I AM THINE OH LORD. (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - A special feature where I repeat and highlight some hymns that have been featured previously in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for our encouragement and challenge.  This hymn was first shared here in 2013         

On this blog I have often shared the story and hymns of Fanny Crosby, one of the most prolific writers of Gospel hymns in history.  Many of her numbers were collaborations between Crosby (1820-1915) and composer William Doane (1832-1915).  

         In 1874 Crosby was a visitor in Doane's home in Cincinnati.  That evening they talked about the nearness of God in their lives, as the sun was setting and darkness was approaching, they talked about the nearness of God in their lives.  When Crosby went to her room her mind and heart were filled with the ideas that they had discussed.  Before the blind writer went to sleep, she quickly formed the words of this great hymn, "I Am Thine, O Lord."  

         The next morning she shared the words with Doan who wrote down the stanzas and composed the tune. It is said that Hebrews 10:22 was actually the source of Crosby's inspiration. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (KJV)   

          The hymn is written in the first person and is a testimony of her relationship with Christ.  The first stanza begins with a total surrender to Christ.  The second draws upon this surrender as an impetus of service.  The third shows this relationship developed through prayer and the final stanza shares that this close relationship will not be complete until reaching heaven.  

          Is this hymn your testimony?  It should be, and our daily prayer should also be to be drawn nearer to the One who died for us.  So many things draw our attention and time throughout the day and these things can pull us away from prayer and our relationship with Christ. 

          Maybe this week it would be a good thing to begin each morning, when we roll out of bed, with the singing and praying of Fanny Crosby's words.  That could change our day.

 

(1) I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith

And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

 

(2) Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

By the pow'r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

And my will be lost in Thine.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

 

(3) Oh, the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God

I commune as friend with friend!

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

 

(4) There are depths of love that I cannot know

Till I cross the narrow sea;

There are heights of joy that I may not reach

Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

 

Listen to it here.   THINE

 

 

https://youtu.be/1xFQAXmQzR8

MUST I GO AND EMPTY-HANDED

          Sadly, we may regret not taking an opportunity to share the good news of the gospel with those who are lost in sin.  Then, too late we see them pass into eternal judgement when it is too late for their salvation.

          Charles Luther (1847-1924) was a journalist and lay evangelist before being ordained as a Baptist minister in 1886.  He wrote about 25 hymn texts.
          Then in 1877 he heard Rev. A. G. Upham relate the story of a young man who was about to die.  He'd only been a Christian for a month and sorrowed because he had so little time to serve the Lord. He said "I am not afraid to die.  Jesus saves me now.  But, oh must I go empty handed?"  This incident prompted the writing of this hymn.
          The music was written by George Coles Stebbins (1847-1945) when Luther gave him the words.  The complete hymn was first published in Gospel Hymns No. 3 in 1876.
          "As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me.  Night is coming, when no one can work."  John 9:4. The song encourages each Christian to think about the need to be active in soul winning while he can.
          Now as you contemplate the words of this hymn, there are two questions that you must answer.  First, have you experienced God's gift of salvation?  Are you right with the Lord?
          Second, are you sharing the gospel with your family, relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers?   We have the most important message to share.  Let us do it faithfully.
          The chorus asks us that haunting question designed to exhort us to use the time and opportunities that we have to try and reach others. "'Must I go and empty handed?' Must I meet my Savior so?  Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty handed go?"
            The song is an admonition to me as a Christian to look at my own life, with the talents and blessings that God has given me, and determine to be a faithful servant of the Lord by asking myself, "Must I Go, And Empty Handed?

 

1     Must I go, and empty-handed,"
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet? 

Refrain:
"Must I go, and empty-handed?"
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty-handed go? 

 

2     Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow. [Refrain]

3     Oh, the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I'd gladly bow. [Refrain]

 

4     Oh, ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet 'tis day;
Ere the night of death o'ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may. [Refrain]

Listen to it here.   EMPTY

 

 

PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOR

           "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" is a 19th-century American hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1868, and set to music by William H. Doane in 1870.  I must admit that while I often sang these words, I have never been able to include them in a blog because I have had some difficulty understanding and accepting the words.

          Would the Lord, my Savior and my God, "pass me by?"  Is it possible that with all that you or I are going through that somehow He would skip over us while working with others?  Would he heal another and skip over us?  We know the answer to that question is a definite "no".  God has made promises that He will not break, such as "I will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5).  

          A dear friend, Dr. Dan Allen, recently shared this question weeks before the Lord took him home with cancer. "God has a plan for us," he said.  "He has us running our own race, the Christian life, and there will come a time when if I can quote another song, "we all get to Heaven" … Some will get there sooner than others.  Their race will have been completed and God will call them home.  Then they will be healed.  But at no time will He pass His children by."  Today my friend Dr. Dan has completed his race and He has not been forgotten as he is now healed and in the presence of Jesus.

          According to evangelist Wendell Calder, "Our God is Working An Eternal Plan And He Is On Schedule."
          This hymn was actually written by Fanny Crosby after a visit to a detention center in Manhattan.  While there she had an encounter with one of the inmates.  After sharing some words and singing some of her songs to the inmates, she heard one of them cry out, "Good Lord, do not pass me by."   That evening composer William Doane suggested Crosby write a song about that.  She did and later Doane put music to the song.
          Crosby tried putting herself in the shoes of those who are suffering and being disregarded. This made her understand that many of them had been rejected. With that, it took a profound faith to believe that there's someone in this life who would never pass anyone by. That someone is no other than Jesus Christ.

          To a great extent, the creation of the song assures the prisoner and anyone who would cry out to the Lord would certainly not be passed by Him. After all, He is the loving son of God who gave His life to the world.

            Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
            Put your trust in the Lord.  He will not pass you by.

 

1    Pass me not, O gentle Savior,

hear my humble cry;

while on others thou art calling,

do not pass me by.

Refrain:

Savior, Savior,

hear my humble cry;

while on others thou art calling,

do not pass me by.

2    Let me at thy throne of mercy

find a sweet relief;

kneeling there in deep contrition,

help my unbelief. [Refrain]

3    Trusting only in thy merit,

would I seek thy face;

heal my wounded, broken spirit,

save me by thy grace. [Refrain]

4    Thou the spring of all my comfort,

more than life to me,

whom have I on earth beside thee?

Whom in heaven but thee? [Refrain]

Listen to it here.   PASS ME NOT

 

 

 

WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS

          Some of the old hymns stick with you because of their powerful message. Some because of the music and the harmony. A few become favorites because of both. This is one such hymn. It remains one of my favorites to sing because if its upbeat, bouncy meter and somewhat unusual refrain, which splits into two parts, with the melody alternating between the bass/tenor and alto/soprano parts. 
          But I also love this hymn because of its great words. God's grace which is greater than our sins. Grace that reaches the most defiled and sets our spirits free. And where can our praise begin for such a wonderful Savior who deals with us with his great and wondeful grace.? 
          This excellent hymn was written by Haldor Lillenas who was pastor of a First Church of the Nazarene. In 1919, he published his first book, and three years later, he organized his own publishing house. For the next 10 years, he travelled, preached, wrote hymns and published song books. Over his lifetime Lillenas wrote more than 4,000 hymn texts and tune., 
          According to Lillenas, In 1917, "Mrs. Lillenas and I built our first little home in the town of Olivet, Illinois. Upon its completion, we had scarcely any money left to furnish the little home. Having no piano at the time, and needing an instrument of some kind, I managed to find, at one of the neighbor's home, a little wheezy organ which I purchased for $5.00. With the aid of this instrument a number of my songs were written which are now popular, including 'Wonderful Grace of Jesus."
          Incidentally, Wonderful Grace of Jesus was copyrighted in 1918, but not published until 1922 in the Tabernacle Choir Book. Lillenas was paid $5.00 for this song, just enough to pay for the little organ.  As you read the words and hear it sung, your heart should be filled with thanks and praise for the wonderful grace of Jesus that reaches you.

 

(1) Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Greater than all my sin;

How shall my tongue describe it,

Where shall its praise begin?

Taking away my burden,

Setting my spirit free;

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,

Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;

Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.

Broader than the scope of my transgressions,

Greater far than all my sin and shame,

O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.

Praise His Name!

 

(2) Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Reaching to all the lost,

By it I have been pardoned,

Saved to the uttermost,

Chains have been torn asunder,

Giving me liberty;

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,

Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;

Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.

Broader than the scope of my transgressions,

Greater far than all my sin and shame,

O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.

Praise His Name!

 

(3) Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Reaching the most defiled,

By its transforming power,

Making him God's dear child,

Purchasing peace and heaven,

For all eternity;

And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,

Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;

Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.

Broader than the scope of my transgressions,

Greater far than all my sin and shame,

O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.

Praise His Name!

 

Listen to it here.  GRACE