One There Is Above All Others

Posted on 12th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn comes from my favourite hymn writer, John Newton. This one tells of the value and blessing of calling Jesus our friend, a friend like no other. I hope you can call yourself a friend of Jesus today; enjoy!

Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7

One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother’s,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!

Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

Men, when raised to lofty stations,
often know their friends no more;
slight and scorn their poor relations
though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
those whom He redeemed with groans.

When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another,
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.

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What God Ordains Is Always Good

Posted on 11th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’a hymn comes from Samuel Rodigast, a German philosophy teacher at the University of Jena in the late 1600s. Originally written in German, many of us will recognise the song translated by Catherine Winkworth as “Whatever My God Ordains Is Right”, however the 1941 Lutheran Hymnal has the alternative translation below; slightly different words and yet still a great reminder. Enjoy!

What God ordains is always good;
His will is just and holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow meek and lowly.
My God indeed in ev’ry need
knows well how He will shield me;
to Him, then, I will yield me.

What God ordains is always good;
He never will deceive me.
He leads me in His righteous way,
and never will He leave me.
I take, content, what He has sent;
His hand that sends me sadness
will turn my tears to gladness.

What God ordains is always good;
His loving thought attends me;
no poison can be in the cup
that my Physician sends me.
My God is true; each morning new
I trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

What God ordains is always good;
He is my Friend and Father.
He suffers naught to do me harm
tho’ many storms may gather.
Now I may know both joy and woe;
some day I shall see clearly
that He has loved me dearly.

What God ordains is always good;
tho’ I the cup am drinking
which savors now of bitterness,
I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God gives relief,
my heart with comfort filling
and all my sorrow stilling.

What God ordains is always good;
this truth remains unshaken.
Tho’ sorrow, need, or death be mine,
I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, for with His arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
so to my God I yield me.

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How Glorious the Thought

Posted on 10th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s song comes from a NCC Collective, a music ministry of Northwest Community Church in Arizona. Regarding their music philosophy, they write: God-centered, Christ-exalting music plays a necessary part in corporate worship. Songs that rehearse the character of God and His gracious redemptive acts inform our minds, stir our hearts, and provide a platform for us to lift our voices in engaging worship. Congregational singing includes two parts. First, we obey God when we worship Him through song (Psalm 149:1). Singing the Lord’s praise is a command for believers to obey with joy! Second, we serve the Lord and one another through singing (Colossians 3:16-17). Congregational singing does not entertain; it provides an opportunity for the saints to glorify God in gratitude and encourage one another in truth¹.” Yes and amen! I hope you enjoy this one!

Oh how many years their hearts
Had wandered near and far
Forgetting what their fathers’ God had done
But they were not left in darkness
Only by the kindness
Of their covenant-keeping God
So they waited for His provision
The Son of David their deliverance

How glorious the thought
That the Holy Yahweh, God
Would keep His age-old promise to His chosen ones
That the Lord would bless the nations
Make a way for their salvation
How the prophets longed to see when hope would dawn!
Oh how very glorious the thought!

Oh to have been among the lowly
Shepherds when the holy
Hosts of angels filled the sky
Oh to have heard their voices saying
All those years of waiting
Were over for a child was born that night
Peace on earth, goodwill to all men
For God’s Messiah He had come to them

And how glorious the thought
That the only Son of God
Would put on flesh to live among such fallen ones
That this child would heal the nations
Be the way of their salvation
How with gentleness the hope of all had dawned!
Oh how very glorious the thought!

We rejoice in our Redeemer
Our faith’s perfect keeper
He alone has saved us from our sin
And with boldness we proclaim
That Jesus is His name
That ev’ry sinning soul might yield to Him
Let us press on with great endurance
Until the Lord comes in His radiance

How glorious the thought
That the world will worship God
The day that He returns for all His Faithful Ones
Ev’ry tribe and ev’ry nation
Will declare the Lord’s salvation
How the gates of Hell will quake when that day dawns!

And how glorious the thought
That the Church will dwell with God
He will finish what He’s started in His Chosen Ones
There will be no tears or night
God Himself will be our light
And that Son will never set once it has dawned
Oh how very glorious the thought

¹https://nccphx.org/ministries/music/

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Break Forth, O Joyful Heart

Posted on 9th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn comes from Fanny Crosby, writer of around 8000-9000 under different pseudonyms. Today’s hymn is an encouragement to praise God for all he has done for us; I hope today you can break forth in glorious praise to your Saviour; enjoy!

Meter:

Break forth, break forth, O joyful heart,
And make His goodness known,
Who all thy life, though undeserved,
Such love to thee has shown.

Refrain
Break forth, break forth, O joyful heart,
Break forth, no longer silent be;
Break forth, break forth in grateful praise
To Him who came to ransom Thee.

’Twas Jesus sought my wand’ring soul,
And with a shepherd’s care
He brought me kindly to His fold,
And still protects me there. [Refrain]

He is my advocate with God,
My Savior and my friend,
His mercies new with every morn
Like balmy showers descend. [Refrain]

My soul shall magnify the Lord,
My voice His love proclaim,
And every power within me join
To bless and praise His name. [Refrain]

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Does Jesus Care?

Posted on 8th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

We can often question whether God sees or cares about what we are going through here on earth. Today’s hymn was written to combat that. The hymn writer Frank E. Graeff (1860-1919) was a minister in the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prolific writer of hymns, stories, poems and articles. I hope this hymn can counsel your soul that Jesus does care; enjoy!

Meter: 9.7.10.8 with refrain

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

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Christ Is Sufficient

Posted on 7th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn is written by Chris Anderson with music by Greg Habegger. Chris Anderson is author of “Theology That Sticks: The Life-Changing Power of Exceptional Hymns” and is one of the leading voices in a call to singing theologically rich songs, and the power of the old hymns. Of this hymn they hope it “beckons believers to drink deeply of Christ and find Him all-satisfying.” I hope you enjoy this one!

Nothing I’ve done could merit God’s grace;
Nothing I’ll do can take it away.
I have one hope, in life and death:
I have been clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

Nothing remains since Jesus has died;
Justice was paid; the Judge satisfied.
Great is my sin; greater His love;
I have been cleansed with Calvary’s blood!

Refrain:
Christ is sufficient! His work is finished!
He is my faith’s Author and End;
Christ is enough—my Saviour and Friend!

Nothing I’ve sought on earth satisfies;
I was designed to thirst after Christ.
Beckoned by Him, “Drink and be filled.”
I am content, yet yearn for Him still. [Refrain]

Nothing but Christ can undo the Fall.
He will return to reign over all.
Come to us, Lord; right ev’ry wrong;
Soon the redeemed will join heaven’s song. [Refrain]

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Wherewith, O Lord, Shall I Draw Near

Posted on 6th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn comes from Charles Wesley, and it is a wonderful meditation on the fact there is nothing we can do to appease the wrath of God, except plead Christ’s blood on our behalf. I hope these words make you thankful for your Saviour today; enjoy!

Meter: 8.8.8.8

Wherewith, O Lord, shall I draw near,
And bow myself before Thy face?
How in Thy purer eyes appear?
What shall I bring to gain Thy grace?

Whoe’er to Thee themselves approve
Must take the path Thyself has showed;
Justice pursue, and mercy love,
And humbly walk by faith with God.

But though my life henceforth be Thine,
Present for past can ne’er atone;
Though I to Thee the whole resign,
I only give Thee back Thine own.

What have I then wherein to trust?
I nothing have, I nothing am;
Excluded is my every boast;
My glory swallowed up in shame.

Guilty I stand before Thy face;
On me I feel Thy wrath abide:
’Tis just the sentence should take place,
’Tis just—but O, Thy Son hath died!

Jesus, the Lamb of God, hath bled,
He bore our sins upon the tree,
Beneath our curse He bowed His head,
’Tis finished! He hath died for me!

For me I now believe He died!
He made my every crime His own,
Fully for me He satisfied:
Father, well pleased behold Thy Son.

He ever lives for me to pray;
He prays that I with Him may reign;
Amen to what my Lord doth say!
Jesu, Thou canst not pray in vain.

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Where Thou Leadest Me

Posted on 5th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s song comes from one of today’s most prolific modern day hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Bryan Fowler. I hope you can say with them “I will go wherever you lead me Lord”; enjoy!

Where Thou leadest me
I dare not find complaint
For Thou hast never left
Nor will for all my days
Thy presence is my good
And it shall ever be
I will go where Thou leadest me

Sovereign is Thy hand
To guide me when I’m worn
Thy good and perfect will
Holds fast through every storm
What time I am afraid
My faith looks up to Thee
I will trust where Thou leadest me

Refrain
On the mountain high
Through the valley deep
I will go where Thou leadest me

O Shepherd keep me near
For I am prone to stray
The frailty of my flesh
Seeks refuge in Thy grace
This promise is my peace
My soul is safe in Thee
I will rest as Thou leadest me [Refrain]

Savior light my path
Until that final day
If Thou art Lord of life
Why should I fear the grave?
Proud death has lost its sting
For all eternity
I will rise where Thou leadest me
Home with Christ where Thou leadest me [Refrain]

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Psalm 42: As Pants the Deer

Posted on 4th Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn comes from an unknown author, however the music is written by Gregory Wilbur and sung by Marisa Galdino. Greg has written lots of new songs for the church and I have enjoyed every one I’ve listened to; I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too!

As pants the deer for streams of living water,
So longs my soul, O living God, for Thee;
I thirst for Thee, for Thee my heart is yearning;
When shall I come Thy gracious face to see?

O Lord my God, o’erwhelmed in deep affliction,
Far from Thy rest, to Thee I lift my soul;
Deep calls to deep and storms of trouble thunder,
While o’er my head the waves and billows roll.

Thou wilt command Thy servant’s consolation,
Thy loving-kindness yet shall cheer my day,
And in the night Thy song shall be my comfort;
God of my life, to Thee I still will pray.

Why, O my soul, art thou cast down within me,
Why art thou troubled and oppressed with grief?
Hope thou in God, the God of thy salvation,
Hope, and thy God will surely send relief.

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We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought

Posted on 3rd Oct 2024 by hymnoftheday

Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Benson Pollock (1836-1896). He was educated at Trinity College, Ireland ,where he won the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for English Verse in 1855. He studied medicine in London, but in 1861 decided to take Holy Orders in the Anglican Church. He served as curate of St. Luke’s, Leeds; St. Thomas’, Stamford Hill, London; and Holy Trinity, Bordesley, Birmingham, where his brother, James Samuel Pollock, was vicar. Then, for the rest of his life, he ministered to the poor at St. Alban’s Mission in Birmingham. Pollock was a member of the Hymns Ancient and Modern committee, and was its chairman from 1895–96¹. Below is a traditional as well as a modern rendition; enjoy!

Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8

We have not known thee as we ought,
nor learned thy wisdom, grace and pow’r;
the things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light thy truth to see,
and make us wise in knowing thee.

We have not feared thee as we ought,
nor bowed beneath thine awesome eye,
nor guarded deed and word and thought,
remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know thee near,
and grant the grace of holy fear.

We have not loved thee as we ought,
nor cared that we are loved by thee;
thy presence we have coldly sought,
and feebly longed thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
to feel and own the love thou art.

We have not served thee as we ought;
alas! the duties left undone,
the work with little fervor wrought,
the battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal and give the might,
for thee to toil, for thee to fight.

When shall we know thee as we ought,
and fear and love and serve aright!
When shall we, out of trial brought,
be perfect in the land of light!
Lord, may we day by day prepare
to see thy face and serve thee there.