Here is Love

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Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.

-See Cyberhymnal for information on music and authorship

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The Importance of Hymns

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The Importance of Hymns: An Unknown Hymn-Writer: Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

England had its great women hymnists, such as Frances Ridley Havergal and also America, in such ladies as Fanny Crosby. But Sweden had a relatively unknown hymn writer in Lina Sandell, more formerly known as Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, who lived from 1832-1903. Sandell wrote approximately 650 hymns. Though not as prolific a hymnist as Fanny Crosby, Lina Sandell wrote some of the finest hymns of the faith, including one of my favorites, Day by Day, which I sent to a dear friend today. If you are not familiar with it, please learn it and sing it. The benefits of meditating on this hymn are far-reaching and very encouraging.

"Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land."

One of the greatest negligences among Christians today is the neglect of great hymns. We neglect them by not learning them, singing, and meditating on them for our own spiritual benefit. To settle for the shallow, frivilous, empty-headed, unintelligent and frothy music of today, when such spiritual and theological riches exist, is a great mistake. People need to be told and educated on this important aspect of the Christian life.

"Learn the hymns", said Leonard Ravenhill. He was right then and he still is today.

-Mack Tomlinson

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Page CXVI - Hymns III

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Thanks to Page CXVI for making their third album, Hymns III, available as a free stream.  Listen to it below:

 

I've mentioned before how much I appreciate what these folks are doing with their music, and would encourage you to check out what they have available HERE.

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The Story Behind "Joy"

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About a month ago, I mentioned how much I was appreciating the music of Page CXVI, and encouraged you to check out their first album. One of the songs on that album, "Joy," has since become one of my absolute favorite songs. Listen to it here:



However, the first time I heard it, my response could be summed up like this: "Huh?" But after listening to it several more times, and especially after hearing the version from the album (which ends with the first verse from "It Is Well With My Soul"), I finally "got" what the artist was trying to do. Since then, I've seen the song in a new light, and have been moved profoundly by it.

All that to say that you can now hear the story behind the song from the artist herself. An excerpt:

The first time I played Joy was the night my father passed away. He had a short and painful battle with cancer. My dad was not perfect but he did the best he could with what he had. A year before he died he was diagnosed with dementia. The day he told me he had cancer he said it was a blessing. To him, cancer was a better way to end his story than a mind with no memory of his family or his life. So as I sat at the piano, the only place that felt safe that night to me, the weight of loss hit my chest. I remembered my eyes were blurred with tears and I literally began to play the now familiar progression of Joy. I kept cycling through the progression and then, as if it had already been written, I began to sing a different melody to a song I sang in VBS as a child, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…” The truth is that I was terribly and profoundly sad. The reality of grief had not even entirely hit me yet. But at the same moment I had a deep sense of peace. He was no longer in pain. He was no longer sick. He was free from all his ailments and restored. Although I still miss him, I know that God has weaved redemption through death into my father’s story. That brings me great joy. It was not until grief became a part of my story that I realized that joy is not simply an expression, but an attitude and acknowledgment of the deep peace of knowing a Savior.

Read the rest HERE. And consider dropping $12.99 to pick up the first two albums from Page CXVI. I can honestly say that it's some of the best music I've heard in quite a while.

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A Free Man's Song - Stephen Gates

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UPDATE: This was originally posted back in August, but since then, the site I was using to host the music files went the way of all flesh. I've since found a new site to host the files, so I wanted to update the links, and once again draw attention to this post for those who are interested.

One of the greatest blessings I've experienced over the last few years was the conversion of my friend, Stephen Gates, a couple of years ago. Ever since, he has been a tremendous encouragement to me personally and to the body of believers here, especially through the use of his gifts as a musician.

When God saves a man, He puts a new song in his mouth (Ps. 40:3; Rev. 5:9). Stephen has compiled some of those new songs into an album he calls A Free Man's Song. Three of the tracks are covers ("He Brought Me Out", "Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord" and "Give Thinks"), while the other seven are originals. You can listen to the entire album below:




If you're having trouble getting the embedded player to work - or if you want to have the album on your own computer - you can also freely download tracks from A Free Man's Song using the following download links:

01 Not Myself.mp3

02 Take Me.mp3

03 He Brought Me Out.mp3

04 Bring Life.mp3

05 Words of Life.mp3

06 Count It Loss.mp3

07 Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord.mp3

08 Turn.mp3

09 Give Thanks.mp3

10 Saviour.mp3


If you would like to get in touch with Stephen regarding his music, or to send him a gift for his labors, feel free to contact me and I will be glad to put you in touch with him. I know he would certainly appreciate any feedback you might have. Also, if anyone would like a hard copy of the CD, I would be glad to provide that as well.

May the Lord be pleased to use these songs for His glory, and for the edification of His church. I know Stephen desires nothing more than this.

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Spirit of God Descend - George Croly

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You can file this under "Hymns That Are Not Well-Known, But Should Be".

Spirit of God Descend
by George Croly

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,
no angel visitant, no opening skies;
but take the dimness of my soul away.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own: soul, heart, and strength, and mind.
I see Thy cross, there teach my heart to cling;
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame;
the baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.

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When This Passing World Is Done

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A truly incredible hymn from the pen of Robert Murray McCheyne. I want this one sung at my funeral.

When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o’er life’s finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When I hear the wicked call,
On the rocks and hills to fall,
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love Thee with unsinning heart,
Then Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When the praise of Heav’n I hear,
Loud as thunders to the ear,
Loud as many waters’ noise,
Sweet as harp’s melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

Even on earth, as through a glass
Darkly, let Thy glory pass,
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make Thy Spirit’s help so meet,
Even on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Savior’s side,
By the Spirit sanctified,
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark, as midnight’s gloomy shroud;
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessed Jesus! bid me show
Doubting saints how much I owe.

When in flowery paths I tread,
Oft by sin I’m captive led;
Oft I fall—but still arise—
The Spirit comes—the tempter flies;
Blessed Spirit! bid me show
Weary sinners all I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign—
Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain;
But a night Thine anger burns—
Morning comes and joy returns;
God of comforts! bid me show
To Thy poor, how much I owe.

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