I’ve put together a special arrangement of an old hymn that is very special to a friend of mine, Phyllis B. She was desperately ill with COVID-19. One morning while in the hospital the words of this song came into her mind. As she sang the chorus she felt the waves of the Holy Spirit sweeping over her in her room.
I’m so thankful for the work of God that speaks to us in the hard days and fills us with His presence. We are rejoicing that Phyllis is back home and recovering! Our love and prayers to you, Phyllis!
This beautiful hymn was written by Garfield T. Haywood (1880-1931).
Recently my third article was published with Christianity.com and I’m so pleased to be able to share it. There is much in the Scripture regarding divine healing. It is for today. Jesus hasn’t changed in HIs love or power since He ascended back to heaven. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Healing is God’s grace as a gift according to His will and purpose. More about that in the article.
The Word builds faith. Look up all the scripture that involves healing. Pray the verses to the Lord. A list of those passages, not all but many, are on the menu under Bible Reading Plans and Tools > SCRIPTURES ON HEALING here.
I’ve learned that praying the scriptures out loud, day after day, and hearing them with my own ears, builds my belief in the Lord’s power to heal. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
At the end of the article is a miraculous testimony from Bob Henkelman who had been part of our church family in St. Peter, MN. I’m confident his testimony will bring great encouragement.
The link to the article, What Should Christians Know About Divine Healing? is
You will find more of my music on youtube. Simply type in my name, judy mceachran, or go to the links below. There’s more information about each song on the Music page here in the blog, or on the youtube song descriptions. May these worship tunes bring peace and joy in your times of worship. More songs are soon on the way!
Human nature is often defiant. It’s easier to let my “me-first” attitudes rule autonomy than submit to another of differing views. Peter writes of a better way, submission. Submission calls us to confront the “me-first” mentality and follow more closely the servant-heart of Jesus. He submitted to the Father’s will. He submitted to Pilate, a human authority. He submitted to suffering and death on the cross. Jesus submitted, not out of inferiority, but out of love for the Father and love for people. Peter calls believers to a submission that resembles Jesus.
Submission isn’t blind or comprehensive. It carries the condition of honoring God. Jesus yielded to Pilate, but he chased the moneychangers out of the temple, both acts honoring God. Peter was threatened, beaten, and arrested for preaching Jesus. He submitted to authorities but didn’t quit preaching Jesus (Acts 4:18-19). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in fighting to honor God lost his life to an anti-God Nazi Regime. When honoring the State or honoring God are in conflict, obedience to God takes priority. As much as possible, we are to live in peace with all people (Romans 12:18).
Reflect Jesus to the World
Submission in relationships is to point others to our Savior.
Peter writes, “Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves. People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the Day he comes” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
Fear God, honor the King
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men; whether to the King, as the supreme authority, or to governors. Fear God, and honor the King. 1 Peter 2:13, 14,17b
In Peter’s day, honoring the King was no easy task. The King persecuted Christians, executed John’s brother, James, and arrested Peter (Acts 12:1-3). How did Peter show respect to such tyrants?
Nero (AD 37-68), the ruling emperor of the Roman Empire, murdered his mother and first wife. He arrested Christians, fed them to wild dogs, nailed them to crosses, burned them as torches for evening lights. Nero’s maniacal leadership in 64 AD put Peter to death by crucifixion.
Peter saw the way Jesus submitted to Pilate. He heard Jesus say, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). Peter believed Jesus had all authority in heaven and earth, and yet he submitted to the Father’s plan and to suffering.
The Apostle Paul shared Peter’s message, “everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. God has appointed the authorities that exist. Consequently, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1).
The Old Testament gives the same directive. “He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them (Daniel 2:21). Daniel, a Prophet, was a man of excellence. From a young man in exile to old age, his submission to the Kings he served honored God and impacted nations (Daniel 5:12, 14; 6:3; 9:23).
Daniel chapter 6 gives an example of his submission to God and the King. Jealous peers tricked the King into issuing an irrevocable decree; anyone who prays to any god or human for the next thirty days, except to the King, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel heard the decree, yet continued to pray publicly three times a day.
Daniel was thrown to the lions. After a sleepless night, the King came to see if God rescued him. Daniel is not harsh to the King.
“May the King live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:21-23).
Daniel’s life and the miracle of surviving the lion’s den so moved the King, he issued another decree encouraging all to believe in the God of Daniel. Daniel could have said harsh, angry words to the King, but he chose to honor God, and God honored him for it.
JESUS submitted to Pilate. Pontius Pilate had the authority to put Jesus to death by crucifixion. Jesus said, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above (John 19:11).
Submission isn’t about who’s stronger or has more control. Submission is the maturity of faith that yields to do the Father’s will.
Holiness calls us to honor “those in authority” over us. Respect them (1 Peter 2:17). Even if we can’t revere their political persuasion, we can revere the office. When we revere God, we can honor ruling authorities and pray for them.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
Holiness calls us to submit to ruling authorities with respect and prayer. No more name-calling, no hatred.
To Employers/Masters
In Peter’s time, “slaves,” were educated as teachers, doctors, musicians, or stewards over large estates. In the Roman Empire, slaves were plenteous, about 60,000,000. Many slaves were loved, like family. Others were cruelly treated. Peter says out of your love for God, submit to the master, whether good or evil (1 Peter 2:18).
Follow the example of Jesus. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
An unfair employer, a difficult boss, a short-tempered trainer, or a spouse who is a taskmaster makes life difficult. When slandered or verbally abused, it’s natural to want to respond the same way. But that is not the example of Jesus. When they jeered, rejected, abused Him, what did Jesus do? He said, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). And He died for them, to save many lives.
Joseph (Increaser), a teenager, was sold by his jealous brothers into slavery, en employee of Potiphar, and imprisoned by a lie from his employer’s wife. Seventeen years Joseph was under a taskmaster, but rather than hate his boss, or God, he chose the better way. He trusted God with his life. In God’s timetable, the heathen ruler Pharoah recognized Joseph was filled with the spirit of God. Joseph became the second-highest-ranking official in Egypt. His submission to God and his employer/master saved the nation of Egypt and his family’s nation, Israel.
With the restoration with his brothers who sold him to slavery, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph’s submission in difficult years proved God’s faithfulness and favor to him for the ultimate purpose of “saving many lives.”
Submission to governing authorities, a boss, and a spouse is the way of holiness that shows Jesus to the world and “saving of many lives.”
To Your Spouse
God calls spouses to submit to one another with humility (1 Peter 5:5).
As Jesus submitted to the Father, husbands and wives are to submit to each other. Submission, built by love, can bolster rather than crumble a marriage.
Submission Wins An Unbelieving Husband.
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:1-6).
Mutual Submission in Marriage
Submission from a wife is not only to an unbelieving husband. It is the glue that holds a marriage of believers together. On Facebook, a wife shared how a habit of her husband used to irritate her; he didn’t push the chair back to the table after eating. Nothing big, but we understand how little things can be annoying. After being married for several years, it no longer irritated her, and she looked forward to doing it for him. Love covers a multitude of sins and gives rich rewards!
Husbands are called to follow the example of Jesus. Lay down your life for her. Lead lovingly. Show your love for God by being attentive to her needs. Submission from a wife to her husband is not withheld when she is loved.
God gives a promise of answered prayer to the man who follows the example of Jesus.
Husbands, you, in turn, must treat your wives with tenderness, viewing them as feminine partners who deserve to be honored, for they are co-heirs with you of the “divine grace of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers (1 Peter 3:7 TPT).
Submission is to resemble Jesus and His Bride, the Church.
Marriage is to be the picture of Jesus and His sacrifice for the Church, the Bride of Christ each spouse is to emulate. Paul reiterates the message of Peter regarding submission (Ephesians 5 21-33).
Following the example of Jesus will reward us with holiness and a strong marriage.
Submission is a challenge.
It’s counterintuitive to human nature. The Lord says to submit, “for the Lord’s sake,” to governing authorities, pastors, leaders, employers/masters, and spouses.
Submission calls us to confront the “me-first” mentality and follow more closely the servant-heart of Jesus. Loving others and putting them first requires the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit. But when we do, we reflect Jesus
Watch for the next post, Part 6, THE HOLINESS OF SUFFERING
Jesus is our example of holy living. Peter’s insight into Jesus’ suffering can help us face difficult situations.
The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:8 NIV).
Sometimes a new song doesn’t do it! But often, a familiar song will. Singing a song multiple times causes it to rise in my spirit; the God-breathed part of me, like an anchor, dropped in the ocean’s depths of the real me.
As a child of God, I am the temple of the Holy Spirit “who lives in me” (1 Corinthians 6:19). What I put into my heart and mind, whether a spiritual song or a scripture, may revive in the night seasons of life. And what was once buried in my spirit, at the moment needed, with the attending, gentle work of the Holy Spirit, surfaces with a melodious breath of life — like a song.
Our son, Tom, finished his senior year of high school mid-year, and his friend Dominique, an exchange student from Switzerland, invited him to his home. On a trip of a lifetime, Tom took his snowboard and was off. We didn’t know about all the adventures these young men would face.
On a Sunday after church, a few days before Tom was to fly home, we received a call from Dominique’s mom that shook our insides. Tom and Dominique were snowboarding in the mountains, and Tom had fallen and was flown by a medical helicopter to a Swiss hospital. Stunned, we immediately cried out to the Lord.
The high cost of flight tickets, because of short notice, and with Tom scheduled to fly home in four days, made us uncertain of what to do.
Time for bed came, but sleep was fleeting, and I found myself in the living room weeping before the Lord. I was concerned about Tom being alone in a foreign country, his severe injuries, and wondering if he could fly home as scheduled. And my heart longed to be with him.
In those heartache moments, an old song from years past came flooding into my thoughts, and I knew God was speaking: “I believe the answer’s on the way. I believe the Lord has heard me pray. Cast not away your confidence, says the Lord of Hosts. Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Like a miracle, the Holy Spirit told me to stand firm and not cast my confidence away but trust God. In those divine moments, God’s comfort and peace brought the assurance I needed: Tom would get home safely. I went back to bed and was able to sleep.
The sweetness of the Holy Spirit in those precious moments assures you and me that He is with us: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8: 16). That part of me that never dies is connected to the Holy Spirit and He is the Helper, Comforter, Guide, and Truth-teller. He intercedes for us in our times of need (Romans 8:26) and brings things to our remembrance: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
A constant stream of praise music and scriptures and experiencing God’s presence, like treasures, are buried deep into our spirit. In those night seasons of life, the Holy Spirit, living within, brings to remembrance exactly what is needed to face and get through the challenging and fearful days.
You may wonder what happened to Tom.
We had a call from the Swiss hospital. A nurse said, “hold a minute,” and then Tom was on the phone. He was hard to understand because of the neck brace that didn’t give his mouth much room for talking. Initially, they thought he had broken his neck, but thankfully, he hadn’t.
We were thrilled and relieved when Tom’s flight arrived home, complete with a neck brace, his luggage, and a large snowboard. Tom was on heavy medication and sleeping soundly on the flight. Thankfully, a little girl angel woke him, or he would have kept flying to who knows where.
In that night season, God spoke through an old song I hadn’t sung for years: “I Believe the Answer’s On the Way.” But the Holy Spirit, “who brings all things to remembrance,” gave me the precious gift of knowing God was working, “Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit
While waiting for Tom to come home, I kept rehearsing that song either out loud or in my mind. Each time it reminded me of God’s promise: I could trust Him! Although we were in South Dakota and Tom was in Switzerland, almost 5000 miles apart, it posed no problem for our everywhere-present God.
The more we plant in the good soil of our spirit the spiritual songs, Bible verses, and hymns of praise, we can expect the Holy Spirit to connect with us in our times of need and speak peace. We are admonished in Ephesians 6:19: “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
In a night season, Paul and Silas, in prison for preaching the gospel, began singing hymns to God at midnight. A violent earthquake shook the place, opened the prison doors, and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer called for the lights, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-29). A night season was transformed by the hymns of praise that rose from their spirit.
I’m so thankful we are connected with the Holy Spirit who “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17), especially when we need a song in the night season.
By the way, if you were moved by this story of God’s faithfulness, I invite you to listen to my YouTube channel Weekend Worship video entitled, “Jesus, You’re My Song .” https://youtu.be/3J1SmcuZqmg
Listening to it today reminded me that Jesus is “the sunshine on a rainy day”—during the hard days of life. He’s “the light that lights the darkest way”—when we are confused and feeling lost. Jesus is “my strength when mine has slipped away,” feeling weary of the battle, and “Jesus is my song!” So, “I’ll praise Him all day long because He’s the answer to my life, and He’s my song.”
When God opens a door of opportunity, it’s not always easy to walk through. Writing is a learned craft and one that hasn’t come easy for me. I love preaching, but the writing was a different kind of animal. Thankfully, I am learning.
I attended a Writer’s Conference in May with many experts, publishers, editors, teachers, professional writers, and regular people like me who are still learning the craft. The conference assembled to praise the Lord, get acquainted, and learn from the varied multitude of teachers and informative sessions. Besides all the contacts, handouts, and training, I came away with the confidence to pursue my dream of writing a book. Yeah! I’ve started.
Is there something that you have dreamed about doing and just haven’t put in the work to learn the craft? Don’t give up. Go for it and remember God will provide all you need to accomplish the task, with a bit of learning, no, a lot of learning along the way.
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 37:4
A frequent phrase through the Scripture tells us to “bless the Lord” at all times.
King David says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! (Psalm 103:1).
When we bless the Lord, we offer praise for WHO God is. When we bless Him, it is from deep inside us, the very soul of our being. Offering praise with a thousand tongues doesn’t begin to describe the worth of God!
To BLESS is to PRAISE (admire, applaud, compliment, endorse, extol, hail, honor, bow down, acclaim, elevate, make much of, approve), EXALT (extol, glorify, laud, magnify, revere, applaud, honor}, and WORSHIP (admire, adore, celebrate, revere, sing, esteem, extol, love, reverence) Him with all our heart, soul, and strength!
When you listen to my most recent worship song, sing with me the simple tune and let your heart fill with the goodness of God as we bless His Name together!
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/N3i3G778lkY
Psalm 103 A psalm of David.
1 I will praise the Lord. Deep down inside me, I will praise him. I will praise him, because his name is holy. 2 I will praise the Lord. I won’t forget anything he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my sicknesses. 4 He saves my life from going down into the grave. His faithful and tender love makes me feel like a king. 5 He satisfies me with the good things I desire. Then I feel young and strong again, just like an eagle.
6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are treated badly.
7 He told Moses all about his plans. He let the people of Israel see his mighty acts. 8 The Lord is tender and kind. He is gracious. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. 9 He won’t keep bringing charges against us. He won’t stay angry with us forever. 10 He doesn’t punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn’t pay us back in keeping with the evil things we’ve done. 11 He loves those who have respect for him. His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins from us. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west. 13 A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind to those who have respect for him. 14 He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of human beings is like grass. People grow like the flowers in the field. 16 When the wind blows on them, they are gone. No one can tell that they had ever been there. 17 But the Lord’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children’s children will know that he always does what is right. 18 He always loves those who keep his covenant. He always does what is right for those who remember to obey his commands.
19 The Lord has set up his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels of his. Praise him, you mighty ones who carry out his orders and obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all you angels in heaven. Praise him, all you who serve him and do what he wants. 22 Let everything the Lord has made praise him everywhere in his kingdom.