A story of the hymn, “Lead Me to Calvary” by Jennie Hussey

 Not much is known about the writer of this hymn, Jennie Hussey, but you can connect the dots and get a pretty good picture. Jennie Hussey lived all her life in rural New Hampshire, and for most of it, she took care of her sister with a disability. Although this certainly restricted her in some ways, Jennie was known for her cheerful and courageous attitude. 

Jennie was a member of the Society of Friends, the Quakers. In fact, she was a fourth-generation Quaker, which takes her Quaker roots back to the eighteenth century, almost back to the time of William Penn, the remarkable man who brought the Quakers to America and founded the colony of Pennsylvania. 

Besides founding Pennsylvania, William Penn is also remembered for a Quaker classic entitled “No Cross, No Crown.” Maybe this explains why Jennie began her hymn with the words, “King of my life, I crown thee now,” and ended it with the words, “Lead me to Calvary.” 

Scriptures: Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:10-11

Themes: Crucifixion, Commitment, Submission

 Lyrics of the Hymn:

King of my life, I crown Thee now,

Thine shall the glory be;

Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,

Lead me to Calvary.

 

Lest I forget Gethsemane;

Lest I forget Thine agony;

Lest I forget Thy love for me,

Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,

Tenderly mourned and wept;

Angels in robes of light arrayed

Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

 

Let me like Mary, thro’ the gloom,

Come with a gift to Thee;

Show to me now the empty tomb,

Lead me to Calvary.

 

May I be willing, Lord, to bear

Daily my cross for thee;

Even Thy cup of grief to share,

Thou hast borne all for me.

By JENNIE EVELYN HUSSEY (1874–1958)

Credit/Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William; Petersen, Ardythe. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 132). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Like a River Glorious” by Frances Ridley Havergal

The world is filled with violence, terrorism, and senseless crime. How is it possible to enjoy inner peace when there is so much turmoil all around us? 

By drawing on two passages from the prophet Isaiah, the hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal tells how. In Isaiah 48:18, God promises peace like a river. And in Isaiah 26:3 Isaiah writes, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (NIV). 

In one of her last letters, Havergal quoted Romans 5:1: “We have peace with God.” Then she added as a note to her friend, “It is yours already, purchased for you, made for you, sealed for you, pledged to you, by the word of the Father and the precious blood of Jesus.” It is not merely peace that God promises, but perfect peace—perfected, completed in Christ. 

Scriptures: Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 48:18; John 14:27; John 16:33; Romans 5:1

Themes: Peace, Protection

 Lyrics of the Hymn:

Like a river glorious 

Is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious

In its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth

Fuller ev’ry day,

Perfect, yet it groweth

Deeper all the way.

 Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest—

Finding as He promised

Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow

Of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow,

Never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry,

Not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry

Touch the spirit there.

Ev’ry joy or trial

Falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial

By the sun of love;

We may trust Him fully

All for us to do—

They who trust Him wholly

Find Him wholly true.

By FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL (1836–1879)

 Credit/Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William; Petersen, Ardythe. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 307-308). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

 

A story of the hymn, “Blessed Quietness” by Manie Payne Ferguson

On the stormy Sea of Galilee, Jesus commanded the winds and waves, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, KJV), and immediately there was calm. Later in the upper room, as Jesus told his disciples that he would leave them, he promised them the Holy Spirit and peace. 

Manie Payne, born in Carlow, Ireland, was a Christian, but she did not know peace. She struggled with her sinful nature until she began to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This is the “blessed quietness” that she wrote about. Now, she was so happy she could hardly contain herself. Indeed, joy was flowing like a river in her life. 

Later she married T. P. Ferguson and founded Peniel Missions, with branches in Egypt, China, and the United States. 

Scriptures: Luke 4:29-30; John 14:25-27; Galatians 5:22

Themes: Holy Spirit, Peace, Assurance

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Joys are flowing like a river

Since the Comforter has come.

He abides with us forever,

Makes the trusting heart His home.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

What assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me,

How the billows cease to roll!

 

Bringing life and health and gladness

All around this heav’nly Guest

Banished unbelief and sadness,

Changed our weariness to rest.

 

Like the rain that falls from heaven,

Like the sunlight from the sky,

So the Holy Ghost is given,

Coming on us from on high.

 

See, a fruitful field is growing,

Blessed fruit of righteousness;

And the streams of life are flowing

In the lonely wilderness.

What a wonderful salvation,

Where we always see His face!

What a perfect habitation,

What a quiet resting place!

By MANIE PAYNE FERGUSON (1850–1932)

Credit/Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 292). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

 

A story of the hymn, “Because He lives” by Bill and Gloria Gaither!

The late 1960s were dark days for Bill and Gloria Gaither. Both of them were struggling with health problems, and Gloria was pregnant with their third child. The world around them was swirling with news of the Vietnam War, civil unrest, the drug culture, and violence in the streets. Was this any kind of world in which to raise a family?

Discouraged and disheartened, they looked for signs of hope. One day in the spring, Bill walked out of his office to inspect a newly paved parking area. Construction workers had covered it with several coats of asphalt. Bill was satisfied with the job that was done, but as he turned, he noticed a tiny blade of grass poking through the layers of rock and tar to reach into the sunlight.

In early summer the baby was born, and when Bill and Gloria brought their child home, they wrote this song of joy, remembering the environment. More important, they remembered that their baby could indeed face uncertain days because Christ lives.

Scriptures: John 14:29; Ephesians 2:4-7; Philippians 3:10

Themes: Hope, Easter, Resurrection

Lyrics of the Hymn:

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,

He came to love, heal, and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a new-born baby,

And feel the pride, and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,

I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;

And then as death gives way to victory,

I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.

By WILLIAM J. (B. 1936) AND GLORIA GAITHER (B. 1942) © 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. All rights controlled by Gaither Copyright Management. Used by permission.

Credit/Reference for Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 594). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, "I Stand in Awe"

When he was in his teens and early twenties, Mark Altrogge thought of making rock-and-roll music as a career. If the Beatles could do it, why couldn’t he? But when, at the age of twenty-four, he became a Christian, he realized that he would have to surrender himself totally to Jesus Christ. Now, his attention was fixed, not on the Beatles, but on the holiness of God, and he was reading books like The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer and The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul.

God is infinite, and Mark says, “We will never come to an end of learning new things about him.” Thinking about the greatness of God, Mark sat down with his guitar and tried to put some of his thoughts into music. Gradually the song was born. He says, “‘I Stand in Awe’ was born out of the emotional impact that the doctrine of God’s holiness had on me.”

Scriptures: Psalm 99:3, 9; Psalm 111:9; 1 Peter 1:15-16

Themes: Worship, God the Father, Holiness of God

Lyrics of the Hymn:

You are beautiful beyond description,

Too marvelous for words,

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depth of Your love?

You are beautiful beyond description,

Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You,

I stand, I stand in awe of You.

Holy God to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of You, I stand in awe of You.

By MARK ALTROGGE (B. 1950) © 1987 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn Story:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 40). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Link to Listen to the Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejv9L8V9xOE   

An exhortation from 2 Timothy Chapter 4

To “Fulfill Your Ministry” (vv. 1-5), God does not only give each of us a specific assignment, He also equips us for it. While we serve Him, God expects us to be faithful—to remain on task and not be distracted. In other words, we must put our hand on the plow and press on toward the goal. 

Sometimes, it is tempting to wish we could do God's service as good as so and so. Other times, one might say, “If I only had such and such gifts or resources, I would serve the Lord.”  What we need to realize is that God wants us to do our part. Even in this final chapter of 2 Timothy, 

The apostle Paul named some co-laborers about whom we know nothing; yet they too had a ministry to fulfill. A young preacher once complained to Charles Spurgeon, the famous British preacher of the 1800s, that he did not have as big a church as he deserved. “How many do you preach to?” Spurgeon asked. “Oh, about a hundred,” the man replied. Solemnly Spurgeon said, “That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.” We do not measure the fulfillment of a ministry only on the basis of statistics or on what people see. We realize that faithfulness is important, and that God sees the heart. This was why Timothy had to be “sober in all things” (2 Tim. 4:5 NASB) and carry on his ministry with seriousness of purpose. (Wiersbe, 2007, p. 783)

Let us be grateful for the opportunities we get to serve the Lord as He directs our steps. Let us all heed this exhortation: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV). May God help us to do everything without arguing or complaining. Soli Deo Gloria!

REFERENCE:

Wiersbe, W. W. (2007). The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook., p. 783.

A story of the hymn, "He Lives" by William Petersen

By training, Alfred Ackley was a cellist who had studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. But he was also a minister of the gospel, serving Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and California.

The gospel song “He Lives” was written after a question was posed to Ackley by a young Jewish student: Why should I worship a dead Jew?

Ackley answered quickly, “He lives! I tell you he is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.”

Ackley talked to the man further and then went home to reread the Resurrection stories of the Gospels. As he read, the words “He is risen” struck him with new meaning. Then, from the combination of the scriptural evidence, his own heart, and the experience of the innumerable cloud of witnesses, he sat down at the piano and wrote the song. He once said, “The thought of his ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily.”

Scriptures: Matthew 28:6; Philippians 3:10; Revelation 1:18

Themes: Resurrection of Christ, Hope, Joy

Lyrics of the Hymn:

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho’my heart grows weary I never will despair,

I know that He is leading thru all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

By ALFRED H. ACKLEY (1887–1960) © 1933 Word Music, LLC All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 599-600). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.