Monthly Archives: Nov 2023

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

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The author of today’s beloved hymn is Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960). Though he was not offered a formal education, became a schoolteacher in the same schoolhouse that he was educated. He later became associate editor of the local newspaper and moved on to be an editor of the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 26 in 1983 Thomas became a Christian, and in 1903, he was officially ordained a minister; he was however forced to limit his years of service due to his poor health. Throughout his life, Thomas wrote hundreds of poems. One such poem was based in Lamentations 3:22-23 where it says, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. Thomas eventually sent his work to a fellow minister and friend, William Runyan who configured a musical setting for the poem, which is the hymn we have today1. Enjoy!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest;
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow:
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

1geneva.edu/blog/uncategorized/hymnology-great-is-thy-faithfulness

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I Surrender All

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Today’s hymn comes from Judson Van de Venter (1855-1939). He was a teacher in a public school who later left his field of teaching and become an evangelist. Speaking of this hymn he said “The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring (founder of Sebring Campmeeting Bible Conference . . .). For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became and evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing.”1. There are many versions of this song to choose from, however why not use this as a prayer to God instead? Enjoy!

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savoour, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

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1http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-i-surrender-all

The Heart of Christ

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Today’s song is from Darby Hughes. The album which this song comes from has as its subtitle Isaiah 42:3 “a bruised reed shall He not break”. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one!

Light of eternity, painter of the skies
Once robed in majesty, he set them aside
For the selfish and the sinner,
ruined by their own pride
O how humble, the heart of Christ

Gentle, compassionate, breaking not the bruised
Kindling carefully the life left in fumes
All you weary, heavy laden,
there is mercy for you
Come and rest in the heart of Christ

Refrain
There is no Saviour like mine
Holy, yet humble and kind
So I leave my heart
Here in the heart of Christ

Often in vanity I have gone astray
Foolishly hungering for pleasure and praise
Though I wander from my Shepherd,
still He calls me by name
Come return to the heart of Christ

Refrain

Lord, let this attitude live in all I do
Serving in lowliness, the cross in my view
Like the Master,
loving others is my aim and pursuit
Let my heart be the heart of Christ

Refrain

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We Praise You and Acknowledge You

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Today’s hymn is from the Lutheran Service Book and written by Stephen P. Starke. Starke had always had a heart for hymns and played hymns out of The Lutheran Hymnal and read through the hymnal to pass the time before Sunday services at a young age. He has written more than 175 hymns inspired by music and the Scriptures. This hymn is a versification of the Te Deum laudamus.” Te Deum laudamus is Latin and means “God, We Praise You.” It is “traditionally sung on occasions of public rejoicing. Enjoy!

We praise You and acknowledge You,
O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting,
by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud,
the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim
their praises to You bring:
“O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory
fill the heavens and the earth!”

The band of the apostles
in glory sing Your praise;
The fellowship of prophets
their deathless voices raise.
The martyrs of Your kingdom,
a great and noble throng,
Sing with the holy Church
throughout all the world this song:
“O all-majestic Father,
Your true and only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Comforter—
forever Three in One!”

You, Christ, are King of glory,
the everlasting Son,
Yet You, with boundless love,
sought to rescue ev’ryone:
You laid aside Your glory,
were born of virgin’s womb,
Were crucified for us
and were placed into a tomb;
Then by Your resurrection
You won for us reprieve—
You opened heaven’s kingdom
to all who would believe.

You sit in splendid glory,
enthroned at God’s right hand,
Upholding earth and heaven
by forces You command.
We know that You will come
as our Judge that final day,
So help Your servants
You have redeemed by blood, we pray;
May we with saints be numbered
where praises never end,
In glory everlasting.
Amen, O Lord, amen!

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Old Rugged Cross

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Today’s hymn was written by Evangelist George Bennard 1873–1958. In his own words he wrote of thIs hymn: “in the year 1913, Rev. George Bennard, then living at Albion, Michigan, and making a special study of the Cross in God’s plan of redemption, seemed strangely moved to compose this song. Soon after he began to write it he went to New York state to conduct some special evangelistic services, and after getting settled continued to work on it, but seemed to make but little headway, so for the time-being laid it aside. He returned to Michigan to conduct another series of meetings and it was during this time that he was called to pass through a rather trying experience at which time he caught a new vision of the Cross and began to see its deeper meaning. As he visualized the Saviour of men going outside the City he loved so well, bearing the Cross on which He was to give His matchless life on the skull-shaped hill for a sin-cursed and ruined world, he was able to finish the song1. Enjoy!

On a hill far away
stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross
where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross,
so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God
left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To that old rugged cross
I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day
to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

1hymnologyarchive.com/the-old-rugged-cross#:~:text=In%20his%20own%20Story%20of,moved%20to%20compose%20this%20song.

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Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word

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In 1541 the Turkish army was threatening to take Vienna and the German rulers called for special prayers for safety from these Islamic forces. Martin Luther responded to this request by writing the original German text (“Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort”) for a prayer service in Wittenberg. Convinced that the church was threatened not only by the Turkish army of Sultan Suleiman but also by the Roman Catholic Pope, Luther originally made reference to the Pope and Turkish army, but it was later altered to all enemies of the Word. The English translation by Catherine Winkworth was published in her Chorale Book for England in 18631. A great hymn to meditate on during a time of persecution and suffering. Enjoy!

Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would seek to overthrow your Son
and to destroy what he has done.

Lord Jesus Christ, your pow’r make known,
for you are Lord of lords alone;
defend your Christendom that we
may sing your praise eternally.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
send peace and unity on earth;
support us in our final strife
and lead us out of death to life.

1hymnary.org/text/lord_keep_us_steadfast_in_your_word

The Law Commands and Makes Us Know

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Today’s hymn is by Isaac Watts. This hymn is written to the tune of “Old Hundredth”, the same tune that we commonly use to sing “All People That On Earth Do Dwell” and The Doxology. Enjoy reading this one as a reminder of the use of the Law and the blessing of the Gospel.

The Law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But ’tis the gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will.

The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
The gospel only can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

What curses doth the Law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears,
Pard’ning the guilt of num’rous years.

My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law.
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

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I Trust In Jesus

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Today’s song comes from Celtic Worship, a worship group from Scotland who especially use instruments native to Scotland in their music, including the powerful sound of bagpipes, whistles and fiddle. Enjoy!

Lord, for what now do I wait?
Christ, the hope, that shall not fade
Take my heart, this flesh, these bones
Trust I place in You alone
Light the path on darkest day
Guide my feet if I would stray
Grant me strength that I may roam
Ever homeward to Your throne

Refrain
I trust in Jesus and only Jesus
He is the Name above all names
My Strength and Refuge, my Firm Foundation
And I will worship Him forevermore

Mountains of the earth may fade
Yet the love of God remains
Storms will rage and oceans rise
Christ alonе will turn the tide
Resting in His loving arms
This, I know with all my hеart
Death can never take it’s hold
Grace will never let me go

Refrain

Come all sons and daughters rise
Lift your praise beyond the skies
Every nation now proclaim
Glory to our risen King
Bow before His righteousness
Christ is Lord our tongues confess
Justified the sinner saved
Glorify His Holy name, we glorify Your names

Refrain

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Heal us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer

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Today’s hymn is from William Cowper (1731-1800), included in the Olney Hymns under the title of “Jehovah-Raphi, I am the Lord that healeth thee, Exod. xv.” The text draws upon different healing narratives found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. With Cowper suffering with his own trials, including an attempted suicide, I’m sure at least part of this hymn is a plea on behalf of himself. Enjoy!

Heal us, Emmanuel, hear our prayer; 
we wait to feel thy touch; 
deep-wounded souls to thee repair, 
and Saviour, we are such. 

Our faith is feeble, we confess 
we faintly trust thy word; 
but wilt thou pity us the less? 
Be that far from thee, Lord! 

Remember him who once applied 
with trembling for relief; 
“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried; 
“O help my unbelief!” 

She, too, who touched thee in the press 
and healing virtue stole, 
was answered, “Daughter, go in peace: 
thy faith hath made thee whole.” 

Like her, with hopes and fears we come 
to touch thee if we may; 
O send us not despairing home; 
send none unhealed away. 

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Blest Be The Tie That Binds

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An orphan at the age of twelve, John Fawcett (1740-1817) became apprenticed to a tailor and was largely self-educated. He was converted by the preaching of George Whitefield at the age of sixteen and began preaching soon thereafter. In 1765 Fawcett was called to a small, poor, Baptist country church in Wainsgate, Yorkshire. Seven years later he received a call from the large and influential Carter’s Lane Church in London, England. Fawcett accepted the call and preached his farewell sermon. The day of departure came, and his family’s belongings were loaded on carts, but the distraught congregation begged him to stay. When love and tears prevailed, and Dr. Fawcett sacrificed the attraction of a London pulpit to the affection of his poor but devoted flock, he wrote this hymn. Fawcett continued to serve in Wainsgate and in the nearby village of Hebden Bridge for the remainder of his active ministry1. Enjoy!

Blest be the tie that binds 
our hearts in Christian love; 
the fellowship of kindred minds 
is like to that above. 

Before our Father’s throne 
we pour our ardent prayers; 
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, 
our comforts and our cares. 

We share our mutual woes, 
our mutual burdens bear, 
and often for each other flows 
the sympathizing tear. 

When we are called to part, 
it gives us inward pain; 
but we shall still be joined in heart, 
and hope to meet again. 

This glorious hope revives 
our courage by the way; 
while each in expectation lives 
and waits to see the day. 

From sorrow, toil, and pain, 
and sin, we shall be free; 
and perfect love and friendship reign 
through all eternity. 

1hymnary.org/text/blest_be_the_tie_that_binds

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