GLORIFY THY NAME

Over the past few years I have shared my thoughts and the history of many great hymns and Gospel songs that have ministered to me throughout my life. And since my weekly readership has grown to about 350, I am assuming that there are many, like me, who love these special pieces of music. But I also believe that there are many of the newer praise choruses which also minister to us. One of the first such choruses dates way back to 1976 when it was written by Donna Adkins. It is based on Psalm 86:12"I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart and I will glorify thy name for evermore." I must admit that it is my favorite praise chorus and it is a challenge to me every time I sing it as part of my worship. I only wish that it would still be included in worship services today. It should be our desire to glorify God in all that we do. That is our purpose in life. But if we are honest, we often fail to do this. What about our conversation and even our thoughts? Do they always glorify the Lord? What about the way we treat others, especially those who have hurt us or hold different opinions? Do we glorify the Lord.? What about our true motives for service? Is it to glorufy the Lord or to bring glory to ourselves? Think about that one carefully. What about our reactions to family members, to our bosses, to our teachers, to cashiers, to waiters, to neighbors, etc.? Do we always glorify the Lord? Our prayer should be what the words of this chorus say, we should do our part to glorify the name of the Lord, in our home, in our county, in our state, in our country and in the entire earth.

Father, we love You

We worship and adore You

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth

Jesus, we love You

We worship and adore You

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth

Spirit, we love You

We worship and adore You

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name

Glorify Thy Name in all the earth.

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HE LEADETH ME

It is unusual when you have the words of the author of a hymn that gives the account of how he was led to write the words. Such is the case this week. Listen to story told by Joseph H. Gilmore (1834 - 1918). "As a young man who recently had been graduated from Brown University and Newton Theological Institution, I was supplying for a couple of Sundays the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. At the midweek service, on the 26th of March, 1862, I set out to give the people an exposition of the Twenty-third Psalm, which I had given before on three or four occasions, but this time I did not get further than the words "He Leadeth Me." Those words took hold of me as they had never done before, and I saw them in a significance and wondrous beauty of which I had never dreamed. It was the darkest hour of the Civil War. I did not refer to that fact — that is, I don't think I did — but it may subconsciously have led me to realize that God's leadership is the one significant fact in human experience, that it makes no difference how we are led, or whither we are led, so long as we are sure God is leading us. At the close of the meeting a few of us in the parlor of my host, good Deacon Wattson, kept on talking about the thought which I had emphasized; and then and there, on a blank page of the brief from which I had intended to speak, I penciled the hymn, talking and writing at the same time, then handed it to my wife and thought no more about it. She sent it to The Watchman and Reflector, a paper published in Boston, where it was first printed. I did not know until 1865 that my hymn had been set to music by William B. Bradbury. I went to Rochester [New York] to preach as a candidate before the Second Baptist Church. Going into their chapel on arrival in the city, I picked up a hymnal to see what they were singing, and opened it at my own hymn, "He Leadeth Me."" What an interesting way to find that your writing had been published and was being used to encourage believers. I hope that you can relate to these words this week and testify that indeed He leads you.

(1) He leadeth me, O blessed thought!

O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(2) Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, over troubled sea,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(3) Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine;

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(4) And when my task on earth is done,

When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,

E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

This week we go way back in time to choose an inspiring expression of praise which was written in 1225 by Giovanni Bernardone who was later known as Saint Francis of Assisi. He was a medieval monk who spent his lifetime as an itinerant evangelist, preaching and helping the poor people of Italy. Saint Francis was known as a great lover of nature, seeing the hand of God in all creation. Somebody once wrote, "Saint Francis came to preach - with smiles he met the friendless, fed the poor, freed a trapped bird, led home a child; Although he spoke no word - his text, God's love, the town did not forget." This hymn is from one of his writings entitled "Canticles of the Sun" said to have been written one hot summer day, one year before his death, while he was very ill and suffering the loss of his eyesight. Throughout his life Saint Francis made use of singing and believed strongly in the importance of church music. In all he wrote more than sixty hymns for use in the monastery. This beautiful expression of praise is one that survived the passing of these several hundred years. The English translation of the text was made by William Draper who prepared this paraphrased version for a children's choir festival in England some time between 1899 - 1919. The tune first appeared in a Roman Catholic hymnal in Germany in 1623. Enjoy it this week as you worship our great God and King.

(1) 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!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(2) Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,

Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(3) Dear mother earth, who day by day

Unfoldest blessings on our way,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,

Let them His glory also show.

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(4) And all ye men of tender heart,

Forgiving others, take your part,

O sing ye! Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,

Praise God and on Him cast your care!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(5) 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!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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DEEPER AND DEEPER

This hymn is from the pen of a great evangelical preacher and missionary statesman, Oswald J. Smith (1889 - 1986). I have heard much about him, but I was surprised to learn that he actually composed more than 1200 hymns and religious verses. In his book The Story of My Hymns, he gives the following account of the writing of this week's hymn. "Arriving in Woodstock, Ontario, one day in the year 1911, I was invited to preach one Sunday morning in the largest Methodist Church in that city. As I walked along the street on my way to the church, the melody of this hymn sang itself into my heart and with it the words, 'Into the heart of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go.' I can still recall the joy and buoyancy of youth, the bright sunshine overhead, and the thrill with which I looked forward to my service that Sunday morning, as again and again I hummed over the words. I wondered if I could retain the music in my mind until the service was over, I was then just twenty-one years of age. After preaching, I returned to my rented room, and the first thing i did was write out the melody as God had given it to me. I had been able to remember it, and it has never changed form that day to this. The verses were much more difficult, I worked on them at Belwood, Ontario, but it was three years later, in the First Presbyterian Church of South Chicago, of which I was pastor, that I completed them. It was then 1914, and I was twenty-four years of age. The writing of the hymn afforded me much joy, nor has it ever grown old. I still love it and always will, for it was the child of my youth. It proves conclusively that God can impart His deepest truths to the heart of the young, for I doubt if i have ever written anything more profound since. There are five steps portrayed in 'Deeper and Deeper'- the heart, the will, the cross, joy and love. What an experience! But it is the note of triumph in the last verse that transports the soul to heights sublime." What more can I add to what the author has said about this hymn. Meditate on these words this week and ask the Lord to make this real in your life.

(1) Into the heart of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go,

Seeking to know the reason, Why He should love me so,

Why He should stoop to lift me, Up from the miry clay,

Saving my soul, making me whole, Though I had wandered away.

(2) Into the will of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go,

Praying for grace to follow, Seeking His way to know;

Bowing in full surrender, Low at His blessed feet,

Bidding Him take, break me and make, Till I am molded, complete.

(3) Into the cross of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go,

Following through the garden, Facing the dreaded foe;

Drinking the cup of sorrow, Sobbing with broken heart,

"O Savior, help! Dear Savior, help! Grace for my weakness impart."

(4) Into the joy of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go,

Rising, with soul enraptured, Far from the world below.

Joy in the place of sorrow, Peace in the midst of pain,

Jesus will give, Jesus will give; He will uphold and sustain.

(5) Into the love of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go,

Praising the One Who brought me Out of my sin and woe;

And through eternal ages, Gratefully I shall sing,

"O how He loved! O how He loved! Jesus, my Lord and my King!"

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TELL ME THE OLD OLD STORY

Last week we shared the story behind the writing of "I Love To Tell The Story" If you recall, Katherine Hankey wrote a lengthy poem on the life of Christ while she was recovering from a serious illness. It contained two main sections each containing fifty verses. The first part of the two sections was entitled "The Story Wanted". It was this part of the poem became the basis for this week's choice, "Tell Me the Old, Old Story". I hope that we never get tired of hearing and sharing this story, the greatest story ever. The old, old story of Jesus and His love. The story that Christ Jesus makes us whole.

1. Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story simply, as to a little child,

For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

2. Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,

That wonderful redemption, God's remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;

The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

3. Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;

Remember I'm the sinner whom Jesus came to save.

Tell me the story always, if you would really be,

In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

4. Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear

That this world's empty glory is costing me too dear.

Yes, and when that world's glory is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story: "Christ Jesus makes thee whole."

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

Katherine Hankey was born in 1834, the daughter of a wealthy English banker. Early in life Katherine caught the evangelical concern from her father and she began organizing Sunday School classes for rich and poor throughout London. All of the royalties received from these publications were always directed to a foreign mission project. When Katherine was only thirty years of age, she experienced a serious illness. During a long period of recovery she wrote a lengthy poem on the life of Christ. The poem consisted of two main sections, each containing fifty verses. The first section of the poem was entitled "The Story Wanted." and it was from this part of her poem that she later adapted the words for another of her familiar hymn texts, "Tell Me the Old, Old Story." Later that same year, while still recovering from her illness, she completed the second part of her poem on the life of Christ. This sequel to the first section was entitled "The Story Told." From these verses came the text for "I Love to Tell the Story," Being musically inclined, Kate also composed her own tunes for these two texts. Her hymns received little notice, however, when used with this music. The following year, 1867, a large international YMCA convention was held in Montreal, Canada. One of the speakers at the convention, Major General Russell from England, closed his emotionally charged message to the delegates by quoting the verses from Miss Hankey's two hymn texts. In the audience that day was a noted American gospel musician, William H. Doane, composer of more than 2,000 gospel songs. Mr. Doane was greatly moved by these lines an promptly composed musical settings for both texts. Later a new musical setting, which replaced Doane's music for "I Love to Tell the Story," was composed by William G. Fisher, a Philadelphia musician and piano dealer. Fischer also added the refrain for the hymn, "I Love to tell the story! 'Twill be mt theme in glory-to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love." In 1875 the hymn appeared in its present from in Bliss and Sankey's collection, Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs,which brought "I Love to Tell the Story" to the attention of evangelical congregations everywhere.

1. I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;

I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true,

It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.

Refrain:

I love to tell the story,

'Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

2. I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story,

'Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

3. I love to tell the story, 'tis pleasant to repeat,

What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story,

'Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

4. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;

And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story,

'Twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART

This week I've chosen a song which reminds us that when Jesus comes into our hearts we become new creatures, old things have become new. The text was written by Rufus Henry McDaniel who was born in1850 and started preaching at age nineteen. He then became a minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1873. In 1914, following the untimely death of his son, Rufus penned these words as an expression of his faith and hope. The tune (McDaniel) was composed by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel who had it copyrighted. The song was introduced in pamphlet form at Billy Sunday campaigns at Philadelphia in 1915 and was first published later that year by Homer A. Rodeheaver. Despite the fact that the song is almost one hundred years old, its message is still relevant for today. If Jesus indeed has "come into our heart", there should be obvious changes. This song talks about some of these changes and as we sing it we should be reminded of these. And our hearts should be thankful to a great God who through the sacrifice of His Son has made all of this possible. And as is often the case in these older songs, there is a final verse which talks about heaven and that City where we shall one day dwell. And that indeed should fill us with hope, joy, and expectation as we "onward go". So, if you've experienced these changes, then join us in singing this song throughout this week.

1. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought

Since Jesus came into my heart;

I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

2. I have ceased from my wand'ring and going astray,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

And my sins which were many are all washed away,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

3. I'm possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,

Since Jesus came into my heart; And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

4. There's a light in the valley of death now for me,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

And the gates of the City beyond I can see,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

5. I shall go there to dwell in that City I know,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

And I'm happy, so happy as onward I go,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Refrain:

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart;

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

IN MY HEART THERE RINGS A MELODY

As I reflect upon church music as I was growing up, there were some hymns that I loved to sing not only because of their message but because they were peppy and fun to sing. That was a sharp contrast to many of the hymns that were sung then. One of those is this week's choice, "In My Heart There Rings A Melody". Some song leaders loved to hold the first four notes/words of the chorus and then sing the remainder at an upbeat tempo. It would stick in your mind for days after having been sung on a Sunday evening. And why shouldn't that happen? However, I never could understand how some folks could sing it without a smile on their face. What a joy to know that Christ can put a melody of love in your heart and that the words can ring there despite what is happening around you. And as is so common in these older hymns, the last verse talks about heaven where the courts of glory will ring with glorious harmony. I love that thought and look forward to that day. The text and tune were written by Elton M. Roth (1891-1951). Roth was a well known musician in his day who wrote and published many anthems and over 100 hymns. It was while assisting with evangelistic meetings in Texas on a hot summer day in 1923 that the words and music for this hymn suddenly came to him. Mr. Roth recalled, "That evening I introduced the song by having more than 200 boys and girls sing it at the open air meeting, after which the audience joined in the singing. I was thrilled as it seemed my whole being was transformed into song." And ever since then, thousands of believers have joined in joyfully singing about the melody that rings in your heart because of what Christ has done for each of us. Despite your circumstances today, I hope this melody is ringing within your heart.

(1) I have a song that Jesus gave me,

It was sent from heaven above;

There never was a sweeter melody,

'Tis a melody of love.

Chorus

In my heart there rings a melody,

There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;

In my heart there rings a melody;

There rings a melody of love!

(2) I love the Christ who died on Calv'ry,

For He washed my sins away;

He put within my heart a melody,

And I know it's there to stay.

Chorus

In my heart there rings a melody,

There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;

In my heart there rings a melody;

There rings a melody of love!

(3) 'Twill be my endless theme in glory,

With the angels I will sing;

'Twill be a song with glorious harmony,

When the courts of heaven ring.

Chorus

In my heart there rings a melody,

There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;

In my heart there rings a melody;

There rings a melody of love!

Listen to it here. LISTEN