Hymn for Grace and Healing

Lord, she said you speak to her all the time through Your Word.  She has been moved to shout in church--something she has never done.  Lord, she has faith in Your healing power, as she requested prayer for her Parkinson's.  You are clearly working in her life.  Now, Lord, I share this hymn from The Hymnal of the Prostestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America: 1940, p. 517 by Edward Hayes Plumptre, for grace in our hearts toward You and in hope for her healing in Jesus' name:

Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
Was strong to heal and save;
It triumphed o'er disease and death,
O'er darkness and the grave.
To thee they went, the blind, the dumb,
The palsied, and the lame,
The leper with his tainted life,
The sick with fever'd frame.

And lo! thy touch brought life and health,
Gave speech, and strength, and sight;
And youth renewed and frenzy calm'd
Own'd thee, the Lord of light:
And now, O Lord, be near to bless,
Almighty as of yore,
In crowded street, [in laundromat,]
by restless couch,
As by Gennesaret's shore.

Be thou our great deliv'rer still,
Thou Lord of life and death;
Restore and quicken, soothe and bless,
With thine almighty breath;
To hands that work and eyes that see,
Give wisdom's heav'nly lore,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong,
May praise thee ever-more.  Amen.

God Sent His Light and Truth

After a period of silence, God has spoken to me through the Words of Psalms 43:3--

"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacle."

These Words were actually fulfilled in my life last week.  Let me share with you how--God sent His Light and Truth through two Episcopal Church members I met last week.  God's Truth came through the Words of John 8:1-12 mentioned during our conversation.  The leading came through an invitation to church.  The church was on a hill surrounded by trees.  The service was a blessing for my spouse, Gary, and me.  Amen!

By the way, we are back home in Tennessee!

Silence Broken

The death of my Uncle George Valko on March 5, 2015 has moved me from silence to a voice in celebration of his life on this blog.  I cannot help but think of a time when I called his home and was talking to my Aunt Joan when Uncle George inquired in the background to whom Aunt Joan was talking.  Uncle George discovered it was me and said in his resounding voice, "Is that Eddie...Eddie Townsend?" It may have been a while since I had talked with them and I cannot help but remember the excitement and warmth expressed in his voice to have heard from me.  It puts a smile on my face to this day!

I must say Uncle George will be greatly missed.  I have many good memories of him throughout the years.  I appreciate the Biblical knowledge he has shared on many occasions.  For quite some time, he and Aunt Joan have referred me to Matthew 24.  I'll never forget when he, Aunt Joan and Steve ventured out in the cold to help Gary and me.  May you rest in peace Uncle George.  My tears surfaced as I brought this to a close...

"How do we know if we're hearing from the Lord?"

Today, I received a letter from Pastor Charles Stanley with In Touch Ministries which asks the big question: "How do we know if we're hearing from the Lord?"  I could not help but compare my recent response from God with the guidelines set forth in the letter.  Here are the guidelines:

1) "God's voice is always consistent with His Word." (Acts 17:11)

2) "His messages often challenge our faith." (Hebrews 11:6)

3) "(T)he Lord's voice is often quiet."  (I Kings 19:11-13)

In reviewing these guidelines I am happy and certain to say that my last response from God which I posted in a blog entry yesterday was indeed God's voice.  Referring to the guidelines, the Words I received were directly from Isaiah 55:10, 11.  My faith was challenged in the sense that I was moved to share the experience with you.  My faith was increased because of the presence of God that I experienced.  Personally, the reward for me is God's presence  (Hebrews 11:6).

In his letter, Pastor Stanley said, "...(God) often speaks quietly to our hearts at unexpected times (I Kings 19:11-13).  This describes my experience because I was searching for other scriptures when I unexpectedly came across Isaiah 55:10,11.  To increase my faith even more, God has spoken to me in His perfect timing through the words of Charles Stanley.  Amen!

Has God ever spoken to you? If so, I truly would enjoy hearing about the experience.  Write to me at e.towns@hotmail.com to share your experience.  

The Word of God has Spoken!

Recently I posted a version of this song with the lyrics on facebook saying, "It's raining the the Northwest tonight and I'm finding myself hoping that the word of God will pour down with it!;)"  When I turned to God's word over the weekend, here is what He said:  10)"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10,11)  Through these words, God showed me the song is biblical and that He is present and listening to me!  Isn't God amazing?!

Inspired by F(f)riends!

I was introduced to this song through a blog posting on the Earlham School of Religion website entitled "When Way Opens: Having Faith to say "Yes" to the Movement of the Spirit" by Katie Heape.  I found the blog entry encouraging and the song speaking to my condition.  Perhaps you will relate.      

Jesus Will Call You Friend!

Yesterday, I posted the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" on facebook as the result of a conversation with a friend who had never heard it.  I was surprised to learn this; yet, I continued with the point I intended with the hymn and said to her that as long as we turn to Jesus we will have a friend.

The bible verse associated with Jesus as our friend is John 15:15--"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."  Jesus continues to say in verse seventeen, "These things I command you, that ye love one another."

To share the love with you and my friend, here are the words to "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" written by Joseph Scriven:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge--

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.