Love For the Weary Soul

Psalm 13:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

My soul has been feeling weary this week, so my heart has found comfort in another hymn I've known since childhood, "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go."    George Matheson, the author, was indeed familiar with heartbreak,  This was written of hymn and the genesis of the song as found in Wikipedia:

One of his hymns, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go," has passed into the popular hymnology of the Christian Church. Matheson himself wrote of the composition:

"I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high." [1]

"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" was written on the evening of Matheson’s sister’s marriage. Years before, he had been engaged, until his fiancée learned that he was going blind—that there was nothing the doctors could do—and she told him that she could not go through life with a blind man. He went blind while studying for the ministry, and his sister had been the one to care for him through the years, but now she was gone. He was now 40, and his sister’s marriage brought a fresh reminder of his own heartbreak. It was in the midst of this circumstance and intense sadness that the Lord gave Matheson this hymn, which he said was written in five minutes.

I'm not sure if there are any other vocal groups that can do justice to a hymn of this sort than the Gaither Vocal Band.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go [Live]

We Believe (acoustic) Newsboys cover- Lauren Daigle

A Good Word

When Christians Suffer

1 Peter 4:12-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Job 2:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

My grandmother, a mighty woman of faith, still despaired in the nursing home, saying, "I don't understand why God doesn't just take me home!"  It can be hard even for strongest Christians to accept suffering.  It probably explains why God has given us in His word, so much instruction in how to suffer.  Still, I can't say I like it.  I doubt that our gracious God expects us to like it either, as He carries us through it until that day His glory is revealed.  

Praying With a Broken Heart - Sarah Hart

Matthew West - Grace Wins

Decently And In Order

1 Corinthians 14:40 English Standard Version (ESV)

40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Mark 6:39-41 English Standard Version (ESV)

39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.

She remains a mystery to me, my mother.  Summer tourists rolling through my town remind me of the camping trips my parents took us on when we were children.  How my mother managed organize a car full of children, camping equipment, food, dishes, towels, swimming suits, play clothes, sleeping bags, pillows and even a potty seat, I do not know.  But she did.  Yes, she had help from Dad, loading the car, driving and setting up camp; but how did she ever manage to pull off such an endeavor in an age where you couldn't on a McDonald's in every town?  I can remember her passing back wax paper wrapped tuna sandwiches into the back seat of the car as we rode along.  I can remember her timing our showers in order to get the most children clean in a campground pay shower on a hard earned dime.  We may have looked like ragamuffins but we were clean.  They both seemed happy, my parents, surrounded by children tucked in sleeping bags, and surprisingly relaxed.  

Organization may not be a fruit of the spirit but it seems to have been my mother's spiritual gift.