Posted 9-4-19
Yesterday we discussed how vast and powerful God is as we discussed the word Billows as found in the old song “Love Lifted Me”. Nothing is beyond Him, whether it be an Alzheimer’s cure/treatment, or a future home in heaven! He will part seas as necessary. Today we move to the second song I found that mentioned “billows“. It is another old classic: “Count Your Blessings“. We can also learn a thing or two from it. Here is how it goes:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/707
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.2
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.3
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.4
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Go figure…another solid song by someone from the 1800s. They weren’t all gems, but they did typically teach us something about the Lord, which is a primary purpose of Christian songs. Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
First, the song says “when the billows leave you tempest tossed”. There are no ifs, ands or buts here. Ignore (!!!) the televangelist who tells you if you just try hard to keep the Law (and give to my TV ministry) you will be healthy, wealthy and wise. Shut them off. You are better off watching The Andy Griffith Show. Here is a beautiful explanation of why they are wrong in “selling” you Christianity that way. So what is promised? “A cross for you, a cross for you and a cross for you… a cross for everybody!!”–shouted in my best Oprah voice. If you are a believer, you will have hard times. Very hard times. Some may be caused by your sin, some others’ sin, some just as a result of the fall of Adam, and some because people do not like your God. Regardless of cause, know this…if you are going to be a believer, things will be challenging some many days. Alzheimer’s isn’t some fluke thing with no cause.
So, what do we do through these bad situations? Alzheimer’s is terrible. No sugar-coating it at all!! I have seen 80-year-old Christian men who preached for most of their lives swearing uncontrollably . I have seen wonderful Christian women, like mom, lose their memorized Bible verses and their musical skills. It is a terrible disease. What do we do? We need to count our blessings through the hardship.
Here is a great piece about the benefits of going through hard times. Think of them as countable blessings. In it, outstanding songwriter and pastor Mark Altrogge gives us seven wonderful things that happen when we face hard times:
- Affliction drives us to God in prayer ( James 5:13 )
- Affliction humbles us (2 Cor 12:7 )
- Affliction makes us rely on Christ’s power (2 Cor 12:9)
- Affliction brings us the comfort of God himself (2 Cor 1:3-4)
- Affliction gives us compassion for others (also 2 Cor 1:3–4)
- Affliction produces endurance and patience (Rom 5:3-5)
- Affliction reminds us that this world is not our home (Heb 13:14)
So, since there are so many benefits to going through these tempest-tossed billows, shouldn’t we be happy when times are hard? I mean, “good times” don’t always bring lasting happiness, nor do times of wealth (otherwise celebrities would all be happy). I think it is a lot to be asked to be happy slappy through these challenges, but joyfully content is a better target. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in Daniel 3, find themselves in a terrible situation. They were about to be thrown into a hotter-than-hot fiery furnace contraption because they chose to worship the One True God. Their famous words didn’t scream happy slappy, but they showed the same confidence we can have as we face dementia with a loved one: peace and contentment in the situation knowing all will eventually be made right again. They said:
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[a] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. ”
Be confident, believer, that the same God that delivered these three men from sure death will stand with you, will bring you peace and will someday receive you in heaven where there is no dementia.
Need another example? I have plenty!! The Apostle Paul also had terrible times. He had a thorn in the flesh, and he was persecuted everywhere he went it seemed. Just before one of our favorite verses (Phil 4:13), he explained the secret of contentment for us too:
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil+4&version=ESV (Emphases mine)
Things will stink. They will. He cares and is with us and will make things right some sweet day. Keep looking heavenward, believer, in the good times and the bad…like now. He is our contentment and heaven is our reward. In the business world we talk a lot about setting expectations. Expect challenges while on Earth, then the absence of them in Heaven. Sure we have some great times here too, but they are the exception, in some seasons, and not the rule.
So join me in renewing my intention to count my blessings…and there are so many! I have a great family, wonderful parents/extended family, an edifying and exciting job, and food on the table. I live in a country that, for now at least, I can write about my faith to you. I have had 48+ years with mom, most of which were very good. Mom is happy and doing pretty well all things considered. She is peaceful and content through this mess, so should I be? I have a Sweet 17 group who I get to see and love and also the general population is full of wonderful folks. And, most of all, I have heaven to look forward to where there are no tears and where we can celebrate our Lord and the many things He has done in our long, winding journey. So counting I will do…
One, Two, Three………
Update: I had a nice, but shortish visit with mom yesterday. (I visited some wonderful friends at our monthly support group meeting after visiting her). She is doing well and had a smile for me when I arrived. She has been saying more words and making more sense the last 3 or 4 visits, which has been a blessing. Tonight I will swing by again. 🙂
#EndALZ
Sooooooooo many blessings…too many to count, nor to list here.
Ooo Ooooooooo…one more blessing. We just got to 500 Facebook Likes. We are nearing 5,000 WordPress subscriptions to the website digitalcornbread.com too. 🙂
Keep sharing that digital cornbread…there is plenty for everyone!!! 🙂
Thanks so much, what wonderful words & blessings!
Thank you so much! 🙂 It is a challenging road….I would be hopelessly lost without the Lord.