Noteworthy Blog

It was while Fanny Crosby was visiting a prison, that she heard a prisoner cry out, “Good Lord, do not pass me by.” Later that evening, she wrote this hymn. Sometime later, thanks to D.L. Moody introducing the hymn in his revival ministry, this became Crosby’s first hymn of worldwide acclaim. Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry, While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. In Genesis 18:3, Abraham sees three men approaching the road and recognizes them as the Lord and two angels. He runs out to greet them and begs them to stop and stay. In verse 4, Abraham offers to wash their feet and bring them bread. In verse 5, the Lord accepts. The inspiration for this hymn is a prisoner crying out in his confined distress. What a metaphor. Humbly, we seek the freedom that life with Jesus offers us.  Gentle Savior, please do not pass me by. Stay with me. Be by my side. If only for a moment. Let me at a throne of mercy Find a sweet relief; Kneeling there in deep contrition,...

This week, we're looking at the song “We Will Feast In The House of Zion” by Sandra McCracken. It’s a song of the incomparable joy, hope, safety, and peace we receive in the presence of the Lord our God. As we begin with the chorus, we’re immediately swept up in the grace and mercy of Almighty God. We will feast in the house of Zion We will sing with our hearts restored He has done great things, we will say together We will feast and weep no more The Biblical basis for these truths is rich. In Isaiah 25:6, he writes, “On this mountain (Zion) the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine…” He goes further in verse 8, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.  In Isaiah 30:19, we read, “For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the so...

Another great modern hymn by writers Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, “See What A Morning” takes us through the discovery of the empty tomb of Jesus on Easter morning. Luke 24:1-3 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” See what a morning, gloriously bright With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; Folded the grave-clothes Tomb filled with light, As the angels announce Christ is risen! See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love, Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice, Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives, Christ is risen from the dead! Romans 8:24-25 “For in this hope we were saved. Now Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Sin and death exist in the darkness. Jesus’s sacrifice overcame both of those and thus ...