December has begun, and people are . . . not all jolly. How do we overcome and move forward when life is filled with loss,
or sickness, or falls,
and pressures, and messes,
and great amount of cares?
Is there a rescue place? Well, those who believe in God take comfort in spending time and thinking on His love and sufficient gift in His Son.
But what about when the song is gone when the holiday season has begun? Like a tire gone flat? Where’s the lift?
I’m telling you, it’s in the hymn-book! One that’s opened and read aloud that is.
This is the one-stringed guitar that I play, so-to-speak: the hymnal has amazing power. But my favorite of all time are Robert J. Morgan’s Then Sings My Soul editions.
I brought one of the editions into the infusion room many years ago when I was undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer patients in close vicinity to my voice were lifted immediately by the hymns and the stories of the writers.
We were changed. A deep joy, courage, and most important, hope returned to our sick bodies.
Many were reminded that God’s gracious love never left their side, even though they had nothing to do with Him for long and past years.
Yesterday, I was thinking of my elderly neighbor while I was able to be at church on Dec. 1. She’s unable to get to church because of many reasons, and struggling in many ways.
Thank you Robert. J. Morgan, for writing Then Sings My Soul Special Edition. I scooped up this book and went on my way to pay a short visit to my neighbor.
Coffee came first, but then pages were opened:
His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civilla D. Martin, 1905.
The Scripture of choice for this hymn was, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.
Always to the left was the hymn, to the right, a story. With no melody at all, just the words of the hymn read aloud, “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven and home.
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “
Yes, it’s true, the Word has been told us, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) Matthew 1;23.
Isn’t this one of the most precious promises of God?
My eyes scroll up for verse 2 with anticipation of the thoughts: “Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When song gives place to sighing, When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “
Hope is restored with the speaking, (or singing, if you choose) of a hymn. Change comes. The promises of God fill the mind instead of troubles and pain. For example,
“. . . God has chosen to make known . . . the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
And then my eyes roamed to Morgan’s writing in regards to this hymn by Civilla Durfee Martin, and I was reminded of other verses regarding God’s faithfulness within this theme:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.
“Do not fear . . . you are of more value than many sparrows” Luke 12:7.
What a wonderful gift this book is to me over and over again. Perhaps, this year the most meaningful gift you might give yourself, or others, is a Robert J. Morgan’s, Then Sings my Soul edition.
