He Knows My Name

I have a Maker, He formed my heart

Before even time began, my life was in His hands.

He knows my name, He knows my every thought.

He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call.

I have a Father, He calls me His own.

He'll never leave me, no matter where I go.

Tommy Walker

We sang this song for the first time at school mass this morning, and boy did those little kids sing.  The first and second graders love this song.  You know that adage that kids won't sing unless it is fast and exciting ~ not so at St. Joe.  As I have been teaching the song the last week or so, I was saying to the 1st and 2nd graders how amazing it is to realize that God/Jesus knows our name, our thoughts and that He is always just a call away.  They looked at me like I had three heads.  Then I said to one little girl that has several siblings.  "Does your mom love you?" "Yes!" she said.  "Does she always answer you when you call?"  "Yes!"  "What if you and all your brothers and sisters are calling for your mom at the same time and you are all in different rooms?  Is she still able to answer all of you and be with all of you at the same time?"  "No."  "Jesus is.", I replied.  Then her eyes lit up and she said  "That IS amazing, Mrs. Young!" 

Will she remember this conversation tomorrow or next week?  Probably not, but I will never forget the look in her eyes when she said "That IS amazing!"  Like it just hit her how awesome God's love for us really is.  Yes, that is what I get to do all day ~ share the love of Jesus (and music) and NO, you may not have my job.  It just doesn't get any better than that.  She may never remember what an ostinato is, or a repeat sign, or the notes on the staff (I hope she will), but I pray she will remember that Jesus knows her name, and He hears her when she calls. 

I hope that you are like that little girl.  I hope that you know just how amazing God is!  How much he loves you, even before time began and that He is always there ~ no matter where you go.  And you know what?  That IS amazing!!

Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching(s) of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

By: Laura Story

     I first heard this song a couple of months ago on the radio.  I was instantly hooked and broke into tears.  I had not even heard of Laura Story before, but she is now a favorite of mine.  I kept hearing the song on the radio, catching bits and pieces here and there and wondering "Who is that singing?, What is the name of this song?"  It took my brilliant daughter to say, "Mom. just Shazam it"  Duh, big red truck!! 

     Why has this song taken on such a strong following?  I think it is because it hits us all right where we are.  When was the last time you prayed, "God please send me things in my life that are challenging?"  "Please keep me up all night worrying?" "Please let me have lots of losses and trials because then I will be stronger!?"  Of course, that is not what we ask for, but sometimes that is just what we get.  Is that because God doesn't love us or wants to punish us?  Of course not!  But if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that it is during the difficult times that we tend to lean on God more.  It has been during some of the darkest times of my life that I have felt closest to God.  When I have lost loved ones, when Trent lost his job, when I moved in high school, etc.  It has also been after those times, that I have learned some of the greatest lessons about myself and about God.  I am so much stronger than I thought, I am more content than ever before and I have learned that everyday is a blessing. 

    Would I like another day with my loved ones? Of course, but I know that day will happen in the presence of my Lord and Savior.  Would I like it if we made more money? Who wouldn't, but I am content and happy with where we are.  Did I want to move 1,000 miles from my friends? No, but I can't imagine not living the life I have since that move. 

    Will there be sufferings and tears in my future?  Will there be suffering and tears in your future?  Absolutely!  But we must take those for what they are...blessings. Simple reminders that life is what we make it, God is with us always, even in the darkest of times and His mercies are new every morning, if only we are open to see them.

How Great Thou Art

O, Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel he gentle breeze;

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

 

         Ever have one of those days when you just long to be home.  Not today's home, but the home of your childhood.  The home where you always felt safe because you were surrounded by loved ones ~ especially your mom and dad.  Today is one of those days.  14 1/2 years later, I still have times I long to feel my Daddy's warm embrace.  He gave the best bear hugs.  Almost four years later, I still yearn for my Mom to push the hair behind my ears. (drove me crazy as a kid, but what I wouldn't give to have her do that now!) 

       On days like this, I can't help but sing the song How Great Thou Art.  You see, my parents were the ones that first introduced me to the greatness of God.  My mom inspired me to follow my passion for music and may be the only person I know that hums and sings hymns as much as me.  My dad used to sit with me on the front porch during bad storms and ease my fears as we listened to the 'rolling thunder'.  I still like a good spring storm and just watching it rain and listening to it thunder. 

       I guess the real reason I think of this song when I miss them is the story my mother told me after Daddy died.  This was their song.  On their honeymoon in 1960, they did what everyone their age did ~ went to Niagra Falls.  Unlike most couples, they walked around the falls and Daddy taught Mom the words to this 'new hymn' that was being sung at the Billy Graham crusades.  Yes, it was How Great Thou Art.  What a magnificent place to learn this song.  God's power is definitely evident at Niagra Falls. 

       Every time I sing this, whether in worship, the shower, the car, or at a funeral, I picture my parents young and in love walking around the falls and singing of the greatness of God.  Could they have left a greater memory with me?  I don't think so.  Some day, I shall bow in humble adoration, and proclaim How Great Thou Art!  (And then I'm going to run and hug my mom and dad!)



Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend;
Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men?
Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

You are the One that we praise, Your are the One we adore.
You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace;
You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost the way,
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way.

Almighty, infinite Father, faithfully loving Your own;
Here in our weakness You find us falling before Your throne,
Oh, we?re falling before Your throne.

I first heard this song at my parents' church in Nashville.  (St. Bartholomew's Episcopal)  Little did I know that the gentleman playing the organ was the composer.  Eric Wyse and his wife Dawn Rogers wrote this song and knowing them makes it even more special.  Since hearing the song, I have introduced it to the Chancel Choir at church and have taught it to all the students at school.  Both places have loved as much as I have. 
I have thought about why it is that this song speaks to so many people of all ages and backgrounds.  Wonderful, MERCIFUL, Savior.  That is definitely something we all long for.  Mercy.  We have all been in need of forgiveness and mercy and this song lets us know that our Savior is always there to give us that mercy.  He offers us healing, grace, hope and mercy when we fall before His throne.  He truly is a Wonderful, Merciful Savior!
About a year ago, I came across a video taken soon after the Haiti earthquake.  It was of a girl and her sister singing this song while in a hospital.  They had lost everything, been injured and were still singing about their Wonderful, Merciful Savior.  It brought tears to my eyes and I tend to look the video up from time to time to remind me that even when I am having a bad day, He is my Savior.

It Is Well With My Soul

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

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
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.

Horatio Spafford

This song has been a lifelong favorite hymn of mine.  I have sung it at many funerals, including one just yesterday.  John Ness Beck wrote an amazing choral arrangement of this hymn and I absolutely love hearing our church choir sing it.  While it is a hymn I have always liked, it wasn't until I learned the story behind the hymn that it began to hold an even greater spot in my heart. 

Horatio Spafford had a couple of very difficult years.  First he and his wife lost their young son in a tragic accident and then most of his investments were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.  To help the family grieve and come to a point of peace, he sent his wife and four daughters to Europe on a ship.  It was his plan to join them as soon as he tied up some business affairs at home.  As he was preparing to leave, he received a telegram from his wife saying that ship was in a collision and they had lost all four of their daughters.  It was while sailing to meet his wife that he penned these amazing words.

Have you been there?  Have you been overwhelmed by grief and felt as though you were being tossed about by the billowing seas?  Have you been burdened by past sins? Drudging up past mistakes and unable to forgive yourself?  I have and it is the knowledge that whatever my lot, Jesus has taught me that it is well with my soul.  No matter my sin, Jesus nailed it to the cross.  If He can forgive me, shouldn't I do the same.  Praise the Lord, it is well with my soul.  On that day when the trumpet shall resound, and the Lord shall descend...especially then, it will be well with my soul.

Jesus Loves Me

I can not think of a time that music was not in my life.  I remember my mother singing to me as a small child and I remember loving to sing along.  I don't know what the first song was she ever sang to me, (wish I could ask her), but I have no doubt that it was a song that shared God's love for me. 
I was recently asked what my favorite song is.  A hard question for a musician to answer, but I immediately thought of "Jesus Loves Me".  I remember my mother telling me to sing it any time was I was scared, worried or nervous.  I would go to my parents room in the middle of the night scared by a bad dream and mom would send me back to bed and tell me to sing Jesus Loves Me.  Not the answer I wanted, but it always worked.
Years later when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, a horrible hail storm swept through town.  I was home alone and hid in the closet with my phone, pillows, flashlight, bible and sang Jesus Loves Me over and over.  As the pounding tore up the roof, I was at peace knowing that He truly did love me.
A month or so later, my beautiful little girl was born and the first song I ever sang to her was Jesus Loves Me.  More than anything else I wanted my precious daughter to know that she is loved not just by her father and I, but by her heavenly Father, as well.
I can not count how many times I have told students and/or kids at church to sing this song as they faced adversity.  It may just be a children's hymn, but it says everything that even adults need to know.  Yes, Jesus loves me, the bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me

Yes, Jesus loves me

Yes, Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so.

Anna Bartlett Warner