Sermon Tone Analysis

Read: Romans 8:14

Nothing is more astonishing than the care and concern of God for his followers.

The least circumstances of their life are regulated, not merely by that general providence which extends to all things, but by a particular providence, which fits and directs all things to the design of their salvation, causing them all to cooperate for their present and eternal good.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

He who is infinitely wise has undertaken to direct us: He who is infinitely powerful has undertaken to protect us: He who is infinitely good has undertaken to save us.

What cunning, strength, or malice, can prevail against his wisdom, power, and goodness?

None

Carolina Sandell Berg: Songs out of Tragedy

Psalm 46 declares, "God is my refuge, an ever present help in time of trouble."

There was once a young Swedish woman who, like the Psalmist, learned early in life to trust in the Lord's strength each day to help her overcome her troubles and trials.

Her name was Carolina Sandell Berg, and she was born on ... October 3, l832.

She grew up to become Sweden's most celebrated author of Gospel hymns, and wrote so many that she is often called "the Fanny Crosby of Sweden."*

Like many Christians, Carolina learned that when pain and tragedy strike, God may use that experience to deepen our faith.

When she was 26, Carolina--or Lina (pronounced Lie-nah) as she liked to be called--experienced a tragedy which profoundly affected the course of her life.

She was with her father, a Lutheran pastor, crossing a Swedish lake.

Suddenly the ship lurched, and before her eyes, her father was thrown overboard and drowned.

Lina had written hymns before, but now she poured out her broken heart in an endless stream of beautiful songs.

Her hymns mightily influenced the revival that swept across Scandanavia after l850.

Day by Day hymn

1 Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what he deems best–

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

2 Ev'ry day the Lord himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares he gladly bears and cheers me,

He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.

The protection of his child and treasure

Is a charge that on himself he laid:

"As your days, your strength shall be in measure"–

This the pledge to me he made.

3 Help me then in ev'ry tribulation

So to trust your promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation

Offered me within your holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when, toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

Look at John Wesley’s Sermon 67 on Divine Providence

The Unseen Hand:

Verse 1

There is an unseen had to me,

That leads through wave I cannot see

While going through this world of woe,

This hand still leads me as I go

CHORUS:

I'm trusting to, the unseen hand,

That guides me through this weary land

When some sweet day I'll reach that strand,

Still guided by the unseen hand

Verse 2

This hand has led through shadows drear

And while it leads I have no fear

I know t'will lead, me to that home

Where sin nor sorrow ere can come

Verse 3

I long to see, my Saviors face

And sing the story saved by grace

And there upon that golden strand

Ill praise him for his guiding hand