Rodent Regatta

Responsibilities, goals and tasks that require your attention sometimes feel overwhelming. There are days when even the simplest of tasks seem to require all your strength and determination. There are other times when life changes in a lot of ways at once.

Lately, as I’ve struggled through some of those kinds of days, words to songs somehow are put before me. Many of these songs have some significance to me from past days of my Christian journey. Others just spring to mind as the answer to that day’s dilemma.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
words & music by Martin Luther (1529)

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabbaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let good and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.