Read Luke 1:46b-55.
I’m sure you’ve heard the song Mary, Did You Know? Mark Lowry wrote the song while on a tour bus. Lowry raises questions that, if given the chance, he would ask Mary. What would you want to ask Mary?
This video features scenes from the upcoming miniseries The Bible on the History Channel.
Read Isaiah 12:2-6.
Isaiah chapter 12 is a psalm of thanks. We express thanks in a lot of different ways. Today consider ways in which you are thankful to God. Set some time aside today to tell God how thankful you are.
I observed last night’s General Conference worship. It was an excellent service, with astounding music of various kinds. The theme of the service was healing by the sea. As an introduction to the first song, Precious Lord, Take My Hand, sung by a UMC choir from Oklahoma, the worship leader commented that it was “a hymn born at sea; written at sea.”
Now, whether “sea” was meant to be taken methorapically is uncertain. The hymn, while mentioning storms, was written by the great “Father of Gospel Music” Reverend Dr. Thomas Dorsey. In the late 1920′s and into the 1930′s Dorsey took the African-American spirituals that were so well known and beloved and wove them with the blues and jazz that was becoming so popular and giving voice to so many.
In was in 1932 while leading a church service that Dorsey was given a telegram. His wife had just died while in childbirth. The following day the newborn died as well. Dorsey was in the midst of a storm that left him in despair and doubt. He truly believed that he would never write another hymn again.
A week later, deep in grief, Dorsey sat alone at a piano in the music room of a dear friend. It was there that he felt a deep peace that he had not felt in a week. As the peace fell over him, Dorsey started playing the piano. It wasn’t long before his fingers found a melody and the words that followed gave birth to Precious Lord, Take My Hand.
Dorsey was not at sea, but was facing a strong storm in his life.
Worship Space during mission trip. Photo by M. Saucier
In our recent mission trip to Costa Rica, our mission team adopted a theme of walking in the Light. One of the songs we sang as a team was the gospel song “Jesus, the Light of the World.”
When living in darkness, it is often hard to find light, and even harder to walk in that light. We see poverty in various forms. We hear stories of prostitution, gangs, and massive drug use. And we see darkness.
Yet, we are reminded:
“You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, CEB).
Jesus said that. While we follow the Light that is Jesus Christ, he tells us that we are the light. We carry the light with us. So, it is our responsibility as followers of Christ to bear the light in the midst of darkness.
We met a boy around the age of 8 or 9 named Andres in Los Diques. He was shy and uncertain about coming back to the Bible school. But, after we got started the next day, he showed up. He and Megan bonded from the very beginning. We learned as the week went on that Andres lived with his mother and step-father, and that his step-father made sure that his biological children were feed first, before Andres was fed. Andres got especially close to Megan, and Megan to him.
The light was shared in the relationships that were formed.
Here is a video of the gospel song, “Jesus, the Light of the World,” featuring the late Jessy Dixon:
Some of you may be thinking of the 1986 Rob Reiner film Stand by Me. In the film four boys set out on an adventure to find the body of their dead friend. It’s a journey about figuring out what friendship is all about.
But, that’s not what I had in mind. I was actually thinking about Charles Albert Tindley’s hymn Stand by Me. It’s appropriately listed under “strength in tribulation” in the United Methodist Hymnal (number 512, in case you were wondering).
It’s been a rough couple of days. I’ve been learning things about my family history, mainly medical. Things I might got simply because of genes. Some of it is related to my heart. Those of you who know me well know that I’ve been here before. Two years ago this month I learned that I have a mitral valve prolapse. Basically, I got a valve that doesn’t work like it should.
While learning these things are important, it is still horribly difficult. It’s hard to change habits. It’s scary not knowing what might be. It’s frustrating when you find yourself dealing with something you had no control over.
Today, driving home for lunch, my iPod, which has a totally random collection of music, was on shuffle. The song that spoke to me – cause that’s what music does to us – was this hymn, Stand by Me. The legendary bass singer of the The Cathedrals, George Younce, sings it the best I have heard it. His deep voice sings it as a prayer, asking God to stand by him in the midst of life’s storms, tribulation, failures, and persecutions.
And I’m reminded, that no mater what storms of life, tribulations, faults and failures, or persecutions I may face, the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, rises with me each new day and stands by me. And I am thankful.
I’ve been singing this song in my head the last few weeks, so I decided to post it. In a way, it has been my Lenten prayer during this season of Lent. During Lent we had a Bible study at our church on forgiveness. In that study, we have discussed how forgiveness is not just a decision, but a way of living. I think this song/prayer speaks to that.
