Sometimes a Light Surprises

I’ve got a Pastor friend (Rick Davis, FBC, Brownwood, Texas) who I stumbled on while searching for a long-lost evangelist buddy of mine. I’ve shared prayer requests for him while he was going through some pretty rough diagnosis and surgery a couple of months back.

 

He posted Thursday about a very emotional day which he had which just kept coming up with one surprise after another. He shared first a story of a pastor friend whose father had passed away. Rick had lead the father to the Lord. He was reminded that he had done so and was overwhelmed. Same day, he met a person who watches Brownwood’s services on the Internet. He was so impressed by a sermon, which he had quoted portions of back to Rick, that he first established a benefit for a young girl with cancer and then extended that charity to evangelistic outreach. Still the same day, he met a young woman who because of chemo-therapy was wearing a bandana. She share about her cancer, her treatments, and hopes. As they parted, she said, “"If something happens, I need you to come back and do my funeral. Promise me you will."

 

Rick said that again, he was overcome with emotion.

 

You can read the entire post here: http://aintsobad.typepad.com/aintsobad/2008/04/this-has-been-a.html

 

I also commend Rick’s blog to you. Warning: it will make you think about your relationship to Christ.

 

There have been many things occur in my life which were unexpected. Some good, some bad, some I’m still unsure about. But many of the good things are those which God snuck around the corner and said ‘GOTCHA!’.

 

I went to search for the old, old hymn, “Sometimes a Light Surprises” by William Cowper. This one is really old – 1779. And to me, really special. If you look beyond just the words, the touch of the Spirit is woven in every verse.

 

Sometimes a Light Surprises – William Cowper

Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord, who rises with healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation we sweetly then pursue
The theme of God’s salvation, and find it ever new.
Set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say,
Let the unknown tomorrow bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing but He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing will clothe His people, too;
Beneath the spreading heavens, no creature but is fed;
And He Who feeds the ravens will give His children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither their wonted fruit should bear,
Though all the field should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there;
Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice,
For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice.

See you Sunday…