04042020 There's Within My Heart a Melody

Dear Missionary Lady,



Greetings! I trust that our great God is giving you grace, peace, strength, and wisdom in these days. Although many human labors and activities have come to a halt, God has not stopped working. He is actively seeking and calling men to turn to Him; may He help us to see the opportunities to be a part of that process.



Today I want to share a special hymn with you. There's a funny story about this hymn. When I was in college, I had a good friend named Melody, and her boyfriend used to sing the first line of the first stanza: "There's within my heart a melody." He was from Mexico, and ironically, his name was Suni. So she would sing the first line of the fifth stanza: "Suni's coming back to welcome me."



Quirky story aside, I love this hymn, and it has often encouraged me. I hope it will do the same for you.



1. There's within my heart a melody;/ Jesus whispers sweet and low,/ "Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,"/ In all of life's ebb and flow.



Oh, how sweet, that He whispers such tender and reassuring messages to us, when indeed life is filled with ups and downs - times when we are doing so well that we almost forget we need His tender words, and then times so difficult that we desperately cling to them. His message of care to us never stops.



2. All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,/ Discord filled my heart with pain;/ Jesus swept across the broken strings,/ Stirred the slumbering chords again.



I think the author is referring to the difference between pre-salvation and post-salvation, and what a wonder that He did in rescuing us. It is also true that at times we become broken and battered even as Christians, and He is good to restore us and give a song once again.



3. Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,/ Trials fall across the way,/ Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,/ See His footprints all the way.



No one who has been a Christian long and who has his eyes open would deny that these challenging times come - deep waters, trials, rough paths. They are hard, but we are never without help. Jesus guides us and leads us through those times. We can get through because He helps us.



4. Feasting on the riches of His grace,/ Resting 'neath His sheltering wing,/ Always looking on His smiling face,/ That is why I shout and sing.



Hopefully you're doing a better job of this than I am right now, but I still know it's true - that our Savior gives such great blessings and care that we don't need to be overwhelmed or defeated by the trials. We can see His richness, His protection, His joy, in every situation, and we can rejoice in Him.



5. Soon He's coming back to welcome me/ Far beyond the starry sky;/ I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown;/ I shall reign with Him on high.



This is wonderful truth! This life does not last forever. The day is coming - soon - when He will rescue us from this broken world and take us to a beautiful and perfect world where we will be forever with Him.



Refrain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,/ Sweetest name I know,/ Fills my every longing,/ Keeps me singing as I go.



May Jesus be all that you need this week. May He give you joy and strength to go on doing everything that He wants you to do. What you do today matters for eternity, and we do it all because of Him.



"My beloved is ... the chiefest among ten thousand" (Song of Solomon 5:10).



Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com