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.

A story of the hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, King of Creation!” by William Petersen

As a student in Bremen, Germany, Joachim Neander lived a godless life. Although both his father and grandfather were Lutheran ministers, Neander wasted his teenage years in immorality. Then, when Neander was twenty, a preacher named Under-Eyke came to Bremen. Neander went to the meeting intending to ridicule the preacher, but instead he was converted.

Four years later he became headmaster of a school in Düsseldorf, and during his time there he wrote more than sixty hymns. Because of his strong Christian views and his evangelistic activities, Neander displeased the authorities and was later removed from his position.

Despite the tensions, he went on writing hymns of praise. Neander often wandered through the valleys and hills near Düsseldorf, communing with his Lord. After losing his position at the school, he lived for a time in a cave and continued writing hymns. Neander died very young, at the age of thirty, but he left behind a legacy of praise to God.

Scriptures: Psalm 67:3; Psalm 103:1-5; Colossians 1:15-20

Themes: Praise, Worship, Comfort

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the amen sound from His people again;

Gladly forever adore Him.

By JOACHIM NEANDER (1650–1680) Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 66-67). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” by William Petersen

Henry van Dyke was serving as a guest preacher at Williams College, in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, when he was so moved by the beauty of God’s creation that he wrote this hymn of joy. The next morning, he handed the poem to the college president. “Here is a hymn for you,” he said. “Your mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven’s ‘Hymn to Joy.’” And it has been ever since.

Van Dyke was not only a Presbyterian minister, but he was also the author of many books, including the best-selling The Other Wise Man. He was a professor of literature at Princeton University, navy chaplain during World War I, and an ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under President Woodrow Wilson.

When van Dyke published this hymn in 1911, he noted that it was to be sung by people who “are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven.” With such confidence, Christians have much to rejoice about.

Scriptures: Psalm 98; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Philippians 4:4-7

Themes: Creation, Joy, Praise

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our brother,

All who live in love are Thine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

Father love is reigning o’er us,

Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

By HENRY VAN DYKE (1852–1933)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 43-44). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.