I haven’t written much here on the blog for a while. My feeling is that with all the content out there, unless it’s something I sincerely want to share, I’ll not add to the noise. God knows who needs to read what at a given time, and He always directs those here who do.
I was almost asleep when Tom brought me my phone last night. It was our son Will calling from Wheaton College. “I want to know what hymn you’d like to be sung at the recital. I’m doing this for you. I have three in mind.” His senior recital is next Tuesday night, something he’s been preparing for since September. Needless to say, I was touched that he would include a hymn. He knows how much I love to hear them on organ with congregational singing. So I requested, Great is Thy Faithfulness. He said that had been one of his three picks.
When Will began college, it seemed like an insurmountable mountain for us to help him. Four years later, I can say that God has been faithful, down to small details! Will is taking the next year off to work before graduate school, and he has a wonderful position at a church in Arlington Heights.
The LORD said, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” (Lamentations 3: 22-24)
The things that happen to us in life may not be good in themselves. Far from it. But truly, all things work TOGETHER for good, to those who love God. I have seen this. Our vision gets clouded by circumstances or the immediate pain or dismay of things, but God “plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm,” as the hymn puts it. It’s trusting and not losing hope in the middle of the waves that is our challenge.
I had to smile at the quote from the great organist and composer, Charles Marie Widor, as told to Albert Schweizer who interviewed him.
“Organ playing is the manifestation of a will filled with the vision of eternity.”
It’s also the manifestation of a Will (Schlueter)! 😉
Here’s a beautiful version of the hymn! Maybe you could use it today.
The Hope Blog 
Another version, this time, organ.
I received this in my in box this morning, and found it tied right in with this post. Streams in the Desert.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul (Ps. 43:5).
Is there ever any ground to be cast down? There are two reasons, but only two. If we are as yet unconverted, we have ground to be cast down; or if we have been converted and live in sin, then we are rightly cast down.
But except for these two things there is no ground to be cast down, for all else may be brought before God in prayer with supplication and thanksgiving. And regarding all our necessities, all our difficulties, all our trials, we may exercise faith in the power of God, and in the love of God.
“Hope thou in God.” Oh, remember this: There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearance help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be found that it is not in vain. In the Lord’s own time help will come.
Oh, the hundreds, yea, the thousands of times that I have found it thus within the past seventy years and four months! When it seemed impossible that help could come, help did come; for God has His own resources. He is not confined. In ten thousand different ways, and at ten thousand different times God may help us.
Our business is to spread our cases before the Lord, in childlike simplicity to pour out all our heart before God, saying, “I do not deserve that Thou shouldst hear me and answer my requests, but for the sake of my precious Lord Jesus; for His sake answer my prayer, and give me grace quietly to wait till it please Thee to answer my prayer. For I believe Thou wilt do it in Thine own time and way.”
“For I shall yet praise him.” More prayer, more exercise of faith, more patient waiting, and the result will be blessing, abundant blessing. Thus I have found it many hundreds of times, and therefore I continually say to myself, “Hope thou in God.”
–George Mueller
(George Mueller was the Christian who began the London orphanages and saw miracle after miracle of God’s provision as he cared for the throw away children in that city. He knew what he was talking about!)
That is really beautiful. His recital is going to be amazing! All the best and God’s
Blessings…
Thank you, Kris. Thank you for everything.
And “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is such a testimony to all that God has done for your family! Love this! Glad to read your posts again. 🙂
Beautiful picture. God is Good.
Bringing encouragement and/or wisdom, both of which you do here, is definitely not “adding to the noise”. It is a welcome blessing!
Congratulations to Will, and what a great picture!