Monthly Archives: March 2021

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

            Every guitarist knows that one of the most important things they need to do is make sure their guitar is in tune. An out of tune guitar will make the greatest guitarist sound awful. The second line of this beautiful hymn states, tune my heart to sing thy grace. Just as a guitar out of tune will sound poorly, a heart out of tune with the Lord will walk and live poorly.

            The following two lines state, streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. The more we know of the grace of God, the more likely we will be to sing His praise. The heart that is in tune with God is a heart that understands His grace and mercy. Because of His grace and mercy, they not only willingly, but joyfully live for the Lord.

            The grace and mercy of God are indeed a fount of blessing. God’s streams of mercy are truly never ceasing. Apart from God’s grace and mercy, we would be helpless and hopeless. (Romans 5:6). The fact is, we are all out of tune. Fortunately for us, God loves us anyway and bestowed on us grace and mercy. The more, by faith, we respond to His grace and mercy, the more in tune with Him we will be. And when we all get to glory, because of His grace and mercy, we will be a perfectly tuned symphony singing His praise forevermore!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

In 1845, just after the tragic death of Joseph Scriven’s fiancé, he moved to Ontario, Canada, from Dublin, Ireland. The death of the love of his life devastated him, and everything in Ireland reminded him of her. So, he packed his bags to start over again, far away from the pain he left behind.

            Shortly after moving to Ontario, Joseph became a Christian. He was well known as a devout Christian who eagerly shared his faith with all and was the first to be there for the needy. His love for Jesus was obvious and evident to everyone that knew him.

            Eventually, he found a new love and once again was engaged to be wed. Unfortunately, just weeks before his wedding, his fiancé died from pneumonia. Though the grief was just as bad as it was with his first fiancé Joseph now had a friend who was there with him to walk through it and give him peace and comfort.

            He wrote a letter to his mother, who was still in Ireland, to tell her of the tragic news. In this letter, he included a poem that he wrote, hoping it would comfort her and be a witness. The poem stated:

            What a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and grief’s to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

            The hymn did bring Joseph’s mother great comfort. She loved it so much that, with his permission, she had it published. It immediately became a very popular poem. Many years later, after Joseph Scriven’s death, an unknown musician composed an Irish tune to go along with the poem transforming it into one of the most beloved hymns of our day.

            Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus is our friend? (John 15:15). Isn’t it wonderful to know that He will always be there for us regardless of what we face in life? If you are facing trials today, take it to the Lord in prayer.