Deeper, Deeper This New Year

Last Sunday morning found us at the White River Nazarene Church where the pastor had asked Jonathan if he would fill in for her while she was away. I was impressed with the unique Christmas display in the corner of the platform.

  

(I thought to myself that I much preferred this Christ-centered theme rather than a tree!)

During the music time, one of the hymns sung was "Deeper, Deeper." 

 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev'ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.

The words had been written, I discovered when I did a search online, by a Charles Price Jones, a black Baptist preacher from Georgia, the same state where former President Jimmy Carter just died today at the age of 100. Both Baptist men, but very different stripes! Charles Jones deeply sought God and preached holiness of heart and life, founding a holiness church. He wrote about 1000 hymns! (See https://hymnary.org/person/Jones_CharlesPrice)

Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

Some of the words were coming back to me tonight after I went to bed--but not to sleep. 

"Deeper, deeper! tho' it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow."

I don't know how hard a trial I can say I am having with this cancer--including now losing all my hair--when I compare my trials with those who live with constant pain, the many displaced refugees, persecuted Christians, languishing prisoners, and suffering soldiers on front lines in Ukraine and Russia and Israel. 

There were just a few wisps of hair left yesterday, and I decided it was time.

Time for a buzz cut so I wouldn't look so ridiculous. Crystal tried to do the job as cheerfully as possible, but I only looked more ridiculous!

One daughter had thought I should cut it all off, and when I did, two boys in the kitchen thought I should have left what was left!

The people I feel sorry for are the ones who have to look at me. 

I am trying not to waste energy feeling sorry for myself--though I have my moments of grief. 

So I focus on other people, other cheerful things, and words like these:

Deeper, higher, ev'ry day in Jesus,

Till all conflict past,

Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image

Perfected at last.

As we enter a new year, may our desire be to go deeper in the love of Jesus! I am tired now, and I know that simple statement isn't all that eloquent, but since my feet in bed were hot (sometimes they are cold, but neuropathy from chemo does weird things to me) I decided to get up to cool off and write these little thoughts. 

Whatever hard trials You ask us to go through, Lord, we know You will give abundant grace!

Thank You for that grace today!