Evening Song - Heaven

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Revelation 21:18-25 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

Did you ever stop to think that the armies of heaven are not said to carry any swords? Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and He will conquer with the word of His mouth. We won't even need weapons. He will do all the fighting and take the complete victory with just His words.

How powerful do you think His words must be in order to do that?

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Evening Song - All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. 

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 

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All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the bless­ings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own al­migh­ty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, my­self, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as lit­tle as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glo­ri­ous at the judg­ment day.

O may my soul on Thee re­pose,
And with sweet sleep mine eye­lids close,
Sleep that may me more vi­gor­ous make
To serve my God when I awake.

When in the night I sleep­less lie,
My soul with heav’n­ly thoughts sup­ply;
Let no ill dreams dis­turb my rest,
No pow’rs of dark­ness me mo­lest.

O when shall I, in end­less day,
For ev­er chase dark sleep away,
And hymns di­vine with an­gels sing,
All praise to Thee, eter­nal King?

Praise God, from whom all bless­ings flow;
Praise Him, all crea­tures here be­low;
Praise Him above, ye heav­en­ly host;
Praise Fa­ther, Son, and Ho­ly Ghost.

Thomas Ken, circa 1674

Evening Song - Near to the Heart of God

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. 

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

Hebrews 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

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Suffering and Rest

Suffering and Rest

My Saviour! I can think of Thee,
And rest upon Thy Name,
Through changing scenes Thou leadest me
But Thou art still the same.
When I am feebler than a child,
Too faint to lift a cry,
Thy strength is with me all the while,
I know that Thou art nigh.

O precious Lord! I hear Thy voice,
In accents soft and sweet,
When wearied is my aching head,
And worn my willing feet.
I lay me down in peace and sleep,
In safety I abide,
My hand in Thine, Thou still dost keep,
Thou'rt watching by my side.

Lord Jesus! it is sweet to pause
And be alone with Thee,
To feel, shut out from all beside,
That Thou art all to me.
'Tis joy to know Thou wilt complete
The work Thou hast begun,
And Oh! how comforting and sweet
The rest when work is done.

by Hannah K. Burlingham

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

A Short Thought - God Is Love

Even in the midst of our sorrows and struggles, God is still love. His love is everlasting. His love is the greatest love. It is the most powerful force in existence. Did you ever think of that? It is a safe place to rest your weary soul.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Soul Finds Rest In Jesus

If you don't have a mother here on earth, or if your mother was not a good mother...
Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 
Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 

My Soul Finds Rest In Jesus

My soul finds rest in Jesus,

I see His work is done ;

The Father hath declared Himself

Well pleased in His Son.

 I cast my care on Jesus,

For who so kind as He ?

No mother's heart has half the love

That Jesus bears to me.

I'll try to live like Jesus,

And do His Father's will;

Where'er he goes I'll follow him,

And He will keep me still.

I'll bring my friends to Jesus,

And bid them look and live;

I'll tell how free His mercy is;

How freely He'll forgive.

I sing the praise of Jesus,

It is a pleasant thing,

With grateful hearts to celebrate

The glories of our King.

I yield my all to Jesus,

And am supremely blest;

Yes! in the bosom of His love

Is my eternal rest.

from The Evangelist's Hymn Book, 1860

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he

careth for you.

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of

unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those

that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments

of righteousness unto God. 

Letters to My Friend - Believer, Are You Resting In Christ's Finished Work

Dear Friend,

Are you going through a really rough time? Are the comforts of life that you have enjoyed all gone? Do you feel like you have been stripped of everything that you could do or hold or show as your works for God? Does it seem like you have no blessings left to show how great God is? Perhaps you’ve lost your house, your health, a child, your spouse, your best friend, or more. Maybe you have lost your faith in other people because of the things you have suffered.

If the answer is yes, then you are at a very crucial turning point in your life. You will choose one of two things. You will cast yourself wholly upon God and recognize that all you ever had was from Him to begin with, and it was not earned by you. Or you will become defeated through false pride and self-justification (like Job), blaming God for what He has allowed you to go through after all the good things you did for Him.

If you are not truly born again and all your good works and valiant striving to do the right things, have the right things, give to the Lord, and make something of yourself spiritually were your own efforts. They were done to prove to yourself, others, and God - in that order - that you are saved when you are not.

If this could be you, then you need to sit down and study through the gospel of John and 1 John with someone who is actually saved and find out if you truly believe. [Also, please read the story of Theresa's salvation under similar circumstances.] You need to ask God to give you "...the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe..." (Romans 3:22) You need to be sure of your salvation. You need to be a “know-so” Christian. Anything short of this will leave you in the same mess you are in already.

But, this letter is more specifically to those who are born again, but are not resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

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The Court of the King - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

The Court of the King

With the staff that had failed in my need
Where the road had been stony and steep;
With the lamp that was smoking and dim,
Though the darkness was growing more deep;
Weary, too weary to pray
And too heavy-hearted to sing,
Faint with the toils of the way
I came to the court of the King.

There where the fountains fall cool,
Their waters unfailing and pure;
There where the ministering palms
Stand like His promises sure,
Oh! there was peace in its shade,
Oh! there was rest in its calm;
And its sweet silences lay
On my bruised spirit like balm.

Long did I kneel in His court,
And walk in His garden so fair;
All I had lost or had lacked
I found in His treasuries there;
Oil to replenish my lamp,
His kindness a crown for my head,
For the staff that had wounded my hand
The rod of His mercy instead.

A garment of praises I found
For the sullen, dark garb I had worn,
And sandals of peace for the feet
That the rocks and the briers had torn;
Joy for my mourning He gave,
Making my spirit to sing,
And, girded with gladness and strength,
I passed from the court of the King.

Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 23:2-3 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths
of righteousness for his name's sake.

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Photos taken and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Evening Song - Near the Cross

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

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You Can't Hurry Through Grief - A Short Thought

One of the weird things about grief is how it ebbs and flows. It ebbs and we think that it's lessening and now things will be better and we can move forward. Then something happens and it flows freely again. Sometimes the oddest things will set this off. It can be discouraging and exhausting. We may be in a hurry to get past this painful point, and then feel guilty for wanting to feel better. 

The thing is, God doesn't hurry. Neither does He stay always in one place. It is ok to feel and then to move on as well. Let's rest in the knowledge that the Lord knows exactly where we are in our process and He knows what will affect us deeply and what will not. He allows these things to touch us for reasons we don't always understand. Let's leave our grief timeline with Him knowing that He will in any eventuality give us the comfort that we need when we need it.

Psalm 31:15 My times are in thy hand...

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation...

Like A River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase,
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day;
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding as He promised
Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand;
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care;
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do,
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

- By Frances Ridley Havergal

I Shall Dwell Forever - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

I Shall Dwell Forever

by Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 23:6 ...I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

"I shall dwell forever"; amid this world of change,
Where our homesick spirits oft' feel sad and strange,
Where the vacant places shall never more be filled,
Where the ache of memory can never quite be stilled,
Where the silent voices echo through life's empty room,
Where the brightest skies of earth must know grief's cloud of gloom;
Is any promise sweeter in our Father's blessed Word?
"I shall dwell forever in the house of the Lord."

We shall dwell forever; we shall never more go out,

Continue Reading.

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

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Photo: Central Texas

Evening Song - Leaning On Jesus

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 

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From Mom's Collection - A Prayer for Vacation Days

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

I realize that a lot of us may not have an opportunity to go away somewhere this year for a vacation or holiday, as it is generally thought of in the Western world. But, perhaps we could find a place to get apart from the usual business of life and sit at Jesus' feet hearing His word and talking with Him. Perhaps at a park away from the city. Perhaps at a borrowed lake or mountain cottage. This is the kind of vacation that would probably benefit a lot of Christians if they would seek it out instead of the entertainment filled destinations. Even so-called Christian retreats are sometimes more distracting than edifying. Maybe it is time to think more about those secluded times for individuals or families to be really alone with God. Whatever the case may be, we can resort to the Lord in our hearts and minds no matter where we may be. 

A Prayer for Vacation Days

Thy blessing, Lord, on all vacation days.

For weary ones who seek the quiet ways,

Fare forth beyond the thunder of the street,

The marvel of Emmaus Road repeat;

Thy Comradeship so graciously bestow

Their hearts shall burn within them as they go!

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - O that Will Be Glory

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

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Thoughts from Hymns - Sweet Rest

Graphic property of Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose.

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him...

Here is a good thought from a hymn. It was posted last year by Stephanie at the Enchanting Rose. I hope you will be encouraged and learn some useful things, as well as enjoying her lovely photographs. :-)

Sweetly Resting

This post also reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"Faith is rest, not toil. It is the giving up all the former weary efforts to do or feel something good, in order to induce God to love and pardon; and the calm reception of the truth so long rejected, that God is not waiting for any such inducements, but loves and pardons of His own goodwill, and is showing that goodwill to any sinner who will come to Him on such a footing, casting away his own poor performances or goodnesses, and relying implicitly upon the free love of Him who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son." Horatius Bonar

Also a quote from another hymn:

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Jean S. Pigot

Evening Song - One Hour of Hymns on Piano

Here is an hour of restful piano hymns for you to enjoy. :-) (Please remember I don't have control over commercials, ads, or the videos displayed at the end.)

Thoughts from the Past: Crippling Fear

[Originally published, 7/2012; Edited, Dec. 2017.]

Proverbs 24:10  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Deuteronomy 33:27  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…

Last Sunday evening a thunder shower started during the church meeting and kept on for a long time.  It was still going when we were leaving the building to head home. My friend Michelle and her littlest girl, Lucy, were going out the door at the same time I was. Another lady – a guest – was trying to help some with Lucy as she was starting to cry. Lucy started howling even more, and, assuming that it was partly because this lady was a stranger to her, I stepped in and picked Lucy up to carry her out. Well, she continued to cry and then began to writhe as toddlers will sometimes when they want to be put down. So, I put her down. To my consternation, she almost promptly fell over onto the cement. She was acting like she couldn’t function. I tried to lift her onto her feet, but she wouldn’t use her legs, she just kept them bent. 

All this time her mom, whose arms were full was saying encouraging things, but Lucy paid no attention to her. Eventually, when I was trying to hold her up and she was refusing to stand, her dad saw what was happening came out to assist, saying he would get her. I didn’t dare let go of her till he had her in his hands because she would have fallen backwards and hit her head on the cement.

She continued to cry as her dad paused to talk a minute, explaining to me that she was scared of the thunder. Still, she would put her head down on her dad’s shoulder and let him comfort her a bit, but when the thunder crashed again (and it wasn’t really loud thunder), she would howl and writhe and maybe even throw herself around a bit as if she wanted to be put down. She was perfectly safe in his arms. He wasn’t going to put her down – that would have only meant another fall for her as her fear was so overwhelming that she apparently forgot how to walk when it happened. But, she wouldn’t be comforted, she wouldn’t be assured, she would not rest in the safety of her father’s arms and be at peace. As the lady who had tried to help earlier said, Lucy probably was frightened because she did not understand the storm.

Speaking to my husband later about this little by-play, it crossed my mind how we are like that at times with our heavenly Father. Something happens that we don’t understand, or perhaps we are made frightened by events going on around us in the world or are fearful about the future; but rather than standing on our own two legs of faith, as it were, we begin to thrash around and stumble and become so overcome with our fear that we even fall and may injure ourselves, figuratively speaking. Fear can have very real physical effects. It can be debilitating. 

Perhaps our brothers or sisters in Christ see it is necessary to come along side of us and try to help to keep us on our feet, though that is a blessing, there is only so much they can do, especially when we refuse to be helped.

Ultimately, we need to rest in the everlasting arms of our heavenly Father. Yet, how often do we thrash and howl and writhe even while the Lord is trying to bring peace and comfort to our troubled minds and hearts! How apt we are to resist the very One who is …the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  2 Corinthians 1:3! We are so overwhelmed by our own terror that we can’t realize that we are safe in the arms of God, and even more we fail to hear His word and believe it. We can’t even comprehend it because we are allowing ourselves to be governed by the spirit of fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Fear is a natural response in some situations, and it is a useful reaction to keep us from injuring ourselves, attempting foolish things, going into dangerous situations and such like. When people say that “fear is sin” in a blanket statement they are misrepresenting the thing, which is unhelpful. But, fear is also something that can be totally unfounded, irrational, or exaggerated far beyond what a situation may call for. This is why our adversary uses it to his advantage.

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

The roaring of the lion causes fear and panic in those who are candidates to be his victims. But, as Christians we are told to be sober and vigilant – not so panic stricken that we can’t function properly. I know this can be very hard. As a person who deals with anxiety struggles, I know that it can be very easy to allow ourselves to be overwhelmed to the point of uncontrollable fear.

I find it interesting to note the verses just before and just after 1 Peter 5:8. First regarding the Lord, it tells us: 1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. And, then regarding the roaring adversary it continues in 1 Peter 5:9, Whom resist stedfast in the faith…

Getting back to little Lucy, though, and her refusal to accept her father’s comfort and care, another verse comes to mind. Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

The key there is in the letting. God gives us a choice in this matter. Lucy’s father could not make her be comforted or at peace. She had to choose that. As a toddler, this was something hard for her to do. We understand that, and I’m sure our heavenly Father understands our struggle as well since …he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalms 103:14 That is a blessing. But, I know Lucy’s dad would have liked to see her accept her safety in his arms and be at rest. How much more do you think our heavenly Father would be blessed to see us rest in His infinite, all powerful, sustaining arms? How much more does He know that it is for our good to accept His admonition to let His peace rule in our hearts?

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Vintage graphic: source unknown

It Is Jesus - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There is a Voice through Earth's wild clamor calling,
To all the heavy laden and oppressed,
Sweet as the cooling dew at even falling;
"Come unto Me and rest."

It is the voice of Jesus still entreating,
To all the comfortless and all the sad;
Day after day His tender call repeating,
"Come unto Me and I will make you glad."

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Photo by Stephen Van Nattan.  Graphic work by Mary Stephens.