Himself for me.

 I was listening to a sermon this morning and this phrase the preacher repeated caught my attention because I remembered reading a poem about it.

I found the lyrics and a tune but can't find who authored it. 

An account involving Mr. Sankey

Before Ira Sankey became D.L. Moody's mission partner, he had been a soldier in the American Civil War. One night he was out on guard duty; he lifted his eyes to heaven and began singing praise to the LORD. 

Years after the war ended, Sankey was sailing somewhere and a crowd of people recognised him and asked him to sing. He again looked Heavenward and sang a hymn. 

 A man from the crowd asked him if, on a certain night during the war, he had performed night duty for a certain infantry unit. "Yes, I did." was his reply. 

The man continued, "I was on the opposite side of the war, hiding by a bush near your camp. My gun was aimed at your head when you looked upward and began to sing. As I liked music I thought I'd let you finish the song before shooting you. Then I realised what you were singing. It was the same hymn my mother sang to me many times when I was a child; the one you sang tonight. I tried, but I was powerless to pull the trigger. I recognised that your Shepherd was strong to protect you. I have not yet made peace with Him. Please tell me how I can be saved. Sankey embraced his former enemy and led him to the LORD. 

(true story paraphrased from 2 sources)

This is the hymn he sang. 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

For our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2 We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,

Be the guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,

Seek us when we go astray:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3 Thou hast promised to receive us,

Poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us,

Grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee.

4 Early let us seek Thy favor,

Early let us do Thy will;

Blessed Lord and only Savior,

With Thy love our bosoms fill:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Are we thirsty? Are we seeking the Lord?

Ho, every one that is thirsty in spirit,

Ho, every one that is weary and sad;

Come to the fountain, there’s fulness in Jesus,

All that you’re longing for, come and be glad.

Refrain:

“I will pour water on him that is thirsty,

I will pour floods upon the dry ground;

Open your heart for the gift I am bringing;

While you are seeking Me, I will be found.”

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?

Weary of earth-joys, so false, so untrue?

Thirsting for God and His fulness of blessing?

List to the promise, a message for you!

Child of the Kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!

Nothing but fulness thy longing can meet:

‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;

Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.

Although this hymn is in the Redemption hymnal, I hadn't noticed it there... 

Written by Lucy Rider Meyer born in Vermont, 1849, died in 1922.

Under the Surface

 When I was putting some books away in my cupboard I came across this little gem called "Under the Surface".

On closer inspection it turned out that it contains many hymns written by Frances Ridley Havergal.

Here is a selection that stood out to me so far. 

An old hymn by Joseph Swain

I came across part of this lovely old hymn in a book I'm re-reading. 

I don't recall noticing it very much last time. I'm very glad I looked it up this time. 

(Most versions I found had been altered and only 3 verses.) Have you come across it before? 

I hope you are also encouraged by it. 

 

Cling to the Mighty One

 What a blessed privilege we have when the Lord God is our Heavenly Father and He invites us to trust in and cling to Him. 

The hymn "I asked the Lord" written by John Newton

https://youtu.be/tdDDmDFpgK8

Here is a beautiful rendition of a song/hymn I heard as a poem several years ago.

"My heart and voice I raise" a "Sacred poem" by Benjamin Rhodes

Hi!
My Dad was trying to remember the words to this hymn last night. I only knew different words to the same tune. I thought he was humming Fairest Lord Jesus! I may have glanced at this hymn before but I didn't know it. I found 5 verses in the Methodist hymnbook and the Redemption hymnal. I found 9 online at hymnary.org, and that had a link to page scans of "A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs.
From this I learned that there are 21 verses recorded!


“A Sacred Poem by Benjamin Rhodes (born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, in 1743, died 1815.

(Part 1)
"My heart and voice I raise, To spread Messiah’s praise: Messiah’s praise – let all repeat:
The Universal Lord, by whose prolific word Creation rose in form complete!

Let there be light – he said- then sullen darkness fled, Obedient to his high command!
And massy orbs above Began to shine- and move- Sustained by His Almighty hand.

Creation’s utmost bound, (how high, or how profound) Declares his Majesty divine:
Thou Everlasting Sire, Thee- shall Thy works admire, and all proclaim the glory Thine.

Man- the supreme of all on this terrestrial ball, in wisdom’s purest gifts arrayed;
From Eden basely fell: To ransom him from hell, - Messiah – suffered in his stead!

A servant’s form he wore, and in His body bore our dreadful curse on Calvary!
He like a victim stood, and poured His sacred blood, to set the guilty captives free!

But soon the victor rose, Triumphant o’er his foes, And led the vanquished host in chains;
He threw their empire down, His foes compelled to own, O’er all the great Messiah reigns!

With mercy’s mildest grace He governs all our race in wisdom, righteousness, and love:
Who to Messiah fly shall find redemption nigh, and all His great Salvation prove.

Hail, Saviour, Prince of Peace, Thy kingdom shall increase, Till all the world Thy glory see!
And righteousness abound, As the great deep profound; And fill the earth with purity.

(Part 2)
In fierce consuming fire shall destined worlds expire! And in his might Messiah rise:
The raging fervent blaze shall lift its voice in praise, While all dissolve in earth and skies!

The mighty Lord of all shall then the nations call – “Ye dead arise, to judgment come:”
The crowds arising see His sovereign majesty, and trembling wait their final doom.

Great day – that shall descry to every wondering eye the secret deeds of day and night!
The sacred volume large its record shall discharge, and bring our every thought to light!

The bold blasphemer there, in rage, and wild despair – In vain would shun impending ire:
Where shall the guilty hide? Or the fierce day abide, The Day of God, revealed in fire?

With pangs unfelt before, Urged by their pain – implore A refuge from tremendous wrath!
Too late! – transfixed with awe, They hear the fiery law condemn them to eternal death!

Bound with relentless chains, they sink beneath their pains, Nor shines one beam of hope from heaven:
With the infernal host, are now forever lost! and down to fiery regions driven.

(Part 3)

Ye happy sons of light, who conquered in the fight, and steadfast to the end endured!
Now view the great reward Messiah hath prepared, and to his faithful saints secured.

In ecstasies of bliss, they see Him as He is, Whose glory fills the eternal Throne:
He bids His servants prove Their Master’s joy above, and be with Him forever one!

City of God, in thee is full felicity: Thy treasures, an unbounded store!
Where- from the Source of Love, The saints, transported, prove, Unbounded joys for ever more!

There saints and angels join in fellowship divine, And rapture swells the solemn lay:
While all with one accord adore their glorious Lord, and shout His praise in endless day.

Salem, secure above, Thy joys when shall I prove, And to thy holy hill attain?
Where weary pilgrims rest, and in thy glories blessed, with God their King forever reign.

May I but find the grace to fill a humble place in that inheritance above:
My tuneful voice I’ll raise; In songs of loudest praise, to spread thy fame- Redeeming Love.

Reign – true Messiah – reign, Thy kingdom shall remain when stars and sun no more shall shine:
Mysterious Deity, who ne’er began to be! To sound thy endless praise – be mine."

I thought it was worth sharing. Hope you're challenged and blessed by it as I have been.

"Let Him have His way with thee."

"Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain: His pow’r can make you what you ought to be; His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free; His love can fill your soul, and you will see ’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call? 

 Would you know the peace that comes by giving all? 

 Would you have Him save you, so that you need never fall? 

 Let Him have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest? 

 Would you prove Him true in providential test? 

 Would you in His service labour always at your best? 

 Let Him have His way with thee."

Written by Cyrus S. Nusbaum in 1898.


"This hymn was based on experiences in his first year as a Methodist minister in Kansas. Nusbaum had been serving in one of the poorest circuits in the district. At the end of the year, he and his wife attended the conference where he hoped to be appointed to a better charge. However, he was named to the same “hard-scrabble” circuit. After returning to their lodging, he was at first unhappy and even felt rebellious, but about midnight he knelt in prayer and told the Lord that he would be willing to let Him have His way with him regardless of the cost. That feeling of surrender later became the inspiration for the song."

I just read the hymn in a Tozer book. Thanks for the recommendation S! 
I think it's beautiful!
And I love this rendition of it.

Christ's glorious love

Ever since I heard this hymn, I loved it. Tonight was the first time I have heard the 4th verse. I've looked it up before and not seen a 4th verse. I think it's beautiful.

How amazing that the Lord Most High, the King before whom every knee will bow, the Creator of all things, has bowed down low! I'm so glad that He chose to bestow His glorious love on me! Truly we should never cease from singing His praise for the wonderful blessings of mercy, grace, forgiveness and loving-kindness that He has showered upon us! What a privilege to be His child, because He made it possible for us to be reconciled to God.

Marching to Zion

 I'm guessing this is a fairly well known hymn, but I didn't know, before today, that there were originally 10 stanzas. Most versions I've seen have only 4 verses. I thought that all 10 were pretty good and worth sharing.

"Come, we that love the Lord, And let our joys be known;

Join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne.

The sorrows of the mind be banished from the place:

Religion never was designed to make our pleasures less.

Let those refuse to sing That never knew our God;

But favourites of the Heavenly King May speak their joys abroad.

The God that rules on high, And thunders when he please,

That rides upon the stormy sky, And manages the seas,

This awful* God is ours, Our Father and our love,

He shall send down His heavenly powers to carry us above.

 (N.B. *I think the author meant this awful as in the sense of power and majesty, i.e. we should be full of awe!)

Then we shall see His face, And never, never sin:

There, from the rivers of His grace Drink endless pleasures in.

Yes, and before we rise to that immortal state,

The thoughts of such amazing bliss should constant joys create.

The men of grace have found Glory begun below;

Celestial fruits on earthly ground From faith and hope may grow.

The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets,

Before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets.

Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry:

We’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground to fairer worlds on high."

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Music: Robert Lowry who added the chorus:

We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion,

We’re marching upward to Zion, beautiful city of God.

And yes, it's going to go round my head for a few days. It's a very catchy tune. 

How about you? Did you know more than 4 stanzas?

A hymn by Robert Murray M'Cheyne

I don't believe I'd come across this hymn before today. 

I do enjoy coming across "new" old ones.

And to save you looking it up if you don't know, 

Jehovah Tsidkenu means "The Lord our Righteousness".

Sing to me of Heaven

This evening I just came across this lovely song. Another new favourite. :)

A poem, a hymn, some verses and thoughts.

"I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Written by John Newton

and I thought this hymn tied in quite well.

1. "Jesus, lover of my soul,
   Let me to Thy bosom fly,
   While the nearer waters roll,
   While the tempest still is high.
   Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
   Till the storm of life is past;
   Safe into the haven guide;
   Oh, receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none,
   Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
   Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
   Still support and comfort me.
   All my trust on Thee is stayed,
   All my help from Thee I bring;
   Cover my defenseless head
   With the shadow of Thy wing.
3. Wilt Thou not regard my call?
   Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
   Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
   Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
   Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
   While I of Thy strength receive,
   Hoping against hope I stand,
   Dying, and behold, I live.
4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
   More than all in Thee I find;
   Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
   Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
   Just and holy is Thy Name,
   Source of all true righteousness;
   Thou art evermore the same,
   Thou art full of truth and grace.
5. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
   Grace to cover all my sin;
   Let the healing streams abound;
   Make and keep me pure within.
   Thou of life the fountain art,
   Freely let me take of Thee;
   Spring Thou up within my heart;
   Rise to all eternity."
6. Written by Charles Wesley
7. 
   
8. Have we actually come to the place where we seek our all in Him? 
9. Where, as long as we have Him, we have everything we need?

As we enter 2018, let's seek the Lord more than we ever have before. 

His return is getting nearer. We must be ready!

Leave It There, a hymn by Charles A. Tindley

A fellow who was a constant worrier visited Tindley one day. After listening a while, Tindley replied, My advice to you is put all your troubles in a sack, take ’em to the Lord, and leave ’em there.

(He wrote this song in 1916.)

"If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain

Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.


If your body suffers pain and your health you can't regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal;
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don't forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He'll go with you to the end.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there."

I don't remember hearing this song before yesterday, but I rather like it. How about you?

Yield not to temptation; a hymn and some stories about it.

The other day I was introduced to this challenging and encouraging hymn which was written by Horatio Richmond Palmer in 1868.

Mr. Palmer said, ”This song was an inspiration. I was at work on the dry subject of ' Theory' when the complete idea flashed upon me, and I laid aside the theoretical work and hurriedly penned both words and music as fast as I could write them. I submitted them to the criticism of a friend afterward, and some changes were made in the third stanza, but the first two are exactly as they came to me. The music was first written in A flat; but I soon saw that B flat was better, and for many years it has appeared in that key. I am reverently thankful it has been a power for good."

A friend contributes this incident: ”Twenty years ago, when the State prison at Sing Sing, New York, had women as well as men within its walls, a lady used to visit the women's department. Every Sunday afternoon the inmates were permitted to come out and sit in the corridor to hear her talk, and to sing hymns with her. One day some of the women rebelled against an order of the matron, and a terrible scene followed. Screams, threats, ribaldry and profanity filled the air. It was said, by those who knew, that an uprising among the women prisoners was worse and more difficult to quell than one among the men. The matron hastily sent to the men's department for help. Suddenly a voice rose clear and strong above the tumult, singing a favourite song of the prisoners,


'Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you
Some other to win.
Fight manfully onward,
Dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus,
He'll carry you through.' There was a lull; then one after another joined in the sacred song; and presently, with one accord, all formed into line and marched quietly to their cells."

A minister who at the time was laboring there, writes me that when Dr. Somerville, of Scotland, and Mr. Varley, of England, were in New Zealand, in the 1870’s, in connection with Young Men's Christian Association work, many young men found strength for life's temptations in the first lines of this hymn, which was sung at every meeting for months.

“Some twenty-four years ago, ”writes James A. Watson, of Blackburn, England,” the Presbyterian church of England was preparing to issue a new book of praise, ' The Church Praise,' now in use. I was asked to send in a suitable list of hymns for the young. Among the number I sent ' Yield not to temptation,' but to my regret, when I got a draft copy of the proposed hymn-book, that hymn was not in it. Three or four Sundays afterward I was requested by the teacher of the infant class in the St. George's School, where I have been superintendent for over forty years, to visit a dying boy. I found him unconscious. All that his widowed mother could tell me about him was that he had kept saying: 'He'll carry me through.' When I asked her if she knew what he meant, she told me that she did not. She did not attend church or school. I told her that it was the chorus of a hymn, and pointed out how the good Shepherd was carrying her little boy through the valley; how he was gathering her lamb in his loving arms. I also told her that the Saviour would carry her through her trouble, would comfort, strengthen and keep her, and at last bring her to the happy land where death-divided ones will meet to part no more. I was so much impressed by the incident that I wrote to the convener of the hymn-book committee, and pleaded for the insertion of the hymn in the new book. The committee put it in, and for twenty-three years the young people of our Presbyterian church have been able to sing it when wanted, all through the comfort it had been to a little dying boy, the only son of a widow, on a back street of Blackburn."

Found here:  http://breadsite.org/hymnstories/yieldnottotemptation.htm


Rest of the hymn:

1. • Refrain:
     Ask the Saviour to help you,
     Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
     He is willing to aid you,
     He will carry you through.
2. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
   God’s name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;
   Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true;
   Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
3. To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,
   Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down;
   He who is our Saviour, our strength will renew;
   Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Far above all.

So, I've looked online and I can't find it anywhere.
On Saturday I attended a meeting and we opened with this hymn, and the more I listened, the more I liked it.
Now, the chorus is going round in my head, and I think that they're pretty good words to have going round in my head.
(P.S. The tune is the same as "Sing we the King who is coming to reign")


"Jesus, when made in the likeness of men,
Humbled Himself to the death of the Cross;
No reputation belonged to Him then;
Emptying Himself, He esteemed it no loss.

 Chorus:
 Far above all! Far above all! God hath exalted Him far above all!
 Crown Him as Lord, at His feet humbly fall,
 Jesus, Christ Jesus, is far above all!

Name that through ages to come shall out-ring:
Jesus, the Lamb, who for sinners was slain!
Soon to this earth He is coming as King,
Coming in power and in glory to reign.

Kingdoms of earth shall be yielded to God;
Glorious the reign, with our Lord on the throne!
Chained the usurper, and broken his rod:
Jesus as King every nation shall own.

Jesus, my Saviour, I yield unto Thee;
Reign in my heart as Redeemer and Lord.
Make me what Thou wouldest have me to be,
Filled with Thy Spirit, and filled with Thy Word."

Arranged by Chas. H. Gabriel


And it reminded me of this in Ephesians chapter 1.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding[c]being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Well, I think that's a pretty good reminder. Don't you?

Come Thou Fount

I've known this lovely old hymn for years but when I looked it up I found two extra verses I didn't know previously, and they're rather good. 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

 Robert Robinson (1758)

found at http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comethou.htm

The Ocean of God's Grace

(picture found on facebook: Revival Library)

"Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be,
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wand'ring heart to Thee."

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20

Another Isaac Watts hymn

Came across this today and thought it a rather good one.

Lo! what a glorious sight appears
To our believing eyes!
The earth and sea are passed away,
And the old rolling skies.

From the third heav’n, where God resides,
That holy, happy place,
The new Jerusalem comes down,
Adorned with shining grace.

Attending angels shout for joy,
And the bright armies sing—
“Mortals, behold the sacred seat
Of your descending King.

“The God of glory down to men
Removes His blest abode;
Men, the dear objects of His grace,
And he the loving God.

“His own soft hand shall wipe the tears
From every weeping eye,
And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears,
And death itself, shall die.”

How long, dear Saviour! O how long
Shall this bright hour delay?
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day.

          by Isaac Watts