If They Don't Know What A Camel Is; They'll Never Get the Story

Jesus Loves Me has become my "go to" resource in ministry when all else fails. This hymn is my choice when all is well, but when things start going wrong it is my lifeline.

I discovered the power of this hymn one Christmas season when an evangelist asked me to assist her with a Christmas dinner and toys for children in a distressed area at an apartment complex. Seems this dinner and toys were to be the only Christmas these families would have for the season. We cooked, we decorated and did all we could to turn the apartment activity room into a festive place. The people started coming in and so many came that we had standing room only.

With no warning the evangelist asked me to tell the Christmas story using the nativity scene. I love to speak in an interactive way so I held up a camel and asked the children, "Can anyone tell me what this is?" The children looked at me with blank faces and no one had a clue what I was holding in my hand. I went through a few more of the animal figurines and gasped. Looking outside at the asphalt and chain link fence environment I realized talking about animals didn't happen much around here.

I shifted gears and asked everyone to join with me in singing my favorite Christian song. "When we get to the part about "Jesus" know that this little baby represents Jesus in the song when He came to earth." I started singing and everyone (around 70 people) sang with me. Everyone knew every word of "Jesus Loves Me, This I know..." Then we prayed and the party began. Little children came up to me wanting to know all about the nativity scene. It was a beautiful night and if this was their only Christmas dinner, it was delicious and the Lord's presence filled that place.

Later I prayed about what I had witnessed in that activity room. Most of the people were unchurched. Many of them had gotten involved in much mischief trying to address their desperate poverty issues and extremely hard life. I kept thinking about how they seemed to know nothing about the Bible, Christianity and Jesus ... but they all knew the song, Jesus Loves Me. I'm convinced that babies of all levels of society are rocked in the arms of saints that softly sing "Jesus Loves Me." and those babies grow up knowing that hymn.

Amazing Grace is so often used in secular films and TV shows that most people know the tune and words to that wonderful hymn. Now, I am finding Jesus Loves Me is known by everyone also. May we never forget that God reigns. As a society we may legislate that vocal prayer is not to be spoken in school. It may seem that only a few of us care about the Kingdom of God. Do not give up. God will keep His Word alive in ways that go under the "radar," and I believe babies rocked to the tune of Jesus Loves Me might be one of His measures.

I've loved taking you bloggers down my "Jesus Loves Me" trail. My files hold hundreds of pages on this song. Recently a book was published around the stories surrounding Jesus Loves Me. Please hold onto the initial message of this series showing miracles in a financial meltdown. Anna Warner cried out to God for monetary help. Her heart was pure and she asked for a song. She was trained, equipped, and willing to work. She gave God honor and glory and spent the rest of her life devoted to the Kingdom of God. May we all cry out to God in our needs and be willing to use the gifts, talents and resources as modeled for us by Anna and Susan Warner. God did not abandon them, and He will never desert us. In fact, our hard times may be those times that define us.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow.

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go.

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

Though I am no longer young,

I have much which He's begun.

Let me serve Christ with a smile,

with others the extra mile.

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so dear,

'Have no fear, for I am near

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day

--Author Unknown

What do Karl Barth, Amy Carmichael, and Francis Schaeffer Have In Common?

Three renown famous bold Christians:Barth, Carmichael and Schaeffer shared a love of the hymn: "Jesus Loves Me."

Karl Barth, famous Swiss theologian, was a great thinker, a prolific writer, and a professor at several leading European universities. Once he was confronted by a report following a worldwide speaking tour regarding his twelve thick volumes of church dogmatics. The reporter wanted Barth to give him a brief summary of these works for his article. Barth quoted the most popular children's hymn with "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Barth felt this song clearly summed up his 12 volumes of theology.

Francis Schaeffer was one of the most influential figures in American evangelicalism between the period of World War II and the Reagan-era. He was the founder of L'Abri Fellowship International; a famous lecturer, and author of eighteen books. One Sunday at the close of a church service at Swiss L’Abri, Francis Schaeffer asked the congregation to sing, “Jesus Loves Me.” He smiled and added, “Some of you may realize that this is my favorite hymn.” As we sang this children’s hymn together many of us became aware of how needful it is for songs to have simple direct words that penetrate our hearts. “Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” Schaeffer shared with the people that this hymn conveys a certainty of scriptural truth that leads to peace, joy and freedom. Great Hymn Writers, Jane Stuart Smith, Betty Carlson. Crossway Books Publishers

Amy Carmichel, the famed Irish missionary to India, founded Dohnavur Fellowship in India that has had a lasting influence on L'Abri Fellowship. was converted to Christ after hearing this hymn sung at a children's mission in Yorkshire, England. At the age of 12 she was sent to a Wesleyan Methodist boarding school in Yorkshire England. At a service for children when she was fifteen, Carmichael heard the song lyrics "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." In the quiet moments following the song, Carmichael realized that, in spite of her mother's teaching that Jesus loved her, she had never opened the door of her heart to invite him in. "In His great mercy the Good Shepherd answered the prayers of my mother and my father and many loving ones, and drew me, even me, into His fold." P. 454 The Complete Book of When and Where: In the Bible and Throughout History by E. Michael Rusten, Sharon O. Rusten, Philip Comfort, Tyndale House PUblishers, Inc. 2005 ISBN 0842355087


I could go on and on with the stories of profound powerful men and women of God who owe "Jesus Loves Me" tribute to their spiritual lives. My hope is that you will sing this song and see what God does in you as you sing this song to Him.

Let me close today with this truth:

'After more than a century, "Jesus Loves Me" became the number one spiritual song in the world. It has been translated into more languages than any other song.'

I have read that this hymn is one of the first hymns that missionaries teach new converts.

John Stott wrote:
"The love of Christ is an immense subject, shallow enough for a child to paddle in; "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so."But deep enough for giants to wade in: "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ!" "the love of Christ is 'broad' enough to compass all mankind (especially Jews and Gentiles, the theme of these chapters), 'long' enough to last for eternity, 'deep' enough to reach the most degraded sinner, and 'high' enough to exalt him to heaven.

Leslie Mitten expresses it, finding a parallel to Romans 8:37-39: 'Whether you go forward or backward, up to the heights or down to the depths, nothing will separate us from the love of Christ.'

Ancient commentators went further. They saw these dimensions illustrated on the cross. For its upright pole reached down into the earth and pointed up to heaven, while its crossbar carried the arms of Jesus, stretched out as if to invite and welcome the whole world." (John R.W. Stott, "The Message of Ephesians," IVP, Leicester, 1979, p. 137).

Jesus Loves Me

The Bible Tells Me So

Hallelujah!!!

I Know Jesus Loves Me: Story Behind Song

Anna Warner's lyrics to "Jesus Loves Me" along with her sister
Susan's book, See and Seal saved the family home on Constitution Island in the Hudson River in the Depression of the 1800's.

Yesterday's post laid out the dire need for money of the Warner daughters after their affluent successful attorney father invested in the shaky stock market and lost everything but the summer home in the Hudson River.


Thrive Christians is a blog that comes out of my obedience to God's call on my life. In one of my darkest moments I cried out to God for hope and help. The one word that came to me was "Thrive." I sought the Lord for His direction that made sense in the severity of my moment. "Thrive" was all that came to me. I took it literally, and amazingly I have been able to thrive .... oh, how I thank God for that Word on that day. Anna and Susan Warner show us how to "thrive" in harsh times.



Anna and Susan Warner were highly educated and deeply devoted Christian young women . They had been motherless most of their lives. Their father, Henry, died shortly after the Wall Street crash. With faith in God these educated women used the resources at hand in prayer and "Jesus Loves Me" came to be; and the money from its sales secured them in a simple lifestyle for the rest of their lives.


Their home on Constitution Island was a short boat trip from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Susan and Anna conducted Bible Sunday School Classes for young cadets. The Warners had their man helper row a boat to and from the Academy weekly filled with cadets who had reserved their spot on board. The sisters served tea and cookies and the gospel of good news to the upcoming generals and commanders of the U.S. military prior to the War Between the States and the following decades until their deaths. Their home, Good Crag, was willed to the Academy and made into a national shrine. Both sisters were buried with military honors in recognition of their spiritual contributions to the lives of the young military officers.


Anna and Susan Warner have been beacons of faith and hope for me these decades I have known their story. In great need they fell humbly before God and moved into action as Holy Spirit led them. Losing everything but this isolated lake home accessible only by boat in harsh winters could have seemed bewildering. No, the Warner sisters were lampstands of light of the glory of God on impressionable young cadets soon to be in the ravages of war. Can we only imagine what impact these two single women in obscure upstate New York have had on their generation. Consider the impact of the hymn, "Jesus Loves Me" on their generation through to the present. Think of the officers who grasped the gospel of Jesus' love as they faithfully attended the Hudson River Sunday School classes. That light of God would then shine onto the men who served under them, their own families and the foreign lands they traveled as military officers.

God's ways are not our ways. If life is not making sense to you in the crash of '08, may Anna and Susan Warner's lives give you hope and direction. Trust Him and obey Him....indeed the best is yet to be.

“Jesus loves me!

This I know, For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong.

The "This I Know People Are Well"

What on earth are we to do when the global financial world crumbles?

Pray and move as God directs.

Anna and Susan Warner found themselves with their whole world crashing as their prosperous lawyer father lost heavily in the panic of 1837. The Wall Street meltdown took everything they owned but their summer home on Constitution Island in the Hudson River. Soon after his financial losses Henry Warner died. These young women had been motherless since
their young years. Their father, had privately educated them and both women were published authors.

The sisters, eager to do something to earn money so they could go on living in their home on the island, turned to writing. They had had some pieces published. They prayed for enough money from their writing to keep their home.Anna's real interest in life was writing hymns. "Jesus Loves Me" actually first appeared in the novel Say and Seal, authored by Susan.
Susan developed this novel around a dying little boy. In his last hours his Sunday School teacher sang the lyrics of Jesus Loves Me as he rocked the boy.

A hymn writer and publisher, William Bradbury read the novel and realised he had finally discovered the lyrics he had been praying for. The missionaries in China were frustrated with other hymns being so difficult for the Chinese to sing. He had developed a tune that would work, but he had not been able to develop lyrics that worked with the tune. When you see this hymn in a hymnal the tune is listed as CHINA. Most times it is capitalized.This is undoubtedly the best known hymn in the world. It has been translated into more languages than any other song. Missionaries have found it one of their best means of explaining the gospel in a clear simple way to those who speak a very different language.

When Mao Tse-tung founded the People's Republic in 1949, the church in China went through severe persecution. Friends in America received scarcely any news from the Chinese Christan's, but in 1972 came a message with this unusual sentence, "The 'This I Know' people are well."
Crossway Publishers, Great Christian Hymn Writers, By Jane Stuart Smith, Betty Carlson p. 163-164

As Paul Harvey says, come back tomorrow for the "rest of the story." Anna and Susan Warner's miracle story from God just gets better and better.

Remember Jesus Loves Me...

He Loves You..

The Bible Tells Us So.

Now What? October 2008

October 08 Meltdown: Now What?

When everything we've known as probabilities hits shaky ground what do we do to hold on?

"What if's"circle with no where to land...what if my employer goes under? ....what if no one can afford my professional fees?....what if the taxes don't cover educational needs and my teaching position is eliminated?....what if my retirement setup is not sufficient?

Personally I have hit some meltdowns, and in the end I found my only sure hope was in God. One particular frightening time I recalled a pianist friend played a solo in church: Jesus Loves Me. To this day I have never felt the presence of God like I did when Sara played that song. I went to her and asked what was going on when she played this song. She teared up and reminded me of a few years ago when her oldest son died in a bizarre boat dock moving accident. For a full year the only peace she could find came as she played Jesus Loves Me on the piano. God comforted her as she came to believe every wonderful word of that hymn; for herself, her son and her family. As she dwelt in Jesus' love she healed.

When my personal meltdown hit I researched this hymn. Daily I sang it (privately...no one would choose to hear me sing anything). All my friends know this is my favorite hymn. Whenever I am asked what is the greatest miracle from God in my life I always echo this hymn: God chose me; loved me; and pursued me for salvation and He knew my thoughts, motivations, and actions....Amazing! His Grace still awes me; ...all the glory is indeed His.

For the next few days I will share with you the story behind this hymn that began in another U.S. meltdown. For almost 20 years I have been telling this story. Saints have come to me after singing this song daily as they pressed through their tragedies. I will share some of these miracles.

Jesus is enough....more than enough no matter where you find yourself in the meltdown of 08.

Jesus Loves Me

"Jesus loves me! This I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong

Refrain:"Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so. "

Jesus loves me!

This I know,

As He loved so long ago,

Taking children on His knee,

Saying, ‘Let them come to Me.

"Jesus loves me still today,

Walking with me on my way,

Wanting as a friend to give

Light and love to all who live.

"Jesus loves me!

He who died

Heaven’s gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

"Jesus loves me!

He will stay

Close beside me all the way;

Thou hast bled and died for me

I will henceforth live for Thee.

(Note: this next stanza from the original is commonly omitted in hymnals)

"Jesus loves me!

Loves me still,

Though I’m very weak and ill,

That I might from sin be free

Bled and died upon the tree."

Jesus loves you...whether you realize it or not. His love is not dependent on your actions; your responses; your situation....He is love!

Please comment on any stories you have around this amazing truth and hymn.

Jesus Loves Me! and You!

Loneliness V: Christians & Togetherness

Togetherness....
is a key characteristic of the Christian community in the epistles in the New Testament where we read the pronoun allelon which means "one another."


Romans 12:16 calls us believers to "live in harmony with one another." and "have the same care for one another" in I Cor. 12:25, and we are to "bear one another's burdens" Gal. 6:2.


Recently I invited a friend to dinner. She's been beached in the downside tsunami hitting many hard workers. This single parent is a conscientious woman who's never been in this place before. One reason I've enjoyed our friendship through the years is my friend's upbeat faith in all circumstances. But she has sounded very serious lately. Writing this blog series on "loneliness" inspired me to alter my schedule to treat my friend to dinner.


She walked to my car with her shoulders slumped at a slow pace. Her beautiful smile was now gone; and the sadness in her face couldn't be masked. She wasn't hungry and didn't care where I decided on us going for our dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant, she decided on some desert. I got soup and a half sandwich. We sat at that table with my friend talking and talking and talking. I managed to pull off a few jokes that had her laughing and laughing. The waiter brought me a whole sandwich and I couldn't eat all of the food. After an hour my friend ate my food left on the plate. She ate several deserts. She had her appetite back in this "togetherness" healing place of our God. I had prayed the blessing that God would show up to bless us as we broke bread together.


Folks, after seeing my friend come to life from despair and depression in that simple meal that lasted 3 hours, I'm convinced we Christians have complicated Jesus Christ's plan of life out of it's effectiveness. My friend all but skipped to the door and turned as she went in the door with her wonderful smile. Oh, my.....togetherness, a little love, an ear to hear, a little good food eaten with a friend, and the presence of God heals.

There is strong Biblical evidence of the miracle God worked in my friend as we ate together. In one commentary there are 23 examples cited in the epistles. In Scripture repetition implies emphasis.

I hear person after person tell me how they don't need mentors or small groups. They are just fine "Me and Jesus." I try to tell them they've deviated from God's plan, but it seems most have to crash into a wall or fall off a cliff to comprehend this concept. God's call is One Another.


Many words that form the Greek root word: koinon are used to describe healthy Christian communities in the New Testament.

Koinos...adjective.that which is shared

Koinoneo... verb.to share or participate in

Koinoia...noun.sharing, fellowship, communion

"Christian koinonia is not just something spiritual; it has to be expressed in concrete ways. Believers are expected to "share what you have" (Heb 13:16; Rom.12:13; I Tim 6:18). The earliest community in Jerusalem was marked by a voluntary sharing of resources; "all who believed were together and had all things in common (hapanta kona) Acts 2:44."


"The church is thus a caring and sharing community, a life-sustaining fellowship, in which the members of the body of Christ receive their life from God,and comfort, encourage, and support one another." Scobie, Charles H. H., The Ways of Our God, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p.501-502.

Togetherness

Fun Friday: Preacher's Donkey

The Preacher's Donkey
A man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way (being the donkey of a preacher).

The only way to make the donkey go was to say, "Hallelujah!"

The only way to make the donkey stop was to say, "Amen!"

The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions.

"Hallelujah!" shouted the man. The donkey began to trot. "Amen!" shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately. "This is great!" said the man. With a "Hallelujah" he rode off, very proud of his new purchase.

The man traveled for a long time through the mountains. As he headed towards a cliff, he tried to remember the word to make the donkey stop.

"Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey just kept going. "OH, NO . . ." "Bible...Church!...Please! Stop!!" shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the edge of the cliff.

Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer: "Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain. In Jesus' name, AMEN."

The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.

"HALLELUJAH!" shouted the man.