Month: May 2024

God My Strength & Shelter
(Precious Lord Take My Hand)

The modern hymn Precious Lord
Take My Hand was written by black
American Thomas Dorsey, who
started the Gospel genré and is his
greatest composition of 400 songs.
Thomas Dorsey had religion and
music in his blood; born 1899, the
son of a minister & a piano teacher.
He became a professional musician
in 1924 & the following year took up
the post of Musical Director at the
Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago.
In August 1932, his wife died during
childbirth and his newborn son died
the following day. Dorsey’s faith took
a severe blow: “I felt God had done
me injustice. I don’t want to serve
Him or write gospel songs. I just
want to go back to the jazz world.”
In the midst of despair, a friend
visited him and left him alone with
a piano. “I found myself playing
a melody and words just fall into
place,” likely inspired by Psalm 73.

Lord, You’re My Strength & Shelter:
I am continually with You; You hold
me by my right hand. You will guide
me with Your counsel, and (then)
receive me to glory (Ps 73:23-24)
Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire You more than anything
on earth. My health may fail and
my spirit may grow weak, but God
remains the Strength of My Heart;
He is mine forever (Ps 73:25-26).
But as for me, how good it is to
Be Near God! I have made the
Sovereign Lord my Shelter, and
I will tell everyone about the
wonderful things You do (v28).

Lord, You are the Strength of
my heart, and deep inside I know
I can rely on You in any situation.
Although I may face threats to
health, finance, safety & security
in this world, but that isn’t my life
for You are. O Sovereign Lord,
Be Near Me! Help me abide in You
and to stay anchored in You. Amen.

Lord,by faith I make You my Shelter.
I also accept Your Presence and
receive all the blessings You offer.
Grow my faith Lord to be as big
as the gifts You want to give.
And having experienced You,
I will declare to everyone, what
wonderful things You do for me.
I love and adore You, for You are
more precious than anything. Amen

Father, You are with me and are
Holding My Hand. I don’t always feel
it but I depend on Your presence.
Remind me Your eyes are on me and
that You are working on my behalf…
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, thru the night
Lead me on to the light
Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Lead me home… Amen & amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RaF16IlysQcL

The Everlasting God Guides & Leads
(All the Way My Saviour Leads Me)

‘Jesus doeth all things well.’ It wasn’t
easy for Fanny Crosby to believe
that. When she was only six weeks
old in 1820, she lost her sight
because of a doctor’s error.
This particular hymn was written
on a day when Fanny needed five
dollars and didn’t know where she
would get it. She prayed about it
and a few minutes later a stranger
came to her door and handed her
that exact amount. She was amazed
at the Lord’s marvellous answer
to her simple prayer. She wrote:
It is sometimes wonderful the way
the Lord leads me, inspired by Ps48.

Lord, we will Follow Your Leading:
Great is the Lord, and greatly
to be praised (Psalm 48:1).
In the city of our God,
God makes her secure forever.
O God, we meditate on Your
unfailing love as we worship
in Your temple. As Your name
deserves, O God, You will be
praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled
with victory (Psalm 48:8-10).
He is our God forever and ever.
And He will Guide us
until we die (Psa 48:14).

Lord Jesus, Thank You for being
our Savior, for caring & leading us.
You will never abandon us because
of Your Unfailing Love. In You, we are
secure with You as our defender.
And You will be our guide even
to the end and usher us to our
eternal and blissful presence.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I ask thee for wisdom
for You are the great and wise
Everlasting God. I ask for the
ability to slow down and focus
my thoughts on You each day.
And help me use my life to further
Your kingdom for Your glory,
for the good of others & for the
fulfilment of my destiny. Amen.

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thru life has been my guide.
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well,
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

Psalms Book Two mainly written
by David and the sons of Korah,
is similar to the book of Exodus.
Many of these psalms describe
the nation of Israel as ruined, and
then recovered. As God rescued
Israel, He will also rescue us.
We dont have to work out solutions
first; but we can go to God with
our problems and ask Him to help.

On Monday, we learn from Ps 42
that God of My Life Spurs Longing.
On Tuesday, we learn from Ps 46
that God Is Our Refuge & Strength.
On Wed, we learn from Psa 48 that
the Everlasting God Guides & Leads.
On Thu, we learn from Ps 55 that
God Bears Burdens & Gives Rest.
On Friday, we learn from Psa 62
that Rock of Ages we Can Rely On.
On Sat, we learn from Psalm 70/72
that God Helps Those In Need.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You as God of My Life Spurs Longing; and as the Everlasting
God Guides as well as Leads me;
For You are worthy of our Praise
as You are Our Refuge & Strength
and Rock of Ages we Can Rely On.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as You Bear Burdens & Gives Rest
and Help Those In Need. Amen.

God Helps Those In Need

Backgrounder on Psalms 67-72:
David and Solomon show you
how praiseworthy is the great
God of Israel. God is worthy of
praise for His judgements (P67),
His compassion & provision (P68)
His attentiveness to the cry of
His children (P69-70), His strength
on behalf of the weak (P71) & His
sovereignty over the nations (P72)

Lord, You Respond to Our Cries:
(God) will judge Your people
with righteousness, and
Your people with justice…
He will bring justice to the poor
of the people; He will save the
children of the needy (Ps 72:2-4).
May the king’s rule be refreshing
like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like showers that water the earth.
May godly flourish during His reign
May He reign fr sea to sea (v6-8).
God will Deliver the needy
who Cry out, the afflicted
who have no one to help.
He will spare the poor and
needy, and will save the souls
of the needy (Psa 72:12-13).
(And) I am poor and needy;
(so) Make Haste to me O God!
You are my help and Deliverer;
O God Do Not Delay (Ps 70:5).

Lord, thank You for You promise
that You God Hears the person
who simply Cries out to You.
For You God knows every need
even before we utter them to You.
Comforting that the simple but
heartfelt cry: Help! may be the
prayer that brings the answer.
For You Lord will spare the needy
save the souls of the needy. Amen.

Lord, I am in need of Your aid; 
help me before my troubles
overwhelm and swallow me up.
You are my helper and Deliverer;
and I depend on You and not
on my own wisdom or strength.
For it’s when one depends fully
on the Lord that one experiences
His help. So help me to make my
first response rather than making
You God as the last resort. Amen.

Jesus Shall Reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom spread from shore to
shore tell moons shall wane no more
People & realms of ev’ry tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song
The weary find eternal rest,
And the sons of want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring
His grateful honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!

Rock of Ages We Can Rely On

Converted while Dublin University
Augustus Toplady decided to
prepare for ministry as a preacher.
While travelling along the gorge of
Barrington Combe in Mendip Hills
Toplady was caught in a storm.
Finding shelter in a gap in the
gorge, he was struck by the title
and scribbled the initial lyrics.
Toplady then wrote Rock of Ages
in 1775 to conclude a magazine
article in which he emphasised man
thru their own efforts could never
satisfy the eternal justice of God.

Lord, we Come to You Our Refuge:
I Wait Quietly before God,
for my victory comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my
salvation, my fortress where
I will never be shaken (Ps 62:1-2).
My soul wait silently for God,
for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my
salvation; He is my defense;
I shall not be moved. Trust
in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge (v5-8).
Power O God belongs to You;
Mercy O Lord is Yours (v11-12).

Lord, I lift my eyes to You, my Rock,
my salvation and my fortress.
Quiet my heart to wait on You, for
my hope is in You. Help me to wait
for You Lord in the storm of life.
Let my confidence not be shaken
by what circumstances may
say or what my mind may think.
Thank You that my confidence rests
on the One who is the Rock & that
You will never be shaken. Amen.

Lord, grateful for the confidence
and security that You long to hear
from me & comfort me of my pain.
You understand all the thoughts
of my heart better than I do myself.
And You Lord invite me to Pour
Out My Heart to You. And so I will.
Show me where I am carrying
burdens U don’t intend me to bear.
And I trade my heavy burden for
the lighter load that You offer. Amen.

Lord, Rock of Ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood
Fr Thy wounded side which flowed.
Be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath & make me pure…
While I draw this fleeting breath
When my eyes shall close in rest.
When I rise to worlds unknown
And behold Thee on Thy throne.
Rock of Ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee. Amen.

God Bears Burdens & Gives Rest
Inspiring song: Reach Out to Jesus

Reach Out to Jesus was written
by composer Ralph Carmichael;
born 1927 Illinois the son of a
Pentecostal minister. He attended
Southern California Bible College
and led several groups that
blend jazz, gospel songs and hymns.
Billy Graham Evangelistic Assocn
invited him to score the music
for a film in 1951, leading to a long
association and 20 more films.
Carmichael founded Light Records
and has come to be known as the
Father of Contemporary Xian Music.
He was inducted into the GMA
Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1985;
as well as the National Religious
Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2001.
Reach Out to Jesus was released
by Elvis Presley on his 1972 album,
for which he won a Grammy Award.
The song likely inspired by Ps 55.

Lord, we give our Burdens to You:
Please listen and answer me,
for I’m overwhelmed by troubles…
My heart is in anguish…
O how I wish I had wings
like a dove; then I would fly
away and Rest (Psalm 55:2-6).
As for me, I will call upon God,
and the Lord shall save me.
Evening, morning and noon
I Cry Out in distress, and
He shall Hear my voice (v16-17).
Cast Your Burdens to the Lord,
and He will Take Care of you;
(for) He shall never permit
the righteous to be moved…
(And) I will trust in You (v22-23).

Lord, like David, I need to bring
my burdens and distress to You.
Forgive me when I complain to
others but dont bring my troubles
to You, the one who can actually
do something about them.
Hear O Lord my desperate cries;
and come to my help from the
burdens of the cares of this world.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I do want my problems
solved and my troubles removed.
So, I will turn my eyes to You, call
upon Jesus & You will answer me.
I will lift my voice to You Lord
and You shall rise in my defense.
Enable me to find Rest in You,
to discover security in You, for
You are my Rock and Rest. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Bearing
my Burdens & providing a way for
me to walk in freedom from worry.
Forgive my attempts to do every
-thing myself instead of accepting
Your invitation to carry my load.
Teach me Lord to live close to You
and not carry burdens on my own.
Instead I will Reach Out to Jesus
and Cast my Cares on You. Amen.

The Everlasting God Guides & Leads
(All the Way My Saviour Leads Me)

‘Jesus doeth all things well.’ It wasn’t
easy for Fanny Crosby to believe
that. When she was only six weeks
old in 1820, she lost her sight
because of a doctor’s error.
This particular hymn was written
on a day when Fanny needed five
dollars and didn’t know where she
would get it. She prayed about it
and a few minutes later a stranger
came to her door and handed her
that exact amount. She was amazed
at the Lord’s marvellous answer
to her simple prayer. She wrote:
It is sometimes wonderful the way
the Lord leads me, inspired by Ps48.

Lord, we will Follow Your Leading:
Great is the Lord, and greatly
to be praised (Psalm 48:1).
In the city of our God,
God makes her secure forever.
O God, we meditate on Your
unfailing love as we worship
in Your temple. As Your name
deserves, O God, You will be
praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled
with victory (Psalm 48:8-10).
He is our God forever and ever.
And He will Guide us
until we die (Psa 48:14).

Lord Jesus, Thank You for being
our Savior, for caring & leading us.
You will never abandon us because
of Your Unfailing Love. In You, we are
secure with You as our defender.
And You will be our guide even
to the end and usher us to our
eternal and blissful presence.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I ask thee for wisdom
for You are the great and wise
Everlasting God. I ask for the
ability to slow down and focus
my thoughts on You each day.
And help me use my life to further
Your kingdom for Your glory,
for the good of others & for the
fulfilment of my destiny. Amen.

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thru life has been my guide.
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well,
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well. Amen.

God Is Our Refuge, Inspiring the hymn: Be Still My Soul

In midst of the psalmist’s troubles,
the Lord said: Be Still and know
that I am God. These words spoke
to Katharina von Schlegel in the
turbulent times of post-Reformation
Germany. A century after Luther’s
reforms, Central Europe was racked
by the Thirty Years’ War. In the
darkness of that time, God raised
up the Pietist movement, which
stressed personal holiness, charity,
missions and music. Today’s hymn
was penned by the leading woman
of the Pietist movement and also
a canoness of a women’s seminary.

Lord, You are our Refuge:
God is our Refuge and Strength,
an Ever-Present Help in times
of trouble. So, we will not fear,
when earthquakes come and
Mountains crumble into the sea;
though waters roar & be troubled,
though the mountains shake
with its swelling (Psalm 46:1-3).
The Lord of hosts is with us;
God… is our refuge… Come behold
the works of the Lord (v7-8).
BE STILL and know that I am God…
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us (and)
God is Our Refuge (Ps 46:10-11).

Lord, Your Word says You are ever
Ready To Help in times of trouble.
Forgive us for the times when
we act as though You don’t exist.
Teach us to pull back from troubles
and instead focus on You. We don’t
have to fear, no matter what we face.
For every moment that we breathe,
You are Our Strength. And though
our life may be shaken to its core,
You are still Our Refuge. Amen.

Father, when things in my life are
falling apart, help me experience
You Lord as My Firm Foundation.
Guide me Lord as I entrust
my mountains over to You.
Help me Lord to Be Still In You,
trust You and give me rest in You.
Let me know You’re With me, no
matter how difficult the situation.
Let me Experience You as a Very
Present Help in trouble. Amen.

Be Still my soul !
The Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently
the cross of fear and pain.
Leave to thy God
to order and provide;
In every change
He Faithful will remain.
Be Still my soul! thy best,
thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways
leads to a joyful end. Amen !!

God of My Life Worthy of Longing

As the Deer is a well-known hymn
song written by Martin Nystrom
in 1984. He was a school teacher in
Seattle who went to Bible College at
Dallas Christ for Nations Institute for
summer term. I was challenged by
a roommate at CFNI to go on a fast
and to reading the Bible and prayer.
On the 19th day of the fast, I was
at the piano trying to write a song,
when I noticed a Bible on the music
stand of the piano open to Psalm 42.
My eyes fell on the first verse of that
chapter: As the deer panteth after
the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee… After reading the verse I began to sing its message.

Lord, we Hope & Remember You:
As the deer pants for streams of
water, so I long for You, O God.
I Thirst for God, the living God…
Why am I discouraged? Why is
my heart so sad? I will Put My
Hope in God! I will Praise Him
my Saviour & my God(Ps 42:1-5)
O my God, my soul is cast down…
therefore I will remember You…
I will say to God my Rock: Why
have You forgotten me? (v6, 9).
Why am I discouraged?
Why so sad? I will put my Hope
in God! I will praise Him again
-my Saviour and my God! (v11).

Lord, satisfy this relentless Thirst
for You. Quench it with streams
of Your wisdom and inspiration.
Let Your words fulfill my deepest
desires; for I need You desperately.
Lord, I want to Connect with the
deepest part of Your Spirit in the
depths of mine; and let me hear
clearly the sound of Yr voice. Amen

Lord, I bring the places of my soul
where I am downcast over to You.
For You are my Hope; You are my
salvation and I will Hope in You.
I purpose to trust and not be afraid;
and I have no good reason to fear;
for You Lord are my strength.
Send Your grace to help me,
that I may glorify You openly. Amen.

Lord, as the deer panteth for the
water, so my soul thirsts after You.
I love our relationship Lord, but
I am not content with remaining
as it is. Cause my soul to want and
long to have even more of You.
Satisfy this thirst for You Lord.
Quench it with gushing streams
of Your wisdom and inspiration.
And let Your Words & my prayers
fulfil our deepest desires. Amen.