The Pinecone
|
October 2014
• 9 •
f r om Don J oh n s on , K i r b y P i n e s Chap l a i n
Chaplain’s COrner
Jesus Loves Me
October
Vesper Services
October 2nd
David South
Woodland Hills Church of Christ
October 9th
Reverend Dr. Susan Sharp
Weslyan Hills United Methodist
October 16th
Reverend Josh Gray
Ridgeway Baptist Church
October 23rd
Larry McKenzie
Highland Church of Christ
October 30th
Reverend David Weatherly
Covenant
Anna Warner and her sister, Susan,
lived near West Point Military Academy
and regularly led Bible studies for the
cadets. Susan became a best selling
novelist. In 1860 she
wrote Say and Seal,
a story about a dying
child being helped
by his teacher and
her boyfriend. Say
and Seal was second
only to Uncle Tom’s
Cabin so popular at
that time. Anna, who
also wrote novels
and poems, wrote a
special poem for Say
and Seal. It was sung to the dying boy
even though it was just a poem without
music. Composer William Bradbury read
the poem in the novel and composed
the simple yet profound melody. It has
become the best children’s hymns of all
time. We know it as “Jesus Loves Me.” It
still inspires children of all ages.
There’s a story of a Church in Atlanta
honoring one of its senior pastors who
had been retired many years. Following
his introduction the 92 year old pastor
rose from his high back chair and slowly
walked to the podium. He placed both
hands on the pulpit to steady himself and
then quietly began to speak.
“
When I was asked to come here today
and talk to you, I was asked to tell you
the greatest lesson I ever learned in my 50
odd years of preaching. I thought about it
for a few days and decided there was just
one thing that made the most difference
in my life and sustained me through all
my trials. The one thing that I could
always rely on when tears and heart break
and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed
me......the only thing that would comfort
was this verse.”
“
Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
We are weak but he is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so.”
God’s love so beautifully expressed by
this pastor and by so many others does not
just apply to children or young people. It
relates to us all through life and becomes
especially encouraging in our later years.
Someone has even come up with a Senior
Adult version of the song. It says,
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.
Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He’s begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
“
Have no fear, for I am near.”
When my work on earth is done,
And life’s victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
To love God is no extraordinary thing.
All that we know of Him shows He is
lovely, loveable and loving. The reverse
is what’s extraordinary. That God could
love us is almost incomprehensible. We
are often unlovely but He did not let us go
unloved. How could we ever adequately
express our gratitude and thanks for His
personal and unconditional love? The
eternal miracle is that God loves us. From
John 3:16 to I John 4:9-10, 19 and many
other passages we can see this powerfully
described. It’s like He is saying to us, “I
love you, is that alright?” Let’s joyfully
reply, “Yes, Lord, that’s alright.”
Till next time, Don Johnson,
Kirby Pines Chaplain
