What a Friend We Have In Jesus

Instead of posting on today's sermon, I want to write a bit about a neat dvd clip that we watched in Family Bible Class about a hymn.

Joseph Scriven, the author of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", had just finished his university education and was ready to marry his childhood sweetheart. One day before the wedding, she died from a fall off of a horse.

Joseph moved from Ireland to Port Hope, Ontario, Canada and started a life of helping widows and the poor and tutoring children. He fell in love again and a few weeks before the wedding, his fiance was stricken with pneumonia and died.

Instead of turning his back on God and living a life of self-pity, he was glad to find a Friend to help him with his burdens. May this always be our choice- to face life and it's troubles with God as opposed to facing life and it's troubles without Him.

Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.