Posted March 18th, 2011
This song is based on a hymn by Frank Houghton who was involved with mission work in China. He visited the country in 1934 after John and Betty Stam were martyred, a very difficult time in the history of missions to China. It is based on 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." The song directs our attention to what it meant for Jesus to "become poor" for our sakes - He gave up His riches, His majesty, and the praise and honor in heaven that He deserved, to become a man. The ultimate picture of His poverty is shown at the cross when Jesus "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8) This is the reason that we sing the name of Jesus - In love He humbled Himself to the point of death to rescue us.
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Posted February 25th, 2011
The Spirit's role in our redemption is vital but often overlooked for the saint who has walked with God for many years. This can be seen in part by the lack of good hymns on the person and work of the Spirit. This hymn was found in "Hymns Ancient and Modern," the hymn-book of the Anglican church in the 19th century, and is a gem well worth dusting off with a modern arrangement. The song is really one resounding cry – "come down, Holy Spirit!" We need His ministry to cherish the gospel, to make our passions burn for Jesus, to reveal our sin and lead us to repentance, and move us to do acts of mercy and justice in Jesus' name. Many hymns on the Holy Spirit are set to calm, peaceful tunes, but for this arrangement we took a different approach. There's something about the blues that carries a certain sense of struggle and warfare, and we humbly offer this mood for this text in the hopes that it will help some of us sing with earnest and triumph, asking ... begging, for the ministry of the Spirit in our midst.
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Posted February 9th, 2011
A hymn on the faithfulness of God from the series of hymns titled "The Lord Is"
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Posted February 2nd, 2011
A hymn on the love of God from the series of hymns titled "The Lord Is"
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Posted January 26th, 2011
A hymn on the grace of God from the series of hymns titled "The Lord Is"
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Posted January 20th, 2011
This hymn text is about the union that Christians have and can experience with Jesus. To the believer, Jesus becomes a friend more precious than anyone. We realize that Jesus sought us out even when we didn't know or care about Him, and binds us to Himself with cords so strong that no one, not even ourselves, can break them.
In preparing this text for my local church to sing I've revised the lyrics a little bit to make them more clear and found that it fits the tune for "How Deep the Father's Love for Us," an excellent modern hymn with a beautiful, fitting tune for this text. If you have a CCLI license you can sing this tune, and chances are that you can easily find sheet music. You can get chords and watch Stuart Townend play the guitar at Worship Together.
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Posted January 19th, 2011
A hymn on the mercy of God from the series of hymns titled "The Lord Is"
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Posted January 12th, 2011
A hymn on the patience of God from the series of hymns titled "The Lord Is"
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Posted January 10th, 2011
This is a wonderful hymn text by John Mason contrasting heavenly worship with earthly worship. We humbly offer the lyrics with edits to make them more understandable and suggest the tune "Ellacombe" which is commonly used with the hymn "I Sing the Mighty Power of God."
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Posted January 6th, 2011
This is an original song based loosely on a hymn titled "O Zion, Afflicted" by John Roberts (1822-1877). It is a reminder of God's covenant love and faithful promise to work all things for good for His children (Romans 8:28), a truth we desperately need in times of darkness and peril. Whether you are suffering under great trial or are in a season of relative comfort, this song will remind you of God's love and care for you. Charles Spurgeon (1834-92) quotes from the original hymn in this excerpt from "Beside Still Waters," which serves as a great introduction to the new song as well:
When your faith endures many conflicts, and your spirit sinks low, do not condemn yourself. There is a reason for your season of heaviness. Great soldiers are not made without war. Skillful sailors are not trained on the shore. It appears that if you are to become a great believer, you will be greatly tested. If you are to be a great help to others, you must pass through their trials. If you are to be instructed in the things of the kingdom, you must learn from experience. The uncut diamond has little brilliance, and the unthreshed corn feeds no one, and the untried believer is of little use or beauty. There are GREAT BENEFITS to come from your trials and depression. The one who is much plowed and often harrowed will thank God if the result is a larger harvest to the praise and glory of God by Jesus Christ. If your face is now covered with sorrow, the time will come when you will bless God for that sorrow. The day will come when you will see great gain from your losses, your crosses, your troubles and your affliction. From your affliction this glory shall spring, and the deeper your sorrow the louder you'll sing. - Charles Spurgeon, "Beside Still Waters"
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