Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Text written in 1878 by Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

Sung to TRENTHAM, composed by Robert Jackson (1842-1914)

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; 

the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

V. 1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, 

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love,

And do what Thou wouldst do.

V. 2 Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Until my heart is pure,

Until with Thee I will one will,

To do and to endure.

V. 3 Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Till I am wholly Thine,

Until this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy fire divine.

V. 4 Breathe on me, Breath of God,

So shall I constant be,

And live with Thee the perfect life

Of Thine eternity.

And Have the Bright Immensities

And Have the Bright Immensities

Text written by Howard C. Robbins (1876-1952)

Sung to FOREST GREEN, a Traditional English melody arranged in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Job 9:7, 9 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.  He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

V. 1 And have the bright immensities

Received our risen Lord,

Where light years frame the Pleiades

And point Orion's sword:

Do flaming suns His footsteps trace

Thro' corridors sublime,

The Lord of interstellar space

And conqueror of time?

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

V. 2 The heavn' that hides Him from our sight

Knows neither near nor far;

A little candle sheds its light

As surely as a star.

And where His loving people meet

To share the gift divine,

There stands He with unhurrying feet;

There heavn'ly splendors shine.

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Text written in 1745 by William Williams (1717-1791)

Stanza 1 translated by Peter Williams (1722-1796), Stanzas 2 & 3 translated by the author

Sung to the tune CWM RHONDDA, composed by John Hughes (1873-1932)

Nehemiah 9:19, 20 Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

V. 1 Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but Thou art mighty;

Hold me with Thy powerful hand;

Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,

Feed me till I want no more, 

Feed me till I want no more.

(See Nehemiah 9:19, 20 above)

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

V. 2 Open now the crystal fountain,

Whence the healing stream doth flow;

Let the fire and cloudy pillar

Lead me all my journey through;

Strong deliverer, strong deliverer.

Be Thou still my strength and shield,

Be Thou still my strength and shield.

Jeremiah 12:5 If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

V. 3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,

Bid my anxious fears subside;

Death of death and hell's destruction,

Land me safe on Canaan's side;

Songs of praises, songs of praises

I will ever give to Thee,

I will ever give to Thee.

Lord Jesus, Think on Me

Lord Jesus, Think on Me

Text written by Synesius of Cyrene (c. 375-430), translated by Allen W. Chatfield (1808-1896)

Sung to the tune SOUTHWELL, adapted from "Damon's Psalmes", 1579

Nehemiah 5:19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

V. 1 Lord Jesus, think on me,

And purge away my sin;

From earthborn passions set me free,

And make me pure within.

V. 2 Lord Jesus, think on me,

With care and woe oppressed;

Let me Thy loving servant be,

And taste Thy promised rest.

V. 3 Lord Jesus, think on me,

Nor let me go astray;

Through darkness and perplexity

Point Thou the heavenly way.

V. 4 Lord Jesus, think on me,

That I may sing above

To Father, Spirit, and to Thee,

The strains of praise and love.

Draw Me Nearer

Draw Me Nearer

Text written in 1875 by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)

Tune composed by William H. Doane (1832-1915)

V. 1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

And be closer drawn to thee.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

V. 2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

By the power of grace divine;

May my soul look up with a steadfast hope

And my will be lost in Thine.

Refrain

Psalm 4:4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.

V. 3 O the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

I commune as friend with friend!

Refrain

Light of Light, Enlighten Me

Blessed Sabbath rest, my friends

Light of Light, Enlighten Me

Text written in 1714 by Benjamin Schmolck (1672-1737)

Sung to HINCHMAN, composed in 1869 by Uzziah C. Burnap (1834-1900)

Isaiah 58:13 If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words....

V. 1 Light of light, enlighten me,

Now anew the day is dawning;

Sun of grace, the shadows flee;

Brighten Thou my Sabbath morning;

With Thy joyous sunshine blest,

Happy is my day of rest.

Isaiah 6:3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

V. 2 Let me with my heart today,

Holy, holy, holy, singing,

Rapt awhile from earth away,

All my soul to Thee up springing,

Have a foretaste inward given

How they worship Thee in heaven.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

V. 3 Hence all care, all vanity!

For the day to God is holy;

Come, Thou glorious Majesty,

Deign to fill this temple lowly;

Nought today my soul shall move,

Simply resting in Thy love.

All Things Come of Thee

All Things Come of Thee

Text taken from Christ in Song, 1908

Tune is anonymous

1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

V. 1 All things come of Thee, O Lord;

And of Thine own have we given Thee.

Amen.

The Wise May Bring Their Learning

The Wise May Bring Their Learning

Text from Book of Praise for Children, 1881

Sung to the tune TYROLESE, a Tyrolese Carol

Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

V. 1 The wise may bring their learning,

The rich may bring their wealth,

And some may bring their greatness,

And some their strength and health:

We too would bring our treasures

To offer to the King,

We have no wealth or learning--

What shall we children bring?

1 Chronicles 29:5 ..."or the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?”

V. 2 We'll bring Him hearts that love Him,

We'll bring Him thankful praise,

And young souls meekly striving

To follow in His ways:

And these shall be the treasures

We offer to the King,

And these are gifts that ever

The poorest child may bring.

V. 3 We'll bring the little duties

We have to do each day;

We'll try our best to please Him

At home, at school, at play:

And better are these treasures

To offer to the King

Than richest gifts without them:

Yet these a child may bring.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Text written in 1779 by John Newton (1725-1807), with stanza 5 written by John Rees c. 1859

Sung to the tune NEW BRITAIN, from Virginia Harmony 1831

1 Chronicles 17:16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"

Luke 15:6 ....Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

V. 1 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

V. 2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

V. 3 The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

V. 4 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

V. 5 When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

It Is Well With My Soul

It Is Well With My Soul

Text written in 1876 by Horatio G. Spafford (1829-1888)

Sung to VILLE DU HAVRE, composed by Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876)

2 Kings 4:26 Run to meet her and ask her, 

‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ ” 

“Everything is all right,” she said.

Isaiah 48:18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.

V. 1 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll--

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain: It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Colossians 2:14 Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

V. 2 My sin--O the joy of this glorious thought--

My sin, not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

Revelation 6:14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

V. 3 And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll:

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

"Even so--"it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Dear Lord and Father

Dear Lord and Father

Text written in 1872 by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

Sung to REPTON, composed by Charles H. H. Parry (1848-1918)

Alternate tune is REST, composed in 1887 by F. C. Maker (1844-1927)

Luke 8:35 And the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

V. 1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways;

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence praise,

In deeper reference, praise.

Mark 1:16-18 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

V. 2 In simple trust like theirs who heard,

Beside the Syrian sea,

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them, without a word,

Rise up and follow Thee,

Rise up and follow Thee.

V. 3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee,

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity,

Interpreted by love,

Interpreted by love.

V. 4 Drop Thy still dews of quietness, 

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace,

The beauty of Thy peace.

1 Kings 19:11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

V. 5 Breathe thro' the heats of our desire,

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak thro' the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still small voice of calm,

O still small voice of calm.

Showers of Blessing

Showers of Blessing

Text written by Daniel W. Whittle (1840-1901)

Music written by James McGranahan (1840-1915)

Ezekiel 34:26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

V. 1 "There shall be showers of blessing;"

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain: Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need;

Mercy drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain."

V. 2 "There shall be showers of blessing--"

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain

V. 3 "There shall be showers of blessing;"

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing;

Come, and now honor Thy word.

Refrain

V. 4 "There shall be showers of blessing;"

O that today they might fall,

Now as to God we're confessing, 

Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain

Holy Sabbath Day of Rest

Sabbath blessings, my friends

Holy Sabbath Day of Rest

Text written in 1921 by L. E. C. Joers (1900-1999)

Tune composed in 1924 by John F. Anderson (1893-1974)

Exodus 20:8, 11 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,...For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

V. 1 Holy Sabbath day of rest,

By our Master richly blest,

God-created and divine,

Set aside for holy time.

Ezekiel 20:12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Refrain: Yes, the holy Sabbath rest,

By our God divinely blest,

It to us a sign shall be

Throughout all eternity

V. 2 Seek not pleasures of this earth,

With its folly, noise, and mirth,

There are better things in store,

Over on the other shore.

Refrain

Leviticus 23:32 It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.

V. 3 As the Sabbath draweth on

Friday eve at set of sun,

Christian household then should meet,

Sing and pray at Jesus' feet.

Refrain

V. 4 Asking Him for saving grace, 

Also vict'ry in the race,

And to help us by His pow'r,

To keep holy every hour.

Refrain

Built on the Rock

Built on the Rock

Text written by Nikolai F. S. Grundvig (1783-1872), translated by Carl Doving (1867-1937) adapted

Sung to KIRKEN DEN ER ET, composed by Ludvig M. Lindeman (1812-1887)

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

V. 1 Built on the Rock the Church shall stand,

Even when steeples are falling;

Crumbled have spires in every land,

Bells still are chiming and calling

Calling the young and old to rest,

Calling the souls of those distressed,

Longing for life everlasting.

1 Kings 8:27 But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 

Acts 7:48 However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands....

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 

V. 2 Not in our temples made with hands

God, the Almighty, is dwelling;

High in the heav'ns His temple stands,

All earthly temples excelling.

Yet He who dwells in heav'n above

Deigns to abide with us in love,

Making our bodies His temple.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, 

there am I with them.

1 Peter 2:5 ...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

V. 3 We are God's house of living stones,

Built for His own habitation;

He fills our hearts, His humble thrones,

Granting us life and salvation.

Were two or three to seek His face,

He in their midst would show His grace,

Blessings upon them bestowing.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

V. 4 Yet in this house, an earthly frame,

Jesus His children is blessing;

Hither we come to praise His name,

Faith in our Savior confessing.

Jesus to us His Spirit sent,

Making with us His covenant,

Granting His children the kingdom.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

V. 5 Thro' all the passing years, O Lord,

Grant that, when church bells are ringing,

Many may come to hear God's Word

Where He this promise is bringing:

I know My own, My own know Me:

You, not the world, My face shall see;

My peace I leave with you. Amen.

Eternal Love, We Have No Good

A hymn for Valentine's Day

Eternal Love, We Have No Good

Text written by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

Sung to ETERNAL LOVE, composed in 1960 by Kenneth S. Proctor (1895-1990)

V. 1 Eternal Love, we have no good to bring Thee,

No single good of all our hands have wrought,

No worthy music have we found to sing Thee,

No jewelled word, no quick upsoaring thought.

1 Kings 7:48, 50 Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the Lord’s temple: the golden altar; the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence;...the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and censers; and the gold sockets for the doors of the innermost room, the Most Holy Place, and also for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

V. 2 And yet we come; and when our faith would falter

Show us, O Love, the quiet place of prayer,

The golden censer and the golden altar,

And the great angel waiting for us there.

Just as I Am

A Hymn for Ash Wednesday

Just as I Am

Text written in 1834 by Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871)

Sung to SAFFRON WALDEN, composed by Arthur H. Brown (1830-1926)

John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

V. 1 Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me

And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

V. 2 Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come.

2 Corinthians 7:5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 

V. 3 Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt;

"Fightings within, and fears without,"

O Lamb of God, I come.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

V. 4 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need, in Thee I find,

O Lamb of God, I come.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

V. 5 Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come.

V. 6 Just as I am, Thy love I own

Has broken every barrier down;

Now to be Thine, and Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Sing to the Great Jehovah's Praise

Sing to the Great Jehovah's Praise

Text written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Sung to LOBT GOTT IHR CHRISTEN, composed by Nikolaus Herman (c. 1485-1561)

1 Kings 3:14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life. 

Psalm 106:2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord

or fully declare his praise?

V. 1 Sing to the great Jehovah's praise!

All praise to Him belongs;

Who kindly lengthens out our days,

Inspires our choicest songs, 

Inspires our choicest songs.

V. 2 His providence hath brought us through

Another various year;

We all, with vows and anthems new,

Before our God appear,

Before our God appear.

V. 3 O God, Thy mercies past we own,

And Thy continued care;

To Thee presenting through Thy Son

Whate'er we have and are,

Whate'er we have and are.

Take My Life and Let It Be

Take My Life and Let It Be

Text written in 1874 by Frances Ridley Havergal (1936-1879)

Sung to HENDON, composed in 1827 by H. A. Cesar Malan (1787-1864)

2 Samuel 19:30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

V. 1 Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love,

At the impulse of Thy love.

V. 2 Take my feet, and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee;

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King,

Always, only, for my King.

V. 3 Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee;

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

V. 4 Take my will and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own!

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

V. 5 Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be,

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

Shalom

Shalom

The text is an Ancient Hebrew benediction

1 Samuel 25:6 Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!

V. 1 Shalom, my friends, shalom, my friends,

Shalom, shalom.

May peace be with you, God's peace be with you.

Shalom, shalom.

V. 2 May blessings attend you, angels defend,

Shalom, shalom.

God's mercies befriend you unto the end.

Shalom, shalom.

V. 3 Till we meet again, till we meet again,

Shalom, shalom.

May God be with you, His peace be with you.

Shalom, shalom.

Far From All Care

A Sabbath hymn for the Lord's Day

Far From All Care

Text written by D. A. R. Aufranc (1892-1980)

Sung to the tune PEVENSEY, composed in 1940 by D. A. R. Aufranc

V. 1 Far from all care we hail the Sabbath morning;

O'er waving fields and from the distant sea

Swell notes of praise in harmony resounding

As all creation turns her heart to Thee.

Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

V. 2 Though man alone, Lord, of Thy great creation

Fails now to laud Thee for Thy love and power,

Yet still a remnant love Thee and remember

Thy holy law and each sweet Sabbath hour.

Isaiah 48:18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.

Mark 2:28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

V. 3 Lord of the Sabbath, Savior and Creator,

Calm now the throbbings of each troubled breast.

Speak to our hearts the peace of Thy commandments,

Breathe on each soul fair Eden's hallowed rest.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

V. 4 Strong in Thy might and quiet in Thy meekness,

May we Thine image bear from day to day.

Then may we enter pearly gates eternal

And sing redemption's song each Sabbath day.