In the third verse of the classic hymn, “Rock of Ages,” written by Augustus Toplady, the eternal expectation of the Christian is wonderfully described. This verse expresses a heart of hope that overcomes the fear of death and looks singly to the glory that awaits us. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes […]
Twentieth-century Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, wrote a small book entitled Contemplative Prayer for his fellow monks at the Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky. In this volume Merton writes the following warning against trying to find some “magical method” or formula that alone will make contemplative prayer and meditation effective. Faith, according to Merton, and not our […]
In Foster’s modern translation of an excerpt from François Fénelon’s Christian Perfection we hear the author’s thoughts on the folly of not whole-heartedly releasing ourselves to the will of God. Here Fénelon teaches that we withhold our complete surrender at the cost of, among other things, our own happiness and comfort. What folly to fear […]
Of all the hymns of Charles Wesley, none speak to my own motivations and desires as does “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” Like David, who regularly spoke of praising God “in the great assembly”, this hymn reminds me of the inadequacy of my single voice to worship our Lord as he deserves. We […]
In his poem, The Gift Outright, Robert Frost writes of giving ourselves to the fulfillment of our destinies. Frost was specifically speaking of colonial Americans releasing their ties to England and not withholding themselves from their calling to the “New World.” Christians, however, can take these words to heart as another admonishment, as the apostle […]
Shakespeare writes, in his play, Hamlet, of how thorny the earthly life can seem. Here Hamlet, driven to suicidal thoughts by the death of his father and wearied by the pain and trials of the “mortal coil,” reflects on how useless and mundane his life appears to be. Tragic as the feeling of despair was […]
Teacher and writer Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920) became handicapped by a serious spinal injury early on in her life. Rather than becoming bitter at her condition, Eliza turned to the study of English literature and hymn-writing. In 1887 she composed these encouraging lyrics to the hymn “More About Jesus.” These words encourage us to be […]
In Revelations of Divine Love by the English mystic, Julian of Norwich, we find this beautiful statement about the immeasurable and incomprehensible love of God. She describes the wondrous journey of grace-enabled perseverance by which we grow in the knowledge of God’s love. For we are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even […]
Sir Philip Sidney, in his poem, Leave Me, O Love, Which Reachest But To Dust, beautifully illustrates the contrast between fleeting pleasures and the eternal love of God. Leave me, O Love, which reachest but to dust, And thou, my mind, aspire to higher things! Grow rich in that which never taketh rust: Whatever fades […]
The Great Commission is a command for all believers, one we often find difficult to put into action. Leon Tucker wrote the helpful words to this little hymn sometime during the nineteenth-century. Though “short and sweet,” as they say, these lyrics, from “Lord, Lay Some Soul upon My Heart”, simply ask for God’s help and […]