Sunday's Hymn: Reader's Choice

Today’s hymn is a favorite of siminz, who likes it because “its just so errr, cross centred… (sorry).”

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

Listen.

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah at Fish and Cans.
  
• Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire at Above the Clouds
• All the Way My Saviour Leads Me at Seasonings of the Heart
  
• Hymn 10, L.M. at The Thirsty Theologian
  
• Father, We Praise Thee at joythruChrist
• The Collect for the Second Sunday after Trinity at Magic Statistics
• God of our Fathers at The Happy Wonderer
• Nothing But the Blood at New Lumps
• How Firm A Foundation at IMD 2.0
  
• Abba, Father, We Adore Thee at Thoughts from the Teahouse (Lisa says that many of the hymns she posts are from  The Believers Hymnbook, handed down to her from her brethren grandparents.)
• Update: It Is Well With My Soul at Still Reforming
  

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list. If you’d like to see your favorite hymn featured as a Reader’s Choice hymn, go here and leave a comment. Just tell me your favorite hymn and a little bit about why you like it and I’ll feature your hymn when your turn comes. 

Sunday's Hymn: Reader's Choice

This week’s hymn is chosen by Carla of Reflections of the Times. Abide with Me is written by the Scottish minister Henry Lyte. The most commonly told story of this hymn is that Henry Lyte wrote it when he was dying of tuberculosis, but at the Center for Church Music, the suggestion is that it is more likely that

he wrote this hymn in 1820, after visiting a dying friend, who, on his death bed, kept murmuring the passage from Luke 24:29, where the disciples who were traveling to Emmaus asked Jesus to “abide with us, for it is evening and day is almost spent.”

If so, he would have been in his twenties when he wrote it.

Abide with Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Listen: Voice, piano, or organ. 

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• Arise, My Soul, Arise at The Happy Wonderer
• Art Thou Weary at Above the Clouds
• The Awakened Sinner, from The Valley of Vision  at The Thirsty Theologian
  
• From Greenland’s Icy Mountains at John Dekker’s Journal
• Master, Speak! Thy Servant Heareth at Seasonings of the Heart
• A Mighty Fortress is Our God at joythruChrist
• The Collect for The First Sunday after Trinity at Magic Statistics
• It is Well with My Soul at Thoughts from the Teahouse
• There is A Higher Throne at Hiraeth
• In Christ Alone at Jam and Books
  

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list. If you’d like to see your favorite hymn featured as a Reader’s Choice hymn, go here and leave a comment. Just tell me your favorite hymn and a little bit about why you like it and I’ll feature your hymn when your turn comes.

Sunday's Hymn: Reader's Choice

This week’s hymn is the favorite of Juanita of Jam and Books and Ruthie Cuiabana, and it also receives special mention from Lisa Johnson of Thoughts from the Tea House. It’s a hymn from Francis Ridley Havergal, who is, in my opinion, one of the 19th century’s best hymn writers.

Like a River Glorius

 

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

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.

Every 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.

Here’s a quote from on peace with God from one of Frances Havergal’s personal letters.

We have peace with God … 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.

Listen to this hymn: Piano or male voice.

 

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• Blessed Quietness at The Happy Wonderer
• Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing at IMD 2.0
  
• Beyond the Sunset at Above the Clouds
• The Benefits Divine at The Thirsty Theologian.
  
• Thou, Whose Almighty Word at John Dekker’s Journal
• Breathe on Me, Breath of God at Seasonings of the Heart
• Author of Life Divine at joythruChrist
• The Collect for Trinity Sunday at Magic Statistics
• A few quotes from Fanny Crosby at Thoughts from the Teahouse.
• John of Blogotional prays for his father, who is not doing well after last week’s car accident. Update: John’s father passed away yesterday.
  

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list. If you’d like to see your favorite hymn featured as a Reader’s Choice hymn, go here and leave a comment. Just tell me your favorite hymn and a little bit about why you like it and I’ll feature your hymn when your turn comes.