I forced myself to get out of bed at 7:30 this morning. I have standing plans with Sara O. to go to a local park that is wooded with trails, right here in the middle of our town. It is nice. It is like being out of town — out in the mountains or something. Anyway, our commitment last week was to make it a regular occurrence on Friday mornings: to meet at church and drive over together at 8am.
I thought I better call her first before heading out. Good thing. She didn’t realize it was already Friday and, although up and mulling around her house, she was not dressed and ready to go yet. But we made it.
It is so nice to walk the trails. Most are paved, and some are gravel. There are little bridges to cross…
There’s a hurricane headed our way. They’re calling it Hurricane Ian—a small name for what has the potential to be a big storm.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a such a storm, and we might’ve become a bit complacent around here. But I remembered to buy a family pack of Little Debbie oatmeal cookies and enough bottled water to get us through a couple of weeks just in case there’s an extended interruption in the water supply.
We’ve packed “go” bags, in the eventuality that the storm becomes a brute, but we’re hoping it’ll weaken as it nears. Best case scenario would be for it fizzle out before it does too much damage anywhere.
If you are unfamiliar with the hymn or tune it’s a hymn of repentance and a hymn used to forgive sins
1 Saviour, hear me while before thy feet I the record of my sins repeat. Stained with guilt, myself abhorring, Filled with grief, my soul outpouring; Canst thou still in mercy think of me, Stoop to set my shackled spirit free, Raise my sinking heart and bid me be Thy child once more?
Refrain: Grace there is my every debt to pay, Blood to wash my every sin away, Power to keep me spotless day by day, For me, for me!
2 All the memories of deeds gone by Rise within me and thy power defy; With a deathly chill ensnaring, They would leave my soul despairing. Saviour, take my hand, I cannot tell How to stem the tides that round me swell, How to ease my conscience, or to quell My flaming heart.
3 Yet why should I fear? Hast thou not died That no seeking soul should be denied? To that heart, its sins confessing, Canst thou fail to give a blessing? By the love and pity thou hast shown, By the blood that did for me atone, Boldly will I kneel before thy throne, A pleading soul.
4 All the rivers of thy grace I claim, Over every promise write my name. As I am I come, believing, As thou art thou dost, receiving, Bid me rise a free and pardoned slave, Master o’er my sin, the world, the grave, Charging me to preach thy power to save To sin bound souls.
Please sit back and enjoy this cornet solo of The Penitent’s Plea
“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.
18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. 19 After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20 Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord.
21 “Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns. 22 How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth— the woman will return to[a] the man.”
23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[b] the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’24 People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
1
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
2
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storm and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
3
Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
4
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the joy and pleasure, Thine own,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the flock Thy love doth enfold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
One of my favourite pieces in The Salvation Army brass band world is ‘Guardian of my Soul’ of where we hear two hymn tunes come through, the main one which is based on the piece itself.
I Worship You, God’s only Son,
Who took my sins to the cross,
So I could be completely free to follow where You lead.
Lord, Your wounds are now my healing
and I am wholly Yours.
You know my name and where I’m going,
Guardian of my soul.
O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self‑will.
O speak to reassure me,
To chasten or control;
O speak to make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
I’ll follow You, God’s only Son,
Along the road to the cross,
No other place can I find grace
Unfathomed and unflawed.
And, as I reach the Hill of Calvary
And see Your open arms,
I’ll know my name and where I’m going,
Guardian of my soul.
The second is ‘O Jesus I have promised’
Strangely I have for yet another day found myself at the passage where Jesus predicts his death. I would also say this is a follow up from yesterdays blog ‘Serving Christ’ because as long as we continue to ‘serve Christ’ he will be our ‘Guardian of our Soul’
Christian Devotions 