin Flower, writer for The Cambridge Intelligencer, and wife of William B. Adams, an eminent engineer, and also a contributor to some of the principal newspapers and reviews.
Words and Music by Anna Weatherup
Piano - Daniel Brinsmead
1st Violin - Rebecca Smith
2nd Violin - Tobias Chisnall
Viola - Alexina Hawkins
Cello - Matthew Lovett
Recorded live on July 12, 2011 at Psalter Studios, Sydney.
© Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved Psalter Music
psaltermusic.com
Monday, March 4, 2019
The Figure of Christ
Monday, October 8, 2018
Show Heavenly Powers
But if God's angels are sent to "wait on them who are the heirs of salvation," and if they "encamp around them that fear Him," why may not angelic agencies have been acting in some mysterious manner upon us? Swedenborg.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Fruits of True Religion
Friday, June 1, 2018
Wait And See
Many a ghostly thing is laid
In the light from out the shade.
Wait and see.
Do not live your sorrows twice;
Fear is like a touch of ice;
Faith can kill it in a trice,
Wait and see.
Why expect the worst to come?
Pondered cares are troublesome,
Joy makes up a goodly sum,
Wait and see.
Better than your wildest dreams
Is God's light that for you gleams.
When the morning cloudy seems,
Wait and see.
Vision Of Jesus
Loyiso Bala, Neville D and Ivan Siegelaar
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Education
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Nearness Distracting
and the church bells of the Oude Kerk play music together."
Friday, October 6, 2017
Discovering Genius
Detail from The Creation of Adam, portraying the creation of humankind by God |
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Light After Night
Friday, July 3, 2015
Heights
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Spiritual Nobility
Thursday, June 4, 2015
The Revelation In Us
"Light Of The World." (C) 2013 Centricity Music
Friday, April 10, 2015
The Poverty Which Maketh Many Rich
More Sermons by Segerhammer: