Come, Ye Thankful People - Marc's Music Notables

November is a time for being thankful. The story behind one of the most well-known and joyful hymns ever written on the subject of thankfulness is “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come'' is an inspirational one.

“I do this day in the presence of God, and my own soul renew my covenant with God and solemnly determine henceforth to become his and to do his work as far as in me lies.”

These astounding words of determination came from a lad only 16 years of age, in England, in 1826. His name was Henry Alford. He came from a long line of clergymen.

His father, his grandfather and his great-grandfather were all ministers of the Church of England before him. He, too, became an Anglican vicar.

Henry Alford was born in London in 1810 and was reared in that great city. His first charge, after graduation from Trinity College, Cambridge, was in Wymeswold, Leicestershire. His gentle disposition, cheerful attitude and sheer genius catapulted him to fame and high honor.

He reached the top of his profession in 1857 when he became the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral.

He was a versatile man: an artist, an organist and singer, composer of verses and a very talented speaker. His literary ability was climaxed with the completion of The Greek Testament, a commentary of four volumes, which required 20 years of hard labor.

It is reported that he loved to mingle with the common man. He never seemed to lose his vision of the pit from which he, too, had been lifted. He was thankful.

In the fall of 1844, while he was at Wymeswold, his first charge, the people of this hamlet decided to have a festival, rejoicing in the abundant harvest already gathered into their barns.

For this particular occasion Alford wrote a song which has been sung, perhaps millions of times during Thanksgiving celebrations.

“Come, ye thankful people, come,

Raise the song of harvest-home.

All is safely gathered in,

Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied:

Come to God’s own temple, come,

Raise the song of harvest-home.”

After you sing this inspiring song, rededicate yourself to a life of thankfulness. Learn to see and appreciate the little things that we so often overlook. Try this: Talk to God for 15 minutes, thanking him, and refraining from asking anything for yourself.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:21

Killer Lady Bugs - Reece's Peace's

Today, I found myself gently escorting a ladybug out of my office, triggering a flashback to my time as a youth minister in Nashville. Particularly a memory of vacuuming thousands of thousands of ladybugs from our youth room. It may sound like an exaggeration, but it was a reality that unfolded over two days when these little invaders found their way in through a minuscule crack in a window and decided to make our room their new home. What was once a cozy space now became the epicenter of an infestation, with ladybugs stretching from wall to wall.

However, the room's inadequate heating, compounded by the cold, had taken its toll on these tiny creatures, leaving me to confront thousands of lifeless ladybugs strewn across the floor. These weren’t your garden– variety ladybugs, though; they were Asian lady beetles, introduced to the United States with the intention of combating aphid populations. Back in 1916, farmers believed these Asian lady beetles could be North America’s salvation from aphid woes. However, it wasn’t until 1988 that a wild population of these ladybugs firmly

established itself in North America, initially near New Orleans. From there, they rapidly spread, blanketing regions from the northeast, from the East Coast to the West Coast.

Those large gathering of ladybugs seeking shelter indoors, particularly in autumn, are indeed

Asian lady beetles. It’s striking how an initiative aimed at controlling one pest led to the emergence of a new problem. The very creatures introduced to combat aphids had now become a pest themselves.

To the point where a youth minister, armed with a vacuum cleaner, had to tackle an entire room overflowing with them emptying the vacuum canister multiple times. This experience serves as a reminder of how, in life, our best intentions can sometimes yield unexpected outcomes.

In our pursuit of control, we often find ourselves grappling with something far beyond our grasp. It’s in these moments that we can find solace in faith, just as we now find ladybugs infiltrating churches, offices, and homes in the autumn. Despite their unintended intrusion, these beautiful creatures still serve their purpose by devouring aphids, enabling us to enjoy more abundant gardens and harvest.

In the end, it’s a testament to the paradox of perspective-what one person considers a pest may be another’s blessing, and vice versa.

Take My Life and Let it Be - Marc's Music Notables

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was an unusually gifted and passionate saint. The daughter of a church rector, she was raised in Worcester, England and attended schools in England and Germany. In her love of learning, she grew to become an able scholar (even becoming proficient in both Hebrew and Greek) and a talented singer and pianist.

The deepest desire of her heart, however, was in “personal spiritual influence upon others” (Benson). This led her to value most of all her ability to write; for that reason she expended the majority of her life’s labors in writing prose and poetry that would be spiritually beneficial to the saints.

Havergal suffered poor health and was taken by the Lord at just 42 years of age. But the Lord prospered her ministry; her writings had a large impact in her own day, and several continue to be read and sung today.

The story of “Take My Life” gives a good picture of the kind of passion and joy she had in ministering to others. She once recounted the story behind it: Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the consecration hymn, “Take my life.” I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did! Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another, till they finished with, “Ever, ONLY, ALL for Thee!”

In her own words, the hymn is a “consecration hymn” in which the singer commits all of her possessions and being to the Lord for his purposes. It expresses what each of us ought to feel and long for, even if at times we see so much disparity between the words and our actual state that we have to sing most of it in hope and faith.

Text with Jesus - Reece's Peace's

Have you ever wondered how things would be if Jesus was doing his ministry now? Back in the 1980s, a well-known TV preacher suggested that Jesus might be on TV today. He used this idea to explain why he used TV himself. But it's a good question to think about. If Jesus was here today, how would his ministry be different? I often send you all text messages, and I can't help but wonder: Would Jesus use texts too if he was teaching today?

Imagine if Jesus did send texts-what would they say? My text are usually normal stuff, like checking in or asking about things. Not really big or important things. But what if Jesus sent texts that were more meaningful? We used to have no way of knowing, until now. At least that is what the company, “Text with Jesus” claims. They state they can create texts from Jesus using AI. They say these texts would be like what Jesus might send if he was teaching now. I’m not sure how they figured out what Jesus would say in texts, since we don’t have any writings from him, let alone text messages to his disciples.

This company offers to send you lifelike texts from Jesus to help you when you’re facing challenges, if you pay the $2.99 each month. I don’t want to say bad things about this app. I haven’t used it, and I can see how it could be really helpful for some people spiritually. But it does seem a bit strange that we’re relying on an app, and the people who made it, to decide how Jesus would talk to us today.

If you want to hear Jesus, maybe instead of paying for this app, you could spend time praying. Jesus communicates with us nowadays, even if it’s not through texts. He finds ways to reach us in our lives.

1st Corinthians - Reece's Peace's

Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. However, before our series, I thought we should take some time to examine how Christians throughout history have viewed and interpreted the profound teachings found in the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. 1st Corinthians has held a special place in the hearts of believers, offering guidance, encouragement, and timeless wisdom. Let us delve into various perspectives that have shaped our understanding of this remarkable letter.

In the early centuries of Christianity, the Church Fathers played a pivotal role in interpreting and expounding upon the teachings of the New Testament. Their writings reveal a deep appreciation for 1st Corinthians. They highlighted the importance of unity, love, and the proper use of spiritual gifts within the church. These early interpreters saw in Paul’s words a call to holiness and the formation of a vibrant Christian community.

During the Reformation in the 16th century, 1st Corinthians took on renewed significance. Reformers like Martin Luther King and John Calvin emphasized the doctrine of justification by faith, drawing inspiration from Paul’s teachings in this epistle. They also used passages from 1st Corinthians to challenge corrupt practices within the Church and call for a return to biblical truth. The Reformers saw in Paul’s writings a powerful message of God’s grace and the need for personal transformation.

In more recent times, scholars and theologians have approached 1st Corinthians from various perspectives. Some have focused on the socio-cultural context of Corinth and how Paul’s teachings addressed specific issues faced by the early Christian Community. Others have explored themes of social justice, gender equality, and the role of spiritual gifts within the church. These interpretations have contributed to a deeper understanding of the practical applications of Paul’s teachings in our modern world.

Beyond the scholarly and historical perspectives, 1st Corinthians continues to resonate with individual believers on a personal level. Many Christians have found solace, guidance, and inspiration within its pages. The letter’s emphasis on love, unity, and the transformative power of the Gospel speaks to the deep longings of the human heart. Countless individuals have turned to 1st Corinthians for direction in their relationships, personal struggles, and spiritual growth.

As we reflect on the rich history of Christian interpretations of 1st Corinthians, let us be encouraged by the diverse ways in which this letter has influenced the lives of believers across generations. Let us seek to understand its message in the context of our own faith journey and thechallenges we face today.