As some of you may of noticed (and kindly followed up with me to check if I was okay!), the daily hymn emails have at the moment paused.
This is because my husband and I recently welcomed our first child into the world! As some of you will know, babies are a true blessing from the Lord, but also throw your world (and schedule) upside down.
I had new hymn posts pre-written for several weeks, but they have caught up with me, and unfortunately writing new ones has taken a back seat while I prioritise being a new mummy to our baby girl.
I will be for now pausing sending out daily updates, but plan to resume them again in a few weeks… so do stick around!
Until then, the Youtube channel is still available (the link is below) and will be updated also with the most recent songs 🙂 I will also gladly accept suggestions of hymns you have fond memories of from your childhood!
This song is written by Ben Slee in 2018 and tells of the great unity within the Trinity, and a prayer that the church will share in this same fellowship of unity.
Gracious Father Son and Spirit, Ever joined in bonds of love, May your church share in the union Of our God the three-in-one. May the love of God our Father, Poured on us in Christ the Son In the union of His Spirit Fill our hearts and make us one.
We are one in Christ our Saviour – In His death we all have died. In His resurrection power We in Him are made alive. So we all, as ransomed sinners Stand united in His love, Drawing near to God together By His Spirit through His Son.
Through His word, our gracious Saviour Draws us to Himself in love, Builds us up into a Temple Where by grace He dwells with us. On foundations of His promise, Built on Him our Cornerstone, May we stand as one forever, May His love in us be shown.
Lord forgive our sad divisions. In your gospel make us one, Bound together in Your Spirit, Bought by Jesus precious blood. Living worthy of our calling, Let us cast all strife aside ‘Til as one we see His glory As His perfect holy bride.
Keep us steadfast in Your promise, Standing firm with all the saints, ‘Til at last we come to heaven And as one we see your face.
This hhymn was written by Fanny J. Crosby in 1890; she was a prolific hymn writer who was made blind during her childhood. At that time Fanny was living in a New York City apartment and attending the John St. Methodist Episcopal Church. She received a visit from hymn composer William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921). Many of his melodies are well-known, including one for another of Fanny’s texts, “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It.” He had just completed a new tune which he felt needed suitable words. When he played the melody for her, Fanny’s face lit up, she knelt in prayer, and soon gave Kirkpatrick the lines of “He Hideth My Soul1.
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Saviour to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see.
Refrain He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand.
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord, He taketh my burden away; He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, He giveth me strength as my day.
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns, And filled with His fullness divine, I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God For such a Redeemer as mine!
When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise To meet Him in clouds of the sky, His perfect salvation, His wonderful love I’ll shout with the millions on high.
John Wesley (1703-1791) became acquainted with Moravians during his voyage to the American colonies in Georgia in 1737. He was soon very interested in this group, and upon returning to London continued to meet with them. On the trip to Georgia, he was introduced to a hymn by the famous Lutheran pastor and hymn writer Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) called “O Jesu Christ, meine schönstes Licht.” Wesley was so taken by the hymn that he translated all 16 stanzas into English, and even mentioned it in his final sermon before leaving Georgia, “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection,” quoting the second stanza as “his heart’s cry.” He then published the hymn in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739). Of the original 16 stanzas, the UM Hymnal now includes only four: the original stanzas one, two, three and 161. Make this your prayer today
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare; Oh knit my thankful heart to Thee And reign without a rival there. Thine, Wholly Thine, alone I am! Be Thou alone my constant flame.
O, grant that nothing in my soul May dwell but Thy pure love alone! Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love.
O love, how gracious is thy ray! All fear before thy presence flies; Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away Wherever thy healing beams arise. O Jesus, nothing may I see, Nothing desire or seek, but Thee!
In suffering be Thy love my peace, In weakness be Thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, Jesus, in that important hour, In death as life be Thou my guide, And save me, who for me hast died.
Elizabeth (Bessie) Ann Porter Head (1849/1850–1936) was the youngest daughter of Tobias Porter, the manager of a flour mill in Belfast. Between 1897 and 1907, Bessie Porter helped found several YWCA branches for the South Africa General Mission (now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship) in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, South Africa. She toured North America with the chairman of the Mission in 1906–1907, Albert Alfred Head (1844–1928), whom she married. The South Africa General Mission was closely associated with the Keswick Convention, an evangelical offshoot of the Holiness movement, founded in 1875 by Anglican Canon T.D. Harford-Battersby, Vicar of St. John’s, Keswick, and Robert Wilson, a Cumberland Quaker. The annual meetings have hosted numerous notable speakers and were known for fervent prayer and hymn singing. Bessie Porter Head wrote “O Breath of Life,” which first appeared in Head’s prose and poem collection, Heavenly Places, and other Messages (1920)1. I really like this arrangement by Emu music, and sure you will too; enjoy!
O Breath of Life, Come sweeping through us Revive Thy Church with life and power; O Breath of Life, Come, cleanse, renew us, And fit Thy Church to meet this hour
O Wind of God, come bend us, break us ‘Till humbly we confess our need; Then in Thy tenderness remake us, Revive, restore, for this we plead.
O Breath of Love, come breathe within us, Renewing thought and will and heart; Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us, Revive Thy Church in every part.
O Heart of Christ, once broken for us, ‘Tis there we find our strength and rest; Our broken contrite hearts now solace, And let Thy waiting Church be blest.
Revive us, Lord! Is zeal abating While harvest fields are vast and white? Revive us, Lord, the world is waiting, Equip Thy Church to spread the light.
I really like this song by Sovereign Grace – a prayer that God will help us to see Christ. This song is routinely sung in our church and would be a great song for any congregation to sing.
Prepare our hearts, O God Help us to receive Break the hard and stony ground Help our unbelief Plant Your Word down deep in us Cause it to bear fruit Open up our ears to hear Lead us in Your truth
Refrain Show us Christ, show us Christ O God, reveal Your glory Through the preaching of Your Word Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord
Your Word is living light Upon our darkened eyes Guards us through temptations Makes the simple wise Your Word is food for famished ones Freedom for the slave Riches for the needy soul Come speak to us today
Refrain
Bridge Where else can we go, Lord Where else can we go You have the words of eternal life
Hymn of the Day 