Seize the Moment – Day 452
What makes a hymn a hymn?
Ephesians 5:18b-19 (NLT)
“Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” (NLT)
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are all sung in praise of God. The difference depends on where they have been taken from, their music and words, and the instruments accompanying them.
Last week, we learned that Isaac Watts began writing in the 17th century hymns and spiritual songs because his father’s church was tired of just singing the Psalms. But we were encouraged to do this all the way back to the 1st century church.
A Psalm is a song that is taken from the Book of Psalms and was accompanied by stringed instruments and percussion instruments.
Hymns are formal and traditional songs sung by the congregation that normally have four-part harmony written out for them. Many times, the lyrics were written out and then sung to classical music, traditional cultural songs and even using the melodies of songs that were sung in the local taverns. (How scandalous is that?)
Spiritual songs are normally described as the inspired and spontaneous songs given by the Holy Spirit Himself. They are influenced by different cultural and musical styles.
YOUTUBE:
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Seize the Moment – Day 445
Today’s hymn focus will be “At the Cross”
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)
“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!
But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”
These poetic verses were written by Isaac Watts, born in 1674 to Pastor Isaac & Sarah Watts. His father was considered a dissenter because he did not fall in line with the teachings of England’s Anglican Church. The younger Isaac showed exceptional intellectual abilities, learning Latin, Greek, French and Hebrew by the age of 13. At the age of 19, he joined his father in leading the Above Bar Congregational Church in Southampton, where he began writing hymns for the church to sing. He published this song in 1707 in a book entitled Hymns and Spiritual Songs.
Almost 150 years later, while singing this song in a revival service, Fanny Crosby (our blind hymnist from last week’s song) was converted to Christ. She said “my very soul was flooded with a celestial light.” So Isaac Watts played a part in her salvation.
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my
heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am
happy all the day!
We need to wake up and realize that the power of written words and a beautiful melody do not just impact a few, but can continue to echo through the ages, affecting people’s lives for generations to come. Sing and proclaim this joyous song today!
YOUTUBE:
At the Cross
Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
At the cross, at the cross where
I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, His creature’s sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears.
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
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Seize the Moment – Day 438
Today’s hymn focus will be “Blessed Assurance”
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”
In 1873, Fanny Crosby was staying with her friend, Phoebe Knapp. Phoebe owned a palatial mansion in Brooklyn, NY, where she had one of the finest collections of musical instruments in the country.
Phoebe invited her into the music room to play a tune that she had just written. As she sat at the piano and played the new composition, the blind hymnist listened. When she finished, Fanny clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Why, that song says ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!’”. She quickly wrote the words down and this great hymn was born.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!
We need to wake up and realize that if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are to live in the absolute conviction and triumphant faith that Paul wrote to Timothy about. AND we need to proclaim that story and praise Him all day long.
YOUTUBE:
Blessed Assurance
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
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Seize the Moment – Day 431
Today’s hymn focus will be “The Comforter Has Come”
John 14:16 (ESV)
“And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Helper,
to be with you forever,”
Frank Bottome was born in Derbyshire, England in 1823. In 1850, he moved to America where he entered ministry in the Methodist Episcopalian Church. He began writing hymns and, while the circumstances that inspired this hymn are unclear, it was written during a time of great spiritual awakening.
While this hymn is celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit, it is also a proclamation of the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to have God send the Holy Spirit to comfort and dwell within us. This allows the Holy Spirit to do His work in glorifying Jesus Christ in our lives.
The Comforter has come! The Comforter has come! The Holy Ghost
From heaven, the Father’s promise given. O spread the tidings ‘round
wherever man is found. The Comforter has come!
It’s time we wake up and know that the Holy Spirit is more than just a comforter, like a warm blanket. He is also the One that is walking with us and working in us so that we can bring glory to God in everything we do!
YOUTUBE:
The Comforter Has Come
Wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father’s promise given;
O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!
To every captive soul a full deliverance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings:
The Comforter has come!
To wondering mortals tell the matchless grace divine:
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!
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Seize the Moment – Day 424
Today’s hymn focus will be “I Need Thee Every Hour”
2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT)
It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
Annie Sherwood Hawks was an associate pastor’s wife, working with Reverend Dr. Robert Lowry at Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, where she was encouraged to write Sunday School songs for children.
On a bright June morning in 1872, she was busy about her regular household chores when suddenly, she became filled with a sense of nearness to Jesus. She wondered how anyone could live without Him, in either joy or pain, and began writing the words. She gave the words to Pastor Lowry, who wrote the tune and the chorus in the church parsonage. He later took it to the National Baptist Sunday School Association meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it was sung for the first time, and then published in a hymnbook the next year.
I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine, can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee, Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
We need to wake up and realize that Jesus is always there! He promised to never leave us or forsake us. That promise should bring peace to our hearts, whether we are faced with pain or joy.
YOUTUBE:
I Need Thee Every Hour
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
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Seize the Moment – Day 417
Today’s hymn focus will be “My Savior’s Love”
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
“ My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me.
Today’s hymn is also known by the titles “I Stand Amazed” and “How Marvelous” and was written and composed by Charles Gabriel. Born in Iowa in 1856, from a young age he showed a talent and love for music. While he had no formal training in music, he was requested by his pastor to help him find a song to go along with his message. By the end of the week, he had written the words and composed the music for that song.
As you read the lyrics, you can imagine how the passion for Christ that is found in the Gospels vividly revealed itself to him as he penned the lyrics of this hymn.
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be!
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!
We need to wake up and realize that the Love that God demonstrated to us through the giving of His Son is far deeper than any source that we can ever find. God’s amazing love is marvelous and wonderful!
YOUTUBE:
My Savior’s Love
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
He prayed, “Not my will, but thine;”
He had no tears for his own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.
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Seize the Moment – Day 410
Today’s hymn focus will be “I Love to Tell the Story”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
“ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey
all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.”
After her recovery Major General Russell read the poem at the international YMCA convention. It inspired William Doane to take part of it and compose “Tell Me the Old, Old Story” and William G. Fischer took a part and composed our hymn for today:
I love to tell the story! Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story. Of Jesus and His love.
We need to wake up and realize that it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to share the story of Jesus and His love and help make disciples. We can never grow tired of sharing this message of love and hope.
YOUTUBE:
I Love to Tell the Story
of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true.
It satisfies my longings as nothing else could do.
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
the message of salvation from God’s own holy word.
seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
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Live Like a Champion – Week 17
“The Promise of Joy”
John 15:9-17 (NLT)
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
This Week’s Memory verse: John 15:11:
INTRODUCTION:
Minister and author Samuel D. Gordon says joy is defined as:
“distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, to matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.” (from his ‘Quiet Talks’ series of books)
I. I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy Joy Down in My Heart!
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV)
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
~Be Alert
~Be faithful
~Be a mature adult
~Be strong
~Be loving (do all in love…EVERYTHING)
Motivational speaker and author Jim Rohn made this statement regarding love and joy and how they work together:
“Nothing can bring more joy to life than beautifully fulfilling relationships.”
II. The Joy Source
John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
But also demonstrates who is our source.
“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon
WHY? So it would be a testimony to others who are watching!
III. Is Joy conditional?
“ Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
(ESV) says to “count it all joy…when trials come~grumblings, murmuring, sarcasm?
Shannon, Kenny & Kenton Rose. One of my ‘kids’ in youth group and close with whole family. (Easter 2021)
Her momma wrote: Don’t think for one second that because she is sweet and compassionate that she is weak. Oh No! This girl can break a horse, train a dog, drive a boat, pull a four horse trailer and back it up wherever it needs to go. She can load and unload 50 bales of hay without complaint….She is strong and she is a fighter… She recently received a diagnosis of metastatic cancer in her breast, ovary, and a 5.9cm tumor in the bone of her shoulder. She is currently having a bone scan to see if the cancer has “camped” anywhere else. During this most devastating news, she has maintained her resolve to do whatever it takes to be victorious in this journey.
She has not let this diagnosis steal her joy. She was asked to be a part of a clinical trial study at Duke Cancer Institute that is showing great promise.
Quote from Kenny when I told him our church would be praying: Ken, Thank you buddy! We are giving this to God daily and trusting in him for healing! Thank you for the prayers! I’m believing that this will become a beautiful story to help someone down the road!
They are facing this trial knowing that through it all, God will be glorified.
“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Nehemiah was there to encourage the people.
Not to be a ‘Debbie Downer’ or a ‘Negative Nancy’
Recently while listening to KLOVE radio, the hosts of the afternoon show were talking about having a good time, laughing and enjoying time together when someone came in and they were in a bad mood. They had a choice to let that person influence them, or they could try to encourage and boost the spirits of that person.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
CONCLUSION:
God’s Word tells us in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from His love, but He still gives us the choice in what we are going to do with it. What are you going to choose to do with it?
We are told that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), so are your words reflecting His love for Him and for others?
Child’s song: Jesus and Others and You
“J” is for Jesus for He has first place, “O” is for others you meet face to face,
“Y” is for you, in whatever you do, Put your self third and spell JOY.
In this self-centered, me first, and what’s in it for me world we live in, it is our job to shine the light of God’s love and joy. They have to see the hope, the grace and the mercy that flows out of God’s love. And it must be shown in the way we live our lives. We can say it all we want, but unless we show it in our actions, all we are is noise makers.
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
So as the worship team comes, we are going to open up the altars.
- Maybe you have lost your joy. Jesus wants to meet you here and restore the joy of your salvation (process we have to work on daily…justification, sanctification, glorification)
- Maybe you are feeling weak from all the things the world has been throwing at you lately. Jesus wants to meet you here and let you know that His Joy will be your strength as you cast all your cares on Him.
- Maybe the devil has put a cork in your fountain of joy by filling your mind with distractions and lies. Jesus wants you to let go and let God do the work in you!
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
He is calling forth a team to go out and share this message of joy that this world so desperately needs!
You can listen to the message here:
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 403
Today’s hymn focus will be “Joy in Serving Jesus”
Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV)
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!”
Rev. Dr. Oswald J Smith was the pastor of the People’s Church in Toronto, Canada. The hymn began as a personal testimony, expressing the joy he experienced in serving Jesus. He wrote, “In spite of burdens and heartaches, in spite of challenges and difficulties, it should be our great delight to serve the King of kings.” He collaborated with B.D. Ackley in writing nearly a hundred songs. When this one was published in 1931, Ackley wrote back to Pastor Smith “I have a hunch this one is a winner!” and he was right!
Pastor Smith wrote:
There is joy in serving Jesus, as I journey on my way, joy that fills my heart with praises,
every hour of every day.
There is joy, joy, joy in serving Jesus, Joy that throbs within my heart
Every moment, every hour, As I draw upon His power, there is joy, joy
Joy that never shall depart.
We need to wake up and realize that joy is not a product of our circumstances. Joy is a product of our relationship with Jesus. Focus more time and energy on that relationship and ask him to restore the joy of sharing His love and His Word with others today!
YOUTUBE:
As I journey on my way,
Joy that fills the heart with praises,
Ev’ry hour and ev’ry day.
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus,
Joy that throbs within my heart;
Ev’ry moment, ev’ry hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.
Joy that triumphs over pain,
Fills my soul with heaven’s music,
Till I join the glad refrain. [Refrain]
As I walk alone with God.
‘Tis the joy of Christ, my Savior,
Who the path of suffering trod. [Refrain]
Joy amid the darkest night,
For I’ve learned the wondrous secret,
And I’m walking in the light. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 396
Today’s hymn focus will be “Cleanse Me”
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB95)
“ Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The attitude of total surrender is seen in each verse, beginning with a prayer for revival to start first in our own heart, and there must be a fresh surrender to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us if we want revival to truly begin. The third verse says:
Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine; fill my poor heart with
Thy great love divine; Take all my will, my passion, self and pride
I now surrender Lord, in me abide.
We need to wake up and make this song our daily prayer if we truly desire to see God move and bring about a new world-wide spiritual awakening…for Revival comes from Him!
YOUTUBE:
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.
Fulfill thy Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify thy name.
Fill my poor heart with thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self, and pride;
I now surrender: Lord, in me abide.
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