Encouragement
I started this paper on Saturday night...
following an hour of the most wonderful sacred music we've ever heard.
I told La Moyne that it gave me 'chicken skin' (Hawaiian expression for 'cold chills').
It was the 'Gaither Hour' and different individuals/groups, instrumentalists and orchestras were invited to help produce the tape.
One of the artists (Buddy Greene who plays harmonica and guitar) said that as a youth, he wandered away from his spiritual upbringing.
He also said, "The solidness of the old Hymns that I heard as a child...
drew me back when I began to hear them through the ears of faith".
La Moyne and I felt revived and re-newed in spirit as we listened to those great Hymns!
We don't often place an order with them....
but this one (with 45 great old Hymns) will certainly minister to us!
It inspired me to start this paper entitled 'The Lift of Love'.
Most of the songs were sung in the churches when we were younger.
I grew up in a country church (Friendship Baptist Church) near Altus, Oklahoma.
For the first 14 yrs. of her life, the First Baptist Church of Hobart, Oklahoma
ministered to La Moyne. Then when her family moved to Colorado in 1948,
her spiritual growth continued at Bethany Baptist Church...
then later at First Southern Baptist in Colorado Springs (where we were married).
Seeds were planted back then from which God is still harvesting.
'Love Lifted Me' was one of the songs that we sang quite often...
and it speaks to the subject of this paper.
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Chorus:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling
In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His Will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Words by James Rowe and Music by Howard E. Smith
What are the qualities of 'love that lifts'?
1) John 15:12:
"This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you".
2) John 13:35:
"By this shall all people know, you are my disciple if you love one another".
3) Romans 12:9:
"Let your love be sincere and not hypocritical".
4) Deuteronomy 10:19:
"Christ-like love is impartial".
5) I Thess. 3:12:
"It is love that overflows". You may not can hold much, but you can overflow a lot.
6) I Peter 1:22:
"Love fervently (deeply)".
7) II Corin. 5:14:
Christ's kind of love is a compelling kind.
As you can see, Christ's kind of love is:
The Anchor that holds you through uncertain times.
It is the Shield that surrounds you.
It is the Stronghold that keeps you in His caring embrace.
The 'Lift of Love' is throughout the Bible.
Jesus was the special product of God's love and at Calvary,
He shed His blood that we might see how much God loves us.
We will never experience love like that anywhere nor with anyone else...
but we need to share it as it's too good to keep.
This old world is dying for the want of this type of love!
It has been given freely to us and we need to freely give it away.
We'll find that the more of His love that we give away, the more we'll have to give.
It's interesting to note in the Bible, how God's love is connected with gardens.
The Bible starts in the Garden of Eden....and ends in a garden called Heaven.
1) In the Garden of Eden....
God fought a battle, that love might win out as His plan for man.
2) In the Garden of Gethsemane....
Jesus looked to God and said, "Not my will, but thine be done".
The Cross was not far away in time nor in distance.
3) John 19:41 tells us that in the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden and in that garden, a new Seplechre where no one had yet been laid. This is the Resurrection Garden for Jesus rose to give us assurance that death does come, but there is a place-a perfect garden- called Heaven. You can read about this Garden in Rev. 21-22.
Jesus wishes to live in the Garden of your life.
1) To give life:
"I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly". (John 10:10)
Gloria Gaither wrote words to the tune of Finlandia and entitled it 'I Then Shall Live'.
Most people know the tune.....try singing these words to it, as it is BEAUTIFUL.
"I Then Shall Live"
Words: Gloria Gaither 1981; Music: Jean Sibelius 1899; Tune: Finlandia.
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven;
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child, and I am not afraid.
So greatly pardoned, I'll forgive another;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion;
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving, too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Your kingdom come around and through and in me,
Your power and glory, let them shine thru me.
Your Hallowed Name O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world thru me.
2) To give love:
I Corin. 13 tells us:
that we are loved, we are to be loveable and we are to be loving.
3) The 'Lift of Love' needs all the Fruits of the Spirit. Dwight L. Moody lists these:
JOY....is love exhalted.
PEACE....is love in repose.
LONG-SUFFERING....is love enduring.
GENTLENESS....is love in society.
GOODNESS....is love in action.
FAITH....is love on the battlefield.
MEEKNESS....is love in school.
TEMPERANCE....is love in training.
Please remember to have the 'Lift of Love', you need to have the 'Lilt of Love'.
This says, "Never lose the wonder of it all"....and with God's help, it will endure.
A good motto is "Love to Live....and Live to Love".
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