Present

Your Presence, Lord,

surpasses all Presents –

past, future, and Present!

– eab, 3/5/11

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THANK YOU, LORD

Thank You Lord for sharing your world with me

Like the sight and sound of a peaceful sea,

The structure and smell of an evergreen tree,

Thank You Lord for sharing your world with me.

– eab, Nov. ’73

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This DATE – Dwight born

 

ON-this-DATE   

5/14/1752, Timothy Dwight was born at Northampton,

Massachusetts.  He was a Congregationalist and a grandson

of the famous Jonathan Edwards.  Dwight was a state legislator,

a chaplain in the Continental Army, and a minister of the

Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In 1795 (when he was 43) he became

the president of Yale University.  He remained in this position

until his death at age 64.  In 1800 he wrote the hymn “I Love

Thy Kingdom, Lord.”  Dwight published a revision of Watts

Psalms and added 33 of his own hymns. He helped lead a revival

at Yale, in which he saw 75 of their 230 students converted to Christ. 

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Lord, with Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise Thee, [1]
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows:
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise:
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wanderer, far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,
Him Who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Praise thy Savior God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to Him and live.
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease;
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express.
Low before Thy footstool kneeling,
Deign Thy suppliant’s prayer to bless:
Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth Thy praise.

Francis S. (Scott) Key was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Ross Key,8/1/1779 at Pipes Creek, Maryland.  He became a devout Christian and after at­tend­ing St. John’s Coll­ege (An­nap­o­lis) became also a dedicated lawyer.  His dedication to law brought him eventually to the position of Dis­trict At­torn­ey of Wash­ing­ton, DC and placed him where he penned the na­tion­al an­them.

His dedication to Christ lead him to be a ves­try­man of St. John’s Church and Christ Church in George­town, and to teach a Sun­day School class.  Francis helped or­gan­ize the Do­mes­tic and For­eign Mis­sion­ary So­ci­e­ty (1820).  He also served on the com­mit­tee pre­par­ing the new Pro­test­ant Epis­co­pal hym­nal (1823).

Many more know Key as the au­thor “The Star Span­gled Ban­ner,” than know him as a disciple of Jesus and the author of the above hymn.  Key died1/11/1843 at Bal­ti­more, Mar­y­land.

---

[1] Penned in 1819; first printed inEpis­co­pa­li­anChurch Po­e­try (1823)

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Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane – death, Feb. 19, 1869

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane died this date, 2/19/1869, near Melrose – about 30 miles southeast of Edinburgh, Scotland.  (She was born 6/18/1830 at Edinburgh, Scotland.)  This lady, reported to have been called “The Sunbeam,” gave the world “There Were Ninety and Nine” and “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” (both published posthumously).

Ira D. Sankey is reported to have “written” the music for this poem (from a Brit newspaper) as he was playing it to a Scottish audience after D. L. Moody preached.  What genius?  Maybe, and what power of inspiration by the Holy Spirit.  This is said to be Sankey’s first try at writing a hymn/Gospel song tune.

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Charles Wesley – death, Mar. 29, 1788

“A Charge to Keep I Have”

 

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

 

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!

 

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

 

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.

 

Charles Wesley died this date (3/29/1788) in London, England.  He had been born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, the eighteenth of nineteen children, all sons and daughters of Samuel (too often under-rated) and Susanna (perhaps a bit over-rated) Wesley. He married Sally Gwynne on April 8, 1749 and to this union were born eight little Wesleys.  His hymns and/or gospel songs exceeded 6500. 

 

A few other songs by Wesley are “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” and “O for a Thousands Tongues.”

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Albert S Reitz – birth, Jan. 20, 1879

1. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     This is my heart-cry, day unto day.
     I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
 
  Refrain
     Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
     constant abiding, this is my plea;
     Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
     Power with men and power with Thee.
 
  2. Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
     Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,
     Men lost and dying, souls in despair,
     O give me power, power in prayer!
   
  3. My weakened will, Lord, thou canst renew;
     My sinful nature Thou canst subdue.
     Fill me just now with power anew,
     Power to pray and power to do!
   
  4. Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
     Thou art my pattern day unto day.
     Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
     Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Albert Simpson Reitz was born this date (1/20/1879) in Lyons, Kansas.  
He wrote 100 hymns in addition to pastoring several Baptist churches.  
He died 11/1/1966.

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Rudyard Kipling – death, Jan. 18, 1936

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far flung battle line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!

Joseph Rudyard Kipling died this day (1/18/1936) in London, England.  He was known both as a writer of poetry and prose.  Here is a hymn as well.  Both of his grandfathers were ministers, one a Methodist.  He was a Brit who was born in India, who married an American, who took their honeymoon in Japan and even lived four years in Vermont.  

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J Edwin Orr – birth, Jan. 12, 1912

“SEARCH ME, O GOD”

Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.

Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.

O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.

James Edwin Orr was born this date (1/12/1912) in Belfast, Ireland.  The clear preacher of holiness, Paul W. Finch, preached at least one service when Orr was in the audience. He is said to have written this (one of his six hymns) in Ngarua­wa­hia, New Zea­land.

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Francis Scott Key – death, Jan. 11, 1843

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise Thee,
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows:
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise:
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wanderer, far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,
Him Who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Praise thy Savior God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to Him and live.
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease;
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express.
Low before Thy footstool kneeling,
Deign Thy suppliant’s prayer to bless:
Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth Thy praise.

Key, of course, is far better known as the author of our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.  He was a lawyer, as most know, but he also was a Christian who taught a Sunday School class and who helped to organize The Foriegn and Domestic Missionary Socitey in 1820.  He died in Baltimore.

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