{HSCRC12} Hymn #4, Standing on the Promises

Hymn Challenge #4: Standing on the Promises

Written by: Russell Kelso Carter
b. November 18, 1849; d. August 23, 1928

Russell Kelso Carter was a man of many professions and interests. He was born to a devout family in 1849, and he gave his life to Christ when he was 15. He attended the Pennsylvania Military Academy, was a gifted athlete, and then he became a professor of chemistry, math, and engineering. He was an author and even authored several of the textbooks for the classes he taught. Later, he had problems with his health and moved to California to became a sheep rancher. It's during that time He truly relied on God's promises. He then became an ordained Methodist minister, and followed that by attending medical school. He spent the last of his professional career as a physician in Maryland. So interesting to see all of the professions and interests that he had!

Mr. Carter turned everything over to God when he became ill in his 30's. The doctors said there was nothing else they could so Mr. Carter turned his health over to the Lord. He stood on God's promises of healing. Mr. Carter was healed, and he lived for another 49 years. He also authored his most famous hymn "Standing on the Promises" during this trial. Mr. Carter stood on God's promises and completely trusted in Him for his healing. He passed away in 1928 in Cantonsville, Maryland.

How often do you use the word 'promise'? How often do you promise someone something? Do you follow through with that promise? Now let's turn the tables. Has someone ever made a promise to you and then they did not keep that promise? How did it make you feel? Did you ever trust them again when they made another promise? Probably not. Their word could not be trusted but God's word and His promises can always be trusted! As Christians, it is extremely vital that we keep the promises we make. If you know you cannot keep the promise, then don't make the promise. This includes to our own children! We represent Christ, and we know God always keeps His promises thus we must also. The only promises we can ever truly rely on, however, are God's promises. The word 'promise' is not one we should take lightly because God doesn't! Here are just a few of God's promises to us:

**Those who believe in Jesus and confess their sins will be saved.
Mark 16:16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

**Those that believe in Him will receive eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 10:27-28 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

**We are secure in Christ and His deposit guarantees He fulfills His promises.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

**His Word and indwelling Holy Spirit give us everything we need for living.
2 Peter 1:3-4 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises."

**His grace is sufficient for us.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

**He will continue His good work of grace in us until Jesus returns.
Phillipians 1:6 "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

**He will help us in temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ". . . And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

**All things work together for the good of those who love Him.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

**He will give us peace in all things.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."

**He gives us strength.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

**He protects those who love and acknowledge Him.
Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Psalm 91:14 "Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name."

These are just a very few of God's amazing promises. Also, as I was putting this study together, I came across a great site called "365 Promises." They will e-mail you a promise from scripture each day with a devotional if you sign up on their site. It really looks like a great site. Click here to look.

To read the words of Russell Kelso Carter's hymn, 'Standing on the Promises', see the links below:

Click here to read the words of this hymn.

Click here to listen to a wonderful version of this hymn by Alan Jackson.

For my 5x7 page today, I used three verses from three different sets from Our Daily Bread Designs--Scripture Series 1 (Isaiah 40:8), Scripture Collection 7 (Psalm 9:10), Scripture Collection 6 (John 14:1). I really also wanted to use 2 Peter 1:4a on my page which says "Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises. . ." and then I noticed that it was on the actual hymn so I was able to use it. Yeah!

Papers: Memory Box Viola, Bazzill cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Series 1 (Isaiah 40:8), Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7 (Psalm 9:10), Scripture Collection 6 (John 14:1)
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink dusty concord
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Distress Stain antique linen, Tim Holtz mini paper clips, Making Memories eggplant acrylic paint, misc. ribbon, Kaiser Craft pearls colored with Copic V09, Deluxe Designs large chipboard heart, misc. chipboard heart, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword HSCRC12 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous study, please see this post here. God keeps His promises. History has proven that and time will prove it again. He promises and He is faithful. Do you believe that?

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

Blessings,