The great hymns keep on giving strength, bolstering faith. They endure because they "build on the human heart." As do these meditations based on seventy favorite hymns and gospel songs. Like the hymns, the readings in this book may herald tidings of comfort and joy. Rephrase an old, old story. Remind us that Jesus loves us and bids us to shine. Testify to Gods amazing grace. Prompt us to fall on our knees, to lift up every voice. Some of them tie a song's origin to its message. Many weave in moments of epiphany: How and when did a particular hymn touch someone's spirit? All of them lead you to consider God's Word to you as you face daily victories and challenges.
Table of Contents
Contents Introduction Part I: Gifts of God O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,Sammuel Trevor Francis Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Thomas Chisholm Like a River Glorious, Frances Ridley Havergal Amazing Grace, John Newton As Pants the Hart, Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Bernard of Clairvaux and James Waddell Alexander We Plow the Fields, and Scatter, Matthias Claudius, trans. by Jane Campbell Part II: Tidings of Christmas Joy Silent Night, Joseph Mohr In the Bleak Midwinter, Christina Georgina Rossetti Once in Royal David's City, Cecil Frances Alexander I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow O Little Town of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks Angels We Have Heard on High, Traditional French Carol We Three Kings, John Henry Hopkins Part III: Psalms in Songs Joy to the World, Isaac Watts He Hideth My Soul, Fanny Crosby O Worship the King, Sir Robert Grant In Heavenly Love Abiding, Anna Waring Let All the World in Every Corner Sing,George Herbert O God Our Help in Ages Past, Isaac Watts He Took My Feet from the Miry Clay, African-American Spiritual Part IV: Lines Learned as Children Jesus Loves Me, Anna Warner Jesus Bids Us Shine, Susan Warner Onward, Christian Soldiers, Sabine Baring-Gould Now the Day Is Over, Sabine Baring-Gould There Is a Green Hill Far Away, Cecil Frances Alexander I Would Be True, Howard Arnold Walter Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, William Henry Parker Part V: Lessons from the Gospels In the Garden, C. Austin Miles Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, Fanny Crosby Be Still, My Soul, Katharina von Schlegel, trans. by Jane Borthwick At the Cross, Isaac Watts, refrain by Ralph Hudson I Was a Wandering Sheep, Horatius Bonar The Day of Resurrection, John of Damascus,trans. by John Mason Neale Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying, Philip Nicolai,trans. by Catherine Winkworth Part VI: Words That Challenge Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, George Duffield, Jr He Who Would Valiant Be, John Bunyan, adapted by Percy Dearmer Trust and Obey, John Sammi The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Julia Ward Howe Yield Not to Temptation, Horatio Palmer I Gave My Life for Thee, Frances Ridley Havergal O for a Thousand Tongues, Charles Wesley Part VII: Hymns as Prayers Abide with Me, Henry Lyte Just as I Am, Charlotte Elliott Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,John Greenleaf Whittier Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart,George Croly How Great Thou Art, Stuart K. Hine Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,Robert Robinson Lead, Kindly Light, John Henry Newman Part VIII: Songs of Testimony A Wonderful Savior Is Jesus My Lord,Fanny Crosby I Know Whom I Have Believed, Daniel W. Whittle My Jesus, as Thou Wilt, Benjamin Schmolk trans. by Jane Borthwick And Can It Be? Charles Wesley In the Cross of Christ I Glory, Sir John Bowring O Jesus, I Have Promised, John Ernest Bode There's a Wideness in God's Mercy,Frederick W. Faber Part IX: Celebration of Community Let Us Break Bread Together, African-American Spiritual The Church's One Foundation, Samuel J. Stone Lift Every Voice and Sing, James Weldon Johnson May the Grace of Christ Our Savior, John Newton Lord of Our Life, Matthaus von Lowenstern,trans. by Philip Pusey For All the Saints, William Walsham How Shall We Gather at the River? Robert Lowry Part X: Pictures of God Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,William William Like as a Mother Comforteth, William Runyan The Light of the World Is Jesus, Philip Bliss What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Joseph Scriven God Moves in a Mysterious Way, William Cowper At the Name of Jesus, Caroline Maria Noel Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling, Will L. Thompson Notes Bibliography
Author Biography
Evelyn Bence is author of several books, including Mary's Journal, winner of the Christianity Today critic's award.
