March, 2006

Near the Cross
by Pastor Dave Speicher

The beautiful and meaningful hymn, “Near the Cross”, written by Fanny Crosby many years ago, is a wonderful reminder of the love and mercy God has shown to each of us. The hymn goes like this:

Jesus, keep me near the cross. There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me;
There a Bright and Morning Star sheds its beam around me.

Near the Cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk form day to day with its shadows o’er me.

Near the Cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river.

REFRAIN: In the Cross, In the Cross, be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

This hymn is a good way to remind ourselves that we are now in the Season of Lent. Wednesday, March 1st is designated on the Christian calendar as Ash Wednesday, which begins the Season of Lent. In many churches, Ash Wednesday is a day of prayer and fasting, in which people intentionally focus on the inner life and make fresh commitments of devotion to Christ as the Savior of the world. That begins the Season of Lent, which is a time of spiritual reflection and preparation to more meaningfully remember the passion of our Lord during Holy Week and then be spiritually ready to celebrate the “glory of the cross” and the jo of the resurrection of Jesus. I know Easter in not until April 16th, but the month of March is an important time to begin preparing our hearts for Easter and a time of asking God to give us courage to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

REVIVAL services are also significant opportunities to ask God to stir our hearts in such a way that a passionate love for Christ is re-awakened or re-ignited. In information about REVIVAL services planned. See your newsletter for details. I hope you won’t miss a single service. As you attend the revival services, and as we go through the weeks of Lent, my commitments to live daily “Near the Cross”. I look forward to seeing you each week and experiencing the “joy of the Lord” in worship with you.