A Safe Place

Each week I get a “worship quote” from Chip Stam, a seminary professor. Chip is fighting his own battle with cancer, and this week he asked prayer for strength for his “day-to-day ‘job’ of being a good cancer patient.” Come to think of it, that’s a very apt request. I suppose right now that’s my job too, and I do need God’s strength to handle it well.

Chip also sent a newer translation of the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is our God,” written in 1529 by Martin Luther. (The words we commonly sing were translated in 1853 by Frederick Hedge. I have never seen these newer words, but I like them, and will copy them here. Sometime a modern poet should give us a 21st century translation.)

God is a Stronghold and a Tower,
A Help that never faileth.
A covering Shield, a Sword of power,
When Satan’s host assaileth.
In vain our crafty foe
Still strives to work us woe,
Still lurks and lies in wait
With more than earthly hate;
We will not faint, nor tremble.

Frail sinners are we, naught remains
For hope or consolation,
Save in His strength Whom God ordains
Our Captain of salvation.
Yes, Jesus Christ alone
The Lord of hosts we own,
God ere the world began,
The Word-made-flesh for man,
Still conquering, and to conquer.

Though fiercely strive the hosts of ill
Within us, and around us,
With fiendish strength, and fiendish skill,
Yet ne’er may they confound us.
Man’s night of dark despair,
When storm clouds fill the air,
Is God’s triumphal hour,
The noonday of His power,
One word, and He prevaileth.

Our Father’s truth abideth sure;
Christ, our Redeemer, liveth;
For us He pleads His offering pure,
To us His Spirit giveth.
Though dear ones pass away,
Though strength and life decay,
Yet loss shall be our gain,
For God doth still remain
Our All-in-all forever.
Translation by Elizabeth Wordsworth, 1899

I’m sitting here singing these words in my mind as I type them. What wonderful hope they bring! (By the way, I realize that most of us live in nice, safe places where we are somehow able to ignore the reality of Satan and evil. That doesn't make them non-existent; it only shows we're escapists.)

I’ll post a brief blog later this morning, as soon as I get the report on the CA 125. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Love,
Carol