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, 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




Sunday, February 9, 2025

IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL

          We all go through different seasons during our lifetimes.  Some can be very challenging.  One such season can involve the need to do serious downsizing and that can be tough.  Personally I am presently in such a season.  Physical needs have forced me to change my lifestyle and I must very reluctantly move to a retirement facility.  That is forcing us to get rid of over half of our possessions.

         That has included disposing of valued ministry materials which we have used for over 40 years.  This includes much music, arrangements, background tapes, visuals, hymnsing materials and a variety of useful items which I had developd.  This process has been very hard and soul searching.

          As I've  worked through this process I've wondered if the many long hours of preparation,  ministry, and performance over 40+ years was really worth it.  But I have been reminded that what is done for Christ is eternal and will last.  That is the message of this week's hymn by Esther Kerr Rustholi.

          Sometimes the day seems long, Our trials hard to bear,  We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair.  But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away! All tears forever over in God's eternal day!

          It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase, so bravely un the race, till we see Christ.

           At times the sky seems dark with not a ray of light, we're tossed and driven on, no. human help in sight, But there is One in heaven who knows our deepest care, let Jesus solve your problems, just go to Him in prayer.

          Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past; we'll cross the great divide to Glory, safe at last! We'll share the joys of heaven; a harp. a home, a crown; The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burdens down.

     IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS!  So be encouraged.

Sunday, February 2, 2025

JUS WHEN I NEED HIM MOST

          There are times in life when we need help.  Often it is help with decisions that must be made.  Right now I am facing such times as I try to handle new physical disabilities, downsizing and moving. And I am finding, as this week's hymn shares, that there is One who is there and cares about my current needs.         

Refrain:

Just when I need Him most,
Just when I need Him most,
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,
Just when I need Him most.

2. Just when I need Him, Jesus is true,
Never forsaking, all the way through;
Giving for burdens pleasures anew,
Just when I need Him most.

3. Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong,
Bearing my burdens all the day long;
For all my sorrow giving a song,
Just when I need Him most.

4. Just when I need Him, He is my all,
Answering when upon Him I call;
Tenderly watching lest I should fall,
Just when I need Him most.

          Friends may fail us.  They may give us wrong information.  They might not always really care. But God is a friend who never fails.  And we can depend upon Him.

SOFTLY AND TENDERLY

            Over my lifetime, church music has gone through many changes.  Some of these changes have created much controversy and not all have been accepted.

            Praise teams have replaced piano and organ accompaniment and often even choirs.  Praise and worship choruses have replaced hymns – hymn books have been replaced with words projected on screens.  Four-part harmony is something from the past.

          But one of the biggest changes is the disappearance of invitation or revival songs.  Undoubtedly, many readers of this column grew up in a revival tradition that included an extended  invitation  hymn — a congregational hymn at the conclusion of the service that focused on those attending who may be called by the Holy Spirit to make either a profession of faith or a recommitment of one's life. In services of this nature, the direction of the entire liturgy points to the sermon and this time of commitment.
           Over the years I have seldom written about these invitation hymns, but in the weeks ahead I hope to blog about some of these which have been part of the history of Christian music.
  "Softly and Tenderly," which was originally known as "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling," is a classic invitation hymn from the 19th century. It was written by Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909) who was a composer of gospel, secular, and patriotic songs.

          Rebuffed in an ear­ly at­tempt to sell his songs to a com­mer­cial pub­lish­er, Thomp­son start­ed his own pub­lish­ing com­pa­ny. He lat­er ex­pand­ed, open­ing a store to sell pi­an­os, or­gans and sheet mu­sic. Both a lyr­i­cist and com­pos­er, he en­sured he would al­ways re­mem­ber words or mel­o­dies that came to him at odd times:  "No mat­ter where I am, at home or ho­tel, at the store or tra­vel­ing, if an idea or theme comes to me that I deem wor­thy of a song, I write it down.

          Thompson was inspired to devote himself to writing while attending a meeting by popular evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899). When Moody was dying in the hospital he told Thompson, "Will, I would rather have written 'Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling' than anything I have been able to do in my whole life."

          Other well-known gospel songs by Thompson include "Jesus Is All the World to Me", and two with strong eschatological leanings, Lead Me Gently Home, Father" and "There's a Great Day Coming."  Perhaps Revelation 3:20 captures the spirit of the hymn: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (KJV) This patient Jesus stands "on the portals . . . waiting and watching . . . for you and for me."
          The second stanza takes a different approach: How can we reject the "pleading" one who offers "pardon"? The third stanza increases in urgency: "Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing . . . shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming. . . ." The final stanza returns to the theme of Jesus who offers "mercy and pardon" for the sinner.  The genius of a gospel song is usually found in the refrain and this one is no exception. The refrain extends the invitation to "come home" four times in the melody, and an additional two times in the accompanying lower voices.
            Interestingly, though "Softly and Tenderly" is the quintessential invitation hymn in the revival tradition, the invitation to "come home" may also be seen as the invitation to join Jesus in heaven. Indeed, two examples attest to this: The hymn was used during the memorial service for assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on April 8, 1968. It was also a recurring song in 
The Trip to Bountiful (1985), an Oscar-winning movie about an older woman in the 1940s who wants to return one last time to her girlhood hometown of Bountiful.
          
Thompson took ill dur­ing a tour of Eur­ope, and his fam­i­ly cut short their tra­vels to re­turn home. He died a few weeks lat­er.

1   Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, 
calling for you and for me; 
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching, 
watching for you and for me. 

Refrain:
Come home, come home; 
you who are weary come home; 
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, 
calling, O sinner, come home! 

2   Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, 
pleading for you and for me? 

Why should we linger and heed not his mercies

mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]

3   Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,

passing from you and from me; 
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, 
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]

4   O for the wonderful love he has promised, 

                    promised for you and for me.

Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon

pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]


Listen to it here.   SOFTLY


Sunday, January 26, 2025

GOD WILL TAKE CAREOF YOU


          I have often experienced God's care throughout my life.  Three back surgeries, five heart by-passes, difficult decisions, etc.  And God has always been there.   But recently there have been new ones and once again, God is there.  I have unexpectedly become bound to a wheel chair with little hope of improving.  It has been a very hard change for me ... unlike any other I have ever had.  But God has been faithful even though I am dismayed and frustrated.
          During my third hospital stay it was determined that I needed a skilled care facility.  But there was only one which had an open bed.  So, reluctantly I was shipped to this home in Neffsville.  That was the worst experience of my life. The conditions were terrible.  Service was nonexistent.  Nurses were rude.  They would not give me my necessary bowel medicine.  They let me lie in my resulting bowels for over two hours.  Then they made fun of me. It was terrible.  I wanted to escape but I was their prisoner.
          But God did not forget me. He performed a miracle and suddenly I unexpectedly qualified for a bed at the Moravian Home.  I spent three weeks there.  What a difference!
          God again took care of me and delivered me from this "prison".   He will do the same for you.  Trust Him.
Be not dismayed whate'er betide
God will take care of you
Beneath His wings of love abide
God will take care of you
God will take care of you
Through every day, o'er all the way
He will take care of you
God will take care of you
No matter what may be the test
God will take care of you
Lean, weary one, upon His breast
God will take care of you
God will take care of you
Through every day, o'er all the way
He will take care of you
God will take care of you
He will take care of you

God will take care of you 

SAVIOR LEAD ME LEST I STRAY

          Following last week's challenge to live our lives by trusting and obeying the Lord in our daily walk with Him, I am sharing an old hymn which acknowledges that sometimes we might stray.  We need the Lord to lead us every day and all the way.

          Frank Marion Davis (1839-1896) was the one who shared this truth in this week's hymn choice.  Born in Marcellus, NY, he became a teacher and professor of voice, a choirmaster and a soloist.  He traveled extensively and compiled and published several song books.  He never married.

          This hymn asks the Lord to lead us in His righteousness so that we shall not stray away from it.  It was first published in the 1882 book Carols of Joy. Some of his compilations include Notes of Praise, Brightest Glory, and in 1877 New Pearls of Song.

           He also wrote music for Eden R. Latta's "Live For Jesus" and Mary Ann Kidder's "Is My Name Written There." Also, his songs, "O Rock In The Desert" and "Some Day We Shall Be Satisfied," appeared in the Christian Hymns books published by Gospel Advocate and his "Gliding Away" was in some older books.

          This song is a request for the Lord to lead us. "I am safe when by Thy side, I would in Thy love abide."  We need to be led because, like sheep, we are always in danger of straying if we do not have someone to lead us: (1 Pet. 2.25)  Jesus has a way in which He wants us to go, and it is  a strait and narrow way, so we need His leadership to follow it: (Matt. 7.13-14).  But in order for Him to be able to lead us, we must abide in Him and His love: (Jn. 15.4-70).

         Stanza 2 asks the Lord to lead us in safety.  "Thou the refuge of my soul, When life's stormy billows roll;  I am safe when Thou art nigh, All my hopes on Thee rely.".  The Lord is the only true refuge for our souls to protect us when the storms of life come raging: (Ps. 46.1).  Therefore, we can be assured that we will be safe when He is nigh to us and we are nigh to Him: (Ps. 12.1-5).  Because Christ came to bring us this refuge from God that we might be protected, all our hopes on Him rely: (Heb. 6.18-20)

         Stanza 3 asks the Lord to lead us until the storm of life is past.  "Savior, lead me, then at last, When the storm of life is past "To the land of endless day, Where all tears are wiped away."  At last refers to the time of death, which is an appointment for all men to keep: (Heb. 9.27).  Our prayer should be that even in death the Lord will lead us to the land of endless day where we shall have everlasting life: (Matt. 25.35 & 46, Mk. 10.30).  And if we have followed Him faithfully in this life, we can have the confidence that we shall be with Him where all tears are wiped away: (Rev. 21.1-4)

          The chorus repeats the request that the Lord would lead us all the way.  "Lead me, lead me, Savior, lead me, lest I stray;
Gently down the stream of time, Lead me, Savior, all the way."  Remember that the way is not in ourself (Jer. 10.23). I cannot put my trust in worldly wisdom or human philosophy for salvation (1 Cor. 1.21, Col. 2.8). If I want to please God here and have an eternal home with Him, I must daily look to Him and ask, "Savior, Lead Me Lest I Stray."

 1.   Savior, lead me lest I stray

Gently lead me all the way;

I am safe when by Thy side,

I would in Thy love abide.

Refrain:
Lead me, lead me, Savior, 
lead me, lest I stray;
Gently down the stream of time,
Lead me, Savior, all the way.

2   Thou the refuge of my soul,
When life's stormy billows roll;
I am safe when by Thy side,
All my hopes on Thee rely. [Refrain]

3   Savior, lead me, then at last,
When the storm of life is past;
To the land of endless day,
Where all tears are wiped away. [Refrain]

 Listen to it here.  LEAD

 



Sunday, January 19, 2025

Mothers Favorite

        The last few months have been times of challenge for my wife and I.  There have been days of illness and hospitalizations … days of discouragement, loneliness and depression.  But there have also been days of growing in faith.  I admit that I often miss long gone friends and I really miss my parents. It was blest to have parents who loved the Lord and brought me up to serve the Lord.  They also taught me to love the hymns and they were always part of our family worship.

          I often think I can still hear my mother and her beautiful soprano voice sharing her testimony and love through hymns.  Her favorite was “In The Garden”.  I often picture her taking quiet walks and talks with the Lord through the beautiful gardens of heaven.

1 I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

2 He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing. [Refrain]

 

3 I'd stay in the garden with Him
Tho' the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling. [Refrain)

Sunday, January 12, 2025

TRUST AND OBEY

         Many people begin a new year by setting personal goals for the coming months.  These might be financial goals, health goals, family goals, work goals, relationship goals, personal growth goals, religious goals, etc.
          As I thought about this, I began to realize that many of the hymns that I have shared here would make great goals.  And so, as we begin a new year with this blog, I have decided to choose an old, familiar hymn, that I have shared before, as a possible goal for my readers and for myself.
          Every Friday and Saturday night our local Christian radio station plays hymns throughout the night. I really enjoy this special time, especially when I am having trouble sleeping. Recently, early in the morning I heard them play this week's hymn.nIt  immediately brought back to my mind many baptismal services which I've attended over the years. This used to be a traditional hymn sung as we watched new believers publicly testify of their death to sin and their new life in Christ. And their key to living their new life was trusting and obeying their Lord. 
          These two words are so simple but often so hard to put into practice. So often we trust our own decisions and our own ways, especially when things are going well for us. And as humans we often resist obeying. We want our own ways. We want to decide how we use our time and money and possessions. And so, we may miss the full joy that the Lord wants us to experience in our Christian walk. 
          There is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Trusting is not complete without obedience.
          
 In 1886, Daniel Towner, was leading the music during one of Moody's preaching campaigns in Massachusetts. During the service a young man stood up to give a testimony. "I am not quite sure -- but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey."  Towner jotted down the words and sent them to his friend, John Sammis, who was a Presbyterian pastor. Sammis, using the words of this short testimony, wrote the hymn we know as "Trust and Obey." 
          As he wrote the hymn he considered the different areas of our life that we need to trust God about: Verse one - our daily walk in life; Verse two - during the difficult times in life; Verse three - our total submission; Verse four - following God's call for our life. 5
          What a challenge for 2025 – Trust God for every aspect of our life – Obey God in every aspect of our life.  And that is our challenge for the coming year. 

(1) When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(2) Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(3) Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(4) But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

(5) Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

Listen to this hymn here.  LISTEN






GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

This is a feature where once each month
 I share one of my personal favorite hymns

 

          For months I have been starting my hymn blogs for the month with my personal favorite hymns.  But this month I want to start the new year with my very favorite, even though I have shared it previously. It is my personal testimony.

          I also have chosen this because it is a great hymn of worship for a new year.  Join me and making this the theme of our worship during the months ahead.  Sing it each day as we thank and praise the Lord for all of His blessings.

         "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."  (Lamentations 3:22-23). This hymn is my very favorite because I have found it so very true throughout my life.  God, my Father, has never failed me.  He has kept all of His promises.  He never changes even though things all around us change.  He has provided all that I need.  

          And there are examples of His faithfulness all around us.  The four seasons, the universe and all of nature remind us of that.  But I especially love the truth of the blessings shared in the third verse - pardon for sin, a peace that endureth, His presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and a blessed hope for tomorrow.  And there are so many other blessings beside.  I are so blest! 
          The author of this great hymn, Thomas Chisholm, was born in 1866 in the state of Kentucky. While he wrote over 1200 hymns, the one we remember the most is this one.  Chisholm did not write it because something great and miraculous had taken place in his life. No, he wrote it because over his entire life he had learned to see the greatness of God.  At the age of 75, he wrote: "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me man y wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."  

          The tune for this great hymn was composed by William M. Runyan (1870-1957). Popular gospel singer and songwriter Beverly Shea first introduced this hymn to audiences in Great Britain in the Billy Graham Crusades in 1954.  It has been a favorite of believers since then.  

          Hopefully. if you are a believer, this hymn is also your personal testimony.  May you experience each day His mercies and His provision. Then, you too can proclaim - great is His faithfulness! As it was in the past, so it will be in 2025 and beyond! Thank you Lord!

 

(1) Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

(2)  Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

(3) Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!     

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;  

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

You can hear it here now.   LISTEN