Thursday, December 27, 2012

Victory in Jesus!


This morning we received the sad news that a friend of ours--a dear man we didn't know well but had come to love, just the same--died sometime in the wee hours this morning.  He had succumbed to a long, painful battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends as he passed from this life into the presence of his precious Savior.

Jerry was a tall, attractive, friendly man that was part of our special "other church family."  Iivo is the worship leader at our wonderful church plant--which we love being part of and which is our true church home--but we have also come to know and love many special families at the church across town where our children have attended Awana on Wednesday nights for the past  several years.  We adults attend what they call their "Bible study and prayer meeting," which consists of singing several hymns--called out by special request from the congregation--then hearing Bible teaching for about half an hour and then praying together for 15-20 minutes.  You will really get to know a group quickly if you pray together every week, and I am so blessed to pray with and for these dear folks every Wednesday.

Despite the fact that Jerry has been sick for many months, he was always ready each week with a quick smile and a friendly handshake.  I must say that this was, to me, the most memorable thing about Jerry.  He went around every week before the service started--after the shared fellowship meal--and shook everyone's hand.  And Jerry had huge, welcoming hands! Really! These were the biggest hands I've ever felt mine rest in, and he shook my hand with the perfect amount of force--not too crushing (and he could have really crushed me with those hands, I'm telling you!) and not too wimpy or soft, either.  He would smile and take my hand, week after week, welcoming me and greeting me.  Oh, I remember this charming man with such fondness!

It was no secret that Jerry's favorite hymn was "Victory in Jesus!"  Every time he made a request for a hymn to be sung, that was it.  The song doesn't appear in their hymnal, so they had to work up the words on a slide for us to sing from.  But that was the song he was going to request, so they had to be ready!

Oh, the joyful reality of our victory in Jesus--that because of His great sacrifice for us, His saving love, one day we will rest with Him in glory.  Because He died for us, our death is not the end.  Jerry lives on!

So, I know it isn't really a Christmas song... but it is this year!  Victory in Jesus!

I heard an old, old story
How a Savior came in glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save someone like me 

I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning
Then I repented of my sin
And won the victory

Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me 
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see
And then I cried, "dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory

Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me 
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood

1 comment:

pamela said...

I think it's a PERFECT Christmas song, especially in light of how Mr. Jerry is spending this Christmas!