Some of you may know that I attend The Salvation Army and sing in the local choir ( in the Army they are referred to as Songsters).
For as long as I care to remember it has been customary either during or at close of practice. The devotional period is usually about ten minutes and consist of a thought/bible reading and prayer
Our practice is on a Thursday night and last nights thought was about “When you think someone doesn’t care they actually do”
Here is the words and music of two retired Generals John Gowans and John Larsson of The Salvation Army.
Do you sometimes feel that no one truly knows you, And that no one understands or really cares? Through his people, God himself is close beside you, And through them he plans to answer all your prayers. Chorus Someone cares, someone cares, Someone knows your deepest need, your burden shares; Someone cares, someone cares, God himself will hear the whisper of your prayers.
2. Ours is not a distant God, remote, unfeeling, Who is careless of our loneliness and pain, Through the ministry of men he gives his healing, In their dedicated hands brings hope again.
Early this morning I was contacted by someone that runs a prayer network to do a bible reading and devotion, so here we go.
I eventually came up with the following reading
He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11 because Our good Shepherd gathers us in his arms and carries us “in his bosom,” a picture of intimacy and closeness and deep care, and he gently leads us.
I can testify to the fact that God does care for us at all times from joy to sadness.
As I write this I am thinking of the troubles in Afghanistan. I pray for Gods hand in that situation
Finally in the video we are reminded that God cares for us in a special way!
When the world is crumbling around you and everything goes wrong And you feel that there’s no use to carry on, Just remember Jesus loves you and careth for His own, so trust in Him and faith will lead you on. Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus. He’s the only one who cares or understands. Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands. Though Satan often tempts you and tries to make you doubt, The Lord is near to hold you by the hand. With His loving arms around you, He will gently lead you out. He’ll comfort you and give you grace to stand. Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus. He’s the only one who cares or understands. Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.
18 Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good.
2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.
3 When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind; contempt for life is contemptible.
4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.
5 It’s not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.
6 The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him.
7 Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words.
8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?
9 Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism.
10 God’s name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe.
11 The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.
12 Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honour.
13 Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.
14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
15 Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.
16 A gift gets attention; it buys the attention of eminent people.
17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing— until the cross-examination starts!
18 You may have to draw straws when faced with a tough decision.
19 Do a favour and win a friend forever; nothing can untie that bond.
20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
22 Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of God!
23 The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers.
24 Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
(WOMEN) What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! (ALL) O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. (MEN) Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. (ALL) Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. (ALL) Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou shalt find a solace there.
2 1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
9-11 Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
You may recall I had the exact same reading to a different translation the other day. The reason for the reading appearing again is it matches a chorus written by Bill & Gloria Gaither.
Jesus Jesus Jesus, there’s just Something about that name Master, Saviour, Jesus, like the Fragrance after the rain Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and Earth proclaim Kings and kingdoms will pass away But there’s something about that Name!
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
Both the rich and the poor,
the despised, the distressed,
They’ll sit down in the Kingdom of God.
And none will ask what they have been
Provided that their robes are clean;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.
2.
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
To be met by their Father and welcomed and blessed,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.
The black, the white, the dark, the fair,
Your colour will not matter there;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.
3.
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
Out of great tribulation to triumph and rest
They’ll sit down in the Kingdom of God.
From every tribe and every race,
All men as brothers shall embrace;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west.
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.
I suppose you could say this is part 2 of yesterday’s blog “God’s Creation” .
The Bible and this video gives us this wonderful image of heaven. A place where there are no wars, no evil. Everything is peaceful. I think the words of the above song are very fitting.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
You are Beautiful God
You are Everlasting God
You are Beautiful God
You are Everlasting God
You Made Me like You
Gave Me Breath and Life
You Made Me like You
Gave Me Breath and Life
You are the One
You are the One
You are the Beautiful God
You are the One
You are the One
You are the Beautiful God
You Set Me Free from the World
Your Love has Changed My Life
You Set Me Free from the World
Your Love has Changed My Life
You Brought Me into Light
You are the Light of the World
You Brought Me into Light
You are the Light of the World
Lift Up Your Name
I Lift Up Your Name
You are the Beautiful God
Lift Up Your Name
I Lift Up Your Name
You are the Beautiful God
You Washed My Sins
Wiped My Tears & Sorrows
You Washed My Sins
Wiped My Tears & Sorrows
I will Never Go Back to My Own Life
I will Always Obey You God
I will Never Go Back to My Own Life
I will Always Obey You God
You are Almighty
You are Almighty
You are the Almighty God
You are Almighty
You are Almighty
You are the Almighty God
You are Beautiful God
You are Everlasting God
You are Beautiful God
You are Everlasting God
You Made Me like You
Gave Me Breath and Life
You Made Me like You
Gave Me Breath and Life
You are the One
You are the One
You are the Beautiful God
You are the One
You are the One
You are the Beautiful God
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.”[a]
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I know he cares for me, for me, I know he cares for me, for me; I’ll trust my Father in Heaven For I know that he cares for me.
There are verses to the chorus above with the 1st verse starting with Have you heard the glad news of the Gospel but unfortunately I couldn’t find it.
However I think the words sung by Boscombe Singing Company (junior choir) of The Salvation Army are quite clear.
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice, 8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,[a] as you did that day at Massah[b] in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
Joy Webb a member of The Joystrings of The Salvation Army wrote many songs. One of the was entitled “I want to Sing it”
Christian Devotions 