Monthly Archives: Oct 2022

All Glory Be To Christ

Posted on by
Reply

An original 16th Century Scottish tune during the time of the scattering of the Scots to American colonies, Dustine Kensrue wrote the words whilst flying to Seattle from Orange County. The idea is that—especially at the beginning of the new year—we would dedicate all our efforts to bringing glory to Jesus Christ, to acknowledge that anything else would be of no value, and to celebrate our redemption in him1.

Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders striveTo you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me what is your life
A mist that vanishes at dawn
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain
All glory be to Christ our king!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ!

His will be done
His kingdom come
On earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread
Praise Him the Lord of love

Let living water satisfy
The thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain

When on the day the great I Am
The faithful and the true
The Lamb who was for sinners slain
Is making all things new.

Behold our God shall live with us
And be our steadfast light
And we shall ere his people be
All glory be to Christ!

Refrain

1genius.com/Kings-mhm-all-glory-be-to-christ-lyrics

Come Thou Almighty King

Posted on by
Reply

The anonymous text dates from before 1757, when it was published in a leaflet and bound into the 1757 edition of George Whitefield’s Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. The text appears to mirror the pattern of the British national anthem, “God Save the King.” Filled with names for members of the Godhead, this song exhibits a common trinitarian structure, addressing God the Father (stanza 1), God the Son (stanza 2), and God the Holy Spirit (stanza 3), concluding with a doxology to the Trinity (stanza. 4)1. The version I have included below includes a refrain written by the worship group – a plea for the Holy Trinity to work in us.

Come, thou Almighty King,
Help us thy name to sing.
Help us to praise:
Father all glorious,
O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

Come, thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on thy mighty sword.
Our prayers attend.
Come, and thy people bless,
And give thy Word success
Spirit of holiness,
On us descend.

Come, Holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear,
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in ev’ry heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of Pow’r.

Added Refrain
Father now call, us out of our wandering.
Jesus now come, and cast out our fear.
Spirit now preach, the Son to our deafness:
Open our hearts, open our hearts.

To thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore:
Thy sov’reign majesty,
May we in glory see,
And to eternity, love and adore.

Come Thou Almighty King – Advent Birmingham

1hymnary.org/text/come_thou_almighty_king_help_us_thy

Holy, Holy, Holy

Posted on by
Reply

One of my favourite hymns, Holy, Holy, Holy was written by Yorkshire born poet and pastor Reginald Heber. Living in a time when English Romantic poetry was blossoming, he showed much skill in poetry writing, wining prizes for his poems in his teenage years. After ministering as a pastor for many years at a local parish, he moved to India, fuelled by his love for missions. Reginald died of a stroke at the 42 after preaching to a large crowd one afternoon in the hot sun; after his death, his widow discovered his hymns in a trunk, among which was this beloved song1.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

1 page 98 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

Christ Be All

Posted on by
Reply

This song was written by contemporary worship group Grace Music. When Kevin King, a worship leader, read the book Humility by Andrew Murray, he came across a poem in the final chapter of the book – this poem became the first verse of Christ Be All, written in 20191.

Oh, to be empty and lowly
Meek and unnoticed and unknown
And to God, a vessel Holy
Filled with Christ, and Christ alone

How great is God?
His grandeur endless
How frail I come before His throne
I am lost in love relentless
That Christ be all, and I his own

Refrain:
May Christ be all, and I be nothing
His glory shines in the vessels weak
May Christ be all, and I be nothing
This is my hope
Not I, but Christ in me
This is my hope
Not I, but Christ in me

I am poor, and I have nothing
All my deeds cannot avail
But Christ endured the Father’s crushing
He bowed His head as mercy bled
Peace to prevail
He bowed His head as mercy bled
Peace to prevail

Refrain

Bring me low, my heart lower still
That Your grace my pride relieves
May these words resound loud until
Every tribe and tongue believes

Bring me low, my heart lower still
That Your grace my pride relieves
May these words resound loud until
Every tribe and tongue can sing

Refrain

On golden shores of sure salvation
I will run to meet my King
Free from shame and all accusation
He’ll give Himself
Nothing I’ll bring
He’ll give Himself
Nothing I’ll bring

Chris Be All – Grace Music

1youtube.com/watch?v=7wfL6uEGtVc – accessed 1 October

Jesus, I Come

Posted on by
Reply

The text was written by William True Sleeper, who was born in New Hampshire, on Feb. 9, 1819. Educated at Phillips-Exeter Academy, the University of Vermont, and Andover Theological Seminary, he became a Congregational minister following his graduation1. It’s said he wrote the words for ‘Jesus, I Come’, sending them to his friend George Stebbins for the accompanying music. It wasn’t the first time the two had collaborated – Stebbins had asked Sleeper some years earlier for words to match a tune he had in mind to invite seekers to commit to God. So, when William had the same idea years later (perhaps when he was in his late 60s), he knew who had the God-given talent to bring his poem to fruition in a song. William was still inviting people to come inside, out of many things obstructing their lives – the message we can imagine he spoke and then underscored in song2.

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of my sickness into thy health,
Out of my want and into thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into thyself,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of thy cross,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of my self to dwell in thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of thy home,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of thy sheltering fold,
Ever thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to thee.

Jesus, I Come – Shelly Moore Band
Jesus I Come – Indelible Grace Music

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/jesus-i-come/

2songscoops.blogspot.com/2018/10/jesus-i-come-william-true-sleeper.htm

The Church’s One Foundation

Posted on by
Reply

As a curate in the small town of Windsor, England, Samuel John Stone was aware of his parishioners’ habit of using the Apostles’ Creed in their private prayers. But he was concerned that many of them did not grasp the meaning of what they said. It was in this context that he wrote Lyra Fidelium, which consisted of twelve hymns, one for each article of the Apostles’ Creed. “The Church’s One Foundation” was the hymn he wrote for article 9 of the Creed in 1866, which affirms belief in “the holy catholic church” and “the communion of saints”1. Depending where you read/listen, you’ll find versions with more/less stanzas. I’ve posted what it seems to be the most common version, and my favourite song version too.

The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
Yet one over all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

The church shall never perish,
Her dear Lord to defend
To guide, sustain and cherish,
Is with her to the end
Though there be those that hate her,
And false sons in her pale
Against a foe or traitor,
She ever shall prevail

Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
‘Til, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blessed,
And the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee.

1‘https://www.challies.com/articles/hymn-stories-the-churchs-one-foundation-free-download/

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Posted on by
Reply

In 1752, a young Robert Robinson attended an evangelical meeting to heckle the believers and make fun of the proceedings. Instead, he listened in awe to the words of the great preacher George Whitefield, and in 1755, at the age of twenty, Robinson responded to the call he felt three years earlier and became a Christian. Another three years later, when preparing a sermon for his church in Norfolk, England, he penned the words that have become one of the church’s most-loved hymns: “Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace”1. Yet, he was an unstable man; impulsive, eccentric, and one whose heart often strayed from the Lord. But the God Who had saved him, called him, and longed after him, was the God who restored him, by his own hymn!2. The version I have linked is a beautiful version by Celtic Worship.

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
mount of God’s redeeming love.

Here I find my greatest treasure;
hither by thy help I’ve come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
bought me with his precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee:
prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.

1https://hymnary.org/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing

2‘https://truthandtidings.com/2016/03/our-heritage-come-thou-fount/

I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow

Posted on by
Reply

Former slave trader John Newton wrote this hymn in 1779. Although we do not know the exact reasons why we suffer just like Job, John Newton imagines what God would have us learn during these seasons. The version I have linked below is perhaps more sombre than a version you have heard before, but I feel it nicely fits the tone of the poem.

I asked the Lord that I might grow
in faith and love and ev’ry grace;
might more of his salvation know,
and seek more earnestly his face.

’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
and he, I trust, has answered pray’r,
but it has been in such a way
as almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
at once he’d answer my request,
and by his love’s constraining pow’r
subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this he made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart,
and let the angry pow’rs of hell
assault my soul in ev’ry part.

Yea more, with his own hand he seemed
intent to aggravate my woe,
crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
humbled my heart, and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this?” I, trembling, cried;
“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.

“These inward trials I employ
from self and pride to set thee free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy
that thou may’st find thy all in me.”

My Saviour Christ is with Me

Posted on by
Reply

I recently found Matt Searles’ when Spotify’s algorithm actually worked in my favour. Matt is active in ministry in the UK, currently Director of Training for the South Central Gospel Partnership. He has written wonderful songs of deep biblical truths in clear and accessible way to normal Christians of all backgrounds. One of his most recent albums includes new songs to old hymn tunes – this is one of my favourites, and you may recognise Lacy Condy’s lovely vocals from Sovereign Grace adorning the words to this hymn based on Pslam 27.

The Lord’s my light – I shall not fear
The Lord is my salvation
My tower of strength; my God is near
In every situation
Though enemies on every side
And armies rise against me
I have a stronghold for my life:
My saviour Christ is with me

One thing I ask, and I would seek
To gaze upon his beauty
To dwell with God and never leave
And see him in his glory
He hides me in his holy tent
When troubles rise around me
Here on this rock I stand secure:
My saviour Christ is with me

Give ear O Lord, and hear my cry
Pour out your grace and mercy
I seek your face with all my heart
Don’t turn your goodness from me
O God my help, forsake my not
When others turn against me
But you O Lord preserve my life
My saviour Christ is with me

Teach me your way O Lord my God
Make level paths before me
My enemies with lying tongues
Do violence against me
I’ll see the goodness of the Lord
Each day that I am living
Be strong my soul and wait for God
My saviour Christ is with me

The song can be heard on Spotify as well as on bandcamp here.

credits

My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness

Posted on by
2

This is a song written by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty is one of heartfelt thankfulness, structured into three verses of past, present and future salvation: the first verse reminds us of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross; the second verse of God’s day-today presence and power with us, walking alongside and providing us with all we need; and the third verse looks forward to the sure knowledge that His eternal rule makes our future assured in Him1.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again.
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,
And clothed me with His light,
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take,
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who reigns above;
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose every thought is love.
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King.
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow Him.

1 ‘https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/my-heart-is-filled-with-thankfulness/