Hi friends – this is a quick note to say you can now find all the songs saved to a Youtube playlist here. The playlist will be updated every Sunday evening. Enjoy!
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I Could Not Do Without Thee
Today’s hymn comes from Frances Ridley Havergal, author of other great hymns such as Like A River Glorious, and Take My Life and Let It Be. This hymn should be the cry of every true believer, echoing the words of Jesus in John 15:5 “…for apart from me, you can do nothing”. Enjoy!
I could not do without thee,
O Saviour of the lost,
whose precious blood redeemed me
at such tremendous cost;
thy righteousness, thy pardon,
thy precious blood, must be
my only hope and comfort,
my glory and my plea.
I could not do without thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
no wisdom of my own;
but thou, belovèd Saviour,
art all in all to me,
and weakness will be power
if leaning hard on thee.
I could not do without thee,
for, oh, the way is long,
and I am often weary,
and sigh replaces song:
how could I do without thee?
I do not know the way;
thou knowest, and thou leadest,
and wilt not let me stray.
I could not do without thee,
O Jesus, Saviour dear;
e’en when my eyes are holden,
I know that thou art near;
how dreary and how lonely
this changeful life would be
without the sweet communion,
the secret rest with thee.
I could not do without thee;
no other friend can read
the spirit’s strange deep longings,
interpreting its need;
no human heart could enter
each dim recess of mine,
and soothe, and hush, and calm it,
O Blessed Lord, but thine.
I could not do without thee,
for years are fleeting fast,
and soon in solemn loneness
the river must be passed;
but thou wilt never leave me,
and though the waves roll high,
I know thou wilt be near me,
and whisper, ‘It is I.’
We Rest On Thee
Today’s hymn is written by Edith Cherry (1872-1897). Edith suffered from polio most of her life and later died from a stroke at the young age of twenty-five years old. Being a talented illustrator and poet, whilst serving the Lord even in her illness, on her death bed she wished (as we all do) that she had done more for Christ. One hymn in particular she wrote was the favourite among the missionaries to the Huaorani (known as Auca) tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle, with Jim and Elisabeth Elliot being among them. On the morning they hoped to meet the Auca’s face-to-face, Elisabeth later wrote, “at the close of their prayers the five men sang one of their favourite hymns, We Rest on Thee to the stirring tune of Finlandia [the same tune of Be Still, My Soul]. Jim and Ed had sung this hymn since college days and knew the verses by heart.” This hymn that had comforted and emboldened them on that morning, was the same morning that led to a series of events where the Auca tribe finally heard the gospel1. As this story shows us, we do not know what fruit the Lord will bring about from our work, as Edith didn’t know — all we can do is be faithful with what we have and pray that God’s will shall be done. Enjoy the version below to the same tune.
We rest on Thee our shield and our defender
We go not forth alone against the foe
Strong in Thy strength safe in Thy keeping tender
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go
Strong in Thy strength safe in Thy keeping tender
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go
Yes in Thy name O Captain of salvation
In Thy dear name all other names above
Jesus our Righteousness our sure Foundation
Our Prince of glory and our King of love
Jesus our Righteousness our sure Foundation
Our Prince of glory and our King of love
We go in faith our own great weakness feeling
And needing more each day Thy grace to know
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go
We rest on Thee our Shield and our Defender
Thine is the battle Thine shall be the praise
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour
Victors we rest with Thee through endless days
When passing through the gates of pearly splendour
Victors we rest with Thee through endless days
1hymnsillustrated.com/blog/hymn-of-the-month-we-rest-on-thee
O Risen Lord, To You We Come
Today’s hymn is one written by British pastor Jeremy Walker, found on his blog. Not much is written about this hymn, other than it’s set to the same tune as Toplady’s “How Vast the Benefits Divine.” I hope you enjoy reading and meditating through this one!
O risen Lord, to you we come,
To you we raise our cry;
We come with a united heart,
Our souls to satisfy;
We come as those to whom you gave
The Promise from above:
The Spirit of the living God,
The gift of heavenly love.
We know our lack of heavenly light,
Our need of heavenly heat,
So come to seek your mercy still,
To plead at mercy’s seat:
We have no merit of our own,
No worthiness to claim,
But ask this blessing for your sake,
The glory of your name.
The Spirit whom you gave at first
Again on us bestow;
For more of him your people thirst,
More of your love to know.
Fill us, O Jesus, from on high,
Your Spirit now impart—
With holy fulness, bright and sweet,
Fill every trusting heart!
And then, O Lord, how shall we live!
How speak the truth we know!
How brightly shine in this dark world!
How readily we’ll go!
There is no weakness in your hand,
No coldness in your heart,
So fill us with your Spirit now—
The blessing sought, impart.
Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour
Merry Christmas to all of you! As we ponder on the wonder and blessedness of the birth of our saviour Jesus, it’s only right that we have a hymn that mediates on the gift that is Christ. Today’s hymn was written by Frank Houghton (1894–1972), an American Anglican bishop and the director of China Inland Mission – the ministry founded by Hudson Taylor. This hymn was written in 1934, at a particularly difficult time in the history of the missions to China; as well as other sorrows, in this same year John and Betty Stam were captured in Anhwei and beheaded. After hearing of this, Frank Houghton decided to begin a tour through the country to visit various missionaries, despite how dangerous it was. While traveling over the mountains of Szechwan, the powerful and comforting words of 2 Corinthians 8:9, “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,” were transformed into this lovely Christmas hymn1. May these words bring a comfort to you also this Christmas season; enjoy!
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becomes poor.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
1https://reformationbiblecollege.org/blog/beyond-all-splendor-a-favorite-christmas-hymn
I Must Tell Jesus (Repost)
Hello friends, old and new! I wanted to share this hymn again, which I have already shared, since I was listening to it and meditating on the blessing of running to Jesus with all our burdens and troubles. As we gather on the Lord’s Day tomorrow, let us remember that God’s house is a house of prayer. Are you burdened and heavy laden? Run to Jesus. Are you sick or weary? Run to Jesus. Do you have many troubles that no-one either knows about or can do anything about? Run to Jesus. Just as this song reminds us, “Jesus can help me, Jesus alone”. Enjoy!
Today’s hymn is written by Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929), an American minister who wrote more than 2,000 gospel songs including “Leaning on the everlasting arms”. The story behind this hymn by the pastor-composer was told to another gospel composer, Charles Gabriel, in 1916: “While I was a pastor at Lebanon, Pa., I called one day at the home of a parishioner and found the lady in great distress and sorrow. Wringing her hands, she cried: “What shall I do—what shall I do?” I replied, “You cannot do better than to take it all to Jesus—you must tell Jesus.” For a moment she seemed abstracted in meditation, then her face glowed, her eyes lighted up, and with animation she exclaimed, “Yes, I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus!”1 I hope you too can tell all your burdens to Jesus; enjoy!
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
Refrain
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end. [Refrain]
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share. [Refrain]
O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win. [Refrain]
I Could Not Do Without Thee
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O Tell Me No More
Today’s hymn was sent to me by a sweet sister from Ryan Bush’s podcast “Gospel Portions“, a podcast with “reminders of the gospel that was preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, that you may hold fast to the word preached to you.” I even more so enjoyed this acapalla cover by Cades Cove Baptist Church. Enjoy!
O tell me no more of this world’s vain store,
The time for such trifles with me now is o’er’
A country I’ve found where true joys abound,
To dwell I’m determined on that happy ground.
No mortal doth know what Christ will bestow,
What life strength and comfort! go after him, go!
Lo, onward I move, to see Christ above,
None guesses how wondrous my journey will prove.
Great spoils I shall win from death, hell and sin,
‘Midst outward afflictions shall feel Christ within;
And still, which is best, I in his dear breast,
As at the beginning, find pardon and rest.
When I am to die, “Receive me,” I’ll cry,
For Jesus hath loved me, I cannot tell why.
But this I do find, we two are so joined,
He’ll not live in glory and leave me behind;
This blessing is mine, through favor divine,
And O, my dear Jesus, the praise shall be thine
In heaven we’ll meet in harmony sweet,
And glory to Jesus! we’ll then be complete.
The Believer’s Danger, Safety and Duty
Today’s hymn comes from my favourite hymn writer, John Newton. In Olney HymnS, this hymn is prefaced with Luke 22:31-32: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” May you remember that the Lord Jesus himself is praying for you so that you may win the battle against sin; enjoy!
Simon, beware! the Saviour said,
Satan, your subtle foe,
Already has his measures laid
Your soul to overthrow.
He wants to sift you all, as wheat,
And thinks his vict’ry sure;
But I his malice will defeat,
My prayer shall faith secure.
Believers, tremble and rejoice,
Your help and danger view;
This warning has to you a voice,
This promise speaks to you.
Satan beholds, with jealous eye,
Your privilege and joy;
He’s always watchful, always nigh,
To tear and to destroy.
But Jesus lives to intercede,
That faith may still prevail,
He will support in time of need,
And Satan’s arts shall fail.
Yet, let us not the warning slight,
But watchful still be found;
Though faith cannot be slain in fight,
It may receive a wound.
While Satan watches, dare we sleep?
We must our guard maintain;
But, Lord, do thou the city keep,
Or else we watch in vain.
Make Me A Captive, Lord
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Lead Us In Your Truth
Today’s song comes from my favourite group, Emu Music. Augustine is credited with writing that “he who sings, prays twice”, which I deeply resonate with – my favourite songs and hymns are those which are prayers to God, where you are not only declaring truth but speaking directly to God. How much more beautiful when more than one voice joins in the song of prayer! I think you’ll enjoy this one!
God of earth and heaven, maker of mankind
You spoke creation into life
Your word at the beginning, breaking through the dark
You wrote your law upon our hearts
Refrain
Lead us in your truth, God, teach us of your grace
Change us by your Spirit to live for you
Fill us with your love, Lord, guide us in your ways
The words you speak are faithful and ever true, help us live for you
Came to dwell among us, from the Father’s side
The glory of our saviour Christ
Author of salvation, full of truth and grace
You speak the words of lasting life [Refrain]
The grass will fade and wither, flowers wilt and fall
Your word endures forevermore
Your promises unchanging, your wisdom never fails
Calling us to stand by faith [Refrain]
Hymn of the Day 