Matters of Faith

Have I ever mentioned that my father is a United Methodist minister?  He and my mother both grew up potlucking, summer-revivaling Methodists as did the majority of our relatives.  Indeed, it was through their faithful and loving witness, and the witness of countless others, that I learned of Christ’s love at a very young age, and I will be eternally grateful to the Methodists for this priceless gift.  

Having grown up so deeply within the trenches of Methodism I naturally developed a great love for the old hymns.  In fact, when I find myself incapable of prayer I pull out my Methodist hymnal and sing or read through the hymns and always find great comfort in their poetry.  Though my favorite hymnist is, of course, Charles Wesley, my favorite hymn of all time (and the one that has brought me through so many tough times) was written by John Rippon (a Baptist minister from England).

                   How Firm a Foundation

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
   Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
   What more can He say than to you He hath said—
   To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2. “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
   For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
   I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
   Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
   The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
   For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
   And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
   My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
   The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
   Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
5. “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
   I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
   That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
   I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”