I Need Thee Every Hour

 

"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near
to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy for our failures
and find grace to help in good time for every need, appropriate
and well-timed help, coming just when we need it."
(Hebrews 14:10)

Picture courtesy/Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

"I Need Thee Every Hour"
(1871)
Annie Sherwood Hawks
(1835-1918)
American poetess and hymn writer

The Story Behind The Song

Annie Sherwood Hawks was considered "A Woman of the (19th) Century"
due to the many beautiful poems and hymns she wrote during her lifetime.
Although she had little schooling and no formal training as a writer, 
Annie had a passion for books and reading and by the young age 
 of fourteen was submitting poems to a local newspaper.

Her first published poem in a Troy, New York newspaper
became quite popular and inspired her to write more poems.
In the late 1850's Annie married Charles Hial Hawks, a
resident of Hoosick, New York.  They later moved to
Brooklyn New York, where they joined the 
Hanson Place Baptist Church.

The pastor of the church, Reverend Dr. Robert Lowry
was impressed with Annie's work and encouraged her to 
 keep writing hymns.  He also co-wrote many of her hymns.
 In 1872, she wrote "I Need Thee Every Hour".

In her own words, Annie told of her inspiration for this song,
which after it's publication, was translated into more foreign languages
than any other modern hymn at the time of her death.

"One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy 
 with my regular household tasks, she explained.  Suddenly, I became
  so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering
how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these
words, "I Need Thee Every Hour" were ushered into my mind,
the thought at once taking full possession of me..."

I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great
throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the
shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood
something of the comforting power in the words which I had been
permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace."

American Gospel: Christ Alone

 

"All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God,
freely and gratuitously by His grace, His unmerited favor and mercy,
through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus.

Whom God put forward, before the eyes of all, as a mercy seat
and propitiation by His blood, the cleansing and life-giving atonement
and reconciliation, to be received through faith. This was to show
God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed
over and ignored former sins without punishment."
(Romans 3:24-25)

American Gospel: Christ Alone

American Gospel

(March 11, 2019)

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2022

 

"Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends."
(John 15:13)

Today we salute the men and women of American law enforcement.

 I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your dedicated service 
and courage in upholding law and order during these uncertain
and perilous times which have befallen our nation.

Thank you for keeping American citizens safe and protected
 each day, often at great risk of losing your own lives.  

   May God bless and keep you safe in His love and mercy always.

The Runaway

(1958)

The Saturday Evening Post Cover

Norman Rockwell

The Miracle Of The Missing Cat

 "If cats actually have nine lives, he probably used up about
eight of them in that nine day period."
-Sonny "Hoot" Gibson

Maddox is now safe and sound and living in the home of his owner, Sonny Gibson,
after being trapped for nine days beneath the rubble of a former three story office building. 
His owner hopes Maddox's story will be an inspiration to others.

Photograph courtesy/ Sonny "Hoot" Gibson

Maddox the cat is well known in the community of Mayfield, Kentucky.

Until recently, he was the office cat of business owner Sonny "Hoot" Gibson.
  Customers who came into his business loved being greeted by the friendly, 
coal black feline, who was often seen gazing out of the windows.

 However, in the early morning hours of December 10, 2021,
Maddox went missing in the wake of a violent, EF4 tornado
which devastated the southwestern Kentucky town. 

His owner assumed the worst had happened to his beloved pet.

Then, nine days later, Sonny Gibson was sitting where his desk use to be
 amid the rubble of his business when he heard a faint meow coming from somewhere.

"Out of the blue, I heard that meow," said Gibson.  When I heard it, and I said his name,
I heard it faintly again, I knew it was him.  My knees got so weak, my chest almost got
tight.  I thought, Oh my gosh, I'm going to have a heart attack here. I was blown away."

Gibson could not immediately find the cat, so he called in some of his
 employees who helped him search.  They eventually discovered the animal
in an air pocket underneath the rubble.  Maddox was shaken and scared 
 from his nine day imprisonment, but physically fine.

"It was just an incredible feeling to put him in my arms," Gibson told
the Associated Press.  "If cats actually have nine lives, he probably used
up about eight of them in that nine-day period."

"It's a blessing for people to hear the story so they can take that and
realize that great things can come out of terrible situations," Gibson added.
"If it's uplifting to one person, then Maddox has served his purpose on this planet."

As the owner of my own precious kitty, this amazing story 
and genuine Christmas miracle just touched my heart!

To Sidney With Love

 

I was sad to learn tonight of the passing of actor Sidney Poitier
 who died yesterday at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 94.

Sidney Poitier
Bahamian-American actor

(February 20, 1927-January 6, 2022)

In addition to being a ground-breaking black actor with early roles 
 in the movies, "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955) and "The Defiant Ones"
(1958) opposite actor Tony Curtis, this tall, handsome, and 
 distinguished Bahamian native was also an accomplished
  film director, political activist and ambassador. 
 He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974.

In 1964, he was the first black person and first Bahamian
 to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance
 in the comedy-drama, "Lilies Of The Field" (1963) in which he
played down-to-earth handyman Homer Smith, who helps
 a convent of devout German-speaking Catholic nuns  
 build a chapel in the Arizona desert.

The next year, Sidney starred in one of my favorite films, "A Patch Of Blue"
with Shelly Winters and Elizabeth Hartman.  I have always loved this poignant
 story of a young black man Gordon Ralfe (Poitier), who befriends an abused
 blind white girl Selina D'arcy (Hartman) in a city park, and eventually
rescues her from the chaotic and impoverished home life she shares
 with her loud-mouthed, slattern mother, Rose Ann (Winters) 
and alcoholic grandfather Ole Pa, played by actor Wallace Ford.

Because this film was released in the thick of the Civil Rights Era of the mid-1960's, 
  it was deemed controversial due to the love relationship which develops between
 Gordon and Selina, however, the premise of this story is 'True love is blind".
In her world of darkness, gentle Selina "sees" Gordon as a light of kindness
and good. She knows he is a black man.   And she tells him that he is beautiful.

 Elizabeth Hartman and Sidney Poitier
"A Patch Of Blue"

(1965)

Image courtesy/Vocal Media

  Surprised by Selina's candidness, the more reserved Gordon, reminded
 of the social challenges they will face, tells her they must wait a year to find
  out if the love they feel for each other is strong enough to lead to marriage. 

In the meantime, he has arranged for Selina to attend a school for the blind. 
The movie ends with the bus arriving to pick up Selina to take her to the school.
  After she is escorted out to the waiting bus, Gordon finds the music box he had
given her has been left behind in his apartment.  He races downstairs to the street
with the music box in hand, however, the bus has already left for the school.
  Gordon stares after the departing vehicle for a moment,
and then walks back inside his building.

Another favorite Sidney Poitier film of mine is 1967's
"To Sir With Love" the story of an immigrant engineer 
 from British Guiana who arrives in London and takes a job
teaching at a secondary school in the city's tough East End district.

This movie produced a hit record for English singer, Lulu,
called, "To Sir With Love" which is based on the movie's title.
 Lulu also played one of the kids Sidney teaches in the movie.

Every time I hear her sing this song I think of him.

May he rest in peace.

"To Sir With Love"

(1967)

Lulu

Les Feldick Bible Study: The Mark Of False Teachers And Scoffers

 

"For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of righteousness,
but the way of the ungodly, those living outside God's will, shall perish."
(Job 42:6)

The Mark Of False Teachers And Scoffers/Part One

Les Feldick Bible Study
(2003)

The Mark Of False Teachers And Scoffers/Part Two
Les Feldick Bible Study
(2003)

The Mark Of False Teachers And Scoffers/Part Three
Les Feldick Bible Study
(2003)

The Mark Of False Teachers And Scoffers/Part Four
Les Feldick Bible Study
(2003)

I Know My Redeemer Lives

 

I know my Redeemer lives, 

 The Lord of Liberty;

I trust the pledge of life He gives,

 For all eternity.

O Lord, I would that I might live, 

A fearless life and free;

Rich in the joy that Thou dost give, 

Now and eternally.

O Lord, I would live straight and strong,

 In body, soul, and mind;

Unbound by habits that are wrong;

 Joyous, and true, and kind.


O Lord, my God, I would love Thee, 

With all my strength each day;

And in Thy Son, my Savior, see, 

The Life, The Truth, The Way.


I trust the pledge of life He gives

Endless, and full, and free;

I know that my Redeemer lives, 

And shares His life with me.

Amen.

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"
(1928)
Reverend Harold I. Donnelly