After a warm welcome,
introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from
his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to
the podium.
Without a note or
written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself
and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was
asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what
was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought
about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most
difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing
that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and
sorrow paralyzed me...
The only thing that
would comfort was this verse....
"Jesus loves me
this I know.
For the Bible tells
me so.
Little ones to Him
belong,
We are weak but He is
strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves
me....
The Bible tells me
so."
The old pastor
stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's
hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it
was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the
best."
"Here for you
now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I
know,
Though my hair is
white as snow
Though my sight is
growing dim,
Still He bids me
trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME,
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are
oh, so slow,
With my hand in His
I'll go
On through life, let
come what may,
He'll be there to
lead the way.
(verse 2)
When the nights are
dark and long,
In my heart He puts a
song..
Telling me in words
so clear,
"Have no fear,
for I am near."
(Verse 3)
When my work on earth
is done,
And life's victories
have been won.
He will take me home
above,
Then I'll understand
His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He
know?
Have I ever told Him
so?
Jesus loves to hear
me say,
That I love Him every
day.
The service ended, Pastor closed his Bible, pronouncing "Thus the service is ended. Praise be to God."