Hymn of the Day: I Need Thee Every Hour

 I Need Thee Every Hour
 
Annie Hawks wrote:
One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words, [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: He Keeps Me Singing

He Keeps Me Singing
Words and Music by Luther B. Bridgers, 1884–1948
 
Luther Bridgers, a Methodist pastor and evangelist from Georgia, is believed to have written both the words and music for this joyful hymn in 1910, following the death of his wife and three sons in a fire at the home of his wife’s parents, while [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: I Gave My Life to Thee

 
I Gave My Life for Thee
Frances R. Havergal, 1836–1879
 
A vivid painting of Christ, wearing His crown of thorns as He stands before Pilate and the mob, is displayed in the art museum of Dusseldorf, Germany. Under the painting by Sternberg are the words, “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: He Hideth My Soul

 
He Hideth My Soul
Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915
The blind American poet, Fanny Jane Crosby, did not begin writing gospel texts until she was in her mid-forties. But from then on, inspiring words seemed to flow constantly from her heart, and she became “the happiest creature in all the land.” Friends stopped in frequently to see her [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: Hiding In Thee

 
Hiding in Thee
William O. Cushing, 1823–1902
William O. Cushing said that when he wrote this hymn text in 1876, “it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart conflicts and yearnings of which the world could know nothing.” After the death of his wife in middle age, Cushing was forced to retire from an active ministry [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: Have Thine Own Way

 
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862–1934
 
An elderly woman at a prayer meeting one night pleaded, “It really doesn’t matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your way with our lives.” At this meeting was Adelaide Pollard, a rather well-known itinerant Bible teacher who was deeply discouraged because she had been unable [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: He Leadeth Me

 
He Leadeth Me
Joseph H. Gilmore, 1834–1918
 
Although Joseph Gilmore became a distinguished university and seminary professor, an author of several textbooks in Hebrew and English literature, and a respected Baptist minister, he is best remembered today for this one hymn, hurriedly written when he was just twenty-eight.
 
Gilmore scribbled down these lines while visiting with friends after [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: God Lead Us Along

 
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 [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day: From Greenland’s Icy Mountains

From Greenland’s Icy Mountains
Reginald Heber, 1783–1826

In the summer of 1819, Heber was asked by his father-in-law if he knew a worthy hymn that could be used at a missionary service the next Sunday. Reginald went at once to his study for a few minutes of quiet meditation and soon returned with the first stanzas of [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn of the Day

Be Thou My Vision

It was translated from Old Irish into English by Mary E. Byrne in “Eriú," Journal of the School of Irish Learning, in 1905. The English text was first versified by Eleanor H. Hull in 1912 and this version of the lyrics is the most common. However, variations of [...]

Read Full Post »