John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  NKJV

After surviving a year in Vietnam and returning to civilian life I wandered somewhat aimlessly for over a year deeply disturbed inside and searching for something but had no idea what.  There was more than one occasion when I called to make plans to reenlist and return to Vietnam because I was having such difficulty adjusting to life at home. 

During that time virtually no one knew what was going on inside, I hid it well.  A couple of people discerned that something was wrong and one of those was a fellow veteran and the other a very astute young lady who cared for me in ways I could not return to her because of the condition of my heart.

I found myself in Palestine, Texas living with my sister and her husband working for Coca-Cola / Dr. Pepper as a route driver and became acquainted with some of their friends from Westside Assembly of God who began to show me love and offered prayers heavenward for my soul.  I insulted them, treated them rudely and none of that shook them off my trail or prevented them from loving me and showing me God’s love and mercy.

I finally consented to go to church and thought they were a bunch of nuts but for whatever reason, I went back again and again and fell under deep conviction for my spiritual condition.  I acknowledged that I was lost and going to hell but thought that I had done too much to be forgiven and that put me in a more miserable place than I was before. 

I was doomed with no hope.  I was in deep turmoil now, knowing I had sinned, was lost, and believed that my eternal destination would be in hell. It was at that point in my life, that the love of God reached down through the fog and lifted me to safety as I read Proverbs 3:5-6 at about midnight on a Saturday night and that love came flooding through the barriers I had placed and I in repentance received Jesus into my heart and Love Lifted Me!

So, I give you the song written by John Rowe – “Love Lifted Me.”

1. I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
   From the waters lifted me, now safe am
2. Refrain:
   Love lifted me!
   Love lifted me!
   When nothing else could help,
   Love lifted me!
3. All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence, live, ever His praises sing, Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
   Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.
4. Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
   He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

James Rowe – 1865-1933

Born: Jan­u­a­ry 1, 1865, Hor­ra­bridge, De­von­shire, Eng­land. Died: No­vem­ber 10, 1933, Wells, Ver­mont.

Son of John Rowe, a cop­per min­er, James worked for the Ir­ish gov­ern­ment for four years and then immigrated to Amer­i­ca at age 24. He set­tled in Al­ba­ny, New York, and worked in rail­roads in New York for 10 years. He then be­came an in­spect­or for the Hud­son Riv­er Hu­mane So­ci­e­ty. He then worked for mu­sic pub­lish­ers in Tex­as and Ten­nes­see, and in his lat­er years, moved to Vermont and worked with his daugh­ter, an artist, writ­ing vers­es for greet­ing cards.

May God’s love lift you from whatever fog and battle you are now facing and place you on the solid rock.  Blessings and love!