HE KEEPS ME SINGING (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A regular feature in which I choose a previous hymn blog, revise it and post it again.  This one was first posted in 2014          

 

          As I search the history of the writing of various hymns, I am continually impressed with the number of hymns that are the result of sorrow and tragedy.  Over the years the Lord has often used such events to stir the writing of music that has spoken and helped so many people.  
          Luther B. Bridges (1484 -1948) began preaching at the age of seventeen and was ordained as a Methodist Minister. He then served as an evangelist in the American South and in mission work in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. He pastored in Georgia and North Carolina before retiring in 1945 in Gainesville, Georgia.  As a teen he met Sarah Vetch and they reportedly fell in love at first sight. They were both younger than twenty years old when they married. They had three boys.  

          In 1910 Bridges accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law and made the trip to Kentucky. There he had two wonderful weeks of ministry. He closed the last service with great joy and was excited to be called to the telephone. He couldn't wait to tell his wife about all the blessings. 

          But it wasn't her voice on that long distance line. Instead, he listened in silence to the news that a fire had burned down the house of his father-in-law and his wife and all three of his sons had died in the blaze. He was bereaved for his wife and children and asked himself, "How could this happen while I was doing God's will?"  But that distraught father leaned heavily on His Savior and expressed his faith in God and during a tearful moment he penned the words of this week's hymn.  

          When you sing the words of this "upbeat" song you'd probably never sense the pain and sorrow of the author.  But knowing the story behind it, you can see his sorrow with phrases he uses such as ... Fear not ... peace be still ...discord ... heart with pain ... broken strings ... His sheltering wing ... and then, in verse 4, waters deep ... trials ... path seems rough and steep.  Maybe at times in your life you've used the same words to express your situation.  But notice that the author always answers with ... Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ... fills my every longing ... keeps me singing as I go.  

          I trust that you have a song in your heart, no matter what your situation may be.  But I can't end this blog without mentioning the hope of the final verse - soon He's coming back to welcome me ... I shall reign with Him on high.  And that truth should enable us to live each day with a song of expectation in our hearts ... keeps me singing as I go!

 

(1)   There's within my heart a melody

Jesus whispers sweet and low,

Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,

In all of life's ebb and flow.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

(2)   All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,

Discord filled my heart with pain,

Jesus swept across the broken strings,

Stirred the slumbering chords again.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

(3)    Feasting on the riches of His grace,

Resting 'neath His sheltering wing,

Always looking on His smiling face,

That is why I shout and sing.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

(4)     Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,

Trials fall across the way,

Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,

See His footprints all the way.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

(5)    Soon He's coming back to welcome me,

Far beyond the starry sky;

I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,

I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest Name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

OVER THE SUNSET MOUNTAINS

             Over the decades hymn writers have chosen a variety of ways to describe heaven or the trip to heaven.  These have included things like trips through the river, flights through space or trips over the mountains.

          John Peterson (1921-2006), one of the great hymn writers of modern times, used the sunset mountains in his hymn about heaven.  He talked about someday crossing the mountains to softly pass into the arms of Jesus, the One who loved him so.  What a beautiful description of the time that awaits believers.       

          Peterson wrote over 1,000 songs and 35 cantatas.  When Peterson first started writing gospel melodies and lyrics some were rejected by publishers. He found one of these rejections especially disturbing.  He had just written this week's hymn choice.  The music editor he approached seemed pleased with his song but made this suggestion – "Take out the name of Jesus and enlarge a little more on heaven."

          Peterson thought, "Heaven without Jesus?  That is unthinkable!  So, he picked up his manuscript and left.  God honored Peterson for not compromising the truth.  Over the years the song was published as written and has brought comfort to many.

          In writing the song Peterson knew that in heaven toiling will all be ended, shadows will flee away and sorrows will all be forgotten. Oh, what a wonderful day that will be.
          Many believers fear when they think about their final moments on earth.  They don't know when or how this will happen.  But scripture and hymns like this one should remind us that He who loves us will be there to carefully carry us in His arms. What a wonderful day that will be.

 

Over the sunset mountains

Someday I'll softly go

Into the arms of Jesus

He who has loved me so

Over the sunset mountains

Heaven awaits for me

Over the sunset mountains

Jesus my Savior I'll see.

 

Toiling will all be ended

Shadows will flee away

Sorrow will be forgotten

Oh What a wonderful day

Over the sunset mountains

Heaven awaits for me

Over the sunset mountains

Jesus my Savior I'll see

Jesus my Savior I'll see.

Listen to it here.   MOUNTAINS 

 

I BELONG TO THE KING

           Could a simple children's story be the source of a beautiful hymn that has been an inspiration to so many over many decades?

          Well, that is exactly what happened to the book entitled "A Princess in Calico" which tells of a little girl who remained happy although her life was full of misfortune.  When asked how she could smile through all of her troubles, she replied, "Oh it's because I belong to the king!"      

          Ida L. Reed (1865-19519), author of this week's hymn, lived a life filled with burdensome trials and afflictions. Growing up doing heavy farm work in West Virginia, she was forced to do this in support of an invalid and widowed mother.  After being bedridden herself for many years, she was moved to a hospital in hope of prolonging her pain-wracked life.  From her hospital bed she wrote many poems, including the words of this hymn.

          The words of the little girl in the story became her testimony, "I belong to the king."

          Not only did Ida know that she belonged to the King, but she knew that someday she would dwell in His palace by His glorified throne.  The words of her song provide comfort and hope for all believers.  We may face many challenges in this life, but we have a bright future in the presence of our King.  We have His mercy and kindness and He is our unfailing refuge.  And His promise is sure.  We just need to wait for His final call.

          Are you burdened with pain?  Do the cares of this life get you down?  Are you discouraged?  Then remember that, if you are a believer, that you, too, are a child of the King and He will not forsake you.

          Listen to it here.   KING

1    I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,

I shall dwell in His palace so fair;

For He tells of its bliss in yon heaven above,

And His children in splendor shall share.

Refrain:

I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,

And he never forsaketh His own;

He will call me some day to His palace above,

I shall dwell by His glorified throne.

2    I belong to the King, and He loves me I know,

For His mercy and kindness, so free,

Are unceasingly mine wheresoever I go,

And my refuge unfailing is He. (Refrain)

3    I belong to the King, and His promise is sure,

That we all shall be gathered at last

In His kingdom above, by life's waters so pure,

When this life with its trials is past. (Refrain)

HE LIVES

This is a feature where once each month 

I share one of my personal favorite hymns.

          This great message makes it easy to understand why this is one of my favorite hymns.  What a joy it is to proclaim the exciting truth that "He Lives" and because He does live, we too can have eternal life and victory over sin.  What a wonderful, exciting experience to serve the risen Savior and thank him for the great sacrifice that He made for us. 

          Alfred Henry Ackley (1887-1960) was a talented and trained musician who played the piano and the cello. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland, and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. He served as pastor in several states of the United States, and worked for a few years with evangelist Billy Sunday and the Rodeheaver Music Company. Ackley's musical endeavors were so appreciated that he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music degree by John Brown University in Arkansas.   He wrote lyrics and or music for more than 1,500 religious and secular songs. 

          Once while preaching during an evangelistic crusade, a young man is said to have asked, "Why should I worship a dead Jew?" Ackley stated, "HE LIVES! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands." 

          That evening the young man gave his heart to Christ. Later, Ackley sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song. He says, "The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily". 

          And for years this hymn has been a hymn of triumph for all believers. Thank God that because He conquered the grave, we can know Him as our Savior. And He is present with us all the time to walk and talk with us. While many religions worship dead leaders, we worship the one who is risen and alive.

           May that reality thrill your hearts daily.  Jesus, our risen Savior, is alive and is preparing a new home for his children.  Rejoice!

(1)    I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and He talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He live, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart.

 

(2)   In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair;

I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and He talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He live, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart.

 

(3)   Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and He talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He live, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart.

 

Listen to it here.  LISTEN