GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE
In the past, the hymns that were sung in Evangelical Churches helped in framing theologies and created expectations that had a way of bringing us closer to and in line with Gods Word. I remember lines from hundreds of songs, which I learned while singing them over and over in church services, even before I accepted the Lord as my Savior.

Songs like this one carved a place in my heart:

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE
By Kittie Louise Suffield
1 Have you started for glory and heaven, Have you left this old world far behind; In your heart is the Comforter dwelling, Can you say, :Praise the Lord, He is mine;" Have the ones that once walked on the highway, Gone back, and you seem all alone? Keep your eyes on the prize, for the home in the skies. God is still on the throne.
Chorus: God is still on the throne, And He will remember His own; Though trials may press us and burdens distress us, He never will leave us alone; God is still on the throne, He never forsaketh His own; His promise is true, He will not forget you, God is still on the throne.
2 Burdened soul, is your heart growing weary With the toil and the heat of the day; Does it seem that your path is more thorny As you journey along on life’s way? Go away and in secret before Him Tell your grief to the Savior alone; He will lighten your care, for He still answers prayer; God is still on the throne. [Chorus]

Before her conversion at the age of nineteen, the writer of this song, Mrs. Suffield had hopes of becoming a concert artist, either as a coloratura soprano or a pianist. But when she came to Christ, she dedicated all of her gifts to His service.

On December 11, 1936, Edward VII stunned the English people and the entire British Empire by announcing over the radio, “You must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” with that, he abdicated the throne–the only British monarch to do so voluntarily. Edward had known Wallis Warfield Simpson for several years, but the potential “Abdication Crisis” rocked the nation through the months of 1936. Mrs. Simpson was an American and a divorcee (Edward was to be her third husband), and this was not an acceptable match, either to the Parliament or the Church of England (of which Edward was the titular head). Aren’t you glad Almighty God does not stray into some dubious alliance and selfishly decide to abdicate His throne? “The LORD is King forever and ever” (Ps. 10:16; 29:10). “The LORD shall reign forever” (Ps. 146:10). “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Ps. 103:19). “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Ps. 145:13). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (I Tim. 1:17).

I had never searched for the information about this song but I felt impressed to share it with you in my weekly letter. One of my favorite verses is found in the Psalms, where David reminds believers then and now of the preeminence of God over natural rules of nature and life:

³ He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
⁶ The Lord lifts up the meek
⁷ Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
⁸ Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow upon the mountains.” PSALM 147

Have you ever needed a Word from God? Do you need one at this time in your life? One day, many years ago, this verse came alive in my spirit and challenged me to believe God for the miraculous. In the margin of my Bible references it state that the verse meant that God make the grass to grow where grass cannot naturally grow above the timberline, where vegetation cannot grow. I realized then that this was a passage that I could claim as lifetime verse, knowing that God can do the unexpected above what is otherwise impossible.

He gives us hints and tokens of His love to us from time to time and in the past few weeks it is as though we have breached the portals of glory, for which we are eternally grateful.

I believe in you,

Your loving pastors Cleddie and GayNell