The Heavenly Vision

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was inspired by Lilias Trotter’s tract entitled Focused. Trotter was a successful self-taught artist and missionary friend of the hymn’s author, Helen Howarth Lemmel. First published in 1918, this hymn which was also known as The Heavenly Vision, became one of the standards in church hymnals since.

Early in her career, Lemmel was a gifted singer and later became a vocal music teacher at the Moody Bible Institute for a number of years. She died in 1961 at 97 without ever retiring from her contributions. During her lifetime, Lemmel wrote more than 500 hymns and poems.

Christian singer Lauren Daigle recorded her beautiful version of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus for the 2018 Look Up Child album.

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Sources: Songfacts + Wikipedia + Lds Media Library

Unknown?

Just a Closer Walk with Thee was probably the favorite southern gospel song of the twentieth century, yet no one knows who wrote it or when it was written. It’s history most likely goes back to an unknown writer in the slave fields of the South before the Civil War. Southern black church choirs kept the hymn alive until World War II.

The first known recording of this song was by the Selah Jubilee Singers on October 8, 1941, Decca Records 7872, New York City. By the end of the 1970s, more than a hundred artists had recorded this humble prayer.

The beautiful duet by Willie Nelson and Patsy Kline can be found on the album entitled That Good Old Gospel Music, Vol. 2, released in 2007.

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Sources: The Complete Book of Hymns + James Minchin + History In Ink

Cantique de Noel

It all began, when Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was asked to write a poem for Christmas mass by his parish priest. Honored to share his talents with the church, Placide Cappeau penned his “Cantique de Noel” while traveling to the capital city of France, in 1847.

Cappeau felt his poem would be better suited to music, so the poet sought help from one of his friends, Adolphe Charles Adams. Adams’ masterful talent and fame brought requests to write works for orchestras and ballets from all over the world. Their finished work was performed just three weeks later at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

Initially accepted by many Catholic Christmas services, “Cantique de Noel” soon fell out of favor. It was banned in France for almost two decades after Placide Cappeau walked away from the church in favor of the socialist movement and church leaders discovered that Adolphe Adams was Jewish.

Fortunately, interest in this Christmas carol was renewed with John Sullivan Dwight — an American writer and Reginald Fessenden — a former chief chemist for Thomas Edison. Dwight introduced what he considered a wonderful Christmas song to America and Fessenden spoke into a microphone for the first time in history by reading the ‘Birth of Christ’ from the gospel of Luke, on Christmas Eve 1906. After finishing his reading, Fessenden picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” which became, the first song ever sent through radio airwaves.

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Source: Beliefnet

Christina Rossetti

This evocative Christmas carol was originally written by Christina Rossetti as a Christmas poem for the American magazine, Scribner’s Monthly. In 1872, it was set to music by Gustav Holst for the 1906 edition of The English Hymnal.

While no one would believe there was actual snow at the birth of Jesus Christ in the Middle Eastern town of Bethlehem, Rossetti uses the poetic imagery of ‘snow on snow’ to symbolize the ‘hard like iron’ hearts of humanity into which our Savior was born, long ago. She goes on to describe how a breastful of milk and a simple manger full of hay were enough for Him, whom the Angels and Archangels fall down before in worship.

I've always been captivated by the sublime beauty within her poem, but it's the very last stanza where my connection and understanding is strongest:

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart.

Titus 3:3–7

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Sources: The Complete Book of Hymns + Wikipedia + FreePik Snowflakes + Photo by Aaron Burden

Everything Glorious

“I Stand Amazed in the Presence,” also known as “How Marvelous” or “My Savior’s Love,” was written, both lyrics and melody in 1905 by Charles Gabriel. He was an Iowa native, showing a talent and love for music at an early age.

Gabriel’s profession became editing gospel song books and contributing numerous hymns for various publications. He’s credited with between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, thirty-five gospel song collections, Sunday school song books, collections for men’s and women’s choirs, numerous cantatas, including 41 Christmas cantatas, and music education texts. He also wrote under numerous pseudonyms, making it challenging to determine the exact number of songs he wrote.

Chris Tomlin would later popularize his arrangement of this hymn, entitled “I Stand Amazed.” Tomlin’s contemporary approach couldn’t be more fitting, knowing that Gabriel's own hymns had reflected a significant change from the gospel music of the 1800s.

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Sources: Discipleship Ministries + Kingdom Pastor + Jason Blackeye

Way Beyond the Blue

This old time spiritual and children’s song “Do Lord,” will be remembered by many from their childhood. Johnny Cash preformed it on ‘My Mother's Hymn Book’ in 2003, toward the very end of his life.

Surely the hymn’s title and meaning can be understood in Luke 23:39-43, where a discussion takes place between two criminals and Jesus at the crucifixion... One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to this man, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

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Image Sources: Wallpaper Abyss + Anton Atanasov

Blind Willie Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson was an American gospel blues singer, guitarist and evangelist. His landmark recordings included thirty songs from only five recording sessions completed between 1927 and 1930. Johnson was known for his powerful ‘chest voice’ singing and masterful slide guitar skills.

Throughout his life Johnson was able to combine the gospel and blues into original music which elevated him to legendary status among other musicians like Eric Clapton. Some of Johnson’s gospel blues included “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” “Church, I’m Fully Saved Today,” “Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed,” “I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole,” and “Praise God I’m Satisfied.” His records sold well, but as a street performer and preacher he had little wealth in his lifetime.

Of the many biblical references for Johnson’s “Let Your Light Shine On Me,” perhaps my favorite comes from the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:6 — For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

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Sources: Wikipedia + No Depression (The Journal of Roots Music)

The Bread of Life

After joining Mercy Sisters in Burlingame as a choral teacher at Mercy High School, Sister Suzanne Toolan wrote a popular hope-filled hymn entitled “I Am the Bread of Life,” in 1966. It has been translated into 25 languages and performed in congregations around the world to this day. 

Suzanne recalls how it began, “I was teaching high school at the time and wrote the song during my free period.  When the bell rang for the next class I decided I didn’t like the music, so I tore it up and threw it in the wastepaper basket.

My classroom was next to the infirmary, where the girls who didn’t want to take tests or were otherwise unprepared for class went for a period or two until they were tracked down by an exasperated teacher. As I left my classroom, a freshman girl came out of the infirmary and said, “What was that?  It was beautiful!” I went back into my classroom, took the manuscript out of the basket and taped it together. It has had a life of its own ever since.

I could never figure out how the hymn became popular. I know in our Roman Catholic tradition it came at the beginning of our use of the vernacular, and we simply didn’t have much to sing in our own language. But I also think its popularity stems from its message of resurrection, which is so strong in these words of Jesus. We so need that message of hope. I am always touched when people tell me that at the funeral of a mother, father or friend, these sung words of Jesus gave them consolation. Then I know the hymn has done its work.”

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Source: Sisters of Mercy

Christmas

In 1818, a Catholic priest named Joseph Mohr was distraught over the church organ not working before a Christmas Eve service in the Austrian Alps. As problematic to his evening’s regular midnight service as it seemed, it provided him an opportunity to create one of the most beloved Christmas hymns we still sing today.

That's when Joseph began to pen the words to “Silent Night.” After finishing, he handed them to Franz Gruber his organist. Upon reading the lyrics, Franz replied, “You have found it — the right song — God be praised!” Quickly, Franz composed a simple tune for a single guitar accompaniment.

Hearing about this near Christmas eve service disaster, the organ repairman on call asked for a copy of the song. Immediately he began sharing it with others. Touring groups soon started singing it in concerts, helping to spread the hymn’s popularity. Later it was used by German speaking congregations in America. “Silent Night” first appeared as the current English translation in a book of Sunday school songs in 1863.

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Sources: Then Sings My Soul + Diana Simumpande + Keith Hardy + Nathan Anderson

Why the Crucifixion?

“Why” is a modern day parable of Christ’s crucifixion. Eloquently written and preformed by Nichole Nordeman, with its multi-layered viewpoints coming from each of three main characters; a young girl, followed by Jesus and then the Father.

Within this parable, Nichole paints one of single best answers anyone will ever give you for Jesus crying out with a loud voice from the cross, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” — Matthew 27:46.

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Source: The Crucifixion by Antoine Coypel (French, 1661 - 1722)

Fool for You

“Fool for You” is Nichole Nordeman’s lament about being ridiculed by the world for being a Christian. For the thoughtful fan, it’s yet another heartfelt song off Nichole’s “This Mystery” album. And as the founder of Cross Rhythms Magazine, Tony Cummings puts it “as art of the highest order, pop doesn’t come much better.”

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Sources: AllMusic + Matthew Henry

Lauryn Hill

Like the Joni Mitchell song “Love,“ Lauryn Hill wrote and performed a bonus song entitled “Tell Him,” from her 1998 Grammy award winning album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” It’s a gorgeous R&B version of her interpretation about one of the clearest descriptions of love in biblical scriptures, the apostle Paul’s 1 Corinthians 13.

Whether you believe she sings a prayer of love to her man, her child or her Savior, the merciful clarity of Lauryn’s lyrics are an absolute beauty to hear. It's a description of love I’ve both felt and admired. Most women seem to freely have and give it in abundance. Anyone who’s been so blessed, can easily see it in a mother’s love for her child and a wife’s love for her husband. It’s a love that covers a multitude of wrongs.

You can hear it with accompanying lyrics at https://youtu.be/-RAqYg7bnmw.

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Sources: Idolator.com + Classic Album Sundays

Nichole Nordeman

If you’ve heard Nichole Nordeman’s beautiful song “Every Season,” you might be surprised to learn the story behind it. The song was written about a friend’s wedding day and soon followed by the groom’s memorial service. Nichole first performed this song at this same memorial service.

In Nichole’s own words, “It was so overwhelming to have these two really heavy life moments, one overflowing with joy and one unbelievably wrought with grief and to somehow still be able to believe… to really believe that God is not God only in a summer season. That God is not God only when our life is good. And it was so much more of a challenge to say to God, ‘You are still here and You are still in charge and You are still full of goodness and mercy’ in the middle of winter. ‘Every Season’ was my way of saying ‘I’m not going to let God’s sovereignty be ruled by my emotions or circumstances or I’ll be all over the map for the rest of my life.”

It’s songs like “Every Season” that justify why Nichole often refers to herself as a “wrestling poet.” 

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Source: The Christian Broadcasting Network + Beliefnet.com + Gábor Juhász

Ralph Stanley

“Cry from the Cross” was released in 1972 with what many consider Ralphy Stanley’s best band during his lengthy career. These band members included singer Roy Lee Centers, fiddler Curly Ray Cline, bassist Jack Cooke, mandolinist Ricky Skaggs and guitarist Keith Whitley.

On this memorable album comes the hard-charging bluegrass number “I Am the Man Thomas,” written by Stanley and Larry Sparks. The tempo is fast and urgent with lyrics reflecting the words of Jesus as He greets Thomas, eight-days after the resurrection:

Oh, I am the Man, Thomas, I am the Man
Look at these nail scars here in my hands

They pierced me in the side, Thomas, I am the Man.
They made me bear the cross, Thomas, I am the Man

They laid me in the tomb, Thomas, I am the Man
In three days I arose, Thomas, I am the Man

This same Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, gave birth to the term “Doubting Thomas.” Thomas’ made the infamous statement to the other disciples who had seen Jesus appearing first without him, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my fingers where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later, Jesus re-appears to the same disciples and asks Thomas to put his fingers on his hands and into his side with the words, “Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:24-29

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Sources: Like the Dew + Bluegrass Today + Greg Rakozy

Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle delivers powerful vocals on “How Can It Be” with both a painful yearning and wonder for God’s all-sufficient grace. Both the song and Lauren’s album by the same name became RIAA Certified Gold.

This heartfelt praise was written by Paul Mabury, Jason Ingram and Jeff Johnson. Both Lauren as the performer and Paul as one of the writers found their inspiration for this song in the biblical story of grace that Jesus Christ showed a woman caught in adultery, John 8:3-12.

These verses describe Jesus stooping down on the ground when a crowd of men threw a woman at His feet and said, “Look at what she’s done, shouldn't we stone her? That’s what the law requires,” they said. Listening to their accusations of being a lawbreaker… for a sin that would require her death, Jesus demonstrates God’s perfect justice, love and grace for her.

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Sources: NewReleaseToday.com + Premier Productions + Mira Bozhko

Fanny Crosby & William Doane

“Draw Me Nearer,” is a classic hymn by what many consider to be the greatest hymn writer of all, Frances Jane “Fanny” Crosby and her collaborator William Doane. William J. Reynolds provides the context for the following composition of this hymn: 

“One evening she and Doane talked at length about the nearness of God in their lives. When Fanny went to her room, her mind and heart were flooded with ideas from their conversation. Before she went to sleep, the lines of “I am thine, O Lord” were in her mind... The next morning she recited the words to Doane, who wrote down the stanzas and composed the tune.”

The text appeared with the following inscription from Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (KJV)

Fanny’s inspired revelation becomes clearer when reading the previous verses in Hebrews 10: 

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God...” (KJV)

This hymn provides a timeless understanding of a heart’s desire for Christ’s grace and perfection.

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Source: Discipleship Ministries

Marley’s Ghost

“Sinner Man” is a gospel song of invitation from a Northern California band by the name of Marley’s Ghost. It’s a traditional a cappella Appalachian folk song, previously composed and performed by Ralph Stanley. Not to be confused with the well-known “Sinnerman” spiritual, recorded by a host of artists, including the 10-minute-plus definitive version by Nina Simone. 

I’ve long enjoyed this particular song for the straightforward simplicity of its message.

Lyrics:

Sinner man, so discouraged
while traveling through this land, this land.
Oh, Lord, this land.

Come, let us have a little talk with Jesus
just to hear what He has to say.

(Chorus:)
My God Almighty spoke and He said,
"Go! And I'll go with you.
Open your mouth and I will speak for you."
For the Lord, tell me what to say,
they won't believe on me.

I would not be a sinner,
tell you the reason why:
'Fraid the Lord might call me
and I wouldn't be ready to die.

(Chorus)

Some say give me silver.
Some say give me gold.
I say, "Give me Jesus!
For He's precious to my soul."

(Chorus)

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Sources: Wikipedia + The Rainmakers + Andrew Neel + Jilbert Ebrahimi

Chris Tomlin’s Home

Chris Tomlin is a multi-platinum Christian singer, worship leader and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, who has sold nearly 30 million records. He’s known as one of Christian music’s biggest stars.

“Home” is one of the hits from his 2016 album, “Never Lose Sight.” About this song, Tomlin has said, “We all know this world we’re living in is not what it was meant to be. There’s so much fear, so much suffering, so much sorrow, so much pain, but the beauty that this song points to is that one day Jesus is going to make all things new. There will be no more sin, no more sorrow, the chains will be broken and we will see what it was all meant to be.”

For context, we only need to look at what the apostle John himself recorded in Revelation, ‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” — Revelation 21:3-4 ESV

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Sources: FREECCM + Wikipedia + Samantha Sophia + Ioan Schlosser

The Afters

Life can sometimes be overwhelming to us. We can feel weak, we can feel pain and we can feel sadness.

These are the feelings behind The Afters new song “Battles” off the album “Live On Forever,” released in 2016. For this song they gained inspiration from the hard times their friends were going through at the time. To quote one of the band members, “As we were working on the song, one of my closest friends from high school let me know that his wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer. They have two kids, and they are my age. I saw a post where they were going in for her chemo treatments, and the whole family puts on superhero costumes, wearing masks and capes. They went in knowing that God was with them in the fight. I admired the faith they had, facing cancer and trusting God and knowing that He is fighting alongside of them and fighting on their behalf.”

Now you might think “Battles” would be one super sad song, but you would be mistaken. The Afters crafted a contemporary Christian pop song filled with pure joy and hope. It’s the very same joy and hope offered to anyone who puts their trust and faith in Jesus Christ (John 16:33).

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Source: NewReleaseToday.com

Al Green’s Lament

The event that altered Al Green’s life as a famous R&B performer, began October 18, 1974. On this date Mary Woodson, a woman who had walked away from her family to be with Green, attacked him in his bathroom and in a fit of rage threw a boiling pan of grits on Green. She then shot and killed herself in Green’s Memphis home. During his long recovery from third-degree burns, Green fully devoted himself to his faith. After he recovered, he bought a church, the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis and began leading services there.

Later, suffering a slight lull in his gospel career with 1984's “Trust in God,” Green reunited with producer Willie Mitchell to help re-energize his album sales. Even though, Mitchell admittedly preferred the secular to the religious music, Green remained unwavering in his faith. Together they worked on and published the gospel soul album “He Is the Light,” released in 1985.

“Power” is a beautifully heartfelt lament and worship song by Al Green and Willie Mitchell, released on this same album. While not typically remembered for its relevance to Easter, it still resonates with praise for Him who has the power over life and death (John 10:18). The only One who is able to change the hearts and circumstances of those whose trust is in Him.

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Sources: Biography + AllMusic + Jesse Dittmar