Yearly Archives: 2023

He Hideth My Soul

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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.

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/quothe-hideth-my-soulquot/

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Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me

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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.

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-jesu-thy-boundless-love-to-me

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O Breath of Life

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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.

1umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-o-breath-of-life-come-sweeping-through-us

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Show Us Christ

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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

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Nearer, My God, to Thee

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Sarah Flower Adams was a British actress who received praise for her performance in an 1837 production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. After health problems disrupted her plans to continue with theatre, she found comfort in writing poems and hymns. Her most notable hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” came about in 1841 when Adam’s pastor was looking for a hymn for the following week’s sermon on Genesis 28:11-19, which is referred to by many as “Jacob’s ladder,” or “Jacob’s dream.” Adams offered to write the hymn and completed it within a week to go along with the pastor’s sermon. The hymn was originally set to music written by her sister, Eliza Flower, but another hymn-tune called “BETHANY,” written by Lowell Mason in 1856, has become most widely recognised and is most familiar to listeners today1. Enjoy!

Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
All that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

1thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/nearer-my-god-to-thee-history-and-lyrics.html

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Not Unto Us

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This song is written by UK collective Joyful Noise, with the chorus of this song coming straight from Psalm 115:1. We can be so quick to seek glory for ourselves, but this song reminds us that God alone is our creator, He alone is our redeemer, and He alone gives us the grace to persevere all the way to heaven. He alone deserves all the glory. Enjoy!

All the glory, Lord to You!
For in the secret place
Each life you fashioned through and through
In fearful wonder made!
What have we but given by you?
To our God all honour due!
You who also made the stars
Yours the glory never ours

Refrain
Not unto us, not unto us
But all the glory unto you!
For your great love and faithfulness
We give the glory all to you!

Though the world may praise our deeds
You search much deeper in
You see our pride you see our greed,
You see our darkest sin
You the seeker, we the lost
Ours the sin, and yours the cross
Yours the love that took our place
Yours the glory, ours the grace!

Refrain

Hopeless lies the road ahead
If in our strength we go
Our only hope to run the course
Is in your strength alone
Every battle every race
Won by your empowering grace
When our fearful faith is small
God of grace you give us all!

Refrain

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Christ Our Hope In Life And Death

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This song written by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker & Matt Papa, and was birthed out of Merker’s and Kauflin’s desire to write a song about hope, so that their local congregations they serve would be helped. The song then developed from the Heidelberg catechism question 1: “What is your only comfort in life and death?”1. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this 🙂

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.

Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.

Refrain
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death!

What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

Refrain

Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him.

There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.

Refrain

1youtube.com/watch?v=nLoMST0X2lM\

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Look, Ye Saints, The Sight Is Glorious!

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Thomas Kelly (d.1855) was an Irish-born Anglican priest and an energetic evangelical preacher of considerable learning who was prohibited from preaching by his archbishop. He founded an independent sect known as the Kellyites and, drawing on the wealth of his wife, founded chapels in several towns. He wrote more than 700 hymns, several in CH4. ‘Regent Square’ is by Henry Smart (d.1879) who was a leading 19th century Anglican organist famous for his skill in accompanying congregational singing. He was a staunch advocate of metrical psalms and this was shown in his four-square and well-structured hymn melodies. The United Presbyterian Church in Scotland appointed him as editor of their Presbyterian Psalter and Hymnal (1876)1. I love this version with an added verse.. enjoy!

Look you saints the sight is glorious
See the Man of Sorrows now
From the fight returned victorious
Every knee to Him will bow
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crowns become the Victors brow

Crown the Saviour! Angels, crown Him!
Rich the gospel Jesus brings
In the seat of power enthrone Him
While the choir of heaven sings
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown the Saviour King of Kings

Once with cruel thorns they crowned Him
Nailed Him to a wretched tree
There He died as soldiers mocked Him
Suff’ring on that cross for me
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Praise the King of Calvary!

Come repentant sinners crown Him
Humbled by His mighty claim
Saved by grace we bow before Him
All to Jesus! Praise His name!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame!

Hear those bursts of acclamation
Hear those loud triumphant chords
Jesus takes the highest station
O what joy that sight affords
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

1music.churchofscotland.org.uk/hymn/439-look-ye-saints-the-sight-is-glorioushttps://music.churchofscotland.org.uk/hymn/439-look-ye-saints-the-sight-is-glorious

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Hymn of Promise

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Natalie Sleeth (1939-1992) began piano lessons at the age of four, gaining a music degree from Wellesley College and an honourary doctorate from West Viriginia Wesleyan College. With over 180 published works, she is considered one of the 20th Century’s most loved composers for children, working for many years at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Texas. Natalie wrote about inspiration for this hymn by “pondering the death of a friend (life and death, death and re­sur­rec­tion), pon­der­ing win­ter and spring (seem­ing op­po­sites), and a T. S. Eliot poem which had the phrase ‘in our end is our be­gin­ning’. These seem­ing­ly con­tra­dic­to­ry pairs led to the the­sis of the song and the hope­ful message that out of one will come the oth­er, when­ev­er God choos­es to bring that about”. Her husband first heard his wife’s hymn shortly before his death and asked it to be sung at his funeral1.

In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness,
Bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
What it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning;
In our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing;
In our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until it’s season,
Something God alone can see.

1page 91 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

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Children of the Heavenly Father

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Karolina “Lina” Sandell was born on October 3, 1832 in a small town in Sweden. Her father was a Lutheran pastor sympathetic to the growing pietist movement and raised Lina in a faith that emphasised the grace and warmth of God. Throughout her life, she wrote over 2000 hymn texts and poems (earning her the title the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden”) and worked as an editor at the Evangelical National Foundation, a mission organisation within the Lutheran Church of Sweden. This hymn was written quite early in her life, perhaps as young as 17. An old tradition relates that she wrote the hymn while seated on the branch of a large ash tree that stood in the parsonage yard. From that spot on warm summer evenings she could listen to the content twitter of the birds as they hid in their nests among the green leaves, and from there she could watch the stars as they began to appear. Her impressions fortified the biblical concepts of the security of God’s children.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers,
Your Protector never slumbers;
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

Though He giveth or he taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-children-of-the-heavenly-father-bjorlin

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