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Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
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Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2001

Grace Church of Burlington October 7, 2001 Is it well with your soul?      The French liner, “Ville du Havre,” was the most luxurious ship afloat when it sailed from New York in November, 1873. Among her passengers was Mrs. H.G. Spafford of Chicago, making the trip with her four children, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie and Bessie. Mr. Spafford was unable to make the voyage with his family because of business commitments in Chicago, which had recently been ravaged by the Great Fire. But, even though he was happy his family was traveling on a ship with Christian companions, some last-minute premonition made him change the cabin they occupied to one toward the bow of the vessel. He told them “Goodbye,” promising to meet them in France in a few weeks. At two o’clock on the morning of November 22, 1873, when the luxury liner was several days out, she was rammed by the English iron sailing vessel, the “Lochern.” In two hours the “Ville Du Havre,” one of the largest ships afloat, settled to the bottom of the ocean, with a loss of some two-hundred twenty-six lives, including the four Spafford children. Mrs. Spafford was found barely conscious, clinging to a piece of wreckage. Nine days later when the survivors landed at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband these two words, “Saved alone.” When he received her message, he said to a dear friend, “I am glad to trust the Lord when it will cost me something.” For him it was a second time of testing, coming so soon upon the heels of the first. In the Chicago fire he had lost everything he owned; in the tragedy at sea he had lost his four precious children. As soon as he could, he booked passage on a ship to Europe to join his wife. On the way over, in December of that same year, 1873, the Captain called him into his cabin and said, “I believe we are now passing over the place where the ‘Ville du Havre’ went down.” That night Mr. Spafford found it hard to sleep. But faith soon conquered doubt, and there, in the mid-Atlantic, out of his heart-break and pain, Mr. Spafford wrote five stanzas of one of our most powerful hymns:         When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.        Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.        And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.        It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.        Sadly, too many believers do not claim or live in God’s wonderful living grace. I know that was the case in my own life some years ago. I was saved yet bitter and miserable. If I would be in a service where that song would be sung, I would instead of singing, “It is well, with my soul,” I would quietly sing “It is hell in my soul.” Perhaps that’s you today. You have accepted God’s saving grace, but “It is hell in your soul” because you are not relying on and allowing God’s living grace to fill your soul. God’s plan and desire for each of us is abundant grace. He wants to give us His abundant grace, but we must let Him