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Hymn History: I’d Rather Have Jesus Author: George Beverly Shea “He was a gentle spiritual giant, whose sweet spirit and tender timber of a voice prepared audiences for Graham’s message around the world for more than six decades.” (A. Larry Ross) The Origin of the Hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus” Few hymns express Christian devotion as simply and Read more...
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Hymn History: Room at the Cross for You Author: Ira Forest Stanphill ‘The basic reason I have written songs is that I love God and Christ has loved me. Most of my songs are the outgrowth of real experiences with Christ. I think they appeal to people because I have had trials, heartaches, and sorrow in my own life, Read more...
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Hymn History: Sheltered in the Arms of God Author: Dottie Rambo “Hardly any modern hymnal fails to include one or more of her songs … Having written over 2,500 published songs, Dottie ranks with the beloved Fanny Crosby among the women who have had the greatest impact in the field of gospel music.” (Kentucky Music Hall of Fame) Read more...
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Hymn History: How Long Has It Been? Author: Thomas Mosie Lister “Mosie Lister was a study in contrasts. He wrote more happy songs than almost any other writer. He gave our feet songs to dance to when we were ‘feelin’ mighty fine.’ He seemed to feel the happy rhythms of life itself, and how he loved rhythms—intricate, syncopated, grin-making Read more...
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Hymn History: I Belong to the King Author: Ida Lillard Reed “Reed is said to have written 2,000 hymns in her lifetime. … In 1939, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers recognized her ‘substantial contribution to American music’ by awarding her a small weekly “bonus.” (Hymnary) The Origin of the Hymn “I Belong to the King” Read more...
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Hymn History: Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior Author: Charles Albert Tindley “To this day, Charles Albert Tindley is considered a ‘prince of preachers,’ poet, writer, theologian, social activist, and ‘father of African American Hymnody.’ Scholars C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya say that his hymns were ‘not simply other-worldly. [These hymns] are also addressed to helping Read more...
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Hymn History: Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There Author: William Herbert Brewster Sr. “Combining the fortitude of older black sacred music traditions with the fervor and rhythmic appeal of newer gospel songs, Brewster’s music was, in the words of gospel singing great Willa Ward, ‘as good as it gets.’” (Memphis Music Hall of Fame) Read more...
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Hymn History: Precious Lord, Take My Hand Author: Thomas Andrew Dorsey “As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit … I learned that when we are in our deepest grief when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest and when we are most open to His restoring power.” (Thomas Read more...
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Hymn History:Through It All? Author: Andraé Crouch The Origin of the Hymn Andraé Crouch’s Hymn “Through It All” Andraé Crouch’s enduring hymn, “Through It All,” stands as a cornerstone of modern gospel music, a profound and personal declaration of faith that has resonated across denominations, cultures, and generations. Written and copyrighted in 1971, this song is less a Read more...
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Hymn History: Ezekiel Saw de Wheel Composer: William Levi Dawson The Mystical Origins of “Ezekiel Saw de Wheel” “Ezekiel Saw de Wheel” is one of the most dynamic and enduring of all African-American spirituals. Like many songs of its genre, it has no single, known author and originated on the plantation complexes of the American South sometime in the Read more...
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Hymn History: A Child of the King Author: Harriet Eugenia “Hattie” Peck Buell “Harriett E. Buell, a native of New York state, wrote the words for ‘A Child of the King’ as she walked home from church one Sunday.” (Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Vol. 12, No. 22 [Spring 1999], p. 27) The Origin of the Hymn Read more...
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Hymn History: A Glorious Church Author: Ralph Erskine Hudson “He often took old hymns and gave them a new tune, with a jolly, bouncing chorus.” (Robert Cottrill) The Origin of the Hymn “A Glorious Church” The hymn “A Glorious Church” is a stirring declaration of the beauty, purity, and victory of Christ’s redeemed people. With its triumphant refrain—“’Tis Read more...
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Hymn History: All for Jesus Author: Mary Dagworthy James “It is noted that she ‘strived to live a life as close to Christ as possible.’” (Hymnary.org) The Origin of the Hymn “All for Jesus” The hymn “All for Jesus” is a heartfelt expression of complete consecration to Christ—an anthem of surrender that calls believers to live every moment, Read more...
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Hymn History: All That Thrills My Soul Author: Thoro Harris “His greatest success was achieved with his favourite song… one contemporary recalled him as ‘a very energetic person, walking about the city almost constantly carrying a little canvas handbag in which he carried copies of his song-books for sale.’” (Praise!) The Origin of the Hymn “All That Thrills Read more...
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Hymn History: Anywhere With Jesus Author: Jessie Brown Pounds “Her ability to express deep spiritual truths in simple, heartfelt language made her a favourite among churches and Sunday schools.” (referring to her hymn “Anywhere With Jesus”) (Hymnal Library) The Origin of the Hymn “Anywhere with Jesus” The hymn “Anywhere with Jesus” is a beautiful expression of trust, courage, Read more...
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Hymn History: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship Author: George Askins/Atkins “He was a man of small stature, and a cripple, one of his legs being withered up to the hip; yet he was more active on foot than any cripple I ever saw. Notwithstanding his bodily infirmity, he was full of spirit, and a stranger to fear. No Read more...
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Hymn History: Bring Them In Author: Alexcenah Thomas “Sunday School workers began to recognize that music was a natural way to teach the children and provide scriptural and life lessons for them to easily remember. This is a song which was written for Sunday School sometime in the early 1880s … Alexcenah Thomas was aware of this movement, which Read more...
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Hymn History: Channels Only Author: Mary Elizabeth Dobell Maxwell “The writer of this verse was Mary Elizabeth Dobell Maxwell. She wrote four known hymns, but beyond that little is known about her. … What is known from her hymns is that she understood the New Covenant life of surrender to Christ and living only by His life in her.” Read more...
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Hymn History: Search Me, O God Author: James Edwin Orr “Some men read history, some write it, and others make it. So far as the history of religious revivals is concerned, J. Edwin Orr belongs to all three categories.” (F. F. Bruce) The Origin of the Hymn “Search Me, O God” Few hymns express a more personal cry Read more...
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Hymn History: Fairest Lord Jesus Author: Joseph Augustus Seiss “His contemporaries described him as ‘an eloquent pulpit orator’ and said his ‘style is clear, ornate, attractive, and forcible.’” (Wikipedia) The Origin of the Hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” Among the world’s most beloved hymns exalting the beauty and majesty of Christ, “Fairest Lord Jesus” holds a cherished place in Read more...