In the Dark Night of the Soul

We all have them, don’t we? Those Dark Nights of the Soul. It is during those times, like the song Growing I posted from Wayne Watson, when I find no comfort in praying. I cannot sleep and my mind wanders at least 100 mph. During those times, I cannot even focus enough to read… not the Bible, not a book…

But music, music will touch my soul every time. I had an old, old hymnal and would turn to the comfort of the old songs. I would then read them as a prayer. The words would wash over me and the melody in general would calm me like a lullaby.

One of my favorites is Horatio G. Spafford’s It is Well With My Soul: Here is the history of this poignant song.

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business.

Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived.

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul…

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul. 

It Is Well With My Soul (click on link to hear the music)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

There is great controversy in the church over what and which songs should be sung in worship services. I am not here to offer any profound utterance at to what music should or should not be allowed. I only know that I am grateful for the contemporary music that has nursed my bruised and weary soul back to health on many occasions. Songs such as Growing, The Anchor Holds, Life is Hard, and I Will Sing have ministered to me as well as the old hymns.

Simply yours,

Tamara

Only for Today

We are going to be leaving for a mini-vacation of sorts. It is a family reuntion in Nevada. So the blog will be quiet for a bit. I will still visit your blogs but I probably won't post.

This is the thrid year I have shared this during the Lenten Season, “Only for Today, Decalogue for Daily Living.” As my act of charity, for each day of Lent, I will do or perform one of the Decalogue’s and since there are 40-days in Lent, each of the ten will be performed a total of 4-times.

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

(Pope John XXIII)

Simply yours,

Tamara

The Dark Night of the Soul

Silent Sunday

Simply yours,

Tamara

Wordless Wednesday

No credits offered, found on Pinterest

Simply yours,

Tamara

The Artisan

Have you ever sat in a house of worship and considered stained glass? I admit there are times I find my mind wandering during the service and to focus, I begin to study the stained glass. Those broken shards of glass that reflect the brightest, richest colors are lovingly placed together and become “one” in an art form that often tell a story.

Isn’t that like us in all of our brokenness? God is the artist and uses us in all our brokenness to do His will on earth. All too often I find I prefer to be the artist rather than the brightly colored ruby shard that is placed next to the brilliant emerald shard. They are two very different pieces of brokenness that are complimentary in nature and can work in harmony to fulfill the will of God if allowed to reflect the nature of Christ.

Maybe, just maybe if we learn to recognize the Christ in one another perhaps we will become more susceptible to being healed just by being in one another’s broken, yet holy presence.

Father, Creator of all heaven and earth, heal my blindness that my eyes may be opened to those who also need healing. Heal my heart that it may be pierced with Your love for those who need love. Heal my crippled and maimed hands that they may be opened to embrace those who require Your touch. In Jesus name, Amen.

Ephesians 2:10

Good News Translation (GNT)

¹⁰ God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Wordless Wednesday

Simply yours,

Tamara

Silent Sunday

Simply yours,

Tamara