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It Is Well with My Soul

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

Horatio Spafford was a lawyer and senior partner at his law firm in Chicago. On September 5, 1861, he married the love of his life, Anna Larsen. They had four daughters: Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta. Not only was Horatio a successful lawyer and an elder of his church, but he was also a real estate investor. Over the years he had invested most of his wealth intodowntown Chicago. In 1871 tragedy struck. The Great Chicago Fire not only destroyed most of the city, but it also destroyed most of Horatio’s investments. Near financial ruin, Horatio and his wife decided to travel to England in support of their friend DL Moody. At the last minute, while still dealing with the effects of the fire, Horatio sent his family ahead to England with the plan of joining them later. Anna and their four girls boarded the French steamship, the Ville du Havre. While preparing to join his family, Horatio received a telegram from his wife that read, “Saved Alone.” Tragedy had struck once more. He would soon learn the Ville du Havre was struck by another ship killing 226 people including his four daughters. 

While Horatio was traveling across the Atlantic to be with his grieving wife, he crossed over the location where his daughters were lost. It was at this moment he penned the lyrics to “It Is Well with My Soul.”

After the unimaginable loss of all four of their daughters, Anna had 3 more children: Horatio, Bertha, and Grace. On February 11, 1880, a final tragedy would strike. At the age of three, their son, Horatio, died of scarlet fever. In 1881, Horatio and his family moved to Jerusalem. Horatio would spend the rest of his days ministering and sharing the love of Christ in and around Jerusalem.

In the midst of loss, it is so easy to lose hope. Our grief can consume us. As we come upon the 20th anniversary of 9-11, we are reminded how, in an instant, our lives can change forever. Tragedy and loss so easily fill us with fear and sadness. There is no amount of reasoning that can make sense or bring understanding. Hope is not found in reasoning. It certainly is not found in societal norms or personal opinions. True, lasting hope is only found in Jesus Christ. Jesus did not promise a life free from sadness. He never promised a life free from loss or tragedy.

Jesus, the One through Whom all things were created, came to this earth and while knowing no sin took our sins upon Himself so that for those who put their faith and trust in Him could be set free from hopelessness. He has promised us that there will be a day where, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

No matter what you have lost or whom you have lost, no matter what you will lose or whom you will lose, look only to Jesus and it will be well with your soul.

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

Helen Lemmel emigrated, with her family, to the United States from England in 1875 at the age of 12. A daughter of a Methodist minister, she was an extremely gifted musician, songwriter, and singer. In 1907 she went to Germany to further study music and in 1911 returned to the US and began teaching vocal music at Moody Bible Institute.

Around 1918 one of Helen’s missionary friends gave her a devotional pamphlet titled “Focused” written by Lilias Trotter. In the pamphlet were the words, “So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

After reading the words, “I stood still, ” Helen recalled, “and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but nonetheless dictated by the Holy Spirit.”

Then tragedy struck. Helen had a condition that eventually caused her to go completely blind. Her husband, because he couldn’t handle having a blind wife, left her. She would spend the rest of her days in a small, one room apartment on welfare composing music on a small, plastic keyboard. When asked by people how she was doing, Helen would always respond with, “I’m doing well in the things that count.” Her enthusiastic joy was contagious to all that would visit her. 

She also said, “One day God is going to bless me with a great heavenly keyboard, I can hardly wait!” Helen died, with her eyes fixed on Jesus in 1961 at the age of 98 but not before writing and composing 500 songs and poems. 

No matter where you are in life turn your eyes upon Jesus. Even though she lost her sight, Helen kept the eyes of her heart on Jesus. She lost so much while she was in this world but because she was looking to Christ and trusting in Him she gained everything!

O soul are you weary and troubled

No light in the darkness you see

There's light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

His word shall not fail you he promised

Believe him and all will be well

Then go to a world that is dying

His perfect salvation to tell

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

O soul are you weary and troubled

No light in the darkness you see

There's light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

Pastor Carl gave us this challenge; Are we pouring into others? Using an illustration of a sponge, we saw that we are to first seek after God as He pours into us. It doesn’t stop there, however. We MUST then, like a sponge, empty ourselves into others. What does your personal time with the Lord look like? Do you make time for Him? Not only when it’s convenient but do you seek after Him every waking moment? Do you ask Him to place you with others that need to be poured into? 

Take time every day this week to seek Him through prayer and in His Word. 

Monday- Matthew 19:13-15

Tuesday- Luke 18:17

Wednesday- Matthew 18:1-4

Thursday- Luke 14: 7-24

Friday- Romans 12:1-2

Saturday- Psalm 46:10

In his message today titled “Love Can Build A Bridge”, Rick shared about the importance of bridge building in the life of the church. He touched on many aspects the most important of which is love. A love for God and a love for others has to be the foundation for any “bridge” that we build. God’s amazing grace, shown to us through Jesus Christ, is to be seen in us as a shining light. There is hope for the broken. There is peace for the weary. There is salvation for the lost. Are you a bridge or an obstacle? Devote yourself to His Word daily so you are equipped for Godly “bridge building”! 

Don’t you think it’s time?

Monday- Matthew 17:20

Tuesday- Mark 11:22-24

Wednesday- John 3:16

Thursday- Matthew 22:37

Friday- Romans 8:35

Saturday- 1 Corinthians 13:13

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2kh9rx7E9og?autoplay=1

We heard a powerful word from Pastor Carl this morning. God is moving. God is working. God’s glory is all around us. We are a part of His kingdom by the precious blood of Christ. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord. Make your time with the Lord this week the highest priority. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Seek and you will find. Take note of all the glory sightings that you see this week and ask that God’s glory would be seen in you. What are you waiting for!?!

Monday- Exodus 33:7-11

Tuesday- Exodus 33:12-23

Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Thursday- 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Friday- Ephesians 1:17-19

Saturday- Romans 12:1-2 

Yesterday Stewart shared his testimony with us and boldly proclaimed the Word of God. In the message we were shown that we, as believers, do not BELONG to this world. We are to stay Kingdom minded in all that we think and do. Throughout this week I want you to reflect on where you find yourself spending most of your time and thought. Ask yourself, Is God the center of that time spent? Are you devoted to Him first? Where do you belong? 

Also, Stewart shared with us that His life radically changed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in just a 5 minute conversation with someone who simply and lovingly shared the hope that is in Christ Jesus. Share the Gospel with someone this week. It may just be 5 minutes to you but could be eternally life changing for someone else! May God guide you and keep you this week, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen!

Monday- Romans 12:1-2

Tuesday- John 15:18-20

Wednesday- Matthew 28:18-20

Thursday- 1 John 3:11-16

Friday- 1 John 3:17-24

Saturday- Matthew 6:19-24

What consumes your mind? How do you spend your time. Reflect on each day this week, before you go to bed, and ask yourself, “Was I focused on Godly things today or was I focused on the things of this world?” 

Start each day this week with Colossians 3:1-17. Ask God to reveal to you the times in which you are focused on Him and the times in which you are not. We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and not pattern ourselves in the ways of the world. We are new creations by the blood of Christ. Praise be to God!

It’s easy to praise God when we are on the mountain top. But do we praise Him when we find ourselves in the lowest of valleys?

Jesus never promised that our lives in this world would be easy. Matter of fact, a life in Christ can bring more earthly struggles than we think we can bare. It is when we find ourselves down and broken hearted when we should look up, lifting our hands high singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” Christ died so that we may have life! Believing in His saving blood will enter you into eternal life with Him and we can rest in the hope that one day every hurt will vanish and every tear will be wiped from our eyes. 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Happy Independence Day everyone! Take a moment and thank God for the freedoms and liberties we all enjoy in this great nation. For apart from Him we cannot stand. Pastor Carl taught us that in our independence as a nation we must stay dependent on God as His people. The very word independence means not being dependent or under obligation to any other rule. That works from our national point of view but it is the opposite of what our Christian point of view should be. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are citizens of His eternal Kingdom. We are not to be independent from God but rather “In-Dependence of God.” God may Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Amen!

As you start your week, read and reflect on the following scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to grow in you a dependence IN HIM, THROUGH HIM, and FOR HIM. 

Sunday- 2 Corinthians 3:17

Monday- 1 Peter 2:16

Tuesday- Galatians 5:1

Wednesday- Galatians 5:13

Thursday- 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Friday- John 15:1-19

Saturday- John 16:32-33

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