I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
Author --Francis H. Rowley, 1854-1952
Composer --Peter P. Bilhorn, 1865-1936
"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1
Francis H. Rowley was born in Hilton, New York, on July 25, 1854. Later he became a Baptist minister and served churches in Massachuse ...read
Article
In The Garden
"Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: 'I have seen the Lord!' And she told them that he had said these things to her." -John 20:18
One of the most dramatic scenes of Scripture is recorded in the twentieth chapter of John's gospel. Early on that first Sunday morning after Christ's crucifixion, while it was still dark, Mary Ma ...read
Article
It Is Well With My Soul
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" -Psalm 46:1
This beloved gospel hymn text's author, Horatio Gates Spafford, had known peaceful and happy days as a successful young attorney in Chicago, Illinois. He was the father of four lovely daughters, a deeply spiritual and devoted student of the Scriptures, and a loyal s ...read
Article
Join All the Glorious Names
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
"Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory." (Psalm 72:19)
"Wisdom," "love," "power," "prophet," "priest," "king," "almighty Lord," conqueror," "captain"--these are the names and titles used throughout the stanzas of this hymn to describe our Lord. But the co ...read
Article
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Author --Henry van Dyke, 1852-1933
Music --Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827
Tune Name --"Hymn to Joy"
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY . . ." Galatians 5:22
This hymn is generally considered by hymnologists to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language. Its author, Henry van Dyke, was born at Ge ...read
Article
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9)
We must never underestimate the power of love in our human relationships--whether marriages, family, business associations, or friendships. The divine love of God for man far excels a ...read
Article
May Jesus Christ Be Praised
Author --German Hymn from the 18th century
English Translation --Edward Caswall, 1814-1878
Composer --Joseph Bamby, 1838-1896
Tune Name --"Laudes Domini"
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1
One of the important sources of English hymnody is the wealth of worthy hymns translated ...read
Article
More Love To Thee
Author --Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1818-1878
Composer --William H. Doane, 1832-1915
Tune Name --"More Love to Thee"
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ." Philippians 1:9, ...read
Article
My Jesus, I Love Thee
Author --William R. Featherston, 1846-1873
Composer --Adoniram J. Gordon, 1836-1895
Tune Name --"Gordon"
"We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19
It is difficult to realize that this beloved devotional hymn, which expresses so profoundly a believer's love and gratitude to Christ for what He has accomplished in redemption, ...read
Article
My Redeemer
"I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD." - Psalm 104:33-34 KJV
Many of our finest gospel hymns have been born out of some tragic experience or event. "My Redeemer," though expressing a joyful note of praise, was found in ...read
Article
Now Thank We All Our God
Author --Martin Rinkart, 1586-1649
English Translation --Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878
Music --Johann Cruger, 1598-1662
Tune Name --"Nun Danket"
Scripture Reference --Psalm 147
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things ...read
Article
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Author --Latin origin from c. 12th century
Translated into English --John M. Neale, 1818-1866
Music --A Plainsong/chant from c. 13th century
Name of Tune --"Veni Emmanuel" ("Come God With Us")
Scripture References --Isaiah 7:14, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 1:23
"The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David." --Luke 1:32
...read
Article
O for a Thousand Tongues
Author --Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Composer --Carl G. Glaser, 1784-1829
Tune Name --"Azmon"
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150:6
It is generally agreed that Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley have been the two most influential writers of English hymnody to date. Following the new metrical psalm ...read
Article
O How I Love Jesus
Frederick Whitfield, 1829-1904
"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
This simply stated, lilting musical testimony has been another of the Sunday school favorites since it was first published in leaflet form in 1855. It has since been translated into various languages and has been included in numerous evangelical hymnals.
Th ...read
Article
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
S. Trevor Francis, 1834-1925
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:17, 18)
Who can fully grasp the dimensions of God's great love for us? Yet the Scriptures teach that we are to have a growing awareness o ...read
Article
O Worship the King
Author --Robert Grant, 1779-1838
Composer --Arranged from J. Michael Haydn, 1737-1806
Tune Name --"Lyons"
Scripture Reference --Psalm 104
"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, Thou art very great." Psalm 104:1
Man is basically a religious though unregenerate being. In all human life there is a consciousness of a supreme power. Eve ...read
Article
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
"I will praise the Lord all my life, I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." (Psalm 146:2)
"Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence. This realization can turn any gloom into a song." --S. T. Coleridge
Praise is our Lord's most righteou ...read
Article
Redeemed
Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this." (Psalm 107:1, 2)
"All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass--Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners." --Archibald Alexander
The word redeemed implies the idea of a slave standing on t ...read
Article
Rejoice-The Lord is King!
Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
"After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3)
This text by Charles Wesley is another of the more than 6,500 hymns written by the "Sweet Bard of Methodism." Wesley wrote on hundreds of scriptural passages as well as on every conceivable phase of ...read
Article
Satisfied
Author --Clara Tear Williams, 1858-1937
Composer --Ralph E. Hudson, 1843-1901
"For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:9
The author, Clara Tear Williams, has given the following description of the writing of this inspirational testimony hymn:
"About 1875, I was helping in meetings in T ...read
