Fanny Crosby

Considered by many to be the greatest hymn writer of all time, Frances Jane “Fanny” Crosby wrote over 7000 hymns. People found this astonishing because she was blind.

Fanny wrote “To God Be The Glory” about 1872, and included it in a collection of hymns entitled Brightest and Best. However, while many of the hymns in that collection became quite famous, this one didn't catch on — at least, not in America. 

Then in 1954, Billy Graham went to England for his London Crusade.  Someone gave a copy of the song to Cliff Barrows, Graham's song leader, and suggested including it in the songbook that was being compiled for the crusade.  Barrows had heard the song on an earlier visit to England, and was impressed with its strong note of praise — so he included it in the songbook and used it in the crusade. 

However, it was not until the Billy Graham Crusade in Nashville that Cliff Barrows introduced this song to congregations in the United States. Because of Graham and Barrows influence, compilers soon began including it in hymnals. 

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Source: Lectionary

John Wesley Work & Frederick J. Work

This folk spiritual was first published in New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1901 by John Wesley Work II and his brother, Frederick J. Work. 

The song relates to both the Old and New Testaments. The verses reflect the Israelites’ escape out of Egypt as found in Exodus:14. The chorus refers to healing: see John 5:4, “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” 

Many online sources and popular books maintain that songs such as “Wade in the Water” contained explicit instructions to fugitive slaves on how to avoid capture and the route to take to successfully make their way to freedom. 

An example of this is cited in the Pathways to Freedom: Maryland & the Underground Railroad. This website explains how Harriet Tubman used the song “Wade in the Water” to tell escaping slaves to get off the trail and into the water to make sure that the dogs employed by slavers lost their trail. 

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Source: Wikipedia

Pepper Choplin

“This Is My Word,” is another wonderful choral arrangement composed by Pepper Choplin. Quoting Choplin, his chief desire as a composer is "to create music that will lead people to worship in a dramatic way.” 

Much of Choplin’s creative energy goes into planning worship services for Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC where he is the Minister of Music. Many of his anthems were born out of a need at his own church. Currently, Choplin has over two hundred anthems in addition to six choral musicals. 

Partial Lyrics
As the snow falls from heaven, 
As it comes in swirling showers from the sky, 
So is my Word. 
As the rains bring the water to the earth that is thirsty and dry, 
So is my Word. 
And the Word of my mouth, it shall not return empty: 
It will bless the earth wherever it is heard. 
This is my Word. 

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Source: Amazon

Author Unknown

Like Psalm 16:8, this song points out that we shall not be moved if we keep the Lord on our right hand. The original text and tune are both anonymous. “I Shall Not Be Moved” is considered a traditional American folk song whose lyrics most likely stretch back to the slave era, although there is no indication of when the song was written or who wrote it. 

Typical of spiritual folk songs, “I Shall Not Be Moved” consists of a series of stanzas where only a single line changed for each verse. 

Partial Lyrics
I shall not, I shall not be moved
I shall not, I shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
I shall not be moved

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Source: austinbhebe

Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber’s widow found the words ”Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” among her dead husband's papers. These words would became what poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson called the world’s greatest hymn. Still, several years would pass before these words took their place in worship services around the world.

Then in 1861, a publisher rediscovered the words. This publisher asked John Bacchus Dykes to furnish him with a tune. John was a very talented composer and had been a church organist since he was ten-years-old. John was also the co-founder and president of the Cambridge University Musical Society. 

John took the words and within thirty minutes wrote the tune "Nicea," which carried the praise of the Trinity to Christians everywhere.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; 
Holy, Holy, Holy, Merciful and Mighty! 
God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

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Source: Christianity.com

Tim Timmons, Tony Wood & Harriet Beecher Stowe

“Deep Water“ is a truly beautiful contemporary choral arrangement published in 2012. The words and music are by Tim Timmons, Tony Wood and Harriet Beecher Stowe with the arrangement and orchestration by Phillip Keveren.

Partial Lyrics:
When winds are raging o’er the troubled ocean, 
And billows wild contend with angry roar, 
'Tis said far down beneath the wild commotion
Peace still reigneth ever more

Chorus:
For every soul that knows deep water, 
Though rain and waves may never cease, 
For very soul that knows deep water, 
Where Christ dwells there is peace. 

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Sources: Chamber Music – YouTube

Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, who along with his brother John started the Methodist movement, wanted to encourage his followers in the face of early persecution and hardship. He wanted them to be a singing, joyful people and not get discouraged and lose hope. Paul’s letter to the Philippians gave Wesley the text for “Rejoice, the Lord Is King.” Although Paul was imprisoned when he wrote this letter, he wrote a message of joy and encouragement, stating “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

This hymn was first published (1744) in John Wesley’s Moral and Sacred Poems. Two years later Charles Wesley included it in Hymns for Our Lord’s Resurrection. Most hymnals include four stanzas, omitting the fourth and fifth stanzas of the original hymn. 

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Source: Center for Church Music

Love Lifted Me

James Rowe was born in Horrabridge, Devonshire, England in 1865. During his lifetime, Rowe claimed to have written more than 19,000 song texts.

He, along with music composer Howard E. Smith wrote this hymn in Saugatuck, Connecticut in 1912. According to Rowe's daughter, “Howard E. Smith was a little man whose hands were so knotted with arthritis that you would wonder how he could use them at all, much less play the piano.... I can see them now, my father striding up and down humming a bar or two, and Howard E. playing it and jotting it down.”

Partial Lyrics:
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

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Sources: PopularHymns.com – RevivalSounds.com

Are You Washed in the Blood?

This well known hymn was written by Elisha Albright (E. A.) Hoffman and published in 1878.

Hoffman was the son of an Evangelical minister who grew up singing sacred hymns both in church and in the home with his parents. After completing high school, he furthered his education at Union Seminary in New Berlin, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1868. During the course of his life, Hoffman composed over 2,000 hymns, and edited over 50 songbooks. 

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Sources: Wikipedia – Bust of a Man by Francis Harwood (English in 1758)

Where We’ll Never Grow Old

This old gospel song has been included on many religious-themed audio compilations, and has been covered by many singers, including The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves and others. Although James C. Moore is thought to have written the song in 1914, the Library of Congress dates the song to 1879 and credits one William Pond. 

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Sources: Wikipedia – Head of a Bacchante by Charles-Joseph Natoire (French, 1700 - 1777)

For the Beauty of the Earth

Folliot S. Pierpoint was a graduate of Queens College, Cambridge University. Originally a teacher by profession, he traveled from place to place throughout his life, teaching in various schools. Pierpoint eventually retired from academics to become a writer, publishing seven volumes of poetry in his lifetime.   

Pierpoint’s inspiration for this hymn came on a walk one late Spring day, in the lovely area surrounding his home in Bath, England. Overwhelmed with the beauty he saw, he sat down and wrote “For the Beauty of the Earth.” Published as The Sacrifice of Praise in 1864 for the many gifts God has bestowed upon us. It was originally sung as a hymn for communion in Anglican services and has since become a favorite for Sunday School Children. 

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Sources: ShareFaith – SongsandHymns

Just As I Am

Poet and author Charlotte Elliott finished this well-known hymn in 1836. One of her main inspirations for it came from an acquaintance with Dr. César Malan of Geneva. 

One night Dr. Malan, a friend of Charlotte’s father, was seated next to Charlotte at one of her father’s dinner parties. Charlotte had been present due to a severe illness that had left her a permanent invalid. During a simple conversation, Dr. Malan asked Charlotte if she knew herself to be a real Christian. She coldly answered that religion was a matter she did not wish to discuss. Dr. Malan kindly replied, that he would not pursue a subject that displeased her, but would pray that she might give her heart to Christ, and employ in His service the talents with which He had gifted her. After a few days Charlotte apologized to Dr. Malan. She said that she wanted to clean up some things in her life before becoming a Christian. Malan looked at her and answered, “Come just as you are.” That response resonated with Charlotte, and she gave herself to Jesus Christ that day. 

Fourteen years later, remembering those words spoken to her by Dr. Malan in Brighton, England, she wrote “Just As I Am,” a hymn used to touch others who have responded to Christ’s invitation to come just as they are.

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Source: STEM Publishing

A Half A Mile A Day

Written by Johnny Cash and released on his “Personal File” album, “A Half a Mile a Day“ begins as a story where Cash, after one of his concerts, walked the town and came upon a church as people began to give their personal testimonials. It’s a stark contrast of how different one small lady perceived herself and her relationship to the gospel of Jesus Christ from others. 

Partial Lyrics:

I’m comin’ Lord, for my heavenly reward
I’m comin’ home to you, can you see me comin’ thru
Thru clouds of persecution, and stumblin' on my way
I ‘spect I’m only makin’, ‘bout a half a mile a day.

The road to heaven doesn’t have a rapid transit plan,
It’s one way with no changes heading to the promised land.
But I believe that if I’ll heed the things He had to say,
Even I might get to heaven at a half a mile a day.

Lord, when I let you lead, I never make much speed
Cause I have to stop and touch, the ones who need so much
Then sometimes others pull me, off of Your narrow way
And by my mistakes, I barely make, a half a mile a day.

The road to heaven doesn't have a rapid transit plan,
It’s one way with no changes heading to the promised land
But I believe that if I’ll heed the things He had to say,
Even I might get to heaven at a half a mile a day

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Sources: LyricsFreak.com – WikiMedia Commons

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

One of the favorite Easter hymns most will recognize was originally entitled “Hymn for Easter Day,” written in 1739. This melodic liturgy was written for the inaugural service at the Foundry Meeting House in London. It’s known today as “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today,” composed by Charles Wesley, the most famous hymn writer of all, one year after his conversion. 

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Source: Christianity Today

Death Is Only A Dream

Known primarily to a bluegrass audience, “Death Is Only A Dream” is an old time gospel song recorded by The Stanley Brothers, the author of which is unknown. 

Lyrics:

Sadly we sing and with tremulous breath
As we stand by the mystical stream
In the valley and by the dark river of death
And yet 'tis no more than a dream

Only a dream, only a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
Where death is only a dream

Why should we weep when the weary ones rest
In the bosom of Jesus supreme
In the mansions of glory prepared for the blessed
For death is no more than a dream

Naught in the river the Saints should appall
Though' it frightfully dismal may seem
In the arms of our Savior no ill can befall
They find it no more than a dream

Over the turbid and onrushing tide
Doth the light of eternity gleam
And the ransomed the darkness and storm shall out ride
To wake with glad smiles from their dream

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Sources: BluegrassLyrics.com – Getty Search Gateway – WikiMedia Commons

How Firm A Foundation

First published in 1787 in ”A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors,“ by John Rippon. In Rippon’s compilation, the author was attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), the precentor at Rippon's church. 

The theme of this hymn is the solidity of the word of God.

Since its publication, “How Firm A Foundation” has enjoyed wide acceptance, especially in North America. It is known to have been the favorite hymn of both General Robert E. Lee and Theodore Roosevelt, and was sung at the funeral of each.

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Sources: Challies.com – Lectionary.org – Nasa

Open My Eyes, That I May See

Clara Scott provides us with a beautiful hymn of consecration that is still being sung today. Her hymn was published in 1895, shortly before her death. “Open My Eyes,” in a gentle 6/8 meter, has given us not only a list of body parts through which we may receive and project God’s truth and love, but also provides the way in the refrain: 

Silently now I wait for thee,
ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, ears, and heart,
illumine me, Spirit divine! 

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Source: Discipleship Ministries

Higher Ground

In 1856, with a love of church music and the desire to share his faith, Johnson Oatman wrote an average of over two hundred gospel songs and hymns a year for over twenty-five years. His total output of songs and hymns was over five thousand. When his publishers insisted that he set a price for each hymn, Oatman would charge a single dollar per hymn.

In 1898, he wrote a popular hymn that many people still sing today, “Higher Ground.”

Lyrics:

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Refrain

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

Refrain

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain

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Sources: The Gaffeny Ledger – Hubble Site – Wikimedia Commons

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Until recently, the majority of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE. They were our oldest copies of biblical text. But in 1979, Judith Hadley, a girl from Toledo Ohio was assisting archaeologist, Gabriel Barkay, in excavating a site in Jerusalem’s Hinnom Valley. Going into a burial cave, Judith noticed something resembling a cigarette butt. This tiny item, only an inch long turned out to be a scroll of great antiquity, with another found nearby. These tiny scrolls, dating back to the Hebrew monarchy seven centuries before Christ, were so small and fragile they took several years to clean and open. 

When Israeli technicians finally unrolled the scrolls, the world’s oldest surviving copy of a biblical text was revealed, the words of Numbers 6:24–26: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. While these scrolls date from the seventh century B.C., the original words are far older, coming 1,400 years before Christ. As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, the Lord commanded the priests to bless the people with this three-fold blessing. 

These ancient lyrics have been set to music many times, but never more beautifully than by Peter Christian Lutkin in his classic tune BENEDICTION.

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Sources: Then Sings My Soul

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson had always been prone to wander. Apprenticed to a barber at fourteen, he spent more time reading and playing with friends than cutting hair. He became the leader of a notorious gang, and he shammed his family so much that they practically disowned him. Then, still a teen, he and some of his drinking buddies went to an evangelistic meeting by George Whitefield, to make fun of the proceedings and instead, he almost fell asleep in it. But then the preacher shouted out a Bible verse: “O generation of vipers; who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7, KJV). That evening began young Robinson’s conversion.

Three years later, as he was preparing to preach a sermon at the Calvinist Methodist Chapel in Norfolk, England, Robert wrote “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” to complement his sermon. The music for the hymn was composed by Asahel Nettleton in 1813. 

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Sources: Sharefaith and ClipArt ETC