Hymnals of the Past but So Present

 On this Monday Morning: I am sitting here thinking of the beautiful hymns of the past. But they ring so many truths of the present. 

Some hymns are sad, some are joyful but every one of these beautiful poetics, songs from the depths of the hearts that wrote them point to a bigger picture than us. Hymnals that were written in the 1800's as some of the deepest pain. 

You wonder sometimes the pain that they were feeling but nevertheless turned their eyes from the beautiful gaze of Jesus. 

Some of my favorite hymnals:

Come Thou Fount-Dated 1755 

Be Thou My Vision-Composed in the 10th or 11th Century 

Rock of Ages-Dated 1778 

These lyrics ring truth when the darkest of nights seem to cripple you to the point of tears streaming down your face...Asking God to take the pain, take the crippling grief of the waves of life that unexpected came in your life tossing you in a hurricane of emotions till you are drowning in the ideations, the dreams and the scenarios you thought your life would be like. 

Some of these lyrics I will forever hold on too. 

Come thou Fount-by Robert R. 

"Prone to Wander Lord, I feel It, Prone to leave the God I love. Bind my wandering heart to thee. Here I raise my ebenezer." 

It is truly such a beautiful story; seeds of faith, pain and redemption. How often do we feel that in our own life, may a delayed promise, delayed hope and deep sorrow and anguish. 

An ebenezer in the Old Testament was stacking rocks one by one when the Israelites moved onto a new step where God was leading them to. It was a remembrance of who God was, what God has promised and the faithful ways God showed up when the impossible, when the tears streamed down their face. When hardships came and they had no idea how God was going to move or show up as the darkest nights were upon them. 

What about your life? What Ebenezers would you build? What stones would you stack in memory of every single time God was faithful that you didn't think were possible? 

My stones would reflect that my tears, fears and years were not wasted. So many times, God provided for me in ways I didn't think were possible. That of providing cars, jobs, housing, food in ways I didn't think was even possible. Tangible ways that it is only a miracle of God. 

Prone to wander Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. We are so prone to wander, to chase money, success, unhealthy relationships, hurts and things of the world. That touch a deep vast void in us, in the inner most being that only God can fill. Only God can bring. Only the true peace, the provision, joy and hope to hold onto another day longer. 

Be Thou My Vision-Translated in 1905 

Be Thou My Vision O Lord of My heart; Naught be all else to me save thou that art. Thou my best thought by day or by night. Waking or sleeping thou presence my light. 

God hasn't forgotten you dear one. Waking or Sleeping His presence will be your light. Nighttime is hard because it can be so dark, nightmares, night terrors and tears of loneliness. My dearest friend you are never ever alone though. Sometimes the darkest of nights is when his presence will be the greatest light you witness and will feel. You are never alone and you are so loved, the darkest nights show the brightest stars, they also bring out some of the most beautiful moths the Luna Moth, moths are just nighttime butterflies. To have the Lord over your heart, only Jesus. Only Jesus can save you nothing else we can chase, we can run, we can fill that void but, in the end, only Jesus can bring saving to the pain. 

Rock of Ages-Augustus T.

This whole hymnal is so beautiful the lyrics bring in a sweet, strong dependence on Christ solemnly. 

"Rock of Ages Cleft for Me, let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and thy blood from thy wounded side which of flow. Naked I come to thee for dress. Helpless I look to thee for grace." 

This composer wrote this song when a storm slammed him into rocks, and he sought shelter in a cave, a cleft in the rocks. Do we do that in our own life? When the waves of life crash us over, whether it be a loss of job, a loss of a career, a loss of a child, a loss of loved one, a loss of a relationship. Loosing what we thought our dreams and aspirations would be the dreams we had since a little kid. The waves of pain we feel we are drowning in begging God to make the pain stop, tears that flow more than the drops in the ocean. But what if those waves are slamming you into the Rock of Ages, a cleft, a hiding place to keep you safe from the storm.

We face some storms we will never share with anyone, we say pain is too vulnerable, we stay afar from people because pain, loss and disappointments make us push anyone who comes within a radius of your boat to help be with you in the storm away. We say, I don't need anyone, we build walls and then not let community be with us in the storm. 

Jesus was on that boat in the storm...I am no sailor, but I am sure trying to deal with a boat by yourself in a severe storm you will fail, it takes a skilled team to help weather the storm, to weather waves. When you are you let people help you in your storm, you can learn to rely on other people. It is always the Body of Christ that has come through for me in my life. They have been a support as the bible has called us to be as Christians, to help share each other's burdens, even Christ someone helped carry his cross us the side of the mountain. 

My dearest friend your pain, matters to God. He hasn't forgotten you, nor will he ever leave you. 

If you need a friend please reach out to me, you are never alone in this journey. 

May you know that God is faithful in every season even when waves of life crash onto us. 

May you be blessed and know you are loved. 

Grace and Peace be with you, may the love of Christ ever flow out of your heart and know you can rely on people.