Friend



Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7





What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a
privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often
forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is
there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the
Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our
sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in
prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do
thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his
arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.


Comments

dot said…
Mike, funny that you should post this because I was just thinking about this song a few hours ago and singing it in my mind. I was going to request it in church. It's one of my favorites.
Robyn said…
Thank you for that...
Wanda said…
A song I learned at my mother's knee, and have been singing ever since.

Thanks Mike.
Happyone said…
That is one of my favorite hymns and I was just singing it yesterday!!
Angie said…
Amen! Closer than a brother...
zakscloset said…
what a lovely song! i've never heard it but i like it a lot!
Paulie said…
That is my very favorite song of all time! Do you know the history of it?
Paulie said…
Here it is:
More than a century ago, on the streets of Port Hope, Ontario, a man could be seen walking along carrying a saw and a sawhorse. One day a rich man from across the street saw him and said to a friend, "He looks like a sober man. I think I'll hire him to cut wood for me." "That's Joseph Scriven," the friend replied. "He wouldn't cut wood for you. He only cuts wood for those who don't have enough to pay." And that sums up the philosophy of Joseph Medlicott Scriven, a devoted member of the Plymouth Brethren Church, who took the Sermon on the Mount literally.

Scriven was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1819. He fell for a lovely young woman, but on the eve of their wedding she accidentally drowned.

Scriven never recovered from the shock. The Irishman began to wander, hoping to forget his sorrow. At age 25, he finally settled in Canada.

His faith led him to do menial tasks for poor widows and the sick. He often worked for no wages and was regarded by the people of the community as a kind man, albeit a bit odd.

He later fell in love again and planned to marry a wonderful Canadian woman. But again, tragedy struck. His fianc�e died after contracting pneumonia.

In 1855, a friend visited an ill Scriven and discovered a poem that he had written for his ailing mother in faraway Ireland. Scriven didn't have the money to visit her, but he sent her the poem as an encouragement. He called it "Pray Without Ceasing." When the friend inquired about the poem's origins, Scriven reportedly answered, "The Lord and I did it between us."

Scriven never intended for the poem to be published, but it made its rounds, and was set to music in 1868 by musician Charles Converse, who titled it "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." It has since become one of our greatest hymns.

Scriven died in 1886 (ironically, in an accidental drowning). In his memory, the town of Port Hope erected a monument with this inscription from Scriven's famous song: In His arms He'll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there.
TMM said…
Thats a verse I have in mind I meet any problem....Thanks for the reminder, Mike.

Sid
Gudl said…
That is one of my favorite verses! And I like the song, too!
Thank you Mike.
Anonymous said…
We have this song in Norwegian also. I love it. "Hvilken venn vi har i Jesus" :-)
Lance said…
I needed that.
Blessings,
Lance

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