Happy Valentine's Day

Blogspot has been uncooperative today, the reason I'm late getting this posted.

My aunt Carol sent this to me today, speaking of the Lover of our souls:

For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him Should
Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
John 3:16

A great old hymn of the faith came to me again today. It was one of the hymn histories I read earlier this week.

Charles Wesley was preach­ing in the fields of the par­ish of Killy­leagh, Coun­ty Down, Ire­land, when he was at­tacked by men who did not ap­prove of his doc­trines. He sought re­fuge in a house lo­cat­ed on what was known as the Is­land Barn Farm. The far­mer’s wife, Jane Low­rie Moore, told him to hide in the milk­house, down in the gar­den. Soon the mob came and de­mand­ed the fu­gi­tive. She tried to qui­et them by of­fer­ing them re­fresh­ments. Go­ing down to the milk­house, she di­rect­ed Mr. Wesley to get through the rear win­dow and hide un­der the hedge, by which ran a lit­tle brook. In that hid­ing-place, with the cries of his pur­su­ers all about him, he wrote this im­mor­tal hymn. De­scend­ants of Mrs. Moore still live in the house, which is much the same as it was in Wes­ley’s time.

"Jesus, Lover of My Soul"

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

One more thought: I'm proofreading Denise Hunter's newest book from Thomas Nelson, The Convenient Bridegroom. What a beautiful picture of God's love she has woven into this story. It releases in April, the second in her Nantucket Island series. I featured her first book in this series, Surrender Bay, here. This is a must-read for those who may be struggling with the realization that God loves each one of us with an everlasting love—unconditionally, unreservedly, and unrestrainedly. Oh, how I needed this read right now. It shouldn't, but I'm constantly amazed at how God orchestrates the proofreading projects I'm asked to take. Wow! God is soooo good!


Daily Bible reading: Isaiah 59–61; Mark 14:1–27