When I was sinking down with grief, the weight of regret heavy
When I was wandering in darkness, stretching for the light
But thinking the distance was too far
Jesus came, forgave
When I am weary, no strength to find
When I am wondering how we all will survive
Thinking the world is too far gone
Jesus comes, strengthens, reminds
When He knows that the time has come
When He summons His beloveds home
When He appears and the heavens rejoice
Jesus is coming, is redeeming, is forever with us.
c2023 Lisa Lyons
Hallelujah! What a Savior.
Blessings, Lisa
Postscript: If you need to know Jesus, find forgiveness, no matter what, read the Bible, start with the book of John. He is there. He will make Himself known to you, and your empty places will be filled. Write to me if you need help in locating a Bible.
A pipe burst in our laundry room this weekend. Water everywhere. Workmen in and out. Renovations ahead. Stress, noise, and mess. Romantic anniversary and valentine weekend, huh? 😉
But a wondrous and quite unexpected thing has happened. I am cleaning out the laundry room, the shelves, the mess, the squirreling storage. And as I clean, I find treasures, discard trash, re-evaluate what is needed and what is not.
And I feel free. Lighter, even though I have just begun. A new start. A clean slate.
Hence, the photograph…..my trash bags sitting beside the beautiful azalea my wonderful husband brought me for our 35th anniversary. Chaos beside the beauty. The commencing of our 36th year together.
I also feel Christ nudging me with the same message. I will help you find a new start, a commencing of sorts, in this mess. Life is hard, yes. Life is messy and stressful, yes. But I have overcome this world.
“Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” – Revelation 4:6
“…His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” – Revelation 1:15b
“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty.” – Psalm 93:3-4
Thinking this morning about the utter power and strength and breadth of our God. As there is no holding back the power of the sea, there is no holding back the power of God.
And yet, with all that power is great, compassionate, forgiving, eternal love, shown to us by the great gift of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.” – Micah 7:19
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.” – Psalm 18:16
Praise God for His mercy. Praise Him for His compassion. Praise God for His love. It is what keeps me going and gives me hope each day.
Stand By Me, written by Charles Albert Tindley in 1905, is an absolutely beautiful hymn. I discovered it like many others by hearing Elvis Presley’s cover of it recorded in 1966. But many other singers have recorded it over the years, probably the other most well-known being the Staple Singers in 1961. Here are the original lyrics as written by this Methodist preacher:
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me. In the midst of tribulation, stand by me. When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me. In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me. When I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand, thou who knowest all about me, stand by me.
In the midst of persecution, stand by me. In the midst of persecution, stand by me. When my foes in battle array, undertake to stop my way, thou who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me. When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me. When my life becomes a burden, and I’m nearing chilly Jordan, O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me
c1905 Charles Albert Tindley
I listened to this yesterday while I was alone. I turned it up, closed my eyes. Truth, raw honesty, beauty. I cried tears, but they were tears of soul washing, of dependence, of trust in our Mighty and Powerful God.
If you have a moment alone today, I encourage you to do the same.
Think About These Things 