Go!
I'll admit, the very first thing I thought with this prompt was the theme song to the movie "Titanic".
"Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that my heart will go on.
We'll stay forever this way, you are here in my heart and my heart will go on and on."
I thought that maybe I could take Celine Dion's vocals and over-spiritualize that chorus, but then I thought that just getting the song stuck in your head was probably enough of an offense. (laughing over here on this side of the screen)
Is God really far away, or is He near?
Eventually another song I sang in worship often during my college days came to mind.
It is scripture based, and draws lyrics from Nehemiah, another prophet, and James.
"Sing for joy to God our strength
Sing for joy to God our strength, our strength
If we call to Him, He will answer us
If we run to Him, He will run to us
If we lift our hands, He will lift us up
Come now praise his name, all you saints of God.
Draw near to Him, he is here with us
Give Him your love, He's in love with us
He will heal our hearts, He will cleanse our hands
If we rend our hearts He will heal our land."
(Sing for Joy by Don Moen)
If you read the actual passage in James, this was a rather harsh rebuke he was issuing in Chapter 4. Not so light and fluffy.
James 4:7-10
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Perhaps, though, when we ignore the Lord, He feels distant to us because we are not focused on the right things. He is near, and we can hide ourselves in the cleft of the rock, and the storms will rage around us and we will get wet, maybe even soaked, but we will not be drowned.
Challenges that are fierce push us, propel us to the feet of God where we cast ourselves on His mercy. He wants us to come to Him, and He will fight our battles for us!
Nearer My God to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raise'th me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raise'th 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!
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 given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
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 raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
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'll fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be,
Nearer my God to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be,
Nearer my God to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
Songwriters: JOHN S HURT
© OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Timer has gone, and I will leave you with two videos. "Sing for Joy" and an amazing, tear-causing Cello version of "Nearer My God to Thee" performed by Stephen Sharp Nelson (The Piano Guys)
Love,
Tammy
Hey, FMF neighbour! I have to confess the Titanic song has been going round in my head all day as I've been mulling over the prompt, though I decided not to write about it! I did write about James 4 though, so we're clearly on the same wavelength today! I loved the cello video- thanks for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteLesley,
Deleteyou are a joy. Thank you for visiting me! And, that's the beautiful thing of FMF. All our connections and wavelengths and "me too" moments!
Love,
Tammy
My brain didn't even think of the Titanic theme song, But now I think it's stuck. God does draw near. I'm so thankful that I can turn to him. I'm in the 45 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteTara,
Deleteso sorry. I'll reference the two-headed monster from Sesame Street next time chanting "near"......"far"...as they run toward the camera and away from it. :D
Thank you for coming to see me. You are a friend at all times.
Love,
Tammy
Great essay, Tammy, and I love the videos.
ReplyDeleteHave to confess that my Titanic tag was not Celine, but the doomed bandsmen playing "Nearer My God To Thee".
I think that sometimes we're like hiers lost in a fog, pressing our backs against a rock wall, when on the other side of the mist-shrouded trail is an abyss.
We can't see the extent of the granite that is our security, not in the fog. And like that, sometimes we can't see God when we are literally pressing ourselves to Him.
Andrew,
Deleteblessed are they who do not see and believe. Jesus' words to Thomas when He allowed Thomas to touch his scars.
Blessed are you, my friend. Still in my daily prayers.
Love,
Tammy
When, oh WHEN will I remember that Blogger eats my comments now? :( I had this really pithy comment for you. And now . . . it's dissected, somewhere in the ether. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I loved seeing the musical side of you come out, sweet friend. You know your song lyrics! I so appreciate the reminder of how God draws near to us, and He wants us to draw near to Him. That truth is reassuring on the hard days. I enjoyed the lyrics you shared here. :)
And, ummm . . . would you still like me if I told you I never (really!) saw Titanic?
Jeanne,
DeleteI would be happy for you that you avoided the pressure of the "must see movie of all time". :) I was in high school and went by myself and was not impressed with Mr. DeCaprio. At the pivotal scene after they've struck the iceberg, I was chuckling at the acting or script-it seemed cheesy and comical at that moment. A bunch of raccoon-eyed girls in the theater glared at me because they were grieved he was not going to make it. Their dates appreciated my lack of reverence.
I copy and pasted "nearer my God to thee", but I do relate well to those lines.
Blogger does eat comments if you're not signed in. I now highlight and copy my text before clicking submit or publish, so that it's saved.
So very frustrating, though!
Love you so much, dear Jeanne!
-Tammy
There are definitely times I have had to seek Him, as I felt removed. Ahhh feelings. They're so quick to try to guide our moves!
ReplyDeleteThankful for a grounded friend like yourself, Marie! :)
Love,
Tammy