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The Everlasting Arms

Guest Writer: Nola Passmore I have owned Muffy, a beautiful golden Pomeranian, for fourteen years. When I first brought her home at eight weeks of age, she weighed about two pounds and was a real wriggly worm. If I picked her up, she would thrash about and try to jump out of my arms. A couple of times, I almost dropped her because she wriggled so much. Now that shes older, wiser, and fifteen pounds, she doesnt wriggle. I can pick her up and hold her in a number of positions cradled like a baby, lying down horizontally, draped over my arms with her legs hanging down, or even leaning back into one arm while I use the other to open a door or a gate. She lies perfectly still regardless of the way I hold her. So whats changed in those fourteen years? Age may have made her a little less agile, but I like to think the main reason is that she trusts me. I have never once dropped her or done anything intentionally to harm her. She knows that she can lie in my arms without fear of hurting herself. Besides, if she gets tired on one of our walks, she only has to bat those big brown eyes and she knows Ill pick her up and carry her. What a life! In Deuteronomy 33:27 were told that, the eternal God is [our] refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms. When I think back over my own walk with God, however, I can relate to that little wriggling puppy trying to jump out of those arms. Im not happy in this position, Lord. Why dont you put me down over there? I can walk by myself. I dont need you to hold me. Ive been lying here too long, and quite frankly, Im getting a bit bored ... or impatient ... or agitated. The trouble is that when we jump out of His arms, we can fall and hurt ourselves or end up on the wrong path. Like Muffy, we need to trust our Master. He created us and knows every part of us. He knows what is best for us and were safe in His care. Lets lie back in those everlasting arms. Theres no better place to be. Nola Passmore This story was originally published in Footprints Magazine, Autumn 2008, Issue 41, p. 17, Australia, edited by Janet Camilleri (www.footprintsaustralia.com). In addition to what Nola has written, I decided to print the words from this old hymn entitled, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Below the words is a short article I found on the internet regarding the two men who composed the words and music. Recently, this music was part of the background used in the latest version of the movie, True Grit. It was fascinating to continually hear the music that I grew up singing as the background for a movie. Thought you might enjoy a

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little history lesson! God is continually teaching us through His word and beautiful music!

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms was written by a couple of late nineteenth-century Protestants. The two men who wrote the lyrics and music for this hymn were, in fact, Presbyterians. Anthony J. Showalter was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Dalton, Georgia. Elisha A. Hoffman later became the pastor of Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, he wrote thousands of hymns, including I Must Tell Jesus and What a Wonderful Savior, as well as Leaning on the Everlasting. How these two friends came to work together on this hymn is a fascinating and touching story. Showalter was a church music teacher who taught many throughout the South to sing gospel songs. One day in 1887, he received letters from two of his students, both young men who had recently lost their wives. Showalter sought to console them with a verse from Scripture, and turned to Deuteronomy 33:27, which reads in the King James Version: The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. As he read this verse, Showalter imagined the refrain of a hymn, Leaning, leaning, save and secure from all alarms; Leaning, Leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. After writing to the grieving widowers, Showalter also wrote to his friend and fellow hymn-writer, Elisha Hoffman, asking him if he could write verses for the refrain. It seems that Showalter was stuck with nothing but a chorus. In time, Hoffman wrote back with

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three stanzas, which Showalter put to music. The result was the now-famous hymn, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/markdroberts/2011/01/the-music-of-true-gritsome-fascinating-history.html#ixzz1XTH51yaf

What a privilege it is as a child of God, to be able to lean on Gods everlasting arms! Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy available to your children every day, all day. As a potter shapes his clay, mold us and make us into the vessels of honor that bring glory to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! In Him, Amen!