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. He 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 tunes, 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!

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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.

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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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