HymnPod

Well, this isn’t by Fanny Crosby, but it is a popular Sunday School song by Frances Towle Rath. I’m trying to find out which hymn book this appeared in originally. Anyone out there know?

This is sung by my 11 year old daughter Emily. Enjoy!

Piano version and lyrics are available at:

http://www.hymnpod.com/2009/01/02/did-you-ever-talk-to-god-above/

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This hymn was originally called “Praise for Redemption” and appeared in a small hymnal titled Brightest and Best by William Doane and Robert Lowry. It lay hidden for eighty years, and was almost forgotten.

It was revived in 1954, in a volume titled Greater London Crusade Song Book which was compiled by Cliff Barrows. It was sung at Harringay Arena and sparked a sense of revival across Great Britain. Ever since then, it has been included in virtually every hymnal.

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: William H. Doane

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

It is quite amazing what a change in the name of the hymn can do to its popularity. Nevertheless, this hymn has an exuberant chorus.

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This hymn was written by Fanny Crosby in 1868 in conjunction with William Doane. Doane was a successful business man. At the age of 30, he suffered a heart attack and almost died. He felt that this was God’s chastening him for not devoting his time to writing gospel music.

Doane was a gifted musician, but need someone to write lyrics for his tunes. One day, as he was praying, he received a poem from Fanny Crosby – “More like Jesus would I be Let my Savior dwell with me”. This was quickly made into a hymn.

Thus began a fruitful partnership with Fanny Crosby, producing many hymns such as this one.

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: William H. Doane

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

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This hymn was composed in only half an hour on Apr 30, 1868. Howard Doane went to Fanny’s apartment on that day and said, “I have exactly forty minutes before I must meet a train for Cincinnati. I have a tune for you. See if it says anything to you. Perhaps you can commit it to memory and then compose a poem to match it”. He then hummed the tune to her.

Fanny exclaimed, “Why, that says, ‘Safe in the arms of Jesus!'” Fanny prayed, and within half and hour, she had finished writing and dictating the poem to Doane, who rushed off to catch his train.

This hymn is especially comforting to the bereaved.

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: William H. Doane

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.

Refrain:
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations;
Sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears!

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages
Ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience,
Wait till the night is o’er;
Wait till I see the morning
Break on the golden shore.

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This hymn goes out to Sister Dorothy whose dad has just gone home to be with the Lord.

Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn in 1874. One day, she did not have enough money to pay the rent. As she committed the matter to the Lord, a stranger appeared and gave her the exact amount she needed for the rent. That night, she penned the words of this wonderful hymn.

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: Robert Lowry

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages-
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages-
Jesus led me all the way.

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This hymn was composed in 1873. Phoebe Knapp was a close friend of Fanny Crosby. Phoebe lived in a luxurious mansion, whilst Fanny lived in the Manhattan slums and worked in rescue missions. Fanny was a frequent visitor to Phoebe.

One day in 1873, Phoebe played a tune on the piano whilst Fanny listened. In Fanny’s own words, “My friend, Mrs. Joseph F. Knapp, composed a melody and played it over to me two or three times on the piano. She then asked what it said. I replied, ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!'”.

Notice the many references to sight in this hymn, even though Fanny was blind. Fanny may have been physically blind, but she had spiritual eyes that were constantly fixed on the Saviour. Amen!

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

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This delightful hymn which is another of my favourites, first appeared in 1869, in a hymn book entitled Bright Jewels, by William Bradbury, Howard Doane, William Sherwin & Chester Allen (New York: Big­low & Main, 1869). It has stood the test of time, and is still popular today, amongst many of Fanny Crosby’s hymns.

I will be focusing on hymns by Fanny Crosby for this two weeks.

Lyrics: Fanny J. Crosby
Music: Chester Allen

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long:

Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Tell of His excellent greatness.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Ever in joyful song!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

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This popular hymn goes out to Steve, who will be leading it this Sunday.

It was written by Civilla Durfee Martin, a Canadian, born 21 Aug 1869. She married Dr. Walter Martin, an evangelist. This is her account of the writing of the song:

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle – true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for night twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bring inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.”

After writing the words, she mailed it to Charles Gabriel who composed the music.

Lyrics: Civilla D. Martin
Music: Charles H. Gabriel

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

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This is the first hymn that Isacc Watts wrote. It is based on Rev 5:6-12. He wrote it when he was about 15 years old.

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Tune Name: CREDITON

Behold the glories of the Lamb
Amidst His Father’s throne.
Prepare new honors for His Name,
And songs before unknown.

Let elders worship at His feet,
The Church adore around,
With vials full of odors sweet,
And harps of sweeter sound.

Those are the prayers of the saints,
And these the hymns they raise;
Jesus is kind to our complaints,
He loves to hear our praise.

Eternal Father, who shall look
Into Thy secret will?
Who but the Son should take that Book
And open every seal?

He shall fulfill Thy great decrees,
The Son deserves it well;
Lo, in His hand the sovereign keys
Of Heav’n, and death, and hell!

Now to the Lamb that once was slain
Be endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy remain
Forever on Thy head.

Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood,
Hast set the prisoner free;
Hast made us kings and priests to God,
And we shall reign with Thee.

The worlds of nature and of grace
Are put beneath Thy power;
Then shorten these delaying days,
And bring the promised hour.

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This classic hymn from Isacc Watts celebrates the fact that it is God who created the world and all its creatures. We did not evolve, we were created by a loving God! Amen!

Read more about Isaac Watts

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Music: Gesangbuch der Herzogl

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures with His Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

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