Sunday Song Devotions - July 11, 2010

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."


It Is Well With My Soul
Author: Horatio Spafford
 
One of the songs we sang Sunday was, "It Is Well With My Soul," by Horatio Spafford.
It is actually one of my favorite hymns simply because the story behind when and why it was written is so beautiful.  Here's the story...

Written by a Presbyterian laywer Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888) and composed by Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876).  Spafford was born on October 20, 1828 in North Troy, New York. He was a successful lawyer in Chicago who maintained a keen interest in Christian activities, deeply spiritual and devoted to the scriptures.

Sometime in 1871, a fire in Chicago heavily devastated the city, and months before that , Spafford had invested hugely in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan. The disaster greatly wiped out his holdings. Before the fire, Spafford also experienced the loss of his son.

Two years after the fire, Horatio Spafford planned a trip to Europe for him and his family. He wanted a rest for his wife and four daughters, and also to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain. He was not meant to travel with his family. The day in November they were due to depart, Spafford had a last minute business transaction and had to stay behind in Chicago. Nevertheless, he still sent his wife and four daughters to travel as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre, expecting to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship laden with his wife and daughters was struck by the Lockhearn, an English vessel, and sank in few minutes.

After the survivors were finally landed somewhere at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford's wife cabled her husband with two simple words, "Saved alone." Shortly after, Spafford left by ship on his way where his beloved four daughters had drowned, and pen at hand, wrote this most poignant text so significantly descriptive of his own personal grief – "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." The hymn "It is Well with My Soul" was born.

It is noteworthy that Horatio Spafford did not dwell on the theme of life's sorrows and trials, instead, focused in the third stanza on the redemptive work of Christ, and in the fourth verse, anticipates His glorious second coming.

This song is a wonderful example of the attitude that we should have and the importance of right perspective in all that we experience day to day - whether it be financial struggles, loss of loved ones, or even inexpressable and paralyzing sorrow in a situation that is more than just about anyone could bear (such as it was for Mr. and Mrs. Spafford).  It is important that we learn as Horatio did to say, "Hallelujah Anyway!"  When we can't stand to face another day, when we don't understand why we have to go through a horrifying situation, when our grief or sorrow is almost too much to bear - we need to look our circumstances in the face, and learn to praise God - not in spite of our circumstances - but in the midst of them.  We must learn to say, "It is well" - even when we don't understand why it is so.  God's sovereignty is bigger than our situation, God's love is bigger than our sorrow, God's mercy is greater than our failures.  We can say with confidence, "It is well", when we stop focusing on our difficulties, but instead learn to focus on the One who is Lord of our circumstances. 


"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul."

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

Learn to do Good. Seek Justice. Help the Opressed...

I read this passage today in my quiet time.  I can't get it out of my mind.  I know that it's just sitting there waiting to mess me up entirely.  I hope so.  I can't wait for God to mess me up.  Here's what it said...

"Wash yourselves and be clean!  Let me no longer see your evil deeds.  Give up your wicked ways. 

Learn to do good.

Seek Justice.

Help the opressed.

Defend the orphan.

Fight for the rights of widows.

Come now, let us argue this out, says the LORD.  No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it.  I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.  Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.  If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat.  But if you keep turning away and refusing to listen, you will be destroyed by your enemies.  I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Isaiah 1:16-20

Transition

I've been working on so many things lately that my blog has sort of fallen through the cracks.  Boo.

Mostly I've been just enjoying my summer away from the classroom with my three favorite girls - so I guess it's actually a YAY!  I've been on a sort of blog-cation I guess.  But I'm ready to get back at it. 

I have so much to post, but I suppose I'll start with letting you know that I have a new church and a new ministry there.  It all happened a bit fast, and I've been a bit busy since, but Ricky and I are very excited and are certain that God has led us to this place in our lives and we will follow in obedience to the One that we serve. 

There will be much more to come about all this, but for now - I'll just say that although we KNOW that this was God's leading and are very excited about our new church and all of the new friends we have already met and begun to share our lives with - we will VERY MUCH miss our family at FBC Watauga.  We've spent the last three years sharing our lives with each of you and sharing yours also - and we hope that will continue.  We love each of you more than words can express and are very sad that we won't be able to see you multiple times each week.

Thank you SO much for all your understanding, love and support during this transition for our family.  We are and forever will be grateful to our family at FBC Watauga and know that God will continue the work He began in the beautiful family of believers there and also through my family and new church at Eagle Mountain Baptist Church.

Philippians 1:3-6 seems appropriate right now to describe the way I feel...

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."