An email story shared with me from my grandfather who received from a friend:
Many years ago while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of it's senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at the time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. 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 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 I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me, the only thing that could comfort me 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."
When he finished the church was quiet. You could actually hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
Another pastor once stated, "I once noted 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 best"
Here's the Senior's version:
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 .
Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I go.
On through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way
Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun.Let me serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile
Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
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."
Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
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.
Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so?Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love him every day.
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