TO GOD BE THE GLORY

What more can I say about the blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby? We have shared many of her great hymns on this site and have marveled at how the Lord has used her hymns over the years to influence the lives of so many. Some times there have been interesting stories about how she was led to write them. Other times we know very little about them. This week's choice is like that. However this great hymn has an interesting history in that it was almost forgotten until it was discovered and suddenly became very popular. Originally composed in America sometime before 1875, it was almost immediately forgotten in its native land. In 1954, however, "To God Be The Glory" was rediscovered and claimed as a new favorite. Cliff Barrows, Billy Graham's song leader explains: 'It was suggested that we include "To God Be The Glory" in a songbook we were compiling for the London crusade of 1954. Because of its strong text of praise and its attractive melody, I agreed. We introduced the hymn during the early days of those meetings in Harringay Arena. As a result, Billy Graham asked that we repeat it often because he was impressed with the enthusiastic participation of the audience. In the closing weeks of the crusade it became our theme hymn, repeated almost every night. The words well expressed our praise to God, who was doing wondrous things in Britain. Returning to America, we brought the hymn with us and used it first in Nashville, Tennessee crusade of August, 1954." It was quickly adopted by many church groups and found its rightful place in the singing of our congregations. Today it is well-recognized as a wonderful hymn of praise and adoration of God. The hymn should be the daily testimony of every believer for He has truly done great things for us. To God be the glory!

(1) To God be the glory, great things He has done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

(2) O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

(3) Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Listen to it here. LISTEN

NOTHING BETWEEN

Today there are so many things which grab our time and attention today - bills, children, sports, the internet, the stock market, vacations, houses, automobiles, technology, politics, hobbies, education, church activities, investments, housework, appointments, television shows - and so many more. Our schedules quickly get filled, our dailyu pace is hectic, and often we just get worn out trying to get through the day. And, unfortunately, what often gets neglected is our time alone with God. "Things" just get between us and Him. But that problem appears to have been the same for believers through the ages. Such was the experience of Charles A. Tindley, in 1906, when he penned the words of this week's hymn. Tindley's father was a slave, but his mother was free. Tindley himself was thus considered to be free, but even so he grew up among slaves. After the Civil War, he moved to Philadelphia. He continued his education while working as a church janitor, teaching himself Hebrew and Greek and eventually earning a doctorate. After 25 years he became the pastor of the same church at which he had been a janitor. Under his leadership, the church grew from 130 to a multiracial congregation with a membership of 12,000. Tindley inherited an overcrowded church that continued to grow quickly under his leadership. This hymn was written during a difficult time in Tindley's life, when the congregation was negotiating to purchase a larger facility. One day Tindley was in his study working on a sermon when a gust of wind blew some papers over top of his work. "Now, now," he thought to himself, "let nothing between." And the theme of this hymn suggested itself. The hymn text states that a full life in Christ would require sacrifice of "worldly pleasure" (stanza two) and that we should not be led astray by "this world's delusive dream" (stanza one). We should not let "pride or station... intervene" (stanza three) between "my soul and the Savior" (refrain). The fourth stanza affirms that "with prayer and much self-denial, I'll triumph at last." One can hear Tindley interpolating this hymn into his sermons, a common practice, as he pleaded for the sacrifice that it would take to purchase the property and build a new church building. The neighboring church was purchased, and Tindley called the new building "God's Cathedral." In 1924 the name was changed to Tindley Temple. So maybe this week we all need the reminder to "keep the way clear" and let nothing come between us and the Lord in our daily lives. Meditate on these words this week.

(1) Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

Naught of this world's delusive dream;

I have renounced all sinful pleasure;

Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

(2) Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;

Habits of life, though harmless they seem,

Must not my heart from Him ever sever;

He is my all, there's nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

(3) Nothing between, like pride or station;

Self or friends shall not intervene;

Though it may cost me much tribulation,

I am resolved, there's nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

(4) Nothing between, e'en many hard trials,

Though the whole world against me convene;

Watching with prayer and much self-denial,

I'll triumph at last, there's nothing between.

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

You can listen to this hymn here. LISTEN

SAVIOUR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US

We do not know for sure who wrote "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." It was unsigned when it first appeared in Dorothy Ann Thrupp's (1779-1847) collection, Hymns for the Young, in 1836. It was the custom of Miss Thrupp to not sign her hymns or poems, usually initialing them "D.A.T". or using a pseudonym, "Iota". However, this one had neither. She may have forgotten to initial it, or else it came from a different source. The tune we sing today was written by William Bradbury expressly for this text and appeared in his Sunday School collection, Oriola, 1859. Like many classic hymns this one was originally intended for children. And that is easy to understand because the message is so simple - we are like helpless sheep in need of a shepherd. Our dependence upon the Good Shepherd is what enables us to get through life every day. He loves us, He receives us, He cares for us, He leads us, and He prepares us. How favored we are as sheep to have Him as our Shepherd. And that is why we can say with the hymn writer, Blessed Jesus!

1 Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us;

For our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2 Thou hast promised to receive us,

Poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us,

Grace to cleanse, and power to free:

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Let us early turn to Thee.

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Let us early turn to Thee.

3 Early let us seek Thy favour,

Early let us learn Thy will;

Do Thou, Lord, our only Saviour,

With Thy love our bosoms fill:

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast loved us, -- love us still.

Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus!

Thou hast loved us, -- love us still.

Listen to this beautiful hymn here. LISTEN

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

As one views society and the world today it is easy to see the darkness of sin all around us. More and more Christianity is under attack and Christians are seen as the intolerant people who need to be stopped. And for those of us who know the Lord as our Savior, we realize that Jesus is the only hope, the only light in this dark world. And that is the message of this week's hymn which was written by Philip Bliss many years ago. The popular "singing Pilgrim," as Philip Bliss was called, was well known on both sides of the Atlantic, for Ira D. Sankey sang his appealing songs into the hearts of the people. The great revival held in England and Scotland by Moody and Sankey in 1873 owed much of its success to the pleasing hymns and tunes introduced there for the first time. Many of these were composed by Bliss, and somehow, people who heard them could not shake them off. Bliss was only 38 years old when he lost his life in a train accident while on his way to join Sankey in Chicago. He died trying to save his wife from a burning railway car. Bliss wrote this hymn one year before he died. This hymn was written in Bliss' home. According to Major D. W. Whittle, "It came to him together, words and music, one morning while passing through the hall to his room, and was at once written out". I always find it amazing to hear of great hymns that are quickly written and then survive through the decades. "The Light of the World is Jesus" was written for a revival meeting and was sung by Ira D. Sankey. It proved to be a favorite and still is. Jesus is the Light of the World! (Jn 8:12). Meditate on these words this week and if you know the "Light of the World" personally, then thank him for revealing himself to you in this dark world.

(1) The whole world was lost

In the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Like sunshine at noonday,

His glory shone in.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(2) No darkness have we

Who in Jesus abide;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

We walk in the light

When we follow our Guide!

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(3) Ye dwellers in darkness

With sin blinded eyes,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Go, wash, at His bidding,

And light will arise.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

(4) No need of the sunlight

In Heaven we're told;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

The Lamb is the Light

In the city of gold,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:

Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

You can listen to this week's hymn here. LISTEN