Father, We Thank Thee

1 

Father, we thank Thee for the night,

And for the pleasant morning light;

For rest and food and loving care,

And all that makes the day so fair.

2 

Help us to do the things we should,

To be to others kind and good;

In all we do, in work or play,

To grow more loving every day.

 

Author: Rebecca J. Weston

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8T88GOZGrE&list=RDg8T88GOZGrE&start_radio=1

This little hymn is in the children's section of the hymnal Great Songs of the Church, which we used when I was a student at Harding College. Whenever we (the choir) were on tour, any time we had a communal meal together we would sing this song for "grace" before we ate.

Softly Now the Light of Day

1 

Softly now the light of day

Fades upon my sight away;

Free from care, from labor free,

Lord, I would commune with Thee.

2 

Thou, whose all-pervading eye

Naught escapes without, within,

Pardon each infirmity,

Open fault, and secret sin.

3 

Soon for me the light of day

Shall forever pass away;

Then, from sin and sorrow free,

Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee.

Amen.

George W. Doane

Softly Now the Light of Day - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Here's an instrumental version (accompaniment track) with lyrics. (Just for a change of pace.)

Softly Now the Light of Day - instrumental with lyrics

Father and Friend, Thy Light, Thy Love

1 

Father and Friend! Thy light, Thy love,

Beaming through all Thy works we see;

Thy glory gilds the heavens above,

And all the earth is full of Thee.

2 

Thy voice we hear, Thy presence feel,

While Thou, too pure for mortal sight,

Involved in clouds, invisible,

Reignest the Lord of life and light.

3 

We know not in what hallowed part

Of the wide heavens Thy throne may be,

But this we know, that where Thou art,

Strength, wisdom, goodness dwell with Thee.

4 

Thy children shall not faint nor fear,

Sustained by this exalted thought;

Since Thou, their God, art everywhere,

They cannot be where Thou art not!

 

Author: John Bowring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHK1sh_mfLI&list=RDCHK1sh_mfLI&start_radio=1

Wonderful Love of Jesus

 

1 

In vain in high and holy lays

My soul her grateful voice would raise;

For who can sing the worthy praise

Of the wonderful love of Jesus!

Chorus:

Wonderful love! wonderful love!

Wonderful love of Jesus!

Wonderful love! wonderful love!

Wonderful love of Jesus!

2 

A joy by day, a peace by night,

In storms a calm, in darkness light;

In pain a balm, in weakness might,

Is the wonderful love of Jesus! [Chorus]

3 

My hope for pardon when I call,

My trust for lifting when I fall;

In life, in death, my all in all,

Is the wonderful love of Jesus! [Chorus]

 

Edmund S. Lorenz (aka E. D. Mund)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6mtFT8X5W8&list=RDt6mtFT8X5W8&start_radio=1

My Task

1

To love someone more dearly ev'ry day

To help a wand'ring child to find his way

To ponder o'er a noble tho't and pray

And smile when evening falls

And smile when evening falls

This is my task

2

To follow truth as blind men long for light

To do my best from dawn of day till night

To keep my heart fit for His holy sight

And answer when He calls

And answer when He calls

This is my task

3

And then my Savior by and by to meet

When faith hath made her task on earth complete

And lay my trophies at the Master's feet

Within the jasper walls

Within the jasper walls

This crowns my task

Songwriters: Maude Louise Ray / F. H. Pickup

My Task - Acapeldridge

The Great Redeemer

1

How I love the great Redeemer

Who is doing so much for me;

With what joy I tell the story

Of the love that makes men free.

Till my earthly life is ended,

I will send songs above,

Then beside the crystal sea

More and more my soul shall be

Praising Jesus and His love.

Chorus:

He is everything to me,

And everything shall always be;

I will never cease to raise

A song of gladness in His praise;

Here, and in the world above,

My soul shall sing of saving love;

Life and light and joy is He,

The precious Friend who died for me.

2

He has purchased my redemption,

Rolled my burden of sin away,

And is walking on beside me,

Growing dearer day by day.

That is why I sing His praises,

That is why joy is mine,

That is why forevermore

On the everlasting shore

I shall sing of love divine.

3

Glory be to Him forever!

Endless praises to Christ the Lamb!

He has filled my life with sunshine,

He has made me what I am.

Oh, that everyone would know Him,

Oh, that all would adore!

Oh, that all would trust the love

Of the mighty Friend above

And be His forevermore.

Francis Foster, 1915

Samuel W. Beazley, 1915

The Great Redeemer - Acapeldridge

 

Fairest Lord Jesus

1

Fairest Lord Jesus,

ruler of all nature,

O thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish,

Thee will I honor,

thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

2

Fair are the meadows,

fairer still the woodlands,

robed in the blooming garb of spring:

Jesus is fairer,

Jesus is purer

who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3

Fair is the sunshine,

fairer still the moonlight,

and all the twinkling starry host:

Jesus shines brighter,

Jesus shines purer

than all the angels heaven can boast.

4

Beautiful Savior!

Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor,

praise, adoration,

now and forevermore be thine.

Author: unknown

17th Century German

Translator: R. S. Willis

Does Jesus Care?

 

1 

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song;

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Chorus:

O yes, He cares- I know He cares!

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

2 

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near? [Chorus]

3 

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief I find no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long? [Chorus]

4 

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—

Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Chorus]

 

Author: Frank E. Graeff

Day is Dying in the West

 

1 

Day is dying in the west;

Heav'n is touching earth with rest;

Wait and worship while the night

Sets her evening lamps alight

Through all the sky.

2 

Lord of life, beneath the dome

Of the universe, Thy home,

Gather us who seek Thy face

To the fold of Thy embrace,

For Thou art nigh. [Chorus]

3 

While the deep'ning shadows fall,

Heart of Love, enfolding all,

Through the glory and the grace

Of the stars that veil Thy face,

Our hearts ascend. [Chorus]

4 

When forever from our sight

Pass the stars, the day, the night,

Lord of angels, on our eyes

Let eternal morning rise,

And shadows end. [Chorus]

Chorus:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!

Heav'n and earth are full of Thee;

Heav'en and earth are praising Thee,

O Lord most high!

 

Author: Mary A. Lathbury

Day is Dying in the West - King's Men

Where the Soul Never Dies

1

To Canaan’s land I’m on my way,

Where the soul never dies;

My darkest night will turn to day,

Where the soul never dies.

2

A rose is blooming there for me,

Where the soul never dies;

And I will spend eternity,

Where the soul never dies.

3

A love light beams across the foam,

Where the soul never dies;

It shines to light the shores of home,

Where the soul never dies. 

4

My life will end in deathless sleep,

Where the soul never dies;

And everlasting joys I’ll reap,

Where the soul of man never dies. 

5

I’m on my way to that fair land,

Where the soul of man never dies;

Where there will be no parting hand,

Where the soul never dies.

Chorus:

No sad farewells,

(Dear friends, there'll be no sad farewells)

No tear-dimmed eyes;

(There'll be no tear-dimmed eyes)

Where all is love,

(Where all is peace and joy and love)

And the soul never dies.

(And the soul of man never dies)

Author: William M. Golden

Here's one of my favorite renditions of this grand old gospel song, by grand old Willie Nelson.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0pu86vDOyw&list=RDO0pu86vDOyw&start_radio=1

I Am Dwelling on the Mountain

 

1 

I am dwelling on a mountain,

Where the golden sunlight gleams

O’er a land whose wondrous beauty

Far exceeds my fondest dreams;

Where the air is pure, ethereal,

Laden with the breath of flowers,

That are blooming by the fountain,

’Neath the amaranthine bowers.

Chorus:

Is not this the land of Beulah?

Blessed, blessed land of light;

Where the flowers bloom forever,

And the sun is always bright?

2 

I can see far down the mountain,

Where I wandered weary years,

Often hindered in my journey,

By the ghosts of doubt and fears;

Broken vows and disappointments

Thickly sprinkled all the way;

But the spirit led unerring

to the land I hold today. [Chorus]

3 

I am drinking at the fountain,

Where I ever would abide,

For I’ve tasted life’s pure river,

And my soul is satisfied;

There’s no thirst for earthly pleasures,

Nor adorning rich and gay,

For I’ve found a richer treasure,

One that fadeth not away. [Chorus]

4 

Tell me not of heavy crosses,

Nor the burdens hard to bear,

For I've found this great salvation

Makes each burden light appear;

And I love to follow Jesus,

Gladly counting all but dross,

Worldly honors all forsaking

For the glory of the cross. [Chorus]

5 

Oh! the cross has wondrous glory!

Oft I’ve proved this to be true,

When I’m in the way so narrow,

I can see a pathway through;

And how sweetly Jesus whispers,

“Take the cross, thou need’st not fear,

For I've trod the way before thee,

And the glory lingers near.” [Chorus]

 

William Hunter

I Am Dwelling on the Mountain - The Isaacs

 

I Saw the Light

1
I wandered so aimless, my heart filled with sin

I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in

Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night

Praise the Lord, I saw the light

2

Just like a blind man I wandered alone

Worries and fears I claimed for my own

Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight

Praise the Lord, I saw the light

3

I was a fool to wander and stray

For strait is the gate and narrow the way

Now I have traded the wrong for the right

Praise the Lord, I saw the light

CHORUS

   I saw the light, I saw the light

   No more darkness, no more night

   Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight

   Praise the Lord, I saw the light

Hank Williams

I Saw the Light - Hank Williams

Luke 18:35-43

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Mark 10:51-52

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Kneel at the Cross

1

Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there

Come while He waits for you

Listen to His voice, leave with Him your cares

And begin life anew

2

Kneel at the cross, there’s room for all

Who will his glory share

Bliss there awaits, harm can nary fall

Those who are anchored there

3

Kneel at the cross, give your idols up

Look unto realms above

Turn not away, to life’s sparkling cup

Trust only in His love

CHORUS

   Kneel at the cross, kneel at the cross

   Leave every care, leave every care

   Kneel at the cross, kneel at the cross

   Jesus will meet you there

Charles E. Moody

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIsIyFwbfOQ&list=RDUIsIyFwbfOQ&start_radio=1

In our present time and place Christians don't have to deal too much with literal religious idols -- carved images representing other 'gods' to be worshipped. The idols of our world come in the form of desires for things that may draw us away from God, or become more important to us than God.  

Colossians 3:5

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

In our present time and place, there is one glaring idol that rises above all others -- money. I could write a whole book (actually, I did) about the way the Bible tells us to regard wealth and poverty. What we see in our world today is the exact opposite of the way God tells us to look at it. Money has become our idol.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil.