THE UNCLOUDED DAY

If you are like me, the older we become the more we think about heaven. And as more of our friends and loved ones "move" there, the more real heaven seems to become.  As we look around at our world and all of its problems, we realize that this is not our home, we are just tenting here, and heaven is our destination.  Titus 2:13 should express our daily heartfelt desire, " Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."  This must have also been the desire and hope of Josiah Altwood (1885 - 1909) when he penned the words of this week's hymn choice.  All that I can find about him is that he apparently was a circuit riding preacher in the Midwest, and an elder of the North Ohio Conference of the United Brethren Church.  Circuit riders, officially known as Traveling Clergy, brought their faith to the wild frontiers.  Often ministering to large territories, taking as much as a month or more to complete a circuit, a circuit preacher was probably a job that encountered many dangers, trials and loneliness. Maybe he sang this song as he walked or rode from location to location. When you think of Reverend Altwood's hymn in context of what he likely endured, it gives the words a special meaning.  He's talking about a land of peace, a gathering of family and friends, a place where nobody needs to cry ever again.  It is a place where God rules over an eternal city in joy and happiness, a land where thee are no storm clouds.  If you, too, are looking for that glorious day and that indescribable home, sing along this week with joy and hope.  Our real home is being prepared for us - right now.   So keep looking up! 

(1)   O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,

O they tell me of a home far away;

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day,

O the land of an unclouded day,

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

(2)   O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,

O they tell me of that land far away,

Where the tree of life in eternal bloom

Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day,

O the land of an unclouded day,

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

(3)   O they tell me of a King in His beauty there,

And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold

Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,

In the city that is made of gold.

O the land of cloudless day,

O the land of an unclouded day,

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

(4)   O they tell me that He smiles on His children there,

And His smile drives their sorrows all away;

And they tell me that no tears ever come again

In that lovely land of unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day,

O the land of an unclouded day,

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

If you like his style, here is a version done by Johnny Cash.  CASH

If you prefer the music of Gather Homecoming, you can listen to that right here.   GATHER

I WILL SING OF MY REDEEMER

Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876), was a well known teacher, evangelist and soloist. He and his wife Lucy traveled extensively, spreading the Gospel in song. In December, 1876, they were taking a much needed break; spending Christmas Holidays with Bliss' parents, in Pennsylvania. On the 28th, after receiving a request by telegram from D.L. Moody, the couple left their two children with grandparents and traveled by train to attend an evangelistic meeting in Chicago.   While ministering at the meeting, Bliss spoke these words to the congregation: "I may not pass this way again", after which he sang, I'm Going Home Tomorrow.  The next day they boarded a train back to Pennsylvania in a winter snow and ice storm As their train was crossing over a river in Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge suddenly gave way and all the passenger cars fell into the freezing waters below. Bliss escaped through a window, only to find that Lucy had somehow been left behind in the wreckage. Although he was told not to do it, Bliss headed back into the fire, saying: "If I cannot save her, I will perish with her." Neither survived.   Among Bliss' belongings were the lyrics to this week's hymn. In 1877, the hymn was set to music by composer and evangelist James McGranahan. That same year, George Cole Stebbins made a recording of the hymn, one of the first songs ever to be recorded on Thomas Edison's new invention, the phonograph.  For almost a century and a half since then this hymn has been sung by countless believers as a stirring testimony of what Christ has done for us.  With His blood He delivered us from the curse of sin, He purchased us, He sealed our pardon, paid our debt and made us free.  And that is something to sing about!  Praise God for the victory we have because of His wondrous love and sacrifice.  Sing that message with joy throughout this week. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." (Galatians 3:13)

(1)  I will sing of my Redeemer,

And His wondrous love to me;

On the cruel cross He suffered,

From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me,

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free.

(2)   I will tell the wondrous story,

How my lost estate to save,

In His boundless love and mercy,

He the ransom freely gave.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me,

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free.

(3)   I will praise my dear Redeemer,

His triumphant pow'r I'll tell,

How the victory He giveth

Over sin, and death, and hell.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me,

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free.

(4)   I will sing of my Redeemer,

And His heav'nly love to me;

He from death to life hath brought me,

Son of God with Him to be.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me,

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free.

Listen to it here.    LISTEN

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL JESUS

Have you ever experienced a long night of caring for a sick child or loved one and you thought the morning would never come?  I'm sure many of us have faced those long dreary nights.  Or maybe it has been a time of carrying a heavy weight or facing a heavy care or burden.  Or maybe it has been a time of facing a grief or loss.  We all face times like this.  They are part of our earthly journey.  But hopefully, in times like this, you've experienced God's presence and a song that has brought you peace and comfort.  A song that the Lord has implanted in your mind - a song of deliverance, of courage, of strength.  And this has helped you understand that Jesus is there to help carry you through this time and lightened your load.  And hopefully your heart has responded with "thank you, wonderful, wonderful Jesus". I've experienced this often while caring for sick loved ones, while undergoing medical tests, while waiting for results, while facing bad news, in moments of stress, in times of indecision and in times of grief.  And that is the theme of this week's choice written by Anna B. Russell (1862-1954) in 1921.  The music was written by Ernest O. Sellers while he was teaching at the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana.  But that is the only background that I have been able to locate on either of them or the hymn itself.  Someone has said that the hymn was based on Psalms 32:7, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."  That could very well be the case, but I haven't found anything to verify that.  But I would assume that Anna Russell most likely faced those same dreary days and long nights as we do.  And, she must have also experienced the presence of the Lord and the song that He implanted in her heart.  And this must be her testimony.  This hymn should be both a challenge and a reminder to us who are living almost a century later.  A challenge to hide God's Word in our heart as well as Biblically based hymns and choruses that the Holy Spirit will bring to our minds when we need them.  And a reminder to recognize God's presence in both the good times and the trying times.  He is there to comfort us when we trust Him.

(1)    There is never a day so dreary,

There is never a night so long,

But the soul that is trusting in Jesus

Will somewhere find a song.

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus,

In the heart He implanteth a song:

A song of deliverance, of courage, of strength,

In the heart He implanteth a song.

(2)   There is never a cross so heavy,

There is never a weight of woe,

But that Jesus will help to carry

Because He loveth so.

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus,

In the heart He implanteth a song:

A song of deliverance, of courage, of strength,

In the heart He implanteth a song.

(3)   There is never a care or burden,

There is never a grief or loss,

But that Jesus in love will lighten

When carried to the cross.

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus,

In the heart He implanteth a song:

A song of deliverance, of courage, of strength,

In the heart He implanteth a song.

(4)   There is never a guilty sinner,

There is never a wandering one,

But that God can in mercy pardon

Through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Wonderful, wonderful Jesus,

In the heart He implanteth a song:

A song of deliverance, of courage, of strength,

In the heart He implanteth a song.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

BLESSED REDEEMER

As I have been reading about the history of various hymns I have found that one of two situations generally happens.  The first is that somebody writes a poem and then later somebody puts it to music.  The second is that often both the writing of the poem and the music are done by the same person at the same time.  But rarely is the music written first and then later somebody writes the words. But this is what happened In the hymn "Blessed Redeemer". Harry Dixon Loes (1892-1965), a music student in Chicago, was so inspired by a sermon he heard entitled "Blessed Redeemer" that he wrote a melody he thought would be appropriate for a hymn of the same name. Loes then sent his tune to his friend Avis Christiansen (1895-1985), who composed the text for "Blessed Redeemer."  Avis was encouraged by her godly grandmother and she wrote her first poem at the age of ten.  Then one Sunday morning in Moody Church she listened to a new song by Harry Loes and the Lord reminded her of the talent that he had entrusted to her. She immediately was led to write poetry that would soon be turned into hymns.  In 1917 she was married to Ernest Christiansen who later became vice president in charge of investments for Moody Bible Institute.  But in spite of a very busy schedule she continued to write with zeal producing more hymns and two books of poetry.  In the forward of one of these books the legendary pastor and author H.A.Ironside wrote: "Avis B. Christiansen is the gifted author of many of our sweetest gospel songs. By means of these her name is known around the world ... With a very keen apprehension of spiritual realities, and a clear understanding of the great truths revealed in the Word of God, her hymns and poems are eminently Scriptural and soul-uplifting".  This old hymn has always been one of my favorites.  My wife and I quite often sang this as a duet because of its powerful message.  It reminds us of the great sacrifice at Calvary and that Christ did this for me.  And I especially love the testimony of the final verse, "O how I love Him, Savior and Friend, How can my praises ever find end! Through years unnumbered on Heaven's shore, My tongue shall praise Him forevermore."  What a joy to look forward to that great day.  Rejoice with me in the truth of these words this week.

(1)    Up Calvary's mountain, one dreadful morn,

Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;

Facing for sinners death on the cross,

That He might save them from endless loss.

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!

Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree;

Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,

Blind and unheeding — dying for me!

(2)   "Father forgive them!" thus did He pray,

E'en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;

Praying for sinners while in such woe

No one but Jesus ever loved so.

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!

Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree;

Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,

Blind and unheeding — dying for me!

(3)   O how I love Him, Savior and Friend,

How can my praises ever find end!

Through years unnumbered on Heaven's shore,

My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!

Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree;

Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,

Blind and unheeding — dying for me!

I have had trouble finding a video with the original tune, but here it is sung by the White Sisters.    LISTEN

Recently the words have been revived and put to a different tune by the group Casting Crowns.   Here is their version which has become popular today.     NEW TUNE.