"I Know That My Redeemer Lives" by Samuel Medley

Today is Easter, a feast that commemorates Christ's resurrection. Happy Easter! Today, April 21, is also the third anniversary of the death of my mother Evelyn. Here is an Easter hymn by Samuel Medley (1738-1799) that he based on Job 19:25. In the King James Version of the Bible, Job 19:25-27 reads:

     For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
     and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
     and though after my skin worms destroy this body,
     yet in my flesh shall I see God:
     whom I shall see for myself,
     and mine eyes shall behold, and not another;
     though my reins be consumed within me.

I dedicate this Easter hymn to the memory of my mother Evelyn (1923-2016), who was devoutly Christian and who also knew that her Redeemer lives.


I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES
by Samuel Medley

I know that my Redeemer lives:
What joy the blest assurance gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my everlasting Head!

He lives, to bless me with his love;
He lives, to plead for me above;
He lives, my hungry soul to feed;
He lives, to help in time of need.

He lives, and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives, my mansion to prepare;
He lives, to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to his name;
He lives, My Savior, still the same;
What joy the blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

"Above the Hills of Time" by Thomas Tiplady

Today is Good Friday, the Friday before Easter observed in churches as the anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ. Here are the lyrics of a 1931 hymn by Thomas Tiplady (1882-1967), a hymn about the cross on which Christ was crucified. After reading these lyrics (which are in the public domain), watch the music video below in which James Linden Hogg sings this hymn. The tune to which that hymn is sung is a familiar Irish traditional melody titled "Londonderry."


ABOVE THE HILLS OF TIME

Above the hills of time the cross is gleaming,
   Fair as the sun when night has turned to day;
And from it love's pure light is richly streaming,
   To cleanse the heart and banish sin away.
To this dear cross the eyes of men are turning,
   Today as in the ages lost to sight;
And so for Thee, O Christ, men's hearts are yearning,
   As shipwrecked seamen yearn for morning light.

The cross, O Christ, Thy wondrous love revealing,
   Awakes our hearts as with the light of morn,
And pardon o'er our sinful spirits stealing,
   Tells us that we, in Thee, have been reborn.
Like echoes to sweet temple bells replying
   Our hearts, O Lord, make answer to Thy love;
And we will love Thee with a love undying,
   Till we are gathered to Thy home above.

"Above the Hills of Time" -- James Linden Hogg

Palm Sunday Hymn: "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna"

As the Bible (King James Version) says:

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried,
     Hosanna:
     Blessed is the King of Israel
     that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(John 12:12-13)

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying,
     Hosanna to the Son of David:
     Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;
     Hosanna in the highest.
(Matthew 21:8-9)

And many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying,
     Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
     Blessed be the kingdom of our father David,
     that cometh in the name of the Lord:
     Hosanna in the highest.
(Mark 11:8-10)


HOSANNA, LOUD HOSANNA
by Jeanette Threlfall, 1873

Hosanna, loud hosanna,
   The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple
   The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them
   Close folded to his breast,
The children sang their praises,
   The simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed
   Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving,
   And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven
   Rode on in lowly state,
Not scorned that little children
   Should on his bidding wait.

"Hosanna in the highest!"
   That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
   The Lord of heaven our King.
O may we ever praise him
   With heart and life and voice,
And in his blissful presence
   Eternally rejoice!

"The Lion and the Mouse": A Fable of Aesop

Just a small kindness can turn a day around. Here is one of the fables of Aesop in both prose and poetry. It is a good example of a small kindness turning a day around.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

from The Aesop for Children (1919)

     A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

     "Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."

     The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

     Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.

     "You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."

     A kindness is never wasted.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

from Aesop and Hyssop (1912)

by William Ellery Leonard

[A fable adapted from Aesop]

A Lion, dreaming in his pride of place,

Was waked by Mouse who ran across his face.

Rising in wrath he caught and was about

To claw and kill, when little Mouse cried out:

"O spare my life and I'll repay you well."

The Lion laughed and loosed him. . . . .

                                                        It befell

A little later that some hunters bound

This king of beasts with ropes upon the ground;

When Mouse, who knew him by his roar, in glee

Came up and gnawed the ropes and set him free.

Scorn no man's friendship, howso small he be.

"The Final Say: The Best Revenge"

THE FINAL SAY: THE BEST REVENGE

by Monty Gilmer

     In his letter to the Romans Paul wrote, "If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, 'I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.' Instead as the scripture says: 'If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.' Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good" (The Bible: Romans 12:17-21, Good News Translation).

"The best revenge is

no revenge. Move on.

Be happy."

(Anonymous)