Category Archives: Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Because of Christmas Day

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Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day.

Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day.
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say,
That Man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day.

While shepherds watched their flock by night
Them see a bright new shining star
Them heard a choir sing
The music seemed to come from afar.

Now, Joseph and his wife, Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night.
Them find no place to born she child
Not a single room was in sight.

Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today,
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day.
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say,
That Man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day.

By and by, they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary’s little Boy was born.

Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day.
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today,
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day.
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That Man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day

Words and music: Jester Hairston

God of Heaven

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This has got to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written, both words and music. I had heard it on the Steve Pettit team CD Come Boldly, but didn’t really get the full impact until our church choir sang it last Sunday. Our pastor has been taking us through the book of Job, and this song grew out of a study of Job. The author, Heather Sorenson writes,

“The piece ‘God of Heaven’ was a personal response to my morning devotions a couple months ago. Something that I have been actively working on is to shift my relationship with God from a “give me/bless me/help me” vending machine to learning and knowing who God is. As I was reading through the book of Job during a particularly difficult week, I was hit with the fact that God’s response to Job did not include the solutions that I always ask for. God’s words to Job didn’t specifically offer the hope and comfort that I often beg God for in difficult times. God’s response in Job 38-41 was to show who He is. As I moved on to the rest of my day, I sat down to write a completely different song, but I was so moved by who God is, that ‘God of Heaven’ came out instead. I pray that this piece will bless both your choir and your congregation as you continue to build your relationship with God your Father.”

I am so glad our church puts the words to the songs being sung or played up so we can follow along. Our choir did a beautiful job, leaving me not only loving the music and dynamics, but filled with the wonder of my God. The full choir version is richer, but this one by the ladies of the Steve Pettit team is lovely as well.

God of Heaven, God of all the earth and sky.
Great Creator, Master of all nature.
Who gives birth to snow from heaven,
Holds the waves at ocean’s edge,
Gives the orders to the morning,
Shows each dawn its place to shine.
God of Heaven, God of all the earth and sky.

God of Ages, God who wrote the Book of Time.
Sovereign Ruler, Alpha and Omega.
Saints before, He’s guided safely.
History’s pages signed by Him.
Author of our days and hours; 
Things to come are held secure.
God of Ages, Alpha and Omega.

God of Power!  God who breaks the darkness.
Righteous Warrior, Champion of His children,
Goes before us into battle;
Good and evil bow to Him,
Those in bondage freed forever,
Victories won at  His command!

God who heals us, God who gives us peace and hope.
God who listens, Carries all our fragile
Dreams and heartaches, wins and failures;
Binds the broken; hides the weak.
New beginnings freely offered;
Who can make us whole again?
God who heals us, God of Power,
God of Ages, God of Heaven,
God of all the earth and sky.

Thanks to God

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In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity!

~ August L. Storm, 1891

Speak O Lord

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These words are perfect for any day, but especially on a Sunday getting ready to go to church.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

My favorite version of it is on a CD “Come Bow Before the Lord” by Clearwater Christian College. Unfortunately I can’t find the whole of their version online but there is an excerpt here and here.

May you have a great feast in His Word and enjoy His Presence today.

I may not feel Him standing near

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I had the last stanza of this in my files but failed to note how I came across it. In Googling a line of it, I found it came from a hymn titled, “Surrounded By Unnumbered Foes.” I have never heard it sung, but I thought it was good, especially the last stanza.

Surrounded by unnumbered foes,
Against my soul the battle goes;
Yet though weary, sore distressed,
I know that I shall reach my rest:
I lift my tearful eyes above—
His banner over me is love.

Its sword my spirit will not yield,
Though flesh may faint upon the field;
He waves before my fading sight
The branch of palm, the crown of light:
I lift my brightening eyes above—
His banner over me is love.

My cloud of battle-dust may dim,
His veil of splendour curtain Him;
And, in the midnight of my fear,
I may not feel Him standing near:
But as I lift mine eyes above,
His banner over me is love.

— Gerald Massey, 1863

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

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Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

Longer text is here.

The King of Love

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I’ve posted this before, but it is on my mind again today. One of my favorites:

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

~ Henry W. Baker

Jesus, I Come

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This is another older hymn I haven’t heard in a long time. I’m not sure, why, but it came to mind this morning. I love some of the newer spiritual songs coming out these days, but I hope we don’t forget the good old ones. These words are just as applicable and relevant today as they were when first written.

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

~ William T. Sleeper, 1887

In Tenderness He Sought Me

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This is an old hymn I’ve not heard in ages — I’m not sure why. I don’t know what brought it to mind today, but it brought to mind a sad situation we know of where a father with a wayward daughter seems to be assuming the stance of arms-folded hardness and toe-tapping impatience until his daughter repents. I don’t know his heart or the conversations they have privately, and I know his heart breaks for her. Yet seemingly, from a public vantage point, he’s forgotten that love woos and draws. There has to be a balance: sin can’t be skimmed over, but rather needs to be dealt with, yet love draws. Again, I don’t know their hearts: I pray for them. But I hope the daughter and all wayward ones know the tender love of a Savior who wants to cleanse, heal, and restore them in love.

In tenderness He sought me,
Weary and sick with sin;
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again.
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of Heaven rang.

Refrain:

Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.

He washed the bleeding sin wounds,
And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me,
“I’ve found thee, thou art Mine”;
I never heard a sweeter voice;
It made my aching heart rejoice!

Refrain

He pointed to the nail prints,
For me His blood was shed,
A mocking crown so thorny
Was placed upon His head;
I wondered what He saw in me,
To suffer such deep agony.

Refrain

I’m sitting in His presence,
The sunshine of His face,
While with adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sound His praise.

Refrain

So while the hours are passing,
All now is perfect rest,
I’m waiting for the morning,
The brightest and the best,
When He will call us to His side,
To be with Him, His spotless bride.

Refrain

– W. Spencer Walton

I couldn’t find a video of this hymn being sung to the tune I know: this one is just instrumental, but it was a blessing to me. Hopefully you can put together the words and melody easily if you’re not familiar with it. And may anyone reading who is not yet “in the fold” be found of the seeking Savior today.

Coming Home

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I love this new melody and arrangement of these old, dear words. May every heart reading come truly Home.

I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

I’ve wasted many precious years,
Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
Lord, I’m coming home.

I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy Word,
Lord, I’m coming home.

My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore,
Lord, I’m coming home.

My only hope, my only plea,
Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me.
Lord, I’m coming home.

I need His cleansing blood, I know,
Now I’m coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Refrain

Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

~ Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick

Sung by the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team.