Letters of Hope

Dear Friends,

In the midst of the world’s celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem some two thousand years ago, I feel inspired to share the words of a wonder-full old hymn, the words of which have been very meaningful to me throughout the years.  May you also rejoice in the knowledge expressed in these words, and go forward into the New Year with great HOPE, Faith and Love.  (It may be sung to the tune of Londonderry Air.)

I cannot tell why He, Whom angels worship,
  Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
  To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
  When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,
  And so the Savior, Savior of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
 As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken,
  The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted,
  And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
  For yet the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
  How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
  Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
  And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor
  When He the Savior, Savior of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
  When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
  When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
  And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer,
  At last the Savior, Savior of the world, is King!

Rev. William Y. Fullerton, 1929
#751 The Book of Common Praise (1938)
Tune:  Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)

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Greetings! 

This time of year we often hear among Christian circles the phrase, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” to remind a selfishly grasping, materialistic and secular world what Christmas is supposed to be about. 

In truth, JESUS is the REASON for EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS!!  It was Father God’s intention from the very beginning that His Beloved Son should be exalted…  Jesus’ revealing prayer recorded in John 17 gives us a glimpse into the relationship that exists between the Father and the Son from eternity – before time.  Part of the Plan was to bring into being “a vast family” of others like Himself TO WHOM He could show His MATCHLESS GRACE,  WITH WHOM He could share JOYFUL FELLOWSHIP,  and UPON WHOM He could bestow His INFINITE LOVE AND BLESSINGS.   

It is interesting that, in the beginning of his Gospel, John refers to Jesus as “the only begotten from the Father.”  Throughout the narrative, Jesus spoke of  “THE Father” and “MY Father.”  But in His resurrection He added  “MY Father and YOUR Father.”  By His Incarnation and Cross He has added many sons to God’s family, and so He speaks of them as “my brethren.”  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God.”  By His exaltation you and I receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby we too may now call Him “our Father.”  (John 20:17;  Heb. 2:10;  Rom. 8:15) 

A special greeting card we once received contained a message that was worth keeping, and sharing with my readers again this year.  It has to do with that “Love and Blessing” that He came to bestow upon us.  With just a little re-arranging, here it is: 

Because Jesus came we can -
…be alive toward God, 
…be justified freely,
…be under Grace,
…be a child of God, 
…be His heir,
…have Peace with God,
…be filled with all Joy, 
…abound in Hope,
…have the Spirit of Wisdom,
…know the Hope of His calling,
…be conformed to His image, 
…have victory, 
…be more than conquerors, 
…be strengthened with might by His Spirit, 
…live a more abundant Life.
…know the riches of the glory of His inheritance, 
…be enriched by Him in everything, 
…be to the praise of His Glory, 
…be rooted and grounded in love, 
…be renewed day by day, 
…be blessed with all spiritual blessings,
…be filled with His fullness,” 
…have a HOPE laid up in Heaven.”   

Jesus is the Reason for all that we are, and all that we have, “for BY HIM were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers.  All things were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM, and HE is before all things, and BY HIM all things consist.  And HE is the Head of the body, the Church;  (HE) Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in all things HE might have the preeminence, for it pleased the Father that IN HIM all fullness should dwell.”  Our Lord is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for HE has created all things, and for HIS pleasure they are and were created.” (Col. 1:16-19;  Rev. 4:11) 

May you be blessed in “knowing” Christ Jesus, and experiencing the fullness of the reason for which He came.  Had He not humbled Himself to become incarnate in human flesh; and had he not become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; and had He not been raised from the dead and highly exalted at the right hand of the Father; we could not know the Life, Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope that is ours through Faith in Him.   

“Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13) 

In Agape, Eulene

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Dear Ones, 

The human hand is an engineering miracle that always fascinates me.  Have you ever considered the marvelous construction of your hands?  The perfect number of fingers – with the thumbs in contra-position – moving independently of one another, yet in unison as required?  Fingers placed strategically in relation to one another?  The beauty and value of the nails placed strategically at the finger-tips?  Their instantaneous response to the messages they receive from the brain?  The precision and acumen with which they work together to grasp objects?  

Thirty-five powerful muscles move the human hand.  Fifteen are in the forearm rather than in the hand itself, giving great strength to the hand without making the fingers so thick they would be difficult to move.   The arrangement of the bones, muscles and tendons, the arteries that supply the blood, and the nerves that control movement and sensation, make the hand the most versatile part of the body.   

Human hands are also used to touch and feel things.  They contain at least four types of nerve endings that make the fingers and thumbs highly sensitive.  Blind persons rely entirely on their sense of touch when ‘reading’ the raised letters of Braille books. 

The human hands help people communicate with each other.  They convey familiar expressions and ideas, such as the clenched fist of anger, the raised palm of peace, the “thumbs up” for approval, or the “thumbs down” for disapproval. 

There is an expression of comradeship in a hand-shake;  a sense of tenderness when lovers ‘hold hands;’  security for a child in the grip of a parent’s hand.   I will always remember, as a little child, walking down the street between my Mother and Father, holding their hands and feeling so secure.   I well remember, too, holding my little child’s hand, and reminding myself that it would not always be so small and trusting. 

We are told that God is Spirit.  Nevertheless, the Scriptures describe Him in human terms to which we mortals can relate. There are many references to “the right hand of God” which speak of His power and authority.  Amazing things happen when the ‘hand of the Lord’ is laid on someone.  Ezekiel was “lifted up by the Spirit between the earth and the heaven” and he was given most remarkable insight into the Spirit realm.  When the ‘hand of the Lord’ was with the believers in the early church, “a great number turned to the Lord.”   (Ezek. 8:3;  Acts 11:21)  

God declares that His hand “has laid the foundation of the earth, and His right hand has spread out the heavens.”  “In His hand are the deep places of the earth.  The heights of the mountains are His also.”  “He holds the waters in the hollow of His hand.”  “A man’s goings are established by Jehovah, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholds him with His hand.”  (Isa. 48:13; Psa. 95:4; Isa. 40:12; Ps. 37:24)  

David, being a good shepherd, often used the pastoral scene to picture the Lord and His relationship to His people. “He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”  Then Jesus, Himself, said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  (Psa. 95:7; John 10:27,28)  

Our God has given promise, and His grace for this has planned:
His child shall rest securely in the hollow of His hand.

 Refrain:
Let come what may – or wave or tempest – “Peace, be still!” is His command;
My soul is held in peace eternal in the hollow of His hand.

O soul, do not be troubled, though you do not understand;
No turmoil shall molest you in the hollow of His hand.

E’en though stern duty call you, and each day makes full demand,
The soul may find its shelter in the hollow of His hand.

The joy that passes knowledge, Peace that none can understand,
For you, for YOU are waiting in the hollow of His hand. 

            William M. Runyan, 1870-1957

 Picture yourself being held in His cupped hand.  There is no greater security than in the Almighty Hand of your Living, Loving Heavenly Father.   He will “HOLD YOU FAST.”

 “Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13) 

In Agape, Eulene

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