This Month’s S.W.A.P. song is: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

‘TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS Louisa M. R. Stead was born in Dover England in 1850. As a teenager, Stead felt called to be a missionary. She went to America around age 21, and lived for a while in Cincinnati, Ohio. Attending a camp meeting in Urbana, Ohio, she felt the missionary calling even more strongly, but was unable to go to China as she wanted due to her frail health. She married a Mr. Stead in 1875. On one normal sunny day Louisa M. Stead, her husband, and her daughter Lily, decided to go for a picnic. They went picnicking on Long Island Sound. While having their picnic, the Steads heard a scream. It was from a young boy. Mr. Stead ran to the rescue. Louisa Stead and young Lily watched helplessly as Mr. Stead and the boy drowned. Their troubles were not over yet, however, and without her husband, Mrs. Stead became very poor. During this time Louisa chose to put her trust in God as her provider and comforter. He provided for her always and she and her daughter survived and thrived. Louisa learned to trust God, and thus the words to the song 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.' Shortly after this incident, Louisa moved to South Africa and served as a missionary some 15 years. She remarried, to Robert Wodehouse of that country. She returned to America in 1895 but once again went into missions in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1901. Her daughter Lily (who survived the accident that killed her father) married as well and became a missionary like her mother. Louisa Stead died on January 18, 1917 in Penkridge, Zimbabwe (about 50 miles from Umtali—now Mutare). Louisa M. R. Stead (1850-1917) Author: Louisa M. R. Stead Music: William J. Kirkpatrick Date written: 1882 Click here to see Louisa’s Stead’s story put to video

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS Song Lyrics: ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, And to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, Thus says the Lord! Refrain Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood! Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end. TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS The Word on Trust: Psalm 22:4-5: In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS Hear song played Hear song sung (wait a moment on this one, it’s a little delayed)

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS Ask yourself…… Why is trust so important in everyday life? What does trust do for you as a Christian? Why do some people find it so hard to trust sometimes when most acknowledge that God has proven himself? What are some things we can do to make trusting God easier in the future? TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS Trust-(Merriam-Webster): a: Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed