Yearly Archives: 2023

What Wondrous Love Is This?

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Although various sources have attributed this text to a number of different writers, it remains anonymous. “What Wondrous Love” was first published in both Stith Mead’s hymnal for Methodists, A General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1811), and in Starke Dupuy’s hymnal for Baptists, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1811). This hymn meditates on Christ’s wonderful love (verse 1), which brought about our salvation (verse 2), a love to which we and the “millions” respond with eternal praise (verse 3-4)1. Enjoy!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing his love for me,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on.

1hymnary.org/text/what_wondrous_love_is_this_o_my_soul_o_m

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

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Born in 1864, Helen Lemmel moved to the United States around the age of twelve. From a young age, her musical ability was noticed by all those around her. In 1907, She moved to Germany for 4 years to undergo intensive music training. It was here that she would meet her husband. Together, they returned to the United States in 1911. While in America, she served faithfully in the Lord’s work. She dedicated herself to writing, arranging, and teaching songs and hymns of the faith. A few years after her marriage, a tragic illness caused her to lose her vision. Her husband, refusing to attend to a blind wife, left her. This time of hurt and loss weighed heavily upon Helen. Then, in 1918, Lemmel was introduced to a pamphlet written by Algerian missionary Lilias Trotter. Trotter was a well-known artist who had given up a rising and lucrative career to serve the Lord on the misson field. Her words stirred the heart of Lemmel, particularly “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look…look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him” which inspired this hymn1.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

1enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/

I Lay My Sins on Jesus

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Since the children in his children could become noisy and restless, Pastor Horatius Bonar wrote a hymn “in a desire to provide something which children could sing and appreciate in divine worship”. Bonar wrote many of his hymns for the children, yet “they are so spiritually profound they will always satisfy the most mature Christian mind, despite it”s simplicity”1. Enjoy this hymn this Lord’s Day!

I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God;
He bears them all, and frees us
From the accursed load.
I bring my guilt to Jesus,
To wash my crimson stains
White in his blood most precious,
Till not a spot remains.

I lay my wants on Jesus;
All fullness dwells in him;
He heals all my diseases,
My soul he does redeem.
I lay my griefs on Jesus,
My burdens and my cares;
He from them all releases,
He all my sorrows shares.

I rest my soul on Jesus,
This weary soul of mine;
His right hand me embraces,
I in his arms recline.
I love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;
Like fragrance on the breezes
His name abroad is poured.

I long to be like Jesus,
Meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus,
The Father’s holy child.
I long to be with Jesus
Amid the heav’nly throng,
To sing with saints his praises,
To learn the angels’ song.

1page 219 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee

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This hymn was written by reformer Martin Luther in 1524 as “Aus Tiefer Not” and translated by Richard Massie in the 1800s. This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 130, and was a great favourite of Luthers, calling it a Pauline Psalm —along with Psalm 32, 51, and 1431. Martin Luther highly encouraged the singing of Psalms and included them in his liturgical reforms. He began writing hymns in 1523 and composed them until his death in 15462. Under his Roman Catholic theology, Martin Luther’s struggle with understanding how could a sinful man as himself be accepted by a righteous God is well documented; until he finally came to the right understanding by the Spirit of God of Romans 1:17 “the righteous shall live by faith”. You can hear the echoes of relief from the burden of our sins by the grace and mercy of God in this Psalm and song. Enjoy!

From depths of woe I raise to thee
the voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
and hear my supplication:
if thou iniquities dost mark,
our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,
grace, grace alone, availeth;
our works, alas! are all in vain;
in much the best life faileth:
no man can glory in thy sight,
all must alike confess thy might,
and live alone by mercy.

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
and not in mine own merit;
on him my soul shall rest, his Word
upholds my fainting spirit:
his promised mercy is my fort,
my comfort, and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience.

What though I wait the live-long night,
and ’til the dawn appeareth,
my heart still trusteth in his might;
it doubteth not nor feareth:
do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
ye of the Spirit born indeed;
and wait ’til God appeareth.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,
his grace much more aboundeth;
his helping love no limit knows,
our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is he,
who will at last his Israel free
from all their sin and sorrow.

1hymnary.org/text/from_depths_of_woe_i_raise_to_thee
2umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-out-of-the-depths-i-cry-to-you

How Long, O Lord, How Long? (Psalm 13)

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This song from Sovereign Grace based on Psalm 13 is song I’m sure we have all felt at times. How long will the Lord not answer us? How long will the evil in our midst continue to have the upper hand? How long will we suffer? But just like David in this Psalm, it’s important we reach the truth that will keep us until Jesus returns for us, or we return to him: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” Enjoy this one!

O Lord, our God, to You we come
Will You still hide Your face?
We cry before You and on our knees we pray
How long, O Lord, how long?

Our sorrows leave us weak and worn
Surrounded by our fears
We look to heaven through feeble faith and tears
How long, O Lord, how long?

Refrain
Till Your glory fills our eyes,
And our faith is turned to sight.
Till our thirsty souls are satisfied
How long, O Lord, how long?

Our foes and enemies rejoice
Injustice seems to reign.
Lord, we are shaken and we are losing strength;
How long, O Lord, how long?

Refrain

But we will trust Your steadfast love,
Your grace will be our song.
You bring new mercies with ev’ry rising sun;
How long, O Lord, how long?

Refrain

Jesus, My Strength, My Hope

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This hymn I came across as I was reading my hymnal; it’s written by Charles Wesley and included in the Wesley brother’s Hymns and Scared Poems collection in 1742. Why don’t you use this as your prayer today to draw near to Christ.

Jesus, my strength, my hope,
On thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up,
And know thou hearest prayer.
Give me on thee to wait,
Till I can all things do,
On thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to renew.

I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind
The baits of pleasing ill;
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross.

I want a godly fear,
A quick-discerning eye,
That looks to thee when sin is near,
And sees the tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared
And armed with jealous care,
For ever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.

I rest upon thy word;
The promise is for me;
My succour and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from thee.
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till thou my patient spirit guide
Into thy perfect love.

We Rise and Worship

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Taken from a collection of new hymns sung by Nathan Clark George, and written by Greg Wilbur and Douglas Bond, these songs are written particularly for congregational singing and intentionally have well-crafted tunes that reflect the theological content of the lyrics. This one is one of my favourite from the collection, and sure will be yours too.

We rise and worship you, our Lord,
With grateful hearts for grace outpoured,
For you are good—O taste and see—
Great God of mercy rich and free. 
                                                       
A chosen son of God on high,
I trembling bow and wonder why
This Sovereign Lord—O taste and see—
In love stooped down and rescued me.
 
Your Son obeyed the Law for me,
Then died my death upon the tree.
O Jesus Christ, I taste and see
And marvel that you purchased me.
 
In might, your Spirit drew me in,
My quickened heart from death to win.
O Holy Spirit—taste and see—
My comfort, hope, and surety.
 
With thankful praise our hearts we give;
By grace alone we serve and live.
O Trinity, we taste and see
Your sovereign goodness full and free.

I Need Thee Ev’ry Hour

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The words to this hymn were written by Annie Sherwood Hawks (1836-1918) and the chorus was added by Robert Lowry (1826-1899). When this hymn was first published in 1873, this Bible verse was included underneath the title: “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5 KJV). Speaking of the hymn, Annie wrote “I remember well the morning, many years ago, when in the midst of the daily cares of my home, then in a distant city, I was so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him either in joy or pain, these words “I need thee every hour” were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me…For myself, the hymn was prophetic rather than expressive of my own experience at the time it was written, and I do not understand why it so touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long years after, when the shadow fell over my way—the shadow of a great loss—that I understood something of the comforting in the words I had been permitted to write and give out to others in my hours of sweet security and peace.1” I found a lot of versions of this hymn and couldn’t pick one! Do you have a favourite? Please send my way 🙂

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Refrain
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

Refrain

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

Refrain

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

Refrain

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

Refrain

1hymnologyarchive.com/i-need-thee-every-hour

Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace

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The song was written by Daniel Herbert (1751-1833), a congregational minister who served at Sudbury in Suffolk. Not much is known about him, apart from a few volumes of hymns he wrote, and what information can be gleaned from his obituary. The editor of Gospel Magazine said of him after his death in 1833: “He was a plain, unadorned, though faithful and honest, messenger to dispense the word of eternal life to the helpless family of Zion.” In the preface to his 1801 volume of hymns, Herbert says: “I flatter myself that the hymns will be received by those who know the plague of their own hearts and have felt the power of efficacious grace. While the poor saved sinner, who is enabled to credit the report of the gospel of salvation, full and free, without money and without price, will find satisfaction in reading these lines, whatever the man untaught of God may say will give the writer no concern”1.

Come boldly to a throne of grace,
Ye wretched sinners come;
And lay your load at Jesus’ feet,
And plead what he has done.

“How can I come?” some soul may say,
“I’m lame, and cannot walk;
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth;
I sigh, but dare not talk.”

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Though lost, and blind, and lame;
Jehovah is the sinner’s Friend,
And ever was the same.

He makes the dead to hear his voice;
He makes the blind to see;
The sinner lost he came to save,
And set the prisoner free.

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
For Jesus fills the throne;
And those he kills he makes alive;
He hears the sigh or groan.

Poor bankrupt souls, who feel and know
The hell of sin within,
Come boldly to the throne of grace;
The Lord will take you in.

1breadforbeggars.com/2013/07/come-boldly-to-the-throne-of-grace-performed-by-jason-waller/

All Creatures of Our God and King

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A monk in search of reform, Francis Assisi lived a humble, simple lifestyle in service to God and to his fellow man from around 1181-1226. He is said to have loved nature, travel, and would preach to anyone who’d listen, even if it was a group of birds in a cave. His love of nature and his love for the Creator of nature is what birthed his “Song of Brother Sun and All Creatures,” or “Cantico del frate sole.” It was one of several popular laude spirituale, or popular spiritual songs in Italian for use outside of the liturgical context. Francis is believed to have written this poem near the end of his earthly life, during a period of tremendous pain and suffering. And among its more salient details are the tone with which Francis writes, a tone that expresses a desire for man and nature to be one, a love of the earth and all God’s creatures in it and is based in part upon Psalm 1481.

All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,

Refrain
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice:

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright
that givest us both warmth and light,

Refrain

All ye who are of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
sing his praises, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care,

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
and praise the Spirit, Three in One,

Refrain

1medium.com/congregational-song/hymn-reflection-all-creatures-of-our-god-and-king-fd4d2ff960c1