Yet?

I grew up hearing the older folks say "God has not failed me yet."  I fully agree with the "God not failed me" part.  It was the "yet" part that always bothered me.  It sounded almost like a gamble.  Are we expecting that although He's been on a role, at some point He might just fail?  The word "yet" has just always made this statement sound like doubt or uncertainty.  That is until I stumbled upon this story by an English musician and  composer, Gavin Bryars.

"In 1971, when I lived in London, I was working with a friend, Alan Power, on a film about people living rough in the area around Elephant and Castle and Waterloo Station. In the course of being filmed, some people broke into drunken song – sometimes bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads – and one, who in fact did not drink, sang a religious song "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet". This was not ultimately used in the film and I was given all the unused sections of tape, including this one.

When I played it at home, I found that his singing was in tune with my piano, and I improvised a simple accompaniment. I noticed, too, that the first section of the song – 13 bars in length – formed an effective loop which repeated in a slightly unpredictable way. I took the tape loop to Leicester (University), where I was working in the Fine Art Department, and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape, thinking about perhaps adding an orchestrated accompaniment to this. The door of the recording room opened on to one of the large painting studios and I left the tape copying, with the door open, while I went to have a cup of coffee. When I came back I found the normally lively room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.

I was puzzled until I realized that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man's singing. This convinced me of the emotional power of the music and of the possibilities offered by adding a simple, though gradually evolving, orchestral accompaniment that respected the homeless man's nobility and simple faith. Although he died before he could hear what I had done with his singing, the piece remains as an eloquent, but understated testimony to his spirit and optimism."

The homeless man simply sings over and over:
Jesus blood never failed me yet
this one thing I know
for he loves me so
Jesus blood never failed me yet

I was so moved by this story that I found the song on YouTube and began to listen to it being performed with an orchestra and halfway through, I was brought to tears by the certainty and peace in the singer's voice, in spite of his circumstances.  The emphasis he put on the word "yet" was as if he was answering my question of why the word was even used.  My heart was so transformed by a singing homeless man over 48 years ago that instead of hearing "Jesus blood never failed me yet" I begin to hear "YET, Jesus blood never failed me."  I went from hearing doubt to hearing faithfulness.  From hearing uncertainty to hearing "in spite of."

So today, no matter what things look like, I can say with unwavering confidence, "YET, Jesus blood never failed me."

Love Always,

Shy

To listen to the composition, visit https://youtu.be/TfT3njX2FLU

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

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Drop a Hint

Have you ever noticed the "drop a hint" feature available on some retailers' websites?  For example, when I'm browsing the Tiffany website and see something I like, there is a button I can click that says "drop a hint" and Tiffany will email whoever I'd like to receive a hint that this is something I would like.  I've seen this feature on several websites and think it's pretty cool for those occasions when your loved one might be struggling with what to get you.  But what I think is even cooler, is when someone actually pays close enough attention to you to know the desires of your heart without a hint.  Like the time your loved-one seemed to have noticed the look in your eye when you stopped and stared adoringly at an item through the window for a few seconds, so they went back to the store to surprise you.  Or that yawn that signaled "one more cup of coffee would get me through this project" and your co-worker shows up with a cup of coffee.  Or when your significant other just seemed to have known when to stop what they were doing to give you a much-needed hug.  Those moments are so much more precious than a hint.

Psalms 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV)  The Lord doesn't require hints to know the desires of our hearts.  In fact, I love how the Message Bible says it, "Keep company with God, get in on the best."  There is something about keeping company with someone that allows them to get to know you in a very intimate way.  I find that the more I spend time with the Lord through prayer, reading His word, and just constantly speaking gratitude and praise, the less I need to drop to a hint.  He automatically knows what I need.  Even in those moments when I'm desiring the wrong thing, He gently changes my heart to bring me to a place of peace and trust in His plan.

There have been times when I desired something and never uttered a word to a single soul and the Lord unexpectedly gave me the desires of my heart.  It made the gift even more special because it was as if I heard the Lord's voice saying, "I've been paying attention to you."  Those moments have truly blessed me as they are so much more full of love than a hint.

So the next time you think you need to "drop a hint" to God, simply get closer to Him and He will know the desires of your heart.

Love Always,

Shy 

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy/