Heartbells All Ringing

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Night, with Ebon Pinion

Night with ebon pinion*

Brooded o'er the vale;

All around was silent,

Save the night wind's wail,

When Christ, the man of sorrows,

In tears and sweat as blood,

Prostrate in the garden,

Raised his voice to God.

Smitten for offenses

Which were not his own,

He for our transgressions

Had to weep alone;

No friend with words to comfort,

Nor hand to help was there;

When the meek and lowly

Humbly bowed in prayer:

Abba, Father, Father,

If indeed it may,

Let this cup of anguish

Pass from me, I pray;

Yet if it must be suffered

By me, thine only son,

Abba, Father, Father,

Let thy will be done.

L. H. Jameson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nog651DHLvI&list=RDNog651DHLvI&start_radio=1

Luke 22

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

*Ebon: dark brown or black in color; ebony.

*Pinion: the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers.

Friday, June 19, 2026

When My Love to Christ Grows Weak

When my love to Christ grows weak,

When for deeper faith I seek,

Then in thought I go to thee,

Garden of Gethsemane.

There I walk amid the shades,

While the ling'ring twilight fades,

See that suff'ring, friendless one,

Weeping, praying there alone.

When my love for man grows weak,

When for stronger faith I seek,

Hill of Calvary, I go

To thy scenes of fear and woe.

There behold His agony,

Suffered on the bitter tree;

See His anguish, see His faith,

Love triumphant still in death.

Then to life I turn again,

Learning all the worth of pain,

Learning all the might that lies

In a full self-sacrifice.

Author: John Reynell Wreford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxi0iuoa5fc&list=RDpxi0iuoa5fc&start_radio=1

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~II Corinthians 12:10

Luke 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him... 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Jesus, Hold My Hand

As I travel through this pilgrim land

There is a friend who walks with me

Leads me safely thru the sinking sand

It is the Christ of Calvary

This would be my pray'r, dear Lord, each day

To help me do the best I can

For I need Thy light to guide me day and night

Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

Let me travel in the light divine

That I may see the blessed way;

Keep me that I may be wholly thine

And sing redemption's son some day;

I will be a soldier brave and true

And ever firmly take a stand,

As I onward go and daily meet the for,

Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

When I wander thru the valley dim

Toward the setting of the sun,

Lead me safely to a land of rest

If I a crown of life have won;

I have put my faith in thee, dear Lord,

That I may reach the golden strand

There's no other friend on whom I can depend,

Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

REFRAIN

Jesus, hold my hand

I need Thee every hour

Through this pilgrim land

Protect me by Thy power

Hear my feeble plea,

O Lord, look down on me,

When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there

Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Albert E. Brumley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do1NUSPdgaM&list=RDDo1NUSPdgaM&start_radio=1

Isaiah 41:13

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Luke 23:33

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Job 6:2-4

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Matthew 11:28-29

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

If We Never Meet Again

Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey

And perhaps we’ll never meet anymore

Till we gather in heaven’s bright city

Far away on that beautiful shore

O so often we are parted with sorrow

Benedictions often quicken our pain

But we never shall sorrow in heaven

God be with you till we meet again

O they say we shall meet by the river

Where no storm clouds ever darken the sky

And they say we'll be happy in heaven

In the wonderful sweet by and by

REFRAIN

If we never meet again this side of heaven

As we struggle through this world and its strife

There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven

By the side of the river of life

Where the charming roses bloom forever

And where separations come no more

If we never meet again this side of heaven

I will meet you on that beautiful shore

Lyrics: Albert Brumley

This is another song with an alto lead (I can hear you, Cleffie).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu34xlZt4-4&list=RDbu34xlZt4-4&start_radio=1

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Monday, June 15, 2026

A Beautiful Prayer

In the Bible we read of a beautiful prayer,

A prayer sent to heaven above;

It was prayed by a heart that was laden with care,

And filled with such wonderful love.

You can catch the sad tone of His voice as he said,

"Thy will not my own must be done;"

As a lamb to the slaughter He soon must be led

To die as the Crucified One.

As he prayed there alone in such deep agony,

It was a most beautiful prayer;

Just to think His great heart was all broken for me,

That He my great sorrow must share.

Refrain:

When the Savior was praying,

In the garden of Gethsemane,

He said, "loving Father,

If you will, let this cup pass from me;"

I know He was thinking

Of the anguish death would bring to His own,

How deep was His sorrow,

When Jesus was praying alone.

Author: Luther G. Presley (1887–1974)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqg7xNY1lQ&list=RDEMOqv1okK_8NEocukl0biy5g&start_radio=1&rv=2TT1FmJkjEU

This song has an alto lead on the refrain, which I always hear in my grandmother's voice.

Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder… 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Hide Me, Rock of Ages

O thou blessed rock of ages (Rock of Ages I am)

Trusting now dear Lord in thee (Dear Lord, in thee I’m trusting)

Keep me till my journey's ended (Journey’s ended, keep me)

Till thy blessed face I see

Keep me when the storm clouds gather (storm clouds gather, keep me)

Till the sun comes shining thru (comes shining thru the shadows)

Keep me till my work is over (work is over, keep me)

Till I bid this world adieu.

When my journey is completed (is completed, Savior)

And there's no more work to do (no work to do, O blessed)

Savior guide my weary spirit (weary spirit to that)

Happy land beyond the blue.

REFRAIN:

Hide me, O blest Rock of Ages (Ages, Rock of Ages, hide me)

Till Thy blessed face I see (Thy face I see in glory)

When the storm around me rages (Round me rages, blessed)

Rock of Ages, hide thou me

Author: Brantley C. George

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ntf00-rpH8&list=RD0ntf00-rpH8&start_radio=1

When I was growing up I attended a little country church in Watervliet, Michigan. It was a small congregation, but filled with good singers. There was one man in our congregation who had the deepest bass voice I've ever heard. A lot of the songs in our songbooks featured either an alto or bass "lead" on the refrain. This song was one of them. Every time I hear it, I think of Chet Linville.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. ~Psalm 31:3

* * *

The phrase "Rock of Ages" does not appear in the Bible, although there are many instances in scripture that use the word "rock" to describe God and Jesus. The concept of being hidden in the rock brings to mind this passage from Exodus 33 --

17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.