MY JESUS I LOVE THEE
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.
I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, and praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; and say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”
In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”
My age, 77 gives me so much frustration. To me this hymn speaks of my life beginning at my new birth in 1947 at 16 years old. My daily walk through sixty years. One of these days, I will say, “I will love Thee in death, and praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; and say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, ‘If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, tis now.’” Then, “In mansions of glory and endless delight.” “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.” Forest June 16, 2008
GOD LEADS US ALONG
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrows, but God gives the song, in the night season and all the daylong.
Some-times on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Some-times in the valley, in the darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrows, but God gives the song, in the night season and all the daylong.
God Leads Us Along, words and music by George A. Young, 19th century
The author and composer of “God Leads Us Along,” was an obscure preacher and carpenter who spent a lifetime humbly serving God in small rural areas. Often the salary was meager and life was difficult for his family. Through it all, however, George Young and his wife never wavered in their loyalty to God and His service.
The story is told that after much struggle and effort, the George Young family was finally able to move into their own home, which they had built themselves. Their joy seemed complete. But then, while Young was away holding meeting in another area, hoodlums who disliked the preacher’s gospel message set fire to the house, leaving nothing but a heap of ashes.
It is thought that out of that tragic experience, George Young completed this hymn, which reaffirms so well the words of Job 35:10: “God my maker, who give songs in the night.” The words of this hymn have since been a source of great comfort and encouragement to countless numbers of God’s people as they experienced the “night” times of their lives.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Joseph Scriven had wealth, education, a devoted family and a pleasant life in his native Ireland. Then unexpected tragedy entered. On the night before Screven’s scheduled wedding, his fiancée drowned. In his deep sorrow, Joseph realized that he could find the solace and support he needed only in his dearest friend, Jesus.
Soon after this tragedy, Scriven dramatically changed his lifestyle. He left Ireland for Port Hope, Canada, determined to devote all his extra time to being a friend and helper to others. He often gave away his clothing and possessions to those in need, and he worked without pay for anyone who needed him. Scriven became known as “the good Samaritan of Port Hope.”
When Scriven’s mother became ill in Ireland, he wrote a comforting letter to her, enclosing the words of his newly written poem with the prayer that these brief lines would remind her of a never failing heavenly friend. Sometime later, when Joseph Scriven himself was ill, a friend who came to call on him happened to see a copy of these words scribbled on scratch paper near his bed. The friend read the lines with interest and asked, who wrote those beautiful words? “The Lord and I did it between us,” was Scriven’s reply.
The tune, which is referred to as ERIE, (also known as CONVERSE or WHAT A FRIEND), has been applauded as a “masterpiece of simplicity . . . composed for ease of learning . . . and . . . further strengthened by quasi antiphon ‘Take it to the Lord in prayer’. (Young 1993) It was composed for this text in 1868. The composer listed in Silver Wings is Karl Reden, a pseudonym for Charles Converse who also compiled the collection. The tune name ERIE is likely taken from the city in Pennsylvania where Converse Lived.
Text. Joseph Medlicott Seriven (1810-1886) ca. 1855 Packard’s Spirit Minstrel: A Collection of Hymns and Music, Boston, 1857, alt.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and grief’s to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything
to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to
God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
– take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
– take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
– take to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee
– thou wilt find a solace there.
I was saved when I was 16 years old in 1947. This song became my most favorite during my teens years and continues on through all my life, until this day. Forest Steenfott
OPEN OUR EYES LORD
Open our eyes Lord,
we want to see Jesus;
To reach our and touch Him,
and say that we love Him;
Open our ears Lord,
and help us to listen,
Open our eyes Lord,
we want to see Jesus.
This small chorus has put me into a time of worship of my Lord Jesus. There were times I came to see my wife in a nursing home. She could not talk any longer. I would take her hand and sing this song as in prayer over and over again.
A few years before my wife’s illness, I was asked to preach one Sunday morning in a church some distances from here. I preached on the Person of Jesus Christ. After the sermon, I asked the congregation to stand and take hands with the piano we sang this small piece. There were many tears. This happened to be the last sermon I preached in a church.