Abide With Us By Nannie R. Glass
“Abide with us!” Where could we go?
Thou art our strength, thou art our tower,
Our refuge from the ills below,
In darkness light, in weakness power.
“Abide with us!” We would prevail,
And plead that thou be ever near
To banish doubts when they assail,
And give deliverance from fear.
“Abide with us” in words of love,
For thou dost say, “Come unto me.”
Oh, guide us to thy home above
To dwell in joy and peace with thee!
Renewal Of Strength By Frances E.W.Harper
The prison-house in which I live
Is falling to decay,
But God renews my spirit’s strength,
Within these walls of clay.
For me a dimness slowly creeps
Around earth’s fairest light,
But heaven grows clearer to my view,
And fairer to my sight.
It may be earth’s sweet harmonies
Are duller to my ear,
But music from my Father’s house
Begins to float more near.
Then let the pillars of my home
Crumble and fall away;
Lo, God’s dear love within my soul
Renews it day by day.
Roadside Inns Of Refreshing Strength
“Life is a journey, not a home; a road, not a city of habitation; and the enjoyments and blessings we have are but little inns on the roadside of life, where we may be refreshed for a moment, that we may with new strength press on to the end – to the rest that remaineth for the people of God.”–Horatius Bonar
Grandmother And Her Faith
“…When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”–2nd Timothy 1:5
I know we were expecting to continue our look at the Creation this morning, but God had other plans. Yesterday morning (Friday), at the age of 96, my grandmother passed away. It has been a day we have both dreaded and prayed for. No one wants to lose a loved one, but after 96 years, she was longing to be with the Lord. More than anything the past couple of years, she wanted to go Home. Yesterday, God finally answered her prayer. Are we sad? Yes, to an extent. Are we going to miss her? Only for a little while. She leaves behind three children, eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-children. She also leaves brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
More than that, however, she leaves behind the example of how we should live. She showed each of us what it means to live for, and trust in, God. At one time or another, each of us has been lifted up in her prayers. In sorrow, we still know we need to thank God for blessing us with such a wonderful woman.
Thursday, most of the family who lived near paid her a final visit, not because we knew it was going to be the final time, but because we knew it was getting close. We each got to sit at her bedside and hold her hand and talk to her a bit. As I held her hand, I tried to bring a smile to her face, but her suffering wouldn’t allow it. When I told her I loved her, she tried to respond—she didn’t have to, of course, we knew she did. I joked about being her favorite grandchild, and it is true, I am. I’m her favorite because I am me; just as my cousins are her favorites because they are her grandchildren as well.
When I got the news of her passing, I knew today’s post was going to be different since 2nd Timothy 1:5 was the first thing I thought of. In Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy, he speaks of the young man’s faith. It was the same faith he saw in Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Everyone who knew my grandmother, knew of her faith; I hope they see that same faith in me. In truth, she is part of the reason this blog exists. Had it not been for the example of her and my own mother, I would not have the faith I do.
Friday morning, as we awaited the arrival of the coroner, I got to kiss her forehead and say goodbye. When they arrived, they asked the family to step out of the room while they prepared to carry her out. One of the coroners asked if we preferred her face to be covered or uncovered when they took her out. I told him it didn’t matter,since all they had was the shell; her soul had gone on and her love remained behind. Those are the important things.
If you have someone of great faith in your family, strive to emulate that faith. There are few compliments greater than having your faith compared to someone such as that.
Until we meet again in the Presence Of God, my sweet Granny.
Happy the home when God is there,
And love fills every breast;
When one their wish, and one their prayer,
And one their heav’nly rest.
Happy the home where Jesus’ Name
Is sweet to every ear;
Where children early speak His fame,
And parents hold Him dear.
Happy the home where prayer is heard,
And praise each day does rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word
And all its wisdom prize.
Lord, let us in our homes agree
This blessèd peace to gain;
Unite our hearts in love to Thee,
And love to all will reign.
Longing for Peace And Knowledge
(Saturday Evening Prayer For January 27)
Heavenly Father. We come to You this evening with longing in our heart. There is a longing for peace in our spirit, our body, and in our mind. A longing for knowledge—knowledge of You and of those who walked this road before us—fuels our passion. Father, we long for rest and the strength to lay our burdens at Your feet. We also pray for the willpower to not pick them up again. Most of all, we long for home. To walk the streets of gold, to sit beside the crystal sea, but above all to kneel in Your Presence. We thank You for this desire to see You.
Be with those, this evening, who are filled with loss and overcome with grief. In the night when sorrow and pain weighs them down, remind them there is a Light that brings comfort. We know death is a part of this world, yet the comfort of the Holy Spirit sets us apart from this world. When tears fill our eyes and mourning overwhelms our hearts, there is strength and peace and comfort in You. For those who have traveled to show their love to those left behind, grant them safe journeys back home.
We pray, O Lord, for Your blessings to be poured out upon all men. Fill the spiritual needs of the burdened bearers. When we walk through the valley, let Your light shine through us so others might see You. Let us in all ways glorify Your name and never seek to build ourselves up. Keep us focused on the good things You have given us and keep us from turning back to a world of lies. Be always in the center of our thoughts, fill our hearts, and strengthen our will.
In all we do—in all we ask—we do so in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our savior.
Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.
For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.
Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.
We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
May we Thy bounties thus
As stewards true receive,
And gladly, as Thou blessest us,
To Thee our firstfruits give.
O hearts are bruised and dead,
And homes are bare and cold,
And lambs for whom the Shepherd bled
Are straying from the fold.
To comfort and to bless,
To find a balm for woe,
To tend the lone and fatherless
Is angels’ work below.
The captive to release,
To God the lost to bring,
To teach the way of life and peace—
It is a Christ-like thing.
And we believe Thy Word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate’er for Thine we do, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee.
