Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
BIBLE REFERENCE: John 14:14 1 Corinthians 10:13 James 1:18
Lyrics: Civilla Durfee Martin Born: August 21, 1866, Jordan, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died: March 9, 1948, Atlanta, Georgia
Composer: Walter Stillman Martin Born: 1862, Rowley, Massachusetts
Died: December 16, 1935, Atlanta, Georgia
HYMN HISTORY: This popular hymn of spiritual encouragement was written, in 1904, by Mr. and Mrs. Stillman Martin. It was composed while the Martins were spending several weeks as guest at the Practical Bible Training School at Lestershire, New York, where Mr. Martin was involved in helping the president of the school, John A. Davis, prepare a songbook. The Reverend W. Stillman Martin, a well-known Baptist evangelist, was invited to preach at a church some distance from the Bible school. That Sunday morning, Mrs. Martin became suddenly ill, making it impossible for her to accompany her husband to his preaching engagement. Mr. Martin seriously considered cancelling his speaking assignment, since it would be needful for him to be gone from her for a considerable time. Just then, however, their young son spoke up and said, “Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?” Agreeing, Mr. Martin kept his preaching appointment, and the service proved to be unusually blessed of God, with several people professing Christ as Savior as a result of the sermon.
Returning later that evening, Mr. Martin found his wife greatly improved in health, and while he was gone she had, in fact, been busily engaged in preparing a new hymn text, inspired by the chance remark of their young son earlier that day. That same evening, Stillman Martin composed the music for his wife’s words just as they are still sung today. The next year, this hymn appeared in a collection, Songs of Redemption and Praise, compiled for the school by W. S. Martin and President John Davis. “God Will Take Care of You” soon became a favorite hymn of Christian people everywhere.
Civilla Durfee Martin was born on August 21, 1866, in Nova Scotia. She taught school and studied music for a time before marrying Dr. Martin. Following their marriage, she traveled and aided him greatly in his ministry and evangelistic campaigns. Together they collaborated in writing a number of gospel songs. Of this song, Civilla Martin said: "I was confined to a sick bed in a Bible school in Lestershire, New York. My husband was spending several weeks at the school, making a songbook for the president of the school. “God Will Take Care of You” was written one Sunday afternoon while my husband went to a preaching appointment. When he returned I gave the words to him. He immediately sat down to his little Bilhorn organ and wrote the music. That evening he and two of the teachers sang the completed song. It was then printed in the songbook he was compiling for the school." Mrs. Martin is also know for writing the popular, gospel song text “His Eye Is On the Sparrow,” in which she collaborated with Charles Gabriel.
One of the lessons that any Christian leader soon realizes in ministering of God’s people is that all believers need much encouragement and comfort from time to time. This hymn has been greatly used of God for this purpose. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Psalms 46:10 Ephesians 6:16
There is One who cares for you. God's eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with mercy towards you and His all powerful hand will bring you the needed help you need. The darkest cloud shall rain on you showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning light.
God, if you are truly a Christian, will bind up your wounds, and heal your broken heart. Doubt not His grace while you are being tested, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.
What a victorious life you can lead if you submit to the providence of God! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and God will do the same for you. 1 Kings 17:16
If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body?
www.biblestudycharts.com
Showing posts with label Hymn's History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hymn's History. Show all posts
4/17 Hymn - "Day By Day"
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.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Joshua 1:9 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Psalm 119:50 Matthew 28:20
Lyrics: Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg Born: October 3, 1832, Småland, Sweden
Died: July 27, 1903, Stockholm, Sweden
Composer: Oskar Ahnfelt Born: May 21, 1813, Gullarp, Skåne, Sweden
Died: October 22, 1882, Karlshamn, Blekinge, Sweden
HYMN HISTORY: The waves of revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter half of the nineteenth century were greatly influenced by the wealth of fine hymns which flowed from the pen of Lina Sandell, born on October 3, 1832 at Froderyd, Sweden. She was a daughter of the pastor of the parish church of that community. Being a frail youngster, she usually preferred to spend her time in her father's study rather than to join her comrades in play. When she was twenty-six years of age, she accompanied her father on a journey to Gothenburg, but tragedy occurred before the destination was reached. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina's father fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter.
Although she had written hymns prior to this tragic experience, more songs began to flow out of her broken heart which reflect a simple, child-like trust in Christ and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life.
The remarkable popularity attained by her hymns has been due, to a large extent, to the simple but melodious music written for them by such musicians as Oscar Ahnfelt. He was known as a "spiritual troubadour" in his day. Not only did he possess the gift of writing pleasing melodies that caught the fancy of the Swedish people, but he also traveled from place to place throughout the Scandinavian countries singing these folk-like songs to the accompaniment of his home-made ten-string guitar. Miss Sandell once said, "Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people."
It is often true that whenever revival fires begin to glow, there is Satanic opposition. The account is given that at one time King Karl XV was petitioned to forbid Ahnfelt's preaching and singing throughout Scandinavia. The king called for Ahnfelt to appear before him. Being considerably perturbed as to what he should sing to his monarch, Ahnfelt requested Lina Sandell to write a special hymn. She was equal to the occasion, and within a few days the song was ready. With his guitar under his arm and the new hymn in his pocket, Ahnfelt appeared at the palace and sang these words:
Who is it that knocketh upon your heart's door in peaceful eve?
Who is it that brings to the wounded and sore the balm that can heal and relieve?
Your heart is still restless, it findeth no peace in earth's pleasures;
Your soul is still yearning, it seeketh release to rise to the heavenly treasures.
The king listened with moist eyes. When Ahnfelt had finished, King Karl gripped him by the hand and exclaimed, "You may sing as much as you desire in both of my kingdoms."
Lina Sandell was married to a Stockholm merchant, C. O. Berg, in 1867, but she continued to sign her hymns with the initials "L. S." by which she was affectionately known throughout Sweden. She has often been called the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden" for her many fine contributions to gospel hymnody.
www.biblestudycharts.com
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.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Joshua 1:9 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Psalm 119:50 Matthew 28:20
Lyrics: Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg Born: October 3, 1832, Småland, Sweden
Died: July 27, 1903, Stockholm, Sweden
Composer: Oskar Ahnfelt Born: May 21, 1813, Gullarp, Skåne, Sweden
Died: October 22, 1882, Karlshamn, Blekinge, Sweden
HYMN HISTORY: The waves of revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter half of the nineteenth century were greatly influenced by the wealth of fine hymns which flowed from the pen of Lina Sandell, born on October 3, 1832 at Froderyd, Sweden. She was a daughter of the pastor of the parish church of that community. Being a frail youngster, she usually preferred to spend her time in her father's study rather than to join her comrades in play. When she was twenty-six years of age, she accompanied her father on a journey to Gothenburg, but tragedy occurred before the destination was reached. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina's father fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter.
Although she had written hymns prior to this tragic experience, more songs began to flow out of her broken heart which reflect a simple, child-like trust in Christ and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life.
The remarkable popularity attained by her hymns has been due, to a large extent, to the simple but melodious music written for them by such musicians as Oscar Ahnfelt. He was known as a "spiritual troubadour" in his day. Not only did he possess the gift of writing pleasing melodies that caught the fancy of the Swedish people, but he also traveled from place to place throughout the Scandinavian countries singing these folk-like songs to the accompaniment of his home-made ten-string guitar. Miss Sandell once said, "Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people."
It is often true that whenever revival fires begin to glow, there is Satanic opposition. The account is given that at one time King Karl XV was petitioned to forbid Ahnfelt's preaching and singing throughout Scandinavia. The king called for Ahnfelt to appear before him. Being considerably perturbed as to what he should sing to his monarch, Ahnfelt requested Lina Sandell to write a special hymn. She was equal to the occasion, and within a few days the song was ready. With his guitar under his arm and the new hymn in his pocket, Ahnfelt appeared at the palace and sang these words:
Who is it that knocketh upon your heart's door in peaceful eve?
Who is it that brings to the wounded and sore the balm that can heal and relieve?
Your heart is still restless, it findeth no peace in earth's pleasures;
Your soul is still yearning, it seeketh release to rise to the heavenly treasures.
The king listened with moist eyes. When Ahnfelt had finished, King Karl gripped him by the hand and exclaimed, "You may sing as much as you desire in both of my kingdoms."
Lina Sandell was married to a Stockholm merchant, C. O. Berg, in 1867, but she continued to sign her hymns with the initials "L. S." by which she was affectionately known throughout Sweden. She has often been called the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden" for her many fine contributions to gospel hymnody.
www.biblestudycharts.com
3/17 Hymn - "Count Your Blessings"
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Ephesians 1:3-6 Ezekiel 34:26 Proverbs 10:6 Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Philippians 4:6 Philippians 4:19
Lyrics: Johnson Oatman, Jr Born: April 21, 1856, near Medford, New Jersey
Died: September 25, 1922, Norman, Oklahoma
Composer: Edwin Othello Excell Born: December 13, 1851, Stark County, Ohio
Died: June 10, 1921, Chicago, Illinois
This hymn certainly ranks as one of the most familiar numbers in our hymnals. It is one of the songs that many of us first sang with gusto during our early Sunday School days, yet one that we still enjoy singing in our gospel type of services.
Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr., was one of the important and prolific gospel song writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born near Medford, New Jersey, on April 21, 1856. As a child he became acquainted with the hymns of the church through the singing talents of his father.
At the age of nineteen Oatman joined the Methodist Church and several years later was granted a license to preach in local Methodist congregations. Though he wrote over 5,000 hymn texts, Oatman was busily engaged throughout his life in a mercantile business and later as an administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey. Other gospel favorites by Johnson Oatman include “Higher Ground, and “No, Not One!”
“Count Your Blessings” is generally considered to be Oatman’s finest hymn. If first appeared in Songs for Young People, compiled and published by Edwin O. Excell in 1897. It has been sung all over the world. One writer has stated, “Like beam of sunlight it has brightened up the dark places of the earth.”
Perhaps no American hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in Great Britain as this hymn. The London Daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, reported, Mr. Smith announced the hymn ‘Count Your Blessings.’ Said he, ‘In South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn.’ “During the great revival in Wales it was one of the hymns the hymns sung at every service along with such Welsh favorites as “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah” and “O That Will be Glory.”
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” Cicero
We as Christians find it hard to see the blessings of God in our own lives because so often our eyes are on others, seeing what they have and continue to gain, feeling somehow that we have been cheated. Some wrongly feel that true blessings are to be found in the amount of earthly possessions we obtain.
God wants us to be thankful in whatever state of life we are in. Philippians 4:19 tells us to be content in whatever state you are in. Paul speaking of himself writes; "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:12. And then in verse 19 he writes, But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. The Lord shall supply your needs not you every wants.
www.biblestudycharts.com
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Ephesians 1:3-6 Ezekiel 34:26 Proverbs 10:6 Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Philippians 4:6 Philippians 4:19
Lyrics: Johnson Oatman, Jr Born: April 21, 1856, near Medford, New Jersey
Died: September 25, 1922, Norman, Oklahoma
Composer: Edwin Othello Excell Born: December 13, 1851, Stark County, Ohio
Died: June 10, 1921, Chicago, Illinois
This hymn certainly ranks as one of the most familiar numbers in our hymnals. It is one of the songs that many of us first sang with gusto during our early Sunday School days, yet one that we still enjoy singing in our gospel type of services.
Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr., was one of the important and prolific gospel song writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born near Medford, New Jersey, on April 21, 1856. As a child he became acquainted with the hymns of the church through the singing talents of his father.
At the age of nineteen Oatman joined the Methodist Church and several years later was granted a license to preach in local Methodist congregations. Though he wrote over 5,000 hymn texts, Oatman was busily engaged throughout his life in a mercantile business and later as an administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey. Other gospel favorites by Johnson Oatman include “Higher Ground, and “No, Not One!”
“Count Your Blessings” is generally considered to be Oatman’s finest hymn. If first appeared in Songs for Young People, compiled and published by Edwin O. Excell in 1897. It has been sung all over the world. One writer has stated, “Like beam of sunlight it has brightened up the dark places of the earth.”
Perhaps no American hymn was ever received with such enthusiasm in Great Britain as this hymn. The London Daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, reported, Mr. Smith announced the hymn ‘Count Your Blessings.’ Said he, ‘In South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn.’ “During the great revival in Wales it was one of the hymns the hymns sung at every service along with such Welsh favorites as “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah” and “O That Will be Glory.”
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” Cicero
We as Christians find it hard to see the blessings of God in our own lives because so often our eyes are on others, seeing what they have and continue to gain, feeling somehow that we have been cheated. Some wrongly feel that true blessings are to be found in the amount of earthly possessions we obtain.
God wants us to be thankful in whatever state of life we are in. Philippians 4:19 tells us to be content in whatever state you are in. Paul speaking of himself writes; "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:12. And then in verse 19 he writes, But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. The Lord shall supply your needs not you every wants.
www.biblestudycharts.com
2/17 Hymn - "Beyond the Sunset"
Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,
When with our Savior heav’n is begun;
Earth’s toiling ended, O glorious dawning -
Beyond the sunset when day is done.
Beyond the sunset no clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
O day of gladness, O day unending -
Beyond the sunset, eternal joy!
Beyond the sunset a hand will guide me
To God the Father, whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
Will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting -
Beyond the sunset forevermore!
Lyrics: Virgil Prentiss Brock Born: January 6, 1887, Mercer County, Ohio
Buried: Warsaw, Indiana
Composer: Blanche Kerr Brock Born: February 3, 1888, Greens Fork, Indiana
Died: January 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana
This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, one evening in 1936, after watching a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake Indiana, with a blind guest (cousin Horace Burr) and his wife Grace.
A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were threatening storm clouds gathering overhead. Returning to our home, we went to the dinner table still talking about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked the he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.
“People are always amazed when you talk about seeing,” I told him, “I can see,” Horace replied. “I see through other peoples eyes, and think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.”
The phrase “beyond the sunset” and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures. “That’s beautiful!” his wife interrupted, “Please go to the piano and sing it.
We went to the piano nearby and completed the first verse. “You should have a verse about the storm clouds,” our guest urged, and the words for this verse came quickly as well. Recalling how closely our guest had walked hand in hand together for so many years due to his blindness, the third verse was soon added. Before the evening meal was finished, all four stanzas had been written and we sang the entire song together.
1 John 2:15-17 Titus 2:11-14
The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays.
www.biblestudycharts.com
When with our Savior heav’n is begun;
Earth’s toiling ended, O glorious dawning -
Beyond the sunset when day is done.
Beyond the sunset no clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
O day of gladness, O day unending -
Beyond the sunset, eternal joy!
Beyond the sunset a hand will guide me
To God the Father, whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
Will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting -
Beyond the sunset forevermore!
Lyrics: Virgil Prentiss Brock Born: January 6, 1887, Mercer County, Ohio
Buried: Warsaw, Indiana
Composer: Blanche Kerr Brock Born: February 3, 1888, Greens Fork, Indiana
Died: January 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana
This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, one evening in 1936, after watching a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake Indiana, with a blind guest (cousin Horace Burr) and his wife Grace.
A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were threatening storm clouds gathering overhead. Returning to our home, we went to the dinner table still talking about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked the he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.
“People are always amazed when you talk about seeing,” I told him, “I can see,” Horace replied. “I see through other peoples eyes, and think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.”
The phrase “beyond the sunset” and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures. “That’s beautiful!” his wife interrupted, “Please go to the piano and sing it.
We went to the piano nearby and completed the first verse. “You should have a verse about the storm clouds,” our guest urged, and the words for this verse came quickly as well. Recalling how closely our guest had walked hand in hand together for so many years due to his blindness, the third verse was soon added. Before the evening meal was finished, all four stanzas had been written and we sang the entire song together.
1 John 2:15-17 Titus 2:11-14
The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays.
www.biblestudycharts.com
1/19 Hymn - "Abide With Me"
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 23:4 Daniel 3:23-29 Isaiah 43:2 John 15:4-11
Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte Born: June 1, 1793, Ednam, Scotland
Died: November 20, 1847, Nice, France
Composer: William Henry Monk Born: March 16, 1823, London, England
Died: March 1, 1889, London, England
It has been stated that only the person who can face the prospect of death realistically is able to live this life with purpose and confidence. Such was the conviction of a rather obscure English pastor, Henry F. Lyte, when he wrote the text for this hymn in 1847, shortly before his own home-going. It has since become one of the favorite hymns for Christians everywhere during times of sorrow and deep distress.
Henry F. Lyte was born in Scotland on June 1, 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and was a member of the Church of England all of his life. Throughout his lifetime he was known as a man frail in body but strong in faith and spirit. His health was continually threatened by asthma and tuberculosis.
Despite his physical frailties he was a tireless worker with an established reputation as a poet, musician and minister. It was he who coined the phrase, "It is better to wear out than to rust out." Wherever he ministered, he was greatly loved and admired by his people.
For the last twenty-three years of his life Lyte pastored a poor parish church among fishing people at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England. During these later years his health became progressively worse so that he was forced to seek a warmer climate in Italy. For the last sermon with his poor parishioners on September 4, 1847, it is recorded that Lyte nearly had to crawl to the pulpit and his message came as from a dying man. His final words made a deep impact upon his people when he said that it was his desire to "induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely appreciation and dependence on the death of Christ." On his way to Rome, Italy, he was overtaken by death at Nice, France, and was buried there in the English cemetery on November 20, 1847.
Lyte is said to have written this text along with his own tune shortly before his last Sunday at the Lower Brixham Church. It never became widely used in England until it was first published in a book, Lyte's Remains, in 1850, London. Its first appearance in America was in Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Collection in 1855 with the notation that "this hymn was meant to be read and not sung."
Henry Lyte's text for this hymn was taken from the account of Christ's appearance with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus and their statement, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent" (Luke 24:29). Although Lyte did not write a great quantity of hymns, others from his pen include "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken".
Are you experiencing dark days in your life? Does fear and doubt have a hold on you? Is your body failing you, and does pain rob you of your joy? The Lord promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Let us then comfort ourself with these words from the book of James, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you....Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:8,10
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
www.biblestudycharts.com
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
BIBLE REFERENCE: Psalm 23:4 Daniel 3:23-29 Isaiah 43:2 John 15:4-11
Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte Born: June 1, 1793, Ednam, Scotland
Died: November 20, 1847, Nice, France
Composer: William Henry Monk Born: March 16, 1823, London, England
Died: March 1, 1889, London, England
It has been stated that only the person who can face the prospect of death realistically is able to live this life with purpose and confidence. Such was the conviction of a rather obscure English pastor, Henry F. Lyte, when he wrote the text for this hymn in 1847, shortly before his own home-going. It has since become one of the favorite hymns for Christians everywhere during times of sorrow and deep distress.
Henry F. Lyte was born in Scotland on June 1, 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and was a member of the Church of England all of his life. Throughout his lifetime he was known as a man frail in body but strong in faith and spirit. His health was continually threatened by asthma and tuberculosis.
Despite his physical frailties he was a tireless worker with an established reputation as a poet, musician and minister. It was he who coined the phrase, "It is better to wear out than to rust out." Wherever he ministered, he was greatly loved and admired by his people.
For the last twenty-three years of his life Lyte pastored a poor parish church among fishing people at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England. During these later years his health became progressively worse so that he was forced to seek a warmer climate in Italy. For the last sermon with his poor parishioners on September 4, 1847, it is recorded that Lyte nearly had to crawl to the pulpit and his message came as from a dying man. His final words made a deep impact upon his people when he said that it was his desire to "induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely appreciation and dependence on the death of Christ." On his way to Rome, Italy, he was overtaken by death at Nice, France, and was buried there in the English cemetery on November 20, 1847.
Lyte is said to have written this text along with his own tune shortly before his last Sunday at the Lower Brixham Church. It never became widely used in England until it was first published in a book, Lyte's Remains, in 1850, London. Its first appearance in America was in Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Collection in 1855 with the notation that "this hymn was meant to be read and not sung."
Henry Lyte's text for this hymn was taken from the account of Christ's appearance with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus and their statement, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent" (Luke 24:29). Although Lyte did not write a great quantity of hymns, others from his pen include "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken".
Are you experiencing dark days in your life? Does fear and doubt have a hold on you? Is your body failing you, and does pain rob you of your joy? The Lord promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Let us then comfort ourself with these words from the book of James, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you....Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:8,10
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
www.biblestudycharts.com
9/12 Hymn - "Hiding In Thee"
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Psalms 9:9
Proverbs 14:26
Psalms 32:7
Psalms 94:22
Psalms 119:114
Psalms 145:20
Lyrics - William O. Cushing
Born: December 31, 1823, Hingham Center, Massachusetts
Died: October 19, 1902, Lisbon Center, New York
Composer - Ira David Sankey
Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania
Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York
HYMN HISTORY:
William O. Cushing was for more than twenty years a successful pastor in the eastern area of the United States. Following the death of his wife in 1870, ill health forced his retirement from the active ministry. During this time he became intensely interested in hymn writing and wrote more than three hundred hymns, cooperating with such gospel musicians as Ira Sankey, Robert Lowry, George Root, and others.
Mr Cushing has left the following account regarding the writing of “Hiding in Thee”:
“Hiding in Thee” was written at Moravia, New York, in 1876. It must be said of this hymn that it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart conflicts, and yearnings of which the world can know nothing. The history of many battles is behind it. But the occasion which gave it being was the call of Mr. Sankey, He said, Send me something new to help me in my gospel work.” A call from such a source, and for such a purpose, seemed to be a call from God. I so regarded it and prayed, “Lord, give me something that may glorify Thee;” It was while thus waiting the “Hiding in Thee” pressed to make itself known. Mr Sankey called forth the tune, and by his genius gave the hymn wings, making it useful in the Maser’s work.
William C. Cushing is also the author of “Ring the Bells of Heaven” and “When He Cometh.”
Ira D. Sankey is often called the “father of the gospel song” because he made extensive use of this new type of music in his evangelistic campaigns with D. L. Moody, and he worked hard in widely publishing and distributing gospel songbook collections. One collection alone Sacred Songs and Solos, is said to have sold more the eighty million copies in the first fifty years following its initial publication. This book is still being published and used today. This collection, as well as a series of publications in which Sankey collaborated with P. P. Bliss and George C. Stebbins, Gospel Hymns Numbers 1-6, has had an extraordinary influence on evangelical church music to the present time.
Although the singing of the Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs had always been an important part of public worship since the time of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation, Sankey introduced a style of congregational singing that was “calculated to awaken the careless, to melt the hardened, and to guide the inquiring souls to Jesus Christ.” It was frequently said that Sankey was as effective a preacher of the gospel of salvation with his songs as his associate, D .L. Moody, was with his sermons.
For nearly thirty years Sankey and Moody were inseparable in the work of the gospel, both in the United States and throughout Great Britian. Sankey's smooth, cultured ways complemented and made up for Moody’s poor English and impulsiveness. They were often referred to as the “David and Jonathan of the gospel ministry.” More...
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,”
I’m hiding in Thee.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Psalms 9:9
Proverbs 14:26
Psalms 32:7
Psalms 94:22
Psalms 119:114
Psalms 145:20
Lyrics - William O. Cushing
Born: December 31, 1823, Hingham Center, Massachusetts
Died: October 19, 1902, Lisbon Center, New York
Composer - Ira David Sankey
Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania
Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York
HYMN HISTORY:
William O. Cushing was for more than twenty years a successful pastor in the eastern area of the United States. Following the death of his wife in 1870, ill health forced his retirement from the active ministry. During this time he became intensely interested in hymn writing and wrote more than three hundred hymns, cooperating with such gospel musicians as Ira Sankey, Robert Lowry, George Root, and others.
Mr Cushing has left the following account regarding the writing of “Hiding in Thee”:
“Hiding in Thee” was written at Moravia, New York, in 1876. It must be said of this hymn that it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart conflicts, and yearnings of which the world can know nothing. The history of many battles is behind it. But the occasion which gave it being was the call of Mr. Sankey, He said, Send me something new to help me in my gospel work.” A call from such a source, and for such a purpose, seemed to be a call from God. I so regarded it and prayed, “Lord, give me something that may glorify Thee;” It was while thus waiting the “Hiding in Thee” pressed to make itself known. Mr Sankey called forth the tune, and by his genius gave the hymn wings, making it useful in the Maser’s work.
William C. Cushing is also the author of “Ring the Bells of Heaven” and “When He Cometh.”
Ira D. Sankey is often called the “father of the gospel song” because he made extensive use of this new type of music in his evangelistic campaigns with D. L. Moody, and he worked hard in widely publishing and distributing gospel songbook collections. One collection alone Sacred Songs and Solos, is said to have sold more the eighty million copies in the first fifty years following its initial publication. This book is still being published and used today. This collection, as well as a series of publications in which Sankey collaborated with P. P. Bliss and George C. Stebbins, Gospel Hymns Numbers 1-6, has had an extraordinary influence on evangelical church music to the present time.
Although the singing of the Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs had always been an important part of public worship since the time of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation, Sankey introduced a style of congregational singing that was “calculated to awaken the careless, to melt the hardened, and to guide the inquiring souls to Jesus Christ.” It was frequently said that Sankey was as effective a preacher of the gospel of salvation with his songs as his associate, D .L. Moody, was with his sermons.
For nearly thirty years Sankey and Moody were inseparable in the work of the gospel, both in the United States and throughout Great Britian. Sankey's smooth, cultured ways complemented and made up for Moody’s poor English and impulsiveness. They were often referred to as the “David and Jonathan of the gospel ministry.” More...
9/5 Hymn - "Once For All"
Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
“Children of God,” O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessèd salvation once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Hebrews 10:9-10
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 6:8-10
Isaiah 53:4-6
Hebrews 7:26-27
Hebrews 9:24-28
Hebrews 10:12
Hebrews 10:14
1 Peter 3:18
Lyrics & Composer: Philip P. Bliss
Born: July 9, 1838, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Died: December 29, 1876, Ashtabula, Ohio
“Once for All” first appeared in Bliss’s Sunshine for Sunday School collection, published in 1873, and again in his Gospel Songs of 1875, which he did collaboration with Ira D. Sankey. Bliss wrote this text after meditating upon the truth of Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
George C. Stebbins gives this further tribute to Philip P. Bliss, who along with Ira D. Sankey, has been called the “Father of Gospel Music.”
He occupied a pre-eminence that still stand unrivalled. There has been no writer since his time who has shown such a grasp of the fundamental truths of the gospel, nor such a gift for putting them into poetic and singable form as he. In all of his hymns, there was manifest a happy blending of the poet and musician, and along with it a rare judgement and deep spiritual insight into the need of presenting the saving truths of Scripture in clear and singable form.
So versatile were his talents, that his gifts as a singer and leader were little less than those he possessed as a writer of hymns. He had a voice of rare quality and splendid volume, a baritone of extraordinary range and evenness throughout, and a perfect method of voice production and control. . . He was six feet tall, and of commanding stature, with features as perfect in form, and eyes that were large and kindly in expression... he sang without ostentation, playing his own accompaniment. . . His leading was also without display or any
attempt at attracting attention to himself.
Philip P. Bliss was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 838. As a young man, he moved to Chicago and became involved in the evangelistic ministries of Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey. H became one of the most prolific, gospel song writers of his time, before his tragic death in a train accident at Ashtabula, Ohio, on December 29,1876, when only thirty-eight years of age. More...
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
“Children of God,” O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessèd salvation once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Hebrews 10:9-10
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 6:8-10
Isaiah 53:4-6
Hebrews 7:26-27
Hebrews 9:24-28
Hebrews 10:12
Hebrews 10:14
1 Peter 3:18
Lyrics & Composer: Philip P. Bliss
Born: July 9, 1838, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Died: December 29, 1876, Ashtabula, Ohio
“Once for All” first appeared in Bliss’s Sunshine for Sunday School collection, published in 1873, and again in his Gospel Songs of 1875, which he did collaboration with Ira D. Sankey. Bliss wrote this text after meditating upon the truth of Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
George C. Stebbins gives this further tribute to Philip P. Bliss, who along with Ira D. Sankey, has been called the “Father of Gospel Music.”
He occupied a pre-eminence that still stand unrivalled. There has been no writer since his time who has shown such a grasp of the fundamental truths of the gospel, nor such a gift for putting them into poetic and singable form as he. In all of his hymns, there was manifest a happy blending of the poet and musician, and along with it a rare judgement and deep spiritual insight into the need of presenting the saving truths of Scripture in clear and singable form.
So versatile were his talents, that his gifts as a singer and leader were little less than those he possessed as a writer of hymns. He had a voice of rare quality and splendid volume, a baritone of extraordinary range and evenness throughout, and a perfect method of voice production and control. . . He was six feet tall, and of commanding stature, with features as perfect in form, and eyes that were large and kindly in expression... he sang without ostentation, playing his own accompaniment. . . His leading was also without display or any
attempt at attracting attention to himself.
Philip P. Bliss was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 838. As a young man, he moved to Chicago and became involved in the evangelistic ministries of Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey. H became one of the most prolific, gospel song writers of his time, before his tragic death in a train accident at Ashtabula, Ohio, on December 29,1876, when only thirty-eight years of age. More...
8/29 Hymn - "My Jesus, I Love Thee"
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
1 John 4:19
Mark 12:33
Joshua 22:5
Deuteronomy 11:1
Deuteronomy 6:5
Matthew 22:37
Psalms 116:1
Lyrics: William Ralph Featherston
Born: July 23, 1846, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: May 20, 1873, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Composer: Adoniram Judson Gordon
Born: April 13, 1836, New Hampton, New Hampshire
Died: February 2, 1895, Boston, Massachusetts
HYMN HISTORY:
This beloved hymn which so profoundly expresses the believer’s love and gratitude to Christ, was written by a very young man, named William Ralph Featherston. (at times spelled Featherstone)
William was born on July 23, 1846 in Montreal, Canada. He was the son of John and Mary Featherston. Ralph's family were all members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Montreal. It has been told that young Featherston penned the words to this lovely hymn at the time of his conversion experience, when he was sixteen years of age. Though information about William Featherston is scarce it is believed that after it was written he sent the text to his aunt Mrs. E. Featherston Wilson living in Los Angeles, she quickly asked for its publication. The original copy of this much loved poem, in the author’s boyish handwriting, is still a cherished treasure in the family. Strangely, however, the hymn text appeared anonymously with a different tune in an English hymnal, The London Hymn Book, published in 1864.
A Protestant Minister once related the following story regarding this hymn "My Jesus I Love Thee,"to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’
This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”
The composer, Adoniram Judson Gordon, was born in New Hampton, New Hampshire, on April 19, 1836, and was named for the famous pioneer Baptist missionary to India-Burma. After graduating from Newton Theological Seminary, Gordon was ordained in 1863, and six years later was called to pastor the prestigious Clarendon Street Baptist Church of Boston. He became a close friend of Dwight L. Moody and was of great assistance in Moody’s ministry efforts in Boston.
Dr. A. J. Gordon, who was a well-known evangelist and pastor discovered and loved the lyrics of this anonymous hymn in The London Hymn Book in 1870. For several years Dr. Gordon had been working on assembling a new hymnal geared especially for baptist congregations. One day as he meditated on the anonymous English hymn, he became dissatisfied with its existing melody. It is said that soon after, in a moment of inspiration, he wrote the beautiful melody we hear today. The hymn in its present form first appeared in the hymnal, The Service of Song for Baptist Churches, complied by S. L. Caldwell and A. J. Gordon and published in 1876. The hymn has been included in nearly every Christian hymnal published to the present time. Dr. Gordon is also the composer for another popular gospel song, “In Tenderness He Sought Me.” Dr. A. J. Gordon died on February 2, 1895, in Boston, after a life of service to the Lord and to his fellowman. More...
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
1 John 4:19
Mark 12:33
Joshua 22:5
Deuteronomy 11:1
Deuteronomy 6:5
Matthew 22:37
Psalms 116:1
Lyrics: William Ralph Featherston
Born: July 23, 1846, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: May 20, 1873, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Composer: Adoniram Judson Gordon
Born: April 13, 1836, New Hampton, New Hampshire
Died: February 2, 1895, Boston, Massachusetts
HYMN HISTORY:
This beloved hymn which so profoundly expresses the believer’s love and gratitude to Christ, was written by a very young man, named William Ralph Featherston. (at times spelled Featherstone)
William was born on July 23, 1846 in Montreal, Canada. He was the son of John and Mary Featherston. Ralph's family were all members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Montreal. It has been told that young Featherston penned the words to this lovely hymn at the time of his conversion experience, when he was sixteen years of age. Though information about William Featherston is scarce it is believed that after it was written he sent the text to his aunt Mrs. E. Featherston Wilson living in Los Angeles, she quickly asked for its publication. The original copy of this much loved poem, in the author’s boyish handwriting, is still a cherished treasure in the family. Strangely, however, the hymn text appeared anonymously with a different tune in an English hymnal, The London Hymn Book, published in 1864.
A Protestant Minister once related the following story regarding this hymn "My Jesus I Love Thee,"to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis. “A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:
‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’
This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God.”
The composer, Adoniram Judson Gordon, was born in New Hampton, New Hampshire, on April 19, 1836, and was named for the famous pioneer Baptist missionary to India-Burma. After graduating from Newton Theological Seminary, Gordon was ordained in 1863, and six years later was called to pastor the prestigious Clarendon Street Baptist Church of Boston. He became a close friend of Dwight L. Moody and was of great assistance in Moody’s ministry efforts in Boston.
Dr. A. J. Gordon, who was a well-known evangelist and pastor discovered and loved the lyrics of this anonymous hymn in The London Hymn Book in 1870. For several years Dr. Gordon had been working on assembling a new hymnal geared especially for baptist congregations. One day as he meditated on the anonymous English hymn, he became dissatisfied with its existing melody. It is said that soon after, in a moment of inspiration, he wrote the beautiful melody we hear today. The hymn in its present form first appeared in the hymnal, The Service of Song for Baptist Churches, complied by S. L. Caldwell and A. J. Gordon and published in 1876. The hymn has been included in nearly every Christian hymnal published to the present time. Dr. Gordon is also the composer for another popular gospel song, “In Tenderness He Sought Me.” Dr. A. J. Gordon died on February 2, 1895, in Boston, after a life of service to the Lord and to his fellowman. More...
8/22 Hymn - "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity. Amen
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Nahum 1:7
Isaiah 25:4
Psalms 91:2
Hebrews 6:18-19
John 3:16
Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Born: December 28, 1707, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England
Died: March 29, 1788, London, England
Composer: Joseph Parry
Born: May 21, 1841, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Died: February 17, 1903, Penrarth, Wales
HYMN HISTORY:
Of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley, this is generally considered to be his finest. It is still found in nearly every published hymnal and has been translated into almost every known language. It is interesting to note, however, that when Charles first presented this text to his brother, John, for approval, it was rejected as being too sentimental. It was not until after the author’s death that the song came into general use. It was first published in 1740 in a collection of 139 hymns know as Hymns and Sacred Poems.
Henry Ward Beecher, noted American preacher of the past century, once wrote,
"I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on earth; it is more glorious, it has more power in it. I would rather be the author of that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die after a little while, pass out of men’s thoughts, what will there be to speak of him? But people will go on singing that hymn until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then I think it will mount upon some lips to the very presence of God."
There are various stories concerning the experiences that prompted Charles Wesley to pen these words, though none has ever been completely authenticated. Several of these stories are described as follows: On his return to England in the fall of 1736, following his brief and disappointing experience in the United States, Charles Wesley was caught in a very frightening storm at sea when it appeared for certain that all would be lost. Finally on December 3 the ship reached land. Wesley wrote in his journal for that date “I knelt down and blessed the Hand that hand conducted me through such inextricable mazes.” Some writers state that during this storm experience a frightened bird flew into Wesley’s cabin and sheltered itself in his bosom for comfort and safety. Another account says that Wesley wrote this text while lying under a hedge, having been beaten up by an angry mob opposing his ministry. Still others see this text as a picture of Wesley’s own life as a young man he struggled to find his peace with God before his dramatic Aldersgate conversion experience on May 21, 1738.
A hymn of this quality, however, really doesn't need any popular account of its origin to give it added greatness, The meaningful simplicity of the text is sufficient. It should be noted that 156 simple one-syllable words appear among the 188 words of the text. Christ is presented as a “lover,” “healer,” “refuge,” “fountain,” “wing,” and “pilot” – the all sufficient One. Truly each believer can say with Wesley, “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find...”
This is a hymn that never loses it appeal for it speaks to the basic need of every human heart, a personal dependence upon the infinite God. More...
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity. Amen
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Nahum 1:7
Isaiah 25:4
Psalms 91:2
Hebrews 6:18-19
John 3:16
Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Born: December 28, 1707, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England
Died: March 29, 1788, London, England
Composer: Joseph Parry
Born: May 21, 1841, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Died: February 17, 1903, Penrarth, Wales
HYMN HISTORY:
Of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley, this is generally considered to be his finest. It is still found in nearly every published hymnal and has been translated into almost every known language. It is interesting to note, however, that when Charles first presented this text to his brother, John, for approval, it was rejected as being too sentimental. It was not until after the author’s death that the song came into general use. It was first published in 1740 in a collection of 139 hymns know as Hymns and Sacred Poems.
Henry Ward Beecher, noted American preacher of the past century, once wrote,
"I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on earth; it is more glorious, it has more power in it. I would rather be the author of that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die after a little while, pass out of men’s thoughts, what will there be to speak of him? But people will go on singing that hymn until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then I think it will mount upon some lips to the very presence of God."
There are various stories concerning the experiences that prompted Charles Wesley to pen these words, though none has ever been completely authenticated. Several of these stories are described as follows: On his return to England in the fall of 1736, following his brief and disappointing experience in the United States, Charles Wesley was caught in a very frightening storm at sea when it appeared for certain that all would be lost. Finally on December 3 the ship reached land. Wesley wrote in his journal for that date “I knelt down and blessed the Hand that hand conducted me through such inextricable mazes.” Some writers state that during this storm experience a frightened bird flew into Wesley’s cabin and sheltered itself in his bosom for comfort and safety. Another account says that Wesley wrote this text while lying under a hedge, having been beaten up by an angry mob opposing his ministry. Still others see this text as a picture of Wesley’s own life as a young man he struggled to find his peace with God before his dramatic Aldersgate conversion experience on May 21, 1738.
A hymn of this quality, however, really doesn't need any popular account of its origin to give it added greatness, The meaningful simplicity of the text is sufficient. It should be noted that 156 simple one-syllable words appear among the 188 words of the text. Christ is presented as a “lover,” “healer,” “refuge,” “fountain,” “wing,” and “pilot” – the all sufficient One. Truly each believer can say with Wesley, “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find...”
This is a hymn that never loses it appeal for it speaks to the basic need of every human heart, a personal dependence upon the infinite God. More...
8/15 Hymn - "Trusting Jesus"
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Isaiah 26:4
Nahum 1:7
Psalms 36:7
1 Peter 5:6-7
2 Corinthians 1:9-10
Lyrics: Edgar Page Stites
Born: March 22, 1836, Cape May, New Jersey.
Died: January 9, 1921, Cape May, New Jersey.
Composer: Ira David Sankey
Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania.
Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York.
The author, Edgar Page Stites, was for many years an obscure but active lay-worker in the Methodist Church of Cape May, New jersey. One of his ancestors was John Howland, who came to America on the Mayflower. Stites was also a cousin of the gospel hymnwriter, Eliza E. Hewitt who wrote “More About Jesus.” Mr. Stites served in the Civil War nd later for a time was a riverboat pilot. He also worked for a period as a Methodist home missionary in the Dakotas. Another of Edgar P. Stites’ hymn texts that has enjoyed popularity to the present time is “Beulah Land.” Frequently Stites used the pseudonym Edgar Page on his hymns. He died on January 7, 1921, in the same town where he was born, Cape Mat, New Jersey.
The composer, Ira D. Sankey, is a name well-known to Christians. He has been called the “Father of Gospel Music” because of his many contributions to gospel hymnody during the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Mr. Sankey has contributed the music to such favorites as “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.” “Hiding in Thee,” and “The Ninety and Nine.” In all, Mr. Sankey contributed his talents to the writing of more than eighty gospel songs and the compiling of more than ten, important, hymnal collections.
Ira D. Sankey, the composer, relates the following incident regarding the birth of this hymn:
The words of this hymn were handed to Mr. Moody in Chicago, in 1876, in the form of a newspaper clipping. He gave to me, and asked me to write a tune for them. I assented, on condition that he should vouch for the doctrine taught in the verses, and he said he would. More...
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Isaiah 26:4
Nahum 1:7
Psalms 36:7
1 Peter 5:6-7
2 Corinthians 1:9-10
Lyrics: Edgar Page Stites
Born: March 22, 1836, Cape May, New Jersey.
Died: January 9, 1921, Cape May, New Jersey.
Composer: Ira David Sankey
Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania.
Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York.
The author, Edgar Page Stites, was for many years an obscure but active lay-worker in the Methodist Church of Cape May, New jersey. One of his ancestors was John Howland, who came to America on the Mayflower. Stites was also a cousin of the gospel hymnwriter, Eliza E. Hewitt who wrote “More About Jesus.” Mr. Stites served in the Civil War nd later for a time was a riverboat pilot. He also worked for a period as a Methodist home missionary in the Dakotas. Another of Edgar P. Stites’ hymn texts that has enjoyed popularity to the present time is “Beulah Land.” Frequently Stites used the pseudonym Edgar Page on his hymns. He died on January 7, 1921, in the same town where he was born, Cape Mat, New Jersey.
The composer, Ira D. Sankey, is a name well-known to Christians. He has been called the “Father of Gospel Music” because of his many contributions to gospel hymnody during the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Mr. Sankey has contributed the music to such favorites as “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.” “Hiding in Thee,” and “The Ninety and Nine.” In all, Mr. Sankey contributed his talents to the writing of more than eighty gospel songs and the compiling of more than ten, important, hymnal collections.
Ira D. Sankey, the composer, relates the following incident regarding the birth of this hymn:
The words of this hymn were handed to Mr. Moody in Chicago, in 1876, in the form of a newspaper clipping. He gave to me, and asked me to write a tune for them. I assented, on condition that he should vouch for the doctrine taught in the verses, and he said he would. More...
5/31 Hymn - "Eternal Father"/The Navy Hymn
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! the Lord of hill and plain,
O’er which our traffic runs amain,
By mountain pass or valley low;
Wherever, Lord, Thy brethren go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand,
From every peril on the land!
O Spirit, whom the Father sent,
To spread abroad the firmament;
O wind of heaven, by Thy might,
Save all who dare the eagle’s flight.
And keep them by Thy watchful care,
From every peril in the air.
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoever they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Matthew 8:23-27
Psalm 91:1-9
Romans 1:20-21
Colossians 2:9-10
Mathew 11:28
Lyrics: William Whiting
Born: November 1, 1825, Kensington, London, England.
Died: May 3, 1878, Winchester, Hampshire, England.
Composer: John Bacchus Dykes
Born: March 10, 1823, Hull, England.
Died: January 22, 1876, Ticehurst, Sussex, England.
HYMN HISTORY:
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” or known to many as the “Navy Hymn,” has often been cited as the most popular hymn for travelers in the English language. It was written, in 1860, by William Whitting and has gone through numerous revisions to the present time. The hymn text was so well thought of, when it was written, that it was included in the 1861 edition of the highly regarded, Anglican Church hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern. It was set to the fine “Melita” tune, especially composed for it by one of England’s highly esteemed church musicians of the nineteen century, John B. Dykes. The present version is taken from the 1937 edition of the Missionary Service Book, where one of the editors, Robert Nelson Spencer, added the second and third stanzas to include a plea for God’s protection for those who travel by land and air as well as those on the high seas.
...It is generally believed that Whiting’s text was inspired by the vivid description of the sea’s dangers and God’s promised deliverances as recorded in Psalm 107:23-32. ...It should be noted that the the first three stanzas of this hymn are each addressed to a different member of the Godhead:
Stanza 1 – To the Father who created and controls the sea (Job 38:10-11),
Stanza 2 – To the Son who has power to control the elements of nature (Matthew 8:23-27),
Stanza 3 – To the Spirit, who at the creation of the world “Brooded over the face of the waters” Genesis 1).
The fourth stanza petitions the love and power of the entire Trinity and urges men everywhere to “Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:31). More... Also, more @ website HERE.
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! the Lord of hill and plain,
O’er which our traffic runs amain,
By mountain pass or valley low;
Wherever, Lord, Thy brethren go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand,
From every peril on the land!
O Spirit, whom the Father sent,
To spread abroad the firmament;
O wind of heaven, by Thy might,
Save all who dare the eagle’s flight.
And keep them by Thy watchful care,
From every peril in the air.
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoever they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Matthew 8:23-27
Psalm 91:1-9
Romans 1:20-21
Colossians 2:9-10
Mathew 11:28
Lyrics: William Whiting
Born: November 1, 1825, Kensington, London, England.
Died: May 3, 1878, Winchester, Hampshire, England.
Composer: John Bacchus Dykes
Born: March 10, 1823, Hull, England.
Died: January 22, 1876, Ticehurst, Sussex, England.
HYMN HISTORY:
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” or known to many as the “Navy Hymn,” has often been cited as the most popular hymn for travelers in the English language. It was written, in 1860, by William Whitting and has gone through numerous revisions to the present time. The hymn text was so well thought of, when it was written, that it was included in the 1861 edition of the highly regarded, Anglican Church hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern. It was set to the fine “Melita” tune, especially composed for it by one of England’s highly esteemed church musicians of the nineteen century, John B. Dykes. The present version is taken from the 1937 edition of the Missionary Service Book, where one of the editors, Robert Nelson Spencer, added the second and third stanzas to include a plea for God’s protection for those who travel by land and air as well as those on the high seas.
...It is generally believed that Whiting’s text was inspired by the vivid description of the sea’s dangers and God’s promised deliverances as recorded in Psalm 107:23-32. ...It should be noted that the the first three stanzas of this hymn are each addressed to a different member of the Godhead:
Stanza 1 – To the Father who created and controls the sea (Job 38:10-11),
Stanza 2 – To the Son who has power to control the elements of nature (Matthew 8:23-27),
Stanza 3 – To the Spirit, who at the creation of the world “Brooded over the face of the waters” Genesis 1).
The fourth stanza petitions the love and power of the entire Trinity and urges men everywhere to “Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:31). More... Also, more @ website HERE.
5/1 Hymn - "Whispering Hope"
Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Galatians 5:5
Romans 10:17
James 1:3
Titus 1:2
Titus 3:7
Romans 5:2
Colossians 1:27
Lyrics and Composer: Septimus Winner
Born: May 11, 1827, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Died: November 22, 1902, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
HYMN HISTORY: This beautiful and popular hymn was written by a man named Septimus Winne. He is best remembered for his popular songs which he usually published under the name of Alice Hawthorne, it is widely believed that he did not deem himself worthy to receive honor for the words he penned...Septimus Winner was born in 1827 in Philadelphia, and because he was born the seventh child in his family they named him Septimus. His father was a violin maker. After attending Philadelphia's Central High School, Septimus and one of his brothers formed a music publishing business. By age twenty, he was also running his own music shop. He later became a popular music instructor in Philadelphia, giving lessons in violin, guitar, and banjo and performing with several of the city's bands and orchestras.
Winner's secular works are known in American folk music history as "Hawthorne's Ballads." the most popular songs were "Listen to the Mocking Bird" which he later sold to another Philadelphia publisher for five dollars and "Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" which was written to a German tune.
It is said that the most interesting experience in his life occurred in 1862, after Abraham Lincoln had fired General George B. McClellan for delays in attacking the Confederate Army. The firing of McClellan angered Septimus who quickly published a song entitled, "Give Us Back Our Old Commander: Little Mac, The People's Pride." The song sold over 80,000 copies in the first couple of days, leading to his arrest for treason. Septimus was released when he agreed to destroy all the remaining copies of the song and apologize. More...
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Galatians 5:5
Romans 10:17
James 1:3
Titus 1:2
Titus 3:7
Romans 5:2
Colossians 1:27
Lyrics and Composer: Septimus Winner
Born: May 11, 1827, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Died: November 22, 1902, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
HYMN HISTORY: This beautiful and popular hymn was written by a man named Septimus Winne. He is best remembered for his popular songs which he usually published under the name of Alice Hawthorne, it is widely believed that he did not deem himself worthy to receive honor for the words he penned...Septimus Winner was born in 1827 in Philadelphia, and because he was born the seventh child in his family they named him Septimus. His father was a violin maker. After attending Philadelphia's Central High School, Septimus and one of his brothers formed a music publishing business. By age twenty, he was also running his own music shop. He later became a popular music instructor in Philadelphia, giving lessons in violin, guitar, and banjo and performing with several of the city's bands and orchestras.
Winner's secular works are known in American folk music history as "Hawthorne's Ballads." the most popular songs were "Listen to the Mocking Bird" which he later sold to another Philadelphia publisher for five dollars and "Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" which was written to a German tune.
It is said that the most interesting experience in his life occurred in 1862, after Abraham Lincoln had fired General George B. McClellan for delays in attacking the Confederate Army. The firing of McClellan angered Septimus who quickly published a song entitled, "Give Us Back Our Old Commander: Little Mac, The People's Pride." The song sold over 80,000 copies in the first couple of days, leading to his arrest for treason. Septimus was released when he agreed to destroy all the remaining copies of the song and apologize. More...
4/11 Hymn - "So Send I You"
So send I you to labor unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing,
So send I you to toil for Me alone.
So send I you to bind the bruised and broken,
O'er wand'ring souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world aweary-
So send I you to suffer for My sake.
So send I you - to loneliness and longing,
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known;
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one,
So send I you - to know My love alone.
So send I you - to leave your life’s ambitions,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long and love where men revile you,
So send I you - to lose your life in Mine.
So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend, tho' it be blood, to spend and spare not-
So send I you to taste of Calvary.
As the Father hath sent Me, So send I you.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Isaiah 6:8
John 20:21
Mark 16:15
Romans 10:14-15
Jeremiah 1:7-9
Lyrics: E. Margaret Clarkson, 1915-
Composer: John Willard Peterson, 1921-2006
HYMN HISTORY:
The text of “So Send I You,” sometimes called “the finest missionary hymn of the twentieth century,” was written by a young Canadian, then just twenty-two. Born in Saskatchewan, Margaret Clarkson grew up from age five in Toronto, graduating as a teacher in 1935. Jobs were so scarce that she had to spend seven years in the far north of Ontario, first in a lumber camp, then in a gold-mining area, before returning to teach her remaining 31 years in Toronto, retiring in 1973.
For over 50 years she has been known for her poems and articles in Christian periodicals, for her many hymns, and for her books. Of the writing of this text Miss Clarkson has written: "In the north I experienced deep loneliness of every kind — mental, cultural and particularly, spiritual — I found no Bible-teaching church fellowship, and only one or two isolated Christians, in those years. Studying the Word one night and thinking of the loneliness of my situation, I came to John 20, and the words 'So Send I you.' Because of a physical disability I could never go to the mission field, and this was where He has sent me. I had written verse all my life, so it was natural for me to express my thoughts in a poem..."
John W. Peterson was born in Lindsborg, Kansas on November 1, 1921, and spent his early days in Salina, Kansas. In 1939 he began a radio evangelistic work with two brothers and at that time began writing his first gospel songs. In 1942 Mr. Peterson entered military service and served as a pilot in the Chinese-Burma theater. Commenting about this period of his life, he says, "I had many precious spiritual experiences during those days, and many of my songs now in print had heir beginnings somewhere in India or Burma or high above the Himalayan Mountains."
In his book The Miracle Goes On, Mr Peterson often mentions his conviction about the power of a gospel song to change a person’s life. He cites the following example: "'So Send I You' was used by God in the life of an actress who had come to know Christ and who faced a agonizing decision: Should she maintain her professional contracts or give up her career and dedicate her life completely to the Lord for service, wherever He might lead? In the midst of her dilemma she sat listening to a recording of this song, and its challenge came through with stunning impact. The actress fell to her knees and made a total commitment of her life to God, and in due time He resolved the question of her vocation." More...
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing,
So send I you to toil for Me alone.
So send I you to bind the bruised and broken,
O'er wand'ring souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world aweary-
So send I you to suffer for My sake.
So send I you - to loneliness and longing,
With heart a-hungering for the loved and known;
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one,
So send I you - to know My love alone.
So send I you - to leave your life’s ambitions,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long and love where men revile you,
So send I you - to lose your life in Mine.
So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend, tho' it be blood, to spend and spare not-
So send I you to taste of Calvary.
As the Father hath sent Me, So send I you.
BIBLE REFERENCE:
Isaiah 6:8
John 20:21
Mark 16:15
Romans 10:14-15
Jeremiah 1:7-9
Lyrics: E. Margaret Clarkson, 1915-
Composer: John Willard Peterson, 1921-2006
HYMN HISTORY:
The text of “So Send I You,” sometimes called “the finest missionary hymn of the twentieth century,” was written by a young Canadian, then just twenty-two. Born in Saskatchewan, Margaret Clarkson grew up from age five in Toronto, graduating as a teacher in 1935. Jobs were so scarce that she had to spend seven years in the far north of Ontario, first in a lumber camp, then in a gold-mining area, before returning to teach her remaining 31 years in Toronto, retiring in 1973.
For over 50 years she has been known for her poems and articles in Christian periodicals, for her many hymns, and for her books. Of the writing of this text Miss Clarkson has written: "In the north I experienced deep loneliness of every kind — mental, cultural and particularly, spiritual — I found no Bible-teaching church fellowship, and only one or two isolated Christians, in those years. Studying the Word one night and thinking of the loneliness of my situation, I came to John 20, and the words 'So Send I you.' Because of a physical disability I could never go to the mission field, and this was where He has sent me. I had written verse all my life, so it was natural for me to express my thoughts in a poem..."
John W. Peterson was born in Lindsborg, Kansas on November 1, 1921, and spent his early days in Salina, Kansas. In 1939 he began a radio evangelistic work with two brothers and at that time began writing his first gospel songs. In 1942 Mr. Peterson entered military service and served as a pilot in the Chinese-Burma theater. Commenting about this period of his life, he says, "I had many precious spiritual experiences during those days, and many of my songs now in print had heir beginnings somewhere in India or Burma or high above the Himalayan Mountains."
In his book The Miracle Goes On, Mr Peterson often mentions his conviction about the power of a gospel song to change a person’s life. He cites the following example: "'So Send I You' was used by God in the life of an actress who had come to know Christ and who faced a agonizing decision: Should she maintain her professional contracts or give up her career and dedicate her life completely to the Lord for service, wherever He might lead? In the midst of her dilemma she sat listening to a recording of this song, and its challenge came through with stunning impact. The actress fell to her knees and made a total commitment of her life to God, and in due time He resolved the question of her vocation." More...
3/27 Hymn - "His Way With Thee"
Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
BIBLE REFERENCE: 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Peter 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Jude 1:24-25
Cyrus Silvester Nusbaum - Lyrics & Composer - Born: July 27, 1861, Middlebury, Indiana. Died: December 27, 1937, Wichita, Kansas.
Cyrus Silvester Nusbaum began his ministry in the southwest at the a Methodist Church in 1886 . He went on to become one of the most outstanding evangelists of his time. However, this hymn was born during a time of deep discouragement, following Mr. Nusbaum’s first year of ministry. He gives the following account:
I had spent my first year in pastoral work. Having been appointed to serve as a pastor in one of the poorest circuits in our district, I had struggled hard during the year to take care of the seven preaching places and congregations. It had been a most difficult task, strenuous and discouraging, and the income pitifully small. At the end of the conference year, my wife and I gathered our few necessary belongings, and, with the assistance of one of our members, we arrived at the railroad station in order to take the train to the place where the conference was to meet that year.
Naturally, we had prayed and hoped that, at the conference, I might be appointed to a better charge, but when the Bishop read the appointments the last night of the conference, I was named as pastor of the same old circuit. I was with heavy hearts that we repaired to our lodging place that night. Mrs. Nusbaum sensibly retired early, but I remained in the little parlor with no one to disturb me.
I was very unhappy and a spirit of rebellion seemed to possess me. About midnight, I finally knelt in prayer beside my chair. After some struggle, a deep peace came stealing into my heart. I told the Lord that I would be willing to let Him have His way with me regardless of the cost. With that feeling, of surrender to the will of God, came the inspiration for the new song, now so well-known throughout Christendom...
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.
His power can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.
BIBLE REFERENCE: 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Peter 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Jude 1:24-25
Cyrus Silvester Nusbaum - Lyrics & Composer - Born: July 27, 1861, Middlebury, Indiana. Died: December 27, 1937, Wichita, Kansas.
Cyrus Silvester Nusbaum began his ministry in the southwest at the a Methodist Church in 1886 . He went on to become one of the most outstanding evangelists of his time. However, this hymn was born during a time of deep discouragement, following Mr. Nusbaum’s first year of ministry. He gives the following account:
I had spent my first year in pastoral work. Having been appointed to serve as a pastor in one of the poorest circuits in our district, I had struggled hard during the year to take care of the seven preaching places and congregations. It had been a most difficult task, strenuous and discouraging, and the income pitifully small. At the end of the conference year, my wife and I gathered our few necessary belongings, and, with the assistance of one of our members, we arrived at the railroad station in order to take the train to the place where the conference was to meet that year.
Naturally, we had prayed and hoped that, at the conference, I might be appointed to a better charge, but when the Bishop read the appointments the last night of the conference, I was named as pastor of the same old circuit. I was with heavy hearts that we repaired to our lodging place that night. Mrs. Nusbaum sensibly retired early, but I remained in the little parlor with no one to disturb me.
I was very unhappy and a spirit of rebellion seemed to possess me. About midnight, I finally knelt in prayer beside my chair. After some struggle, a deep peace came stealing into my heart. I told the Lord that I would be willing to let Him have His way with me regardless of the cost. With that feeling, of surrender to the will of God, came the inspiration for the new song, now so well-known throughout Christendom...
11/1 Hymn - "Just As I Am"
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
BIBLE REFERENCE:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he
that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
Charlotte Elliott - Lyrics
1789-1871
Born: March 18, 1789, Clapham, Surrey, England.
Died: September 22, 1871, Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Buried: St. Andrew’s Church, Hove, Sussex, England.
William Batchelder Bradbury - Composer
1816-1868
Born: October 6, 1816, York, Maine.
Died: January 7, 1868, Montclair, New Jersey.
Buried: Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloomfield, New Jersey.
HYMN HISTORY:
Without question, this hymn has touched more hearts and influenced more people for Christ than any other song ever written. The text was born within the soul of an invalid woman who wrote these words out of intense feelings of uselessness and despair.
Charlotte Elliott was born in Clapham, England, on March 18, 1789. As a young person she lived a carefree life, gaining popularity as a portrait artist and writer of humorous verse. By the time she was thirty, however, her health began to fail rapidly, and soon she became a bedridden invalid for the remaining years of her life. With her failing health came great feelings of despondency. In 1822 a noted Swiss evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliott home in Brighton, England. His visit proved to be a turning point in Charlotte's life. In counseling Miss Elliott about her spiritual and emotional problems, Dr. Malan impressed upon her this truth, "You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." that she never forgot the words of her friend, for they form the very essence of this hymn.
Though Charlotte Elliott lived to be eighty-two years of age, she never regained normal health, and she often endured seasons of great physical suffering. Of her own afflictions she once wrote, "He knows, and He alone, what it is, day after day, hour after hour, to fight against bodily feelings of almost overpowering weakness, languor and exhaustion, to resolve not to yield to slothfulness, depression and instability, such as the body causes me to long to indulge, but to rise every morning determined to take for my motto, 'If a man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"
Another time she wrote, "God sees, God guides, God guards me. His grace surrounds me, and His voice continually bids me to be happy and holy in His service just where I am."
Miss Elliott wrote the text for "Just As I Am" in 1836. It was published that same year in the second edition of The Invalid's Hymn Book, a collection which contained 115 of her original works. She wrote this hymn with the desire that it might aid financially in building a school for the children of poor clergymen that her own pastor brother was trying to build in Brighton, England. Miss Elliott felt so helpless in her desire to aid the parishioners in this worthy project. Interestingly enough, this one hymn from the pen of the clergyman's invalid sister brought in more funds than all of his bazaars and projects combined. The brother himself has left these words, "In the course of a long ministry, I hope to have been permitted to see some fruit of my labors; but I feel more has been done by a single hymn of my sister's." More
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
BIBLE REFERENCE:
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he
that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
Charlotte Elliott - Lyrics
1789-1871
Born: March 18, 1789, Clapham, Surrey, England.
Died: September 22, 1871, Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Buried: St. Andrew’s Church, Hove, Sussex, England.
William Batchelder Bradbury - Composer
1816-1868
Born: October 6, 1816, York, Maine.
Died: January 7, 1868, Montclair, New Jersey.
Buried: Bloomfield Cemetery, Bloomfield, New Jersey.
HYMN HISTORY:
Without question, this hymn has touched more hearts and influenced more people for Christ than any other song ever written. The text was born within the soul of an invalid woman who wrote these words out of intense feelings of uselessness and despair.
Charlotte Elliott was born in Clapham, England, on March 18, 1789. As a young person she lived a carefree life, gaining popularity as a portrait artist and writer of humorous verse. By the time she was thirty, however, her health began to fail rapidly, and soon she became a bedridden invalid for the remaining years of her life. With her failing health came great feelings of despondency. In 1822 a noted Swiss evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliott home in Brighton, England. His visit proved to be a turning point in Charlotte's life. In counseling Miss Elliott about her spiritual and emotional problems, Dr. Malan impressed upon her this truth, "You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." that she never forgot the words of her friend, for they form the very essence of this hymn.
Though Charlotte Elliott lived to be eighty-two years of age, she never regained normal health, and she often endured seasons of great physical suffering. Of her own afflictions she once wrote, "He knows, and He alone, what it is, day after day, hour after hour, to fight against bodily feelings of almost overpowering weakness, languor and exhaustion, to resolve not to yield to slothfulness, depression and instability, such as the body causes me to long to indulge, but to rise every morning determined to take for my motto, 'If a man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"
Another time she wrote, "God sees, God guides, God guards me. His grace surrounds me, and His voice continually bids me to be happy and holy in His service just where I am."
Miss Elliott wrote the text for "Just As I Am" in 1836. It was published that same year in the second edition of The Invalid's Hymn Book, a collection which contained 115 of her original works. She wrote this hymn with the desire that it might aid financially in building a school for the children of poor clergymen that her own pastor brother was trying to build in Brighton, England. Miss Elliott felt so helpless in her desire to aid the parishioners in this worthy project. Interestingly enough, this one hymn from the pen of the clergyman's invalid sister brought in more funds than all of his bazaars and projects combined. The brother himself has left these words, "In the course of a long ministry, I hope to have been permitted to see some fruit of my labors; but I feel more has been done by a single hymn of my sister's." More
9/7 Hymn - “Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart”
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav’nly way.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth forever nigh.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be through all my days!
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Thro’ Him Whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been brought
To those who have strayed afar.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Psalms 119:105
Psalms 119:89-90
Psalms 119:62
Psalms 119:44
Psalms 119:11
This popular gospel hymn was based on portions of Psalms 119, a chapter of Scripture containing 176 verses, the majority of which the Lord speaks to His children regarding the importance of knowing and obeying the written words of God.
The author and composer of this hymn, Earnest Orlando Sellers, was born on October 29,1869, in Hastings, Michigan. After finishing high school, he was appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works in Lansing, Michigan. After his conversion Ernest enrolled as a student at the Moody Bible institute in 1895. After his graduation he served at the Lansing Y.M.C.A as secretary throughout the country. From 1908 to 1919, Sellers once again became associated with the Moody Bible Institute as an assistant to Daniel B. Towner, the first director of the school’s music department. Sellers was also very active evangelizing during this time and also was song director for such well-known evangelists as Reuben A. Torrey, Gypsy Smith, A.C. Dixon, and J. Wilbur Chapman. During the early years of World War I, Sellers served with the armed forces overseas as a special Y.M.C.A. Representative. In 1919, Ernest Sellers accepted the position of director of the Music Department of the Baptist Bible Institute of New Orleans, now known as the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Here he remained faithful until his retirement in 1945. He was a highly respected teacher, song director, the author of numerous articles and poems ,and the composer of a number of hymn tunes, including the still popular hymn “Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus!”
"There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in His service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have juice from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times. The bruiser's feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation, tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the juice of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve, and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this, and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing, reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it. Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve today, 'I will meditate in Thy precepts.'" - C.H.Spurgeon More...
8/29 Hymn - "I Gave My Life For Thee"
I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
2 Corinthians 5:14
John 10:17-18
Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Frances R. Havergal - Lyrics/1836 - 1879
Born: December 14, 1836, Astley, Worcestershire, England.
Died: June 3, 1879, Caswall Bay, near Swansea, Wales.
Buried: Astley, Worcestershire, England, the city of her birth. On her tombstone was the Scripture verse she claimed as her own: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Philip P. Bliss - Composer/1838 - 1876
Born: July 9, 1838, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.
Died: December 29, 1876, Ashtabula, Ohio. Bliss and his wife died in a tragic train wreck caused by a bridge collapse. He survived the initial impact, but went back into the flames in an unsuccessful atempt to rescue his wife.
Buried: The remains retrieved from the Ashtabula disaster were placed in a common grave marked by a cenotaph in the Ashtabula Cemetery. A cenotaph in memory of the Blisses was also erected in the cemetery at Rome, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1877.
******************************************************
Francis Ridley Havergal was born on December 14, 1836, at Astley, Worcestershire, England. She was the youngest child of the Rev, William Henry Havergal, a minister of the Church of England. Her father was also a noted poet and church musician. Miss Havergal had training in linguistics and music. Although she was a highly educated and cultured, Miss Havergal always maintained a simple faith and confidence in her Lord. It is said that she never wrote a line without first praying over it. Her entire life was characterized by spiritual saintliness. In spite of being always frail in health, she lived an active and productive life until her death at the age of forty-three.
As part of her education, Francis studied in Dusseldorf, Germany. In the art gallery of that city hangs the famous painting by Sternberg, ”Ecce Homo,” a vivid portrayal of Christ, wearing his crown of thorns, before Pilate and the Jewish mob. Beneath the picture are the words, “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?”
While visiting the museum and seeing the painting, Miss Havergal was humbly moved. After gazing for a considerable time at the painting she took a pencil and scrap paper and quickly wrote the stanzas for this hymn. Later, while visiting her home in England, she again noted the words she had hurriedly scribbled, but felt the poetry was so poor that she tossed the paper into a stove. The paper, is said to have floated out of the flames and landed on the floor, where it was later found by her father. He encouraged her to keep the words and composed the first tune for the text.
Francis R. Havergal is also author of the hymns “Take My Life and Let it Be” and “I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus.”
More...
8/23 Hymn - "Does Jesus Care?"
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 43:5
Matthew 6:25-34
Is God really present and concerned during my times of hurt? Does He care, when the burdens weigh heavily on my every thought and activity? Does He care, when I can no longer endure some strong testings? Does He care, when I must say a final farewell to my dearest loved one on earth?
These questions and doubts are common to nearly all of God’s children at some time or other in life, just as they were to the author of this text, Frank E. Graeff. Mr. Graeff was a minister in the Methodist denomination and served some of its leading churches, in Philadelphia Conference. Throughout the district, he was known as the “sunshine minister.” C. Austin Miles, author of the popular hymn, “In the Garden,” paid this tribute to Frank Graeff:
"He is a spiritual optimist, a great friend of children; his bright sun-shining disposition attracts him not only to children, but to all with whom he comes in contact. He has a holy magnetism and a child-like faith."
In spite of his outwardly-cheery disposition and winsome personality, Graeff was often called upon to go through severe testing experiences in his life. It was while passing through such a test and experiencing severe despondency, doubt and physical agony, that Mr. Graeff wrote this text. He turned to the Scriptures for solace and strength. First Peter 5:7 became especially meaningful to him during this particular struggle: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”
The phrase, “He careth for you”, spoke deeply to his need and eventually became the basis for this text.
To experience times of question and even doubts regarding the nearness of God, as Frank Graeff did in the verses of this hymn, is only human and normal. It is only as a believer comes through such a struggle, however, with the firm conviction as Mr. Graeff did in the chorus of this hymn, “O yes He cares, I know He cares,” that a child of God can be truly victorious.
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Psalm 55:22
Psalm 43:5
Matthew 6:25-34
Is God really present and concerned during my times of hurt? Does He care, when the burdens weigh heavily on my every thought and activity? Does He care, when I can no longer endure some strong testings? Does He care, when I must say a final farewell to my dearest loved one on earth?
These questions and doubts are common to nearly all of God’s children at some time or other in life, just as they were to the author of this text, Frank E. Graeff. Mr. Graeff was a minister in the Methodist denomination and served some of its leading churches, in Philadelphia Conference. Throughout the district, he was known as the “sunshine minister.” C. Austin Miles, author of the popular hymn, “In the Garden,” paid this tribute to Frank Graeff:
"He is a spiritual optimist, a great friend of children; his bright sun-shining disposition attracts him not only to children, but to all with whom he comes in contact. He has a holy magnetism and a child-like faith."
In spite of his outwardly-cheery disposition and winsome personality, Graeff was often called upon to go through severe testing experiences in his life. It was while passing through such a test and experiencing severe despondency, doubt and physical agony, that Mr. Graeff wrote this text. He turned to the Scriptures for solace and strength. First Peter 5:7 became especially meaningful to him during this particular struggle: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”
The phrase, “He careth for you”, spoke deeply to his need and eventually became the basis for this text.
To experience times of question and even doubts regarding the nearness of God, as Frank Graeff did in the verses of this hymn, is only human and normal. It is only as a believer comes through such a struggle, however, with the firm conviction as Mr. Graeff did in the chorus of this hymn, “O yes He cares, I know He cares,” that a child of God can be truly victorious.
More...
8/15 Hymn - "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
Martin Luther was born on November 10,1483 in Eisleben, Saxony, Germany. He was educated at the University of Erfurt. On October 31, 1517, sometimes called the “4th of July of Protestantism,” Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany. These theses condemned various practices and teachings of the Roman church. After several years of stormy disputes with the Pope and other church leaders, Martin Luther was finally excommunicated from the fellowship of the Roman Catholic church in 1520.
One of the important benefits of the Reformation Movement was the rediscovery of congregational singing. Luther had strong convictions about the use and power of sacred music. He expressed his convictions in this way, ..."I wish to compose sacred hymns so that the Word of God may dwell among the people also by means of songs."
...Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” has often been called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation” and has been translated into almost every known language. It was perhaps the single most powerful hymn of the Reformation, as it was a great source of strength and inspiration for those who were persecuted and even martyred for their convictions.
Martin Luther used Psalm 46 as the inspiration for “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Luther’s four stanzas interpret this psalm from his own experience during the troubled times of the Reformation. He interpreted the psalm to be not merely expressing God’s protection and strength for God’s people of Jerusalem, but for God’s people of all times. And he understood the battle described in the psalm to be more than an earthly battle but a spiritual battle. So Luther saw in Psalm 46 a great encouragement for him and the Reformers that God would be a strong refuge and strength for them in their current time of trouble—a battle against not merely fleshly armies but in the realm of spiritual warfare as they defended the Gospel itself.
...Martin Luther died on February 18, 1546, in Eisleben, Germany, and is buried at Schlosskirche, Wittenberg, Germany. The first line of this national hymn of Protestant Germany is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of the great reformer at Wittenberg, and may still be read with appreciation by travellers to that historic spot.
...Like Psalm 46, the hymn "A MIghty Fortress Is Our God", begins by proclaiming that God is our refuge (a fortress is a military fort or a fortified place) and strength (a bulwork is a wall of defense or even a shield). The Lord is our constant source for help in time of trouble—even when trials seem to be flooding over us. But thenour great adversary is mentioned as our greatest threat who still strives to do us harm. He—Satan—is clever and powerful and filled with hate. And on earth Satan has no equal. (1 Peter 5:8)
The second stanza, however, makes it clear that though we cannot win the spiritual battle by our own strength (Ephesians 6:11-12), God has provided us with the One who can and will win the battle. And that One is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. His name is “Lord Sabaoth”, which means “Lord Almighty”, “Lord of Hosts” or even “Lord of Armies”. Luther is referring to Psalm 46:7 and 11, in which God is named the Lord of Hosts. This means the Lord of Armies—meaning both earthly armies and the Lord’s angelic armies (see 2 Kings 6:15, where Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see the hosts protecting them). The point being that the Lord over all spiritual hosts is the Man—Jesus Christ—who will win the spiritual battle. Note that Luther also is making a clear proclamation of Christ’s deity by both calling him Lord Almighty and saying He is the same from age to age (He is eternal—the same yesterday, today, and forever—Heb 13:8).
The third stanza expresses that though the demonic forces against us are great, we have no need to fear because our God has willed that His truth would triumph through us. And though Satan is ferociously evil, we can endure his anger because we know he is a defeated foe. Our Lord is infinitely greater! So much so that “one little word” uttered from our Lord will ruin him. (Psalms 46:6 says “He uttered His voice, the earth melted”).
The final stanza uses a play on words—“word” was used in the last line of stanza three and now “Word” is used to represent Christ. Christ is above all earthly powers and is there for us. Also, God—who is on our side—has given us His Spirit and His gifts. So we have nothing to fear and nothing to lose! The evil one may be allowed to take our earthly goods and family (“goods and kindred”). He may even be allowed to take our earthly life! But the worst the enemies of truth can do is really nothing. They are all perishing. But the Lord, His truth, His kingdom, and all those who belong to Him will endure forever.
More...
One of the important benefits of the Reformation Movement was the rediscovery of congregational singing. Luther had strong convictions about the use and power of sacred music. He expressed his convictions in this way, ..."I wish to compose sacred hymns so that the Word of God may dwell among the people also by means of songs."
...Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” has often been called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation” and has been translated into almost every known language. It was perhaps the single most powerful hymn of the Reformation, as it was a great source of strength and inspiration for those who were persecuted and even martyred for their convictions.
Martin Luther used Psalm 46 as the inspiration for “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Luther’s four stanzas interpret this psalm from his own experience during the troubled times of the Reformation. He interpreted the psalm to be not merely expressing God’s protection and strength for God’s people of Jerusalem, but for God’s people of all times. And he understood the battle described in the psalm to be more than an earthly battle but a spiritual battle. So Luther saw in Psalm 46 a great encouragement for him and the Reformers that God would be a strong refuge and strength for them in their current time of trouble—a battle against not merely fleshly armies but in the realm of spiritual warfare as they defended the Gospel itself.
...Martin Luther died on February 18, 1546, in Eisleben, Germany, and is buried at Schlosskirche, Wittenberg, Germany. The first line of this national hymn of Protestant Germany is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of the great reformer at Wittenberg, and may still be read with appreciation by travellers to that historic spot.
...Like Psalm 46, the hymn "A MIghty Fortress Is Our God", begins by proclaiming that God is our refuge (a fortress is a military fort or a fortified place) and strength (a bulwork is a wall of defense or even a shield). The Lord is our constant source for help in time of trouble—even when trials seem to be flooding over us. But thenour great adversary is mentioned as our greatest threat who still strives to do us harm. He—Satan—is clever and powerful and filled with hate. And on earth Satan has no equal. (1 Peter 5:8)
The second stanza, however, makes it clear that though we cannot win the spiritual battle by our own strength (Ephesians 6:11-12), God has provided us with the One who can and will win the battle. And that One is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. His name is “Lord Sabaoth”, which means “Lord Almighty”, “Lord of Hosts” or even “Lord of Armies”. Luther is referring to Psalm 46:7 and 11, in which God is named the Lord of Hosts. This means the Lord of Armies—meaning both earthly armies and the Lord’s angelic armies (see 2 Kings 6:15, where Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see the hosts protecting them). The point being that the Lord over all spiritual hosts is the Man—Jesus Christ—who will win the spiritual battle. Note that Luther also is making a clear proclamation of Christ’s deity by both calling him Lord Almighty and saying He is the same from age to age (He is eternal—the same yesterday, today, and forever—Heb 13:8).
The third stanza expresses that though the demonic forces against us are great, we have no need to fear because our God has willed that His truth would triumph through us. And though Satan is ferociously evil, we can endure his anger because we know he is a defeated foe. Our Lord is infinitely greater! So much so that “one little word” uttered from our Lord will ruin him. (Psalms 46:6 says “He uttered His voice, the earth melted”).
The final stanza uses a play on words—“word” was used in the last line of stanza three and now “Word” is used to represent Christ. Christ is above all earthly powers and is there for us. Also, God—who is on our side—has given us His Spirit and His gifts. So we have nothing to fear and nothing to lose! The evil one may be allowed to take our earthly goods and family (“goods and kindred”). He may even be allowed to take our earthly life! But the worst the enemies of truth can do is really nothing. They are all perishing. But the Lord, His truth, His kingdom, and all those who belong to Him will endure forever.
More...
3-8 Hymn - "Saved By the Blood"
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,
Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The angels rejoicing because it is done;
A child of the Father, joint heir with the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The Father He spake, and His will it was done;
Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
All hail to the Father, all hail to the Son,
All hail to the Spirit, the great Three in One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
BIBLE REFERENCE:
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:6-11
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. Ephesians 1:7-9
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:8-9
S. J. Henderson - Lyrics 1850-1919
Daniel Brink Towner - Composer 1850-1919
Daniel B. Towner was born on March 5, 1850, in Rome Pennsylvania, and died on October 3, 1919, in Longwood, Missouri, In the field of evangelical gospel music, it can be said that D. B. Towner had few equals. He was recognized as a teacher, conductor, soloist, composer, and author.
As a teacher, he trained such notable music leaders as Charles M. Alexander, Harry Dixon Loes, Homer Hammontree, H. E. Tovey, George S. Schuler, and many other evangelical song leaders. Towner first came into contact with D. L. Moody, in 1885, when Moody came to Cincinnati to conduct an evangelistic campaign. Towner trained the choir for these meetings. Mr. Moody was greatly impressed with Towner’s musical abilities and spiritual sincerity and prevailed upon Towner to join him in his evangelistic endeavors. From that time until his death, Towner was associated with Moody or with one of his gospel enterprises.
As a composer, Towner is credited with over 200 published songs, confirming himself to gospel music and male choir arrangements. He also compiled fourteen songbooks and hymnals as well as a various textbooks for class use.
The following are some of the more popular gospel hymns for which he composed the music: “Trust and Obey,” “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” “Nor Silver nor Gold,” “My Anchor Holds,” “Anywhere With Jesus,” and “Only A Sinner.”
In 1900, the University of Tennessee conferred the Doctor of Music degree upon him. Another tribute to this man, who has such a profound influence on evangelical church music, was given by the choir he directed for so many years in the Moody Memorial Church of Chicago, it is a memorial tablet, which still occupies a prominent position in the auditorium of that church.
All who have been involved with evangelical church music to the present time owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Daniel B. Towner for the foundations he has laid for church ministries.
Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,
Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The angels rejoicing because it is done;
A child of the Father, joint heir with the Son,
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
The Father He spake, and His will it was done;
Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
All hail to the Father, all hail to the Son,
All hail to the Spirit, the great Three in One!
Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!
Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!
I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!
BIBLE REFERENCE:
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:6-11
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. Ephesians 1:7-9
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:8-9
S. J. Henderson - Lyrics 1850-1919
Daniel Brink Towner - Composer 1850-1919
Daniel B. Towner was born on March 5, 1850, in Rome Pennsylvania, and died on October 3, 1919, in Longwood, Missouri, In the field of evangelical gospel music, it can be said that D. B. Towner had few equals. He was recognized as a teacher, conductor, soloist, composer, and author.
As a teacher, he trained such notable music leaders as Charles M. Alexander, Harry Dixon Loes, Homer Hammontree, H. E. Tovey, George S. Schuler, and many other evangelical song leaders. Towner first came into contact with D. L. Moody, in 1885, when Moody came to Cincinnati to conduct an evangelistic campaign. Towner trained the choir for these meetings. Mr. Moody was greatly impressed with Towner’s musical abilities and spiritual sincerity and prevailed upon Towner to join him in his evangelistic endeavors. From that time until his death, Towner was associated with Moody or with one of his gospel enterprises.
As a composer, Towner is credited with over 200 published songs, confirming himself to gospel music and male choir arrangements. He also compiled fourteen songbooks and hymnals as well as a various textbooks for class use.
The following are some of the more popular gospel hymns for which he composed the music: “Trust and Obey,” “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” “Nor Silver nor Gold,” “My Anchor Holds,” “Anywhere With Jesus,” and “Only A Sinner.”
In 1900, the University of Tennessee conferred the Doctor of Music degree upon him. Another tribute to this man, who has such a profound influence on evangelical church music, was given by the choir he directed for so many years in the Moody Memorial Church of Chicago, it is a memorial tablet, which still occupies a prominent position in the auditorium of that church.
All who have been involved with evangelical church music to the present time owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Daniel B. Towner for the foundations he has laid for church ministries.
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