O TO BE LIKE THEE

          Traditionally, when January 1 rolls around, many people make resolutions for the coming year.  Quite often they are about health goals, financial goals, work goals, recreational goals or even family goals.  But what about spiritual goals?  I think that this hymn would make a tremendous goal or prayer for each of us for the coming year.  The Bible teaches us that God's goal for His people is that they "become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ"  (Ephesians 4:13).  Christlikeness is much more than a religious profession or visits to church.  It is a total way of life, a total commitment.  The words for this hymn/prayer were written by Thomas Obadiah Chisholm (1866-1960).  Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Kentucky.  He educated himself and became a school teacher at the age of 16.  By the age of 21 he was an associate editor of his local newspaper. After he was born again, as a believer at age 27, after hearing his mentor, Dr. Henry Clay Morrison, at a revival service, he penned the words of "Oh, To Be Like Thee".  He knew, as a new believer, how his life compared to God's, and so he called out to Him. Chisholm's words show the zeal of this new Christian, as he sought the character traits of Jesus, not merely to admire them, but to shape himself. Later the words were put to music by William James Kirpatrick.  Thomas' physical condition would be a challenge in the period following the hymn's publication in 1897, as he pursued being editor of the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville and then ordained ministry. Both of these efforts were suspended because of poor health. He must have wondered how his desire to serve and be like Jesus would be accomplished, as he was forced to abandon editing and preaching in pretty short order.  But throughout his life he kept writing poetry, ultimately authoring some 1,200 poems, including 800 that were eventually in print.  Probably his most famous hymn is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" which he wrote when he was fifty-seven.  The words of these two hymns might be his personal diary.  He started his spiritual journey with the stated desire to be like Jesus.  And as he neared the end of his journey on this earth he proclaimed God's greatness and faithfulness.  What a testimony.  May this be our experience and testimony as well.  Why not begin 2015 by making it your prayer to be like Jesus in all that you do. "O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!  Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;  Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart".

1.  O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

2.   O to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand'ring sinners to find.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

3.   O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

4.   O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,

Now to receive the' anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing;

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

5.   O to be like Thee! While I am pleading

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY

          For over four decades my wife and I had the privilege of ministering to children through a family ministry and through Awana. Whenever we did a series of meetings we always made it a point to teach a hymn, often using visuals produced by Bible Visuals.  At Christmas we often chose "Once in Royal David's City" because it so clearly shared the true Christmas story. It also was a Christmas carol not often traditionally sung by adults.  In doing some research for this blog, I was surprised to learn that the author, Cecil Alexander, loved children and wrote about four hundred hymns, most of them for children. Alexander (1818-1895), was born in Dublin, Ireland, and began writing in verse from an early age. She became so adept that by the age of 22, several of her hymn texts made it into the hymnbook of the Church of Ireland.   "Once in Royal David's City" first appeared in her collection, Hymns for Little Children (1848), with six stanzas. This particular text was included with others as a means to musically and poetically teach the catechism. It is based on the words of the Apostles' Creed, "Born of the Virgin Mary," and is in six stanzas of six lines each. Even though this text was included in the Christmas liturgical sections of most hymnals, the narrative painted by Alexander truly relates to the entire "youth" of Christ and not just his birth. This is one of Alexander's most narrative and vivid texts, shattering perceptions of the picturesque Nativity with the realities of the lowly stable, and the weak and dependent baby.  Alexander is said to have had the ability to take major biblical themes and break them down into four or six easy to understand lines.  This hymn in particular tells us why we celebrate Christmas by telling us not only what happened on the first Christmas, but also why it happened and what it should mean to us today.  As we enter the Christmas season, may this old Christmas carol remind you, in the midst of this hectic and often stressful season, what Jesus did for us.  He is the One who left all the glory and riches of heaven to experience birth in a lowly stable so that He could one day pay the debt for our sin.  He provided for you, and all mankind, the greatest gift that could ever be given.

1. Once in royal David's city

Stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her Baby

In a manger for His bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little Child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all,

And His shelter was a stable,

And His cradle was a stall;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3. And through all His wondrous childhood

He would honor and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden,

In whose gentle arms He lay:

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

4. For he is our childhood's pattern;

Day by day, like us He grew;

He was little, weak and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us He knew;

And He feeleth for our sadness,

And He shareth in our gladness.

5. And our eyes at last shall see Him,

Through His own redeeming love;

For that Child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in heaven above,

And He leads His children on

To the place where He is gone.

6. Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him; but in heaven,

Set at God's right hand on high;

Where like stars His children crowned

All in white shall wait around.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM

          I often wonder what it would have been like to be an Israelite being led by God with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night.  It was direct visual evidence that God was with them and leading the way into the unknown.  Then there was the star of Bethlehem that went before the wise men and led them to see Jesus.  Again, visual evidence that God was leading.  And they too had the knowledge of God's presence and leading.  Don't you wish at times that God would give each of us a visual for us to follow each day as we move into the unknown?   But that is not the way He chooses to lead His children today.  Instead we have His written promises and His presence within our lives.  And as the words of this traditional Christmas song say, "Beautiful Star the hope of rest, for the redeemed, the good and the blessed ... Jesus is now that star divine, brighter and brighter He will shine."  For those of us who have been born into His eternal family, we are just pilgrims in this life facing the mountains and valleys that are ahead.  But we can say "Jesus, Beautiful Star the hope of light, guiding the pilgrims through the night, over the mountains 'til the break of dawn, into the light of perfect day, it will give out a lovely ray, beautiful star of Bethlehem shine on."  The writing of this carol was a little unusual but probably very appropriate for the Christmas story.  In an article in the Old-Time Times from 2004, Patsy Weiler writes, "Few people today realize the popular Christmas song "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" was written by the late R. Fisher Boyce in a Middle Tennessee milk barn in the early part of the 20th century.  ... The third of six children, Boyce loved music and was singing solo and in quartets by the early 1900s. In the spring of 1910, he married Cora Carlton  ... They would become the parents of 11 children, five of whom lived to be adults. ... In 1940, the Vaughan Company published Boyce's song  ... Boyce wrote "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" while the family was living on a dairy farm.  ... The songwriter's son, the late Franklin Boyce, recalled in a 1996 interview that his dad said he couldn't concentrate in the house because of noise made by the children. He walked across the road to the barn to find the solitude he needed to write.  .. .  His daughter, Nanny Lou, talked about helping her father put down the music for the song ... They worked all morning on the music at the piano, and it rained hard all the time they were working on it."  But together they completed this song which is sung each year at the Christmas season.  Over the years it has been sung often by various Christian musicians such as the Gathers.  So as you reflect upon the words of Boyce's Christmas song, realize that God still leads His children on this pilgrim journey.  He may not give us a visual star to follow, but He is always present to guide us and He will continue to do that until we someday reach that special land and experience that "perfect day".

(1)     Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Shining afar through shadows dim

Giving the light to those who long have gone

Guiding the Wise Men on their way

Unto the place where Jesus lay

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

Oh Beautiful Star (Beautiful, Beautiful Star)

Of Bethlehem (Star of Bethlehem)

Shine upon us until the glory dawns

Give us the light to light the way

Unto the land of perfect day

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

(2)     Beautiful Star the hope of light

Guiding the pilgrims through the night

Over the mountains 'til the break of dawn

Into the light of perfect day

It will give out a lovely ray

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

Oh Beautiful Star (Beautiful, Beautiful Star)

Of Bethlehem (Star of Bethlehem)

Shine upon us until the glory dawns

Give us the light to light the way

Unto the land of perfect day

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

(3)     Beautiful Star the hope of rest

For the redeemed, the good and the blessed

Yonder in glory when the crown is won

Jesus is now that star divine

Brighter and brighter He will shine

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

Oh Beautiful Star (Beautiful, Beautiful Star)

Of Bethlehem (Star of Bethlehem)

Shine upon us until the glory dawns

Give us the light to light the way

Unto the land of perfect day

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on

You can listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN

HOW CAN I BE LONELY?

         Loneliness can be a very serious problem.  It often leads to depression.  It can be  extremely hard to deal with or cure.  Both my father and my father-in-law dealt with deep loneliness after the death of their long time spouses.  My father dealt with it by keeping busy with his church responsibilities, but it was tough for him.  My father-in-law really couldn't stand to be alone.  He wished that the Lord would take him home.  He finally got remarried and that was a help, but he never really got over missing his first wife. Losing a loved one can lead to serious loneliness.  But one can also be very lonely in a crowd.  I heard recently that only 40% of men over the age of 50 have a good friend that they can confide it and share their concerns. That can also lead to real loneliness. I have experienced this having lost a few of my closest friends and my brother as well.   We can be aware of all the promises such as "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee". and "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."  But knowing these verses and putting them into practice can be two different things.  Now I don't know if loneliness was a problem for Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959) personally or if he was just aware of friends who were dealing with this problem.  But in 1928 he penned the words and the music to this week's hymn choice. The song reminds us that we need never be lonely because our relationship with God includes the fellowship of His Son. It refers to several different circumstances in life when we especially need the fellowship of Christ in our lives.   "Days may bring their burdens and their trials as I go ... Life may have its crosses, or its losses, or increase ... In the hour of sad bereavement or of bitter loss ...  Or when evening shadows fall at closing of my day."  And the response or answer to these difficult situations is found in the chorus.  "How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only to be my companion and unfailing guide?  Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary, when He's walking by my side?"   In his lifetime, Lillenas produced some 4,000 hymns and supplied songs for many evangelists. Many had powerful, practical words such as this one.  Are you facing a battle with loneliness in your life?  It can happen to the best of us.  Claim the truth and words of this song and realize that there is One who is walking by your side, even in the darkest of times.  Depend upon Him to be your dear friend.  "There is One who stickest closer than a Friend."

(1)     One is walking with me over life's uneven way,

Constantly supporting me each moment of the day;

How can I be lonely when such fellowship is mine,

With my blessed Lord divine!?

How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only

To be my companion and unfailing guide?

Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary,

When He's walking by my side??

(2)     Days may bring their burdens and their trials as I go,

But my Lord is near and helps to make them lighter grow;

Life may have its crosses, or its losses, or increase,

Jesus meets them all with peace

How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only

To be my companion and unfailing guide?

Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary,

When He's walking by my side??

(3)     In the hour of sad bereavement or of bitter loss,

I can find support and consolation at the cross;

Want or woe or suffering all seem glorified when He

Daily walks along with me.?

How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only

To be my companion and unfailing guide?

Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary,

When He's walking by my side??

(4)     In life?s rosy morning when the skies above are clear,

In its noontide hours with many cares and problems near,

Or when evening shadows fall at closing of my day

Jesus will be there always.?

How can I be lonely when I've Jesus only

To be my companion and unfailing guide?

Why should I be weary, or my path seem dreary,

When He's walking by my side??

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

WE PRAISE THEE O GOD

          "Sing to the Lord, you saints of His; praise His holy Name." Psalm 30:4.   We should never forget that we need to sing hymns of glory and honor in which we tell our Maker, "We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer."  Unfortunately, I don't think that we are naturally thankful people.  At an early age we need to train our children to say "thank you" because it isn't natural for them to do that.  Often we need to set aside special times to force us to be thankful.  I think it is great that today many make October a month where we are to do things to thank our clergy.  N ow that is great, but why do we not do this regularly throughout the year.  And then there is Thanksgiving, a time when we are reminded to give thanks for all that we have, even though giving thanks should be our normal reaction throughout each day.  Sometimes our hymns help us to remember to do so. A hymn which gives praise to our Redeemer whose name is the Lord of Hosts is "We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer."  The text was written by Julia Bulkley Cady Cory (1882 - 1963), the daughter of architect J. Cleveland Cady.  Her father was also a Sunday school superintendent and, partly because of his influence, Julia began to write hymns at an early age. She and her family belonged to the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City.   Due to the popularity of the 1626 hymn "We Gather Together" which was often sung at Thanksgiving services, J. Archer Gibson, the music director at the Brick Presbyterian Church, asked Julia in 1882 to compose some new lyrics for the tune which is used with that song. After struggling for two weeks, Julia produced three stanzas.  "Kremser," a Dutch melody arranged by Edward Kremser in 1877, was used as the music for both hymns. The first public performance of her new hymn was the next Thanksgiving Day.  A month later, the author's father wished to use the hymn for a service on Christmas at the Church of the Covenant, also in New York City, so he asked his daughter to add a fourth stanza. She married Robert Haskell Cory in 1911 and raised 3 sons and they had 15 grandchildren.  Some still erroneously say that her hymn was written by an unknown author and was just translated by Julia Cory, but evidence disproves this theory.  In her three stanzas she praises God as our Creator, as the God of our Fathers, and as our Guide.  She concludes the third verse with the powerful proclamation "To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise."  May this be the song and proclamation of our heart, not only during this season, but throughout the year ahead.  We serve a great God who deserves our daily adoration and thanksgiving.

1.     We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,

In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;

We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee,

We bless Thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

2.     We worship Thee, God of our fathers, we bless Thee;

Through life's storm and tempest our guide have Thou been;

When perils overtake us, escape Thou will make us,

And with Thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.

3.     With voices united our praises we offer,

To Thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.

Thy strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,

To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

Cory later added this stanza for use at Christmas:

4.     Thy love Thou didst show us, Thine only Son sending,

Who came as a Babe and Whose bed was a stall,

His blest life He gave us and then died to save us;

We praise Thee, O Lord, for Thy gift to us all.

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF GLORY

          "Bless the Lord, O my soul;  And all that is within me, bless His holy name!"   Psalm 103:1.  This is the familiar opening verse of Psalm 103, a Psalm of David, which was the inspiration for the writing of this week's hymn.  The words were penned by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) in 1834.  Lyte was educated at Portora (the Royal School of Enniskillen), and at Trinity College, Dublin. During his studies he distinguished himself by gaining the English prize poem on three occasions. He had intended studying medicine, but he abandoned this for theology, and he took Holy Orders in 1815. In 1817, he moved to Marazion, in Cornwall, where, in 1818, he underwent a great spiritual change as a result of  the illness and death of a brother clergyman. Lyte says of him, "He died happy under the belief that though he had deeply erred, there was One whose death and sufferings would atone for his delinquencies, and be accepted for all that he had incurred." And concerning himself he shared,  "I was greatly affected by the whole matter, and brought to look at life and its issue with a different eye than before; and I began to study my Bible, and preach in another manner than I had previously done."  He wrote "Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven" for his congregation at Lower Brixham in Devon, England. Based on Psalm 103, Lyte succinctly states the psalm's main points: "Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies" (v. 3-4) become "ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven." And enlarging on the palmist's declaration that God is slow to anger and will not always chide (v. 8-9), Lyte declares, "Slow to chide and swift to bless." In his refrain, Lyte picked up on the primary theme of the Psalm: "Praise Him, praise Him." Today, some hymnals have changed these words to "Alleluia!" But either refrain fittingly calls us to join with all creation in praise of the King.  Queen Elizabeth II chose this hymn to be sung as the processional at her wedding which was on November 20, 1947, exactly one hundred years after the death of Henry Francis Lyte.  Several tunes are used for this hymn and there are two familiar ones listed below.  The tune, written by Sr. John Goss in 1869 specifically for this hymn, is the one most commonly used.  There have also been several other verses and variations of the words over the years, but the ones shared below are frequently used today.  So, as you approach this Thanksgiving season, let this hymn be a reminder of what the Lord has done for us as you thank and praise Him.  Allelujah, allelujah, praise the everlasting King!

1    Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;

to his feet your tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Who like me, His praises sing?

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise the everlasting King!

2    Praise him for his grace and favor

to his people in distress.

Praise him, still the same as ever,

slow to chide, and swift to bless.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Glorious in his faithfulness!

3    Fatherlike he tends and spares us;

well our feeble frame he knows.

In his hand he gently bears us,

rescues us from all our foes.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Widely yet his mercy flows!

4    Angels in the height adore Him,

Ye behold Him face to face;

Saints triumphant, bow before Him,

Gathered in from every race.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise with us the God of grace!

Here are two different versions of this hymn.  The first is one tune sung by a choir.    LISTEN 1

The second is a different version done by the Gathers and Signature Sound.   LISTEN 2