A Strong Message
Good Morning Friends,
Last night, at choir, we were practicing a hymn by Charles Wesley named Love Divine, All Love Excelling. I like it for its message but especially so because it is sung across many denominations. It echoed for me some of my experience earlier in the day at a Rotary Club luncheon. There in the Spirit of giving back…connecting money, ideas, power and potential together we at One by One Leadership Foundation celebrated with our partners this relationship of love for the good of community by routing an $84,000 grant from State Farm Insurance Company to empower youth in Immokalee.
Now at these events and in life in general I have found that the hymn I Need the Every Hour is nice but that what I really need is God reflected in the hymn, Moment by Moment. Together with the Wesley hymn they form A Strong Message.
Scripture: God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV)
Message in two hymns:
Moment by Moment Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine; Living with Jesus, a new life divine; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Refrain: Moment by moment I’m kept in His love; Moment by moment I’ve life from above; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine; Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Never a trial that He is not there, Never a burden that He doth not bear, Never a sorrow that He doth not share, Moment by moment, I’m under His care.
Never a heartache, and never a groan, Never a teardrop, and never a moan; Never a danger but there on the throne, Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel, Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus my Savior abides with me still.
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus my Savior abides with me still.
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast! Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee; changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Pray we teach the children to observe Christ at work in the love commanded of us. Pray we know God is with us always, even unto the end of the world. Pray we sing a joyous song of God’s love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 