"And I Enjoyed Every Moment of it Too" --Peggy Townsend

"And I enjoyed every moment of it too."  I shall always remember these words recently spoken to me by my Aunt Peggy about how she felt in sharing meals with me at her kitchen table over the years. 

Oh, the countless times our family has been united at the home and table of Auburn and Peggy Townsend.  I have such good memories of the fellowship  and unity that has taken place at their home.  Unity is favored in Psalms 133:1, "Behold, how good and  how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Following is a song based on this Psalm verse called Blest Be the Tie that Binds with words written by John Fawcett and music by Johann G. Naegeli.  This version is printed in the expanded 4th edition Maranatha! Music Praise Hymns and Choruses.  I dedicate this to the memory of Aunt Peggy Townsend who passed away on Tuesday:

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

Aunt Peggy, thank you for sharing meals with me at your table and for all the fond memories.  May you rest in peace! Amen!

"Who Will Go?"

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36).  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few (v. 37); Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (v.38).

The title for today's blog entry comes from a hymn printed in Melodies of Praise (copyright 1957)  written by Jesse A. Barney in 1913.  The first verse of the hymn makes a good parallel accompaniment to the Bible verses listed:

Hark! I hear a sound from o'er the water,
'Tis the cry of anguish and despair;.  .
'Tis the cry of precious souls in darkness,
While waiting for the light of Jesus, there;. .
Hear the idle laborers near us saying,
"Master, what wilt Thou have me to do?"
The harvest now is great, oh! haste, my brother,
The Reapers few.

Chorus (for 1st and 2nd verses).

Who will go?. . Who will go?. .
To the ends. . of the earth,
Hast thou a passion for the lost? . .
Dost thou realize what a soul is worth?. .
Who will go?. . . Who will go?. . .
Tell of Jesus's death upon the tree?
Oh! who will answer quickly, "Here am I, O Lord, send me"?    

Jesus Calls Tax Collectors and Sinners

Jesus had made known His power to forgive sins through healing a paralyzed man (Matthew 9:5,6).  When He and His disciples went to the house to eat, many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners sat with them.  This action stirred the Pharisees to ask the disciples, " Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners" (Matthew 9:11)? Jesus heard and responded, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick" (9:12).  Likening Himself to a physician and demonstrating mercy, Jesus said "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (9:13).  Sin is a sickness in need of healing through the Great Physician, Jesus.  Healing or wholeness comes when Jesus forgives us of our sins.

Is Jesus calling you today? How about repenting and turning all your sins over to Him! Here is a helpful verse from a hymn by Fanny J. Crosby called "Healing at the Fountain":

There is healing at the fountain
Come and find it weary soul,
There your sins may all be covered;
Jesus waits to make you whole.

Are You Fearful or Faithful?

The detours of the Holy Spirit have returned me to chapter eight in the gospel of Matthew.  This chapter has many miracles performed by Jesus.  Of particular interest at this time are the verses of twenty-three thru twenty-seven where the waters and wind were calmed by Jesus.

The disciples were afraid for their lives so they turned to Jesus for help.  Jesus asked them, ""Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith (v.26)?  The portion of "O ye of little faith" reminds me of a friend of mine who often said before passing away that she was not afraid of dying, but she expressed concern about what was going to happen while she lived until the time of her death.

During a visit with my friend while she was in the hospital, our conversation turned toward the struggles that come along with the Christian walk.  "O ye of little faith" were words she uttered to steer her back to faith to get through those tough times of her Christian walk.  Each time I come across those words in searching the scriptures, I am reminded of my friend's testimony of the Lord.   How powerful those words of Jesus are to move me to supplication for an increase in faith.

Jesus gives the directive to have faith in God in the eleventh chapter of Mark verse twenty-two.  There is a hymn by B.B. McKinney with the title of Jesus' words that you may find encouraging.  God is with you every step of the way!  Here are the words of the hymn:

Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely, He sees and knows all the way you have trod; Never alone are the least of His children; Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Have faith in God when your pray'rs are unanswered, Your earnest plea He will never forget; Wait on the Lord, trust His Word and be patient, Have faith in God, He'll answer yet. 

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow, His heart is touched with your grief and despair; Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him, And leave them there, oh, leave them there.

Have faith in God tho all else fail about you; Have faith in God, He provides for His own; He cannot fail tho all kingdoms shall perish, He rules, He reigns upon His throne.

Refrain

Have faith in God, He's on His throne; Have faith in God, He watches o'er His own; He cannot fail, He must prevail; Have faith in God, have faith in God.