JESUS WILL WALK WITH ME

If you have been a believer for many years you have no doubt faced times of great joy and times of great sorrow.  You've faced many storms as well as times of great sunshine.  And sometimes you have probably felt very lonely.  And yet the Lord has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  As this week's hymn says, Jesus will walk with us through all of those times - the good and the bad.  What a comfort that should be to us.  I hope that you can testify that you, too, have experienced His presence, strength, guidance and peace throughout your life's walk.  The words and music to this hymn were written in 1922 by Haldor Lillenas. who immigrated here from Norway as a little boy. He was very lonely in this new country but an old lady befriended him, and taught him the English language. Most importantly, however, she taught him Bible passages and led him to Christ. In 1906, he felt that God wanted him to preach and write songs. He married a songwriter, Bertha Mae Wilson, and they worked together. He was a composer and choirmaster for revivals and crusades. It is said that eventually he became one of the best song leaders in the nation. His salary finally allowed Mr. and Mrs. Lillenas to buy a house of their own. They could not furnish their house very well, but He needed some kind of piano or organ so, he bought an organ from his neighbor for five dollars. He used this to compose many great hymns.  During his life he composed over four thousand hymn texts and tunes, and supplied songs for many evangelists. I don't know what caused him to write this particular hymn, but it probably came from his own experiences.  Personally, it has been many years since I've sung this week's hymn.  But recently I heard it on a radio station that was featuring old hymns.  And since then the music and words have filled my mind.  What a great reminder to us that Jesus will indeed walk with us through whatever comes our way.  Thank Him for that this week.

(1)    Jesus will walk with me down thru the valley,

Jesus will walk with me over the plain;

When in the shadow or when in the sunshine,

If He goes with me I shall not complain.

Jesus will walk with me,

He will talk with me;

He will walk with me;

In joy or in sorrow, today and tomorrow,

I know He will walk with me.

(2)   Jesus will walk with me when I am tempted,

Giving me strength as my need may demand;

When in affliction His presence is near me,

I am upheld by His almighty hand.

Jesus will walk with me,

He will talk with me;

He will walk with me;

In joy or in sorrow, today and tomorrow,

I know He will walk with me.

(3)   Jesus will walk with me, guarding me ever,

Giving me victory thru storm and thru strife;

He is my Comforter, Counselor, Leader,

Over the uneven journey of life.

Jesus will walk with me,

He will talk with me;

He will walk with me;

In joy or in sorrow, today and tomorrow,

I know He will walk with me.

(4)    Jesus will walk with me in life's fair morning,

And when the shadows of evening must come;

Living or dying, He will not forsake me.

Jesus will walk with me all the way home.

Jesus will walk with me,

He will talk with me;

He will walk with me;

In joy or in sorrow, today and tomorrow,

I know He will walk with me.

One of the challenges of writing this blog is trying to find videos of the music.  Sometimes this has been impossible because they are no longer being sung.  This week's choice provided such a challenge.  But I finally found one.  The quality is not very great, but the music is still there.  LISTEN