HymnPod

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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Bethune grad­u­at­ed from Dick­in­son Coll­ege, Car­lisle, Penn­syl­van­ia, in 1822, and stu­died the­ol­o­gy at Prince­ton Uni­ver­si­ty. In 1827 he be­came pas­tor of the Re­formed Dutch Church in Rine­beck, New York. In 1830, he moved to Uti­ca, New York; to Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia, in 1834; and to Brook­lyn Heights, New York, in 1850. He was of­fered the chan­cel­lor­ship of New York Uni­ver­si­ty, and the Pro­vost­ship of the Uni­ver­si­ty of Penn­syl­van­ia, both of which he de­clined.

This hymn has a really catchy tune. But most importantly, it magnifies the lovely name of our Lord Jesus.

Lyrics: George W. Bethune
Music: William B. Bradbury

There is no name so sweet on earth,
No name so sweet in Heaven,
The Name, before His wondrous birth
To Christ the Savior given.

Refrain:
We love to sing of Christ our King,
And hail Him, blessed Jesus;
For there’s no word ear ever heard
So dear, so sweet as “Jesus.”

Twas Gabriel first that did proclaim
To His most blessed mother,
That name which now and evermore
We praise above all other.

His human name they did proclaim,
When Abram’s son they sealed Him;
The name that still by God’s good will,
Deliverer revealed Him.

And when He hung upon the tree,
They wrote this Name above Him;
That all might see the reason we
Forevermore must love Him.

So now, upon His Father’s throne,
Almighty to release us
From sin and pain, He gladly reigns,
The Prince and Savior, Jesus.

O Jesus, by that matchless Name,
Thy grace shall fail us never;
Today as yesterday the same,
Thou art the same forever.

To Jesus every knee shall bow
And every tongue confess Him,
And we unite with saints of light
Our only Lord, to bless Him.

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Anne’s hus­band Will ran a pot­tery bus­i­ness in Ohio. How­ev­er, she was wi­dowed around 1929, and, hav­ing lost her wealth, moved to Bur­bank, Cal­i­for­nia to live with her sis­ter.

This hymn goes out by special request to Leon. Remember Heb 13:5, where God says “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.

Lyrics and Music: Anne S. Murphy

There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
A peace it cannot take away;
Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I’ve a peace that has come here to stay!

Refrain:
Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
Constantly abiding, rapture divine;
He never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:
“I will never leave thee,” Jesus is mine.

All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King,
When peace sweetly came to my heart;
Troubles all fled away and my night turned to day,
Blessèd Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

This treasure I have in a temple of clay,
While here on His footstool I roam;
But He’s coming to take me some glorious day,
Over there to my heavenly home!

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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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Philip Bliss wrote this hymn one year before he died. This hymn was written in Bliss’ home. According to Major D. W. Whittle, “It came to him together, words and music, one morning while passing through the hall to his room, and was at once written out”

Jesus is the Light of the World! (Jn 8:12)

Lyrics and Music: Philip P. Bliss

The whole world was lost
In the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday,
His glory shone in.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Refrain:
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we
Who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light
When we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Ye dwellers in darkness
With sin blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash, at His bidding,
And light will arise.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No need of the sunlight
In Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light
In the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!

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