You Are The Apple Of God’s Eye!

“Whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye.”  ~Zech. 2:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Is Well With My Soul

I’ve heard and sung this beloved hymn for many years.  It’s story never loses it’s power, no many times it’s been told.  Horatio G. Spafford, a very prominent lawyer in Chicago is the man who penned the lyrics.

 

 

 

 

In the 1860’s, life was going very smoothly for Horatio and Anna.  Four daughters and a son graced this couple’s lives.  They were enjoying wonderful Christian fellowship with D.L. Moody and members of their church.

Then the unthinkable happened.  (So many of us can identify with life going smoothly, then all of a sudden, it as though something broke loose and one horrible thing after another happens.)

Their only son, who was four years old, suddenly died of scarlet fever.  The very next year, the Chicago fires wipes out every single house Horatio and Anna had bought for investments.

Their family heartbroken over the death of the baby and the money lost, Horatio decided to take his wife and daughters on a trip to England to help D.L. Moody in one of his evangelistic crusades.  At the last minute, Horatio was called on immediate business.  Not wanting to delay the family’s trip, Horatio told Anna and their daughters to go ahead on the boat set for England and he would join them in a few days.  Nine days later Horatio received a telegram from Anna that simply said, “saved alone”.  A boat collided with the ship they were sailing.  In twelve minutes the ship sunk and all their daughters were killed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Anna.  Her last memory of that horrible event was her standing on the deck watching Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging to her, but torn away by the fierce waters.  Anna was spared by a plank underneath her.  She heard that small still voice say, “You were spared for a purpose”.  She immediately thought about what a friend had said to her, “It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God.”

 

 

 

 

As soon as Horatio got the telegram, he boarded the next ship leaving New York to join his wife.  He asked the captain of the ship to tell him when they sailed over the place where the accident happened.  When they reached the area where the ships collided, Horatio went down to his room and penned the words to “It Is Well With My Soul”, taken from 2 Kings 4:26.

These old hymns are such a treasure!  What is your favorite hymn story?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exuberant Worship

“I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this.”  ~ 2 Samuel 6:21-22

When the Ark of the Covenant finally arrived in Jerusalem, David was ecstatic!  The king called for a celebration!  As he danced happily before the Lord, his wife felt he was behaving in a very undignified manner.

Jehovah Jireh ~ The Lord Our Provider

How often we forget that our self-sufficiency is not honoring to the Lord. We have all seen children who have learned to survive without the help of his or her parents. This is a poor reflection on the parents, is it not? In the same way, those of us who are born again and do not trust the continual love and provision of our Heavenly Father are casting a shadow upon His perfect, holy character. Our independence undermines all the blessings He has so freely given us.

The culture of our day teaches it is a good thing to be self-sufficient, yet God’s Word is clear we should be dependent on Him.

A Deep-Rooted Faith

Abraham and Sarah were a childless couple who had been told by an invisible God that they would parent many countless generations.  They didn’t have a bible or the fellowship of other believers to encourage their hearts.  All they had was a lot of time to think about the promise God had made to them.  So much time, in fact, that their childbearing years were now far behind them.  But God, as always, kept His promise.  Abraham and Sarah rejoiced when their son was born.  The invisible God they believed in was vindicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He Was Minded To Put Her Away Privately ~ Are We So Gracious?

My attention was turned to Matthew 1:19. “He (Joseph) was minded to put her (Mary) away privately”. What a verse of compassion! Imagine it. Here is this young man whose life had been wholeheartedly surrendered to the will of God. I’m sure he and Mary were a good-looking young couple, but it must have been Mary’s heart, bent towards Heaven, that attracted him to her so strongly. How it must have surprised and shocked Joseph to learn of Mary’s pregnancy!