Nearer my God!
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Even though it be a Cross, that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heav’n:
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n:
Angels to beckon me, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll rise;
So by my woes to be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upward I fly;
Still all my song shall be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
This song by Sarah Flower Adams is nothing but the story of Jacob told in Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob leaves home with mixed emotions. He has not yet had a tangible experience with God. His father had blessed him by mistake. Will it come true? Loving and protective mother left behind, fear of the murderous brother fills his heart. Feeling lonely and cold like a woman sent away from the parental home and not accepted in the husband’s home, with no place to call her own, he sleeps in a strange place. Darkness befalls him; just a stone for a pillow. What does the future hold? Where is God about whom he had heard and His promises tutored by parents? Where is that mighty God? Where does he go from there?
“Where do I go from here?”, is the cry of everyone passing through life’s long journey, especially in valley experiences. God gave Jacob a flash dream as if a thousand neon lights lit up the jungle darkness. A ladder resting on earth with its top touching heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending on it. How beautiful, how wonderful! Truly there is a staircase from earth, right where we are, reaching up to God, full of angels. Step by step, step by step, we can get closer to God. Nearer... nearer... nearer... till one day when we will be inseparably united with Him.
What does the Lord of heaven say? “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All people on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Should anyone tell us what boost the dream gave Jacob!
May be for Jacob it was a dream but for us it is God’s unfailing promise. Looking at our failures, dis-couragements, opponents, we tumble down in life. But out of our weak personalities God is going to build His Kingdom. Our spiritual descendants are going to fill this earth for sure. God will be with us and watch over us wherever we go. He will never leave us until He does what He has promised us.
Daydream this dream everyday.
Hold fast to dreams;
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
—L. Hughes
Life’s long journey is a ladder. We climb up and up and up and get closer to our Beloved, day by day. A multitude followed Jesus. Of the multitude He had seventy disciples. But the twelve apostles were His closer circle. Among the twelve three were His closest confidants. Of the three one was leaning on His bosom. You can be as close to God as you want to be—either one among the multitude, watching Him, or leaning on His bosom.
The heartcry of the author of the song is, “ I have just one desire, and that is to draw closer to God. Whatever may be life’s situation, sorrow or smile, struggle or smooth sail, showers or sunshine, it will only draw me closer to my Lord.”
As you read the articles in this book, as an iron particle runs towards a magnet, you will be irresistably drawn to the bosom of God. Read on...
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Nearer my God!
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Even though it be a Cross, that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heav’n:
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n:
Angels to beckon me, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll rise;
So by my woes to be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upward I fly;
Still all my song shall be, nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee!
This song by Sarah Flower Adams is nothing but the story of Jacob told in Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob leaves home with mixed emotions. He has not yet had a tangible experience with God. His father had blessed him by mistake. Will it come true? Loving and protective mother left behind, fear of the murderous brother fills his heart. Feeling lonely and cold like a woman sent away from the parental home and not accepted in the husband’s home, with no place to call her own, he sleeps in a strange place. Darkness befalls him; just a stone for a pillow. What does the future hold? Where is God about whom he had heard and His promises tutored by parents? Where is that mighty God? Where does he go from there?
“Where do I go from here?”, is the cry of everyone passing through life’s long journey, especially in valley experiences. God gave Jacob a flash dream as if a thousand neon lights lit up the jungle darkness. A ladder resting on earth with its top touching heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending on it. How beautiful, how wonderful! Truly there is a staircase from earth, right where we are, reaching up to God, full of angels. Step by step, step by step, we can get closer to God. Nearer... nearer... nearer... till one day when we will be inseparably united with Him.
What does the Lord of heaven say? “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All people on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Should anyone tell us what boost the dream gave Jacob!
May be for Jacob it was a dream but for us it is God’s unfailing promise. Looking at our failures, dis-couragements, opponents, we tumble down in life. But out of our weak personalities God is going to build His Kingdom. Our spiritual descendants are going to fill this earth for sure. God will be with us and watch over us wherever we go. He will never leave us until He does what He has promised us.
Daydream this dream everyday.
Hold fast to dreams;
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
—L. Hughes
Life’s long journey is a ladder. We climb up and up and up and get closer to our Beloved, day by day. A multitude followed Jesus. Of the multitude He had seventy disciples. But the twelve apostles were His closer circle. Among the twelve three were His closest confidants. Of the three one was leaning on His bosom. You can be as close to God as you want to be—either one among the multitude, watching Him, or leaning on His bosom.
The heartcry of the author of the song is, “ I have just one desire, and that is to draw closer to God. Whatever may be life’s situation, sorrow or smile, struggle or smooth sail, showers or sunshine, it will only draw me closer to my Lord.”
As you read the articles in this book, as an iron particle runs towards a magnet, you will be irresistably drawn to the bosom of God. Read on...
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
