Song For Sunday: Have Thine Own Way

1. I have been thinking about Jeremiah 18:6 because CYC is using that as it's theme verse this year. It reads: 
2. 
   
3. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

CYC will be looking at how God has shaped us, is shaping us, will be shaping us. Also, what God is shaping for.  Before we can be shaped, though, we need to surrender and that is what this hymn is about.

CYC probably won't use this hymn. It's too old. They'll sing other stuff with similar themes. This is a beatiful piece, though. One of my favorites. May it be a blessing to you.

1. 
   
2. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
   Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
   Mold me and make me after Thy will,
   While I am waiting, yielded and still.
3. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
   Search me and try me, Master, today!
   Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
   As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
4. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
   Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
   Power, all power, surely is Thine!
   Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
5. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
   Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
   Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
   Christ only, always, living in me.

          

                      ~Adelaide A.Pollard

                       Public Domain

What song reminds you to surrender to God?




CYC (short for the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park) is a two-week leadership development conference for high school students. It offers chapel, classes, field trips, service opportunities, friendships and a safe community in which to explore Christian faith. It meets in August on the beautiful southern coast of Maine and welcomes students from all over and from all denominations. 

Fred Phelps Dies

So Fred Phelps has died.


He was the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, the vile assemblage which preaches hate as its doctrine. Back in the 1960s, though, he was powerful civil rights attorney who championed African-American equality. People who knew him then have said they would never have guessed he would have lead protests at funerals and spewed hate speech. (CNN Article)




I have written about Westboro Baptist Church before:




           Praying for Westboro Baptist Church


           Westboro Baptist Church


           Scriptures on Love and Sin: A Follow-up Post




There are reports that Fred Phelps was excommunicated or estranged from his "church" back in August 2013. Perhaps he repented of some of his ways, perhaps it was a power grab. We'll never know. Westboro isn't talking.


They also aren't holding a funeral, saying they "don't worship the dead." So the people hoping to protest his funeral won't get to do that. Probably for the best. I don't think sinking to their level will be helpful.


I don't know where Fred Phelps' soul ended up and I don't care to speculate. Good may come of this -- perhaps the group will falter and fade without him. Perhaps some members will come to their senses. Perhaps God will reach out to them in love and comfort and they will come to know the truth. Perhaps the little children will learn that God is a God of love, hope, reconciliation and transformation. These are things to pray for.


Meanwhile, let's all show love to those we meet. It's the best counter for hate.


Have a blessed day!

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I am a Baptist. I am also Irish. It's a long story.

 

I do love this prayer, attributed to St. Patrick. A Catholic Saint, but hey, he believed in the same Jesus that I do and this is a strong prayer, for protection in the spiritual battle we all face. It's a prayer for times of trouble, but also a day-to-day prayer that we may be kept from trouble.

 

It's known as St. Patrick's Breastplate:

 

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

 

What prayer helps you?

(Belated) Song for Sunday: The Rocky Road to Dublin

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and my great-great grandparents from County Cork, I offer The Rocky Road to Dublin as this week's Song for Sunday. (It is a bit long, I admit, for this format, but it's a good one.)

In the merry month of June
from my home I started
left the girls in Taum
nearly brokenhearted
saluted me father dear,
kissed my darling mother
drank a pint of beer,
my grief and tears to smother
then off to reap the corn,
leave where I was born
cut a stout blackthorn
to banish ghost and goblin,
brand-new pair of brogues,
rattling over the bogs
frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two three, four five

In Mullingar last night,
I rested limbs so weary
started by daylight
next morning bright and early
took a drop of the pure
to keep me heart from sinking
that's the Paddy's cure
when he's on for drinking
see the lassies smile,
laughing all the while
at me darling style,
would set your heart a-bubblin'
asked me was I hired,
wages I required
'til I was almost tired
of the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!


In Dublin next arrived,
I thought it such a pity
to be so soon deprived
a view of that fine city
decided to take a stroll
all among the quality
bundle, it was stole
in that neat locality
something crossed my mind
when I looked behind
no bundle could I find
upon me stick a-wobblin'
crying for a rogue
said me connaught brogue
wasn't much in-vogue
on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!

From there I got away,
my spirits never failing
landed on the quay
just as the ship was sailing
captain at me roared,
said that no room had he
then I jumped aboard
a cabin found for Paddy
down among the pigs,
rig some hearty rigs,
played some hilarity jigs,
the water 'round me bubblin'
off to Hollyhead
wished myself was dead
or better far instead
on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!

The boys in Liverpool,
when we safely landed
called meself a fool,
I could no longer stand it
blood began to boil,
temper I was losing
poor old Erin's Isle
they began abusing
hooray me soul, says I,
let the shellaillagh fly
some Galway boys were by,
and saw I was a-hobblin'
with a loud array,
they joined me in the fray
soon we cleared the way
on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!

One, two three, four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!
HEY!
                                                             ~Richard Raymond Finch, Sam Lewis, Joe Young


Here's a version by the Dubliners:

 

 

 

Do you have a favorite Irish folk song?

 

 

 

Knitters' Devotional: Joy

I sat near a knitting group in a café.

I couldn’t hear their conversation, but I could see that they were looking at each other’s projects, comparing yarns and laughing. Their laughter was pure and friendly, the type that comes when people have joy.

Knitting can be bring joy in many ways. The work it self can be enjoyable and relaxing. There is joy in completing a project. There is joy in sharing our knitting with others. There is joy in rejoicing when someone else does well, when we learn a new stitch or when someone we are teaching masters the pattern they are working on. There is joy in sorting out a tangle, in redoing work to fix a piece or in figuring out a difficult pattern.

Joy abides deep in the heart, a gift of God. It is not transient or dependent on circumstances. It is real.

Look for the joy in all the areas of your life. It is there to be found, it is there to be taken, to be received with thanksgiving. May you find it always.

Dear God, grant us joy in our knitting and in all our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.

Song for Sunday: Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

This song came on the car radio yesterday and a friend told me it was a perfect song for me. I tend to be a worrier. 

Today's sermon, for this first Sunday in Lent, was "It's All Good," based on Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

So this seemed like an ideal song for today's "Song for Sunday."

Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry!
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no!
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

                                   ~Bob Marley


What song reminds you to relax?

Knitters' Devotional: Goodness

What makes knitting a good thing to do?

We can help others with it, of course. Or make our lives more comfortable. Or add color and beauty to our homes. All of these are nice things, good things.

I think, though, that what makes knitting a truly good thing is that God gives us the ability to create with this talent. Like teaching, preaching, and leading knitting is a gift. In Exodus 31, vs. 1- 10 we read that God had given skill to all kinds of crafters. Workers in wood and metal, weavers and perfumers. God had chosen, Bezalel to lead the effort and said, “…I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts…” In that instance, the workers were to make the fittings and furnishings of the Tabernacle in which God would be worshipped by the people of Israel during the desert wanderings and until the Temple was built. But God does not change. He is always the giver of gifts and talents. Crafting is a spiritual gift, to be used to build the Kingdom of God. As such crafts, including knitting, are good things.

Recognize the rightness, the goodness of this gift. Give thanks to God for it. Use it with joy to do the work of Christ.

You will be blessed for it.

Lord, thank you for the spiritual gift of knitting. May we use it for the good of your Church. In Jesus name, Amen

I am writing a knitters' devotional and would welcome feedback on this potential entry. Thanks!

Knitters' Devotional: Kindness

A school chorus song says:

Are you wondering how you can help the world?

Are you wondering how you can make a diff’rence?

Do you wonder what to do? Do you wonder how it’s true?
Do you wonder how a change could start with you?

It starts with kindness, with kindness. It comes from deep inside

With kindness, with kindness, kindness from the heart.¹

It is very true that kindness can make a difference

Do you remember Dorcas from Acts 9? She was always doing good and helping the poor. Then she died. When Peter arrived and was taken to the room where she was laid out, widows swarmed him, showing him all the robes and clothing that Dorcas had made them. I suspect that if there had been knitting circles in the early church, Dorcas would have been in one. In fact, Dorcas did so much good and was so loved that, through Peter, God restored her to life. 

We should follow Dorcas example. I suspect that is one of the reasons her story is recorded in the Bible. It is a real affirmation of how crafts, like knitting, can be a force for good in the world. Let us make them so.

Dear God, help us to be kind. May we use our knitting for the good of others. In Jesus name, Amen.

¹Theresa Jennings, c. 2007, Plank Road Publishing, Inc., Music K-8, Volume 17, Number 3. International copyright secured. All rights reserved.

Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend
   forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 

                                        ~Job 6:14


This is an entry for a knitters' devotional book I am in the process of writing. Feedback requested!

Song for Sunday: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

  This song came up in worship services a couple of times in a row and has a lot of truth in it, so it became this week's Song for Sunday.

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

        My hope is built on nothing less 
 than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 
 I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 
 but wholly lean on Jesus' name. 

   On Christ the solid rock I stand, 
   all other ground is sinking sand; 
   all other ground is sinking sand. 

 When Darkness veils his lovely face, 
 I rest on his unchanging grace. 
 In every high and stormy gale, 
 my anchor holds within the veil. 
 

          On Christ the solid rock I stand, 

   all other ground is sinking sand; 
   all other ground is sinking sand. 

 His oath, his covenant, his blood 
 supports me in the whelming flood. 
 When all around my soul gives way, 
 he then is all my hope and stay.  

          On Christ the solid rock I stand, 
   all other ground is sinking sand; 
   all other ground is sinking sand. 

 When he shall come with trumpet sound, 
 O may I then in him be found! 
 Dressed in his righteousness alone, 
 faultless to stand before the throne! 

   On Christ the solid rock I stand, 

   all other ground is sinking sand; 

   all other ground is sinking sand.  

                                ~Edward Mote

What is you hope built on?