STILL SWEETER EVERY DAY

As a youngster growing up I loved to sing the hymns that had a moving backtime part in the chorus.  This week's choice is one of those.  I really enjoyed joining the men and altos in belting out the backtime in this one.  It became one of my favorites to request and sing.  But I guess in those days I never really thought about the words.  I guess as you grow older your attention begins to focus on them and they become the important thing.  And how true the words of this hymn have become.  I have found that every day my heart is drawn closer to the Savior and He does become still sweeter to me than He was the day before.  He does fill and satisfy my longing spirit over and over.  And He has given sweet relief in times that my heart has been so heavy and burdened.  And yet, here on this earth, we really can't even imagine half of what heaven will be like and what our relationship with Him will be like then. But I am sure that it will be even more sweeter than it is here on earth. I imagine that this was the testimony of the hymn writer, William C. Martin, when he wrote the words about 1899.  The music was provided by C. Austin Miles.  Martin was pastor of the Noank Baptist Church in Noank, Connecticut (1894-1900). He later served at the East Albany First Baptist Church in Boston, Massachusetts and then at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Myers, Florida, from 1912 until his death. He was a prolific hymn writer, even though this and the hymn My Anchor Holds are really the only ones included in most hymnals. Miles had a career as a pharmacist but left that to write music for Gospel songs.  He served as editor and manager of the Hall-Mack publishers for 27 years.  According to Miles, "It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire."   I hope this hymn by Martin and Miles is your testimony this week.

(1)   To Jesus every day I find my heart is closer drawn,

He's fairer than the glory of the gold and purple dawn;

He's all my fancy pictures in its fairest dreams, and more,

Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before.

The half cannot be fancied

This side the golden shore;

O there He'll be still sweeter

Than He ever was before.

(2)    His glory broke upon me when I saw Him from afar,

He's fairer than the lily, brighter than the morning star;

He fills and satisfies my longing spirit o'er and o'er,

Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before.

The half cannot be fancied

This side the golden shore;

O there He'll be still sweeter

Than He ever was before.

(3)   My heart is sometimes heavy, but He comes with sweet relief,

He folds me to His bosom when I droop with blighting grief;

I love the Christ Who all my burdens in His body bore,

Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before.

The half cannot be fancied

This side the golden shore;

O there He'll be still sweeter

Than He ever was before.

I had a difficult time finding a good rendition of this week's choice but here is one that is adequate.   LISTEN
Here is another one you can try.   LINK 2