When I was younger, I remember singing hymns from the hymnal held in the pew rack in front of me. Many times when they would announce the hymn I would cover my ears to see if I could turn to it without hearing the number. Some of the hymns were sung multiple times because it was the song leader’s favorite. From time to time one will pop into my head. The same thing is happening today with the choruses. They keep running around in my head and it is an encouragement throughout the day. I love our current songs that we sing today just like I do the hymns I listened to as a child.
One particular hymn is called, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Look at the words with me. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, just to rest upon His promise, just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood, just in simple faith to plunge me ’neath the healing, cleansing flood! Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease, just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; and I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end. Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! There is a story behind this hymn. It came out of the darkest hour of Lousia Stead’s life. Louisa, her husband, and their little daughter were enjoying an ocean side picnic one day when a boy who was drowning began to call for help. Mr. Stead rushed into action and tried to save the little boy. Instead, he was pulled into the water and drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched helplessly. It is in the aftermath that the words to this hymn came to life. Soon after this tragedy, Louisa and her daughter left for missionary work in South Africa. She served for about 25 years and had to retire due to bad health. She died a few years later. Her fellow missionaries loved the song that she had written and they in turn wrote this tribute after her death. “We miss her very much, but her influence goes on as our five thousand native Christians continually sing this hymn in their native language.” Do you know what it is like to trust the Lord like Louisa wrote about in this great hymn? You can. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” Psalm 91:4. The word rampart also means wall. God wants to be like a wall and keep you from taking the full brunt of the sting of the enemy. Cling on to the Lord today with all of your heart, hope, and trust. He will keep you in perfect peace. Keep trusting in the only one who can save you and keep you. Take a moment to praise the Lord for keeping a song in your heart in the midst of tragedy. I am looking forward to worshipping with you this Sunday as we baptize a few believers in our services. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
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Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
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