He Giveth More Grace

Annie Johnson was born in Vineland, New Jersey on Christmas Eve 1866. Her parents, Eldon and Jean rejoiced in the gift of their early Christmas present daughter!

Three years later, little Annie would lose her mother, who died as she gave birth to Annie’s baby sister. Mr. Johnson, who himself was suffering from an incurable disease, would die young too.

By a remarkable providence, a local schoolteacher, who the children came to know as “Auntie Susie,” saw the distressing situation. She recommended a childless Christian couple in the town, Mr. and Mrs. Flint, as a possible solution. It would, of course, require Eldon to be willing to allow them to be adopted as their own.

He was willing to do this on two counts. First, his serious illness, which resulted in his own death not long afterwards and secondly, the fact that they were Baptist! Annie’s father had long hoped that the children would be brought up in a Baptist tradition.

The couple offered a loving and warm-hearted Christian home to the two girls and after the adoption, their surname was added to Annie’s. The Flint’s moved from their rural home in the countryside, into the small town nearby. Annie always retained her love for the natural world around her and it colored the rest of her life.

The move coincided with a number of evangelistic meetings taking place in the town. At the age of eight, Annie was brought to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In later life she testified of the reality of that experience and although she was so young, she was convinced that God had truly saved her that day.

Before she became a teenager, Annie began to develop a keen interest in reading and writing—particularly poetry. This was fueled by Mr. Flint’s extensive library. She and her friend from school formed a two-member literary society. Every Saturday afternoon they met together to read material by their favorite poets; and then to attempt to write poems themselves.

Her character was naturally cheerful and optimistic, which is remarkable in view of the sadness and loss that she had known as a younger child.

After high school, she spent one year in teacher training, but felt she was really needed at home. Soon arthritis began to show itself. She grew steadily worse until it became difficult for her to walk at all. The death of both of her adoptive parents within a few months of each other left Annie and her sister alone again.

She wanted to be a composer and concert pianist, but her illness deprived her of the ability to play the piano. So, she began to write poetry. Later in life, being unable to open her hands, she wrote her poems on the typewriter, using her knuckles. Out of these trials and problems came this great hymn.

The poems she wrote provided solace for her. Some of her poetry she set to music.

She began making hand-lettered cards and gift books. Two card publishers printed some of her greetings and released the first little brochure of her poems.

She put into poetry words that she titled, “What God Hath Promised.” She said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” She believed that God had laid her aside for a purpose, even though that purpose was obscure to her at times.

The marvelous thing is that Annie’s faith never faltered. She was, at all times, able to say, “Thy will be done.”

A missionary from India once shared the following story about this song. “It was in the 40s when this song was newly released. Some caring individual from the states sent me the record through the mail. They had no idea how very discouraged I was or how exhausted my resources were.

“I excitedly loaded my Victrola record player and began to play this new inspiration song. When it got to the chorus, ‘He giveth and giveth and giveth . . .’ the needle got stuck. So over and over I heard the phrase ‘He giveth and giveth and giveth’ until it brought absolute joy from the deep resources of my heart. I realized God truly wanted me to experience His unlimited and overflowing provisions for my needs.’”

This hymn may have been based on 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

 

Verse One

“He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.”

 

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being "lifted up" above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had . . . When God does not take away our troubles and temptations, yet, if He gives grace enough for us, we have no reason to complain. Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all afflictions and distresses. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus, His grace is manifested and magnified. When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; when we feel that we are weak in ourselves, then we go to Christ, receive strength from Him, and enjoy most the supplies of Divine strength and grace.

Verse Two

“When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.”

Isaiah 40:20

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: He hath enough, not only for Himself, but for all, even the weakest of His creatures, whom He can easily strengthen to bear all their burdens and to vanquish all their oppressors.

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: The agency of God Himself is in view in this passage. All temptation, while allowed by God, is also controlled by Him; and the Father will simply not allow a child of God to be tempted above what he is able to bear. In the wise providence of God, He has made a way out of every temptation; and, as Barclay noted, “There is the way out, and the way out is not the way of surrender, and not the way of retreat, but the way of conquest in the power of the grace of God.”

Verse Three

“Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both Thee and thy load will upbear.”

Deuteronomy 33:27a

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

 

Biblestudytools.com: Such is Christ to His people . . . where they dwell as in a strong hold, safely, quietly, comfortably, and pleasantly . . . which are the support of His people, and their protection, safety, and security such as the arms of His everlasting love, which encircle them, and compass them about as a shield; His everlasting covenant, which is immovable, and in which they ever remain; eternal redemption and salvation, wrought out by Christ, and everlasting power . . .and so the arms of Christ, or His almighty power, are under the world, to uphold it in being; and under His church, to support it . . . carries in His arms, embraces in His bosom, bears them up under all their afflictions and temptations, trials and exercises; nor will He ever suffer them to drop out of His arms, or to be plucked from thence.

 Verse Four

“His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

Romans 11:33

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible: The magnificent doxology . . . is an exclamation of adoration and praise to God . . . Paul stated his absolute trust and confidence in the inscrutable ways of God, whether people understand them or not (and, in the very nature of things, people can never fully understand them) . . . God is in control. Nothing else really matters. God’s ways cannot be fully known to mortals . . . but true faith receives all that God does in full trust and confidence. He who gave His Son to die for people will grant eternal happiness to every possible recipient of it, provided only that people believe and obey him.

 Colossians 1:27

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Studylight.org, Gann’s Commentary on the Bible: Paul breaks into a doxology at this point . . . Oh, the depth . . . The apostle has three subjects of admiration . . .to express his admiration of the riches and the wisdom, and the knowledge of God . . . The word “depth” is applied in the Scriptures to anything vast and incomprehensible . . .The word “riches” denotes the abundant blessings and mercies which had been conferred on people by the gospel . . . Wisdom is the choice of the best means God used to accomplish the best end. The end or design which God had in view was to bestow mercy on all . . . And knowledge, that is, God’s foreknowledge and omniscience . . . How unsearchable – the word “unsearchable” means what cannot be fully understood.”

The song “He Giveth More Grace” was based on three Bible promises: “He giveth more grace” (James 4:6); “He increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29); and “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied (Jude 2).

“There is a grace and strength from God that is not given in the everyday routine of life. But, God gives it to us in our hour of need when our trust is in Him. When troubles and trials come upon us, may we know His added grace, His increased strength, and His multiplied peace.” “Songs in the Night”

  

I'm indebted to the following resources:

Castlefieldschurch.org.uk, David Fielding

Hymnary.org

www.hymntime.com/teh

Dailyencouragement.net

Homecomingmagazine.com

By His Grace . . .

What a Day That Will Be

James Vaughan Hill, better known as “Jim,” was born in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1930. Many of us know him from his appearances on the Gaither Homecoming Series.

Hill was a former salesman of shoes, but he had a background in opera. He studied opera and auditioned with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Metropolitan Opera Company.  Yet his masterful ability at interpreting a lyric, his background in church music, and God’s divine intervention insured a longtime career in the gospel field.

In his early years he sang with the Campmeeting Boys, who later became known as Jim Hill and The Golden Keys Quartet. Two years later, the group added a fourth member and rebranded as The Golden Keys Quartet.  Hill’s time with the Golden Keys would be interrupted by service in the US Army during the Korean War.  After his honorable discharge in 1951, Hill returned to The Golden Keys. 

Jim Hill wrote “What a Day that Will Be” in 1955. The story begins when Jim Hill’s mother-in-law suffered a stroke when she was only 50. Hill was a new Christian and didn’t understand why God would allow such a good woman to suffer so. One day while on his way home from work, He began thinking about a verse in Revelation that describes the day when all our troubles will be behind us. He exclaimed, “What a day that will be!” When he got home, he saw some cardboard and began writing on it.

Jim had never written a song before, so he wasn’t sure how good it was. But the next time he, his wife, and his wife’s sister went to visit his mother-in-law, they sang it all the way to her home. And when they got there, they sang it again. And, as they sang, for the first time in three years, Jim’s mother-in-law smiled and showed signs of excitement.

To Jim, that was a sign that the song was going to be blessed by God. And, since then, the song has been an anthem of encouragement for many people. “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.” (Rev. 21:4)

Jim also remembered inspiration from an orphan girl who came to sing at his Baptist church years earlier. She ended her song with the words: “What a day that will be.”

Jim also wrote the music for his hymn.

Those words became the song many have loved over the years. “What a Day that Will Be” has been encouraging believers for almost 70 years!

In his late years, he became part of Bill Gaither’s Homecoming series. Bill said: “When we were writing our first songs, it was Jim Hill that infused them with his unique magic that made audiences hear the messages and made us believe that maybe there was a calling on our own lives to keep writing. Jim was a salesman in the absolute best sense of that word. If he believed in something, he could make you believe you should believe too.”

 Verse One
“There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye;
All is peace forevermore on the happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
 

Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: In describing the state of things as it will be in eternity, John must use the language of this world, for he has no other. He must liken what he sees in the vision to things that his readers can see in the present world, for this is the only world they know. He must use whatever language and illustrations he can find in an attempt to describe the spiritual quality of life in the eternal state.

 

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: This will be one of the characteristics of that blessed state, that not a tear shall ever be shed there. How different will that be from the condition here – for who is here who has not learned to weep? . . . In all that future world of glory, not one shall ever die; not a grave shall ever be dug! What a view do we get of heaven, when we are told there shall be no “death” there! Assuredly we have here a view of heaven most glorious and animating to those who dwell in a world like this, and to whom nothing is more common than death.

 
Verse Two
“There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there.
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
 

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: It will be some happiness that all the saints shall meet and remain together for ever; but the principal happiness of heaven is to be with the Lord, to see Him, live with Him, and enjoy Him forever.

 

Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: Their first meeting shall be in the air, and their continuance will be with Him while He is in this lower world, and after that they shall ascend with Him into heaven, and so be forever with Him.

 

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: but then they shall be ever with Him; wherever He is; first in the air, where they shall meet Him; then in the third heaven, where they shall go up with Him; then on earth, where they shall descend and reign with Him a thousand years; and then in the ultimate glory to all eternity.

 

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: And thus we shall always be with the Lord: The manner in which Jesus will gather us to Himself is impressive. But the main point is that whatever the state of the Christians (dead or alive) at the Lord’s coming, they will always be with the Lord. This is the great reward of heaven – to be with Jesus. Death can’t break our unity with Jesus or with other Christians. We shall always be with the Lord is an important truth with many implications. It implies continuation because it assumes you are already with the Lord. It implies hope for the dying because in death we shall still be with the Lord. It implies future confidence because after death we are with the Lord. 

 
Chorus
“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.”
 

Isaiah 35:10

“And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

Studylight.org, Smith’s Bible Commentary: Now chapter 35 is out of the darkness into the light. Out of the tribulation into the kingdom. The glorious day of the Lord to which we look forward to. In chapter 35, oh, what a glorious chapter as it speaks of the earth and its conditions when Jesus comes and establishes God's Kingdom, and He reigns upon the earth. For at that time the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing . . .   for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and there will be streams in the desert . . .  the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. For the earth will be restored to its Edenic glory; you'll see the world that God intended, and it will be a world without suffering. It will be a world without pain. It will be a world without physical weaknesses, impairments of any sort. For the lame will be leaping as a deer. The blind will see. The dumb will be singing the praises unto the Lord. And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

Josie Siler, contributing writer at Christianity.com wrote: “The lyrics speak of the eternity we will spend as Jesus leads us into the Promised Land. That Promised Land is a brand-new earth. The new earth is where we will spend eternity and experience peace forever—no more tears, sickness, pain, or suffering. What a day that will be! “I have longed for heaven. Maybe you have too. Life on this earth is filled with love, joy and beauty, but it’s also filled with trials, hardships, and suffering. I long for a day when I will leave my broken body behind and receive a new spiritual body. But mostly, I long for Jesus. To meet Him face to face is something I can’t even begin to imagine. But oh, what a day that will be!

Sing Chorus
“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.”
 

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Thescottspot.wordpress.com

Christianity.com, Josie Siler

Absolutelygospel.com, Alan Kendall

Word Wise Hymns

By His Grace . . . 

Whiter Than Snow

Snow. A delicate creation from our loving Father. Who can describe or imagine the beauty of snow. The first thing that strikes us about snow is its purity. The snow is white because the tiny crystals of which it is made reflect so much light. It often makes people snow-blind.

Who doesn’t thrill to sit down with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and watch the snow fall. It is magical. It is beautiful. It is spellbinding. It is fascinating.

 “Whiter Than Snow” has a lovely air of humility. The lyrics brim with sacrifices the author will make for the Lord along with pleas for the Lord’s guidance: 

"I want Thee forever to live in my soul."

"Break down every idol, cast out every foe."

"I all things forego."

"Help me to make a complete sacrifice."

"I give up myself and whatever I know."

"Within me a new heart create."

In the late 1800s, James L. Nicholson was born in Ireland, and he emigrated to America around age 25. He made his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and began attending Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church. He found a clerk's job in the Post Office Department. He died in 1896 in Washington, DC.

No personal details about him are recorded; all we know is that he was an adamant lay servant—teaching Sunday School classes, assisting in ministry, etc. He wrote this song around 1871.

The tune was composed by William Gustavus, who was born in October 1835 to German immigrants in Baltimore, MD. When he was eight years old, he began singing in a German church in Baltimore. He learned to read music in a church singing class, and afterwards studied piano and organ.

As a young man he moved to Philadelphia where he remained the rest of his life. He learned bookbinding at J. B. Lippincott's but spent his evenings studying and practicing music.

He wrote and taught music, leading choirs and choral societies for the gospel. 

He was an experienced trainer and leader of large bodies of singers of all ages and was much sought after to lead choirs and choruses in sacred music in Philadelphia. He also taught singing, piano and music theory. He was closely connected with Welsh music festivals and directed the combined Welsh Societies at the bicentennial of the landing of William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania).

From 1858-1868, Fischer was Professor of Music at Girard College. Before leaving Girard College, he started in the piano business, where he built up one of the most prosperous piano houses in the country. He was a partner with John E. Gould until Gould’s death in 1875. From that time, Fischer was sole proprietor of the business for a number of years, when he took his oldest son, Charles, into partnership. He finally retired in 1898 and was succeeded by his son.

This song is a heartfelt plea to God to wash us until we are whiter than snow. The hymn's popularity greatly increased with its inclusion in the well-known Gospel Hymns Series published by Sankey and Bliss. It has since provided a musical prayer that needs to be expressed by every Christian.

The singer’s desire is to become perfectly whole. Unfortunately, none of us can make ourselves whole.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us and help us to be like Jesus. Only God can create a new heart in us. And as the song says He is patiently waiting for us to call upon Him for help.

In one hymnal there’s a section titled “Hymns of Aspiration.” These are songs expressing our desire for a deeper faith, a purer life, and a stronger walk with God. “Whiter Than Snow” is such a hymn.

Like the psalmist David did in his prayer in Psalm 51, we all need to experience God's cleansing and forgiveness. Only then will we be effective for God in helping others and directing sinners to Him. Psalm 51:13

Verse One

"Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe--

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

 

Psalm 145:1-2

"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever."

Studylight.org, Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible: Every day will I bless Thee . . . For new mercies  every morning; for fresh supplies of grace every day, which all come from the fulness of Christ, to whom all grace is given, and from whence it is received, and in whom all spiritual blessings are, and by whom they are bestowed; and I will praise Thy name forever and ever; as long as he lived in this world, and to all eternity in the world to come.

Verse Two

"Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,

Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;

To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego--

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Hebrews 9:11a, 12, 14

"But when Christ came as high priest . . . He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption . . . How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

Sermonwriter.com, Richard Niell Donovan: The "blood of Christ" is superior to "the blood of goats and bulls," which offered ritual cleansing to those who were defiled. While the sacrifices of the tabernacle/temple cleansed the guilty party, that cleansing was temporal and limited in its effect. It had to be repeated regularly, and would not grant access to the Holy of Holies . . . Just as sacrificial animals had to be without blemish, so also Jesus was without blemish--without sin. Jesus offered Himself as a voluntary sacrifice--not true of the sacrificial animals. Also, Jesus' sacrifice cleanses "conscience from dead works," freeing us to serve God without a burdened conscience.

Verse Three

“Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,

And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
I give up myself, and whatever I know—

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Romans 12:1

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship."

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: [Paul] entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of His mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do . . . The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.

Verse Four

"Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,

I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,

By faith for my cleaning, I see Thy blood flow--

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Romans 3:22, 25a

"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus to all who believe. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received by faith."

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: When the Bible speaks about faith in relation to salvation, it is not speaking about some inner strength that enables people to triumph over difficulties. Faith is more concerned with helplessness than with strength. Faith is reliance. It is an attitude whereby people give up all their own efforts to win salvation, no matter how good they be, and trust completely in Christ, and Him alone, for their salvation. It is not merely an intellectual acknowledgment of certain facts but a belief wherein people turn to Christ and cling to Him with their whole heart. It is not accepting certain things as true, but trusting in a person, Jesus Christ, and all that He has done through His life, death and resurrection . . . Yet faith, in itself, does not save. It is simply the means by which sinners accept the salvation that Christ offers. Salvation is not a reward for faith; it is a gift that no one deserves, but it can be received by faith.

Verse Five

“Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
Come now and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

 

Romans 10:13

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Studylight.org, Clarke's Commentary: Whosoever shall call upon, invoke, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners, shall be saved--shall have his guilt pardoned, his heart purified and if he abide in the faith, rooted and grounded in Him, showing forth the virtues of Him who was called out of darkness into His marvelous light, he shall be saved with all the power of an eternal life.

 

Verse Six

“The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.”

 

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Bibletools.org: If a person truly believes, he will repent, and the consequence is reconciliation with God. Our relationship to Him changes; it is entirely new. Our point of view, our world view, changes. We no longer look at life in the same way. Now we view everything from the perspective of God, His Word, and His Kingdom.

Sing Refrain:

“Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Bibleportal.com

Retrospectivelily.wordpress.com

Christianmusicandhymns.com

A Song in My Heart, Robert J. Morgan

Blueletterbible.org

Biblehub.com

By His Grace . . .

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Helen Lemmel was a gifted singer and musician, a gift her parents recognized while she was still young. She was born on November 14, 1864, in Wardle, England, to a Methodist minister and his wife. When she was twelve years old, her family moved to the United States and settled in Wisconsin.

She traveled widely throughout the Midwest during the early 1900's, giving concerts in many churches. She developed a reputation as a brilliant singer. She studied private voice in Germany for four years.

She taught voice at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and Biola University in Los Angeles. During her 97 years, she wrote more than 500 hymns and a successful book for children. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” remains the most popular and well known of her hymns.

She settled in Seattle where she remained active with Christian activities, as a member of the Ballard Baptist Church of that city.

In 1918, a missionary friend handed her a gospel tract titled “Focused” written by Lilias Trotter. The tract said, “If you focus on Jesus, if you look full into His face, you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

Those words had an impact on Helen. “Suddenly,” she said later, “as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but none the less dictated by the Holy Spirit.”

Helen began to go blind, but she continued to write music, picking out notes on a keyboard and asking friends to record them for her. When asked “How are you?” her frequent reply was, “I am fine in the things that count.”

She remained active for God until her home-going at the age of 97.

Lilias Trotter wrote: "Focused: A Story and a Song" two decades earlier. Following are words from her poem: "Turn full your soul's vision to Jesus, and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him, and the Divine attraction by which God's saints are made . . . will lay hold of you. For He is worthy to have all there is to be had in the heart that He has died to win."

In her biography of Lilias Trotter, Patricia St. John describes the home life into which Lilias was born in 1853 as, " . . . The happy disciplined life of the Victorian upper classes; godly, serious, kind to the poor . . . sheltered . . . a stable home surrounded by beauty and culture." Lilias wanted for nothing. She had a good education and travelled widely. She had a bright and inquisitive mind and loved the beauty of plants, flowers and nature. Her father was a wealthy banker and they lived in high society in the very best part of London.

Sadly, when Lilias was only 12 years old, her father died, and she was devastated at this great loss. However, it was through this time of sadness that she was cast upon God for comfort and consolation and came to know Jesus Christ as her Savior and friend. One biographer said: "Through the very hardest thing in her life God brought her soul into blossom." The change in her life through her conversion to Christ saw her develop a great gift of love and sympathy that was boundless in its expression.

She founded and maintained the Algiers Mission Band. Her ability in drawing and painting became an integral part in the communication of the gospel, illustrating tracts and booklets specifically designed to reach the Arab culture. Her incredible ability to learn languages, breakdown cultural barriers, organize, write and travel long distances across difficult terrain put her into the same category as other "unique" female missionary names such as Amy Carmichael and Gladys Aylward.

She knew that true success and happiness can be found inside the will of God. We can be easily distracted and attracted to the things this world offers, but we should be focused on Jesus and on His will for us. Let us turn our eyes on Him and, just like what the song says, the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

 Verse One

“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!”

Hebrews 12:2

“. . . looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole's Commentary: As if all the former witnesses were not enough, [Paul] adds a more excellent one than them all, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who is not only a pattern to them in their race and running of it, but a help, and for which end they were looking to Him.

Studylight.org: Not only does encouragement come from the witnesses of the Old Testament but also  from the life of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' faith we see absolute dependence on God. The term "looking" denotes the action of turning "the eyes away from other things and fix them on something." Paul uses the term "looking" as an artist who looks at his model, not just a glance but at every detail. The total focus must be on Jesus; therefore, one must always look away from everything that distrazts. Paul's point is that we all have problems from the past that we must lay aside and then press our attention toward the Messiah.

Verse Two

"Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more has dominion—

For more than conquerors we are!”

 Hebrews 4:16

“Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes' Notes on the Bible" God is seated on a throne of mercy . . . To a God willing to show mercy He comes with the merits of a sacrifice sufficient for all and pleased for their salvation. We may, therefore, come with boldness and look for pardon. We come not depending on our own merits, but we come where a sufficient sacrifice has been offered for human guilt; and where we are assured that God is merciful. We may, therefore, come without hesitancy, or trembling, and ask for all the mercy that we need.

Verse Three

“His word shall not fail you He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!”

 2 Corinthians 5:20

"We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God."

Studylight.org, Clarke's Commentary: We execute the function of ambassadors in Christ's stead. He came from the Father to mankind on this important embassy. He has left the world and appointed us in his place . . . Ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. Christ while on earth represented the person of the Sovereign of the world; his apostles and their successors represent the person of Christ.

 

Refrain:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.”

How great is our need to turn our eyes fully upon Jesus. As mentioned earlier from the poem “Focused” by Lilias Trotter: “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him.”

Sing Refrain

 

 I am indebted to the following resources:

Castlefieldschurch.org.uk; by David Fielding

Old Fashion Hymns and Spiritual Music

Thy Hymns

The Complete Book of Hymns, William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen

A Song in My Heart, Robert J Morgan

101 More Hymn Stories, Kenneth W. Osbeck