Lingering Lyrics

One of life's many blessings, that I'm so grateful for, is the fact that the lyrics of many old hymns are stored in my mind and I can recall them when needed.

Often I find myself quoting these lyrics in my mind or...vocally. When I get up in the middle of the night there are often hymn or gospel song lyrics going through my mind. As I said above, this is such a blessing that I thank God for. Often they are lyrics that I haven't read, heard or sung for many years.

Lately the lyrics of the chorus of the song "Why?" written by a man who I knew and loved, John M. Moore, were such a blessing.

"All my iniquities on him were laid;

He nailed them all to the tree.

Jesus, the debt of my sin fully paid,

He paid the ransom for me."

The truth that Jesus was my Substitute, my Sin-Bearer and my Saviour when he bore my sins (which were many) on the cross at Calvary thrills my heart.

My Advocate, My Provider and My Testimony

                    I'm so grateful for God's provision for my every need!                  

Even in our Tangled Lives...God Is There!

 

God Really Does Care

 

The Safest Place

 There is rest in the safe place...in the shadow of the Almighty!  Run there for shelter!

Tangled Woods

 My friend posted this photo on her Facebook page and I wrote the poem.  Regardless of our circumstances...God is there with us.

The True Garrison of our Hearts - The Peace of God

I've always been encouraged and strengthened by the use of the word "garrison" that Weymouth used. - David

"And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7 - Weymouth Translation of the New Testament

The word keep there is much stronger in the original; it actually means to garrison, to mount a guard over.  “And the peace of God shall be a garrison, a guard, over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  How deeply we need this garrison of the peace of God!  Some troubling thought comes up… but no, the guards refuse to give it access into the mind; some anxious concern tries to force entry into the heart but the garrison bars it. - taken from the web site - amendingfeast.org

Have Piano...Will Travel

As a young man I bought my first piano from Warne’s Music Store in my hometown, Peterborough, Ontario. It wasn’t much to look at but…I loved the tone so I paid for the ol’ clunker and had it delivered to our home.

Over ten years later I moved it to the Christian Book Store I owned so our customers could sit down with a music book and “try out” a song or two. I’d often sit down myself when the store was quiet and play a few hymns. In 1987 I moved to Toronto and left Ol’ Clunker behind. It was hard to say goodbye because we had collaborated on a few songs I had written and it was a sad day when we parted.

My memory is fuzzy regarding the next chapter, or verse, of the story but Ol’ Clunker and I were reunited in Toronto where I had moved to take a position at The Peoples Church. Through our daughter, we heard that a Polish family had a child who wanted to take piano lessons so we “lent” the piano to them. Again, it was a sad moment when I said “goodbye”. Later, the family moved out of town and they asked if I wanted my cherished friend back. I quickly and gladly said “yes” although my wife wasn’t anxious to welcome ol’ clunker back into our home. It wasn’t the finest looking piece of furniture I must admit.

I reluctantly donated “her”…not my wife…to The Peoples Church. and they hid it away in one of the Peoples Christian School classrooms. I was pleased to have her close by if I needed “her”.

One New Year’s Eve, the church had invited the Blackwood Brothers Quartet to sing at the Watchnight Service as we welcomed in the New Year. A banquet preceded the concert and the dinner was served in the school gymnasium…attached to the church sanctuary. Little did I know that the Blackwood Brothers would sing a couple of songs in the gym, following the banquet, before everyone moved into the sanctuary for the service.

Some of the church staff, in all probability Ken and Stan, wheeled Ol’ Clunker into to gym and my heart skipped a beat. “Oh boy”, I thought, “is she even in tune?”

As the Blackwoods played and sang “Precious Memories” I sat there enthralled, recalling the well-traveled pilgrimage that my piano had undertaken and the precious memories that came to mind as I listened to the group I had enjoyed since I was a “little kid.”

 

The Pilgrim Scribe's Journey

 

The Pilgrim Scribe’s Journey

When I began to write about my journey,

Discerning not the path that I would take;

With pages blank and pen in hand not knowing

The choices and mistakes that I would make.

Each day would be for me a brand new story,

With lines oft’ times too hard for me to share;

But at the end of ev’ry day…assurance,

And knowing that my God was always there.

The trials and pains endured along life’s pathway,

Can fade as I recall the lessons learned;

I often write of times that I have wandered,

And when the voice of God at times I’d spurned.

An old and noble scribe once wisely offered,

“A few bad chapters will not close the book”;

They’re never meant to say your story’s over,

But only trace the path your journey took.

So as you turn another page, dear pilgrim,

And wonder how the tale will finally end;

Remember that the God who walks beside you,

When asked, will peace and comfort always send.

May others read your story and be able

To learn from all the trials that you’ve been through;

And know the Author of your great salvation,

The Faithful One, who’s always good and true.

David Fisher – September 29th, 2015

Revised – January 11, 2022