Seize the Moment – Day 830
Today’s hymn focus will be
He Keeps Me Singing
John 15:10-11(NLT)
“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Luther B. Bridges wrote this hymn in 1910. He was asked to be the guest speaker at a revival conference in Kentucky. He had wife and three sons stay with his father-in-law while he was away. The services lasted for two weeks with a wonderful time of ministry. The last service closed with great joy and he couldn’t wait to share his excitement and all the blessings with his family.
So he called his wife. But it wasn’t his wife’s voice on the long distance line. He was told the news that his wife and three boys had perished in a fire that had destroyed the farmhouse. Leaning heavily on His Savior and expressing his faith in God, he penned the words to this hymn:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know
Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go
YOUTUBE:
He Keeps Me Singing
There’s within my heart a melody;
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with you, peace, be still,”
in all of life’s ebb and flow.
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
stirred the slumbering chords again. [Refrain]
trials fall across the way;
though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
see His footprints all the way. [Refrain]
resting ‘neath His sheltering wing,
always looking on His smiling face,
that is why I shout and sing. [Refrain]
far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 823
Today’s hymn focus will be
“When We All Get To Heaven”
First published in 1898, this gospel hymn was written by two friends, Eliza Hewitt and Emily Wilson. The two had met at the camp meeting services at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. They were both dedicated to writing songs with the goal of reaching and teaching both children and adults the truths of the gospel.
Providing what has been described as oxygen for the human soul, the anticipation of heaven is proclaimed in both the verses and the chorus:
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!
We need to wake up and allow our imagination to look forward to that day when the entire family of God is gathered around His throne, gathered for an endless celebration of praise! Allow this blessed hope to brighten your day!
YOUTUBE:
When We All Get To Heaven
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
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Seize the Moment – Day 816
Today’s hymn focus will be
Rock of Ages
Psalm 18:2 (NLT)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Augustus Toplady first published this hymn in 1775 in an article entitled “Life a Journey”, stating: “if you fall, be humbled and do not despair. Pray afresh to God who is able to raise you up, and set you on your feet again.” He wanted people to realize that no matter how big the debt of our sin account, it is only the blood of Jesus that could pay that debt in full. He rejoiced in the fact that Jesus is our place of safety and the rock to which we can anchor the ship of our life.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee,
Let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.
We need to wake up and realize the truth of this ancient hymn that reminds us there is no one like our God. He is our Rock, our Hope and our Salvation. When in doubt, sing this song to remind your heart and mind Who our Rock is!
YOUTUBE:
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
can fulfill thy law’s demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
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Seize the Moment – Day 809
Today’s hymn focus will be
Old-Time Power
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The youngest son of a Baptist preacher, Charles Tillman had a passion for church related music. With his eclectic collection of music, he had a knack for adopting material and flowing it into a mix that we know today as southern gospel. He was assisting his father with a tent meeting in South Carolina when he heard a spiritual “The Old Time Religion” and was inspired to write the words and rudiments for this hymn. While G.B. Pike was the first to publish part of this hymn in 1873, the full hymn was later published by Tillman and had a more mnemonic cadence that helped it to be the more popular style to sing this hymn.
O Lord, send the power just now, O Lord, send the power just now
O Lord, send the power just now and baptize every one.
Just like Tillman, we need to wake up and realize we are not able to do this on our own power. We need the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives each and every day. Surrender to His leading and guidance as you make each day a day the Lord can use you!
YOUTUBE:
Old-Time Power
They were all with one accord,
When the Holy Ghost descended,
As was promised by the Lord.
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
And baptize ev’ry one.
With the sound of rushing wind;
Tongues of fire came down upon them,
As the Lord said He would send. [Refrain]
To our fathers who were true;
This is promised to believers,
And we all may have it too. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 802
“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
Philippians 2:9-11(NLT)
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Written in the late 18th century by Edward Perronet, this hymn declares the greatness and the power of Jesus’ name. It was written to express the joyful hymn describing the revival movement, encouraging those who sang it to join with others in proclaiming the everlasting song that would one day be sung at the feet of Jesus.
All hail the power of Jesus name!
Let angels prostrate fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all
We need to wake up and join with others as we proclaim the glory and majesty of our Lord and Savior, and look forward to the day when we will be seated at His feet with countless others as we crown Him Lord of all!
YOUTUBE:
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
responsive to his call,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
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Seize the Moment – Day 795
Today’s hymn focus will be
And Can It Be
Romans 5:8 (NLT)
“ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners..”
Even though Charles Wesley grew up in a strict religious home, went to a Christian college, and went out as a missionary to an American colony, it wasn’t until his journey home and his meeting with a group of Moravians that he came realize that ‘salvation is by faith alone’. He gave his heart to the Lord and wrote “…I confess with joy and surprise the He was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me above what I ask or think.”
He went on to write new hymns with every new spiritual experience or thought that crossed his mind. Even on his deathbed, he dictated the words to this hymn that we still sing today:
Amazing love! How can it be,
that Thou, my God Shouldst die for me?
YOUTUBE:
And Can It Be
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
‘Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 781
Today’s hymn focus will be
Holy, Holy, Holy
Psalm 95:6-7(ESV)
“Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in Three Person, blessed Trinity.
YOUTUBE:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
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Seize the Moment – Day 774
Today’s hymn focus will be
Near the Cross
Galatians 6:14(ESV)
This is another beautiful hymn given to us by Fanny Crosby. Her friend, William Doane, wrote the music then gave it to her to write the text of the hymn.
Combining vivid imagery and powerful biblical metaphors of the Cross, free grace, healing streams, rest and a daily walk of faith with God, she wrote these words that we sing today.
In the cross, in the cross, be my glory every
Till my raptured soul shall find, rest beyond the river.
YOUTUBE:
Near the Cross
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me. [Refrain]
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me. [Refrain]
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river. [Refrain]
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Seize the Moment – Day 767
Today’s hymn focus will be
Glory to His Name
Hebrews 9:22(ESV)
“ Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Penned in 1879 by Elisha A. Hoffman, this hymn became the favorite of believers who wanted nothing more than to bring glory and praise to God for the wonderful work of salvation. He was inspired while reading about Christ’s crucifixion and how it was through the cross that God saved all of mankind. He shared these words with his friend John Stockton who put them to music.
Glory to His name, glory to His name,
There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name
YOUTUBE:
Glory to His Name
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my sin was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
Glory to His name;
There to my sin was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!
I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name.
Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name.
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet;
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His name.
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Seize the Moment – Day 760
Today’s hymn focus will be
“He Lives”
Matthew 28:6(ESV)
He lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me
and talks with me along life’s narrow way…
Continue to sing the rest of the song as you prepare you hearts to celebrate the Resurrection and life of our Lord and Savior! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!!!
YOUTUBE:
He Lives
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.
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