by Jim Kerwin
on August 23, 2019
The Passage of Time
22 August 2019
Crown Him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime.
The Eternal One has His appointed times!
Since the last newsletter, I celebrated the 51st anniversary of giving my life to Jesus. In the scope of eternity, 51 years isn’t even a blip on the radar scope. But such milestones provide a moment for reflection and thanksgiving for the goodness of God, and sober us when we consider the end of earthly life is approaching faster than we realized.
Part of preparing for eternity, as well as serving in the “now,” is in reviewing the things He has taught us. One thing I’ve learned in 51 years is that knowing the will of God for any given situation isn’t nearly as challenging as knowing God’s timing. It’s God’s marvelous timing I’d like to share about this month.
“My Times Are in Your Hand”
My times are in Your hand.
— Psalm 31:15 NASB — [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on September 18, 2019
George Herbert
(1593-1632)
The Elixir
Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything
To do it as for Thee.
To scorn the senses’ sway,
While still to Thee I tend,
In all I do be Thou the Way,
In all be Thou the End. [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on September 16, 2019
William Runyan
(1870-1957)
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret
shall reward thee openly.
— Matthew 6:6 —
Lord, I have shut the door;
Speak now the word
Which in the din and throng
Could not be heard.
Hushed now my inner heart;
Whisper Thy will,
While I have come apart,
While all is still.
Lord, I have shut the door,
Here do I bow;
Speak, for my soul attent
Turns to Thee now.
Rebuke Thou what is vain,
Counsel my soul,
Thy holy will reveal,
My will control.
In this blest quietness
Clamorings cease;
Here in Thy presence dwells
Infinite peace;
Yonder, the strife and cry,
Yonder, the sin.
Lord, I have shut the door,
Thou art within!
Lord, I have shut the door,
Strengthen my heart;
Yonder awaits the task
I share apart.
Only through grace bestowed
May I be true;
Here, while alone with Thee,
My strength renew.
To discover more hymns, visit our growing list of Powerful Poetry.
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by Jim Kerwin
on September 8, 2019
William Runyan
(1870-1957)
And He arose, and rebuked the wind,
and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still.”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
— Mark 4:39 —
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
and meted out heaven with the span,
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?
— Isaiah 40:12 —
Our God hath given promise,
And His grace for this hath planned:
His child shall rest securely
In the hollow of His hand.
Chorus:
Let come what may — or wave, or tempest—
“Peace, be still!” ‘tis His command;
My soul is held in peace eternal
In the hollow of His hand. [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on September 1, 2019
Edward Bickersteth, Jr.
(1825-1906)
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on August 28, 2019
Isaac Watts
(1674-1748)
There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting Spring abides,
And never-withering flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea, divides [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on August 23, 2019
Peter Bilhorn
(1865-1936)
There comes to my heart one sweet strain,
A glad and a joyous refrain,
I sing it again and again:
Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.
Chorus:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on August 2, 2019
Edward Plumptre
(1821-1891)
Rejoice ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.
Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing!
Bright youth and snow-crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song, [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on July 17, 2019
This tapestry? Tourist stuff!
But God's tapestry is a weaving for eternity!16 July 2019
Normally I’d feel more than a bit frustrated getting this “June” newsletter out so late. Instead, with all the health challenges I’ve faced since returning from Perú, I’m very thankful to send this off at last! There’s at least one blessing in the delay: The “lost” time has afforded the opportunity to step back and get a better perspective of God’s artistry in bringing together so many different threads to make a rather intriguing Peruvian tapestry.
Threads of Unexpected Colors and Origins
[continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on July 1, 2019
Daniel Roberts
(1841–1907)
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on May 29, 2019
A “Flying” (Literally!) Report from the Field
28 May 2019
I can't quite remember how many birthdays I've spent while teaching in Guatemala!
I’m dashing this off during a layover in the Atlanta airport. I’ve just finished 11 days of ministry in Guatemala and I’m spending this, my 67th birthday, on a 20-hour marathon journey, flying a “dog leg” flight path (via Atlanta) from Guatemala City to Lima, Perú. (It’s cheaper to go “the long way,” and we’re all about being good stewards.)
Anyway, the verse that best sums up what the Lord has done in the last month — the days leading up to departure, the teaching, and the interactions in Guate — seem best summed up by one of my favorite verses about Jesus: “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37a).
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by Jim Kerwin
on May 21, 2019
William Bathurst
(1796-1877)
O for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by many a foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe,
That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath [continue reading…]
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William Bathurst
by Jim Kerwin
on May 21, 2019
Copyright © 2014
by
A. David Armstrong III,
Commander U.S. Navy (ret)
Words from a Warrior
Have
you read the Captain’s standing orders?
I offer the following thoughts learned through many years of military service, and through many years as a soldier in the army of my God. God in His infinite wisdom often uses that with which we are most familiar to instruct us. Since the principles of warfare are deeply ingrained in me after many years as a Navy officer, God has utilized that experience to give me insight into spiritual warfare. God also has made us [continue reading…]
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by Jim Kerwin
on May 20, 2019
George Atkins
(19th Century)
Brethren, we have met to worship
And adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power,
While we try to preach the word?
All is vain, unless the Spirit
Of the Holy One come down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna
[continue reading…]
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