Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE

So many thoughts flood our minds each day.  Many of these are worries or fears or they create them.  Many bring bad memories.  They can cause us to be pessimistic and negative.

But instead we need to look for and adopt thoughts that are positive.  This week's chorus by Walt Harrah gives us the secret for doing this.  We should regularly fill our minds with thoughts of God's goodness.  Then we will lead satisfied lives.  PTL!

 Think about His love, think about His goodness

Think about His grace that's brought us through

For as high as the heavens aboveSo great is the measure of our father's loveGreat is the measure of our Father's loveSo great is the measure of our Father's loveHow could I forget His loveAnd how could I forget His merciesHe satisfies He satisfies He satisfies my desires
Think about His love, think about His goodnessThink about His grace that's brought us throughFor as high as the heavens aboveSo great is the measure of our father's loveGreat is the measure of our Father's loveGreat is the measureGreat is the measureGreat is the measure of our fathers loveGreat is the measure of our fathers love

Walt Harrah

Sunday, March 23, 2025

IMMORTAL INVISIBLE

There are many great praise hymns but this one is definitely one of my favorites.  He indeed is the most blessed, the most glorious, the Almighty, victorious, the Ancient of days, the great name we praise.  None other is like Him.  None other is due our praise and worship.  Praise His name!

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
2
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
3
To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
4
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
5
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Sunday, March 16, 2025

iN HIS TIME

 In his time, in his time

He makes all things beautifulIn his time
Lord please show me everydayAs you're teaching me your wayThat you do just what you sayIn your time
In your time, in your timeYou make all things beautifulIn your time
I can easily get impatient when I have to wait for slow clerks, traffic lights, late friends, telephone calls, packages, an expected check. the start of a late program, a late doctor, and on and on ...  I value being on time, but that doesn't always happen especially for others.  But over my life I've been learning that only the Lord is always on time ..In His time.  And I am learning that He does make everything beautiful in His time.
Lord my life to you I bringMay each song I have to singBe to you a lovely thingIn your time
Lord please show me everydayAs you teaching me your wayThat you do just what you sayIn your time
In your time (in your time), in your time (in your time lord)You make all things beautifulIn your time (in your time)
Lord my life to you I bringMay each song I have to singBe to you a lovely thingIn your time
Be to you a lovely thingIn your time

Sunday, March 9, 2025

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE

 You turn on the nightly news or read the eveniisng newspaper.  If you are not careful. quickly you can. become negative and overwhelmed by the events worldwide.  You can quickly wonder who is in charge?  Is evil in control?  Is there any hope?

          Mrs.F. W.Suffield faced the same situation and questions decades ago.  But a study of the scriptures  showed her that despite events, God was still on the throne.  She penned this positive fact in the chorus. "God is still on the throne and He will remember His own, though trials may press us and burdens distress us He never will leave us alone. His promise is true.  He will not forget you.  God is still on the throne.

           Believe it's true.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

I'VE A LONGING IN MY HEART

 Over the years I've featured hundreds of great hymns on this blog.  I've shared their history and things about the authors.  But in doing that I'vs skipped blogs about great choruses.  Many of these have been blessings to me over the years and I hope to share them with you.

My physical problems have also limited my ability to do research on hymns and my emphasis has changed.  Now I hope to share my personal testimony rather than write about the background.  As I am doing extensive downsizing I came upon a chorus I haven't heard in years and the message is so true.  The longer I deal with the problems of life today, the more I look forward to the day when I will see the Lord's face.

Traveling here can make us weary but the longing to see Him makes the travel worthwhile

.Now, please don't misunderstand me, I don't want t leave my wife and family.  But the prospect of seeing Christ makes the tedious journey here worthwhile.  As Dorothy Masters wrote,

"I've a longing in my heart for Jesus, I've a longing in my heart to see His face; I am weary, oh so weary of traveling here below, I've a longing in my heart for Him."

Sunday, February 23, 2025

YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME

 

So often we try to solve the challenges of life with our own strength and wisdom but that often leads to failure and frustration.

What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer

There is no more for Heaven now to giveHe is my joy, my righteousness, and freedomMy steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only JesusFor my life is wholly bound to HisOh, how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine"Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The night is dark, but I am not forsakenFor by my side, the Savior, He will stayI labor on in weakness and rejoicingFor in my need, His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend meThrough the deepest valley, He will leadOh, the night has been won, and I shall overcomeYet not I, but through Christ in me
No fate I dread, I know I am forgivenThe future's sure, the price, it has been paidFor Jesus bled and suffered for my pardonAnd He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeatedJesus, now and ever is my pleaOh, the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free"Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With every breath, I long to follow JesusFor He has said that He will bring me homeAnd day by day, I know He will renew meUntil I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only JesusAll the glory evermore to HimWhen the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"
To this I hold, my hope is only JesusAll the glory evermore to HimWhen the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"Yet not I, but through Christ in meYet not I, but through Christ in me

ALL YOUR ANXIETY

This is a feature where once each month 

I share one of my personal favorite hymns 

        Are you burdened with anxiety?  Are you worried about all that is happening around you?  If you are, you are not alone.  All around the world people are stressed about the virus, wars, politics and the effects they asre having on all of our lives.

          And I must admit that I am not a good one to give advice about stress and anxiety.  I, too, and concerned about the health of my family as well as my own health.  I wonder how the stock market will affect my retirement?  Will the businesses that my sons work for avoid bankruptcy?  Will they have jobs? Will we be able to get our needed medicine, some of which comes from China?  Will we run out of food?  Will my grandchildren be able to survive the pressures of the changing cultures??  There certainly are enough concerns to keep us worriers busy.

          Now if you are a believer, you know that the answer to this problem is to fully trust the Lord.  Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you didn't even expect."   Proverbs 3:5, 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  Now we may know these truths, but obeying them is not always easy.

          When I was in college I was stunned to hear that my pastor, the Rev. Rudy Gehman, had died of a sudden heart attack while preparing for a VBS closing program.  Although that was over 60 years ago, I still vividly remember his funeral service.  One of the things that has remained in my mind is the hymn sung by the Pastor's Quartet - "All Your Anxiety".  I had never heard this hymn before and I have now never forgotten it.  

          Years later it was in our new hymnbook at church, but I don't recall that we sang it very often.  However, over the years the words have often come back to me and have been a comfort to me in times of stress and anxiety.  Recently we were listening to some of our old 33 rpm records - do you remember these?.  One of the albums was by my favorite trombone player, Bill Pierce, and one of the numbers that he played and sang was this hymn.  I immediately thought that I had to include it in a blog. Hopefully the words have been a help and comfort to many.  

         The hymn was written in 1920 by Edward H. Joy (1871 - 1949) who had a long career serving in the Salvation Army.  He was inspired to pen the words of this hymn by the words from Philippians, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  And also, by the words from 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  

          Joy described the challenges that we all face at different times - sorrows, cares, burdens and anxieties.  We all encounter these at various times in life and are currently doing so today. They often cause us emotional stress, and too often even serious physical problems.  But there is a solution.  It is that we bring our anxieties to the Lord in prayer. For this, the hymn writer uses the imagery of coming to the cross, and of coming to the mercy seat.  

          How much better our lives would be if only we could claim and apply the words of this hymn and leave all of our anxiety with the Lord. I admit that this is a lesson that I must often still learn. But there is never a burden that He can't bear. And He asks us to leave ALL of them with Him. There is never a friend like Jesus. 

          

(1)   Is there a heart o'erbound by sorrow?

Is there a life weighed down by care?

Come to the cross, each burden bearing—

All your anxiety, leave it there.

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

 

(2)   No other friend so keen to help you,

No other friend so quick to hear;

No other place to leave your burden,

No other one to hear your prayer. 

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

 

(3)    Come then at once, delay no longer!

Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;

You need not fear a disappointment,

You shall find peace at the mercy seat.

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

 

Listen to it here.   ANXIETY

 


Wednesday, February 19, 2025

O THAT WILL BE GLORY

 1 When all my labors and trials are o’er,And I am safe on that beautiful shore,

Just to be near the dear Lord I adore

Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain:

O that will be glory for me,

Glory for me, glory for me;

When by His grace I shall look at His face,

That will be glory, be glory for me.

2 When by the gift of His infinite grace,

I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face
Will through the ages be glory for me. [Refrain]

3 Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will flow;
Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me. [Refrain]

Sunday, February 16, 2025

HOLD TO GOD'S UNCHANGING HAND

          This is a song which emphasizes the fact that there is no variableness with the God who lives in heaven is "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand". The text was written by Mary Jane (Jennie) Bain Wilson, born on a farm at Cleveland, IN, near South Whitley, in, 1856 (some sources say 1857), to Robert and Mary Frances Russell Wilson. 

          Her father died in her infancy. When she was about four years old, an attack of spinal trouble resulted in her being rendered an invalid, confined to a wheel-chair and bed. Not being able to attend school, she studied at home, read much, and received some musical instruction.

          A natural love for music and poetry early in life led her to verse writing. Her earliest poems appeared in a local paper. Her first hymn was entitled "All the Way," and, not knowing of its publication, she was pleasantly surprised when it was found in new songbooks purchased by a Sunday School in her neighborhood. 

          In 1881, she was baptized by being carried on a chair into a beautiful, tree shaded stream, and, in her words, "it gave me much joy to thus confess my dear Savior." 

          Later, through the influence of a minister named Jacob D. Coverstone, Miss Wilson sent hymns to a publication in Dayton, OH. These attracted the attention of composers such as William J. Kirkpatrick and Edmund S. Lorenz, by whom she was invited to write hymns to be set to music. A prolific poet, she produced about 2,200 poems and hymn texts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 
          Yet, over the course of her life she never interjected sadness from her condition in her works. One exception is a poem entitled, "A Memory Picture," which refers to scenery near the old home, and alludes to memories of the time when she could walk. 
           Her mother died in 1902. The mother's grave is marked by a monument bearing the following verse written by the invalid daughter to whom she had given years of devoted care, reading, "After her long life journey cometh death's dreamless sleep; Over her rest may angels ever a fond watch keep." 
          Even though wheelchair bound, she enjoyed attending Bible conferences at nearby Winona Lake, IN, and other locations. Sometime in 1904, which is probably the year that she penned it, Miss Wilson sent "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" to Franklin Lycurgus Eiland (1860-1909). Eiland's tune (Unchanging Hand) was conceived in 1905, when he was sitting under a tree in the backyard of the Palo Pinto County, TX, log cabin home of fellow hymn writer James Washington Gaines (1881-1937). When Eiland died, his gravestone contained the carved figure of a hand that appears to be reaching downward, symbolizing God's unchanging hand.

1   Time is filled with swift transition.
Naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God's unchanging hand. 

Refrain:
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand.
Hold to His hand, God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God's unchanging hand. 

2   Trust in Him who will not leave you.
Whatsoever years may bring.
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling. [Refrain]

3   Covet not this world's vain riches
That so rapidly decay.
Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures.
They will never pass away. [Refrain]

4   When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in Glory
Your enraptured soul will view. [Refrain]

Listen to it here.   HAND