HymnPod

What a beautiful hymn by James Montgomery. The music was written by Henry Thomas Smart who became blind.

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We’re going on a vacation this week to Hong Kong and will be staying at Noah’s Ark Resort. http://www.noahsark.com.hk/eng/index.php

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Anyway, I will like to wish all my listeners a Blessed Christmas season.

Lyrics: Traditional French Carol
Music: Edwin S. Barnes

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

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Blessed Chinese New Year!

Lyrics:Frances R. Havergal
Music: AURELIA

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

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Lyrics: Jesse B. Pounds
Music: Daniel B. Towner

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,
Anywhere He leads me in this world below;
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade;
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.

Refrain:
Anywhere, anywhere! Fear I cannot know;
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.

Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone;
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over drearest ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.

Anywhere with Jesus, over land and sea,
Telling souls in darkness of salvation free;
Ready as He summons me to go or stay,
Anywhere with Jesus when He points the way.

Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep,
When the darkening shadows round about me creep,
Knowing I shall waken nevermore to roam;
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.

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Lyrics: Charles W. Naylor
Music: Andrew L. Byers

Can the Lord count you faithful?
Is your heart true today?
Is your life pure and holy?
What does your conscience say?

Refrain:
Can the Lord count on you today?
Will you His pure commands obey—
Ever keep steadfast all the way?
Can the Lord count you faithful?

Look in the Bible, brother,
Then at the way you live:
Can the Lord as He views you
His full approval give?

Can the dear Savior trust you,
Where’er your path may lead,
Staunchly to stand, and loyal?
Will you be His indeed?

“Faithful to death,” the motto
Shines on our banners high;
Faithful to Christ forever,
This is our battle cry.

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Elisha Hoffman composed this hymn. He died on Nov 25, 1929. Read more about him at http://bit.ly/5y4IO5

Lyrics and Music: Elisha A. Hoffman

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

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Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Music: Lewis Edson

Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands;
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above
For me to intercede,
His all-redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead.
His blood for sins did once atone,
His blood for sins did once atone,
And now it pleads before the Throne.

Five bleeding wounds He bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers;
They strongly plead for me.
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Nor let that ransomed sinner die!

The Father hears Him pray,
His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away
The presence of His Son.
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

I now am reconciled,
God’s pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child,
I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba, Father, cry.

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The words for “At Calvary” were written by American hymn writer, William Newell (1868 – 1956). Song leader Daniel Towner wrote the musical portion of the hymn. One afternoon, Newell was walking to teach his next class while thinking about Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. When he got to his classroom, he grabbed the only paper around, an old envelope, and the lyrics began to flow out of him. He showed the poem to his friend at the school, Towner, and just as quickly the song leader penned the musical portion. Thus, ” At Calvary” was born in a quick manner.

Lyrics: William R. Newell
Music: Daniel B. Towner

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Refrain:
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

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Here’s a lovely Chinese hymn that we sang this Resurrection Sunday morning. Hope you like it.

清早起來看，紅日出東方，雄壯像勇士，美好像新郎；
天高飛鳥過，地闊野花香；照我勤工作，天父有恩光。

懇求聖天父，時常保守我，行為能良善，顏色會溫和，
虛心教小輩，克己敬年尊，常常勤服務，表明天父恩。

但願今天好，時刻靠耶穌，頭上青天在，心中惡念無，
樂得布衣暖，不嫌麥飯粗，千千萬萬事，樣樣主幫扶。

Author: Chao Tzuch`en (1931)

Rise to greet the sun,
Reddening in the sky,
Warrior-like and strong,
Comely as a groom;
Birds pass high in flight,
Fragrant flowers now bloom;
With Thy gracious light,
I my toil resume.

Father, I implore,
Safely keep this child;
Make my conduct good,
Actions calm and mild:
Venerating age,
Humbly teaching youth,
Always serving Thee,
Sharing Thy rich Truth.

May this day be blest;
Trusting Jesus’ love,
My heart’s freed from ill,
Fair blue sky’s above.
Glad for cotton coat,
Plain food satisfies;
All my countless needs,
Thy kind hand supplies.

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This great consecration hymn by Isaac Watts had a major role to play in the conversion of American hymn writer Fanny Crosby.

The following is Fanny Crosby’s own account:

[In] the autumn of 1850…revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church [, New York City]. Some of us went down ev­ery evening; and, on two occasions, I sought peace at the atlar, but did not find the joy I craved, until one evening, November 20, 1850, it seemed to me that the light must in deed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?” And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, “Here Lord, I give my self away,” my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting “Hallelu­jah,” and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Chorus: Ralph E. Hudson
Music: Ralph E. Hudson

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
‘Tis all that I can do.

There is another tune to this hymn without the refrain which I will be publishing in my next post.

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